Loving what is good

This Outline of the Discussion by Dr. Gene Getz:

1. There is no greater example of goodness than Jesus Christ.

2. The closer we come to Jesus, the more we will become like Jesus.

3. A mature man is a lover of good.

4. Activities that reflect the will of God are good , acceptable , and perfect .

5. Becoming a Christian enables all believers to overcome evil with good .

6. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

7. The Law of Life in Christ sets us free from the law of sin and death.

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A story was told that helped us to understand what happened when sin entered into the world. (I tried to capture it word-by-word, however, please excuse and limitations.

Intriguing Jewish Legend

When God was about to create man and He took into counsel the Angels that stood about the throne.

“Don't create him” – said the angel of justice, for if you do he will commit all kinds of wickedness against his fellow man. He will be cruel and hard and dishonest and unrighteous.

“Don't create him” said the angel of truth, for he will be false and deceitful to his fellow man and even to you.

“Don't create him” said the angel of holiness, for man will follow that which is impure in your sight and dishonor you to your face.

THEN the angel of mercy stepped forward and said : “Create him” our Heavenly father

For when he sins and turns from the path of right, truth and holiness I will take him tenderly by the hand and speak loving words to him and then lead him back to YOU.

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This story captures what happened at the time in the garden when their eyes were open and they were naked. At this time they then knew the difference between good and evil. The history of man reveals that their evil ways grew still greater each day. It was so great that in the time of Noah God stepped in to remove the wickedness from the earth. The Bible speaks of ‘as in the times of Noah so shall be the time of the end' – thus as the evil of mankind moves forward today they get closer to their day of judgment.

Just as there was a means of salvation in Noah's day (the ark) so there is one today. This safety arc of today comes from the “Angel of Mercy” which is Christ Jesus. He has provided a way for all who turn from their evil ways and believe on Him will be saved. This ‘Angel of mercy' is our redeemer. He makes it possible for us to turn from our sin and move toward the light.

Because of the event in the garden we now have a “great tension between good and evil”! Peter tells us to abstain from the passions of the flesh that wage war against our soul…

1 Peter 2:11 (ESV ) Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Paul tells that God is there to help us with even our very thoughts. Paul reminds us that we walk in the flesh yet God is there to help us to take every thought captive to obey.

2 Cor. 10:1-6 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

The Outline for the discussion in 2 nd Timothy 3 by Dr. Gene Getz:

1. In 2 Timothy 3 it is mentioned that in the last days people will be lovers of self ,

money , and pleasure rather than lovers of God .

2. Without a proper view of ourselves we wouldn't be able to love God and others as we

should.

3. Christians should have a good self - image .

4. We should count others more significant than ourselves.

5. “The smallest package we have ever seen is a man wrapped up in himself .”

6. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

7. Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation.

8. The pleasures that God created to be good can become evil .

9. Pleasure in itself is a dead-end street.

10. It's our love of God that keeps everything in proper perspective .

11. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart , soul , and mind .

12. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Paul shows the contrast, the tension between good and evil:

2 Timothy 3:2–4 (ESV) 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

Selecting three key areas:

Lovers of Self

Lovers of money

Lovers of pleasure

Discussion of the three pints of being lovers of self, money, and pleasures:

Lovers of Self – We want to have a proper view of self and okay to feel good about themselves. To have a good self-image as we are God's making. One who loves himself is a victim of “I' “Me” – thus, is selfish. Paul warned: Philippians 2:3–4 (ESV)

3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

We need to count others more significant than ourselves. Not just our own interests but to look at the interests of others.

Quotes:

The smallest package we have ever seen is a man wrapped up in himself.

He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.

—Franklin

• Talk to a man about himself and he will listen for hours.

—Disraeli

• He who thinks himself good for everything is often good for nothing.

—Picard

5494 License Plate No. 1

Paul Powell, Illinois secretary of state, had to decide who would get auto license plate No. 1. “It was a real problem,” he said. “I'm not about to assign it to someone and make about a thousand other people feel hurt.” His solution? He assigned it to himself.

Lovers of money

Gods does not condemn the having of money but the “Love of money”.

For believers a warning: “ 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare” into many heatless ideas and plunge man into ruin. No matter if we have a lot or a little, God wants us to be generous based on what we have and not what we don't have. JC – seek first the Kingdom of God. (Matt. 6:33)

I Timothy 6: 6-10 - 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare , and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Matthew 6:33 (ESV) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Lovers of pleasure

God created us with the ability for pleasure – He wanted us to be happy . It is one reason why the Lord created Eve for Adam and each for the other so they could experience pleasure. God created a ‘garden' so they could enjoy all the tastes and scenes for their mouth and eyes. The pleasures were created to be good, but when sin entered into the world they were revered to evil. Pleasure, in itself, is a dead-end street for it never satisfies.

It is our 'love for God' that keeps thigs in their proper perspective. A lawyer asked what was the greatest commandment and Jesus said: Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV) - 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

DR. Gene Getz recommends we ask ourselves these three questions:

•  Why is it often difficult for Christian men to be a ‘lover of good?”

•  What biblical passages have helped you most to be motivated to be a ‘lover of good'?

•  What aspects of your lives would you like to change in order to be able to love God more?