Living by the principles of the bible as best you know them, is the best way to live.
Those principles will teach you to love.
To Love God and love others.
To be a better spouse and parent.
To respect your body as the temple of the Lord and to take care of it.
To respect ourselves as children of the most high God.
To respect the resources of the earth and the animals on the planet entrusted to our care.
To be honest in our business dealings with others.
To be a better employee/employer.
To be altruistic to the poor and needy among us.
To be kind and caring to all we meet and interact with.
To not live by the principles of God is embrace the consequences of living a shallow, self-centered, meaningless life.
Living by the principles of the bible as best you know them, is the best way to live.
Those principles will teach you to love.
To Love God and love others.
To be a better spouse and parent.
To respect your body as the temple of the Lord and to take care of it.
To respect ourselves as children of the most high God.
To respect the resources of the earth and the animals on the planet entrusted to our care.
To be honest in our business dealings with others.
To be a better employee/employer.
To be altruistic to the poor and needy among us.
To be kind and caring to all we meet and interact with.
To not live by the principles of God is embrace the consequences of living a shallow, self-centered, meaningless life.
Amanah,
Praise the Lord! I agree with the overall premise of your post. However, I want to stress something that I didn’t see mentioned.
Here’s a truth that many of us know, but we forget it… living by “biblical principles” do not and cannot save you. For example, a deeply “religious” person can live by “biblical principles” and not actually have a relationship with Christ. All the things you listed are wonderful things. But I think choosing to live by biblical principles is spiritual blood poison. Why? Because it’s typically rooted in several very deadly motivations:
- To become a better person.
- To improve the relationships around us.
- To gain prosperity and blessing.
- To be “holier” than the church down the road or the neighbor next door.
- To attempt to improve a circumstance that is out of your control.
- And perhaps the worst one of all… To go to Heaven.
None of the things above are saving motivators. Yes, they are all “positive” things… but they will land a person in Hell as quickly as any sin or rebellion. Why? It is because they are the essence of legalism.
Here are some truths that often shock believers when they realize them:
- The Father DOESN’T desire you to become a better you.
- The relationships around you are secondary to the Father’s plan for you.
- The Father DOESN’T always desire earthly prosperity for His children.
- The Father DOESN’T have a “holier-o-meter” whereby one is found holier than another.
- The Father wants you to surrender to His will in all things, realizing that there is NOTHING you can do to change various circumstances but to hold to His hand.
- The Father DOESN’T want you to live “biblical principles” in order to simply “go to Heaven”.
The Father’s single purpose and desire is to see those whom He has chosen become conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In this we become His children. You see… any denomination can outline religious principles based upon the Bible and therefore call them “biblical principles”. But those principles are always interpreted according to that denomination. If we live by the “biblical principles” as interpreted by our church or denomination… we become conformed into the image of our church or denomination… not the image of Jesus. God doesn’t desire us to live by biblical principles or standards; nor does the Father desire us to find our spiritual identities in them. There is only one standard and one principle: Jesus. Jesus is the standard… we are to be Christlike in all things. The principle whereby we achieve this is “oneness” with God through the Holy Spirit. Being “born again” involves regeneration, a change of nature. Regeneration is new life. Regeneration is becoming a new creature. This is because once the Holy Spirit comes to reside in us, Christ is in us, and we in Him. This is a spiritual “oneness” wherein we become one with God, in Christ, through the Spirit. Yes, God desires us to be “one” with Him, that He might manifest Jesus in us, by conforming us into the image of Jesus Himself.
This transformation alone is God’s goal for each and every one of us…not the living by principles. Because living by principles does not and cannot change your nature. Think about it… being conformed into the likeness of Jesus, having the mind of Christ, will we not automatically live out what were listed above as principles? Of course. Now, instead of being a checklist of principles to live by (a law) those things are something that naturally emanates from us (fruit).
Everything, including Heaven, is the result of this transformation. Allow the very person of Christ to completely possess you and permeate your very being. So don’t loose sight and seek to be a “better” anything by living in accordance to various principles, standards, or “spiritual laws”. Simply… be Jesus.
That is usually the way of it. We frequently do our own thing, even spiritual stuff, until something happens and we end up 'trying the Jesus thing' as the last option.
