Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 23.03.2005
Quarrelling Christians
Christianity has been overwhelmed by the proud attitudes of the society. Therefore many Christians quarrel, although Jesus doesn't. They have wanted to live as the other people. Therefore they have abandoned the humble attitudes of Jesus.
Where do quarrels come from?
"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?" James 4:1
How is it possible that believers are seized with bad desires? It should not be so, because it is written: "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." Gal.5:24
If we believers quarrel it means that something has prevented us from crucifying our sinful nature with its passions and desires.
The desire to be a friend of this world has prevented us from crucifying our pride, greed and selfishness. If we allow the Holy Spirit to put our sinful nature to death, we start to feel outsiders in this world. Many believers waver from side to side. Do you allow your sinful nature to rule you to be able to feel better at home in this world or do you allow the Holy Spirit to lead your to the road of the cross to experience life as Jesus did.
Many believers have been filled with a desire to be a fried of the world. Therefore they also behave according to the spirit the world that is they quarrel.
This whole civilization has been made up of the mankind's rebellion against God. If someone feels at home in this world, it can only mean being an enemy of God. "Friendship with the world is hatred towards God. Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." James 4:4 God calls us purposefully to abandon the ambitious attitudes of the world. "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6
"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?" James 4:1
How is it possible that believers are seized with bad desires? It should not be so, because it is written: "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." Gal.5:24
If we believers quarrel it means that something has prevented us from crucifying our sinful nature with its passions and desires.
The desire to be a friend of this world has prevented us from crucifying our pride, greed and selfishness. If we allow the Holy Spirit to put our sinful nature to death, we start to feel outsiders in this world. Many believers waver from side to side. Do you allow your sinful nature to rule you to be able to feel better at home in this world or do you allow the Holy Spirit to lead your to the road of the cross to experience life as Jesus did.
Many believers have been filled with a desire to be a fried of the world. Therefore they also behave according to the spirit the world that is they quarrel.
This whole civilization has been made up of the mankind's rebellion against God. If someone feels at home in this world, it can only mean being an enemy of God. "Friendship with the world is hatred towards God. Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." James 4:4 God calls us purposefully to abandon the ambitious attitudes of the world. "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6
Quarrelling is ambition with a bad temper
Pride and ambition are an essential part of the behaviour of this world. People get strength to live from things they are proud of. Because seeking honour makes one a quarreller, a quarrelling believer must have been boasting about something.
People boast either about their wisdom or about their deeds, but a person who is faithful to God receives everything as a gift of God. He doesn't seek his own wisdom, but the will of God. He doesn't trust his own strength, but the help of God.
James rebukes believers for doing plans and ignoring the will of God. "Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil." James 4:13-16
It is an evil thing if we boast with our deeds and our plans of the future, because boasting leads our life to the dominion of evilness. "The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." James 3:5
You tend your ambition by self-praise. If it is difficult for you to control your sexual lust, keeping down your ambition is far more difficult for you. Try to take away a source of honour from someone, and the temper of one's lust produces a quarrel. Boasting stimulates your spirit so much that you finally dare together with other boasters to rebel against God. But why would you allow your ambition to blind you and why would you allow your mouth make you an enemy of God? A friend of the world must have ambition, but a friend of God must have humbleness.
The humble never can enter the society of this world. If you don't appear self-confident, you never can win the favour of godless people. A person, who humbly trusts God, is a strange fellow in the eyes of this world. Who lives the life of a humble one doesn't quarrel. Those who seek glory for themselves will cause quarrels wherever they are, also among the people of God.
Pride and ambition are an essential part of the behaviour of this world. People get strength to live from things they are proud of. Because seeking honour makes one a quarreller, a quarrelling believer must have been boasting about something.
People boast either about their wisdom or about their deeds, but a person who is faithful to God receives everything as a gift of God. He doesn't seek his own wisdom, but the will of God. He doesn't trust his own strength, but the help of God.
James rebukes believers for doing plans and ignoring the will of God. "Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil." James 4:13-16
It is an evil thing if we boast with our deeds and our plans of the future, because boasting leads our life to the dominion of evilness. "The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." James 3:5
You tend your ambition by self-praise. If it is difficult for you to control your sexual lust, keeping down your ambition is far more difficult for you. Try to take away a source of honour from someone, and the temper of one's lust produces a quarrel. Boasting stimulates your spirit so much that you finally dare together with other boasters to rebel against God. But why would you allow your ambition to blind you and why would you allow your mouth make you an enemy of God? A friend of the world must have ambition, but a friend of God must have humbleness.
