December 6th 2015
Do Not Be Misled: "Bad Company Corrupts Good Character!"
1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV)
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
It seems like a safe assumption that no one reading this commentary has ever seen Jesus Christ, yet we believe He exists, and that He once walked this earth as a man. As Peter wrote, this faith forms the necessary component to result in the salvation of your immortal soul. Therefore, “the goal of your faith, the salvation of your soul,” has been accomplished. Now here is an early Christmas gift, just the affirmation that your immortal soul has been granted eternal life with our Father in heaven. My hope is you already believed this, but even then, an affirmation is a good thing during this busy season.
In one of the daily devotionals I read the following comment was made. Today I will celebrate God’s love no matter what happens! Does this comment cause you to take a hard look at your attitude? It did cause me to question how I would react to something bad happening to me or one of those I love! Last night on our way to choir practice, there was a traffic accident that occurred right next to our car. None of us could be a witness, as we did not see it occur, until the one car spun around close to our car. This car then spun around and fled the scene of the accident. This left the other car seemingly not drivable at the scene! Could you still be thankful to God for His blessings, if your car just got extremely damaged, and you are alone and being held responsible for someone else’s mistake?
Now back to thinking about the season we are celebrating, let us remember how God meant to include all of mankind in this celebration, but He still, as always, allows everyone to have a free will, and the ability to decide for themselves what they will believe. John wrote about the inclusive attitude God had about bringing His Son into this world. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. (John 1:9) While there is only one “true light” God offers this light “to every man.” In the selected verses, Peter wrote how this light is showing the way for anyone to believe, and when “you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Some people have difficulty in believing there is a God! Paul wrote to the church in Rome about how the creation of everything should cause people to know there is a God. However, we are all being forced to believe that through evolution not by God, is how everything came into being. I for one do not believe evolution is scientifically possible! With that in mind we can then believe what Paul wrote. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Romans 1:20) If we look at the design and complexity all around us then we will know, as Paul did, God is obviously the Creator, because “his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
All this week my attempt was to pull Scripture verses that could be used to write about comparisons between a Happy Holiday and Merry Christmas, but it seems there was another intent that I could not avoid in the verses I pulled. That emphasis was pointed toward judgements of sinful things that people do, and that such people should be avoided. However, there was even more, it seems this judgmental attitude should be directed to other Christians not the worldly people we may meet every day!
Paul wrote about this in his first letter to the church at Corinth. I have written to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. (1 Corinthians 5:9-10) Paul is saying here that we cannot avoid mingling with people who are living in this world, unless we leave this world. The Amish religion teaches its followers to pull out of the worldly pursuits, and to become self-serving, which of course, also eliminates them from being the salt of the earth, as Jesus has directed His followers to do.
Paul is not writing that we should not tell the Good News to those who are unbelievers, but we should be sure that our attitude is not affected through our relationship with unbeliever. That is to say, we should be making a positive effect on them, but we must avoid being attracted to their lifestyle. We have been changed by our faith in Jesus Christ, and have become a new creation, which should allow us to avoid falling into sinful situations. We should be a positive influence on unbelievers, yet we can avoid becoming converted by them back into our old sinful lifestyle.
Next Paul was writing instructions to make judgements about the attitude and actions of the believers of their church and cautioning them about associating with these Christians, and warning them to avoid falling into relationships that may have a negative effect. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? (1 Corinthians 5:11-12) Paul here is teaching us to identify wrong attitudes and actions of believers, and then, to avoid them. However, we have a responsibility to judge other believers for their benefit to help them get back on that narrow path.
Later in this letter Paul is trying to give instructions about avoiding the evil lifestyles of those who appear to be believers, but have not changed their lifestyle to reflect real repentance. Then Paul is telling us to avoid guilt by association, and that we might go back to an unrepentant lifestyle. Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:33-34) Paul is warning them and us that "Bad company corrupts good character." Notice here that Paul is indicating it is the believer’s responsibility to be the guide away from sin, but we must be careful that we do not become attracted to sin by those who have not yet repented of their sins.
