Christ's Instructions

[Adziílií]

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Hello;

Some years ago, just for the adventure of it, I set out compiling a home-spun
catalogue of Christ's instructions in accord with Matt 28:19-20 that apply to all his
followers regardless of denominational affiliation. In time I realized that my rough
hewn catalogue, accompanied by a little commentary, would make a pretty good
devotional similar to the old standby "Our Daily Bread" pioneered by Dr. M.R.
DeHaan.

NOTE: Moses' people covenanted with God via the laws, rules, and regulations
contained in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy; which was very
dangerous because it put them at risk of being slammed for non compliance by any
number of the curses listed at Lev 26:14-39, Deut 27:15-26, and Deut 28:15-68.

Folks unified with Christ are not covenanted with God that way. No; they're
covenanted with God via a different arrangement by which there are no curses for
non compliance, viz: whereas Moses' people were under a legal system; the folks
unified with Christ are under an honor system, which is a huge advantage.

● Matt 11:28-30 . . Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will
give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and
humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my
burden is light.

Buen Camino (Pleasant Journey)
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[Adziílií]

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005) Rom 6:11 . . Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

"dead to sin" in this case doesn't mean that folks unified with Christ can't, won't, and/or
don't sin-- in point of fact it would be utterly dishonest of them to claim otherwise. (1John
1:8-10) It means that sin can no longer give God cause to slam them with the sum of all
fears.

● Rom 6:3-11 . . Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death? . . For we know that our old self was crucified with him

● Gal 2:20 . . I am crucified with Christ

● Col 3:2-3 . . Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For you
are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
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[Adziílií]

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006) Rom 6:12-13 . . Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its
evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of
wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought
from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of
righteousness.

That's essentially the same instructions that God passed on to Cain; to wit:

"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right,
sin is crouching at your door;" (Gen 4:7a)

That's the very first instance in the Bible of the word "sin". The Hebrew word
basically means an offense; as in repeat offender. In other words; not just an
occasional slip-up, but a life style, i.e. habits.

"It desires to have you, but you must master it." (Gen 4:7b)

That's the first mention of self control in the Bible. In other words: God created
humanity with the capability to choose bad ways for itself; but that's only half the
story. God also created humanity with the capability to choose good ways for itself;
so He wasn't requiring something impossible from Cain like touching his right elbow
with the thumb of his right hand. So if self control was within the capabilities of a
brutish man like Cain, then I should think self control would be within the
capabilities of Christians too.
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[Adziílií]

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007) Rom 12:1 . . Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service.

The Greek word for "sacrifice" technically refers to a victim; but it's not always
applied that way. For example speaking well of God, doing good, and sharing are
legitimate sacrifices. (Heb 13:15-16)

The sacrifice required herein is a living sacrifice rather than deceased so Christ's
followers don't have to martyr themselves in order to fulfill it; but their bodies do
have to be holy in order to be accepted; which means avoiding things that defile
their bodies like indecency, promiscuity, adultery, and LGBT stuff.

The Bible calls those requirements "reasonable". In other words: It isn't asking too
much of the folks unified with Christ to keep themselves pure.
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[mattfivefour]

Romans 12:1 does not say sacrifice your bodies, it says present your bodies. The word translated "present" here is the aorist infinitive active form of the verb paristémi (παρίστημι) and in this form means to proffer or to offer to. And we are to offer them as we would a sacrifice to God: in other words give them to Him to do as He wills. How and why all makes sense when we consider Philippians 2:13 that tells us that it is God who is at work in us, both to will and to perform, according to His pleasure. (Remember, the Bible is its own best interpretor.) So, in other words, this verse is instructing us to offer our bodies to God for Him to make holy. And it is logical for us to do so.

When we put the focus on man's effort rather on God's supernatural work in us, we pervert the process God intended...and we gain occasion to glory in our ability and our successes. But that is not God's will or way. God's way does not involve man's willpower. It simply involves man's will and relies on God's power.