Rule 7

Exodus 20:7

I. Christians Repudiate Worldly Behavior

A. Sanctification and honor frame Christian behavior, but they are from the norms of the unbelieving world; holiness isn’t often invited to the party. “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.” (1 Thessalonians 4:4)

B. Christians should avoid morally dangerous territory. “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” (Job 31:1)

C. When David neglected the Biblical standard, he crossed the line and the consequences turned deadly for himself, his family, and the entire nation. “And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” (2 Samuel 11:3) “Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.” (2 Samuel 12:9)

D. Actual adultery is obviously wrong, but Scripture argues that lesser behaviors which tend in the wrong direction must be managed defensively as well. “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6)

II. Respect for Marriage Is a Life and Death Matter

A. The home ought to provide the ultimate safe place in life. “The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.” (Proverbs 31:11) “She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” (Proverbs 31:27-28)

B. Consider the implications of Joseph’s behavior in Potiphar’s house; on the human level, misbehavior would have been so easy. “But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.” (Genesis 39:8-10)

C. Is that brief pleasure worth an eternity in hell? “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” (Hebrews 13:4) “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” (Revelation 22:13-15) “Dog” refers to a behavior pattern, not to a faithful pet.

D. When families collapse, God turns society and culture over to the covenant-destroying behaviors which always mark the end of civilizations. “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” (Romans 1:24-27)

III. Avoid Putting Words in God’s Mouth

A. Adding rules to marriage which do not come from God can have disastrous results. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” (1 Timothy 4:1-3)

B. Human wisdom can be nothing but self-promotion; cultures and cults add incalculably harmful nonsense. “Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” (Colossians 2:23)

C. Clever arguments over casual divorce and justification for open marriage are actually treachery, not wisdom. “Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.” (Malachi 2:14-15)

D. Trust what God reveals and be skeptical of anything which isn’t congruent with Scripture. “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?” (Matthew 19:5)

Paying Taxes

Isaiah 29:15-24; Mark 12:13-17 / Psalm 56:1-13

I. How Do Church and State Relate?

A. Some people look for ways to put the church in a bad like and in particular to make Christian doctrine unattractive. “And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.” (Mark 12:13)

1. Enemies of Christ, who hated each other, united to oppose Him. “And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.” (Mark 3:6)

2. The struggle for self-centered living makes a single party of natural enemies. “For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.” (Acts 23:8)

3. God’s enemies constantly seek to twist His word. “Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.” (Jeremiah 18:18)

B. The tormentors were oily but their objective was to alienate Jesus either from the populace or the government; the “tax question” was disingenuously formed. “And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” (Mark 12:14)

II. The Answer Demands Context for Clarification

A. Jesus turned the question so that it exposed the underlying hypocrisy. “Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.” (Mark 12:15)

B. The tormentors brought Jesus a Roman denarius—the most common coin of the era. “And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.” (Mark 12:16) The Roman coin was stamped Tiberias Caesar, Divi Augusti Filius Augustus; that is, Tiberius Caesar, the August Son of the Divine Augustus.

C. By bringing a Roman coin the tormentors acknowledged their allegiance to Rome; it is significant that they did not bring Jewish coins. “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” (Revelation 3:12)

III. Distinguish Between Realms

A. Give each realm what is appropriate to it; Roman coins acknowledge Roman sovereignty. “And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.” (Mark 12:17)

B. Major social changes may introduce unintended consequences; Christians rarely make good violent revolutionaries. “My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:” (Proverbs 24:21)

C. Jesus dealt with the tax issue and the motivation for paying taxes on a different occasion; He was not exalting the state above the high lord of all reality. “He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.” (Matthew 17:25-27)

D. The state needs to remember its place; God, not the individual believer, will administer the final exam. “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” (Psalm 2:1-6)

E. Jesus gave His followers an example as well as an answer. “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)

The Senior Perspective

1 Timothy 5:1-10

I. Respect Older Christians

A. Treat older men as fathers. “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren.” (1 Timothy 5:1)

B. Age is not the only factor in recognizing elders in the church; humility and cooperation are critical factors. “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (1 Peter 5:5-6)

C. Treat older women as mothers. “The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.” (1 Timothy 5:2) “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:50)

II. Give Particular Respect to Widows

A. Actual widows have a formal position in the church. “Honour widows that are widows indeed.” (1 Timothy 5:3)

1. God takes genuine widows personally. “A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.” (Psalm 68:5)

2. Providing for widows makes believers like God Himself. “Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.” (Jeremiah 49:11)

B. Just calling a person a widow does not mean that person is eligible for formal recognition in the church as a widow; families must take care of their own. “But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.” (1 Timothy 5:4)

1. People torture language and doctrine to free themselves from Biblical obligations; Jesus Himself exposed the problem. “But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” (Mark 7:11-13)

