Walk by the Spirit

[JonC]

Galatians 5:16–17 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

Online forums can be a great place to fellowship and learn about one another. It is also a good place to try and understand the beliefs of other Christians as well as to re-examine one's own beliefs.

Unfortunately it can also be an unkind (even unChristian) environment if not kept in check.

How does walking in the Spirit apply to our online interactions?

 

[JonC]

Galatians 5:22–26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

 

[KenH]

As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. - 1 Peter 1:15.

Every believer in Jesus is holy. As being a member of the first Adam, he partakes of the life of sin and the spirit of unholiness; but being united to Jesus, Christ is his life. He partakes of the life of holiness and the spirit of holiness. This is evidenced by the outward holiness of his life.

Therefore exhortations to excite such to a holy conversation, are as necessary as they are frequent. Art thou a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus? What inestimable honor is this! It should be thy daily care and constant concern to walk worthy of this high and honorable vocation. It degrades thy birth to stoop to gratify base lusts; it demeans thy character to take up in the least with the slavery of sin and drudgery of Satan. It was good advice a heathen gave a prince, lest he should learn evil from bad company, "Always remember thou art a king's son." So ever remember, O Christian, thou art a son of the KING OF KINGS. Thy Father is holy; study to be like him; aim to resemble him in thy daily walk. This day thou wilt be exposed to the snares of sin and temptations to evil; they ever beset thee. Remember thy calling, it is to holiness of life; think of the end of it, happiness in glory. It sounds as harsh in one's ears to hear of a wicked Christian as to hear of a dark sun. But beware of making an idol of thy own holiness. We read of Pygmalion, who had got an image so lively that he took it for a real person, and fell in love with it. This seems to be the case with some; they are more taken up with, talk more about, and seem more in love with an image they have made of their own holiness and perfection, than of the glorious righteousness of Jesus. Yea, they so esteem their own holiness, that they think it is to effect for them more than Christ's righteousness hath, even secure and make effectual their own salvation. Thus the imputed righteousness of Christ is cashiered out of their faith and affection, to make way for their pretended holiness. This is the very essence of a Pharisee. But "being made free from sin (the power of pride within, as well as of sin without) ye become servants of God, ye have your FRUIT unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."—Romans 6:22.

- excerpt from William Mason's A Spiritual Treasury for the Children of God, Volume 1, November 5

 

[37818]

We can also add the Apostle's advice in 1 Corinthians 1:10, ". . . Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. . . ."
And then be mindful as to how we disagree, Romans 2:1, " . . . Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. . . ."

 

[Alan Gross]

As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. - 1 Peter 1:15.

Every believer in Jesus is holy. As being a member of the first Adam, he partakes of the life of sin and the spirit of unholiness; but being united to Jesus, Christ is his life. He partakes of the life of holiness and the spirit of holiness. This is evidenced by the outward holiness of his life.

Therefore exhortations to excite such to a holy conversation, are as necessary as they are frequent. Art thou a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus? What inestimable honor is this! It should be thy daily care and constant concern to walk worthy of this high and honorable vocation. It degrades thy birth to stoop to gratify base lusts; it demeans thy character to take up in the least with the slavery of sin and drudgery of Satan. It was good advice a heathen gave a prince, lest he should learn evil from bad company, "Always remember thou art a king's son." So ever remember, O Christian, thou art a son of the KING OF KINGS. Thy Father is holy; study to be like him; aim to resemble him in thy daily walk. This day thou wilt be exposed to the snares of sin and temptations to evil; they ever beset thee. Remember thy calling, it is to holiness of life; think of the end of it, happiness in glory. It sounds as harsh in one's ears to hear of a wicked Christian as to hear of a dark sun. But beware of making an idol of thy own holiness. We read of Pygmalion, who had got an image so lively that he took it for a real person, and fell in love with it. This seems to be the case with some; they are more taken up with, talk more about, and seem more in love with an image they have made of their own holiness and perfection, than of the glorious righteousness of Jesus. Yea, they so esteem their own holiness, that they think it is to effect for them more than Christ's righteousness hath, even secure and make effectual their own salvation. Thus the imputed righteousness of Christ is cashiered out of their faith and affection, to make way for their pretended holiness. This is the very essence of a Pharisee. But "being made free from sin (the power of pride within, as well as of sin without) ye become servants of God, ye have your FRUIT unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."—Romans 6:22.

- excerpt from William Mason's A Spiritual Treasury for the Children of God, Volume 1, November 5

It all bears repeating, over and over.

