Post by George on Aug 22, 2006 22:48:53 GMT -5
Self-Control and the Bible
As an introduction I have chosen to use the words of the apostle Paul as found in Romans, Chapter Seven. It is clear from this passage of scripture that we have NO good thing inside of us. Since there is no good thing in us, in our flesh, self-control is a non-existent entity. Self-control is supposedly a good thing. It is akin to moderation yet moderation is also something we cannot exercise on our own.
This study could end right here. Since self-control is considered a good thing and Paul tells us that no good thing dwells in us, in our flesh, the only way good can exist in us is through the Holy Spirit of God. Therefore we must rely on Spirit control rather than attempt to do things on our own which only leads to disaster.
Recall the following:
Let us take a quick look at those things above. We can do nothing without Christ Jesus; nothing. Nothing means nothing. The fear of the Lord is the very beginning of wisdom. We had no wisdom before we came to know and reverence God. We had nothing that was of any merit or as Paul says it well when he says the no good thing dwells within us, in our flesh. Not only that but the Bible clearly says that we shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon us. That same Holy Ghost is also referred to as the Holy Spirit of God and is what we must rely on to guide us in our daily walk. It is not of us or of self; it is of the Spirit.
Man was created as a trichotomy. In the beginning man had three separate and distinct parts, the body, the soul and the spirit. At the fall in the Garden of Eden the spirit of man died. We became a dichotomy. Our spirit, being dead, could no longer communicate with God and anything we did became self-righteousness or man trying to act like God.
Our soul, contrary to the teachings of a lot of Christian circles, is composed of our mind, will and emotions and is not the eternal portion of us which will exist somewhere forever. The spirit is that which will go on forever. Recall that the spirit became dead in man at the commission of the original sin. The function of the spirit is two-fold. It communicates with God and it also communicates with our soul which controls our bodies. Since the spirit in unregenerate man is dead it cannot communicate with God and the best we can do for ourselves is unrighteousness.
With a dead spirit we are a natural man.
Here we see the witness that in our natural, unregenerate state, we cannot communicate with the Spirit of God. Our spirit is dead. The things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to us. We cannot receive them.
Almost every one of the “modern versions” of the Bible style the word “temperance” as “self-control.” That is absolutely wrong! The definition of temperance does not contain the word self-control. It does contain the word “continence” which is a reference to command of self but not self-control. Command of self comes only through the Holy Spirit of God as He communicates with our regenerate spirit and that Spirit communicates with our soul in order to control our bodies.
Take a close look at a large portion of Galatians, Chapter Five.
Notice particularly the areas I have placed emphasis on. Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Walk in the Spirit; this means to let the Spirit guide us or Spirit control. It is not self-control. In verse 17 we see that we CANNOT do the things that we would. We cannot do the good things of our own. Our flesh lusts against the Spirit. Does this mean our bodies when it speaks of our flesh? No, it is referring to the soul which again is composed of the mind, will and emotions. The soul is often referred to in the Bible as the heart. It is the same thing.
But if we are led of the Spirit we are not under the law. What law is this speaking of? If you submit to the teachings and guidance of the Holy Spirit, you are under a different dispensation - the dispensation of the Spirit. You are free from the restraints and control of the Mosaic Law, and are under the control of the Spirit of God. Under the control of the Spirit of God is not self-control in any way, shape or form. It is when we choose to ignore the control of the Spirit that we do wrong. We have no control of self. Our self, because of the sin nature we possess, only wants to do what we think is good for us, whether it taste good, feel good, sound good or whatever our mind, will and emotions desires. None of that is any part of being controlled by the Spirit.
In verses 19 through 21 we are presented with a whole list of the things we are capable of doing of our selves. Notice that in verse 21 the apostle uses the words, “and such like.” The list of things that are covered by this phrase are found in Romans 1:21 and following. These are things of our selves and are quite terrible in nature and deed. These two lists contain all of the things we are capable of doing under self-control which is nothing more than self-righteousness or man attempting to act like God. In fact a lot of the things contained in those lists are pure unrighteousness.
These things our self is capable of doing. The works of the flesh refer to the things of self. This is unrighteousness.
Notice the Bible says that “temperance” is a fruit of the Spirit. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit of God. It cannot be of self. Can we even exercise self-control after gaining the fruit of the Spirit, temperance? I do not believe it to be possible. When we exercise a fruit of the Spirit we are under Spirit control. When we lapse into the works of the flesh we are under self-control. It cannot be both ways.
In the case of a backslidden Christian the best that can be done is to exist in self-righteousness which is man trying to act like God. Self righteousness is entirely of self control. In the consideration of the things of this study it is necessary to categorize them. A part of the fruit of the Spirit which is given us by God is temperance. When an unregenerate or natural person attempts to do things they are in no control or out of control which is unrighteousness. So what does that leave us with in the center category or the case of man trying to act like God? What we are left with is self-control.