The humble never can enter the society of this world. If you don't appear self-confident, you never can win the favour of godless people. A person, who humbly trusts God, is a strange fellow in the eyes of this world. Who lives the life of a humble one doesn't quarrel. Those who seek glory for themselves will cause quarrels wherever they are, also among the people of God.
Quarrels of boasting about men
Paul gives the same reason as James for the origin of quarrels. "Since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says: 'I follow Paul', and another, 'I follow Apollos', are you not mere men?" 1Cor.3:3-4 Believers should not be like mere men, but like Jesus.
He pleased his Father and not himself. As man He didn't seek his own glory but God's. Nobody can be at the same time a friend of God and a friend of the world. However it is popular to try it. If all believers sought only the glory of God, there would not be quarrels among them.
Truth makes free from boasting! For this freedom Paul said to the Corinthians: "So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death or the present or the future - all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God." 1Cor.3:21-23
I suppose that everybody likes this boasting: "All things are mine." However it has the condition: "I am of Christ." You can own everything through Jesus, but who does want to put this into practice?
Pride of men misunderstands these words of Jesus: "That all of them may be one." They think this means that all Christians should belong to the same Church. However Jesus speaks here nothing about the unity of the organizations. "That all of them may be one. Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us." John 17:21
Jesus speaks about the right mind of His own, which causes them to be one. When some believers have exalted themselves, they are wrong-minded and so break that unity Jesus is speaking about. Orthodoxy is not enough for God, but He expects us to be right-minded.
Some say that God has only one Church in every area and their Church is that only one. This is very much a Pope like statement, because it tries to force all believers under one human church order. This boasting rebels against the unity produced by the Spirit of God.
It is not coming together or agreeing on the doctrine that creates the unity of the Spirit, but righteousness. Ambitiousness is the real reason for this kind of boasting. The church organizations are only servants of the real Church of God. Boasting about them is in vain. Of course, boasting about one's own Church is an important thing for the power seeking church leaders. Leaders after God's heart do not lord over the congregation. Jesus and the apostles have strictly forbidden it.
Notice how Paul reminds us that believers own each other through Jesus, not through the church. It doesn't give us the ownership of each other if our names are in the same registry of a Christian association. If you are one with God in the Holy Spirit, you are able to rejoice over every brother and sister in Jesus Christ, although you were not sitting together with them in the same meeting. Due to your boastings you are blind to the reality of the Church of Jesus.
Paul gives the same reason as James for the origin of quarrels. "Since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says: 'I follow Paul', and another, 'I follow Apollos', are you not mere men?" 1Cor.3:3-4 Believers should not be like mere men, but like Jesus.
He pleased his Father and not himself. As man He didn't seek his own glory but God's. Nobody can be at the same time a friend of God and a friend of the world. However it is popular to try it. If all believers sought only the glory of God, there would not be quarrels among them.
Truth makes free from boasting! For this freedom Paul said to the Corinthians: "So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death or the present or the future - all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God." 1Cor.3:21-23
I suppose that everybody likes this boasting: "All things are mine." However it has the condition: "I am of Christ." You can own everything through Jesus, but who does want to put this into practice?
Pride of men misunderstands these words of Jesus: "That all of them may be one." They think this means that all Christians should belong to the same Church. However Jesus speaks here nothing about the unity of the organizations. "That all of them may be one. Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us." John 17:21
Jesus speaks about the right mind of His own, which causes them to be one. When some believers have exalted themselves, they are wrong-minded and so break that unity Jesus is speaking about. Orthodoxy is not enough for God, but He expects us to be right-minded.
Some say that God has only one Church in every area and their Church is that only one. This is very much a Pope like statement, because it tries to force all believers under one human church order. This boasting rebels against the unity produced by the Spirit of God.
It is not coming together or agreeing on the doctrine that creates the unity of the Spirit, but righteousness. Ambitiousness is the real reason for this kind of boasting. The church organizations are only servants of the real Church of God. Boasting about them is in vain. Of course, boasting about one's own Church is an important thing for the power seeking church leaders. Leaders after God's heart do not lord over the congregation. Jesus and the apostles have strictly forbidden it.
