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Would You Lie to Save Lives? The Quest for God’s Will Illustrations by Gustave Doré Dr.
M. G. Maness ~ ©1990 & 1998, Revised 2003 |
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Appendix 1.
The Will of God and a Man’s Lifework:
A Condensation
Contents Preface
A
I II III IV B V VI VII VIII IX X
top
Interlude C XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII D XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV
The following
is a condensation of Henry B. Wright’s The Will of God and a Man’s Lifework (New
York: The Young Men’s Christian
Association Press, 1911 [Copyright 1909]).
Though it was written as a daily study guide, the principles articulated
here form a magnificent complement to the principles outlined above on the
search for the will of God.
The principles
above in Would You Lie to Save Lives? outline a general course with
specific guidance on how to discern a biblical course in a conflict where
absolutes appear to conflict. The
principles below condensed from Wright's book outline a general guidance for
discerning the affairs of life, especially as products of Stage One in Chart 31
mentioned above. Both the above and
below presume a degree of biblical competence and expand upon that competence
to provide guidance in situations where we do not have a clear biblical
passage and we do not know God’s wills.
These principles help us discern God’s will for our life’s work and the
other myriad decisions that face the common Christian soldier.
The following
preface is an adapted portion of that book’s preface. That preface and the accompanying condensation are as apropos
today as they were at the turn of century.
More than that, one will see in the following many biblically based
principles and virtues that could be added to the first and second prioritization
in Dynamic Absolutism in the 1st and 2nd foundation
stones.
Following
Wright, the more significant scriptures have been placed in italics. The majority of the book was illustrated by
Wright’s commentary and his selection of quotes from among two dozen
writers: including, Horace Bushnell,
Henry Drummond, Phillips Brooks, F.B. Meyer, Andrew Murray, and especially R.E.
Speer’s The Man Christ Jesus and The Principles of Jesus. Wright also credits John Magee and Joseph
Roe as co-authors.
As I developed
my treatise on ethics, I searched for other works on ethics and God’s
will. I found none that surpassed
Wright’s work in so summarily and comprehensively attempting to organize
Scriptural references around the topic of “Knowing God’s Will.” The work that went into it must have been an
arduous labor of love.
Henry
B. Wright’s Preface (Condensed)
Largely as a
result of the failure to distinguish clearly between the decision to do God’s
will and the act of volunteering there exists among many today an erroneous
impression that the doing of God’s will is synonymous solely with the Clerical
and Missionary careers. The call of God
is popularly interpreted as a call to the Professional Ministry; Law, Business, Teaching, Medicine,
Engineering and like professions are distinguished as secular. They are regarded as fields into which a
person may enter without relation to God’s will—realms in which more latitude
is allowed to the individual in personal morals and in manner of life, and
within which he is largely released from responsibility for the advancement of
the Kingdom of God.
Jesus Christ
and his Apostles, however, entertained no such conception of the so-called
“secular” professions. Our Lord and his
followers were themselves laymen, not members of the professional clergy of the
day. To them all honorable careers
seemed to demand no less consecration to God than the organized church required
of its leaders.
This great
truth, which more than any other was the secret of the mighty advances of Christianity
in the first centuries, has been long obscured. But during the last decade more than at any other time it has
been rediscovered and applied in America.
The result has been a great leavening and purification of our public and
private life.
The present
outlines are a modest attempt to give a basis in experience for all such
practical and more general applications of Christianity to modern life. They do not, for an instant, seek to
discredit the preaching ministry at home or abroad to which all other careers
must ever look for higher leadership and inspiration. But they do insist and
strive to demonstrate that this career is not the only field of human activity
in which God’s will may be done fully and completely.
Every young man
in America today ought undoubtedly to subscribe to the declaration, “I will be
a clergyman at home or abroad if God so directs.” But just as surely should he at the same time subscribe to the
declaration, “I will be a doctor, lawyer, business man, teacher, or what not,
at home or abroad, if God so directs.”
The first declaration alone is not absolute but partial surrender to
God’s will. Only the two together
comprise unconditional enlistment in God’s service.
To make clear
the great fact of God’s will and its part in human life in a set of studies is
no easy task, for the underlying truth is one of the most difficult in the
world of ideas to grasp. Even when
clearly apprehended by the individual, it is well-nigh impossible of
demonstration by him to others as a mere intellectual proposition. It is a truth which must be imparted, not
taught [emphasis his]. Drummond
fully realized this when he wrote: “The
end of life is to do God’s will. Now
that is a great and surprising revelation.
No man ever found that out. It
has been before the world these eighteen hundred years yet few have even found
it out today.” If only partially
apprehended it is capable of the most grotesque and dangerous distortion,
especially regarding the gifts promised as the issues of obedience.
There exists,
however, a wide and for the most part sane literature on the general subject
and on its particular phases which has never been brought together and arranged
for daily study. Their outlines attempt
to systematize and render usable to students the material already at hand
rather than make any original contribution to the subject itself. Hence copious quotations from previous
writers.
In conclusion, I would that these studies might be
privileged to do a little something toward dissipating a prevalent idea that
the doing of God’s will is synonymous with a narrow, difficult and disagreeable
life work. He who has willed to do
God’s will completely as it has been revealed in nature and humanity, and as it
will daily be revealed in the path of duty, has for the first time fully found
himself. The issue of such a life—and
of such a life only—are freedom, joy and peace.
Henry B. Wright, Taunon, Mass., July 24, 1909
Contents of Appendix 1: Wright Condensation
Contents Preface A I II III IV B V VI VII VIII IX X top
Interlude C XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII D XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV
I. God has a Plan for Every Human Life.
II.
Jesus and the Will of God.
III. The Apostles
and the Will of God.
B. The Decision To Do
God’s Will
V. The Relation of the Act of Surrender of Self to
other Religious Rites and Spiritual Experiences.
VI. The Alternatives to Doing God’s Will as a
Life Purpose.
VIII. To Find Out and To Do God’s Will for One’s
Life Is an Achievement Possible for Any Man.
IX. God’s Will May Be Done in Any Honorable
Trade or Profession, Either at Home or Abroad.
X. The Necessity for Absolute Surrender of
Self.
Interlude: The
Necessity of Surrendering Self
C. The Finding Out of
God’s Will
XII. The Universal Will of God for All Persons.
XIII. The Particular Will of God for Each
Individual Person, for Career, Mate, Etc.
XIV. How to Know the Particular Will of God: the Four-Fold Touchstone of Jesus and the
Apostles.
Chart 1: Four-Fold Touchstone of Jesus [Four
Principles or Absolutes]
Chart 2: God's Will & Four-Fold Touchstone
XV. Four-Fold
Touchstone: (a) First Test—Purity
XVI. Four-Fold
Touchstone: (b) Second Test—Honesty
XVII. Four-Fold Touchstone: (c)
Third Test—Unselfishness
XVIII. Four-Fold Touchstone: (d)
Fourth Test—Love
D. The Issues of
Facing the Problem of Doing God’s Will
XIX. Issues of Rejection and Disobedience.
XX. Issues of Obedience: A. Knowledge.
XXI. Issues of Obedience (continued): B.
Protection from Harm and Provision for All Needs.
XXII. Issues of Obedience (continued): C.
Assurance as to One’s Duty and Power to Achieve Results.
XXIII. Issues of Obedience (continued): D.
Constant Companionship.
XXIV. Issues of Obedience (continued): E.
Eternal Life.
Contents Preface A I II III IV B V VI VII VIII IX X top
Interlude C XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII D XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV
I. God Has a Plan for Every Human Life
I will gird thee, though thou hast not known me. Is. 45:5
For who withstandeth his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest
against God? Shall the thing formed say
to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus? Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump
to make one part a vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor? Rom. 9:19-21
Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine
own? Matt. 20:5
1. God has a plan for the development of the
world which extends to all departments of life and to all spheres of human
activity. Is.
44:24-28; Jer. 18:5-6. Matt. 6:25-34, 10:29-30, 15:13,
25:34; Mk. 13:20 & 32; Acts 1:7, 17:26; Rom. 9:17; I Cor. 12:4-6, 12; II
Cor. 10:13; Eph. 2:10; Col. 1:169;
Heb. 1:10-12, 3:4; Rev. 17:17.
