Bible Study Letters Online Tracts Christian Character & Conduct

Bible Study Letters Online Tracts

Character and Conduct

Reaching forth...

Christian Character and Conduct

Romans 14:16-17
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

1 Peter 3:15
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Jonah 2:9
9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

Hebrews 7:25
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Titus 3:5
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

As believers we have hope, and know we were not saved because we were better than others, but know well we were sinners, deserving of the wrath of God, but God mighty to save, rich in mercy saved us. Such salvation should show by our life and we need to, be daily examining ourselves to see the soundness of our faith.

Christian character is lacking but intractable religious practice is flourishing. Self-willed behaviour is the normal. If any opens a Bible to the wrong page in the midst of the religious crowd, they will lash at you. That is able to be found with those on either side of a matter.

Salvation is of the Lord, so those that know the truth should show patience, but not compromise. It was not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Christ came into the world to saved sinners.

They will boast of their tithe, roll words around they cannot comprehend about the New Testament, and brag at their religion in other such ways. An endless string of religious tales, wives tales and fables will be shown, but open the Bible and mention a doctrine they do not receive and they will be ready to fight. They do this in the name of Christianity, but they do not follow Christ with such behavior. Show the gospel and they will be angry, and in their fashion, twist things about to say it was anger on your part that caused you to show the gospel.

Some yet refuse to deal with Scripture, and wait for the time they can show themselves to spread their poison. If you simply want to say, "I don't believe that" while ignoring Scripture that has been shown to define the doctrine you do not receive, you have not dealt with Scripture.

My aim is to cause us each to examine ourselves, and be sure of our own faith, proving our own selves, for if we have been giving ourselves to contentious behaviour, we are not following the faith once delivered. Yet, one is not expected to walk about approving each thing he finds contrary. Find your path, and walk it.

KJV Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Fear God

Ecclesiastes 12:13
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

1 Peter 2:17
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

God is the object of this fear:

Isaiah 8:13
13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

God is the author of this fear:

Jeremiah 32:39-40
39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

Searching the Scriptures teaches the fear of God:

Proverbs 2:3-5
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Godly fear is:

Proverbs 8:13
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Job 28:28
28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Psalms 111:10
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Remember God is the author of this fear, and is no part of supposed merit-mongers:

Proverbs 15:16
16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Isaiah 33:6
6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

Proverbs 14:27
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Psalms 19:9
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Hebrews 12:9, 28
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

The fear of the Lord is commanded:

Deuteronomy 13:4
4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

Psalms 22:23
23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

Ecclesiastes 12:13
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

1 Peter 2:17
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Encouragements to the fear of God:

Revelation 15:4
4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

Deuteronomy 10:12, 17
12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

1 Samuel 12:24-25
24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

Psalms 130:4
4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

Joshua 4:23-24
23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:
24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.

Revelation 14:7
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Fear of God is shown as a character trait of God's redeemed:

Malachi 3:16
16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Godly fear and godly joy are inseparable:

Psalms 2:11
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Godly fear is necessary, a part of the life of the redeemed:

Psalms 5:7
7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

Psalms 89:6-9
6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?
7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.
8 O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?
9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

Psalms 2:11
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Hebrews 12:28
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Exodus 20:20
20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

2 Samuel 23:3
3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

2 Chronicles 19:6-7, 9-10
6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.
7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
9 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
10 And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass.

2 Corinthians 7:1
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The Bible speaks of those that have the fear of the Lord:

Psalms 147:11
11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

Psalms 103:13
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

Acts 10:35
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Ps 103:11, 17
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

Luke 1:50
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

Psalms 112:1
1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

Psalms 115:13
13 He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.

Psalms 115:11
11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

Proverbs 14:26
26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Proverbs 16:6
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Hebrews 10:25
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Don't fear the wicked though they join hand in hand (Prov 11:21; 16:2-8):

Isaiah 8:11-13
11 For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

Matthew 10:28
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Proverbs 11:21
21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

Proverbs 16:2-6
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Lean not unto your own understanding, but trust the Lord; in all thy ways acknowledge Him:

Psalms 145:17-19
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

John 4:23-24
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Those that fear the Lord receive of the Tree of Life, but the wicked are turned back (Gen 2:9; 3:22-24; Rev 2:7; 22:14-15):

Proverbs 10:27
27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Genesis 2:9; 3:22-24
2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Revelation 2:7; 22:14-15
2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

The fear of the Lord:

Psalms 34:11
11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Joshua 4:24
24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.

Proverbs 23:17
17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

The fear of the Lord is locked to the joy of the Lord (Psalms 2:11), and the fear of the Lord is locked to our hope.

1 Peter 3:15
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

The fear of the Lord should be prayed for.

Psalms 86:11
11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

The redeemed are not left in darkness, but are enabled to interpret, understand the things needful to them from the Word of God. Such meat belongs to those that have been exercised to discern between good and evil. The carnal have no such understanding (1 Cor 2:14; 3:1), seeking to have those parts of the Bible they stumble at closed, hidden.

Proverbs 9:10
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Hebrews 5:14
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

There are those with ungodly fear of the Lord:

Revelation 21:8
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

There is no godly fear with the wicked, those that have not been saved:

Psalms 36:1-4
1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

Romans 3:18
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

You must be born again, that not of yourselves:

Jer 13:23
23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

John 3:7
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Taking the Lord at His Word, believing Him:

Mark 11:22
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

John 14:11-12
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

John 17:6, 8, 14, 17
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

James 1:18
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Love the Lord:

Deuteronomy 6:5
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Matthew 22:37
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

John 14:15, 21, 23-24
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

Follow the Lord:

Amos 3:3
3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Ephesians 5:1
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

1 Peter 1:16-17
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

Matthew 5:44-48
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

1 John 4:11
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Our every thought is to be in obedience to the gospel. Woe unto those that obey not the gospel.

