{"id":90,"date":"2011-10-27T12:49:33","date_gmt":"2011-10-27T12:49:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.blog.ccpc-pca.com\/?p=90"},"modified":"2011-11-26T18:53:06","modified_gmt":"2011-11-26T18:53:06","slug":"god%e2%80%99s-reputation-and-our-lifestyle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testblog.ccpc-pca.com\/?p=90","title":{"rendered":"God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Reputation and Our Lifestyle"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/strong>We know that the man\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Many texts could be produced to prove this well received point.[1]<\/a> The text 1Cor. 10:31 states, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The most mundane acts are to be done for God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s glory. Even as we receive each other, we do it unto God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s glory, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Rom. 15:7)<\/p>\n

No believer should have any problems with this truth. How we act on that truth is an entirely different matter. The Bible teaches that our behavior either glorifies God or gives the opportunity for the enemies of Christ to blaspheme<\/em> Him. Paul says this of the Jews (Rom. 2:23, 24): \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The name of God is blasphemed [\u00ce\u00b2\u00ce\u00bb\u00ce\u00b1\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u2020\u00ce\u00b7\u00ce\u00bc\u00ce\u00b5\u00e1\u00bf\u2013\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00b9] among the Gentiles because of you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d They claimed to be God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s people of the law and recognized that the Gentiles did not have God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s law to direct them.[2]<\/a> Yet, by their own disobedience and wicked lifestyle, the Jews gave the Gentiles the occasion to blaspheme God.<\/p>\n

This concern for God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s reputation is found in Moses\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 prayer. He was worried about God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s reputation after God threatened to obliterate the people in the desert. Notice this prayer in Ex. 32:11-14,<\/p>\n

11<\/strong> But Moses implored the LORD his God and said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12<\/strong> Why should the Egyptians say, \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcWith evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth\u00e2\u20ac\u2122? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. 13<\/strong> Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcI will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u009d 14<\/strong> And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.<\/p>\n

What the Egyptians might say of God compelled Moses to pray. He did not want them to say, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153With evil intent did he (God) bring them out, to kill them\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d This, along with God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s faithfulness to His covenant, moved Moses to plead with God for Israel. Moses\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 expressed his regard for God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s reputation.<\/p>\n

Hezekiah alludes to this very concern when he prayed to the Lord to deliver Israel. The Assyrians mocked the living God (Is. 37:17; cf. vv. 10-13) and Hezekiah asked God to save them \u00e2\u20ac\u0153that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the LORD.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (v. 20) God responds by saying that His zeal will deliver them (Is. 37:32) for His own sake and for the sake of His servant David (37:35). God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s reputation was on the line and God will defend His great name.<\/p>\n

Daniel, in one of the most moving and eloquent prayers in the Bible, argued as Moses. He makes it known that their punishment was just on God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s part (Dan. 9:14). But he also points out that God saved them to make \u00e2\u20ac\u0153a name for yourself\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (v. 15). He asks God to act \u00e2\u20ac\u0153for your own sake, O Lord\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (v. 17). They bear God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s name and the city is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153called by your name\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (v. 18). Then he cries out, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (v. 19) God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s name is connected with the fate and felicity of His people. Daniel wants God to act for His name\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s sake because of His covenant obligations. In effect, what will the nations say about God if His people and the city called by His name were not rescued?<\/p>\n

Observations<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The truth in these passages teach us the importance of God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s glory and the necessity of making it part of our prayer and personal concern! It is not even to simply assume that our plight is so bad, that God must act. Do we not deserve much worse than we have received?<\/p>\n

Apart from that theological observation, we also learn that the depth of one\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s piety can be measured by concern the child of God has for God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s reputation. Do we have our Lord\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s reputation in mind?<\/p>\n

Some NT Passages<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Before we focus on a few key passages, we must consider the well known petition. The first petition of the Lord\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s prayer concerns God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s glory. We want His name to be hallowed, considered holy, held in reverence, etc. As the SC states, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153That God would enable us, and others, to glorify him\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d That is, our lives (among other things) must play a part in fulfilling that petition.<\/p>\n

We can also mention how creation, salvation, ethics, etc. all center on God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s glory. Much could be said about those points but we will give our attention to some things that are easily overlooked. These eminently concrete passages jump out with bold colors. What they say is unmistakable and they assume some of the things we have already mentioned.<\/p>\n

If believers live sensual godless lives\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2Peter 2:2 reiterates Rom. 2:23, 24 we quoted above. The sensual and godless lives of those who profess faith (led astray by false prophets with their destructive heresies) lead people to blaspheme God: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed (\u00ce\u00b2\u00ce\u00bb\u00ce\u00b1\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u2020\u00ce\u00b7\u00ce\u00bc\u00ce\u00b7\u00ce\u00b8\u00ce\u00ae\u00cf\u0192\u00ce\u00b5\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00b9).\u00e2\u20ac\u009d[3]<\/a> Here, it is not simply about God; it is about His message, His method of salvation. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The infection from the false teachers spreads to others, but it does not stop there. The unbelieving world sees the impact on the church and responds by maligning and ridiculing \u00e2\u20ac\u0153the way of truth.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 When unbelievers see the moral effect produced by the opponents in the lives of their followers, they will conclude that the way of truth is a way of error.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

The truth of the gospel is questioned on account of our sinful behavior. Not only is God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s reputation sullied, His message to lost sinner is maligned. The world scrutinizes our behavior and quickly seizes our inconsistency. Believers do not have the liberty to do as they wish; their lifestyle brings honor or dishonor to God.<\/p>\n