2. Yet God has decreed that this plan shall not
advance without the voluntary and freely given cooperation of humankind: “We are God’s
fellow-workers.” Matt . 23:37; Mk. 6:5-6, 16:20;
Lk. 1:76, 10:2-3, 11:5-13, 18:1-8;
Jn. 5:17 & 36, 8:16; Rom.
8:28; I Cor. 3:6-9; II Cor. 5:20, 6:1; Phil. 2:12-13; Heb.
2:6-8, 13:21; Rev. 3:20.
3. God has a particular part for every person
to perform in this plan. Is. 49:1;
Jer. 1:5. Matt. 11:10; Mark 13:34; 19:11, 20:1-16, 23, 25:15; Luke 13:32-33; John
15:16, 17:4, 18:37; Rom. 9:11,12; I Cor. 1:7,17, 12:4, 11; Gal. 1:15,16; Eph. 2:10, 4:7-8; Phil. 3:12.
4. Persons may find out what his particular
part is, and it is the true purpose of his existence to discover and do it. II Sam. 7:8-9; Psalm
32:8-9; Jer. 1:4-10. Acts 26:12-19.
5. Yet God forces no person to accept the
divine plan for his life. Man may
refuse or neglect to find it out; or
having found it out, he may refuse to perform it and follow plans of his own
making. Matt. 19:16-22; Luke 6:35-49; John 3:20,
5:40, 10:17-18; Acts 14:15-17, 17:24-27; Rom. 2:4, 8:20; Col. 4:17.
6. Yet God’s great plan for the world will be ultimately
perfected despite the delays and disorder introduced by human perversity. Daniel 4:32. Matt.
13:24-30, 31-33, 37-43, 15:13; Mark
4:26-29, 30-32; Acts 1:7, 5:38-39;
Rom. 3:3, 9:17-18, 28, 11:11;
II Cor. 13:8; James 5:1-8.
II. Jesus and the Will of God
For I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own
will, but the will of him that sent me.
John 6:38
My Father....not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matt. 26:39
My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to
accomplish his work. John 4:34
I do always the things that are pleasing to him. John 8:29
Our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins,
that he might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will
of our God and Father. Gal. 1:3-4
1. The idea that the doing of God’s will is the
supreme purpose of life was not originated by Jesus but was restated and
emphasized by him. Gen 22:1-12;
Psalms 4:7-8, 139:24, 143:10;
Daniel 4:14. Matt. 13:35; Heb. 10:7.
2. To find God’s will for his life, and to do
it, was the ruling principle and the energizing purpose of Jesus’ life. Matt. 4:10, 6:10, 26:33-42;
John 4:34, 5:30, 6:38, 9:4; Rom.
15:3; Gal. 1:4; Heb. 10:5-10.
This principle,
Was the reason for the incarnation: John 6:38;
Settled the temptation: Matt. 4:10;
Is a central thought in the Lord’s Prayer: Matt. 6:10;
Was the energizing cause of Jesus’ marvelous
ministry of service: John 4:34;
Inspired the sacrifice of the crucifixion: Gal. 1:4;
Matt. 26:38-42.
3. He faced the alternatives to doing God’s
will as definite, conscious, and spiritual temptations; and he successfully overcame them. Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13.
4. There were certain definite ways in which he
learned the will of God for his life. Matt. 6:28, 18:12-14,
26:39-44; John 5:30, 6:39, 7:17, 8:28; Heb.
10:7.
5. There were definite and immediate issues of
this obedience in Jesus’ earthly life.
Matt.
26:38-42; Phil. 2:5-8.
6. The were some ultimate results. Rom. 8:1-39: We were freed from condemnation. Phil. 2:8-11 (cf. 1 John
2:17): He was exalted. Heb. 10:2-10: We have been sanctified.
III. The Apostles and the Will of God
Ye are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:48.
Christ . . . in whom also we were made a
heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh
all things after the counsel of his will.
Eph. 1:10,11.
And be not fashioned according to this world: but ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that ye may prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of
God. Rom. 12:2.
1. To the Apostles and immediate followers of
Jesus were entrusted the interpretation and practical application of his
teaching regarding the will of God. Matt.
13:51-52; Luke 24:48; Acts 10:40-43.
2. In Acts we have the story of the obedience
of the early church to God’s call and leading, with the record of its
triumphant results. Acts 1:6-11, 2:1-4, 41,
4:32-35. Ananias, 9:10-18; Philip, 8:26; Agabus, Acts 11:28, 21:11;
early disciples, 13:2, 15:28, 21:4;
Cornelius, 10:3, 22, 30, 31;
Peter, 10:10, 11:12, 12:7; Paul,
9:4-7, 16:6, 9, 10, 18:9-10, 19:21, 22:7, 10, 17, 18, 21, 23:11, 26:14, 27:23.
3. Peter, the will of God, and the surrender of
self. John
21:15-22.
4. John, the will of God, and the surrender of
self. Matt. 4:21,22; Mark 3:17; John 19:25-27,
21:20-23.
5. Paul, the will of God, and the surrender of
self. Acts 9:1-22; Rom. 6:13, 8:14,15, 12:1;
I Cor. 1:26-31, 7:7, 20-24, 10:31;
Eph. 4:25-5:17; Phi. 1:21,
2:5-11, 4:13; Col. 1:9,10,2:3;
I Thess. 4:2-12.
6. Thomas and Judas, the will of God, and the
surrender of self. Matt. 23:37; John 20:24-29, 21:20-22.
IV. The Principle of Surrender of the Self Is a Reasonable One and Fundamental in Other Departments of Life, as well as Crucial to Doing God’s Will
Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die,
it abideth by itself alone: but if it die, it beareth much fruit. John 12:24
Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as
servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto
death, or of obedience unto righteousness.
Rom. 6:16
1. Self-development is a primary law of
life: seemingly contradictory to the
law of self-sacrifice. Matt. 25:14-30; Luke 2:52;
Heb. 11:6, 26.
2. Self-sacrifice satisfies many moral demands
of life. Matt.
10:38, 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23, 14:27; John 12:25; I Cor. 8:12-13, 9:22;
II Cor. 11:23-29; Phil. 3:7-11.
3. The solution of the dilemma: realizing God’s will is possible only
through self-surrender; and this,
itself, is crucial to self-development. Matt. 6:33,
10:39, 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24.
4. The witness of science and of nature: life arises from surrender. John 12:24; I Cor. 15:36.
5. The witness of history and of human experience: life and society depend on surrender and
self-sacrifice. Eccl. 11:1. Mark 10:43-44; II Cor. 9:6; Rev.
7:13-17, 14:13.
6. The witness of the life of Jesus. Mark 10:45; Phil. 2:5-11.
“If we estimate the greatest of a man by the influence which he has exerted on humankind, there can be no question, even from the secular point of view, that Christ is much the greatest man who has ever lived.” (Romanes, Thoughts on Religion, p. 169.)
Contents Preface A I II III IV B V VI VII VIII IX X top
Interlude C XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII D XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV
V. The Relation of the Act of Surrender of Self to Other Religious Rites and Spiritual Experiences
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which
is in heaven. Matt. 7:21
1. Every person must, sooner or later, face the
issue of his personal relation to God;
and when once the question is raised, perfect peace of mind and soul can
be thereafter secured only by the deliberate decision to do God’s will
unconditionally, whenever it shall be clearly revealed. Ps. 139:1-24. Acts 17:26-27. There are three ideas
which no human being, savage or civilized, is without: the distinction between right and wrong, the
desire for eternal life, and the conception of a supreme being or God. The problem of a person’s relation to God
is, therefore, a universal and eternal one;
and for the purpose of settling this question, our life on this earth
seems to have been given us. And the
problem is solved—from the human perspective—by an act: the complete surrender of the self to God.
2. This act is not necessarily the same thing
as the decision to live a moral life. Matt. 19:16-22;
Acts 11:16, 19:1-7; Rom.
3:21-22, 31, 10:3; I Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:3.
