Body Essentials

From the Pastor’s Desk

8/23/98

The “walk” and the “warfare” of the Believer are two of the major teachings with regards to our relationship with Christ through the church. The terms “walk” and “warfare” are physical terms of which we have some concept. Because of our understanding of these physical terms, we can apply the concepts associated with them to our spiritual relationship. We must be careful not to apply details of any physical illustration that are not so specified in Scripture. This is a chronic problem in the interpretation and teaching of the Word of God. Too often we “fall in love” with the illustration and its many details. As a result, we miss the truth that the illustration was designed to teach. I remind you of this fact often, and not without reason. Once we start applying aspects of a Biblical illustration that were never intended to be used in teaching the truth, we quickly depart from the Scriptural foundation and begin to build a man-made structure of theology. Once we start down that “road”, it is not long until the Biblical epitaph of Isa 29:13 can be written over the church, an organization or even applied to an individual.
Isaiah 29:13 Therefore the LORD said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,

Anytime we “push” a Biblical illustration further than the Scriptures allow, we immediately turn that Biblical teaching into “a commandment of men”. From these “commandments of men” come legalism, heresy and apostasy, and those are VERY closely related. The “commandments of men” may have all the exterior trappings of fear towards God, but they can only draw the participant “near to God with the mouth”, and “bring honor only from the lips”. Such “commandments of men” remove even the heart that desires true worship further and further from God.

The Holy Spirit’s use of the illustrations of “walk” and “warfare” are so very important to our understanding of the Christian life, AND our understanding of the “Body Concept” of the church. However, we must be very careful not to “push” these illustrations further than is clearly taught in Scripture. Of all the illustrations used by the Holy Spirit to aid in our understanding of the church, only the body concept of the church can demonstrate the “walk” and the “warfare” of the Believer. We are going to come in the “backdoor” of our study, and start with a brief teaching on the action of the body to help us understand the body concept. Then we will be able to look back at the “action” from the perspective of our increased understanding of the body, itself.., and more fully comprehend the “walk” and “warfare”. By the way, the more we understand the “action” the more we will understand the “concept of the body”. It is also true, that the more we understand the “concept of the body”, the more we will comprehend the “action”. As we study these two areas in tandem and harmony, the greater will become our understanding of the eternal and spiritual organism of the church.

Before we continue in this line of thinking, I want to... well, I really don’t “want” to.., but I will try to answer some very legitimate and troubling questions concerning the “Clinton Mess”. I have deliberately refrained from saying anything about this on going national sham and shame for a number of reasons. For one thing, there was not enough “clear-cut” public evidence, and to say much of anything would have either brought premature judgment or justification. Plus, it is shameful and embarrassing to speak publicly or privately concerning such decadent behavior. Ephesians 5:10 proving what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

More important, the church is not the proper forum for the discussion of issues. The church is a forum for dispensing the eternal Word of God, and the temporal fellowship of Believers, who are like-minded. However, this situation has become so public, so vivid in detail, and so distorted in evaluation that it leaves very little choice but to make some remarks that hopefully will have a little rational and spiritual benefit. Plus, a question was ask concerning a “similar” Biblical event. It was asked, “In light of that Biblical event, what should our response be in this situation?”

The Biblical illustration referred to was the account of David and Bathsheba. Yes, there are chilling similarities between these two events. Here was a king of the nation of Israel. He committed a sexual sin. Then he tried to cover it up. In the cover-up, he not only lied, he committed murder. He had the husband of Bathsheba murdered. This murder took place within the confines of a war. So that Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba, would be killed in battle, David commanded the army to go contrary to any normal or proper fighting tactics. As a result, Uriah was killed along with many others. This was all done so that David could keep his sexual sin with Bathsheba quiet, and out of the public eye. Yet, God said David was a man after His own heart, and David is spoken of as the greatest leader of Israel. Acts 13:22 "And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'
23 "From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior

The Question: “Since these things are truly Biblical, what should our attitude be in this case of Bill Clinton?” Well, let’s try to answer that question by comparing these current events with the Biblical events.., AND see if there are some Biblical truths that can help US with a proper attitude to the present situation. II Samuel 11:1 Now it came to pass in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. The first problem was that David was not where he should have been. It was the time when kings go out to battle.., BUT David remained at Jerusalem. If David had been where he should have been, and busy about the things he should have been doing, this event would have never happened.

