VICTORY IN CHRISTIAN WARFARE
(Second Edition)
CHAPTER 14 The Final Battle: Practical Godliness
God says, “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22. “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” (2 Corinthians 13:5), which is to say, that you have Jesus Christ’s character of love, “except ye be reprobates” (2 Corinthians 13:5), morally worthless? The genuine Christian lives in accordance with God’s word and by constant self-examination they ensure that they do not swerve from the right path.
For God says, “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:25-27.
All these things apply to the entirety of our spiritual lives, including what we will call practical godliness, that which is revealed in the outward life. So, we will now look in detail at the effect of justification and sanctification, particularly as it relates to practical godliness, for the inward life must be reflected in the outward life.
The Example of Christ
Christ, in a prayer to the Father at the end of His life on earth, said, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” John 17:4. For Christ said, “I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49) which is the salvation of souls, the saving of persons from eternal death. Now, Jesus Christ glorified God by accurately and fully reflecting God’s character of love and, hence, Christ lived a life in accordance with God’s law of love.
In so doing, Jesus Christ spent all His energies and time carrying out His mission to the world to “save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21. Thus, Christ went about His “Father’s business” (Luke 2:49) in that He “who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Acts 10:38.
Christ says, “I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done.” John 13:15. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. “I will very gladly spend and be spent for you.” 2 Corinthians 12:15. “For even Christ pleased not himself.” Romans 15:3.
The Fruit of the Spirit
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22, 23. “The fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22) is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life, thus giving to the individual the attributes of God.
When the fruit of the Spirit is revealed in your character, then you may know that you have indeed received “the gift of righteousness” (Romans 5:17) from God and, hence, you are obedient to God’s law of love. Now only the justified have God’s character of love.
Love
God says, “Love one another.” John 13:34. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” 1 John 4:11. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32.
For God says, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity [love], I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [love], it profiteth me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
Love is a principle whereby we do good, and only good, to others just as Christ did when He was on earth. Therefore, the language of our hearts should be, “I will very gladly spend and be spent for you.” 2 Corinthians 12:15. This means that we are willing to go to above and even beyond the limits of our endurance in order to do good to others.
Moreover, God says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he [Christ] laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16), for our fellow human beings. “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:16-18.
God also says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23. “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” Matthew 7:6.
So, we are to beware of forming close, emotional attachments with those who are unworthy of it. What God calls for on our part is our disinterested love, a love that is sincere but one that guards our hearts from potential hurt, abuse, and betrayal. In other words, we are to love sinners while simultaneously hating their sins, by seeking to bless them so that they might be saved, but we should not become “unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” 2 Corinthians 6:14.
This then is how love manifests itself in the life of the justified. Their love is guided by prudence, and it can truly be said of them, “ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” 1 Peter 1:22. The justified then have a love that is just like the love in God’s heart.
Joy
The “followers of…the Lord, having received the word” (1 Thessalonians 1:6) are filled “with joy of the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit]” (1 Thessalonians 1:6), the “joy of faith.” Philippians 1:25. “The disciples…[are] filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit].” Acts 13:52.
For Christ is He “by whom…we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2), in hope of having a character identical to Christ’s character of love.
God says of the justified, It is Christ “whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory [full of love].” 1 Peter 1:8. The joy of the genuine Christian is the natural consequence of having received the gift of Christ’s righteousness from God. For these Christians are filled with the same joy that sustained Christ while He was on earth.
God has been “confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith” (Acts 14:22), for they “must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22. The life of the Christian is not free from trials and tribulations. Nevertheless, God commands them, “Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.” Psalm 105:3.
“Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” Psalm 97:12. “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:11. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4. “Rejoice evermore.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16. “For the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10), your moral strength.
As Christians then we are not to be sad, discouraged, or discontented. Let us say then, “Let all those that put their trust in thee [God] rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” Psalm 5:11. “For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.” Psalm 33:21.
“I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:18. “I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.” Psalm 9:2. “My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee.” Psalm 71:23. This then is the language of the hearts of the justified, the true Christians. Their joy is identical to the joy that resides in God’s heart.