Notice how Paul reminds us that believers own each other through Jesus, not through the church. It doesn't give us the ownership of each other if our names are in the same registry of a Christian association. If you are one with God in the Holy Spirit, you are able to rejoice over every brother and sister in Jesus Christ, although you were not sitting together with them in the same meeting. Due to your boastings you are blind to the reality of the Church of Jesus.
Boasting with a gift
The salvation coming from God follows this main principle: "So that no-one may boast before God." 1Cor.1:29 Who has been saved by God's grace lives according to this principle: "Let him who boasts boast in Lord." 1Cor.1:31
If someone intends to remain under God's grace, one has to boast only of God. Everybody must have something to boast about. However, boasting of God may easily change into boasting about one's own faith. Just for this kind of proud faith Paul rebuked the believers of Corinth and said: "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" 1Cor.4:7
Why do we forget having got all as a gift? Our ambition causes this forgetfulness. If we have not allowed the Holy Spirit to put our sinful mind to death, we keep our desire to be accepted among the worldly people, and we also seek glory among other believers.
Believers boast amongst themselves either about their wisdom or about their supernatural experiences. "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth." James 3:13-14
It is typical for ambition that it makes a person angry, if he doesn't get his lust satisfied. This anger makes him boast about things that are not true. Ambitious person tears out a reason for boasting from anywhere and finally falls into the trap of his lies. Where is pride there is quarrel. Where is quarrel there are lies and there is self-deception.
Paul advises the believers who are boasting about their wisdom: "Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a 'fool' so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight." 1Cor.3:18-19
The salvation coming from God follows this main principle: "So that no-one may boast before God." 1Cor.1:29 Who has been saved by God's grace lives according to this principle: "Let him who boasts boast in Lord." 1Cor.1:31
If someone intends to remain under God's grace, one has to boast only of God. Everybody must have something to boast about. However, boasting of God may easily change into boasting about one's own faith. Just for this kind of proud faith Paul rebuked the believers of Corinth and said: "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" 1Cor.4:7
Why do we forget having got all as a gift? Our ambition causes this forgetfulness. If we have not allowed the Holy Spirit to put our sinful mind to death, we keep our desire to be accepted among the worldly people, and we also seek glory among other believers.
Believers boast amongst themselves either about their wisdom or about their supernatural experiences. "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth." James 3:13-14
It is typical for ambition that it makes a person angry, if he doesn't get his lust satisfied. This anger makes him boast about things that are not true. Ambitious person tears out a reason for boasting from anywhere and finally falls into the trap of his lies. Where is pride there is quarrel. Where is quarrel there are lies and there is self-deception.
Paul advises the believers who are boasting about their wisdom: "Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a 'fool' so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight." 1Cor.3:18-19
Faithfulness of an administrator of property
Paul is a good example for us of how to dissociate from the friendship with the world. He exposed to all his incapability, his helplessness, his ignorance and his powerlessness. However virtues, wisdom and power turned up in him - affected by the grace of God.
"Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God." 2Cor.3:5 Paul forces his sinful nature to speak the truth about himself by saying: "I am nothing." He doesn't reveal here self-pity, but exposes the truth about himself.
"Though I am nothing." 2Cor.12:11 "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." 1Cor.3:7 "To the only wise God be glory for ever through Jesus Christ!" Rom.16:27 "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Gal.6:14
Paul didn't cringe, but he confessed the truth. All are talents from God. It is wrong to say this is mine, if the owner is someone else. This was the attitude of Jesus: "I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me." John 6:38
Paul syas about himself: "So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." 1Cor.4:1-2 An entrusted servant does business with the property of another person. His faithfulness appears there that he doesn't consider the property in his possession as his own. Nowadays an administrator of a stock portfolio could maybe called an entrusted servant.
When Paul speaks about a believer as a steward or as a treasurer he obviously had in his mind the words of Jesus about this same thing in Matth.25:14-30. There Jesus says He entrusts His property to His believers. When He returns He will settle accounts with us.