I LOVE IT when someone "Says SOMETHING"!

= tremendously Honorable to God.

But beware of making an idol of thy own holiness.

We read of Pygmalion, who had got an image so lively that he took it for a real person, and fell in love with it.

This seems to be the case with some; they are more taken up with, talk more about, and seem more in love with an image they have made of their own holiness and perfection, than of the glorious righteousness of Jesus. Yea, they so esteem their own holiness, that they think it is to effect for them more than Christ's righteousness hath, even secure and make effectual their own salvation.

Thus the imputed righteousness of Christ is cashiered out of their faith and affection, to make way for their pretended holiness.

This is the very essence of a Pharisee.

But "being made free from sin (the power of pride within, as well as of sin without) ye become servants of God, ye have your FRUIT unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."—Romans 6:22.

 

[JD731]

Galatians 5:16–17 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

Online forums can be a great place to fellowship and learn about one another. It is also a good place to try and understand the beliefs of other Christians as well as to re-examine one's own beliefs.

Unfortunately it can also be an unkind (even unChristian) environment if not kept in check.

How does walking in the Spirit apply to our online interactions?

Historically, there is a context to Ga 5. It follows the logical reasoning for the initial purpose Paul wrote the letter to these gentiles, whom he and others had won to Christ on his first missionary journey from Antioch, Syria. He wrote the letter as a rebuke to these churches because they were following the teaching of false apostles, who claimed to believe in Christ, but added circumcision and keeping portions of the law of Moses as the test of ones salvation. This was a departure from the faith. This letter then becomes instruction for us today, some 2000 years later.

The problem in the Galatians area was so insidious that it caused contention among the apostles, with Paul rebuking Peter for his inconsistencies. An apostle of Jesus Christ being led astray by the false teachers on the foundation of Christianity should demonstrate the power of the devil and the dangers that we face today. Barnabas, the companion of Paul on his first preaching tour to gentiles, was also compromised in his resolve to stand for the truth by this grand attack. What if Paul had not recognized this problem and boldly acted as he did? What if we did not have the letter to the Galatians today? What if one of us was called on to rebuke the teachers of false doctrine that compromised the fundamentals of the faith? Speaking for myself, I probably do not have that kind of courage and resolve. It does reminds me of a proverb - open rebuke is better than secret love.

Here is the context for Ga 5, where walking in the flesh is identified with adding works to grace for one's justification and salvation, particularly keeping the Law of Moses. Walking in the Spirit is following the Lord who has indwelt us with his Spirit and has set us free from our own efforts in salvation. In Galatians salvation is defined by receiving the promised Spirit of Christ to dwell in the body, making the saved one a son of God. It is the new birth, a new creature, the very thing that Paul says is of utmost importance.
(14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature).

Ga 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
______________________________________________________

Ga 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
__________________________________________________

The problem with these boards is their rules often times makes dealing with false doctrines an offense and they are far more worried that the perpetrator is offended than is Jesus Christ, who has given us a gracious salvation by such a tremendous sacrifice of himself, but has made it a very narrow way. One may not deviate from the foundation of this salvation in him by the cross.

Paul to the Galatians because they were fooled by these men who "believed" in Jesus but did not believe what God said;

Ga 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

My guess is that if Paul would have been speaking to these lost Jesus believers that he named here in Galatians on most message boards, he would have been banned for being unkind and unchristian.

Seasoned men who had traveled and had ministered with Jesus during his earthly ministry, Peter and Barnabas, were led astray by these false teachers. If this could happen to them, should it not be a warning to us?

Here these men are in Antioch;
Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders

Here is another group.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

There are many more variations of the gospel of Christ these days and there is danger all around.

 

[JonC]

Historically, there is a context to Ga 5. It follows the logical reasoning for the initial purpose Paul wrote the letter to these gentiles, whom he and others had won to Christ on his first missionary journey from Antioch, Syria. He wrote the letter as a rebuke to these churches because they were following the teaching of false apostles, who claimed to believe in Christ, but added circumcision and keeping portions of the law of Moses as the test of ones salvation. This was a departure from the faith. This letter then becomes instruction for us today, some 2000 years later.

The problem in the Galatians area was so insidious that it caused contention among the apostles, with Paul rebuking Peter for his inconsistencies. An apostle of Jesus Christ being led astray by the false teachers on the foundation of Christianity should demonstrate the power of the devil and the dangers that we face today. Barnabas, the companion of Paul on his first preaching tour to gentiles, was also compromised in his resolve to stand for the truth by this grand attack. What if Paul had not recognized this problem and boldly acted as he did? What if we did not have the letter to the Galatians today? What if one of us was called on to rebuke the teachers of false doctrine that compromised the fundamentals of the faith? Speaking for myself, I probably do not have that kind of courage and resolve. It does reminds me of a proverb - open rebuke is better than secret love.