2. Theologically designated parents also deserve the honor expected for biological parents. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3)

C. Biblical widows display clearly discernable patterns. “Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.” (1 Timothy 5:5)

D. A woman who misuses her opportunities in the church is actually already dead. “But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.” (1 Timothy 5:6)

1. Easy living is no sign of heavenly blessing; people who live well at the expense of the saints fail to understand the danger in which they place themselves. “They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.” (Psalm 73:5-7)

2. Jesus told a parable of a man so caught up in the world that he made no provision for Judgment Day and consequently lost everything. “And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16-21)

E. Keep people from embarrassing themselves through ignorant errors. “And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.” (1 Timothy 5:7)

F. People who ignore or shirk their responsibilities are worse than unbelievers. “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1 Timothy 5:8)

III. Only Designate Genuine Widows

A. “Widow” is a calling, not an accident of time. “Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.” (1 Timothy 5:9)

B. Real widows will have benefited the church in multiple, identifiable behavior patterns. “Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.” (1 Timothy 5:10)

Hope

I. Hope Begins with Waiting

A. Christian faith expresses itself through hope that God will do what is in the best interest of believers and that in turn cultivates patience. “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Romans 8:24-25)

B. Rejoicing in hope forms a strong cord to God when it is braided with patience and continuing prayer. “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” (Romans 12:12)

C. Scripture was written to comfort believers and cultivate hope. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

D. Joy and peace are natural companions to hope. “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:13)

II. Hope Bears Fruit

A. Hope causes people to naturally yield good fruit just as a tree planted by a stream and cultivated produces fruit. “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

B. The happiness of the hopeful invites people to investigate faith in God. “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” (Psalm 34:8)

C. The peace which accompanies hope is perfect and eternal. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:” (Isaiah 26:3-4)

III. Hope Is the Anchor of the Soul

A. Christ causes people expect eternal substance, meaning, and joy. “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” (Colossians 1:27)

B. The Christian hope is that Jesus will save people. “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;” (1 Timothy 1:1)

C. Hope makes life stable for believers. “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;” (Hebrews 6:18-19)

IV. Christ’s Return Is the Blessed Hope

A. Knowledge that Christ will return and set all things in order makes it possible for believers to endure the trials and vicissitudes of life; the good times are yet to come us and for believers who have gone ahead to be with Jesus. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

B. How far the blessing of eternity will take believers is too great to imagine but it makes Christians the most hopeful of all people. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3)

Test Teachers

1 Timothy 4:1-16

I. Expect Bad Teachers

A. As time advances, some teachers will abandon the Holy Spirit for bad doctrines taught by bad sources. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (1 Timothy 4:1)

1. Evil will mirror mock the work of God; just as God guides into truth, evil guides into error. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13)

2. Expect supernatural evil seeking to distract teachers and harm believers. “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” (1 John 2:18)

B. The false teachers will teach doctrines which conflict with known revelation from God; doctrine that contradicts doctrine is wrong. “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” (1 Timothy 4:2-3)

1. The church has experienced shadowy times in the past when people have preferred sin to truth. “I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.” (Jeremiah 23:14)

2. Sometimes only election only is strong enough to protect Christians against the power and influence of evil teachers and false doctrine. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:24)

C. God has made everything good and made it available for use when it is received from Him with thanksgiving. “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” (1 Timothy 4:4-5)

D. God did not make anything which was corrupt in itself at the start. “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

E. Peter was given specific instructions making all kinds of food acceptable; to change the rule is to oppose revelation. “And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” (Acts 11:7-9)

II. Practice Self-protection

A. Good doctrine protects against bad doctrine, so teach good doctrine in self-defense. “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” (1 Timothy 4:6)

B. Do not tolerate questionable teachings; concentrate on things which promote godliness. “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.” (1 Timothy 4:7)

C. Here is a confessional testimony; exercising physically has limited application, but Bible study and the related means of grace carry eternal rewards. “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.” (1 Timothy 4:8-9)

D. Paul and his associates endured struggles because God rewards faithfulness. “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” (1 Timothy 4:10)

III. Teach the Right Things

A. Paul’s doctrine is not optional. “These things command and teach.” (1 Timothy 4:11)

B. Integrity matters more than things like age; do not let minor things become distractions. “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)

C. Concentrate on the three primary functions of Christian teachers. “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” (1 Timothy 4:13)

D. Concentrate on the gift God gave and which the leaders of the church recognized. “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” (1 Timothy 4:14)

E. Think through what God is doing. “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.” (1 Timothy 4:15)

F. Pay particular attention to mastering genuine doctrine and being mastered by it; such an attitude will benefit both the teacher and the student. “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1 Timothy 4:16)