Happy Riches Answers.
Interesting how you suggest people hold to the claim that people can do all things through Christ, but maybe they fail to keep God's commandments.
The context of Philippians chapter four begins:
The issue about keeping God's commandments that you raise has nothing to do with abasement or abounding, rather this is about whether we are seeking to walk with our Lord Jesus Christ or merely being token believers, secularists with one foot inside the door every now and again (just in case) while making the most of what the world has to offer. Although praying to win a football match may seem a distorted use of faith to the self-righteous, everyone has freewill.
The question is what happens when a person praying to win a sports event loses? Is the person true to his or her convictions? Is the person honorable about the fact that the prayer has not been answered? Is the person justified in any appraisal of matters at hand? Is the person pure in his or her devotion towards God? Is the person possessing a lovely frame of mind and approachable enough for a relaxed conversation? Is the person gracious towards others? Is the person thinking of spiritual excellence? Is the person thinking about things that are worthy of praise?
The issue is really fruit, but unless people who claim to be Christians are walking as Jesus did (1 John 2:6), then they are not being true in their convictions. If we are true to our convictions we will make a point of understanding the commandments of God. Unfortunately most Christians make a point of arguing over certain doctrines and not walking in accordance to the what is written.
If the just requirement of the Law is fulfilled in all Christians as the Bible states (Romans 8:4), then everyone who claims to be a Christian will be walking in the Spirit of God. The Royal Law of God will be fulfilled in them (James 2:8).
When it comes to the commandments of God, there are Ten. Jesus simplified them and made them two. Yet nobody keeps them (even I myself cannot say that I have lived up to the just requirement of the law as a Christian--and people say I am too hot to handle, not because I am judgmental, but because I don't like sinning). This is what happens when we know what the reality of sin can do. However, love can be anything a person wants it to be, which is one of the reasons that many people who call themselves Christians fail to demonstrate the love of God in their lives. Especially, when the pressure is on. Of course, it is a different story if the peace of God reigns within. Nobody ruffles the feathers of a person who is at peace and possesses the joy of salvation.
In most instances, people will say that love transcends the Ten Commandments, yet when you ask them to explain love, they cannot. They struggle. Then they will refer you to First Corinthians, chapter thirteen. They will say that the Law is negative but love is positive. This means that they have no idea of what is really written in 1 Corinthians 13. (But if you want the truth read the truth about the love chapter.)
When Elihu is addressing Job, he states: "But if they do not hearken, they perish by the sword, and die without knowledge." (Job 36:12)
An often half-quoted Proverb states: "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." (Proverbs 29:18)
For a person to walk with Lord Jesus Christ today, one has to keep away from the world as much as possible. This is difficult to do. But not any more difficult than in the days of Jesus. The decadence of the Roman Empire was horrific. Pedophilia, homosexuality, prostitution and whatever fleshly fancy, a person with money had, was freely available. So nothing has changed much, except that through the internet, pornography has gotten into the psyche of a higher percentage of individuals than who were possessed by its addiction previously. Even today, when watching and listening to junior high school children heading home, I really saw no difference between them and myself at their age (iphones seem to be the only exception). Although I did think of how difficult it would be for a Christian child at that age.
A Christian teenager would be under immense pressure, probably more so than yesteryear to conform and be tempted to indulge and immerse his or her mind in internet porn. Unless, a child has a genuine desire to know Lord Jesus Christ and receive the power of the Holy Spirit into his or her life, it is doubtful any would be saying, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Yet, there is the possibility, that it might be easier for such a child than for a twenty year old, who has known the ways of the world and is attempting to look to God.
The only way anyone can keep the Commandments of God and walk with Lord Jesus is if the person has been circumcised of heart. For this is what Moses said:
expounds upon the thought of the text and says:
Yet many people refuse to be filled with the Holy Spirit because "love" is an emotion and they do not like being emotional. Consequently, they refer to this as "emotionalism", as if it were a philosophy like that to which they adhere. If nothing else, that tells us lot about such people. This is what the Holy Bible says:
Let alone moving mountains, most people have difficulty understanding what love requires; not to mention getting logs out their eyes and molehills out of their lives. But unless, we understand that the Ten Commandments are about relationships and the love of God, we can claim whatever we like, we are still ignorant and we will perish from lack of vision because the eyes of our hearts have not been circumcised (Ephesians 1:18)
The context of Philippians chapter four begins:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is anyexcellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.
I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me; you were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. I can do all things in him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:4-13)Learning to be content in poverty is okay. What about with you are very wealthy? Is a person to be anxious about having more money than other people? Or is the person to be a good steward?
The issue about keeping God's commandments that you raise has nothing to do with abasement or abounding, rather this is about whether we are seeking to walk with our Lord Jesus Christ or merely being token believers, secularists with one foot inside the door every now and again (just in case) while making the most of what the world has to offer. Although praying to win a football match may seem a distorted use of faith to the self-righteous, everyone has freewill.
