GRACE-THINKING AND THE CELEBRITYSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST
Philippians 2:3.... Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (And that means nothing!)
Lust-ambition (vainglory) creates factions in the local church. Some of the most ardent church workers are operating under the lust pattern of the old sin nature. When people receive a great deal of praise, letters of commendation or recognition of one kind or another, they often become intoxicated with approbation (approval) or power lust. Grace-thinking is regarding other believers as better than ourselves. Actually the Greek word means superior.
Now, how can you consider some clod, who behaves like a moron, better than yourself? It cannot be done through some system of hypocrisy or hypnosis, group therapy or sensitivity training! Grace-thinking is accomplished by being so occupied with the Person of Jesus Christ that in your relationship with other people you do not judge motives, malign, criticize, ridicule, gossip or intrude on their privacy.
Philippians 2:4.... Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. i.e. their welfare. (NASB)
Included in the meaning of this scripture is the concept of keeping ones nose out of other folks business. You cannot learn Bible doctrine when someone is trying to run your life. Minding your own business, being considerate of others and having good manners are all by-products of the grace-oriented way of life, and allows every believer to live his or her own life as unto the Lord. You dont have to try to love people or to gush over them; allow the Holy Spirit to love them through you.
The question is, how can you be so relaxed about other people that you keep your nose out of their business and avoid curtailing their freedom in any way? You must find Someone who is so much better than anything or anyone else in life that other people and other things will no longer be an issue, other than to lead them to the Saviour, or to build them up in the faith.
Jesus Christ is so Wonderful and so marvelous that occupation with Him changes
the entire picture. Many believers are petty, bitter, jealous, vindictive and full of maligning because they have a deficient concept of the Celebrityship of Jesus Christ. The reason so many Hollywood substitutes and ridiculous practices and programs have crept into the church is that we have lost sight of Who Jesus Christ really is, and that He really is the only celebrity in true Christianity. This condition (in the church) exists primarily because pastors are not teaching Bible doctrine.
Occupation with Christ means that you harbor no mental attitude sins towards others. Whether or not they deserve your respect is NOT the issue; just put them in the Lords hands and move on ! We build our happiness on WHO AND WHAT CHRIST IS....... not on who and what people are.
There is no shortcut to this relaxed mental attitude. It requires the daily function of what R. Thieme calls the grace apparatus for perception; The believer consistently learning doctrine on a daily basis, whether through the agency of a pastor-teacher, or through prayerful, diligent research in the Word on ones own.
Of course the latter method is not very often pursued by believers, and so God instituted the gift of pastor/teacher for that purpose (1 Corinthians 12:27,28). The local church is for the purpose of worship and learning doctrine. As Ephesians 4:11,12 puts it: ....He (Himself) gave (Himself) some, prophets (as per 1 Corinthians 14:3); and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers (same person); For the perfecting (or equipping) of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying (building up) of the Body of Christ.
Philippians 2:5....... Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
The Greek word phroneo (mind), means: to think objectively. When our mental attitude meets the standards of this word, we have arrived at a wonderful point in the Christian life. Having a mental attitude that derives its thinking and standards from the divine viewpoint...... the mind of Christ... (1 Corinthians 2:16)... is the objective and command for every believer. The only way you can obey this command is to have Bible doctrine....IN YOU.
As Philippians 2:6 puts it: ...... Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery (or a thing to be grasped) to be equal with God:
The word form is the Grk. morphe, and means that Jesus was always in the shape or nature of God. It does not refer to the outward appearance, but to the inward character or essence. There never was a time when He was not God. He is eternal; He never grows old. From eternity past, Jesus Christ has always possessed: sovereignty, righteousness, justice, love, eternal life, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, immutability and veracity. He has never changed His essence. In Malachi 3:6, He says: ...I am the Lord, I change not;... His character remains intact and will continue to do so throughout time and eternity. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8).
Hollywoods celebrities are people who are glamorous, have status in this life, have great ability or talent. What happens to celebrities in the human realm? They deteriorate; they lose their ability and their popularity; they grow old; their glamor fades......they die!
Our true Celebrity is perfect. A believer with any knowledge of doctrine would never make a celebrity of a human being. Not even the Apostle Paul! Our true Celebrity has neither a beginning nor an end... (Revelation 1:8).
The true Celebrity of Christianity knew every person in the world from eternity past. He has always known every need, every problem, every heartache, every frustration in your life. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He has gone through the ages of time and every conflict without being inconsistent or unstable in any way. Thats our Celebrity!! Jesus Christ is, was, and always will be, God.....co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
John 1:1......In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. vs.14... And the Word was made flesh.....
