The Nature of True Christianity 03
THE NATURE OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY
UNLOCKING BIBLICAL TRUTHS ABOUT SPIRITUALITY
THE NATURE OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY
THE LAW AND THE LAW OF LOVE: PT III
“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.” –Romans 13:8-10 (NKJV)
SUMMARY •
True Spirituality stems from the internal change of the heart
•
True Spirituality is not autonomy ~ self rule!
•
True Spirituality is regulated by the law of Love
•
We can identify our heart’s desires in 2 ways:
•
•
Does my desire show love for God?
•
Does my desire show love to mankind?
Contentment is aided by learning to Give Thanks!
GIVING THANKS
•
Giving of Thanks is central to contentment
* Study Phil. 4:10-13 •
Eph 5:20 ~ …always …for all things
•
“all things” means All Things ~ both positive & negative “things” (Rom 8:28, Phil 4:6~7)
GIVING THANKS
•
Philippians 4:4~6
•
Colossians 2:6~7, 3:15, 4:2
•
Romans 1:21, Genesis 3
TWO WORLDVIEWS •
Atheism •
•
Random Chance, Millions (Billions) of years, Naturalistic, Anti-supernatulistic
Theism •
Deliberate, 6-Days, Supernatural
•
Atheism declares the universe is impersonal
•
Christianity declares the universe is personal
CONTENTMENT ~ FIRST THE VERTICAL •
•
This universe is personal ~ God’s creation •
Salvation brings us into relationship with God
•
At any moment of Distrust we demonstrate a denial of our declaration
This universe is of supernatural origin ~ God is the “uncaused first cause”, therefore super-(above)-natural •
Since man’s fall we have been in a spiritual warfare
•
Contentment will only be gained as we engage
•
God has the right to place us in battle where He desires
CONTENTMENT ~ FIRST THE VERTICAL •
•
This universe is personal ~ God’s creation •
Salvation brings us into relationship with God
•
At any moment of Distrust we demonstrate a denial of our declaration
This universe is of supernatural origin ~ God is the “uncaused first cause”, therefore super-(above)-natural •
Since man’s fall we have been in a spiritual warfare
•
Contentment will only be gained as we engage
•
God has the right to place us in battle where He desires
SUMMARY •
Giving of Thanks is central to contentment
•
Contentment demonstrates trust in God despite our circumstances
•
Contentment allows genuine thankfulness to find real expression in the midst, and even for our circumstances
•
Discontent and unthankfulness are not loving toward God and are coveting against God
•
The inward always determines the outward
•
The first test of True Spirituality: To Love God so as to be thankful and content in all of life
CONTENTMENT ~ SECOND THE HORIZONTAL •
•
When do desires become coveting? •
Desires are revealed as coveting when they are envious
•
One may envy $$$, position, fame - but:
•
It is possible to envy spiritual gifts
•
Inward satisfaction at someone’s misfortune
The inward always determines the outward!
CONTENTMENT ~ SECOND THE HORIZONTAL
•
If the inward always determines the outward… •
The heart will be revealed: Luke 6:43-45
•
What is on the inside will manifest outwardly
•
Coveting demonstrates : •
Lack of contentment in God & His purpose
•
Lack of love for fellow man
CONTENTMENT ~ SECOND THE HORIZONTAL
•
Coveting can have tragic consequences •
Genesis 4:1-12 (What was on the inside was revealed on the outside)
•
What begins in the heart quickly becomes actions of some form or another
•
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 & 13:4-5
•
True Christianity is not superficial
CONTENTMENT ~ THANKFULNESS ~ COVETOUSNESS •
These are the “fruits” of True Spirituality
•
They are vital areas of inward self-mastery
•
True Spirituality is first lost in the inward life: •
•
Outward sinful actions are the result
Grasp this truth: •
The internal is basic (foundational)
•
The external is always merely the result!
TRUE SPIRITUALITY
•
True Spirituality moves far beyond this
•
It is revealed in Galatians 2:20~21
TRUE SPIRITUALITY I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
–Galatians 2:20~21 (NKJV)
TRUE SPIRITUALITY I have been crucified with Christ || it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
–Galatians 2:20~21 (NKJV)
THE NATURE OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY
THE LAW AND THE LAW OF LOVE: PT III
UNLOCKING BIBLICAL TRUTHS ABOUT SPIRITUALITY
THE NATURE OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY
THE LAW AND THE LAW OF LOVE: PT III
“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.” –Romans 13:8-10 (NKJV)
SUMMARY •
True Spirituality stems from the internal change of the heart
•
True Spirituality is not autonomy ~ self rule!
