Spiritual Obligations
so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; Philippians 1:10 NASB
In order to be – Read it slowly. Paul has just proclaimed that God and God alone will complete the good work in us (v. 6). God won’t stop the finishing process until the Son returns. But now, just three short sentences later, Paul writes that we are to discern what is excellent and act upon that discernment in order that we will be found blameless when Yeshua comes back. What can this mean? Don’t we have the guarantee that God is going to finish the work He began? Why does Paul suddenly exhort us to work toward this same goal?
Here we have stumbled upon one of the great mysteries of the Scriptures. Yes, God does do what He says He will do, and God says He will emphatically complete His handiwork in us . . . but, at the same time, we now have spiritual obligations that are a big part of this outcome. When Paul uses the Greek hina ete, he means that discernment and appropriate action are essential. God works and we submit. God accomplishes and we change. This hand-in-glove operation cannot be teased apart as if one functions ineluctably without the other. What God works in, we must work out if we are going to be found blameless at the Second Coming of the King.
The mystery of the Hebraic perspective is its resistance to be boxed into a theological corner. Greek-based systematic theology finds such mysteries disturbingly annoying. Greek thought demands the one right answer. It is repulsed by paradox. But Hebrew thinking isn’t so rigid. Right in the middle of Man’s interaction with God is the paradox of sovereignty and free will. Hebrew thought fully endorsed both. How? Who knows? Only God understands the intricacies of this apparent contradiction. But since Scripture claims God is totally sovereign and Man is fully responsible, Hebrew thought simply affirms what God’s word says – and lets the chips fall where they may. It might not be comfortable for Calvin, Luther, or Hodge, but it’s just fine with Akiva, Hillel and Heschel.
What are the implications for us? Well, we could put our feet down on the side of the systematic theologians and convince ourselves that either election or choice is the final answer. Depending on our persuasion, we will either decide that Paul can’t possibly be saying that we have to actually do something to be found righteous or that Paul is simply reiterating the dominance of our free choices. But if we are Hebraic, we will realize that both sides are true. God does bring about His purposes in our lives and we have a major part in accomplishing what He determines. If we are Hebraic, we will err on the side of caution and take seriously this injunction to practical rightouesness. We will keep Torah, not because we can ultimately decide the correct theological position but because we don’t want our thinking to deter our obedience. After all, we are men and women, not God. If we do our best to keep Torah and we find out at the Day of His Coming that it wasn’t necessary, we are certainly not the losers. We will have experienced a life of practiced obedience and developed a godly character. If, on the other hand, we don’t keep Torah because we are convinced it isn’t necessary, and we find out we were wrong, then we will have a lot to explain.
Many Christians, inside and outside the Messianic camp, claim that love is enough. I hope they are right. But my studies of history of theology demonstrate this one thing: men are quite often sincerely mistaken. I would prefer not to be in that camp when I meet Him.
Topical Index: Torah, in order that, paradox, hina ete, Philippians 1:10
“God does bring about His purposes in our lives and we have a major part in accomplishing what He determines”
Makes me think of the lyrics in that old Marvin Gaye song
“It takes two”
HER: One can have a dream, baby
HIM: Two can make that dream so real
HER: One can talk about bein’ in love
HIM: Two can say how it really feels
HER: One can wish upon a star
HIM: Two can make that wish come true, yeah
HER: One can stand alone in the dark
HIM: Two can make the light shine through
CHORUS (BOTH):
It takes two, baby
It takes two, baby
Me and you, just takes two
It takes two, baby
It takes two, baby
To make a dream come true, just takes two
Michael,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCwe2WftI7Y&feature=share that old Marvin Gaye song
“God does bring about His purposes in our lives and we have a major part in accomplishing what He determines”
Makes me think of the lyrics in that old Marvin Gaye song
“It takes two”
HER: One can have a dream, baby
HIM: Two can make that dream so real
HER: One can talk about bein’ in love
HIM: Two can say how it really feels
HER: One can wish upon a star
HIM: Two can make that wish come true, yeah
HER: One can stand alone in the dark
HIM: Two can make the light shine through
CHORUS (BOTH):
It takes two, baby
It takes two, baby
Me and you, just takes two
It takes two, baby
It takes two, baby
To make a dream come true, just takes two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCwe2WftI7Y&feature=share that old Marvin Gaye song
“God does bring about His purposes in our lives and we have a major part in accomplishing what He determines”
Hi Jan,
Thanks Jan, that is a great video and I could not even find a good one!
The two little yellow labs make me think of my big three year old lab Max.
Because my children do not live with me any more, it is just the two of us.
I was not a big fan of Marvin Gaye’s music, but the lyrics stick in my mind.
I never thought about the lyrics as me and God, but they work on that level.
In my view.
I agree with you Skip. I will also rather keep Torah than be considered the least in the Kingdom when our King comes – bless His Holy Name and may He come in our day. I will not be foolish to misinterpret or follow my own understanding. If it was not for the Ruach HaKodesh and the Word I would not have found the ancient path back to our Father’s heart. As we draw closer to our Father and King – bless His Holy Name – He brings me to understand more and more that He change not. What He ordained from the beginning stands until the end. The deceiver has twisted so much over the ages. Yeshua warned us about this. I cling to the promises in the Word that the Spirit of Truth will write all the commands on our hearts Personally. If this was not the case we will not have more and more people now backtracking and rethinking back to the beginning. We will only come to the end when we make a sincere effort to go back to the beginning and rediscover His Truth. Those following their own hearts will not find His way. Our Father warns these people that because they allow themselves to be deceived He will allow an ever greater deceit in their understanding. The path is indeed narrow. There is only ONE True path. The righteous will be taken on it. Let us pray for all to find it. Guard your own heart more than anything else – from it comes life – eternal life. Love without works/doing the commands is dead – no substance. Shalom Shalom!
