The doctrine of glorifying God, Part 10, John 15:8Title: The doctrine of glorifying God, Part 10, John 15:8.
i. Bearing under undeserved suffering by application of doctrine brings glory to God, 1Pe 4:16.
Application of doctrine necessitates functioning in grace rather than human viewpoint, human merit, function of the flesh, or any martyrdom complex when it comes to suffering.
1 Peter 4:16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed [get emotional about it], but in that name [election in Christ] let him glorify God.
The term Christian was not originated by believers but this name was given to them by unbelievers in Antioch and it was definitely a name of derision in the beginning. The name stuck and it was used of them all over the Roman Empire. They were persecuted and experienced a certain element of danger under this name. When persecution backfired and actually made them strong they became proud of this name as a title of honor and that’s why it survived as a label for members of the Church.
And under grace that the believer has applied for years in infancy, adolescence, and spiritual adulthood, he will desire the opportunity to experience the sufferings of Christ.
Phil 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord [be happy that you are in Christ]. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you [repetition is a protection to your soul].
Phil 3:2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision [religious runners of the cosmic system];
Phil 3:3 for we are the true circumcision [salvation by faith resulting in RPT and CPT], who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus [share in His glory through the word of God] and put no confidence in the flesh [OSN],
Paul now pulls rank in his flesh, for no one could surpass him is his energy of the flesh.
Phil 3:4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:
Phil 3:5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee;
Phil 3:6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.
Phil 3:7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss [worthless] for the sake of Christ.
Phil 3:8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [knowing Him means an intimate relationship with Him, which leads to abiding in Him], for whom I have suffered the loss of all things [what he considered important before salvation], and count them but rubbish [skubala] in order that I may gain Christ,
Paul, sitting in prison while he pens the mystery doctrine of the Church reflects on his past life and his arrogant way of earthly conquest over men, religion, and materialism and he can only think of it in the most vulgar way and so he uses a vulgar term to describe it. He was powerful, famous, and wealthy and he lost it all, which on reflection was ok with him since it all amounted to piles of rubbish.
Phil 3:9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law [skubala], but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith [grace means faith without works therefore this verse excludes all religion],
Phil 3:10 that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings [suffering for blessing], being conformed to His death;
Phil 3:11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead [resurrection life in time].
Phil 3:12 Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect [mature], but I press on [dioko = lust] in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Phil 3:13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
Phil 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call [CA election] of God in Christ Jesus.
Phil 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect [mature], have this attitude [what attitude? that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead;] and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;
Phil 3:16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
Phil 3:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
Phil 3:18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ [salvation by works – just pick a religion],
Phil 3:19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite [they give themselves whatever they crave], and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
Phil 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
Phil 3:21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
j. Giving with right motivation glorifies God, 2 Co 9:13.
The Corinthians had promised a gift to Paul’s ministry in Macedonia a year prior, but then they thought better of it, and the gift didn’t arrive. The Corinthians out of fellowship thought of the gift grudgingly. Paul had already boasted about the graciousness of the Corinthians so in order to save them the embarrassment he writes to them the law of giving.
No one can get around the Law of Giving. All of us and in every dispensation, reap what we sow.
The reason why giving is a law is that it is a part of the essence of God. God is love and love motivates Him to give. But this law cannot include the human type of love since all of God’s essence is governed by Justice. Human love is selfish and self motivated, but under God’s Justice love must follow rules of divine perfection. |