•
True Spirituality is regulated by the law of Love
•
We can identify our heart’s desires in 2 ways:
•
•
Does my desire show love for God?
•
Does my desire show love to mankind?
Contentment is aided by learning to Give Thanks!
GIVING THANKS
•
Giving of Thanks is central to contentment
* Study Phil. 4:10-13 •
Eph 5:20 ~ …always …for all things
•
“all things” means All Things ~ both positive & negative “things” (Rom 8:28, Phil 4:6~7)
GIVING THANKS
•
Philippians 4:4~6
•
Colossians 2:6~7, 3:15, 4:2
•
Romans 1:21, Genesis 3
TWO WORLDVIEWS •
Atheism •
•
Random Chance, Millions (Billions) of years, Naturalistic, Anti-supernatulistic
Theism •
Deliberate, 6-Days, Supernatural
•
Atheism declares the universe is impersonal
•
Christianity declares the universe is personal
CONTENTMENT ~ FIRST THE VERTICAL •
•
This universe is personal ~ God’s creation •
Salvation brings us into relationship with God
•
At any moment of Distrust we demonstrate a denial of our declaration
This universe is of supernatural origin ~ God is the “uncaused first cause”, therefore super-(above)-natural •
Since man’s fall we have been in a spiritual warfare
•
Contentment will only be gained as we engage
•
God has the right to place us in battle where He desires
CONTENTMENT ~ FIRST THE VERTICAL •
•
This universe is personal ~ God’s creation •
Salvation brings us into relationship with God
•
At any moment of Distrust we demonstrate a denial of our declaration
This universe is of supernatural origin ~ God is the “uncaused first cause”, therefore super-(above)-natural •
Since man’s fall we have been in a spiritual warfare
•
Contentment will only be gained as we engage
•
God has the right to place us in battle where He desires
SUMMARY •
Giving of Thanks is central to contentment
•
Contentment demonstrates trust in God despite our circumstances
•
Contentment allows genuine thankfulness to find real expression in the midst, and even for our circumstances
•
Discontent and unthankfulness are not loving toward God and are coveting against God
•
The inward always determines the outward
•
The first test of True Spirituality: To Love God so as to be thankful and content in all of life
CONTENTMENT ~ SECOND THE HORIZONTAL •
•
When do desires become coveting? •
Desires are revealed as coveting when they are envious
•
One may envy $$$, position, fame - but:
•
It is possible to envy spiritual gifts
•
Inward satisfaction at someone’s misfortune
The inward always determines the outward!
CONTENTMENT ~ SECOND THE HORIZONTAL
•
If the inward always determines the outward… •
The heart will be revealed: Luke 6:43-45
•
What is on the inside will manifest outwardly
•
Coveting demonstrates : •
Lack of contentment in God & His purpose
•
Lack of love for fellow man
CONTENTMENT ~ SECOND THE HORIZONTAL
•
Coveting can have tragic consequences •
Genesis 4:1-12 (What was on the inside was revealed on the outside)
•
What begins in the heart quickly becomes actions of some form or another
•
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 & 13:4-5
•
True Christianity is not superficial
CONTENTMENT ~ THANKFULNESS ~ COVETOUSNESS •
These are the “fruits” of True Spirituality
•
They are vital areas of inward self-mastery
•
True Spirituality is first lost in the inward life: •
•
Outward sinful actions are the result
Grasp this truth: •
The internal is basic (foundational)
•
The external is always merely the result!
TRUE SPIRITUALITY
•
True Spirituality moves far beyond this
•
It is revealed in Galatians 2:20~21
TRUE SPIRITUALITY I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
–Galatians 2:20~21 (NKJV)
TRUE SPIRITUALITY I have been crucified with Christ || it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
–Galatians 2:20~21 (NKJV)
THE NATURE OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY
THE LAW AND THE LAW OF LOVE: PT III