Peace
God says, “To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6. “Great peace have they which love thy [God’s] law: and nothing shall offend them.” Psalm 119:165. So, peace rules in the hearts of those who keep God’s law and no circumstance of life can disturb their peace.
God says of such individuals, “Thou [God] wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3. Those who keep God’s law are they who trust in God and such are at “perfect peace” (Isaiah 26:3) at all times.
God also says, “Be careful for nothing” (Philippians 4:6), which is to say, do not worry, neither be anxious about anything; “but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6, 7.
The justified, they who are at peace with God, and in whose hearts peace reigns, are not anxious about anything. For they, through prayer, lay their burdens and cares upon God and trust the results to God’s wisdom and goodness. Thus, the justified have the attribute of peace which is identical to that in God’s heart.
Long-Suffering
God says, “Charity suffereth long” (1 Corinthians 13:4), that is, love is long-suffering. “Put on therefore, as the elect of God” (Colossians 3:12), the chosen of God, “holy and beloved…longsuffering.” Colossians 3:12. So, God says that long-suffering is an attribute of love and He desires His chosen ones, the justified, to be long-suffering.
In light of this, the justified are “strengthened with all might, according to his [God’s] glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.” Colossians 1:11. In other words, the justified, who are true Christians, have a character of love identical to that of Christ in that they are patient, forbearing, long-suffering, and forgiving at all times, even under provocation. That is, the justified manifest the same long-suffering like that of God.
Gentleness
God says, “The wisdom that is from above” (James 3:17), that is from God, “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” James 3:17. The justified have received this wisdom from God and, therefore, they have “the…gentleness of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:1.
Now God commands us saying that we are “to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle.” Titus 3:2. “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men.” 2 Timothy 2:24. Gentleness then is an attribute of the character of those, the justified, who keep God’s law of love by being obedient to all of God’s commandments. Thus, the justified manifest the same gentleness like that of God.
Goodness
“The LORD, The LORD God, [is] merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” Exodus 34:6. Goodness then is an attribute of God. Therefore, we may say in truth, “Oh how great is thy [God’s] goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought [done] for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!” Psalm 31:19.
Hence, “the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth” (Ephesians 5:9) in the lives of the justified. These are they whom the Holy Spirit has transformed into the likeness of Christ’s character of love, thus making them abundant in all goodness. In other words, their goodness is identical to that of God.
Faith
The justified are they who can say of themselves in truth, I am “found in him [Christ], not having mine own righteousness, which is of the [works of the] law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Philippians 3:9. “For whatsoever is born of God” (1 John 5:4), that is, has the “newness of life” (Romans 6:4), “overcometh the [sins of the] world: and this is the victory that overcometh the [sins of the] world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4.
These are they, the justified, whose faith in Christ keeps them from being overcome by sin and Satan because, by faith, they have received “the gift of righteousness.” Romans 5:17. They have “the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12) which is “unfeigned faith” (2 Timothy 1:5), sincere faith, identical to that which Christ had when He was on earth.
These are they who, just like Christ, obey God’s command, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Ephesians 6:16.
Meekness
God says, “Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.” Matthew 11:29. “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Proverbs 16:32. The justified, who are they that have learned from God, and thus have “a meek and quiet spirit.” 1 Peter 3:4.
They have obeyed God’s command, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved…meekness.” Colossians 3:12. In other words, they are meek just like God.
Temperance1
God says, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims” (1 Peter 2:11), on earth, “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” 1 Peter 2:11. We are to say of ourselves in truth, “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest [in order to prevent the possibility] that by any means…I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27) by God.
Thus, God speaks of temperance. What is temperance? It is the avoidance of taking anything that is unhealthy into the body, and being moderate in the intake of that which is healthful. Therefore, God says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31), that is, do all in a manner to honour God with your conduct.
Eating and Drinking
God says to the justified, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify [honour] God in your body, and in your spirit [mind], which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17.
“For many walk, of whom I have told you… and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” Philippians 3:18, 19.
No Christian will take into his system any food or drink that will cloud his senses, or that will so act upon the nervous system as to cause him to degrade himself, or to unfit him for usefulness. The temple of God must not be defiled. The faculties of mind and body should be preserved in health, that they may be used to glorify, that is, honour, God.