3. It is not the same thing as such rites of
confession as baptism, or uniting with the church, or partaking of the
communion. Matt. 3:9, 21:28-31; Mark 7:6-8, 12:32,33; Luke 3:8, 6:46, 13:25-27,
18:9-14; Rom 8:9-39, 9:6; I Cor. 13:1; II Tim. 3:5. All
such rites or actions may be the act of our going into God’s presence, not of
our letting him come into ours.
4. It is not necessarily the same thing as the
decision to live a life of philanthropy, giving money and time for the
uplifting of humankind. Matt. 7:22-23; Luke 10:38-42; Acts 8:20-21; I Cor. 13:3; Heb. 10:1.
5. It is not always the same thing as
“volunteering” or the consecration of one’s life to foreign missionary service. I Cor. 13:3.
6. The act of self-surrender is a definite,
conscious, personal compact between an individual person and God alone,
entirely independent of all outward religious rites or actions, forms or
services, and for which no outward form, rite, or sacrifice can be
substituted. A person voluntarily gives God absolute possession of
his or her life, and God comes in. Matt
11:28-29; John 1:12, 5:40; II Cor. 8:5; Heb. 11:1-6; Rev. 3:20.
VI. The Alternatives to Doing God’s Will as a Life Purpose
But he said unto him, “A certain man made a great
supper; he bade many, and he sent forth
his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, ‘Come, for all
things are now ready.’ And they all
with one consent began to make excuses.
The first said unto him, ‘I have bought a field and I must needs go out
and see it: I pray thee have me
excused.’ And another said, ‘I have
bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.’
And another said, ‘I have married a wife and therefore I cannot
come.’” Luke 14:16-20.
1. God or Mammon: enlistment with one or the other is inevitable. There
is no middle course. Refusal to enlist
with God is enlistment with Mammon. Matt.
6:22-24; Luke 11:23;
Rom. 6:15-23, 8:14-15; Gal.
1:10; Col. 3:22; II Tim. 3:4; II Peter 2:19; Rev.
3:15-16.
2.
In the service of Mammon, there are
three possible aspects. If a
person refuses to live a life
surrendered to the will of God, he or she has three other possible
alternatives, to the bondage (John 8:34;
Rom. 6:16; II Peter 2:19; II Tim. 2:26) of one or the other of which
he may devote his life: (1) the life
surrendered to self-indulgence; (2) the
life surrendered to wealth-getting; (3)
the life surrendered to fame-seeking.
Matt. 4:1-11; Luke
14:16-20; 1 John 2:16.
3. The life surrendered to self-indulgence. Matt. 4:2-4, 24:48-51; Luke 14:20,
17:26-30, 21:34; Rom. 8:6-8.
4. The life surrendered to wealth-getting. Matt. 4:8-10, 6:19-21, 19:16-22;
Luke 14:18, 12:13-21; Mark 10:17-31; I Tim. 6:7-10, 17; James
5:1-6.
5. The life surrendered to fame-seeking. Matt. 4:5-7; Mark 9:33-35, 10:35-45; Luke 14:19,
22:24-26; John 5:44, 12:43.
6. Pleasure, wealth and fame are not wrong in
themselves, but they must be our servants not our masters. Psalm 1:4. Matt.
6:21, 33, 19:28; Mark 4:19, 10:29,30; Luke 18:28-30; II Cor. 9:8-15; I Cor.
6:12.
VII. The Spiritual Crisis Involved in Facing the Issue of Surrender of Self: Its Symptoms and Its Course
And straightway the spirit driveth him forth into the
wilderness. And he was in the wilderness
forty days tempted of Satan. Mark
1:12-13
The gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and
every man entereth violently into it.
Luke 16:16
1. The facing of the problem of
self-surrender—to do God’s will without reservation; this is the great soul crisis in lives of spiritual power. Matt. 4:1.
2. The decision is preceded by a period of
lonely struggle and uncertainty. Matt.
4:1-2; Gal. 1:15-17. Jesus in the wilderness fasted forty days
and forty nights: Luke 4:1; Matt. 4:1;
Mark 1:12. Paul at first
communed not with flesh and blood. . . . but went away into
Arabia: Gal. 1:16-17.
3. The various alternatives to doing God’s will
present themselves with unwonted attractiveness, and there is often a feeling
of great revulsion and obstinacy toward everything Christian. Matt. 4:1, 3, 5, 8, 9; Acts 26:9;
Rom. 7:15-25, 9:20-21.
4. The final act of surrender or enlistment is
a definite conscious act of ethical decision between the individual and God
personally, made without reservation, in the path of duty; and is generally preceded by the darkest
moments of doubt, obstinacy, and fascination for the other life. Matt. 4:8-10, 16-23; Luke 12:57; Acts
22:10. It should be noted that this decision must be made personally. Jesus refused to let a third person
intervene and tell him what God’s will was (Matt 4:7). So later, in the
determining as to what God’s will was in a specific case, Jesus refuses to let
Peter intervene (Matt. 16:22-23). Paul
refused to let the brethren decide for him (Acts 21:11-14) and taught
independence (Phil. 2:12). Jesus’ last
rebuke was for this same reason (John 21:21-22).
5. The results of this decisive act are not
immediately apparent; although the act
of decision brings peace, and the feeling of revulsion against religion begins
to fade away. Matt. 4:11; Luke 8:15, 21:19,
24:49; Acts 26:15-16, 19-20, 29; Col. 1:6;
Heb. 11:13; James 5:7-8; I Peter 1:6-7; Rev. 2:3.
6. A person’s own individuality and personality
is not lost by thus conforming to the divine will, but on the contrary it is
marvelously intensified. John 8:32, 36, 15:2, 8; I Cor. 3:8;
Gal. 4:5-7; 1 John 2:5. Jesus, who was perfectly obedient, had the most unique
and individual personality that the world has ever seen. Note the originality of the man who lives
the surrendered life.
VIII. To Find Out and To Do God’s Will for One’s Life Is an Achievement Possible for Any Person
But unto each one of us was the grace given according
to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Wherefore he saith, when he ascended on high, he led captivity captive,
and gave gifts unto men . . . till we all attain unto the unity of
the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God . . . unto the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Eph. 4:7-8,13
Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door,
I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Rev. 3:20
If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of
the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak of myself. John 7:17
Have ye not read even this scripture: The stone which the builders rejected, the
same was made the head of the corner.
Mark 12:10
1. The execution of God’s great plan requires
the most brilliant powers of body, mind, heart and soul of which a person is
capable. Matt.
10:16, 22:11-14, 46; I Cor. 14:20.
2. Yet this task has never been reserved for
those alone whom the world regards as specially gifted. Matt. 11:25-26, 20:1-16, 22:1-10; I Cor. 1:26-29, 12:4-30; II Cor.
8:11-12; Col. 1:28; James 2:5.
3. God enlists and uses mightily for the
execution of his plan those who are frail in body and mind. Matt. 11:25-29; Luke
14:13; Rom 4:17; I Cor. 12:22; II Cor. 13:4 f; Heb. 12:12-13.
4. God has a place in his plan for the timid
and unpopular as well as for those whom the world has rejected because of
misfortune or sin or some other reason. God has a place in his plan for every human
being. Hosea 1:10, 2:23. Matt. 9:13,10:6,11:28-29, 18:12-24, 20:6, 7,
21:16; Mark 2:17, 12:10-11; Luke 1:48, 52, 3:5, 6:35, 9:49-50, 15:1-32; John 6:37;
I Tim. 1:12-16; Heb.
11:32-40; I Peter 2:4.
5. Regeneration and transformation come into a
human life giving it sufficient power for its tasks, no matter how frail and
weak it may have been, when that life has willed to know and to do the work for
which God had intended it. Matt. 21:42; Luke 5:30-32, 19:10; Mark
4:8, 20, 6:2-3, 10:27; Rom.
11:23, 14:4; I Cor. 1:30; Eph. 1:19, 2:1-10, 4:13; Heb. 7:25;
I Peter 1:23.
6. The miracle of obedience. Luke 21:14-15; John 3:3, 5:20,
14:12; Rom. 6:4; I Cor. 2:9;
II Cor. 5:17; Eph.