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV)
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
It seems like a safe assumption that no one reading this commentary has ever seen Jesus Christ, yet we believe He exists, and that He once walked this earth as a man. As Peter wrote, this faith forms the necessary component to result in the salvation of your immortal soul. Therefore, “the goal of your faith, the salvation of your soul,” has been accomplished. Now here is an early Christmas gift, just the affirmation that your immortal soul has been granted eternal life with our Father in heaven. My hope is you already believed this, but even then, an affirmation is a good thing during this busy season.
In one of the daily devotionals I read the following comment was made. Today I will celebrate God’s love no matter what happens! Does this comment cause you to take a hard look at your attitude? It did cause me to question how I would react to something bad happening to me or one of those I love! Last night on our way to choir practice, there was a traffic accident that occurred right next to our car. None of us could be a witness, as we did not see it occur, until the one car spun around close to our car. This car then spun around and fled the scene of the accident. This left the other car seemingly not drivable at the scene! Could you still be thankful to God for His blessings, if your car just got extremely damaged, and you are alone and being held responsible for someone else’s mistake?
Now back to thinking about the season we are celebrating, let us remember how God meant to include all of mankind in this celebration, but He still, as always, allows everyone to have a free will, and the ability to decide for themselves what they will believe. John wrote about the inclusive attitude God had about bringing His Son into this world. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. (John 1:9) While there is only one “true light” God offers this light “to every man.” In the selected verses, Peter wrote how this light is showing the way for anyone to believe, and when “you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Some people have difficulty in believing there is a God! Paul wrote to the church in Rome about how the creation of everything should cause people to know there is a God. However, we are all being forced to believe that through evolution not by God, is how everything came into being. I for one do not believe evolution is scientifically possible! With that in mind we can then believe what Paul wrote. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Romans 1:20) If we look at the design and complexity all around us then we will know, as Paul did, God is obviously the Creator, because “his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
All this week my attempt was to pull Scripture verses that could be used to write about comparisons between a Happy Holiday and Merry Christmas, but it seems there was another intent that I could not avoid in the verses I pulled. That emphasis was pointed toward judgements of sinful things that people do, and that such people should be avoided. However, there was even more, it seems this judgmental attitude should be directed to other Christians not the worldly people we may meet every day!
Paul wrote about this in his first letter to the church at Corinth. I have written to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. (1 Corinthians 5:9-10) Paul is saying here that we cannot avoid mingling with people who are living in this world, unless we leave this world. The Amish religion teaches its followers to pull out of the worldly pursuits, and to become self-serving, which of course, also eliminates them from being the salt of the earth, as Jesus has directed His followers to do.
Paul is not writing that we should not tell the Good News to those who are unbelievers, but we should be sure that our attitude is not affected through our relationship with unbeliever. That is to say, we should be making a positive effect on them, but we must avoid being attracted to their lifestyle. We have been changed by our faith in Jesus Christ, and have become a new creation, which should allow us to avoid falling into sinful situations. We should be a positive influence on unbelievers, yet we can avoid becoming converted by them back into our old sinful lifestyle.
Next Paul was writing instructions to make judgements about the attitude and actions of the believers of their church and cautioning them about associating with these Christians, and warning them to avoid falling into relationships that may have a negative effect. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? (1 Corinthians 5:11-12) Paul here is teaching us to identify wrong attitudes and actions of believers, and then, to avoid them. However, we have a responsibility to judge other believers for their benefit to help them get back on that narrow path.
Later in this letter Paul is trying to give instructions about avoiding the evil lifestyles of those who appear to be believers, but have not changed their lifestyle to reflect real repentance. Then Paul is telling us to avoid guilt by association, and that we might go back to an unrepentant lifestyle. Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:33-34) Paul is warning them and us that "Bad company corrupts good character." Notice here that Paul is indicating it is the believer’s responsibility to be the guide away from sin, but we must be careful that we do not become attracted to sin by those who have not yet repented of their sins.
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
|
|
|