DIVINE DECREES, PART 12.
GRACE BIBLE CHURCH
PASTOR ROBERT R. MCLAUGHLIN
WEDNESDAY 10-19-2022
GBIBLE.ORG
EPHESIANS - 0290-015
DIVINE DECREES, PART 12.
GREEK DRAMA, PART 4.
FUNCTION OF EACH MEMBER OF YOUR CHORUS LINE.
2PE 1:5-7; Heb 5:8-14; HEB 10:25.
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We are still noting;
The Doctrine of the Divine Decrees.
I would like to begin by reading 2PE 1:5-7 since it is our main passage we noted it on Sunday, but never read it.
2PE 1:5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge;
2PE 1:6 and in your knowledge, self control, and in your self control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness;
2PE 1:7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
2PE 1:5-7, and Greek drama relates to the Divine Decrees.
The chorus line that we all have which is about to come up is mentioned in verses 5-7 described in your Bible in the correct order.
These are your seven main performers:
- Moral excellence (Virtue).
- Knowledge.
- Self-control.
- Perseverance.
- Godliness.
- Brotherly kindness.
- Love.
I said on Sunday;
The winner believer who is successful with his life can become a winner overnight, Rev 2:7;11;17;26; 3:5,12,21.
I want to begin this evening with all these passages because this is part of the reward that we will have for being a spiritual winner in the Greek dramas of life.
In all these passages, the winner of those who fulfill their own personal sense of destiny as it relates to Greek drama have special privileges.
For example, in;
REV 2:7 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes (nikao = the winner), I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.'
Just think of all the privileges we recently studied concerning the tree of life and all the blessings that accompany salvation.
REV 2:11 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.'
This refers to the fact that;
The winner believer, analogous to the winners in Greek drama, will not be hurt by the second death which means no one in your life that you truly love will be thrown into the lake of fire.
In REV 2:26 'And he who overcomes (nikao), and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations;
The winner believer, as in Greek drama, will rule with the Lord forever.
The next one is REV 3:5 'He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.
Here the winner believer, as in Greek drama, will wear a uniform of glory over his resurrection body.
REV 3:12 'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
Here the winner believer, as in Greek drama, will have the privileges of entering to anywhere in the universe.
Look at REV 3:21 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Notice that there are seven references to the winner believer which stands for the number of perfections in numerology.
In all those passages;
The Greek word “nikao” means winner and, as in Greek drama, the winner will be able to sit with Christ in the Supreme Court of Heaven in the eternal state.
I hope you realize that;
The supreme court of Heaven is not limited to time but it also will exist in the eternal state even though all man and angels will be without a sin nature and it’s impossible for anyone to sin. (Explain)
In Greek drama, we have some important passages concerning what we are to beware of.
We begin in HEB 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
HEB 5:9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,
HEB 5:10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
HEB 5:11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
HEB 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
HEB 5:13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
HEB 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Now in HEB 5:11 when it says concerning Him [TLJC] we have much to say;
Much to say is actually two words in the Greek, the adjective polus plus the noun logos which means much doctrine to communicate.
So, the writer says;
HEB 5:11 Concerning Him [TLJC] we have much doctrine to communicate, and it is hard or difficult to explain.
Now, why is it difficult to explain?
Is it difficult to explain, not for the pastor, but for the believer who has not advanced or prepared to live in it.
It's difficult to explain because his congregation had become undisciplined and slow.
HEB 5:11 Concerning Him [TLJC] we have much doctrine to communicate, and it is hard or difficult to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
"Dull of hearing" means that you have been undisciplined concerning the perception and metabolization of Bible doctrine.
HEB 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers [not pastor-teachers but teaching others about doctrine as ambassadors of Christ], you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
These are the type of believers who do not want academia.
They don't want to challenge their vocabulary.
And by the way,
An increase in vocabulary, increases your I.Q. and your sense of humor as well as your personality.
But these individuals want the pastor to keep it simple.
They want milk not advanced doctrine.
What happens is that when believers become undisciplined, they become incapable of understanding advanced doctrine and then they start yearning for the basics again.
That's called regression or reversionism.
HEB 5:13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed or is unskillful to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe or an infant.
And what is a babe or an infant?
What is the best way to describe and characterize an infant?
They have horizontal dependencies.
Somebody's got to pick them up.
Somebody's got to feed them.
Somebody's got to burp them.
Somebody's got to walk them.
Somebody's got to watch them.
And therefore;
This is a picture of a believer who has retrogressed back into spiritual infancy looking for a spiritual nursery to baby sit them.