God speaks of an individual who He says, “is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.” Deuteronomy 21:20. God says, “Put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.” Proverbs 23:2. Thus, God condemns gluttony and drunkenness which are intemperance.
Also, God speaking of ancient Israel, said, “And they sinned yet more against him [God] by provoking the most High in the wilderness. And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat [food] for their lust.” Psalm 78:17, 18. In this case, the people lusted after food which included the flesh of animals, what we today call meat. But God says, “We should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.” 1 Corinthians 10:6.
You may ask, “What? Eating meat is a sin?” Yes, it is a sin. For speaking to Adam and Eve, “God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat [food].” Genesis 1:29.
This was the original diet that God gave to humanity—grains, nuts, fruit, legumes (such as peas and beans), and vegetables—and it did not include meat. Hence, before Adam and Eve sinned there was no death of any of the animals.
God also said to Adam and Eve, “And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.” Genesis 1:30. The animals were to eat vegetables, or green plants, and grass. So, before Adam and Eve sinned, no animal killed another animal nor killed a human being for their food.
Furthermore, in the “new earth” (Revelation 21:1), “the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7), “there shall be no more death.” Revelation 21:4. Therefore, the killing of animals which prevails today on earth is a departure from God’s will.
To accommodate mankind’s lust for flesh, God made “a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.” Leviticus 11:47.
Even so, God says, “Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat.” Leviticus 7:23. “Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast.” Leviticus 7:26. “It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.” Leviticus 3:17.
Thus, God condemns the eating of any fat or blood of even the clean animals which God says may be eaten. Now it is impossible in the preparation of flesh meat for food to eliminate all fat and blood from the meat. We may therefore conclude that God is reinforcing His condemnation of humanity in their eating of meat when He says that we are to eat no fat or blood.
What then should humanity eat? Consider the example of a man named Daniel. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat [food], nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” Daniel 1:8. “Then said Daniel to Melzar…Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse [things grown, that is, a plant-based diet] to eat, and water to drink.” Daniel 1:11, 12.
“So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. And at the end of ten days their countenances [looks] appeared fairer and fatter in flesh” (Daniel 1:14, 15), looked better and plumper, “than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat [food], and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse [things grown, that is, a plant-based diet].” Daniel 1:15, 16.
God recorded this incident in the Bible as a lesson to mankind. God does not want us to eat meat unless there is nothing else available and affordable to provide our necessary food. Instead, God has given us an abundant supply of fruits, grains, vegetables, legumes, and nuts sufficient for a nutritious diet. Also, as indicated by the example of Daniel, water is the only beverage that we need and the only beverage that is desirable.
Alcohol
God says, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1. “Woe to…the drunkards…that are overcome with wine!” Isaiah 28:1. Thus, God condemns the drinking of alcohol in any form or in any amount. For moderate drinking is the school in which people are receiving an education for the drunkard’s career.
When the appetite for alcohol is indulged, reason is paralyzed, the intellect is benumbed, the animal passions are excited, and then follow crimes of the most debasing character. They are selling themselves to Satan. They are a slave to the will of Satan. They are a slave to licentiousness and violence.
There is no crime that they will not commit; for they have put into their mouth that which has intoxicated them, and made them, while under its influence, a demon. We should abstain then from drinking alcohol in any form.
Stimulants
The stimulating diet and drink of today and the intake of other stimulants are not conducive to the best state of health. Tea, coffee, and tobacco are all stimulating, and contain poisons. They are not only unnecessary, but harmful, and should be discarded.
Tea is poisonous to the system. Coffee is also a hurtful indulgence. Christians should let them alone. The influence of coffee is in a degree the same as tea, but the effect upon the system is still worse. It temporarily excites the mind, but the aftereffect is exhaustion, great loss of natural strength and vigour, paralysis of the mental, moral, and physical powers. The mind is deprived of vitality, and unless through determined effort the habit is overcome, the activity of the brain is permanently lessened.
