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Are You This, Or Are You That?
May 27, 2012
Jesus said that individuals are either for Him, or against Him. They either work to bring people together in God, else they scatter them from God. The New Testament writings are not a book of rules, as some would have them, but are writings that give guidance. They show us how to be for Christ, or against Him and how to do the work of God, or fight against Him and His work. This study is contrast those that are one way or the other.
Bernie Parsons
Are
You This, Or Are You That?
by
Bernie Parsons
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 05-27-2012
Presented to Load church of Christ on 06-03-2012
Matthew 12:30 "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth
not with me scattereth abroad."
This statement that Jesus shows that there is no middle ground in our
relationship with the Lord. We are with Him, or against Him. We do good or
we do evil. Period.
The
apostle Paul showed the fledgling Gentile congregations some contrasts
between good and evil. He was not attempting to construct an all-inclusive
list of “dos” and “don’ts”, but was giving guidelines that they could
understand when dealing with various choices in life. As we view those
guidelines, let me ask this question: “Are you this or are you that?”
Are
you foolish, or are you wise?
James 3:13 "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him
shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie
not against the truth.
15
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and
easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and
without hypocrisy.
18
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
Are
you a liar, or are you honest – one who tells the truth?
John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye
will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his
own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."
Colossians 3:9 "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old
man with his deeds;
10
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image
of him that created him:"
Ephesians 4:25 "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his
neighbour: for we are members one of another."
Are
you one who gets angry and sins, or are you one who lets go of your anger?
Colossians 3:8 "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth."
Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and
evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:"
Ephesians 4:26 “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your
wrath:
27
Neither give place to the devil."
Are
you vengeful, or do you “kill” your enemies with kindness?
Romans 12:19 "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place
unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the
Lord.
20
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for
in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
Are
you contentious, or are you peaceable?
1
Corinthians 11:16 "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such
custom, neither the churches of God."
2
Timothy 2:24 "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle
unto all men, apt to teach, patient,"
Romans 12:18 "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably
with all men."
Are
you loud and aggressive, or are you quiet and gentle?
1
Peter 3:8 "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another,
love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise
blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a
blessing."
Philippians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
1
Thessalonians 4:11 "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own
business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;"
Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
Are
you envious, or are you happy for the success of others?
Galatians 5:26 "Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another,
envying one another."
James 3:14 "But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory
not, and lie not against the truth.
15
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."
Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that
weep."
Are
you a trouble maker, or are you a peacemaker?
1
Timothy 5:13 "And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house
to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking
things which they ought not."
1
Peter 4:15 "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as
an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters."
2
Thessalonians 3:11 "For we hear that there are some which walk among you
disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12
Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that
with quietness they work, and eat their own bread."
Hebrews 10:24 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to
good works:"
Romans 14:19 "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace,
and things wherewith one may edify another."
Are
you a speaker of vile things, or one who speaks good things?
1
Peter 3:10 "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain
his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11
Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it."
Titus 3:2 "To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing
all meekness unto all men."
James 4:11 "Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil
of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and
judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law,
but a judge."
There are more contrasts that we could make, but these are a sufficient to cause us to ask, “Am I this, or am I that?” Are we with Jesus, or are we against Him? There is no middle ground!