Thank you brother Skip for the teachings on Philippians 1:6 and your follow-up on verse 10 today.
Election and choice has originated in the mind of G_d, and is expressed with such tension and beauty throughout both the TaNaKh and the Apostolic Writings. We may not like this apparent contradiction and we may try to emphasize one over the other, but G_d does not seem to be bothered by our over-emphasis, dislike, and our lack of comfort over the apparent contradiction.
Ultimately, I believe G_d is looking for a people who will choose to follow Him in every way that pleases His heart, and in doing so will be a light to the nations of this G_d’s choosing. Because of G_d’s gracious choosing, “we stand in awe!” And by our gratitude and faithful obedience we can demonstrate to the world that we are His and His alone.
THE BELOW SOUNDS LIKE A WIN WIN SITUATION:
“What are the implications for us? Well, we could put our feet down on the side of the systematic theologians and convince ourselves that either election or choice is the final answer. Depending on our persuasion, we will either decide that Paul can’t possibly be saying that we have to actually do something to be found righteous or that Paul is simply reiterating the dominance of our free choices. But if we are Hebraic, we will realize that both sides are true. God does bring about His purposes in our lives and we have a major part in accomplishing what He determines. If we are Hebraic, we will err on the side of caution and take seriously this injunction to practical rightouesness. We will keep Torah, not because we can ultimately decide the correct theological position but because we don’t want our thinking to deter our obedience. After all, we are men and women, not God. If we do our best to keep Torah and we find out at the Day of His Coming that it wasn’t necessary, we are certainly not the losers. We will have experienced a life of practiced obedience and developed a godly character.”
What are the “things that are excellent?” If only we could “dwell” or live within the confines of this concluding verse: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4.8)
How is your thought-life? What do you think about, dwell on, or meditate about. All day long we are thinking about one thing or another. This or that, or maybe even the other thing- the mind is not often “idle.” – I do like the poster: “sometimes I sits and thinks -and other times, I just “sits.”
What (or who) occupies our minds? The theme-song from Gilligan’s Island? (sorry ’bout that..) No, we are to think on “these things.” We are, according to G-d’s instructions, to “bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”.
I have to ask. – (inquiring minds want to to know!)- Is this possible? – It is in His book. “Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10.5)
The thought is the father of the deed. I would hope (fellow bank-robbers) that we would put a little thought into our ‘heist’ rather than rushing headlong into certain disaster. Let’s plan (together) this caper. -Plan your work/work your plan. – Works rather well where I come from.
Attitudes. (woah Nelly Belle). Time for some serious ‘toe-stepping.’ Got a new attitude? Your ‘attitude’ (it has been rightly said) determines your altitude. Feeling low? Check your attitude meter and please..- let us (all) leave our egos at the door. – What was (and is) the mind of Christ?” that we (according to G-d’s word) are supposed to have? – The heart (mind) of a servant. “Let (allow) this mind to be in you which also was in Christ.” A double-dose of humility for me, -please.
We are laborers together with G-d. His will, His good pleasure, is to conform us into the image of the Son. We are to be figurately and literally – “little Christs” or Christians. We are, according to the scriptures, ambassadors for Christ, representatives of the King, while here on foreign soil.
Is G-d Sovereign? Yes, He is. Totally. Supremely. Do we have choices of whether or not to love and obey Him? Yes, absolutely. – Love is never forced, for love that is forced is not love at all- and this also friends is the decided difference between Christianity and Sharia law. We obey Christ out of a heart of love- I want, I desire, I delight to serve Him- while the Muslim must “comply” with all rules, rituals, regulations out of a heart of fear of retribution and punishment.
“There is no fear where love exists. Rather, perfect love banishes fear, for fear involves punishment, and the person who lives in fear has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4.18) I know this is a paraphrase, but I like it:- “There is no need to fear Someone who loves us perfectly”. This friends, is the G-d I have come to know (and love!)
“We obey Christ out of a heart of love…”
My thoughts as well, “We love Him because He first loved us.”
So Akiva and Herschel and Hillel, who don’t believe Jesus (Yeshua) to be Messiah, God, “The Word” get it. And the Christians mentioned…don’t. ??
Yes, actually. Believing in Yeshua is not an epistemological guarantee of correct understanding. That should be obvious as there are many Christ-believers who have demonstrated logical fallacies and poor exegesis. My point is that the rabbis mentioned share a paradigm with Yeshua that most Greek-Western thinkers do not share, and consequently they are better equipped to understand the issue than those who import a paradigm foreign to the text. Of course, saying that does not mean they automatically recognize Yeshua as the Messiah. Obviously not. But recognizing Him as the Messiah does automatically mean the rest of our thinking is accurate.
It’s also comfortable with Kreeft, Lewis, Wright, Chesterton, Maritain…
“Hebrew thought fully endorsed both. How? Who knows? Only God understands the intricacies of this apparent contradiction. . . .It might not be comfortable for Calvin, Luther, or Hodge . . .”
On the contrary, it is quite fine with men such as this. For the followers of Calvin produced this statement on God’s Eternal Decree (Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter III):
I. God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and
unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.
“Nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.” If you abstract the first part of the statement from the remainder, you end up with the popularized but distorted view of Calvinism.
It seems the real lineup then, is Augustine, Calvin, Luther, Hodge, Akiva, Hillel and Heschel — against those who deny one or both of these “mysteries.”
Will the “real” Calvinists please stand up! 🙂