Subject: Explain the Holy Trinity-verysimple form |
Bible Note: Noble, I too would agree, once having the Word, that the real growth comes in the practical application of it in the life of the believer. My contribution and why I agree with you.The Word is within us. James 1:21-27 ...and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ...If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. ***The implanted word in this place suggests the indwelling Spirit, the indwelling Christ, etc. Paul also commanded that the "word of Christ" should dwell in Christians. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living, and active and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. Colossians 1:27 To whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of the glory. ***Coffman- Christ in you ... This is the essence of the "mystery" as Paul expounded it here; but a comparison with other Pauline writings on the subject reveals the mystery to be somewhat complex. There are eight expressions in the New Testament, all eight of which refer to a single state, namely, the saved state; and these are: (1) Christ is in you; (2) you are in Christ; (3) God is in you; (4) you are in God; (5) the Holy Spirit is in you; (6) you are in the Holy Spirit; (7) the mind of Christ is in you; (8) the word of Christ is in you. For Scriptural references and discussion of all these see Galatians 5:23, this volume. It is mandatory, of course, to see all of these various designations as reference to one condition only, that of the redeemed in Christ. The fact that all such references are indeed synonymous is evident from Paul's usage in this and the following verse. Here he spoke of "Christ in you"; in the very next verse, and speaking of the same thing, he referred to it as presenting every man "in Christ," thus quite obviously using "in Christ" and "Christ in you" interchangeably. *** 2 tim 2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear. ***Strive not about words, to no profit ... Needless and useless argumentation have been the bane of historical Christianity. At the time of the great Communist revolution in Russia, the Orthodox Church was engaged in a tremendous argumentative crisis over the making of church vestments! Many a time, Christians have plunged into useless and silly arguments while the citadel of their faith was destroyed. Not only are such arguments of no profit, as Paul said; but they are actively mischievous, destructive and subversive of true faith. Christians? They are commanded not to do it! *** 15 Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth. ***Practically all of the exegesis on this verse regards the Greek words here rendered "handling aright," and in the KJV, "rightly dividing" the word of truth. The words have the following basic meaning: The compound verb (rightly dividing) means to "cut straight... the Greeks used the word for "expound soundly." 16 But shun profane babblings: for they will proceed further in ungodliness, ***Shun ..."This is a strong word and means literally to make a circuit so as to avoid." Profane babblings ... This refers especially to the striving about words to no profit, mentioned above. Those arguments which make frequent use of God's name, and yet without honor and submission to God's will, are actually profane in spite of any cloak of piety; and there are many religious discussions which fall squarely into this category. They will proceed further ...The end result of such disputations is not righteousness, but ungodliness.*** Reading the Bible, remembering and taking heed to it's teachings, sharing the Gospel of Christ Jesus and showing love and tolerance to one another seems to be a wise thing. If we are truly saved isn't the Word living within us. We can only grow by acting upon it, IMHO. -khuck |