The Law that binds the Christian 1 Thess 2:7-12
(focus - v. 12)
Verse 12 of the text before us sets forth in summary fashion the
whole law of Christian conduct. There are many command- ments and
statutes set forth in Scripture, but all are designed towards this one
end:
"so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you
into his own kingdom and glory."
We find this same idea set forth in other passages of the Bible:
Eph. 4:1 - "I...entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the
calling with which you have been called."
Phil. 1:27 - "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the
gospel."
Col. 1:10 - "...so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,
to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and
increasing in the knowledge of God."
Maclaren has said: "The whole sum of Christian duty lies in a
conformity to the character of a divine person with whom we have loving
relations."
The O.T. tells us - "Be ye holy, for I the Lord am holy."
The N.T. tells us - "Be ye imitators of God, and walk in love."
I want to bring out some practical implications from this pas- sage,
especially from verse 12 that should apply to us as we seek "to walk in
a manner worthy of God."
Consider these 3 points with me:
I. If we are to walk worthy of God, we must have a pattern or
example to follow, and that pattern must itself be perfect.
II. Walking worthy consists not only of following this example, but
also of rendering back to God loving service and obedience because of
what he has done for us.
III. Our walking in a manner worthy of God, means to live according
to Biblical principles rather than according to legalistic regulations.
I. Our pattern must be perfect.
A. If our pattern or mold has errors, then we too will have errors.
1. Romans tells us, "For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to
become conformed to the image of his Son."
2. God is not going to waste his time on sinful, frail creatures of
dust, molding them and shaping them, only to end up with a final
product that is faulty.
B. The pattern for our walk is none other than Jesus Christ himself
and his life and work.
1. He was the perfect man, keeping the law of God in absolute
perfection.
2. It may seem impractical to try an imitate a God whom we cannot
see or fully comprehend.
3. But, in Christ, we see love, mercy, forgiveness, righteousness,
holiness, patience, compassion, and other God-like characteristics that
we can indeed copy and imitate.
4. If we look upon the commands of Scripture as simply being binding
laws and duties that are impossible to keep, we can easily become
discouraged. But, when we see those same laws and duties as embodied in
a loving relationship with Christ who is our pattern, they become
joyful challenges to us and become the means of motivating us to press
on towards the mark of our high calling.
C. Our pattern is best found in the cross of Christ.
1. We are called into the kingdom by the gospel.
2. The gospel is not only a message of freedom and deliverance, but
it is also a standard of conduct.
3. The cross is not only the means of our justifica- tion; it was
not only the means of propitiating God's wrath from us; it is also a
pattern for our conduct as believers. The cross is not only our anchor
and hope, it is also our example.
a. Christian, at the cross you received forgiveness. Are you
forgiving?
b. At the cross you were shown mercy. Do you show mercy?
c. At the cross your burden was lifted. Do you seek to lift the
burdens of others?
d. At the cross you received free grace. Are you freely gracious?
Note: It is so very easy to set up so great a multitude of our own
rules and regulations that we can easily out-Pharisee the Pharisees.
But, O, if for just one week, one day, we would make the cross the
daily pattern for shaping our lives, what a difference there would be!
II. Walking worthy consists not only of following our pattern, but
also of rendering loving service and obedience back to God because of
what he has done for us.
READ ---- PSALM 116:12-14
A. We may be diligently seeking to follow our perfect pattern in our
relationships with others, but not with God. Not only are we to love
our neighbors as ourselves, but we are also to love God with all of our
strength and being.
B. Just as Christ was obedient and freely gave of himself to God on
the cross, we too must give wholehearted obedience, service, and
worship to God. Some folks are more concerned about serving a
denomination rather than God. They will bow down and do whatever the
denomination suggests and says to do without question. But there is a
great reluctance to do what God says without question.
1 John 3:1 - "See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us,
that we should be called children of God."
Our cry should be, "What shall I render to the Lord for all his
benefits toward me?"
III. Walking worthy of God means walking by Biblical principles
rather than the legalistic requirements of men.
A. By necessity, regulations must be detailed and minute. But,
principles are "broad nets" that encompass a multitude of regulations.
(Use examples here - long hair, women's clothing and makeup)
B. The problem with the Pharisees was not their zeal or love for the
law of Moses. Their problem was that they felt that God's people needed
more minute and petty regulations and so they devised lists of do's and
don't's for the people.
C. The Bible is a book of principles not a list of regulations.
Therefore, there is the necessity to study it in depth in order to find
the principles and learn how to apply them to our daily walk before God.
Conclusion: Let me close with a quote from Maclaren:
"If you will live in a manner corresponding to the character...of
God, as revealed in Christ, and in conformity with the principles that
are enthroned upon his cross...then your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the painful and punctilious pharisaical obedience to
outward commands." ../ |