Could this be of God’s design? It’s human nature to do our own thing, even spiritual stuff (mostly serving self), until something happens, or a tragedy befalls us… and then we end up “trying the Jesus” thing as a last option.
What if the circumstance or the tragedy is by God’s design, an agent of grace, to drive us to the end of our self sufficiency, ability, and ego? What if God’s grace is being demonstrated in the trial that breaks our rebellious souls? Should we look down on a man who resists God for decades... until God sends the storm that breaks Him? I mean, after all, God loved him enough to send the storm that broke him and then opened his eyes to his need of a Saviour.
Consider the story of John Newton, the writer of Amazing Grace:
The Story of John Newton
Born in England, his mother died when he was seven. His father remarried and sent him away to school for a few years. At age eleven he left school and joined his father's ship to start life as a seaman. His early years were one continuous round of rebellion and debauchery. Newton eventually became the captain of a slave ship, but was such a cruel and vicious man, that his own crew mutinied and threw him overboard. Extracted from the waters, the slave trader himself became a slave. In 1748, while returning to England from Africa during a particularly stormy voyage, when all appeared lost, he began reading Thomas A. Kemps' book, Imitation of Christ. The message of Christ contained in this book and the frightening sea around him were used by the Holy Spirit to sow the seeds of his eventual conversion and personal acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.
Eventually freed, he returned to England, married, studied for the ministry, and, at age thirty-nine, entered the pastorate. He often used the story of his own life in his services and it was so effective he became known as the "Old Converted Sea Captain." An "extremist" practice he used in his Church was that of singing Hymns that expressed simple, heartfelt faith rather than the monotonous, repetitious, and void of true worship, singing that was common place. When he couldn't find enough hymns, he started writing his own. Over a period of years he and William Cowper produced the famous Olney Hymns Hymnal which contains 349 hymns, 282 written by himself. He pastored for a total of 45 years.
At age eighty-two this man went home to be with his Father. Until that time he never ceased to marvel at God's mercy and grace that had so dramatically changed his life. In the last years of his life while preaching he proclaimed in a loud voice, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: "That I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Saviour!" In the Churchyard in Olney, England, you will find his name on a tombstone. On it also you will find the following inscription written by him before his going home. I think it says all required to know of the faith of this man, a man who transformed thousands of lives by his very presence.
John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slavers in Africa, was by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.
As wicked a man as John Newton was, the Bible says "There is none righteous, no not one" Romans 3:10 It is hard for us to admit that ,in God's eye, we are all no better than this man. We all deserve Hell, but, like Newton, we must all say "That I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Saviour!"
I praise God for the trials that bring men to their knees to “try the Jesus thing”. It’s often evidence of God’s grace, love, and mercy.
That is usually the way of it. We frequently do our own thing, even spiritual stuff, until something happens and we end up 'trying the Jesus thing' as the last option.
It's not always the last option.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Could this be of God’s design? It’s human nature to do our own thing, even spiritual stuff (mostly serving self), until something happens, or a tragedy befalls us… and then we end up “trying the Jesus” thing as a last option.
Most assuredly! Then I look around and see people (including myself), falling back into self-serving modes of living. Even to the point of using God as a means to accomplish our own agendas. It is a continuous effort to keep the desires of the fleshly nature at bay. Being a life long job, perhaps that is why our bodies cannot enter into heaven, but must be first transformed. Even the physical body of Jesus had to undergo such a transformation before He could ascend.
Aquila - thank you.
Quote:
Here’s a truth that many of us know, but we forget it… living by “biblical principles” do not and cannot save you. For example, a deeply “religious” person can live by “biblical principles” and not actually have a relationship with Christ. All the things you listed are wonderful things. But I think choosing to live by biblical principles is spiritual blood poison. Why? Because it’s typically rooted in several very deadly motivations:
- To become a better person.
- To improve the relationships around us.
- To gain prosperity and blessing.
- To be “holier” than the church down the road or the neighbor next door.
- To attempt to improve a circumstance that is out of your control.
- And perhaps the worst one of all… To go to Heaven.
The chink in our armor has been exposed.
__________________
It makes no difference whether you study in the holy language, or in Arabic, or Aramaic [or in Greek or even in English]; it matters only whether it is done with understanding. - Moshe Maimonides.