No one can appreciate the character of Jesus Christ until that person understands that Jesus Christ is God. So........
DOCTRINE OF THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
(1) Christ is a member of the Trinity....(Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2).
(2) A deduction based on the Trinity....(Micah 5:2; John 1:1-3; 8:58; Romans9:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews1:8-10; 1 John 5:20). THE TRINITY IS ETERNAL.... CHRIST IS A MEMBER OF THE TRINITY, THEREFORE CHRIST IS ETERNAL.
(3) The pre-incarnate work of Christ necessitates His pre-existence and deity: Christ created the universe.... (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:10).
(4) Jesus Christ is so identified with the doctrine of Divine Decrees as to be God. (Psalms 2:7-9; 22:1-6; 40: all; 110:all).
(5) The Theophanies (appearances prior to the incarnation) of Christ indicate His pre-existence; therefore His eternity.
a. Angel of Jehovah identified as Jehovah (Genesis 16:7-13; 22:11-18; 31:11-13; 48:15,16; Exodus 3 all... with Acts 7:30-35; Ex. 13:21; 14:19; Judges 6:11-23; 13:9-20).
b. Angel of Jehovah distinguished from Jehovah (Genesis 24:7; 24:40; Exodus 23:20; 32:34;
1 Chronicles 21:15-18; Isaiah 63:9; Zechariah 1:12,13).
c. Angel of Jehovah is Second Person of the Trinity, visible God. After the incarnation, the Angel of Jehovah no longer appears. (John 1:18; 6:46; 1 Timothy 6:15,16; 1 John 4:12).
(6) Jesus Christ is called Jehovah: (Isaiah 9:6,7; 40:3; Jeremiah 23:5,6; Zechariah 12:10).
(7) All the divine attributes are ascribed to Christ.
a. SOVEREIGNTY (Genesis .1; Revelation 1:5,6; 17:14; 19:16).
b. ETERNAL LIFE (Isaiah 9:6; Mica 5:2; John 1:1; 8:58; Colossians 1:16,17; Ephesians 1:4; Revelation 1:
c. HOLINESS, i.e. RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE, (Luke 1:35; Acts 3:14; Heb.7:26).
d. LOVE, (John 13:1,34; 1 John 3:16).
e. IMMUTABILITY, (Hebrews 13:8).
f. OMNISCIENCE, (Matt.9:4; John 2:25; 1 Cor.4:5; Col.2:3; Rev.2:23).
g. OMNIPOTENCE, (Matt.24:30; 28:18; 1 Cor.15:28; Php.3:21; Heb.1:3; Rev.1:8).
h. OMNIPRESENCE, (Matt.28:20; Eph.1:23; Col.1:27).
i. VERACITY, (John 14:16; Rev.3:7).
Now, back to Philippians 2:6..... our Celebrity did some thinking. Here we learn something else about our Lord Jesus Christ..... not only are His thoughts infinite, but He thinks about you and me in terms of GRACE.
In grace-thinking He thought it not a treasure or a prize to be retained. (Thieme)
The treasure is Christs deity......His equality with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. There is nothing greater or more valuable than the essence of deity.....yet He did not consider His deity more important than our souls!!
The very nature of deity precluded the fact that ANY member of the Trinity could be judged for sin. Eternal life can neither be born nor die; holiness cannot have anything to do with sin; omnipresence cannot be reduced to one point....the Cross; immutability cannot change. Therefore, since nothing can be subtracted from deity, something had to be added.
To be able to go to the Cross and pay the penalty for sin, deity must also become true humanity. Jesus Christ so loved us, and was so occupied with us in eternity past that He did not consider His equality with the other Members of the Trinity a treasure to be clutched and retained so as to hinder the Fathers Plan.
An essential part of the Fathers Plan was that all believers in Christ were chosen in Him ...before the foundation of the world... (Corporate selection, Eph.1:4). This required that ...the Word was made flesh... (John 1:14).
There never was a time when Christ was not occupied with you....You were the joy (Heb.12:2) that occasioned His incarnation and His substitutionary death on the Cross with all its shame and pain. You were in His thoughts when all the grace blessings were provided in eternity past. And now you and I have the privilege of occupation with Him.....(Col.3:10,11; along with Eph.3:17-19, etc., etc.).
Col.3:1,2..... Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (NASB)
This should be standard operating procedure for EVERY Christian.
Heb.12:1,2....... ....let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (NASB)
Psalm 37:4,5...... Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in Him, and He will do it."
(again, NASB)
Much of the above was taken from publications of R. Thieme.
Except where noted, Scripture passages are from the KJV.