The word “temperance” appears four times in the New Testament.
In each use it has exactly the same meaning. In the case of Felix, who was unsaved, it says he trembled when he even considered temperance. It brought fear to him to consider the things of the Holy Spirit. Realizing the things of God are frightening to a person who is without a Saviour.
In Galatians it clearly says temperance is a fruit of the Spirit of God and not any thing of ourselves. Since it is a fruit of the Spirit and can only be exhibited when the Holy Spirit indwells us and we allow that same Spirit to direct us it cannot be of our selves and thus not self-control.
Notice that in these verses from 1 Peter we are specifically told that all things that pertain unto life and GODLINESS are given us by the divine power of God. They are not of ourselves. Again being a gift of God, given us by Him in His divine power and wisdom, how can we exercise such a thing without being led of the Spirit? When we try to exercise anything of ourselves we are no longer under the guidance of the Holy Spirit but into our selves and self-righteousness. The human (fleshly) and self-righteous form of self-control is actually self indulgence.
EVERY way of a man is right in his own eyes! Is that self-control? Not according to the Bible. The Lord pondereth the hearts. The Lord considers the things of the heart. Recall that in the book of Jeremiah we are told that our heart is deceitful above ALL things. Our heart is even more deceitful and wicked than Satan himself!
We are as an unclean thing! Everything we do of our selves is as a filthy rag in the eyes of God. We can do no good thing. We fade as a leaf on our own. We wither and die when we try to do things on our own. Our iniquities have taken us away. What are iniquities and how have they taken us away?
Iniquities are no more or no less than sin, the things we are capable of doing under self-righteousness. Let us look at the definition of the Hebrew word that is styled as iniquities in the Old Testament:
H5771
עוון עון
‛âvôn ‛âvôn
aw-vone', aw-vone'
From H5753; perversity, that is, (moral) evil: - fault, iniquity, mischief, punishment (of iniquity), sin.
Friends, brothers and sisters, those are the things we are capable of doing when we exhibit self-control. We have no control of self. The Bible tells us over and over again that the things we do on our own without the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit of God are filthy in His eyes. We have NO self-control. We MUST be led by the Holy Spirit of God.
In Christ,
George
(Romans 7:18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (Romans 7:19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
As an introduction I have chosen to use the words of the apostle Paul as found in Romans, Chapter Seven. It is clear from this passage of scripture that we have NO good thing inside of us. Since there is no good thing in us, in our flesh, self-control is a non-existent entity. Self-control is supposedly a good thing. It is akin to moderation yet moderation is also something we cannot exercise on our own.
This study could end right here. Since self-control is considered a good thing and Paul tells us that no good thing dwells in us, in our flesh, the only way good can exist in us is through the Holy Spirit of God. Therefore we must rely on Spirit control rather than attempt to do things on our own which only leads to disaster.
Recall the following:
(John 15:5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
(Proverbs 9:10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
(Proverbs 9:10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
Let us take a quick look at those things above. We can do nothing without Christ Jesus; nothing. Nothing means nothing. The fear of the Lord is the very beginning of wisdom. We had no wisdom before we came to know and reverence God. We had nothing that was of any merit or as Paul says it well when he says the no good thing dwells within us, in our flesh. Not only that but the Bible clearly says that we shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon us. That same Holy Ghost is also referred to as the Holy Spirit of God and is what we must rely on to guide us in our daily walk. It is not of us or of self; it is of the Spirit.
Man was created as a trichotomy. In the beginning man had three separate and distinct parts, the body, the soul and the spirit. At the fall in the Garden of Eden the spirit of man died. We became a dichotomy. Our spirit, being dead, could no longer communicate with God and anything we did became self-righteousness or man trying to act like God.
Our soul, contrary to the teachings of a lot of Christian circles, is composed of our mind, will and emotions and is not the eternal portion of us which will exist somewhere forever. The spirit is that which will go on forever. Recall that the spirit became dead in man at the commission of the original sin. The function of the spirit is two-fold. It communicates with God and it also communicates with our soul which controls our bodies. Since the spirit in unregenerate man is dead it cannot communicate with God and the best we can do for ourselves is unrighteousness.
With a dead spirit we are a natural man.
(1 Corinthians 2:14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Here we see the witness that in our natural, unregenerate state, we cannot communicate with the Spirit of God. Our spirit is dead. The things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to us. We cannot receive them.
Almost every one of the “modern versions” of the Bible style the word “temperance” as “self-control.” That is absolutely wrong! The definition of temperance does not contain the word self-control. It does contain the word “continence” which is a reference to command of self but not self-control. Command of self comes only through the Holy Spirit of God as He communicates with our regenerate spirit and that Spirit communicates with our soul in order to control our bodies.
Take a close look at a large portion of Galatians, Chapter Five.