God has entrusted His secrets to us. An unfaithful administrator of the property begins to do business with the property entrusted to him as though it would be his own. It is easy to make a mistake and believe that I own the truth. And so - the same applies to the salvation itself. Jesus Christ is the only saved man. When we come to the faith we share His salvation.
You probably wonder what kind of a gift is this which you have not got as your own? You will own it in the resurrection. Now you own it through your resurrection faith. "You stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid." Rom.11:20 Because of your boastings you can think: "Once saved is saved forever. Who once received the gift of God is allowed to keep it forever." Those who think in this way have forgotten that Jesus remains in them only if they remain in Jesus. If you break your relationship with Jesus, you lose everything.
As long as we live in this world we are the occupiers of our salvation and not owners - that is we hold one talent (Matth.25:24). If we boast about our talent as if it was our own, we are in danger of losing it. If we hide it, then we also are in danger of losing it. It is only the merit of Jesus that I am saved!
A proud attitude makes a believer think that his salvation would be in his own power. Just for this reason Paul always remembers to say that everything we have, we have "in Jesus Christ". "In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Col.1:14
Paul is a good example for us of how to dissociate from the friendship with the world. He exposed to all his incapability, his helplessness, his ignorance and his powerlessness. However virtues, wisdom and power turned up in him - affected by the grace of God.
"Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God." 2Cor.3:5 Paul forces his sinful nature to speak the truth about himself by saying: "I am nothing." He doesn't reveal here self-pity, but exposes the truth about himself.
"Though I am nothing." 2Cor.12:11 "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." 1Cor.3:7 "To the only wise God be glory for ever through Jesus Christ!" Rom.16:27 "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Gal.6:14
Paul didn't cringe, but he confessed the truth. All are talents from God. It is wrong to say this is mine, if the owner is someone else. This was the attitude of Jesus: "I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me." John 6:38
Paul syas about himself: "So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." 1Cor.4:1-2 An entrusted servant does business with the property of another person. His faithfulness appears there that he doesn't consider the property in his possession as his own. Nowadays an administrator of a stock portfolio could maybe called an entrusted servant.
When Paul speaks about a believer as a steward or as a treasurer he obviously had in his mind the words of Jesus about this same thing in Matth.25:14-30. There Jesus says He entrusts His property to His believers. When He returns He will settle accounts with us.
God has entrusted His secrets to us. An unfaithful administrator of the property begins to do business with the property entrusted to him as though it would be his own. It is easy to make a mistake and believe that I own the truth. And so - the same applies to the salvation itself. Jesus Christ is the only saved man. When we come to the faith we share His salvation.
You probably wonder what kind of a gift is this which you have not got as your own? You will own it in the resurrection. Now you own it through your resurrection faith. "You stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid." Rom.11:20 Because of your boastings you can think: "Once saved is saved forever. Who once received the gift of God is allowed to keep it forever." Those who think in this way have forgotten that Jesus remains in them only if they remain in Jesus. If you break your relationship with Jesus, you lose everything.
As long as we live in this world we are the occupiers of our salvation and not owners - that is we hold one talent (Matth.25:24). If we boast about our talent as if it was our own, we are in danger of losing it. If we hide it, then we also are in danger of losing it. It is only the merit of Jesus that I am saved!
A proud attitude makes a believer think that his salvation would be in his own power. Just for this reason Paul always remembers to say that everything we have, we have "in Jesus Christ". "In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Col.1:14
Humbling oneself
Man is able to spoil everything. Our sinful nature is able to pervert also humbleness, because many are boasting about their humbleness. Jesus says: "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Matth.23:12 When you are asked to humble yourself, do you think you are now high and you suppose that you are asked to come down? It is not so, but you are asked to open your eyes to the truth, that you are down. You have been down all the time!
What is expected from you, when it is said: Give glory to God! Must you give away the glory you deserved and do the noble and humble thing and say: No glory to me. I give it to God. It is not so, but you are asked to notice that you have had no glory at all. How could you give God your glory, when it never came to you?
Is it easy to humble yourself? You only need to confess the facts. Truth makes you free. Who found humbleness through Jesus has no stress when trying to be humble. Living by the grace of God is easy after you notice that it is the only available possibility.