3:20; Phil. 3:20-21; I Peter 1:23.
IX. God’s Will May Be Done in Any Honorable Trade or Profession, Either at Home or Abroad
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the
whole creation. Mark 16:15
The hour cometh when neither in this mountain, nor in
Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father.
John 4:21
The kingdom of God is in the midst of you. Luke 17:21
Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was
called. . . . Brethren,
let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God. I Cor. 7:20, 24
If the whole body were an eye, where were the
hearing? If the whole were hearing,
where were the smelling? But now hath
God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him. I Cor. 12:17-18
1. Jesus and the apostles were laymen, not
members of the professional clergy. Matt. 13:54-56; John 7:15 (Jesus);
Acts 18:1-4, 20:33-35 (Paul went against his association); I Cor. 4:12, 9:1-18; II Cor. 11:7, 12:13; I Thess. 2:9, 4:11-12; II Thess. 3:8-12; I Peter 4:10.
2. All professions and trades must be
ministries. Matt. 9:9-13;
Luke 3:10-14, 5:3-11; John
21:1-6; Rom. 12:6-8, 16:23; I Cor. 7:20, 24, 12:4-11, 12:31; II Cor. 5:10; Eph. 4:1-16; Col. 3:17,
4:14; I Tim. 4:4-5; Titus 3:13. Jesus emphasized a great truth which had so far made only a
little impression upon men—that the professions and trades of men should not be
divided into two hostile camps, the religious and the secular; but that every honorable occupation should
be a Christian ministry.
3. The professional clergy person became
necessary by the need for expert leadership among the laymen who, without such
stimulus, were either unable or unwilling to grasp the idea and scope of their
responsibility. I Tim. 4:1-16.
4. The place of the church and of the
professional clergy person. Matt. 10:10; John 10:2-5, 17:18-19; I Cor. 9:14; I Tim. 5:17-18.
1. The church
is not a closed corporation which alone has the right to dispense
salvation—demonstrated by Luther.
2. Seminary
training and ordination does not necessarily give spiritual
authority—demonstrated by D.L. Moody.
3. The clergy
are not an opposition party or society opposed to the secular occupations.
4. The clergy
person is not a convenience to whom the lay person can delegate all his or her
heart work that calls for sympathy-care of poor, outcast, bereaved, etc.
5. The clergy
person is not a convenience to whom the lay person can delegate all his or her
heart work that calls for sympathy like care of the poor, outcast, bereaved,
etc.
6. The church
is not the place to which the lay person is to come to get culture and
aesthetic enjoyment.
5. The evangelization of the world is to be
accomplished through laymen as well as by clergymen. Luke 17:21; John
4:21; I Thess. 1:8; I Cor. 12:17-18; II Cor. 2:14; I Tim. 2:8.
6. The task of a Christian lay person,
therefore, is as difficult as that of a minister or missionary. Matt. 7:13-14; Luke
13:23-30; John 15-22.
X. The Necessity for Absolute Surrender of Self
And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto
him, one thing thou lackest. Mark
10:21
So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth
not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33
Take now thy son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and
get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt
offering. . . . And
Abraham . . . took . . . Isaac his son . . . and
went. . . . Abraham,
. . . lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto
him: for now I know that thou fearest
God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.” Gen. 22:2-3, 11, 12
1. If God’s will may be done in any profession,
why not then select the first career that presents itself, or the pleasantest,
without facing the possibility of the dangerous and disagreeable careers. Isaiah 53:6. Luke 14:28-32, 22:33-34. Must
every person, whether he or she ultimately goes or not, face this bothering
missionary question before he or she decides on his life work? To this we answer unreservedly, yes. Nothing else can be a total surrender of
self to the will of God. Indeed, if the
question is bothersome, then there is a great question regarding the sincerity
and validity of the surrender.
2. God’s will may be done in any
profession; but unless the man is in
that profession by God’s appointment, God’s will, will not be done. John 4:34, 5:30, 6:38; Rom. 1:6-7;
I Cor. 7:20, 24, 12:17-18.
Only one thing can give a person complete joy and
power in his or her work. That one
thing is the sure conviction that he or she is in that work—medicine, law,
teaching, business, ministry, at home or abroad—“called of God.”
3. The parallel from the enlistment of the
soldier. Luke 9:57-62; I Tim. 6:12-14; II Tim.
2:4; Heb. 11:8.
4. God does not ask all men to make the supreme
sacrifice or to endure great suffering, but he requires that all be willing to
do so. Mark 5:18-19; John 7:17;
Gen. 22:1-18.
5. The spirit of the hero and of the martyr is
needed in every profession. Matt. 5:10-12, 10:16-39,
16:24; Mark 8:31-38,
10:29-30; Luke 21:17; John 12:24, 15:18f (esp. v.20); II Cor. 11:23-27; Eph. 6:10-20; Heb
12:1-4; 10:32-35, 13:12-13.
6. Enlist without reservation or condition and
await orders. God is a commander in
whom his followers can trust. Matt.
6:33; Mark 10:29-30; Luke 14:26-27, 33; Acts 5:29; Rom. 4:21,
8:28, 12:1-12; I Cor. 1:9,
9:24-27; I Thess. 5:24; II Tim. 1:7, 12, 2:4, 13; James 5:11;
1 John 5:3.
We will simply call attention to
two facts. (1) God will never force you
to make the supreme sacrifice unless you are perfectly willing to do it; in other words, even after you have enlisted
he never forces you by driving (and let us not confuse sacrifice with duress,
affliction, and tragedy). (2) God is a
loving father, and he will not call upon you to make unnecessary sacrifices.
Contents Preface
A
I II III IV B V VI VII VIII IX X
top
Interlude C XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII D XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV
We have now reached a point in our studies which is, in a very true
sense, a parting of the ways. Hitherto
the truths which we have examined have been simple intellectual propositions—a
statement of the Christian conception of God’s plan for the world and for the
individual, and of the sort of decision which God requires of his followers.
The remaining studies—on the finding out of God’s will by each
individual and on the issues of obedience—concern truths which must primarily
be spiritually apprehended by the will, not accepted merely as intellectual
propositions by the mind. He who, at
this point, before entering upon the further studies will dedicate his life
absolutely and unreservedly to God—and mean it—to do God’s will promptly and
without conditions, no matter where it may lead, as soon as it shall be clearly
revealed, shall know of the teaching that follows—at least of the scripture
passages—whether it be of God or whether the various teachers speak of
themselves.
He who continues the studies without this decision may find some things
that are interesting, even convincing, but t he subject as a whole will be as
much of an enigma to him as before. It
will have no part in his life and he will not know.
Study your answer to the request for decision on the preceding page in
the light of the following paragraph:
In nearly all the important transactions of life, indeed in all
transactions which have relation to the future, we have to take a leap into the
dark. If we waver . . . that
too is a choice . . . we stand on a mountain pass in the midst of
whirling snow and blinding mist, through which we get glimpses now and then of
paths which may be deceptive. If we
stand still, we shall be frozen to death.
If we take the wrong road, we shall be dashed to pieces. We do not certainly know whether there is
any right one. What must we do? ‘Be strong and of a good courage.’ Act for the best, hope for the best, and
take what comes. Above all, let us
dream no dreams, and tell no lies, but go our way, wherever it may lead, with
our eyes open and our heads erect. If
death ends all, we cannot meet it better.
If not, let us enter whatever may be the next scene like honest men with
no sophistry in our mouths, and no masks on our faces. (Steven, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,
[1882], pp. 331, 333)
While there is a sense in which we cannot know the certain outcome of
most decisions, situations into which we fall where a lot of decisions must be
made in the dark as it were, there is a confidence that one can obtain in such
moments that has exclusively biblical and spiritual origins. That is, if person is surrendering his own
self to God as best as he is able, and following a way of life as close to the
Bible as he can, then that person can be confident that no matter how dark the
path may be God will be there with him, guiding him, and strengthening
him. And no matter what the outcome
should be, God will have had a part in the outcome, and that outcome will in
some way bring glory to His Kingdom.
Choose wisely.
