Fulton Church of Christ » What Are the Results of My Bad Choices

Assumptions, pre-conceptions, and poor hermeneutics cloud the answer
- Legalism: the assumed objective of creation is behavior.
- Wrath: the result of bad choices is condemnation
- Proof-texting
  - Fear passages
    - Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God
    - 2 Corinthians 5:11 Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men
    - 2 Corinthians 7:1 Perfecting holiness in the fear of God
    - Ephesians 5:21 Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ
    - Philippians 2:12 Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling
    - Hebrews 4:1 Fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it
    - 1 Peter 1:17 Conduct yourselves throughout your sojourn in fear
  - The wrath of God expressed by the Old Testament prophets
    - Response to broken contracts by unbelieving Israel
    - Response to interference in Israel by neighboring countries
  - Purpose of “Bad Lists”
    - Romans 1:26 – 32 Why are people the way they are?
    - Galatians 5:19 – 21 Contrast of law versus Spirit
    - Colossians 3:5 – 11 Contrast between the old and the new person
    - 1 Corinthians 6:9 – 11 Such were some of you
    - And more…
Romans 14:23 Whatever is not from faith is sin
- “Is it a sin if…” starts from a behavior rather than a faith mentality
- Matthew 19:20 (Mark 10:20) “What do I still lack?”
  - Behavior must be flawless to be acceptable.
    - James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
    - James’ point is not to identify sin but to contrast with the law of liberty.
  - Faith is acceptable while growing
    - 2 Peter 1:2 – 11
    - 2 Thessalonians 1:3 – 8
    - 1 Peter 2:1 – 3
    - 2 Corinthians 10:15
    - Romans 14:1
- Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Faith in what?)
- Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
  - Evangelism (Romans 15:16)
  - Praise (Hebrews 13:15)
  - Doing good and sharing (Hebrews 13:16, Philippians 4:18)
  - Being a holy priesthood and a spiritual house of God (1 Peter 2:5)
  - Faith (Philippians 2:17)
All things are lawful but…(1 Corinthians 6:12 – 20, 10:23 – 33)
- Criteria
  - Profitable
  - Controlled or in control?
  - Edifying
- Context
  - 1 Corinthians 6:13 uses dietary rules as an example, but also includes many more “serious” behavior rules.
  - 1 Corinthians 10:23 is followed by a discussion of meat sacrificed to idols. But what precedes it describes more “serious” behavior issues.
- “Serious” versus “conscience” choice is not a distinction made in the New Testament.
Does bad behavior matter?
- We are the Temple of the living God, therefore cleanse yourselves, perfecting holiness in the fear of Christ (2 Corinthians 6:16 – 7:1)
- Unrighteousness is not “fitting” (Romans 1:28, Galatians 5:1 – 14) Fitting?
  - John 17:20 – 23 “That the world may believe that Thou sent Me”
  - Matthew 5:48 “Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect”
- Malice and wickedness spoils sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8)
- Displaying the power of God (2 Corinthians 4:7)
- Works of the flesh are contrary to the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16 – 25, Colossians 32:18 – 3:10)
- We are no longer slaves of sin (Romans 6:1 – 18, 8:13)
- Everyone who has this hope purifies himself just as He is pure (1 John 3:3)
The impact of our behavior on those whom we love
- Failing to put off the old man grieves the Holy Spirit of God (Ephesians 4:30)
- Inconsistent behavior causes the name of God to be blasphemed (Romans 2:24, Isaiah 52:5, Ezekiel 36:22)
- Christian slaves who do not honor their unbelieving masters cause the name of God and His doctrine to be blasphemed (1 Timothy 6:1)
- Poor behavior by older women (perhaps including all Christians) causes the word of God to be blasphemed (Titus 2:5)
Summary
- God promises the ability to overcome. Faith causes the defeat of bad behavior.
- Focus on the successes of faith (joy) rather than the failures of the flesh
- The disease is unbelief. The visual symptom is behavior. Treat the disease, not the symptom.