If wives do not fulfill their domestic duties\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Paul instructs Titus to tell older women to teach \u00e2\u20ac\u0153young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled [or blasphemed<\/em>, \u00ce\u00b2\u00ce\u00bb\u00ce\u00b1\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u2020\u00ce\u00b7\u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bf\u2020\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00b9]\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Titus 2:4, 5)<\/p>\n

Apart from the domestic peace and stability such actions bring to the household, Paul is concerned that God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Word would not be \u00e2\u20ac\u0153reviled.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Domestic lifestyles therefore either give legitimacy to the truth of the Gospel or discredit it. It is not a private affair.<\/p>\n

If Christian wives ignored these demands and flouted the role their culture demanded of good wives, the gospel would be maligned, criticized, and discredited by non-Christians. Christianity would be judged especially by the impact that it had on the women. It therefore was the duty of the women to protect God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s revelation from profanation by living discreet and wholesome lives. For Christians, no life style is justified that hinders \u00e2\u20ac\u0153the word of God,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the message of God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s salvation in Christ.[5]<\/a><\/p>\n

From whence does the blasphemy come? Does it come from the world or the unbelieving spouse? Chrystostom believes this comes from the unbelieving spouse. He says, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153\u00e2\u20ac\u0153For if you gain nothing else, and do not attract your husband to embrace right doctrines, yet you have stopped his mouth, and are not allowing him to blaspheme Christianity.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d[6]<\/a><\/p>\n

In this same passage, Paul talks about how the behavior of young men and in particular Titus should affect the opponents \u00e2\u20ac\u0153having nothing evil to say about us\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (v. 8). Titus\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 life in holiness and ministerial faithfulness affects how the world might speak about the gospel.<\/p>\n

If inferiors do not respect their superiors\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In 1Timothy 6:1, Paul says, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled [or blasphemed<\/em>, \u00ce\u00b2\u00ce\u00bb\u00ce\u00b1\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u2020\u00ce\u00b7\u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bf\u2020\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00b9].\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The same is said in Titus 2:10 where the slaves are not to argue or steal \u00e2\u20ac\u0153that in everything they may adorn (\u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00bf\u00cf\u0192\u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bf\u00b6\u00cf\u0192\u00ce\u00b9\u00ce\u00bd) the doctrine of God our Savior.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

How the slaves acted affected how the masters would view the gospel. Their lifestyles \u00e2\u20ac\u0153adorn\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the gospel and give the masters no occasion to revile or blaspheme the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153the name of God and the teaching.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d In Titus, we are taught that a godly life \u00e2\u20ac\u0153adorns\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the gospel. Our lifestyle makes the Gospel attractive; makes it more desirable, credible, and lovely. We don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t add to its essence but enhance what is already inherently wonderful.<\/p>\n

Lessons<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. God is zealous for His glory and we ought to be as well.<\/p>\n

2. God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s reputation, His honor or glory, must fill our petitions and passions.<\/p>\n

3. Our lifestyle says something about the truth and goodness of the gospel. If God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s truth saved us, then our lifestyles should validate that truth.<\/p>\n

4. Does your life \u00e2\u20ac\u0153adorn\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the doctrine of God our Savior?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[Adult Sunday School Lesson, Oct. 23, 2011]<\/span><\/p>\n

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[1]<\/a> A helpful essay from a biblical theological perspective is Thomas R. Schreiner, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153A Biblical Theology of the Glory of God,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in For the Fame of God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Name: Essays in Honor of John Piper, <\/em>ed. Sam Storms and Justin Taylor (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2010), 215-234. Also consult Christopher W. Morgan and Robert A. Peterson, eds., The Glory of God<\/em>, Theology in Community (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2010).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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[2]<\/a> Paul is referring to Is. 52:5. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153In Isaiah, the blaspheming of God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s name occurs through the oppression of Israel, God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s chosen people, by foreign powers. Paul ascribes the cause of the blasphemy to the disobedient lives of his people. Perhaps Paul intends the reader to see the irony in having responsibility for dishonoring God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s name transferred from the Gentiles to the people of Israel.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Douglas J. Moo, The Epistle to the Romans<\/em> (NICNT; Accordance electronic ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996), 166.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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[3]<\/a> This word could be simply translated as \u00e2\u20ac\u0153verbally abuse.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d KJV has \u00e2\u20ac\u0153be evil spoken of.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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[4]<\/a> Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude<\/em> (NAC 37; ed. E. Ray Clendenen; Accordance electronic ed. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003), 332.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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[5]<\/a> D. Edmond Hiebert, Titus<\/em> (EBC 11; ed. Frank E. Gaebelein and J. D. Douglas; Accordance electronic ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978), 437.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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[6]<\/a> William D. Mounce, Pastoral Epistles<\/em> (WBC 46; Accordance\/Thomas Nelson electronic ed. Waco: Word Books, 2000), 412.\u00c2\u00a0 I modernized the quote offered in Mounce.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We know that the man\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Many texts could be produced to prove this well received point.[1] The text 1Cor. 10:31 states, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,44,45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-90","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-reading","category-practical-theology","category-sunday-school-lesson"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/testblog.ccpc-pca.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/testblog.ccpc-pca.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/testblog.ccpc-pca.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testblog.ccpc-pca.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testblog.ccpc-pca.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=90"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/testblog.ccpc-pca.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/testblog.ccpc-pca.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=90"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testblog.ccpc-pca.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=90"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testblog.ccpc-pca.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=90"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}