And What characterizes these types of believers is the fact that they have horizontal dependencies which they have cultivated meaning that they are more interested in fellowship with other believers rather than fellowship in the Word or learning doctrine.
Most believers do not realize where the priority of fellowship really is.
They think it's with people.
However; 1CO 1:9 says God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
2CO 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Phi 2:1 Since therefore there is encouragement in Christ, since there is comfort from virtue-love, since there is fellowship of the Spirit, since there is tendernesses and compassions.
Phi 3:10 that I may come to know Him, and the power of [behind] His resurrection and the participation of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
PHM 1:6 and I pray that your fellowship with doctrine may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake.
1JO 1:3b indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
So These horizontal believers never had or they lost the ability to counsel themselves through doctrine in their souls so they are constantly looking for advice and counsel from others.
And they'll find counsel from others who will give them advice a little bit different than the last advice they received....
and then they will end up more confused and neurotic and even psychotic.
HEB 5:14 goes on to say But solid food [advance doctrine that nourishes the spiritual adult] is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Now, The word practice is the accusative singular feminine noun hexin (G) which means "habit".
What are spiritual adults?
They are people who cultivate habits.
What kind of habits?
The great habits of perception, metabolization and application of Bible doctrine.
Habits speaks of routine.
These are not the people who need the dog and pony show or the clown and circus performance.
They don't need entertainment.
They don't need the spectacular.
They can handle the routine.
On the other hand, The baby believers are the ones who need the dog and pony show or the clown and circus presentation.
They need entertainment.
They need the spectacular.
They cannot handle the routine.
And that is the sign of a baby.
Prin-The baby wants the spectacular while the adult
cultivates habits.
Adult believers don't stumble over the routine, they realize that their day-by-day self-control results in tremendous victories.
Just like the marching around Jericho for seven days resulted in the fallen down of the walls because God said it would work, Jos 6:3..
JOS 6:3 "And you shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days.
Prin-If the believer cultivates spiritual habits on a daily basis, it will bring in fantastic rewards and blessings.
HEB 5:14 But solid food [doctrine that nourishes the spiritual adult] is for the mature, who because of habit have their senses trained or they have learned to distinguish between the good or honorable from the evil or useless.
It's amazing how many believers cannot distinguish between that which is the plan of God and that which is total nonsense.
In ISA 5:20 They call evil good, and good evil; they substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; they substitute bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
When you have doctrine and you can distinguish evil trends in Christianity, you will be controversial when you say that it is evil.
And while the majority of born- again believers call it good, in the eyes of God, through doctrine, it is a horrific and evil.
So The believer who has cultivated habits is a believer who can make proper discernments in life.
This is why we are warned not to get into the terrible habit described for us in Heb 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as is the habit of some, but gathering together for the purpose of encouragement."
So, self-control is the system of authority that gives you concentration on the subject.
It gives you good manners, poise, thoughtfulness of others, so that all believers have the opportunity to fulfill the function of perception and metabolization as ordained of God for the local church.
In fact, discipline is the basic system of worship.
Worship is not praying to Jesus or singing a lot of hymns that aren't even biblical!
Worship is basically self-discipline and concentration on Bible doctrine.
The word worship the Greek word “proskoneo” which means to prostrate oneself in reverence and adoration and the picture that this word also paints are that of a dog licking his master’s hand and of a dog wagging its tail and whining for its master’s attention.
Worship is having the right priorities which is "A time for everything," ECC 3:1-8.
A time for God.
A time for doctrine.
A time for family.
A time for friends.
A time for business, etc.
JOH 4:23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
JOH 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
So, Self-control and authority over your own life becomes the key to everything in life.
Self-control means that you have authority over your life and you are going to honor that authority.
And remember that;
The authority that you have over your own life is your very own volition and your right of self-determination or self-control.
Now, in 1Ti 4:7-8, the apostle Paul uses physical exercise as an analogy to self-control and self-discipline.
1TI 4:7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women.
"Old women" seem to take a beating in the Bible!
However, there is an escape for you ladies.
No one has ever properly defined what an old woman really is.
I personally believe that;
It is a woman who is old in her soul and not alive in their spirit.
Even their countenance testifies against them as it did with Cain in Gen 4.
GEN 4:1 Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have gotten a man child with the help of the Lord."
GEN 4:2 And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
GEN 4:3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground.
GEN 4:4 And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering;
GEN 4:5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So, Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.
GEN 4:6 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
GEN 4:7 "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."