Here is the context for Ga 5, where walking in the flesh is identified with adding works to grace for one's justification and salvation, particularly keeping the Law of Moses. Walking in the Spirit is following the Lord who has indwelt us with his Spirit and has set us free from our own efforts in salvation. In Galatians salvation is defined by receiving the promised Spirit of Christ to dwell in the body, making the saved one a son of God. It is the new birth, a new creature, the very thing that Paul says is of utmost importance.
(14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature).

Ga 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
______________________________________________________

Ga 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
__________________________________________________

The problem with these boards is their rules often times makes dealing with false doctrines an offense and they are far more worried that the perpetrator is offended than is Jesus Christ, who has given us a gracious salvation by such a tremendous sacrifice of himself, but has made it a very narrow way. One may not deviate from the foundation of this salvation in him by the cross.

Paul to the Galatians because they were fooled by these men who "believed" in Jesus but did not believe what God said;

Ga 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

My guess is that if Paul would have been speaking to these lost Jesus believers that he named here in Galatians on most message boards, he would have been banned for being unkind and unchristian.

Seasoned men who had traveled and had ministered with Jesus during his earthly ministry, Peter and Barnabas, were led astray by these false teachers. If this could happen to them, should it not be a warning to us?

Here these men are in Antioch;
Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders

Here is another group.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

There are many more variations of the gospel of Christ these days and there is danger all around.

I disagree on some parts of your conclusions.

In that same context Paul provides the "fruit of the Spirit"

Even when Paul rebukes he does so with a Christ-like demeanor.

 

[JD731]

I disagree on some parts of your conclusions.

In that same context Paul provides the "fruit of the Spirit"

Even when Paul rebukes he does so with a Christ-like demeanor.

He left no doubt about the false teachers if you read the first few verses in chapter 1. But, be that as it may, he received 195 stripes across his back during his ministry and was left for dead at Lystra, etc, because those who did not like his message reacted very poorly to him and it.

Here is a proverb that suits the situation, I think.
Most men will proclaim their own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?

 

[JonC]

He left no doubt about the false teachers if you read the first few verses in chapter 1. But, be that as it may, he received 195 stripes across his back during his ministry and was left for dead at Lystra, etc, because those who did not like his message reacted very poorly to him and it.

Here is a proverb that suits the situation, I think.
Most men will proclaim their own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?

I'm not saying that we should allow error into our congregations.

But I am saying this is applicable:

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.

Self-centered people will, of course, object to any correction regardless as to how it is presented. In reality, I believe they prefer a harsh argument over gentle reproof.

 

[Jorge Shailer Baker]

Galatians 5:16–17 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

Online forums can be a great place to fellowship and learn about one another. It is also a good place to try and understand the beliefs of other Christians as well as to re-examine one's own beliefs.

Unfortunately it can also be an unkind (even unChristian) environment if not kept in check.

How does walking in the Spirit apply to our online interactions?

Hello JonC
This requires a mature Christian, many of the early church if not all were wrestling with not a really spiritual way of walking...
Online forum just let you see how spiritual the other one behind the monitor and keyboard is... if we really want to be as our Lord, we must always take this into account.

J.S.

 

[Jorge Shailer Baker]

Galatians 5:22–26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Amen! we need to always have this in our minds and hearts; is not easy, as Paul said:

"21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:21-25

 

[JonC]

Hello JonC
This requires a mature Christian, many of the early church if not all were wrestling with not a really spiritual way of walking...
Online forum just let you see how spiritual the other one behind the monitor and keyboard is... if we really want to be as our Lord, we must always take this into account.

J.S.

I agree with you that online forums are windows into the walk of the believer. Anonymity seems to remove the facade.

I'd say the early Christians wrestled with this to an extent (hence Paul's words). But I suspect the most immature early Christian may be more mature than our best. The reason I think this is the circumstances in which they held their faith. They faced persecutions that could very well end their lives. Our "persecution" typically manifests in the world saying bad things about us, or concerns with our tax exemption being revoked.

 

[JD731]

I'm not saying that we should allow error into our congregations.

But I am saying this is applicable:

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.

Self-centered people will, of course, object to any correction regardless as to how it is presented. In reality, I believe they prefer a harsh argument over gentle reproof.