Contents Preface A I II III IV B V VI VII VIII IX X top
Interlude C XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII D XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV
XI. The Finding Out of God’s Will: Willingness To Do God’s Will Is the Necessary Condition for Knowledge of It
If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of
the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak of myself. John 7:17
Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word. John 8:43
And none of the wicked shall understand: but they that are wise shall
understand. Daniel 12:10
Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the
Spirit of God: for they are foolishness
unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things,
and he himself is judged of no man. I
Cor. 2:14,15
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your
adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay. Luke 21:15
1. God’s will may be known, not only for the
rare great occasions, but for the ordinary circumstances of life. John 8:29; Acts 2:28, 18:21, 22:14; I Cor. 4:19; Heb. 13:21; James 4:15.
2. God’s will is not a mysterious and obscure
thing impossible to comprehend. Any
person may find it out, and furthermore, we are all bidden to do so. Ps. 25:9. Matt 6:10,
11:25-26; John 7:17; Rom. 12:2;
Eph. 1:9, 5:17; Col. 1:9.
3. Instruments of spiritual apprehension. I Cor. 1:18-31, 2:1-16; II Cor. 4:3-6;l John 8:43; 1 John
4:5,6.
1. The human
will, being willing to do God’s will is the foremost instrument in finding
God’s will outside of the written revelation of God’s will.
2. The
secondary or contributory instrument are many and valid on occasion, but they
do often fail.
(a) Reason. God is taking
your life and character through a certain process, for example. He is running your career along a certain
chain of events. . . . It is God’s will for you to use this
thought and to elevate it through regions of consecration into faith.
(b)
Experience. There are many paths in life which we all
tread more than once. God’s light was
by us when we walked there first. . . . But the next time
. . . he knew the side lights should be burning still and let us walk
alone.
(c)
Circumstance. God closes things around us till our
alternatives are all reduced to one.
That one, if we must act, is probably the will of God just then.
(d) Advice of
others. Take the advice of others freely, for the advice of a
non-Christian may have God’s leading in it;
but never regard such advice as final.
Jesus often disregarded the advice of others.
(e) Welfare of
others. As a general thing we should guide our conduct by its effect on
“the other fellow,” but not always.
Jesus often disregarded the effect of his example on others.
(f) Example to
others. Generally this is a safe guide, but not always. Jesus often disregarded the effect of his
example on others. These secondary
instruments, if not strong enough always to discover what God’s will is, are not
too feeble oftentimes to determine what is not,” but not always. (Drummond:
The Ideal Life, pp. 308-309.)
4. There are limits to criticism and the
reasoning processes as instruments of spiritual apprehension. Acts 18:24-28. If the
mind were the final means of apprehending God we should be reduced at once to
the position of Cicero with reference to the Roman religion‑‑that
only the intellectually gifted can be saved.
5. The human will is an organ of spiritual
knowledge. John
7:17.
XII. The Universal Will of God for All Persons
Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly father
is perfect. Matt. 5:48
Blessed by the God and Father our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing. . . . making
known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he
purposed in him unto a dispensation of the fullness of the times, to sum up all
things in Christ. Eph. 1:3, 9, 10
For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Rom. 14:17
1. The universal and the particular will of
God. Universal: Isaiah 44:24-28; Acts
17:24-27. Particular: Acts 22:10-14, 13:22.
2. The entire universal will of God for the
world cannot as yet be fully known. Since it is in a process of evolution in a
practical and temporal sense, it has not yet been fully disclosed. We may only know that part of it which has
been revealed up to the present day. Matt.
13:17; I Cor. 13:12; Phil. 3:12;
1 John 3:2.
3. God’s revelation of his universal will for
the world in nature. Matt. 6:28 The laws of nature are the will of God for our
bodies. As there is a will of God for
our higher nature—the moral laws—so, and as emphatically, there is a will of
God for the lower nature—the natural laws.
4. God’s revelation of his universal will for
the world in Jesus, the living word, and in the Bible, the written word, are
the moral contents of God’s will. Matt.
5:17-20; John 1:14, 14:15, 21-24; I Cor. 13:4-7; Gal. 5:22-23; Eph.
6:13-18; Phil. 4:8; Col. 3:12-17; I Tim. 6:11; Heb.
1:1-2; James 3:17; II Peter 1:5-7.
5. Can we ever hope to fulfill all these laws? The Christian
attempts to keep the will or the laws of God because of his love of God; and the tension we experience from our
shortcomings is moderated by the work of Christ.
Gal. 5:14; I Cor. 16:14; Rom. 10:3-10; Phil. 3:9; Matt. 7:12, 22:34-40;
James 2:8; John 13:34; 1 John 5:3.
6. Although God’s universal will for the world
cannot be fully known; his particular
will for each individual—his will for career, mate, etc.—may be known by that
individual, and it is this which the individual is bidden to know and to do. Rom. 12:2; Eph. 5:17.
XIII. The Particular Will of God for Each Individual Person, for Career, Mate, etc.
I will guide thee with mine eye. Ps. 32:8
The sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. John 10:3
The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know his
will. Acts 22:14
A man after my heart, who shall do all my will. Acts 13:22
Come now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go
into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the
morrow. . . . For that ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we
shall both live, and do this or that.
James 4:13, 15
1. The particular will of God for the
individual person. Acts 22:3-21 (esp. vs. 14, 17-18, 21). There
is an unknown part of God’s will—at least, at part which is known only to
you. . . . There is God’s will dropped softly on the believer’s
ear in angel whispers, or the still small voice of God. It is a private thing, between God and
you. You want know what to do next—your
calling in life, for instance. You want
know what action to take in a certain matter.
You want to know what to do with your money. You want to know whether to go into a certain scheme or not. Then you enter into this private chamber of
God’s will, and ask this private question, ‘Lord, what wouldest thou have me to
do?’ (Drummond, The Ideal Life, pp. 266-279.)
2. God actually communicates with men to
energize and guide them. Matt. 3:13-17, 4:10-11, 16:13-17, 16:21-17:8, 26:36-46,
27:46; John 10:3-4, 14:16, 26,
15:26, 16:7, 13, 14; Acts 8:26,
9:1-19 (cf. 22:3-21, 26:2-19; I Cor.
15:8), 10:9-16, 12:7, 16:6-10, 18:20,21, 19:21, 20:22,23, 27:21-25; I Cor. 15:8; II Cor. 12:1-10; Gal. 1:12, 2:2 (cf. Acts 15:2); Eph. 3:1-3; 1 John
3:24.
3. The human will is the receiving instrument through
which divine communication comes. John 7:17.
4. There is a compelling conviction to God’s
will when known. Matt. 16:17; Rom. 9:1;
James 3:17; II Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:1, 13; Rev. 17:17.
Any person (John 7:17) may have
such assurance with reference to his course not only about great things but
also about the little things—every step of his or her life. Any person may have this sure conviction,
but before he or she will, two things are essential for the most of us—the
receiving instrument must be cleaned, and it must be made strong in order most
fully to receive the communications.
5. How may we prepare ourselves to receive the
compelling conviction?
(a) The
cleaning of the receiving instrument is crucial to reception of a compelling
and powerful conviction.
“Which of you convicteth me of sin?” (John 8:46) Prov. 21:2. Matt. 5:8,
23 ,24, 13:15; Mark 3:11; Acts 8:21, 23:1, 24:16; I Cor. 1:8, 4:4; I Thess. 4:3-12; I Tim. 2:19; Heb. 9:9,
14, 10:22, 13:18; James 4:8; I Peter 1:13-16, 3:16; II Peter 3:14; 1 John 3:19-24.
(b) The
strengthening of the receiving instrument will be the training and developing
of the human will.
“I do always the things that are pleasing to him.” (John 8:29) Matt. 21:28-31; Mark 10:32-34; Luke 9:51-62,
14:25-35 (esp. v. 33).