The question is what happens when a person praying to win a sports event loses? Is the person true to his or her convictions? Is the person honorable about the fact that the prayer has not been answered? Is the person justified in any appraisal of matters at hand? Is the person pure in his or her devotion towards God? Is the person possessing a lovely frame of mind and approachable enough for a relaxed conversation? Is the person gracious towards others? Is the person thinking of spiritual excellence? Is the person thinking about things that are worthy of praise?
The issue is really fruit, but unless people who claim to be Christians are walking as Jesus did (1 John 2:6), then they are not being true in their convictions. If we are true to our convictions we will make a point of understanding the commandments of God. Unfortunately most Christians make a point of arguing over certain doctrines and not walking in accordance to the what is written.
If the just requirement of the Law is fulfilled in all Christians as the Bible states (Romans 8:4), then everyone who claims to be a Christian will be walking in the Spirit of God. The Royal Law of God will be fulfilled in them (James 2:8).
When it comes to the commandments of God, there are Ten. Jesus simplified them and made them two. Yet nobody keeps them (even I myself cannot say that I have lived up to the just requirement of the law as a Christian--and people say I am too hot to handle, not because I am judgmental, but because I don't like sinning). This is what happens when we know what the reality of sin can do. However, love can be anything a person wants it to be, which is one of the reasons that many people who call themselves Christians fail to demonstrate the love of God in their lives. Especially, when the pressure is on. Of course, it is a different story if the peace of God reigns within. Nobody ruffles the feathers of a person who is at peace and possesses the joy of salvation.
In most instances, people will say that love transcends the Ten Commandments, yet when you ask them to explain love, they cannot. They struggle. Then they will refer you to First Corinthians, chapter thirteen. They will say that the Law is negative but love is positive. This means that they have no idea of what is really written in 1 Corinthians 13. (But if you want the truth read the truth about the love chapter.)
When Elihu is addressing Job, he states: "But if they do not hearken, they perish by the sword, and die without knowledge." (Job 36:12)
An often half-quoted Proverb states: "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." (Proverbs 29:18)
For a person to walk with Lord Jesus Christ today, one has to keep away from the world as much as possible. This is difficult to do. But not any more difficult than in the days of Jesus. The decadence of the Roman Empire was horrific. Pedophilia, homosexuality, prostitution and whatever fleshly fancy, a person with money had, was freely available. So nothing has changed much, except that through the internet, pornography has gotten into the psyche of a higher percentage of individuals than who were possessed by its addiction previously. Even today, when watching and listening to junior high school children heading home, I really saw no difference between them and myself at their age (iphones seem to be the only exception). Although I did think of how difficult it would be for a Christian child at that age.
A Christian teenager would be under immense pressure, probably more so than yesteryear to conform and be tempted to indulge and immerse his or her mind in internet porn. Unless, a child has a genuine desire to know Lord Jesus Christ and receive the power of the Holy Spirit into his or her life, it is doubtful any would be saying, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Yet, there is the possibility, that it might be easier for such a child than for a twenty year old, who has known the ways of the world and is attempting to look to God.
The only way anyone can keep the Commandments of God and walk with Lord Jesus is if the person has been circumcised of heart. For this is what Moses said:
"And the Lord your God will circumcise your heartand the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live." (Deuteronomy 30:6)The Amplified Bible (AMP)
expounds upon the thought of the text and says:
“And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants [that is, He will remove the desire to sin from your heart], so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, so that you may live [as a recipient of His blessing].Nothing has changed really in this regard. Unless a person is circumcised of heart no person is going to be loving God as Lord. The difference today is that instead of having to go through the process of preparing and submitting sin offerings and peace offerings, we can be filled with the Holy Spirit and pray in the Spirit at all times (Ephesians 6:18).
Yet many people refuse to be filled with the Holy Spirit because "love" is an emotion and they do not like being emotional. Consequently, they refer to this as "emotionalism", as if it were a philosophy like that to which they adhere. If nothing else, that tells us lot about such people. This is what the Holy Bible says:
We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.(Romans 5:3-5)Yes we can do all things in Christ Jesus, providing we are in His perfect will. Sometimes people are able to exercise sufficient faith to move what seemingly appear to be mountains, if they are only humps. Nevertheless, if a person has sufficient faith to do so, and does not doubt, Jesus says that a person can move mountains.
Let alone moving mountains, most people have difficulty understanding what love requires; not to mention getting logs out their eyes and molehills out of their lives. But unless, we understand that the Ten Commandments are about relationships and the love of God, we can claim whatever we like, we are still ignorant and we will perish from lack of vision because the eyes of our hearts have not been circumcised (Ephesians 1:18)
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