Tobacco using is a habit which frequently affects the nervous system in a more powerful manner than does the use of alcohol. It binds the victim in stronger bands of slavery than does the intoxicating drink; the habit is more difficult to overcome. Body and mind are, in many cases, more thoroughly intoxicated with the use of tobacco than with alcohol, for it is a more subtle poison.
When once an appetite for this narcotic has been formed, it takes firm hold of the mind and the will of man, and he is in bondage under its power. Satan has the control of the will, and eternal realities are eclipsed.
Temperance: Conclusion
God says, “Every man that striveth for the mastery” (1 Corinthians 9:25), over sin, “is temperate in all things.” 1 Corinthians 9:25. For it is impossible for one who loves these stimulants—tea, coffee, and tobacco—or who loves alcohol, and accustoms himself to their use, to “grow in grace.” 2 Peter 3:18. He or she becomes gross and sensual; the animal passions control the higher powers of the mind, and virtue is not cherished.
God’s desire for humanity is “that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Timothy 2:26. But apart from divine power, no genuine reform can be brought about. Human barriers against natural and cultivated tendencies to evil are but as the sandbank against the torrent.
However, when one surrenders to Christ, the mind is brought under the control of the God’s law of love; but it is “the royal law” (James 2:8), which proclaims liberty to every captive. Subjection to the will of Christ makes the individual “free from sin.” Romans 6:18. It means restoration to perfect humanity, to the sinlessness of Adam and Eve when they were created by God. This then is the condition of the justified whose temperance is identical to that of Christ when He was on earth.
Guidelines for Dressing
Regarding women’s dressing, God says, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” 1 Peter 3:3, 4. This also applies in principle to men’s dressing.
Furthermore, God says, Let it be “that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety [soberness]; not with broided [broidered] hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” 1 Timothy 2:9, 10.
Let it not be like that of “a woman with the attire of an harlot [prostitute].” Proverbs 7:10. Be such “that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.” Revelation 3:18.
Again, the principle applies to both men and women’s dressing. Both should attire themselves “in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety [soberness].” 1 Timothy 2:9. All immodesty is to be avoided.
On another area of adornment, God says, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh…nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:28. “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen” (Jeremiah 10:2), who are unbelievers in God. Tattoos and such like then are “an abomination to the LORD.” Proverbs 15:8.
God says, “She decked herself with her earrings and her jewels…and forgat [forgot] me, saith the LORD.” Hosea 2:13. “Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters.” Exodus 32:2. “Put off thy ornaments from thee.” Exodus 33:5. The principle is that all ornamentation of the body of either a man or a woman “is an abomination to the LORD.” Proverbs 15:8. This applies to all forms of jewellery such as rings and chains.
Moreover, God says, “Thou…paintedst thy eyes.” Ezekiel 23:40. “Thou rentest [disfigured] thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair [beautiful]” (Jeremiah 4:30) in your own eyes. Speaking of a wicked queen, God says, “Jezebel…painted her face, and tired [adorned] her head.” 2 Kings 9:30. All who use cosmetics are following in the ways of that wicked woman, Jezebel. God has nothing good to say about this practice. It “is an abomination to the LORD.” Proverbs 15:8.
Guarding the Eyes and Ears
God says that all humanity should say of themselves in truth, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” Psalm 101:3. So, we are to guard our eyes from seeing evil.
“And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” Psalm 40:3. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms” (Colossians 3:16), sacred songs in the Bible, “and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16.
Thus, only spiritual things should be the theme of that which we sing about, listen to, read, meditate upon, teach, speak, and we should guard our ears from hearing of evil.
Now to reinforce what was said before about guarding our eyes and ears, let us consider some moral principles given to us by God. “The sinners…are afraid” (Isaiah 33:14), God says, “fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites.” Isaiah 33:14.
“Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood [bloodshed], and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil.” Isaiah 33:14, 15.
“He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the king [God] in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off” (Isaiah 33:16, 17), they shall see heaven. “For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29) and sinners are consumed with fire by the presence of God.
Furthermore, God says, “And if thy right eye offend thee [entice you to sin], pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee [entice you to sin], cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” Matthew 5:29, 30.