XIV. How to Know the Particular Will of God: the Four-Fold Touchstone of Jesus and the Apostles
|
Chart 1: Four-Fold Touchstone of Jesus |
|
|
Purity
|
—Matt. 5:29 |
|
Unselfishness |
—Luke 14:33 |
|
Honesty |
—Luke 16:11
|
|
Love |
—John 15:12 |
For this is the will of God
. . . that ye abstain from fornication, that each one of you know how
to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor [Purity]
. . . that no man overreach and wrong his brother in the matter
[Honesty] . . . but concerning love of the brethren ye have no need
that one write unto you [Love] . . . and that ye study to be quiet,
and to do your own business and to work with your hands [Unselfishness]. I Thess. 4:3-12
Do not kill, do not commit
adultery [Purity]: do not steal, do not
bear false witness, do not defraud [Honesty], honor thy father and mother,
. . . go, sell what thou hast [Unselfishness], give to the poor, . . .
and come, follow me [Love]. Mark
10:19-21
Wherefore, putting away
falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor . . . . let
him that stole steal no more [Honesty] . . . and be ye kind one
to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other [unselfishness] . . .
and walk in love, even as Christ . . . gave himself [Love]
. . . but fornication, and all uncleanness, let it not even be named
among you . . . nor filthiness [Purity] . . . wherefore be
ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Eph. 4:25-5:17
See also: Col. 3:2-14, James 3:17.
1. The absolute
standards of Jesus are: Purity, Matt. 5:27-32; Honesty, John 8:44-46 & Luke 16:11; Unselfishness, Luke 14:33; Love, John 15:12. Jesus gives us no direct teaching in regard to such things as
smoking, drinking, card playing, theatre, dancing, etc. He recognized that some men could decide one
way, and others just the opposite on like questions, and yet both sides be true
Christians. But in regard to four
things there was no such option. A
person must be pure, he or she must be honest, must be unselfish, must express
him or herself in deeds of love; or
else he or she cannot see the kingdom of God.
There is no exception to be made on these four counts.
2. These
standards can be easily comprehended by all men.
They are unanswerable when once stated. John 7:53-8, 11: Purity. Matt.
21:28-32: Honesty. Mark 10:17-22: Unselfishness. Luke
10:25-37: Love. The peculiarity of these four standards is that, in the
first place, they are so simple that any person can understand them him or
herself when they are once stated, no matter how simple he or she may be; and that in the second place, they are so
fundamental that no person dares deny that they should be followed by others. The reason is that there is inborn in all
humanity the distinction between right and wrong, and these standards are the
four elements of right.
3. Their
comprehensiveness and Jesus’ teaching about their acceptance or rejection (as developed by Robert E.
Spear).
|
Chart 2: God’s Will & The Four-Fold Touchstone of Jesus |
||||
|
Absolute standards |
Jesus |
Great Commandment to Love God Mark 12-28-31 |
The full |
The laws of |
|
Purity Honesty Unselfishness Love |
Stature Wisdom Favor w/ Man Favor w/ God |
Strength Mind Heart Soul |
Physical Intellectual Social Spiritual |
Passion Dishonesty Selfishness Lovelessness |
|
-Continued- |
||||
|
Purity |
Passion |
Matt. 5:21-32 No person will develop physically who is
impure. |
||
|
Honesty |
Dishonesty |
Matt. 5:33-37 No person will develop intellectually who
is dishonest. |
||
|
Unselfishness |
Selfishness |
Matt. 5:38-42 No person will develop socially who is
selfish. |
||
|
Love |
Lovelessness |
Matt. 5:43-48 No person will develop spiritually who
without love. |
||
|
~ The Issues of Acceptance or
Rejection of These Standards ~ |
||||
|
|
Acceptance |
Rejection |
||
|
Purity: |
“Shall see God.” Matt. 5:8 |
Matt. 5:29 |
||
|
Honesty: |
“Entrusted with the true
riches.” Luke 16:10-12 |
Luke 16:11-12 |
||
|
Unselfishness: |
“Shall save his
life.” Luke 9:24 |
Luke 9:24 |
||
|
Love: |
“Shall inherit the
kingdom.” Matt. 25:34 |
Matt. 25-41 |
||
4. Their interpretation and practical
application by the Apostles as the means of determining God’s will. Rom. 12:1-13, 10; Eph.
4:25-5:17; Col. 3:2-14; I Thess. 4:3-12; James 3:17; I Peter 1:1-2:25.
|
|
I Thess. 4:3-12: “will of God” |
Col. 3:2-14 Set minds |
Eph. 4:25-5:17 Understanding |
James 3:17 Wisdom from above |
|
Purity |
3-5 |
5-8 |
5:3-14 |
“pure” |
|
Honesty |
6 |
9-11 |
4:25-30 |
“w/out variance” |
|
Unselfishness |
11-12 |
12-13 |
4:31-32 |
“peaceable” |
|
Love |
9-10 |
14 |
5:1-2 |
“good fruits” |
5. Their practical use today as a touchstone to
determine the particular will of God for each step of our career.
To every problem, great or small, which presents
itself‑‑in a small matter like one’s bearing in a game of sport, in
a large matter like the choice of a life career‑‑the Christian who
is absolutely surrendered to God asks himself these questions: “Is the step which I had planned to take an
absolutely pure one? Is it an
absolutely honest one? Is it the most
unselfish one? Is it the fullest
possible expression of my love?”
XV. The Four-Fold Touchstone: (a) The First Test—Purity
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matt. 5:8
Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the
will of the Lord is. Eph. 5:17
Set your mind on the things that are
above. . . . Put to death therefore your members which are upon
the earth; fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire. Col. 3:2, 5
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure. James 3:17
1. What do we mean by purity? Matt. 5:8,27-32; II
Peter 2:14.
If we go to analogy, purity is, in character, what
transparency is in the crystal. It is
water flowing, unmixed and clear, from the mountain spring. Or it is the white of snow. Or it is the clear open heaven, through
which the sparkling stars appear, hidden by no mist of obstruction. Or it is the pure light itself in which they
shine. A pure character is that, in
mind and feeling and spirit of life, which all these clear, untarnished symbols
of nature, image, in their lower and merely sensible sphere, to our outward
eye. (Bushnell: The New Life, p. 263.)
3. There are physical, intellectual, social,
and spiritual results of impurity. Matt.
5:29-30; Rom. 1:26-27, 32, 6:16-21; I Cor. 3:16-17, 6:9, 12-20; James 1:14-15; II Peter 2:9-10, 18-19;
Rev. 21:8, 27, 22:15.
Physical: loss of full efficiency of bodily powers
(Rom. 7:5; I Cor. 6:18; Gal. 6:8:
the impure person is only one tenth of a person).
Intellectual: loss of mind powers (Romans 7:23).
Social: lack of self-respect, hence morbid
self-consciousness (Romans 7:18).
Spiritual: cowardly shrinking from service of others
and from duty, and separation from God (Rom. 7:19, 8:8; Eph. 5:5;
I Peter 2:11; 1 John 2:16-17; Rev. 22:14-15).
4. The purity of Jesus. John 8:46; Heb. 2:18, 4:15, 7:26.
5. There is no conflict between the demands of
purity and those of honesty, unselfishness, or love.
1. True purity
presupposes honesty (Rom. 1:24-25).
2. True purity
presupposes victory over self (Mark 7:20-23;
Eph. 4:19; I Peter 4:1-2).
3. True purity
presupposes love (I Tim. 1:5).
6. How to grow in purity. John 8:36, 15:3; Rom. 6:12-13, 12:1-2; II Cor. 10:3-6; Col. 2:20-23.
XVI. The Four-Fold Touchstone: (b) The Second Test—Honesty
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God . . . with
all thy mind. Mark 12:30
He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also
in much; and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in
much. If therefore ye have not been
faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true
riches? John 8:32
Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each
one with his neighbor. Eph. 4:25
Set your mind on the things that are above. . . .
lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his
doings. Col. 3:2, 9
But the wisdom that is from above is . . .
without variance, without hypocrisy.
James 3:17
1. What do we mean by honesty? Mark
14:61-62; Titus 1:2; Rev. 19:11-16.
“Character is what a man is in the dark” (Morgan, The
Ten Commandments, p. 90.) If carried to
its full meaning, absolute honesty would also include victory over every sin,
for a person ought to be honest with him or herself and his God as well as with
his or her neighbors.