W.A.B.
Philippians 2:3.... Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (And that means nothing!)
Lust-ambition (vainglory) creates factions in the local church. Some of the most ardent church workers are operating under the lust pattern of the old sin nature. When people receive a great deal of praise, letters of commendation or recognition of one kind or another, they often become intoxicated with approbation (approval) or power lust. Grace-thinking is regarding other believers as better than ourselves. Actually the Greek word means superior.
Now, how can you consider some clod, who behaves like a moron, better than yourself? It cannot be done through some system of hypocrisy or hypnosis, group therapy or sensitivity training! Grace-thinking is accomplished by being so occupied with the Person of Jesus Christ that in your relationship with other people you do not judge motives, malign, criticize, ridicule, gossip or intrude on their privacy.
Philippians 2:4.... Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. i.e. their welfare. (NASB)
Included in the meaning of this scripture is the concept of keeping ones nose out of other folks business. You cannot learn Bible doctrine when someone is trying to run your life. Minding your own business, being considerate of others and having good manners are all by-products of the grace-oriented way of life, and allows every believer to live his or her own life as unto the Lord. You dont have to try to love people or to gush over them; allow the Holy Spirit to love them through you.
The question is, how can you be so relaxed about other people that you keep your nose out of their business and avoid curtailing their freedom in any way? You must find Someone who is so much better than anything or anyone else in life that other people and other things will no longer be an issue, other than to lead them to the Saviour, or to build them up in the faith.
Jesus Christ is so Wonderful and so marvelous that occupation with Him changes
the entire picture. Many believers are petty, bitter, jealous, vindictive and full of maligning because they have a deficient concept of the Celebrityship of Jesus Christ. The reason so many Hollywood substitutes and ridiculous practices and programs have crept into the church is that we have lost sight of Who Jesus Christ really is, and that He really is the only celebrity in true Christianity. This condition (in the church) exists primarily because pastors are not teaching Bible doctrine.
Occupation with Christ means that you harbor no mental attitude sins towards others. Whether or not they deserve your respect is NOT the issue; just put them in the Lords hands and move on ! We build our happiness on WHO AND WHAT CHRIST IS....... not on who and what people are.
There is no shortcut to this relaxed mental attitude. It requires the daily function of what R. Thieme calls the grace apparatus for perception; The believer consistently learning doctrine on a daily basis, whether through the agency of a pastor-teacher, or through prayerful, diligent research in the Word on ones own.
Of course the latter method is not very often pursued by believers, and so God instituted the gift of pastor/teacher for that purpose (1 Corinthians 12:27,28). The local church is for the purpose of worship and learning doctrine. As Ephesians 4:11,12 puts it: ....He (Himself) gave (Himself) some, prophets (as per 1 Corinthians 14:3); and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers (same person); For the perfecting (or equipping) of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying (building up) of the Body of Christ.
Philippians 2:5....... Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
The Greek word phroneo (mind), means: to think objectively. When our mental attitude meets the standards of this word, we have arrived at a wonderful point in the Christian life. Having a mental attitude that derives its thinking and standards from the divine viewpoint...... the mind of Christ... (1 Corinthians 2:16)... is the objective and command for every believer. The only way you can obey this command is to have Bible doctrine....IN YOU.
As Philippians 2:6 puts it: ...... Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery (or a thing to be grasped) to be equal with God:
The word form is the Grk. morphe, and means that Jesus was always in the shape or nature of God. It does not refer to the outward appearance, but to the inward character or essence. There never was a time when He was not God. He is eternal; He never grows old. From eternity past, Jesus Christ has always possessed: sovereignty, righteousness, justice, love, eternal life, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, immutability and veracity. He has never changed His essence. In Malachi 3:6, He says: ...I am the Lord, I change not;... His character remains intact and will continue to do so throughout time and eternity. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8).
Hollywoods celebrities are people who are glamorous, have status in this life, have great ability or talent. What happens to celebrities in the human realm? They deteriorate; they lose their ability and their popularity; they grow old; their glamor fades......they die!
Our true Celebrity is perfect. A believer with any knowledge of doctrine would never make a celebrity of a human being. Not even the Apostle Paul! Our true Celebrity has neither a beginning nor an end... (Revelation 1:8).
The true Celebrity of Christianity knew every person in the world from eternity past. He has always known every need, every problem, every heartache, every frustration in your life. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He has gone through the ages of time and every conflict without being inconsistent or unstable in any way. Thats our Celebrity!! Jesus Christ is, was, and always will be, God.....co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
John 1:1......In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. vs.14... And the Word was made flesh.....