II Samuel 11:2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. 3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 4 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. 5 And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, "I am with child." 6 Then David sent to Joab, saying, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered. 8 And David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah departed from the king's house, and a gift of food from the king followed him. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.

David’s hope was that Uriah would go home to his wife, and thereby he would think the child was his. They didn’t have a DNA test, yet. However, Uriah was more than an honorable man, he was a very good solider. Notice, when we try to cover our sins, even our business sense is distorted. A commander and chief, as David was, would not try to have one of his best soldiers killed without reason, under normal circumstance. David even stooped to having Uriah in for a nice friendly supper and deliberately made him drunk in hopes he would go home to his wife. Even in his drunken state, Uriah would not indulge in the comforts of home as long as “the Ark of God and the army of Israel were dwelling in tents encamped in the open fields of battle.” Even if David didn’t know where his proper place was in battle, Uriah knew and respected his place. Until victory or death, Uriah would do his best to be at his post.

Sin begets sin. It was because of the “success” (I use that very loosely) of one sin, David willingly and deliberately began to cover his actions by the blood of several innocent people.

II Samuel 11:14 Then in the morning it was so that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, "Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die." 16 So it happened, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men. 17 Then the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And some of the people of the servants of David fell; and Uriah the Hittite died also. When a person is trying to cover their sin, they will use and destroy even their best friend for personal benefit. David wrote the “death notice” of Uriah, and then gave that “notice” to Uriah to deliver. David had plenty of runners or delivery-boys, but he had great confidence in Uriah NOT to be as he, untrue and untrustworthy. The “plan” was to have this honorable solider move with his squad into the thickest part of the battle. Uriah was given the “honor” of leading this offensive, not knowing that when he and other good men were out front, the rest would be drawn back so that they would be killed. This was a pre-planned and well-planned cold blooded murder. We can’t move through this without seeing some practical lessons for us today, tomorrow and for the future. When good people try to hide and make their sins secret, they will often try to cover those sins with more and more of the most hideous sins possible. David thought that he had covered his tracks in this whole affair.., and was home free. Remember! A single sin will never “stand alone”. It will spawn more and more sins, UNLESS confessed, forgiven and forsaken.

II Samuel 12:1 Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: "There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. 2 "The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. 3 "But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.
4 "And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him." 5 Then David's anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! 6 "And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity."

At the palace, business went on as usual, and David was as happy as though he had good sense. It is amazing how “good” it feels when we have our sins covered and out of sight. Very few people knew of the sin, and those who did know weren’t talking. So David went about acting very “kingly”, and a little on the self-righteous side. The world may not know about our secret or covered sins, because the world looks on the outward appearance. Proverbs 28:13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Often humans can’t see those “covered sins”, but when it comes to those “covered sins” there is always that phrase.... “Then the Lord...” The Lord does not see as man sees. God looks on the heart. Within the recesses of your heart, you can’t cover your sin from yourself or God. You can ignore the sin, BUT you can’t cover that sin from the sight of God or from your memory. When and if the Lord wants that sin “uncovered” so that all can see it.., He has His ways and His timing. God does not always choose to “uncover” those carefully camouflaged sins during this life. Some sins are left covered until death, but after death every unconfessed and unforgiven sin will be revealed. Romans 2:11 For there is no partiality with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law.... 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. I Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts; and then each one's praise will come from God.

When God uses one of His many means of kicking aside our foolish and very temporary sin-coverings, it is always first and foremost for the purpose of showing His grace!!! Very seldom will we confess and forsake our neatly disguised sins.., unless we fear the unfavorable opinion of others. It is amazing that we don’t seem to care about the opinion of God, or even ourselves. The motive for covering our sin is the “fear of men”, far more than the “fear of God”.

Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. If we live our lives based on “Opinion Polls” (whether formal polls or just what we think others think), we will be pressured by those opinions to leave our trust in the Lord. The opinion of mankind not only pressures us to sin, it is that same opinion that pressures us to cover our sin, instead of confessing it, thereby receiving the forgiveness and cleansing of God. The opinions of people not only pressure us into the “gross” sins.., BUT also into the “respectable” religious sins. Galatians 2:11 But when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

Listen my friend, this type of sin is not one that lives in isolation. Often of this type of sin, it is said, “This is a personal matter! It not hurting anyone else.” What a lie of the Devil!!!!!!! Unconfessed sin is the most evangelistic agent on earth. It reaches out to others and drags them along in its snare. It happened with the first human sin. Eve was not willing to sin alone. She gave to her husband and he ate, also. As so often happens (and likewise in the current event), the sinner is, OF COURSE, not to blame for the results of the personal sin. After all, someone else or something else CAUSED me to do it. The devastation cause by my sin is therefore not my fault. I’m basically really pretty good, you know.!?..?!

God often uses that fear of human displeasure to bring us to the point of confession and forsaking. In the case of David, God used David’s own sense of righteous compassion and sympathy to bring that secret sin out into the open so he would confess, forsake and receive forgiveness. To bring David face to face with his own sin and the sinfulness of that sin, Nathan told David a story-illustration of terrible inequity and cruelty, which, in parallel form, was similar to David’s own actions. David, being a just man, except when judging his own action, was “greatly aroused to anger” against this person who would do such a thoughtless selfish deed. David not only judged the person committing such an act, he pronounced a proper condemnation on him. vs 5 "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! 6 "And he shall restore fourfold.

I can empathize with Nathan, the prophet, in what he had to do next. I have had to do similar things on many occasions through the years. Nathan looked David in eye and said, “You are the man.” That’s an extremely difficult task because of fear and love. When you confront a person squarely and honestly with their sin.., there is always the fear of retaliation. Sins committed and covered seem so sweet, but sins revealed are so bitter. It makes no difference how civil or refined the person may be, when they are confronted with their own sin, often the Old Sin Nature kicks into high gear and all restraints are thrown off. When you know and realize the true character of the Old Sin Nature, it’s a fearful prospect. Paul in Rom 3 describes the true character of that Old Sin Nature that still lurks in the hearts of the best of us. Romans 3:10 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all gone out of the way; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one." 13 "Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit"; "The poison of asps is under their lips"; 14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness." 15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 and the way of peace they have not known." 18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

When you are face to face with someone, even a Christian.. OR especially a Christian.., and you confront them with sin which they felt had been well covered.., any one or all of the attributes of the Old Sin Nature can kick into full gear. The response is not always... NO very seldom pleasant. The prophet Nathan was in that very position facing a man who had already killed because of that sin.., AND was capable of doing so again. The spiritual task of “rebuke” is difficult and unpleasant because of fear. However, it is equally difficult because of love. Nathan cared deeply for David. Love always wants to protect the loved one from harm, danger, hurt or embarrassment of any kind. To look into the eyes of one you care for deeply after they have been rebuked, and see the look of terror and fear fade into worthlessness hurts deeply. Often the hurt received from loving the one rebuked is worse than fear of their retaliation.

II Samuel 12:7 Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 'I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!
9 'Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. 10 'Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' 11 "Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 'For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.' " 13 Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 "However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die."

There had been wrongs committed against Bathsheba, Uriah, the nation of Israel and others.., BUT notice the essence of any sin, and of any real confession and forgiveness. Sin is a disregard of, or a despising of the COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD vs 9. David’s confession was a demonstration of the full realization of that fact... “I have sinned against the Lord.” vs 13. Through David’s confession, his sin was “put way” or forgiven vs 13. In spite of the sin being forgiven, there were STILL consequences because of the action of that sin. We don’t have time to follow those consequences, for we would have to follow the rest of David’s life right until his death. David ALWAYS had to live with those consequences. Yes!!! The sin was forgiven, BUT the consequences were not taken away. Oh how we need to learn that our actions have consequences, AND we are responsible for those actions and consequences. Parents you would do well to teach your children that fact NOW, by word and deed.