Man is able to spoil everything. Our sinful nature is able to pervert also humbleness, because many are boasting about their humbleness. Jesus says: "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Matth.23:12 When you are asked to humble yourself, do you think you are now high and you suppose that you are asked to come down? It is not so, but you are asked to open your eyes to the truth, that you are down. You have been down all the time!
What is expected from you, when it is said: Give glory to God! Must you give away the glory you deserved and do the noble and humble thing and say: No glory to me. I give it to God. It is not so, but you are asked to notice that you have had no glory at all. How could you give God your glory, when it never came to you?
Is it easy to humble yourself? You only need to confess the facts. Truth makes you free. Who found humbleness through Jesus has no stress when trying to be humble. Living by the grace of God is easy after you notice that it is the only available possibility.
Outside quarrels
Behind all the quarrels there is man's quarrel and rebellion against God. The mankind picks a quarrel with God, but His answer to us is gentle. He suffered silently for us on the cross so that He could give us the reconciliation. In the gospel there is the possibility to solve the quarrel of sin. Most people have rejected the gospel and want to continue their quarrel with God. Thus the mankind is divided against each other for the sake of Jesus.
I can cause quarrelling with my speeches, but I myself need not quarrel though. The gospel of Jesus causes dispute, but I need not quarrel for it. I can take my stand outside quarrelling and not quarrel back. I am as silent as God before the quarrelsome.
If I don't seek honour for myself with the gospel, it is easy for me to leave objections of men between God and them. I am only a runner of God, who brings His message. "The Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful." 2Tim.2:24
It is more difficult to take my stand outside the quarrels that are inside the churches. If there is an atmosphere filled with boasting about faith in a church, it is difficult to remain right-minded there.
Paul had to experience how believers judged him. However he didn't start to quarrel with them. "I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court, indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me." 1Cor.4:3-4
Often a quarrel comes from defending oneself. It is not suitable for a believer of Jesus to defend oneself, but to put one's trust in the defence and judgement of God. If a proud one is blamed for something, although his conscience is clear, he cannot be quiet but tries to defend himself. In this way the quarrel continues. Paul said that his clear conscience doesn't guarantee that he cannot be guilty of some things. However he left such things under the judgement of God and so didn't start to prove his innocence.
Paul also rebuked disobedient believers, but he didn't remain quarrelling with them. Instead he urged to leave them in peace, if they didn't repent. "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us." 2Thess.3:6
If we leave ourselves and the others under the defence and judgement of God, we can take our stand outside quarrels. "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's heart. At that time each will receive his praise from God." 1Cor.4:5
Behind all the quarrels there is man's quarrel and rebellion against God. The mankind picks a quarrel with God, but His answer to us is gentle. He suffered silently for us on the cross so that He could give us the reconciliation. In the gospel there is the possibility to solve the quarrel of sin. Most people have rejected the gospel and want to continue their quarrel with God. Thus the mankind is divided against each other for the sake of Jesus.
I can cause quarrelling with my speeches, but I myself need not quarrel though. The gospel of Jesus causes dispute, but I need not quarrel for it. I can take my stand outside quarrelling and not quarrel back. I am as silent as God before the quarrelsome.
If I don't seek honour for myself with the gospel, it is easy for me to leave objections of men between God and them. I am only a runner of God, who brings His message. "The Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful." 2Tim.2:24
It is more difficult to take my stand outside the quarrels that are inside the churches. If there is an atmosphere filled with boasting about faith in a church, it is difficult to remain right-minded there.
Paul had to experience how believers judged him. However he didn't start to quarrel with them. "I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court, indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me." 1Cor.4:3-4
Often a quarrel comes from defending oneself. It is not suitable for a believer of Jesus to defend oneself, but to put one's trust in the defence and judgement of God. If a proud one is blamed for something, although his conscience is clear, he cannot be quiet but tries to defend himself. In this way the quarrel continues. Paul said that his clear conscience doesn't guarantee that he cannot be guilty of some things. However he left such things under the judgement of God and so didn't start to prove his innocence.
Paul also rebuked disobedient believers, but he didn't remain quarrelling with them. Instead he urged to leave them in peace, if they didn't repent. "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us." 2Thess.3:6
If we leave ourselves and the others under the defence and judgement of God, we can take our stand outside quarrels. "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's heart. At that time each will receive his praise from God." 1Cor.4:5
The Bible version used in references is NIV