As a Christian, we must be able to distinguish between things. Hebrews 5:14 expresses it best, "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." The Amplified gives us a deeper insight into this verse, "But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law." We should be able to differentiate between the profane and the holy. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 1:9, "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers." To be profane is to be unholy. To be holy is not to be profane.
Application
To properly understand the Bible, we need to use what is known as applied theology.
Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines "profane" as, "1. Irreverent to any thing sacred; applied to persons. A man is profane when he takes the name of God in vain, or treats sacred things with abuse and irreverence. 2. Irreverent; proceeding from a contempt of sacred things, or implying it; as profane words or language; profane swearing...Profane is used chiefly in Scripture in opposition to holy, or qualified ceremonially for sacred services." Leviticus 19:12 reads, "And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD." The Lord’s name is like the Lord Himself, holy. It is therefore not to be used in a profane manner. Also, the Lord’s word is truth, therefore, one cannot swear by His name falsely without receiving His wrath.
Paul wrote in Romans 2:17-24, "Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, 18And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 19And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written." Here is a perfect example of people claiming to be God’s people and all the while, they are hypocrites. They say that they have a special relationship with God and use this for their own gain. This is taking the Lord’s name in vain, a clear violation of the third commandment.
Paul wrote in Titus 1:15-16, "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." Watch what people do, not what they say. What they do is in accordance with what they truly believe. The mind is changeable, but the spirit is inflexible. No one can hide their true heart condition. If we claim to be Christians, then 1 Peter 1:14-15 would be in evidence, "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation." Remember that holiness and profaneness are diametrically opposed to one another. We are going to be one or the other. There is no neutrality. Our conduct will be holy or profane.
The Lord said the following about true priests in Ezekiel 44:23-24, "And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. 24And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths." A true minister will have his hearers able to distinguish the proper application of the word of God in every instance. At times, things may be questionable as to their lawfulness. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:22, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." If it is debatable, avoid and shun it as unlawful. It is better to be overcautious than to risk being accused of evil.
We need to be careful in our relationships. Paul wrote to Timothy the following advice in 1 Timothy 5:1-2, "Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; 2The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity." A Christian is to be careful in all their dealings, especially, when it comes to those of the opposite sex. Many a Christian has destroyed relationships and their spirituality by crossing a line here. They did not distinguish between the holy and the profane.
Conclusion
Paul elaborated on what is holy and profane in 1 Corinthians 7:1-2, "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband." To avoid sexual impurity, it is better to enter into holy matrimony rather than cohabit.
No comments:
Post a Comment