So This all refers to one who is bitter, harsh, caustic, sarcastic, hostile, resentful, jealous, suspicious, covetous.
Filled with malignity, hatred, revenge.
One who is a gossip or rumormonger and loves to spread rumors or a scandalmonger
So back in 1TI 4:7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;
Again, we see the importance of self-control.
The organization of your time, the setting up of your priorities is very important.
Godliness is simply a lifestyle for the "spiritual" believer.
Now, Why does it say to discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness?
Because it requires self-control and organization to execute the PPOG even if you have Bible doctrine as your number 1 priority.
And if that is true, and it appears to be for most of you, doctrine seems to be high on your priority list,
If it is "high on your scale of values" it requires a lot of self-control.
There are many times when you do not want to come to Bible class.
Many legitimate and even illegitimate reasons are given.
However, it takes a lot of Self-control to get here.
Then once you get here it takes more self-control to listen, especially if it's not your favorite subject.
1TI 4:8 For bodily discipline is only of little profit [for a short time],
There is profit in physical exercise but it's only for a short time.
1TI 4:8 For bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things,
Prin: The reason why we have exercise used as an analogy to godliness is because "exercise" requires self-control.
"Exercise" takes self-control.
You have to have a "priority slot" for exercise.
You have to "exercise," (if you take it seriously) whether you feel like it or not.
This is why there are all kinds of gadgets and pills on the market that really are trying to monopolize on inconsistency.
However, you have to be consistent for exercise to be profitable.
So 1TI 4:8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things,
"Godliness" is the result of consistency in the perception of doctrine.
Your consistency is very important because the doctrine you learn today is going to carry you for a short time.
That's another reason why doctrines have to be repeated and are repeated in certain books of the Bible.
There must be the repetition of doctrine.
Even the Bible repeats doctrine.
Repetition therefore, becomes vitally necessary in the Christian life.
1TI 4:8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things,
In other words;
The most important thing in your life is your consistency in the spiritual realm.
1TI 4:8 For bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Godliness holds the key to this life.
Your happiness depends on godliness or spiritual living.
Your capacity for life depends on godliness or spiritual living.
Your success in life depends on godliness or spiritual living.
Your promotion in life depends on godliness or spiritual living.
So, Godliness is said to hold promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
The life to come is a reference for all eternity.
For all eternity because some of you were consistent and faithful in the little things; You are going to have the uniform of glory, the order of the morning star, the various different crowns.
You are going to rule cities for 1,000 years in the Millennium and the Eternal State, etc.
Godliness is profitable in time, but even more it is profitable for the life to come
Verse 8 says - it holds promise for this life and the life to come.
So, The one thing that you have in this life as a believer which will be profitable for you for ever and ever and ever is "godliness or spiritual living."
And again, godliness or spiritual living is compared to physical exercise.
Exercise tones up the muscles, godliness or spiritual living tones up the spiritual life.
And the believer needs spiritual power much more than physical power.
Physical power is a dime a dozen.
Spiritual power is hard to find.
So, self-control means:
- Dedication
- Commitment
- Instruction
- Discipline
And discipline is of no value unless it is consistent.
The word discipline means to drive on or something performed or practiced in order to develop skill.
Anyone can exercise but for a person to stick with it consistently takes character.
It takes training.
It takes self-control.
It takes spiritual exercise.
Exercise for the Royal family in the congregation of the local church means:
- Self-control,
- Assembling together.
- Concentrating on the teaching.
- Good-manners.
- Silence.
- Not commenting.
- Not disturbing.
- Not moving-around.
- Objectivity.
- Persistence in spite of distraction.
All of this is part of the spiritual exercise that takes us from salvation to spiritual self-esteem, from S.S.E. to S.A. from S.A. to S.M.
Physical exercise has limited benefits in time while spiritual exercise has benefits daily and forever and ever and ever.
Your spiritual exercise is more important than anything you do in life.
Your consistency in coming to Bible class….,
Your consistency in taking in doctrine…..,
Your consistency in metabolizing doctrine……
All this will be the basis for the greatest capacity in life and the distribution of you escrow blessings in time and in eternity.
Indescribable blessings in time and in eternity because of your self-control and self-discipline.
We are now ready for the fourth member of the chorus line in 2PE 1:6.
2PE 1:5 Now for this very reason also, making every effort, by means of your doctrine supply [epichoregeo] virtue, and in or with your virtue [epichoregeo-supply] knowledge [gnosis-referring to biblical academic information.
