The Appeal for Obedience in the Christian Life

The Appeal To Live the Christian Life 1 of 3 from Charles E. Whisnant on Vimeo.

 Johnny And Phyllis Edwards in 2012 who have been with ROJBC since 2007

 Bill and Mary Bower Asso. Passtor since 2008 this was taken in 2012

Charles and my little 3 year old friend in November 2012

The Appeal to Obedience part 2 of 3 from Charles E. Whisnant on Vimeo.

THIS WAS BACK IN 2009 THIS POST HAS BEEN ON DRAFT SINCE THEN


The Appeal To Live the Christian Life 1 of 3 from Charles E. Whisnant on Vimeo.

LET US CONTINUE TO WALK THE SAME PATH IN CHRIST

LET US CONTINUE TO WALK IN THE SAME PATH WITH CHRIST

Notes from Charles e Whisnant, 02 26 11

Philippians 3:16

NEVERTHELESS:⁴¹³³  

•  “even though there be those who are otherwise minded

• Paul is saying now let me tell you one more thing.

WHERETO ^1519/3739

•  However (nevertheless) - “even though there be those who are otherwise minded”

• One more thing, by the way, let us keep living by that same to which we have attained.

WE HAVE ALREADY ATTAINED ^5348phthano

• Originally meant to precede someone, to come before or to anticipate (I Thessalonians 4:15).

• Over time attained  begin to lose the idea of priority and to mean simply to come to or to arrive at.

• The idea is to come to a particular state or to arrive at a goal and so to attain it. In Matthew 12:28 it means to happen to someone.

• Pictures progress along a road to a certain point. Paul is thinking of the Philippian saint's progress along the path of Christ-likeness. His idea is, “so far as we have come.”

LET US WALK⁴⁷⁴⁸

1. to proceed in a row as the march of a soldier, go in order
1. metaph. to go on prosperously, to turn out well
2. to walk
1. to direct one's life, to live

^·            Keep living by the (same) standard ^{(4748) (stoicheo)= row, line, rank;}

·       Greek:  stoicheion = elements, basic foundational things like letters of the alphabet) is literally to walk in line, walk in a straight line, proceed in a row, to follow in someone’s footsteps.  2 Peter 3:10

• To keep in rank and file. To march in  file or in battle order. The word was used for movement in a definite line, as in military formation.

• Present tense which point to continual and habitual action in the believers’ life

• Acts  21:24, Romans 4:12, Galatians 5:25; 6:16

• Let us, or we ought to, walk in obedience to Christ, love to him and each other, according to the light we have already received, trusting he would make known his mind more clearly to us. Our using the light we have well, is the ready way to have more: it behoves us, then, to live suitably to that degree of the knowledge of Christ we have attained, 1 John 2:3–5 but still within our lines, with regard to the same rule (Matthew Poole)

Let us keep all the good that we have received; let us not give up the truth that we have learnt; let us not leave the way along which we have traveled so far; and let us keep together, let perfect harmony prove that the work of grace is going on in one as well as in another.

Spurgeon:
There are some points upon which we are all agreed. There is some standing-ground where the babe in grace may meet with the man in Christ Jesus. Well, as far as we do see eye to eye, let us co-operate with one another, let us have our hearts knit together in a holy unanimity. “Let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.” There are some people who are always looking out for points of difference; their motto seems to be, “Wherein so ever we differ, let us split away from one another.” Their great idea is that by dividing we shall conquer. The fact is that, by separating ourselves from one another, we shall miss all hope of strength, and play into the hands of the adversaries. (Spurgeon on Philippians)

BY THE SAME⁸⁴⁶ RULE ²⁵⁸³

1. a rod or straight piece of rounded wood to which any thing is fastened to keep it straight
1. used for various purposes
1. a measuring rod, rule
2. a carpenter's line or measuring tape
3. the measure of a leap, as in the Olympic games
2. a definitely bounded or fixed space within the limits of which one's power of influence is confined
1. the province assigned one
2. one's sphere of activity
3. metaph. any rule or standard, a principle or law of investigating, judging, living, acting

LET US MIND⁵⁴²⁶ THE SAME THING^{846  AGREE}

1. to have understanding, be wise
2. to feel, to think
1. to have an opinion of one's self, think of one's self, to be modest, not let one's opinion (though just) of himself exceed the bounds of modesty
2. to think or judge what one's opinion is
3. to be of the same mind i.e. agreed together, cherish the same views, be harmonious
3. to direct one's mind to a thing, to seek, to strive for
1. to seek one's interest or advantage
2. to be of one's party, side with him (in public affairs)

RUNNING THE RACE BEFORE US

SIX NECESSARY ELEMENTS IF WE ARE GOING TO EFFECTIVELY PURSUE THE PRIZE OF SPIRITUAL PERFECTION.

1A    AN AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO PURSUE A BETTER CONDITION.

2A    YOU MUST GIVE MAXIMUM EFFORT IN PURSUING THAT CONDITON.

“But I follow after,” vs. 12

·       i.e. Press on “I am pursuing.” Press forward; try to achieve something, run after.

·       Verb. Indic pres. action. A continuous action or result.

·       An expression for the quest of Christian values. Romans 14:19; 1 Timothy 6:11.

·       To aspire, to seek, to go after something.

·       The pursuit of Christian objectives.

o   Romans 12:13            Hospitality

o   Romans 14:19; 1 Peter 3:11; Hebrews 12:14 Mutual Peace

o   I Corinthians 14:1 Holiness and Love

o   I Thess.5:15 Doing Good.

o   1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:22  Righteousness

·       Paul sees the Christian life as ultimately directed to this goal. He presses on like a runner set on winning the victor’s prize. Knowing Romans 9:16, 30.

·       Paul says this not because he is discouraged but he’s encouraged.

·       A sprinter in this race.

·       An aggressive, energetic endeavor.

·       I Corinthians 9:24-27, I Timothy 6:12, Hebrews 12:1-2 Running the race to win.

·       Serious and earnest in his desire to “follow after.”

·       Not being content just to be merely saved.

·       The race is a long-distance race.   

Why all this continuous all-out effort?

·       Jesus is coming

·       People are dying, 6,000 each day.