I am a Christian because I desire to be a disciple of Jesus Christ because He rescued me from a life of sin and shame.I desire for others to find the peace that only He can give.
__________________
People who are always looking for fault,can find it easily all they have to do,is look into their mirror.
There they can find plenty of fault.
Praise the Lord! I agree with the overall premise of your post. However, I want to stress something that I didn’t see mentioned.
Here’s a truth that many of us know, but we forget it… living by “biblical principles” do not and cannot save you. For example, a deeply “religious” person can live by “biblical principles” and not actually have a relationship with Christ. All the things you listed are wonderful things. But I think choosing to live by biblical principles is spiritual blood poison. Why? Because it’s typically rooted in several very deadly motivations:
- To become a better person.
- To improve the relationships around us.
- To gain prosperity and blessing.
- To be “holier” than the church down the road or the neighbor next door.
- To attempt to improve a circumstance that is out of your control.
- And perhaps the worst one of all… To go to Heaven.
None of the things above are saving motivators. Yes, they are all “positive” things… but they will land a person in Hell as quickly as any sin or rebellion. Why? It is because they are the essence of legalism.
Here are some truths that often shock believers when they realize them:
- The Father DOESN’T desire you to become a better you.
- The relationships around you are secondary to the Father’s plan for you.
- The Father DOESN’T always desire earthly prosperity for His children.
- The Father DOESN’T have a “holier-o-meter” whereby one is found holier than another.
- The Father wants you to surrender to His will in all things, realizing that there is NOTHING you can do to change various circumstances but to hold to His hand.
- The Father DOESN’T want you to live “biblical principles” in order to simply “go to Heaven”.
The Father’s single purpose and desire is to see those whom He has chosen become conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In this we become His children. You see… any denomination can outline religious principles based upon the Bible and therefore call them “biblical principles”. But those principles are always interpreted according to that denomination. If we live by the “biblical principles” as interpreted by our church or denomination… we become conformed into the image of our church or denomination… not the image of Jesus. God doesn’t desire us to live by biblical principles or standards; nor does the Father desire us to find our spiritual identities in them. There is only one standard and one principle: Jesus. Jesus is the standard… we are to be Christlike in all things. The principle whereby we achieve this is “oneness” with God through the Holy Spirit. Being “born again” involves regeneration, a change of nature. Regeneration is new life. Regeneration is becoming a new creature. This is because once the Holy Spirit comes to reside in us, Christ is in us, and we in Him. This is a spiritual “oneness” wherein we become one with God, in Christ, through the Spirit. Yes, God desires us to be “one” with Him, that He might manifest Jesus in us, by conforming us into the image of Jesus Himself.
This transformation alone is God’s goal for each and every one of us…not the living by principles. Because living by principles does not and cannot change your nature. Think about it… being conformed into the likeness of Jesus, having the mind of Christ, will we not automatically live out what were listed above as principles? Of course. Now, instead of being a checklist of principles to live by (a law) those things are something that naturally emanates from us (fruit).
Everything, including Heaven, is the result of this transformation. Allow the very person of Christ to completely possess you and permeate your very being. So don’t loose sight and seek to be a “better” anything by living in accordance to various principles, standards, or “spiritual laws”. Simply… be Jesus.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to live by the principle of God's word. I suppose you are going to live by demonic principles?
What is the purpose of the bible if not to give us principles to live by?
Timothy:
14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine 1319; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself , and them that hear thee.
Doctrine, ie, principles of God's word will save you and those that hear you.
well, if nothing else, I've provided you all with a target.
Oh, and I never said living by biblical principles saves us.
No one was 'targeting you', sis. Aquila was simply taking what you provided and expanded it to include non-believers who, through their own spiritual nature and/or non-Christian religion, found the principles in the Bible to be acceptable as guidelines for living, yet, without ever touching the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:8, 2Timothy 3:1-9)
As these references reflect, there are those among the 'believing' that, while they go through the motions of the faithful, a disciple, their hearts are not turned toward the Christ. (Matthew 7:21-23)
You do well, please continue.
__________________
It makes no difference whether you study in the holy language, or in Arabic, or Aramaic [or in Greek or even in English]; it matters only whether it is done with understanding. - Moshe Maimonides.
Last edited by A.W. Bowman; 12-02-2011 at 11:47 AM.
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