You brought up the Galatians passage. The probability that the Galatians were saved was relatively sure. They had believed the preachers preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is what it takes to be saved. Those false apostles, the Judaizers, who came later were there teaching that they must keep portions of the law of Moses before they could be saved insured that these would be the last ones in Galatia to be saved. Men who add anything to the cross of Christ and his resurrection from the dead as necessary to be saved are cursed, anathema.

Thank God Paul wrote this letter of correction appealing to sound logic and experience to negate the errors of these men. Here is an example of his appeal to logic and reason and experience.

Ga 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Ga 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise (the promise is the Spirit = Life) by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

If false teachers are uncontested when they teach a false way of salvation that does not begin with the cross of Jesus Christ, their converts become religious but they do not get saved. They all have a Jesus they believe in but if they believed God they would believe what he wrote about Jesus, his Son. These false prophets that taught in Galatia believed in Jesus but they did not believe God when he said he would save anyone and everyone who will simply trust in him to wash their sins away in his own blood. Adding anything to this is another gospel. The way is narrow.

Ac 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

What did these guys believe? They believed in a Jesus but they did not believe what God said about him. These were apostles they were contending with. They had been commissioned by God to speak his words.

 

[JonC]

You brought up the Galatians passage. The probability that the Galatians were saved was relatively sure. They had believed the preachers preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is what it takes to be saved. Those false apostles, the Judaizers, who came later were there teaching that they must keep portions of the law of Moses before they could be saved insured that these would be the last ones in Galatia to be saved. Men who add anything to the cross of Christ and his resurrection from the dead as necessary to be saved are cursed, anathema.

Thank God Paul wrote this letter of correction appealing to sound logic and experience to negate the errors of these men. Here is an example of his appeal to logic and reason and experience.

Ga 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Ga 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise (the promise is the Spirit = Life) by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

If false teachers are uncontested when they teach a false way of salvation that does not begin with the cross of Jesus Christ, their converts become religious but they do not get saved. They all have a Jesus they believe in but if they believed God they would believe what he wrote about Jesus, his Son. These false prophets that taught in Galatia believed in Jesus but they did not believe God when he said he would save anyone and everyone who will simply trust in him to wash their sins away in his own blood. Adding anything to this is another gospel. The way is narrow.

Ac 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

What did these guys believe? They believed in a Jesus but they did not believe what God said about him. These were apostles they were contending with. They had been commissioned by God to speak his words.

I think you misunderstood my post.

I do believe that we are to guard our congregation against false teachings. Of course, I also believe that we are not to judge the servants of Another. Our "jurisdiction" is narrow.

I was talking about how we interact (whether we engage others in a worldly manner or a Christ-like manner).

 

[JD731]

I think you misunderstood my post.

I do believe that we are to guard our congregation against false teachings. Of course, I also believe that we are not to judge the servants of Another. Our "jurisdiction" is narrow.

2 Tim 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Two negatives and and one positive in the instructions to the preacher. (V2) It seems that afflictions might come because of the negatives. (V5) This certainly appears as a prophesy. (V3).

I was talking about how we interact (whether we engage others in a worldly manner or a Christ-like manner).

I have read the four gospel accounts of how Jesus Christ acted and reacted to men. This and the pattern of the apostle Paul is really the only way I can understand "Christ-like." It was religious men who put him and his apostles to death because of what they preached. So then, definitions of "Christ-like" might differ between men. The ecumenical attitudes of today could be a fulfillment of the prophesy. We do have a heap of new Bibles along with Greek scholars and more denominations and cults and sects than we have ever had. I am reminded of this:

John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

 

[JonC]

2 Tim 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Two negatives and and one positive in the instructions to the preacher. (V2) It seems that afflictions might come because of the negatives. (V5) This certainly appears as a prophesy. (V3).



I have read the four gospel accounts of how Jesus Christ acted and reacted to men. This and the pattern of the apostle Paul is really the only way I can understand "Christ-like." It was religious men who put him and his apostles to death because of what they preached. So then, definitions of "Christ-like" might differ between men. The ecumenical attitudes of today could be a fulfillment of the prophesy. We do have a heap of new Bibles along with Greek scholars and more denominations and cults and sects than we have ever had. I am reminded of this:

John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

I think we can understand "Christ-like" by reading the accounts of Christ in the Gospels. But Paul's description is also helpful.

The problem is we often see Christians judging other congregations for differences. We see christians offering correction to other believers but not in the way we were commanded (not in gentleness, kindness, love).