Saturday, 27 February 2016

Having the Mind of Christ

LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU, WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and BECAME OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
Php 2:5‭-‬16 NKJV
Having the "Mind of Christ" is not about US being the righteousness of God in Christ. It is NOT about US rejoicing over having right standing with God. It is not the notion of "Because Jesus obeyed, so we don't have to obey... " or "Jesus became poor and weak, so that we become rich and healthy!".
Paul declared this in the first sentence, "let this mind be in you, which was also be in Christ Jesus". What mind? That even though he did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, humbled himself and be OBEDIENT even to the point of death on the cross. The key theme of this passage is OBEDIENCE, NOT right standing. It is based on this context, that Paul urges the Philipians to WORK OUT their Salvation with fear and trembling.

Wednesday, 3 February 2016

Is Apostle Paul legalistic?

[Paul would have been labeled as the most legalistic Christian leader in today's context.... calling for one to be delivered to Satan for the destruction of the Flesh (as in destruction of Sinful act).]
[The idea of "Love" in Church today, promotes a "feel good", "offend no one", "Everybody is cool" form of love which the world promotes. However, biblical love includes discipline, rebuke and warning of judgement.]
3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.[b] - 1 Cor 5:3-5
[It means Paul sees getting rid of his sinful acts as something that is needful for his spirit to be saved]
I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone NAMED A BROTHER, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. - 1 Cor 5:9-11
[Nevertheless, the Corinthians repented under Paul's discipline. Paul therefore called for forgiveness and obedience.]
5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. 6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are OBEDIENT IN ALL THINGS. 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one[a] for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. - 2 Cor 2:5-11
6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. 8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you. - 2 Cor 7:6-12