2 Cor 10:3-5
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2 Thess 1:8
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 4:17
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

The good news, contrary to what many may think, is our being saved from sin. They that are Christ's have crucified the affections and lusts, Our Lord Christ is not to be looked at as if He were license for our being carnal, giving the Christian excuse for vain and carnal behavior, as though He died for our sins simply so we cold indulge with impunity the lusts of the flesh commonly excepted by the world's crowd.

Ezekiel 11:19-21
19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
21 But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.

Matthew 1:21
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Acts 3:26
26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Colossians 1:21-23
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

To be carnally minded is death, but through the Spirit there is life and peace. There is assurance of salvation for the one that obeys the gospel.

Isaiah 32:17
17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

Rom 8:6-9
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

The doctrine we have to deal with is after godliness. God is no respecter of persons, and what you are yielded to shows the one you belong to, either obedience unto righteousness and life, or sin unto death. The Christian is to live a separated life.

1 Timothy 6:3-5
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

2 Corinthians 13:5
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Romans 6:15-18
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

The great mercy of the Father having chosen us before the foundation of the earth, not according to our works, Christ having died for us, even while we were yet sinners, and the Holy Spirit quickening us, even when we were yet dead in trespasses and sins is cause for the child of God to have great joy. He has begun a good work in us, and will complete it. The Lord knows the ones that are His, and, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

John 6:45
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

John 6:37
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Ephesians 1:3-7; 2:1-5
1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Philippians 1:6
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

2 Timothy 2:19
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Can two walk together, unless they be agreed? Our first concern should be our walk with the Lord. Our walk with others that profess faith is to be regulated by the standard shown in Scripture. Every part of our being, even our thoughts are to be in subjection to the Word of God.

Matthew 18:7-9, 15-18
7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

First, it is clear we are to avoid offences, for those saved from sin should not show by their walk they linger in sin. Matthew Poole in his commentary tells us, "Our Saviour very appositely addeth to his former discourse concerning avoiding offences, that none might think by the former doctrine he had made void the law, (Leviticus 19:17, "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him."), which commanded all in any wise to rebuke their neighbour, and not to suffer sin upon him, pretending that it was their duty in some cases to offend any person by that law. He here telleth them that he would not be so understood, as if they might not tell offenders of their sins for fear of offending them, this had been to have withheld charity from their souls under a pretence of charity." This has for the most part been forgotten today, but we are to be a light and salt, both by our own actions, and by loving our neighbor by warning of sin.

Paul showed that if the offence were public, the rebuke could be public, for then all that were sensible of it would have been offended, but our Lord shows, if our neighbor offends us alone, the rebuke is to be between them and us alone (Matthew 18:15).

1 Timothy 5:20
20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

If the offence were public, but in the midst of a carnal sort of people not sensible of the things of God, a rebuke could be given, and with that it might be expected the carnal sort would find more complaints and offend more. Our conduct is not to be regulated as if it were simply the taking of one side or another without first dealing with words, to confirm what has been said. If you find yourself in the midst of the sort that would by their actions show they would rather brawl, or if not brawl avoid determining the truth of a matter to make clear the error that one might turn from it, it could be time to separate yourself, shaking the dust off.

When there is a difference between those professing to be believers, effort should be made to resolve. No believer is wrong all the time, and none should think they are always right (Isaiah 1:25; Proverbs 25:4; Luke 22:32). Words need to be considered, and measured using the test of the Word of God. There are some shallow in understanding and self willed. As with salvation, that being according to the will of God, so it is with our walk in newness of life. It is always to be considered, the Lord's will be done.

In some cases you will find those not willing to resolve a matter, but that would rather count you as mad man as they continue with the religion of the world, self will. One can be very religious yet still self willed. Don't count them an enemy, but hope for their being delivered, the offence not laid to their charge. Count the cost, for there are the sort that will turn and lash at you, the evil sort that feed themselves in our midst without fear, wolves in sheep's clothing.

Our armour shows we are not to turn away, avoiding a matter, and so exposing our back. Those that would seek to find agreement by closing the eyes, the ears, or the mouth to avoid some things, that judgement of the truth would not be made show they have a double mind. Such would agree with any, pretending to believe what any say to pretend to walk together. Can two walk together unless they be agreed? We are to follow on with our Lord, proving all things, holding fast that which is good. Some are the sort to be avoided. Avoid them.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

Jude 10-12
10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

2 Peter 2:10, 12, 15-19
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

Titus 1:13
13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

2 Timothy 4:2-4
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

The Scripture shows when a person is found with sin, in the church they are to be disciplined. Toward that they might be put out of the church. Even with that we are not able, and it is not our place to have faith for that person. We are with that making a statement they are not in agreement with our practice. We need not agree with those that do not agree with us, but the way we appear to them is a matter of concern I think. We don't force them in matters of faith. Those of faith have the word to direct their actions, and with that we are told how to deal with those that do not agree. If there is one that is of our number, or at least appeared to be, there is a way we are to deal with them. If one that is not professing to be of our number, there is another way we are to deal with them, I think. We should never compromise our own faith, for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. He who knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin. Can two walk together, unless they be agreed? How do you perceive salvation?

1 John 3:19-21
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

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