(Galatians 5:16) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Galatians 5:18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Galatians 5:19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (Galatians 5:20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (Galatians 5:21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (Galatians 5:25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:26) Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Notice particularly the areas I have placed emphasis on. Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Walk in the Spirit; this means to let the Spirit guide us or Spirit control. It is not self-control. In verse 17 we see that we CANNOT do the things that we would. We cannot do the good things of our own. Our flesh lusts against the Spirit. Does this mean our bodies when it speaks of our flesh? No, it is referring to the soul which again is composed of the mind, will and emotions. The soul is often referred to in the Bible as the heart. It is the same thing.
But if we are led of the Spirit we are not under the law. What law is this speaking of? If you submit to the teachings and guidance of the Holy Spirit, you are under a different dispensation - the dispensation of the Spirit. You are free from the restraints and control of the Mosaic Law, and are under the control of the Spirit of God. Under the control of the Spirit of God is not self-control in any way, shape or form. It is when we choose to ignore the control of the Spirit that we do wrong. We have no control of self. Our self, because of the sin nature we possess, only wants to do what we think is good for us, whether it taste good, feel good, sound good or whatever our mind, will and emotions desires. None of that is any part of being controlled by the Spirit.
In verses 19 through 21 we are presented with a whole list of the things we are capable of doing of our selves. Notice that in verse 21 the apostle uses the words, “and such like.” The list of things that are covered by this phrase are found in Romans 1:21 and following. These are things of our selves and are quite terrible in nature and deed. These two lists contain all of the things we are capable of doing under self-control which is nothing more than self-righteousness or man attempting to act like God. In fact a lot of the things contained in those lists are pure unrighteousness.
These things our self is capable of doing. The works of the flesh refer to the things of self. This is unrighteousness.
Notice the Bible says that “temperance” is a fruit of the Spirit. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit of God. It cannot be of self. Can we even exercise self-control after gaining the fruit of the Spirit, temperance? I do not believe it to be possible. When we exercise a fruit of the Spirit we are under Spirit control. When we lapse into the works of the flesh we are under self-control. It cannot be both ways.
In the case of a backslidden Christian the best that can be done is to exist in self-righteousness which is man trying to act like God. Self righteousness is entirely of self control. In the consideration of the things of this study it is necessary to categorize them. A part of the fruit of the Spirit which is given us by God is temperance. When an unregenerate or natural person attempts to do things they are in no control or out of control which is unrighteousness. So what does that leave us with in the center category or the case of man trying to act like God? What we are left with is self-control.
The word “temperance” appears four times in the New Testament.
(Acts 24:25) And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
(Galatians 5:23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
(2 Peter 1:6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
(Galatians 5:23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
(2 Peter 1:6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
In each use it has exactly the same meaning. In the case of Felix, who was unsaved, it says he trembled when he even considered temperance. It brought fear to him to consider the things of the Holy Spirit. Realizing the things of God are frightening to a person who is without a Saviour.
In Galatians it clearly says temperance is a fruit of the Spirit of God and not any thing of ourselves. Since it is a fruit of the Spirit and can only be exhibited when the Holy Spirit indwells us and we allow that same Spirit to direct us it cannot be of our selves and thus not self-control.
(2 Peter 1:3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (2 Peter 1:4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (2 Peter 1:6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (2 Peter 1:7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
Notice that in these verses from 1 Peter we are specifically told that all things that pertain unto life and GODLINESS are given us by the divine power of God. They are not of ourselves. Again being a gift of God, given us by Him in His divine power and wisdom, how can we exercise such a thing without being led of the Spirit? When we try to exercise anything of ourselves we are no longer under the guidance of the Holy Spirit but into our selves and self-righteousness. The human (fleshly) and self-righteous form of self-control is actually self indulgence.
(Proverbs 21:2) Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
EVERY way of a man is right in his own eyes! Is that self-control? Not according to the Bible. The Lord pondereth the hearts. The Lord considers the things of the heart. Recall that in the book of Jeremiah we are told that our heart is deceitful above ALL things. Our heart is even more deceitful and wicked than Satan himself!
(Isaiah 64:6) But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
We are as an unclean thing! Everything we do of our selves is as a filthy rag in the eyes of God. We can do no good thing. We fade as a leaf on our own. We wither and die when we try to do things on our own. Our iniquities have taken us away. What are iniquities and how have they taken us away?
Iniquities are no more or no less than sin, the things we are capable of doing under self-righteousness. Let us look at the definition of the Hebrew word that is styled as iniquities in the Old Testament:
H5771
עוון עון
‛âvôn ‛âvôn
aw-vone', aw-vone'
From H5753; perversity, that is, (moral) evil: - fault, iniquity, mischief, punishment (of iniquity), sin.
Friends, brothers and sisters, those are the things we are capable of doing when we exhibit self-control. We have no control of self. The Bible tells us over and over again that the things we do on our own without the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit of God are filthy in His eyes. We have NO self-control. We MUST be led by the Holy Spirit of God.
In Christ,
George