Factors for consistency in learning doctrine; John 15:10Title: Factors for consistency in learning doctrine; John 15:10.
As we have defined agapan love: A mental attitude impersonal, unconditional love from mature virtue that recognizes the value of an object, producing a self-sacrificial preference and regard for its benefit even if hated. It is without sin and is not motivated by any affection or attraction.
2 Thess 3:12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.
If you do not follow the doctrine you will not abide in the sphere of love. We must reside in the plan to succeed as new creatures in Christ and to develop the virtue from doctrine needed to have agape love. This aspect of God’s plan is under attack right now in America and all over the world as people want the state to take care of them.
James 2:14 What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith [doctrine], but he has no works [application]? Can that faith [doctrine] save [deliver] him [from divine discipline]?
1 Cor 15:7 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
2 Cor 11:27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Our Lord emphasized the difference between the world view of victory and God’s guarantee of victory.
Matt 20:20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Him with her sons, bowing down, and making a request of Him.
Matt 20:21 And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left."
Now that’s lazy. Get mom to ask.
Like the youngster who wants to start out as president of the company rather than the mail room and work their way up, so is the believer who desires the blessings of spiritual maturity but is not willing to consistently listen to the word, concentrate, metabolize, apply in all circumstances, go through suffering, lay down their lives, be consistently humble and teachable, etc.
There are no short-cuts to spiritual maturity. The believer must devote his life to being a disciplined student of the word of God and the filling of the Spirit. There is no other way, John 14:6.
Matt 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you are asking for. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to Him, "We are able."
Matt 20:23 He said to them, "My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father."
Matt 20:24 And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers.
Matt 20:25 But Jesus called them to Himself, and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.
Matt 20:26 "It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,
Matt 20:27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;
Matt 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. "
So it is clear that this agape love is self-sacrificial for the benefit and not hindrance of another. It is a lack of MAS and a mature virtue that sees the value in another by which there is potential for good and it is never motivated by attraction or affinity for the object. Agape love is not lazy or idle, rather it gives the energy to be a servant to another with vigor, joy, and self-discipline.
Illustration: RAS
Those with positive volition will gain compassionate and giving hearts increasing ever more onto agape love where they will lay down their lives.
There will always be weak people who take advantage of the strong who possess virtue love. Spiritual common sense must dictate when you are no longer helping them but hurting them.
A believer must also use his spiritual common sense to determine when it is your time to rest so that you don’t get burned out.
Mark 6:30 And the apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught.
Mark 6:31 And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while." (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)
Mark 6:32 And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves.
A believer must be careful not to work so much on behalf of others that he neglects the time needed for his own spiritual life in learning, praying, and reflecting.
Song 1:6 They made me caretaker of the vineyards, But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.
The Lord did not continue to cater to those with negative volition even though they continued to follow Him.
John 6:15 Jesus therefore perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force, to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.
John 6:26 "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled.
John 6:66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore.
John 15:9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
How do I continue to abide in His love?
John 15:10"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.
“keep” – tereo[tereo – aorist active subjunctive] = to guard something that belongs to you as precious. “commandments” = Bible doctrine has been graciously given to every believer.
This is not the 10 commandments. There are over 400 commandments in the NT in every category of doctrine.
The subjunctive mood makes this a 3rd class condition.
Therefore, guarding the doctrine you have is extremely important.
Ps 138:2 I will bow down toward Thy holy temple, And give thanks to Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth; For Thou hast magnified Thy word according to all Thy name.
Our Lord’s last word before His physical death was doctrine.
Ps 31:5 Into Thy hand I commit my spirit; Thou hast ransomed me, O Lord, God of truth.
Prov 8:32 "Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For blessed are they who keep my ways.
Prov 8:33 "Heed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it.
Prov 8:34 "Blessed [happinesses] is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts.
Prov 8:35 "For he who finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord.
Prov 8:36 "But he who sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love death."
There are 10 factors in learning doctrine:
1.The believer must have positive volition toward the Word of God in times of adversity or prosperity and realization of the importance of Bible doctrine resident in his soul.
Heb 10:35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
Heb 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
This comes through some exposure to teaching, through adversity in experience, divine discipline, it comes in many ways.
2. The expression of positive volition in regular and consistent attendance at the local church where doctrine is taught. This involves positive identification of your own right pastor.
Heb 10:25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.
That attendance is legitimately expressed through non face to face listeners as well.
3. The filling of the Spirit which is provided in grace through the rebound technique.
Heb 10:29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
4. Objectivity with regard to personality, grooming, public speaking, and the character of the pastor.
1 Tim 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
5. Objectivity with regard to the content of the pastor’s message.
The content may seem irrelevant for the moment. The content may be critical of you personally and even intrude upon your present lifestyle. The content may not be euphemistic enough for you; therefore you don’t think it is spiritual. You associate spirituality with euphemisms and therefore you are personally offended. Or the content may have no personal interest for you at the moment. All of these must be approached with objectivity and you must concentrate in spite of these. This requires some measure of growth.
James 1:21 Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
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