Hell is where sinners are annihilated by God. Plucking out the eye and cutting off the hand is not to be taken literally. What God means is, just as we prize our eye and hand, it is better to put away our darling, cherished, prized sins rather than suffer eternal death (annihilation) in hell.
Now God also says, “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.
God also says, according “to the law and to the testimony” (Isaiah 8:20), which is the word of God, the Bible, “if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20. If persons do not speak according to the Bible, they do not have the light of truth.
Such are “after [according to] the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10.
In view of the above then, God has commanded us, by His moral principles, to guard our eyes and ears from anything—television, movies, videos, video games, music and such like—that is not in accordance with the Bible.
Such things are not good and the time they consume is, therefore, wasted. They cannot help us to be justified or to “grow in grace.” 2 Peter 3:18. Now God says we are to be “redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16), which is to say, rescue our time from being lost or wasted. For God says, “Gather up the fragments” (John 6:12) of time, “that nothing be lost.” John 6:12.
These things that God forbids lead to sinful, violent, and lustful thoughts and, hence, should be discarded if we wish to be justified by God. Moreover, many of these things are fictitious and, therefore, they do not meet the criteria of thinking on “whatsoever things are true.” Philippians 4:8.
Competition
God says, “Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.” Matthew 11:29. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Philippians 2:3, 4. “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.” 1 Corinthians 10:24.
God also says, “For I say…to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly.” Romans 12:3. “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased” (Luke 14:11) by God; “and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11) by God.
Moreover, God says, “Now the works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19), the sinful nature, “are manifest [apparent], which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance [contention], emulations [jealousies], wrath, strife, seditions [divisions], heresies [dissensions], envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings [revelry], and such like: of the which I tell you…that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21.
In all of what God says above, we can see that God forbids any form of competition between fellow human beings, for example, sports. All humanity has learned to be competitive in the school of Satan in that they seek the highest place for themselves. But God says that He Himself is “meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29) and He says, “Learn of me.” Matthew 11:29.
Guidelines for Marriage
God, speaking of Himself, says, “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.” Genesis 2:21, 22.
“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:23, 24.
God is therefore the Creator of the institution of marriage for it was God who married the first human pair, Adam and Eve. God designed marriage to be a loving, lifelong commitment between a man and a woman.
God says, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers [debauchees] and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews 13:4. “Now…it is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication” (1 Corinthians 7:1, 2), which is sexual intimacy outside of marriage, “let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” 1 Corinthians 7:2.
“But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.” 1 Corinthians 7:7. So, being content in singleness, which is to never marry, is a gift from God.
“Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.” 1 Corinthians 7:3, 4.
“Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency [incontinence]” (1 Corinthians 7:5), tempt you for your lack of self-restraint.
Through the words of a man named Paul, God also says, “I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I” (1 Corinthians 7:8), as a single man. “But if they cannot contain” (1 Corinthians 7:9), cannot exercise self-restraint, “let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn” (1 Corinthians 7:9), better to marry than to be inflamed with lust.
“And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart [separate] from her husband: But and if she depart [separate herself], let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away [divorce] his wife.” 1 Corinthians 7:10, 11. “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Mark 10:9), let not anyone break it apart.
Moreover, God says, “Let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” Ephesians 5:33. God does not look with favour on the separation of husband and wife, except in the case of abusiveness and violence in the marriage. Neither does God look with favour on divorce under any circumstances.
God also says, “If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away [divorce her]. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him [divorce him].” 1 Corinthians 7:12, 13.
“But if the unbelieving depart” (1 Corinthians 7:15), separates himself or herself, “let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk.” 1 Corinthians 7:15-17.
Practical Godliness: Conclusion
God says, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22. “Adorn” (Titus 2:10), make beautiful in the eyes of others, “the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” Titus 2:10.
“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered” (Proverbs 28:26) from sin. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth [is obedient] unto counsel [from God] is wise.” Proverbs 12:15. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of [eternal] death.” Proverbs 16:25.
This then is God’s counsel to all humanity regarding practical godliness. It involves every aspect of the life of the individual and is to be carefully observed.
- Ellen G. White, (egwwritings.org), Temperance ↩︎