2. Subtle forms of dishonesty. Luke 3:12-14;
John 10:1; Rom. 2:8; II Cor. 12:16-18; Gal. 2:12,13; James 5:4.
3. The physical, intellectual, social, and
spiritual results of dishonesty. I Cor. 6:10; II Cor. 13:8.
Physical: nervousness due to fear of discovery (John
3:20-21, 8:34).
Intellectual: a deceiver soon comes to distrust himself
and his mental judgments (John 8:43-45, 3:20,21).
Social: breaks up unity (Eph. 4:25).
Spiritual: wrath, trouble from God (Rom. 2:8-9; Rev. 21:27).
4. The honesty of Jesus. Isaiah 53:9. John 1:17.
5. There is no conflict between the demands of
honesty and those of purity, unselfishness, or love. Gal. 4:16
1. True
honesty presupposes purity (John 8:44).
2. True
honesty presupposes mastery of self (Eph. 4:28; II Thess. 3:8; Titus
3:8).
3. True
honesty presupposes love (Eph. 4:15;
James 3:14-16).
6. How to grow in honesty. Psalm 139. John 8:31-32,
36, 18:37; I Cor. 6:11; II Cor. 5:9-10; Heb. 4:13, 12:1. Realize that Jesus is always at your side although you do
not see him. He knows everything we do
(John 4:17, 2:25).
XVII. The Four-Fold Touchstone: (c) The Third Test—Unselfishness
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart. Mark 12:30
So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth
not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33
If any man would come after me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose ;his life for my
sake, the same shall save it. Luke
9:23-24
Set your minds on the things that are
above. . . . Put on therefore . . . a heart of
compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one
another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against
any.” Col. 3:2, 12-13
But the wisdom that is from above is . . .
peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy. James 3:17
1. What do we mean by unselfishness? Matt. 5:38-42; John
3:29-30, 17:19; Rom. 14:13-28; I Cor. 8:9. If carried to its full
meaning absolute, unselfishness would also include victory over every sin. Unselfishness is a mastery and effacement of
self on behalf of another. Unselfishness
is to think of the results of your action on the other fellow, to curb yourself
in so far as it might injure others. An
absolute unselfish person according to Jesus’ standpoint:
|
Can be Righteously
Impatient |
Luke 19:45-46 |
|
Can be Righteously Jealous |
Luke 9:59-62 |
|
Can be Righteously Proud |
Luke 10:17-20 |
|
Can Disregard Polite
Formalities |
Luke 13:32, 7:44-47 |
|
Can be Righteously
Self-Assertive |
John 8:12 |
|
Can be Righteously Angry |
Matt. 23:13-36 |
|
Can be Righteously
Suspicious |
John 2:24-25 |
2. Subtle forms of selfishness. Rom. 12:9-21; Matt. 23:1-12 (cf. 13-39), 6:31.
3. There are physical, intellectual, social,
and spiritual results of selfishness. Luke 9:23-24.
Physical: a person can make him or herself sick and
become a physical wreck by thinking of himself all of the time.
Intellectual: loss of productivity (Matt. 13:22,
25:14-30).
Social: brings loneliness (Matt. 23:38; Luke 15:28;
John 13:30).
Spiritual: loss of God’s life in a person’s soul (Matt.
18:3; Luke 9:24; John 12:25).
4. There is no conflict between the demands of
unselfishness and those of purity, honesty or love.
1. True
unselfishness presupposes purity, for impurity is always gratification of
self.
2. True
unselfishness presupposes honesty.
3. True
unselfishness presupposes love.
5. How to grow in unselfishness. John
8:36; II Cor. 5:17; Phil. 2:5-8, 4:8-9; James 1:4.
Study in Jesus’ life and teaching that particular trait in which you are
weak (Heb. 4:12).
XVIII. The Four-Fold Touchstone: (d) The Fourth Test—Love
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God....with all thy
soul. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself. Mark 12:30-31
This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even
as I have loved you. John 15:12
For this is the will of God. . . .
concerning love of the brethren, ye have no need that one write unto you. I Thess. 4:3, 9
And walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and
gave himself. . . . wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand
what the will of the Lord is. Eph.
5:2, 17
Set your mind on the things that are
above. . . . and above all these things put on love. Col. 3:2, 14
But the wisdom that is from above is . . .
full of . . . good fruits.
James 3:17
1. What do we mean by love? Matt. 25:31-46; Luke
10:25-37; John 13:34, 21:15-17; I Cor. 13;
Heb. 13:16; I Peter 4:8-10; 1 John
3:16-17. The fullest expression of love according to Jesus’ standard does not
mean at least two things. (1) It does
not mean working beyond one’s powers all the time, taking up every task that
comes along (Jesus took vacations); but
it does mean doing those things which no one but you can do; e.g., if you receive a gift you are the only
one who can express thanks for it. (2)
It does not mean simply sentimental, pliable agreeableness. True love often acts with a sternness that
hurts.
2. Subtle forms of repression of love. Luke 7:44-47, 17:11-18.
3. There are physical, intellectual, social, and
spiritual results of a lack of love. Matt. 25:1-46.
Physical: a lack of strength (Isaiah 40:31; John 4:31-34; I Peter 4:11).
Intellectual: wasted opportunity and mental fears (Matt.
25:26-28).
Social: Separation from others (Matt. 25:28-30).
Spiritual: A person misses the greatest joy in the
world—the joy of service (Luke 16:19-31;
II1 John 4).
4. The love of Jesus. John 3:16, 21:25.
5. There is no conflict between the demands of
love and those of purity, honesty, or unselfishness.
1. True love
presupposes purity (Matt. 7:18, 12:34;
John 7:53, 8:11; I Peter 1:22).
2. True love
presupposes honesty (Rom. 12:9; 1 John 3:18).
3. True love
presupposes unselfishness: (I Cor.
13:3).
6. How to emulate to love. John 8:36, 15:12;
I Peter 1:22; 1 John (the entire book). The
surest means is by the daily study of the life and example of Jesus.
Contents Preface A I II III IV B V VI VII VIII IX X top
Interlude C XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII D XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV
XIX. Issues of Rejection and Disobedience
And that servant, who knew his lord’s will, and made
not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many
stripes. Luke 12:47
And Jesus looking upon him, loved him, and said unto
him, one thing thou lackest. . . . But his countenance fell at
the saying, and he went away sorrowful.
Mark 10:21-22
Destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way
of peace have they not known. Rom.
3:16-17
Every one that falleth on that stone shall be broken
to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust. Luke 20:18
1. What is disobedience? Acts
7:51; Eph. 4:17-24; Titus 3:3.
Disobedience is a deliberate, voluntary transgression of purity,
honesty, unselfishness, or love; the
refusal (not necessarily the failure) to obey one’s conviction of the right.
2. Honest ignorance and honest open-mindedness
are not rejection and disobedience. Honest ignorance is not disobedience—Jesus freely
forgives those who sin through ignorance (Luke 23:34). Honest open-mindedness and refusal to act
until convinced is not disobedience.
Jesus never forces a person against his or her frank, although perhaps
mistaken, convictions; Jesus invites
honest, searching investigation of his claims (John 1:39, 20:24-29).
3. A disobedient life is a certain failure. Matt. 6:23, 18:7, 19:22, 23:37-38;
Mark 10:22, 12:1-9, 14:21;
Luke 3:9, 6:49, 12:20-21, 47, 14:33-35, 19:27; Acts 13:46;
Rom. 3:17; Col. 3:6; Heb. 2:2.
4. No disobedience is so great that it cannot
be rectified before God by a single act of the human will. Luke 23:39-43; John 6:37, 7:37, 7:53-8:11.
5. Why not, then, allow sin a free reign? Although
completely rectified spiritually, all disobedience must be atoned for
physically, mentally and socially; and
when person has once disobeyed, only “the next best plan” is thereafter
possible. A person can never be what he
or she might have been, had he or she not disobeyed. Yet God has an honorable part, though not so great a one, for him
or her in God’s plan still. Rom. 6:21-23, 11:23; Gal. 6:7-8.
XX.
Issues of Obedience:
A. Knowledge
Jesus therefore answered them, and said, My teaching
is not mine, but his that sent me. If
any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of
God, or whether I speak from myself.