2PE 1:6 and in your knowledge, [gnosis-referring to biblical academic information] supply [epichoregeo], self-control, and in your self-control, supply [epichoregeo] perseverance.
Perseverance is the accusative singular feminine noun hupomonen (G) meaning patience, endurance, perseverance, or persistence.
It actually connotes endurance.
It means that in spite of opposition or distractions, you are someone who is not influenced by others.
Hupomone also means courageous endurance in spite of all opposition.
It includes active and energetic resistance to hostile forces.
So, it means to persevere or to stand fast.
Therefore; The fourth member of the chorus represents consistency.
Your first four members of your chorus line therefore should be;
- Virtue (includes respect, loyalty, devotion).
- Knowledge - perception of doctrine.
- Self-control - organized life.
- Perseverance - endurance or consistency.
Perseverance gives us momentum and progress.
The believer who becomes "more than a conqueror" is the believer who endures.
ROM 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
ROM 8:36 Just as it is written, "For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
ROM 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
Endurance only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.
Endurance means perseverance, self-discipline and consistency.
It takes a lot of self-discipline and consistent decisions to come to Bible class or to study doctrine on a daily basis as we have seen.
The road to spiritual maturity is one where you have to keep driving.
In fact,
This word is used for the ability of the believer to persevere when being pressured, Jam 1:12.
Jam 1:12 Happy is the one who perseveres under trial: for once he has been approved he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
It is also used in LUK 8:15 for those believers who stick with doctrine in spite of all the pressure the kingdom of darkness tries to put on doctrinal believers.
Turn to LUK 8:15"And the {seed} in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
Our Lord also used in LUK 21:19 when He said "BY your endurance YOU will gain your lives."
In other words, not quitting.
There are so many distractions and so-called “good reasons” not to continue with the plan of God and the intake of doctrine and therefore endurance is desperately needed.
The attitude of willing to be victorious, and the will to excel are the things that endure.
These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur.
Notice how the apostle Paul used this same word in ROM 5:3 And not only this but we also delight in our tribulations knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
ROM 5:4 and perseverance proven character: and proven character hope or confidence
Trials, temptations, disappointments -- all these are helps instead of hindrances, if one uses them rightly.
They not only test the fiber of character but strengthen it.
Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.
In ROM 15:4, Paul also used this word to remind us about what the Old Testament saints had to endure, For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
ROM 15:5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus:
So, this is a word that is used for not quitting and enduring the pressure that comes from the devil's world.
In 2C0 6:4, the apostle Paul used this word as proof of the ministry when he said "But in everything commending ourselves as servants of God in much endurance. in afflictions it hardships in distresses."
If you are ever going to be a part of a ministry from God, you must learn to endure.
2PE 1:6 says and in your knowledge, [gnosis-referring to biblical academic information] [epichoregeo], self-control, and in your self control, [epichoregeo] perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness;
Now, The fifth member of the chorus line is godliness which is the accusative singular feminine noun from eusebeia which is eusebeian, a technical term for living the spiritual life.
It is a word that all of you need to be crystal clear on so that it will be very beneficial to your spiritual life.
This Greek word eusebeia is mistranslated in the English language "godliness."
One of the great Greek scholars in this generation is a man called Professor Gunther Bornkamm of Hiedelberg University who defines eusebeia as: "Christian faith and life, conduct in relationship to God, and manner of life."
In other words, It does not mean godliness, it has to so with the Christian life or the spiritual life of the believer.
Professor Bornkamm goes on to say, in the pastoral epistles.
Eusebeia denotes a particular manner of life and then he said that eusebeia actually denotes the spiritual life of the believer.
One word and this one word actually is used in connection with the spiritual life.
And notice how much more sense it makes and how clearer the word of God is when eusebeia is translated the spiritual life.
For example, in 1TI 6:3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to the spiritual life,
1TI 6:4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
1TI 6:5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that the spiritual life is a means of gain.
1TI 6:6 But the spiritual life actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.
In 1TI 6:11 But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, the spiritual life, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.
Now This spiritual life, eusebeia only functions by epignosis or metabolized doctrine circulating in your soul.
The trouble here is that if we were left to our own devices we would come up with a lot of different ideas as to what constitutes godliness.
Some people would say it means to be sweet.
Others would say it means to have brotherly love.
Or it refers to someone who goes to church all of the time.
Looks up in the sky, and contemplates infinity.
Or it means that you always smile and say, "Praise the Lord."
However, what does it mean?
What is meant by eusebeia or the spiritual life?
Next time.
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