They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
Summary: Paul has been describing people who should not be leaders in a church. Today’s passage summarizes why this is important to protect the church fellowship.
Who are these people? It is clear that Paul does not like them. Keep in mind that this is the same group of people that earned the title “Liars, Evil Brutes and Lazy Gluttons.”
Is Paul being fair when he labels these people as he does?
I think so, and I will tell you why. All of us probably qualify as being all these things at one time or another. What makes us different now is that we have Jesus in us.
Let’s review Paul’s description of these people. They are:
- Rebellious
- Full of meaningless talk
- Full of deception
- Disruptive
- Teaching things they ought not to teach
- Seeking dishonest gain
- Liars, evil and lazy
- Pay attention to myths and those who reject the truth
- Corrupted in mind and conscience
Then we get to the kicker. These people are all these things, and they still claim to know God. If we know Jesus, it shows in how we live. If we claim to know God but do these things, Paul says we deny Him.
Does it matter if they know God or not? Yes, it does. One disruptive person in the fellowship of believers is enough to weaken the entire body. People who “fill the air with meaningless talk” distract the fellowship from the “trustworthy message.”
We could go on.
Every item on Paul’s list is an arrow aimed at the heart of fellowship. Satan shoots the arrows, but the one who carries them to the target is the person Paul has described.
An open church fellowship is always going to have a few of these people coming and going. Some may even stay around. But the church that invites such people into leadership is risking everything. Authority is intoxicating to such people. Their ability to deceive makes it hard to see the connection between the discord they sow and how they sow it. Yet as night follows day, trouble follows the arrow of Satan.
Application: Strive to show your belief in Jesus with your actions as well as your words.
Food for Thought: How can we use Paul’s list of ungodly behaviors to make us a better believer?
This list in states the negative side of what I (we) should not be practicing.
We should make sure we are truly a Christian as well as loving a life which honors and glorifies the Lord if we practice any of the items on this list.
If we are in the habit,, or frequently practicing any of the behaviors which characterize the unrighteousness of false teachers, prophets and many unbelievers then we need to immediately repent, change our mind and behavior, confess our sin, and seek to set it right with any we have offended.
This list is a handy checklist for self-examination to honestly evaluate if we might be practicing anything we should not.
Just FYI, I am completely unaware of anyone who is practicing any of these behaviors who attends Bethel.
However, do I?
Always obey God? No. – Rebellious when this occurs.
Ever speak a meaningless word? Yes
Ever been deceived? Yes
Ever been lazy or irresponsible with my time or resources? Yes
Is my mind corrupted? My mind is not completely renewed so, Yes.
Have I have ever done something my conscience told me was wrong? Yes
Have I thought about, or pursued acquisition of
something by inappropriate means. Yes
I have an old fleshly sin nature, as do all of us.
I try to make it a habit to feed the new person created by Christ Jesus, given to me when the Holy Spirit made my soul come alive, at the
moment He regenerated me at conversion.
Meditating on God’s Word (Joshua 1:8, praying consistently, being thankful, rejoicing, and praising the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5: 15-18) are also very helpful to protect my (our) thought lives Colossians 3:2), and assist in following the Lord (Colossians 4:5-6), experiencing His love and grace, and form a platform for usefulness in His kingdom (1 Corinthians 15: 57-58).
It is also a very good idea to be focusing on, knowing. and personally cultivating, habit patterns, goals, objectives, and develop plans which will glorify the Lord (Colossians 3:17).
If we are available, and growing, faithfully trusting and obeying the Lord we can move mountains by faith (Mark 11: 23-24), in our lives, and have a tremendous impact for God’s Kingdom and glory.
He wants to grant us success in being His disciples, making disciples of others, introducing people to the Savior, (Matthew 28: 18-20), and encouraging fellow believers (Hebrews 10: 24-25), as well to pursue all the things which will glorify the Lord in our lives.
“Let your light shine” Jesus says, let your gracious speech (Colossians 4:6), good deeds (Matthew 5:16), and living a life of love, which is a pleasant aroma (Ephesians 5:2), combine to draw people toward the Savior, and glorify the Father, as well as repudiate those who are evil doers (Colossians 3:17; 1Peter 2:11-12, 3:15-16).
Be Blessed, Stay in Faith, and have a great weekend.
Jeff,
Excellent comments! I appreciate your heart for the Lord as evidenced by your clear-eyed self evaluation. I appreciate your thoughtful reflections on becoming a “new person” in Christ.
The list, like the Law, reminds us that we are sinners who need a Savior. In that way it can make us better believers as it humbled us and draws us nearer to Christ.
Rich,
I appreciate the comparison of the list with the Law. Both function in a similar way. Thank you!
Work hard at doing the opposite of what’s on the list,..put on the armor of God daily,..and satan’s arrows will just bounce off and fall on the ground to be trampled on,..
Amen, John!
The armor of God is essential! (Ephesians 6: 10-17)
How can we use Paul’s list of ungodly behaviors to make us a better believer?
Rebellious
Full of meaningless talk
Full of deception
Disruptive
Teaching things they ought not to teach,
Seeking dishonest gain
Liars, evil and lazy
Pay attention to myths and those who reject the truth
Corrupted in mind and conscience
They are a great check list of traits we must avoid, and give even the smallest particle of any of these to God before it can grow and fully contaminate our hearts. Galatians 5:9.
As I review these, my first response, human response was to reject each as already taken away by God, but then I look closely, under the magnifying glass of the Holy Spirit and I see work needs to be done.
Thank you Brother Jeff for helping bring me off my High Horse.
Ron,
I apologize for the delay in posting your comment. It got held up in the spam filter.
As to your comment, I suppose that if you are going to get off of your “high horse,” I should get off of mine, too. 🙂