John 7:16-17
And when they bring you before the synagogues, and the
rulers, and the authorities, be not anxious how or what ye shall answer, or
what ye shall say: for the Holy Spirit
shall teach you in that very hour what ye ought to say. Luke 12:11-12
But the comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your
remembrance all that I said unto you.
John 14:26
1. Jesus had mental power and insight. Matt. 7:28-29, 22:46; Luke 2:47;
John 2:25, 7:14-15; Col. 2:2-3.
2. In obedience, God gives knowledge and
confirms truth. Dan. 12:10.
John 3:34, 5:30, 7:17, 8:31-34, 16:13; Luke 2:47, 49, 21:15;
Acts 6:10; I Cor. 1:5-7; Col. 1:9; James 1:5-8; I Peter 4:11;
1 John 2:20, 27; II Peter 1:21.
3. Growth in knowledge is possible to any
person who obeys God’s will. John 8:31-36.
4. A person who does God’s will, will find a
peace and assurance that such is in fact God’s will. John 7:17, 16:13.
XXI.
Issues of Obedience (continued):
B. Protection from Harm and Provision
for All Needs
Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and not one of them is forgotten in the
sight of God. But the very hairs of
your head are all numbered. Fear
not: ye are of more value than many
sparrows. Luke 12:6-7
But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness,
and all these things hall be added unto you.
Matt. 6:33
Jesus answered him, though wouldest have no power
against me except it were given thee from above. John 19:11
1. Jesus was not personally influenced by
earthly deprivations, opposition, and physical danger. Matt. 6:19-34; Mark
4:35-41; Luke 4:29-30, 13:31-33; John 7:6-9, 11:8-9, 12:33, 13:1, 17:1.
2. No life that stands for any real principle
can expect to escape privation, opposition, and often physical peril in this
life. Matt. 5:11, 12, 10:22, 24:9; John 7:7;
Acts 20:19, 22-24; Phil.
1:29; Heb. 2:10, 10:32-39, 13:12; I Peter 3:17, 4:14; Rev. 7:13-17.
3. God’s promise of provision for our needs and
of protection from harm does not exclude privation, suffering, or death if his
plan for the world requires such sacrifice on our part. But he
promises us that if we entrust our lives unreservedly to him, such things will
only come to us as a part of his plan and that we shall be amply provided for
and protected in the path of obedience in all other instances. Luke 10:19; John 10:29; Acts 18:9-10, 22:17-18; Rom. 8:28, 14:8; I Cor. 4:9;
II Cor. 1:8-11, 4:11;
Phil. 1:12-13; I Thess. 3:3; II Tim. 3:10-12, 4:6, 17-18; Heb. 11:32-36, 13:5-6; I Peter 4:19.
4. There is a sense in which failing to obey
God’s will brings peril and deprivation, and a sense in which obeying will
bring escape. Mark 10:28-31; Luke 13:1-9; Acts
22:17-21; II Cor. 1:8-11; II Tim. 4:18.
XXII.
Issues of Obedience:
C. Assurance as to One’s Duty and Power
to Achieve Results
He that believeth on me, the works that
I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go
to the Father. John 14:12
And this is the boldness which we have
toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us. 1
John 5:14
So then, my beloved, even as ye 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 worketh
in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. Phil. 2:12-13
If ye abide in me, and my words abide
in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7
And such confidence have we through
Christ to God-ward: not that we are
sufficient of ourselves: . . . but our sufficiency is from God. II Cor. 3:4-5
1. Jesus had
unfaltering assurance and mighty achievements. Matt. 26:53; Luke 4:36, 9:51, 20:2; John 4:32-34, 5:17, 20, 36, 8:14; Gal. 1:3-4.
2. As prerequisites for great achievement,
assurance and sure conviction as to duty are possible to those who obey. Matt. 18:14; Acts.
4:13; I Cor. 1:1; I Thess. 1:4-5; Eph. 3:1:2; Col. 4:12.
3. The
strength which God supplies. Isaiah 40:28-31. Matt.
4:4; Luke 1:49; Acts 1:8, 26:22; John 4:32-34; II Cor.
5:17; Eph. 1:17-19; Phil. 4:13, 19; I Tim. 1:12; II Tim. 1:7; I
Peter 4:11.
4. The
relation of obedience to assurance and achievement. Lev. 26:3, 8. Matt.
21:21-22; Mark 9:23, 10:29-30,
11:23; Luke 6:47-49; John 15:5;
Rom. 5:19; II Cor. 12:9-10, 13:8; Col. 1:29; 1 John 4:17-18, 5:4.
XXIII.
Issues of Obedience:
D. Constant Companionship
If a man love me, he will keep my
word: and my Father will love him, and
we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:23
The friendship of Jehovah is with them
that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. Psalm 25:14
1. Jesus had
constant fellowship with God. John 5:20, 8:16, 29, 54, 55, 10:31, 38, 16:32.
2. Loneliness
or isolation are impossible to the surrendered life even though it be deserted
by all earthly friends. Mark 6:48; John 14:18, 21-23, 15:15, 16:32; II Cor. 4:7-9, 16-18; Rom. 8:38-39; II Tim. 4:16-17.
3. Whoever
does God’s will is a relative of Jesus. Matt. 12:50.
4. Obedience
is important to having fellowship with God.
John 12:26; 1 John 1:3, 6-7, 2:4; Rev.
3:20. Purity: Matt 5:8;
Honesty: Rev. 22:15; Unselfishness: Heb. 12:14; Love: Matt.25:41-46; 1 John 4:12.
5. Lo, I am
with you always. Matt. 18:20, 28:20;
1 John 1:3.
XXIV.
Issues of Obedience:
E. Eternal Life
And the world passeth away, and the
lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. 1
John 2:17
Not everyone that saith unto me,
Lord,Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will
of my Father who is in heaven. Matt.
7:21
And this is the will of him that sent
me, that all that which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should
raise it up at the last day. For this
is the will of my Father, that everyone that beholdeth the Son, and believeth
on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:39-40
Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a
man keep my word, he shall never see death.
John 8:51
He that soweth unto the Spirit shall of
the Spirit reap eternal life. Gal. 6:8
1. The power
of an endless life. Rom. 6:23;
Heb. 2:14-15, 7:16.
2. Eternal
life may begin here and now on this earth through the act of obedience. Luke
10:20, 17:21; John 3:14-16, 36,
4:14, 5:24-40, 6:54-57, 63, 8:51, 10:27-28; 11:25-26, 17:3; Rom. 6:4, 8, 11, 13; I Tim. 6:12, 19; II Tim. 1:10; Heb.
11:5, 12:1, 13:14; 1 John 2:17, 2:25, 3:14, 5:11-12, 20; Rev. 21:3.
3. The are several
evidences of eternal life which we may enjoy through obedience here and now (Rom. 14:17).
a. The freedom of righteousness: John
8:31-32, 36; Rom. 8:2, 21,
14:17; I Cor. 10:29; II Cor. 3:17; Gal. 2:4, 5:1, 13; James 1:25, 2:12; I Peter 2:15-16; 1 John 4:17-18.
b. Joy: Matt. 6:22;
John 15:11, 16:20-24, 17:18;
Acts 2:46-47; Rom. 14:17; Heb. 1:9; I Peter 1:8; 1 John 1:4.
c. Peace: Luke 2:14, 19:41-42; Acts 3:19, 9:31; John 14:27, 16:33;
Rom. 5:1, 8:6, 14:17; I
Cor. 7:15.
4. He that
doeth the will of God abideth forever. 1 John 2:17.
5. Conclusion: Heb.
13:20-21.
Now the God of peace, who brought again
from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal
covenant, even our Lord Jesus, make you perfect in every good thing to do his
will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus
Christ; to whom be the glory, forever
and ever. Amen.
Contents Preface
A
I II III IV B V VI VII VIII IX X
top
Interlude C XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII D XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV
|
Would You Lie to Save Lives? The Quest for God’s Will Illustrations by Gustave Doré Dr.
M. G. Maness ~ ©1990 & 1998, Revised 2003 |
|