Even though the circumstances are not a whole lot different between the sin-actions of David and Clinton.., there is a vast difference in the results. Part of that difference is that David knew what to do with his sin. David used the grace of God, he did not abuse that grace. God had the sin exposed so His grace could have its way. Grace is available BECAUSE Christ has already paid the debt of sin. To receive the benefit of that grace, we must come to God as we are, sinners, accept the forgiveness of God as a gift of grace.., realizing full well and accepting the temporal consequences of our actions. Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. David didn’t spurn the grace of God and say, “Let’s get the matter behind us.” Instead, he placed that matter under the blood of God’s grace. David accepted the Grace of God in this matter which included: (1) The forgiveness of sin
(2) The forsaking of the sin (3) The facing of the temporal consequences. David confessed that sin, as a sin against God, and accepted the consequences. He didn’t try to “just put it behind him”, and blame the messenger, Nathan, for the misery caused to a lot of innocent people. David knew what true confession really was, and that is demonstrated in Psalms 51.

Psalms 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, That the bones which You have broken may rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me with Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise. 18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

David’s sin gave opportunity to the enemy, not only to bring harm to the nation of Israel.., BUT even worse, it gave the enemy opportunity to blaspheme God. II Samuel 12:14 "However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, In the present situation, we are seeing the evidence of this fact in the world. I fear that we, as a nation, have not even seen the beginning of these things against us as a nation. No! This was and is not a private matter. When a person becomes a leader of anything (a family, a business, a church, a nation etc.).., the actions of that leader, both good and bad, have a direct affect on those under that leadership.

This continuing event has desensitized our nation to so many things: (1) Sexual Morality
(2) Truthfulness (3) Responsibility (4) AND a multitude of other moral matter too numerous to mention. Yes!!!! We should judge, and judge harshly the many sins involved in this situation. The condemnation for those sins should be left up to the laws of our land. If those laws fail, then we need to change the laws. Never fear! God in His time and in His way will bring just and righteous condemnation and punishment for these things. Our prayer should be that our President will seek God’s forgiveness in God’s way. That might even include salvation.

Even more shocking than the President’s attitude, is the attitude of the nation in general to these things. For most (according to the polls) have a disregard of truth, morality, etc., and a total disregard of the breaking of law (both moral and civil) by the chief law enforcer. Our nation has become desensitized to moral reality. This process is an on going work of Satan, and brings him great delight. The same factors are openly evidenced in our churches, also. Too often the same concepts that are demonstrated by the actions of our President are seen in the realm of the church. Let me illustrate: I can talk to someone and bring up something they said concerning the church, or people within the church, and OFTEN the response will be something like.., “How did you hear about that?” OR “You weren’t supposed to know!!” Please forgive the complete distortion of the term, but that sounds almost “Presidential”, or in David’s case “Kingly”. Romans 2:3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds":

My Christian friend, we would do well to spend less time in front of the TV gloating, or cringing.. or whatever we do when we hear these accounts.., AND a lot MORE time before the “Throne of Grace” allowing the loving Savior to search our hearts and cleanse them.

Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Job 31:4 Does He not see my ways, and count all my steps? 5 "If I have walked with falsehood, or if my foot has hastened to deceit, 6 Let me be weighed in a just balance, that God may know my integrity. Proverbs 17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts. 4 An evildoer gives heed to false lips; a liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue. Psalms 19:12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.
13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer. Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

There is not much we can do, on a personal level, to correct this situation. Even the daily postmortems by the newscasters and citizens alike are of no real help.., UNLESS we allow those things to drive us to our Savior for personal cleansing and purification, AND we take the proper role and responsibility of our place of leadership in the home, church and community. May God help us not to fall by the same example! Hebrews 4:11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.

I Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. I Timothy 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

© Clyde White