No one can appreciate the character of Jesus Christ until that person understands that Jesus Christ is God. So........
DOCTRINE OF THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
(1) Christ is a member of the Trinity....(Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2).
(2) A deduction based on the Trinity....(Micah 5:2; John 1:1-3; 8:58; Romans9:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews1:8-10; 1 John 5:20). THE TRINITY IS ETERNAL.... CHRIST IS A MEMBER OF THE TRINITY, THEREFORE CHRIST IS ETERNAL.
(3) The pre-incarnate work of Christ necessitates His pre-existence and deity: Christ created the universe.... (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:10).
(4) Jesus Christ is so identified with the doctrine of Divine Decrees as to be God. (Psalms 2:7-9; 22:1-6; 40: all; 110:all).
(5) The Theophanies (appearances prior to the incarnation) of Christ indicate His pre-existence; therefore His eternity.
a. Angel of Jehovah identified as Jehovah (Genesis 16:7-13; 22:11-18; 31:11-13; 48:15,16; Exodus 3 all... with Acts 7:30-35; Ex. 13:21; 14:19; Judges 6:11-23; 13:9-20).
b. Angel of Jehovah distinguished from Jehovah (Genesis 24:7; 24:40; Exodus 23:20; 32:34;
1 Chronicles 21:15-18; Isaiah 63:9; Zechariah 1:12,13).
c. Angel of Jehovah is Second Person of the Trinity, visible God. After the incarnation, the Angel of Jehovah no longer appears. (John 1:18; 6:46; 1 Timothy 6:15,16; 1 John 4:12).
(6) Jesus Christ is called Jehovah: (Isaiah 9:6,7; 40:3; Jeremiah 23:5,6; Zechariah 12:10).
(7) All the divine attributes are ascribed to Christ.
a. SOVEREIGNTY (Genesis .1; Revelation 1:5,6; 17:14; 19:16).
b. ETERNAL LIFE (Isaiah 9:6; Mica 5:2; John 1:1; 8:58; Colossians 1:16,17; Ephesians 1:4; Revelation 1:
c. HOLINESS, i.e. RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE, (Luke 1:35; Acts 3:14; Heb.7:26).
d. LOVE, (John 13:1,34; 1 John 3:16).
e. IMMUTABILITY, (Hebrews 13:8).
f. OMNISCIENCE, (Matt.9:4; John 2:25; 1 Cor.4:5; Col.2:3; Rev.2:23).
g. OMNIPOTENCE, (Matt.24:30; 28:18; 1 Cor.15:28; Php.3:21; Heb.1:3; Rev.1:8).
h. OMNIPRESENCE, (Matt.28:20; Eph.1:23; Col.1:27).
i. VERACITY, (John 14:16; Rev.3:7).
Now, back to Philippians 2:6..... our Celebrity did some thinking. Here we learn something else about our Lord Jesus Christ..... not only are His thoughts infinite, but He thinks about you and me in terms of GRACE.
In grace-thinking He thought it not a treasure or a prize to be retained. (Thieme)
The treasure is Christs deity......His equality with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. There is nothing greater or more valuable than the essence of deity.....yet He did not consider His deity more important than our souls!!
The very nature of deity precluded the fact that ANY member of the Trinity could be judged for sin. Eternal life can neither be born nor die; holiness cannot have anything to do with sin; omnipresence cannot be reduced to one point....the Cross; immutability cannot change. Therefore, since nothing can be subtracted from deity, something had to be added.
To be able to go to the Cross and pay the penalty for sin, deity must also become true humanity. Jesus Christ so loved us, and was so occupied with us in eternity past that He did not consider His equality with the other Members of the Trinity a treasure to be clutched and retained so as to hinder the Fathers Plan.
An essential part of the Fathers Plan was that all believers in Christ were chosen in Him ...before the foundation of the world... (Corporate selection, Eph.1:4). This required that ...the Word was made flesh... (John 1:14).
There never was a time when Christ was not occupied with you....You were the joy (Heb.12:2) that occasioned His incarnation and His substitutionary death on the Cross with all its shame and pain. You were in His thoughts when all the grace blessings were provided in eternity past. And now you and I have the privilege of occupation with Him.....(Col.3:10,11; along with Eph.3:17-19, etc., etc.).
Col.3:1,2..... Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (NASB)
This should be standard operating procedure for EVERY Christian.
Heb.12:1,2....... ....let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (NASB)
Psalm 37:4,5...... Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in Him, and He will do it."
(again, NASB)
Much of the above was taken from publications of R. Thieme.
Except where noted, Scripture passages are from the KJV.
W.A.B.
