Do's and Don't's

The "do's and don't's"
Archives No Rapture Respecting Religion An Open Letter to the ACLU Forgive and Forget I Believe A Sinner One Nation Under God Mathew 25 Brother against brother My grace is sufficient A Thousand Shall Fall An open Letter to Gong Shengliang Carrying the Cross Proverbs 3 The False Prophet So Many Wrong People theWay What is Faith? An open letter to Zhang Yi-nan An open letter to Ms. Li Ying An open letter to the Pope. An open letter to Sung Seo Pao. Should we really celebrate christmass?.	Often advice given by long-term Christians to those who are newly saved, don't sweat the "do's and don't's". And this is indeed a worthy point to consider. Yet the entire New Testament was written on this understanding -- loving God and our brothers, the "do's and the don't's". The apostle Paul is credited with writing fourteen of the 27 books in the New Testament, and arguably they mostly dealt with edifying Christ' way to new churches, the do's and the don't's of following Christ. In the book of Romans, Paul is addressing many of these "do's" that are clearly in violation of God's will. Romans 1:28-32 (28) And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; (29) being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (30) backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31) without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful: (32) who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them. In the gospel of Mathew, we are reminded of what we need to do in order to follow Jesus, and spend life eternal with Him. Mathew 25:31-46 (31) But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: (32) and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats; (33) and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. (34) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (35) for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; (36) naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (37) Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink? (38) And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? (39) And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? (40) And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me. (41) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels: (42) for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; (43) I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. (44) Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? (45) Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me. (46) And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life. Now when Paul is talking with the Corinthians he spells out very, very clearly who will not inherit the kingdom of heaven in part because of what they do, read on. 1Corinthians 6:4-11 (4) If then ye have to judge things pertaining to this life, do ye set them to judge who are of no account in the church? (5) I say this to move you to shame. What, cannot there be found among you one wise man who shall be able to decide between his brethren, (6) but brother goeth to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? (7) Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded? (8) Nay, but ye yourselves do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. (9) Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, (10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. Paul could not be any more clear, the "do's and don't's" really do matter. In part the epistle of James reminds us that if the spirit of Christ is truly in us, then our works accurately reflect this, yet it is not works that gets us to heaven -- make sense? Moreover, the book of Galatians is another clear and concise reminder that we really do need to be aware of these "do's and don't's". Galatians 5:18-26 (18) But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, (21) envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. (24) And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. (25) If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk. (26) Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another. The book of Revelation which was revealed to the apostle John after Jesus had ascended into heaven also clearly teaches us that we need to be concerned with our "do's and don't's" Revelation 3:10-17 (10) Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (11) I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown. (12) He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name. (13) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. (14) And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God: (15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (16) So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth. (17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked: Revelation 21:7-8 (7) He that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (8) But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. Paul writes in Galatians 5:18 that if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. There is freedom in Christ and numerous times we are reminded that the first commandment is to love God with all our heart and mind and strength, the second is to love our brother even as we love ourselves, this fulfills all the law. For if the Spirit is truly with us then it is clear to others who we follow and they clearly see what we do and do not do. What we do it turns out, is very very important. Please read Mathew chapter 25 to realize fully that the "do's and the don't's" are important.

The "do's and don't's"

Archives

No Rapture

Respecting Religion

An Open Letter to the ACLU

Brother against brother

My grace is sufficient

A Thousand Shall Fall

An open Letter to Gong Shengliang

An open letter to Zhang Yi-nan

An open letter to Ms. Li Ying

An open letter to the Pope.

An open letter to Sung Seo Pao.

Should we really celebrate christmass?.

Often advice given by long-term Christians to those who are newly saved, don't sweat the "do's and don't's". And this is indeed a worthy point to consider. Yet the entire New Testament was written on this understanding -- loving God and our brothers, the "do's and the don't's".

The apostle Paul is credited with writing fourteen of the 27 books in the New Testament, and arguably they mostly dealt with edifying Christ' way to new churches, the do's and the don't's of following Christ. In the book of Romans, Paul is addressing many of these "do's" that are clearly in violation of God's will.

Romans 1:28-32
(28) And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
(29) being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
(30) backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
(31) without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful:
(32) who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them.

In the gospel of Mathew, we are reminded of what we need to do in order to follow Jesus, and spend life eternal with Him.

Mathew 25:31-46
(31) But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory:
(32) and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats;
(33) and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
(34) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
(35) for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in;
(36) naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
(37) Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink?
(38) And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
(39) And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
(40) And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me.
(41) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels:
(42) for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink;
(43) I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
(44) Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
(45) Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me.
(46) And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.

Now when Paul is talking with the Corinthians he spells out very, very clearly who will not inherit the kingdom of heaven in part because of what they do, read on.

1Corinthians 6:4-11
(4) If then ye have to judge things pertaining to this life, do ye set them to judge who are of no account in the church?
(5) I say this to move you to shame. What, cannot there be found among you one wise man who shall be able to decide between his brethren,
(6) but brother goeth to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
(7) Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded?
(8) Nay, but ye yourselves do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
(9) Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,
(10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
(11) And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.

Paul could not be any more clear, the "do's and don't's" really do matter. In part the epistle of James reminds us that if the spirit of Christ is truly in us, then our works accurately reflect this, yet it is not works that gets us to heaven -- make sense?

Moreover, the book of Galatians is another clear and concise reminder that we really do need to be aware of these "do's and don't's".

Galatians 5:18-26
(18) But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
(19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
(20) idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,
(21) envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
(23) meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.
(24) And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.
(25) If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.
(26) Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.

The book of Revelation which was revealed to the apostle John after Jesus had ascended into heaven also clearly teaches us that we need to be concerned with our "do's and don't's"

Revelation 3:10-17
(10) Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
(11) I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown.
(12) He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name.
(13) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.
(14) And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:
(15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
(16) So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.
(17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:

Revelation 21:7-8
(7) He that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
(8) But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.

Paul writes in Galatians 5:18 that if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. There is freedom in Christ and numerous times we are reminded that the first commandment is to love God with all our heart and mind and strength, the second is to love our brother even as we love ourselves, this fulfills all the law.

For if the Spirit is truly with us then it is clear to others who we follow and they clearly see what we do and do not do. What we do it turns out, is very very important. Please read Mathew chapter 25 to realize fully that the "do's and the don't's" are important.