The Rational Anticipation Principle and the Doctrine of Trinity

The third criterion of Revelation in Indian philosophy is Rational Anticipation (Hiriyanna: Indian Philosophy); the first two being the principle of not-this-worldly (alaukika) and the principle of non-contradiction (abadhita; i.e. revelation must not contradict known facts).

The question is whether the doctrine of Trinity meets the principle of Rational Anticipation?

We'll quickly look at two arguments to check out the same.

1. The Argument from the Possibility of Knowledge

a. If God exists, He must be an intelligent being (or else, intelligence is an accident and truth is impossible- but, to say truth is impossible is to contradict self; therefore, truth exists and has its eternal ground in God).
b. Intelligence involves Knowledge and Knowledge involves a Subject-Object distinction.
c. Eternal intelligence must involve eternally a Subject-Object distinction.
d. This distinction must be internal and eternal (since, nothing can be infinite and eternal outside the Godhead - God is by nature infinite, and there cannot be more than one infinite).
e. Complete distinction requires at least three persons (I, You, He/She/They).
f. Therefore, possibility of knowledge rationally anticipates the Three Persons in a Subject-Object relationship.

2. The Argument from Morality
a. If God exists, He must be a moral being (or else, morality is a temporal category and ultimately and eternally meaningless).
b. Morality involves community (Without community, morality is meaningless; for where there is only one person there is no moral obligation to anyone because there is no other person).
c. A community involves persons who are morally responsible to each other.
d. Responsibility involves a witness (which in turn requires the community to be composed of at least three persons, necessarily speaking: beyond that is not-necessary).
e. Therefore, the existence of morality rationally anticipates the Three Persons in an eternal Community relationship.

Example Vs Illustration & Their Use in Theological Discussion

The term "example" comes the French essemple and the Latin exemplum, which meant "a sample" or an instance of a thing. An example belongs to the same kind of the thing being discussed. For instance, if I go to a shop and ask him what rice qualities he got, he'll show me samples (examples) from different bags.

In theological discussion, it is important to make a difference between examples and illustrations. Examples qualify as evidences and proofs of a subject; however, illustrations are not proofs; they only help understand (throw light upon, illustrate) an idea or concept.

Thus, there are no examples of God's existence except God Himself. There is also no example of the Trinity except the Trinity. We can find some illustrations that help us understand these in some way, but the illustrations are not to be regarded as exemplary proofs (that is, to argue that since the illustration is possible, therefore, the doctrine is also possible).

In such discussions, one may turn to rational proofs or/and scriptural proofs for asserting a particular doctrine.

The Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28

"You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD." (Lev. 26:2)
"The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:28)


The Sabbath Law was very important in the Old Testament. We see, at least, four reasons behind its institution:

1. A CREATION BASIS
"For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it." (Exo. 20:11).

In the New Testament, whenever Jesus wanted to point at a Law that was valid, He referred to Genesis, the beginning. For instance, He argued that the original marital institution didn't permit divorce by referring to the Genesis account.

"They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her." And Jesus answered and said to them, "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation, God "made them male and female.' "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." (Mar 10:4-9)

Of course, the Sabbath law was not emphasized in the New Testament and its literal observance is not stipulated; but, that doesn't mean that the original Law was cancelled, as we will soon see.

2. A COVENANT SIGN
"Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant." (Ex.31:16)

The Sabbath was a sign of the Covenant between God and Israel. God commanded "Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you." (Exodus 31:13).

3. A CONSECRATED DAY
The Bible declares that God set this day apart as a holy day of rest.
"You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people." (Ex. 31:14)
"Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings." (Lev.23:3)

4. A COMMANDMENT OF GOD
"Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God." (Lev.19:3)

God historically has commanded mankind to observe the Sabbath day of rest. The Sabbath certainly only applies to space-time, to the temporal historical framework of this life. It is a shadow of the eternal rest of God.

The Bible talks of many Sabbaths: Day of Atonement, Sabbath Feasts, Jubilee, etc.

IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, all the commandments of the Decalogue (Ten Commandments) are reiterated except the Law of the Sabbath. Jesus Himself was accused by the Jews that He broke the Sabbath. But He didn't break it. Instead He fulfilled its meaning in Himself as we shall see.

1. THE SABBATH WAS MADE FOR MAN, & NOT MAN FOR SABBATH (MARK 2:27)
Thus, Jesus healed people on Sabbath Day (Luke 13:10ff; John 5) because man was more important than the Law of Sabbath, and the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. If a man would do his best to save his donkey that had fallen into a pit on Sabbath day then to save a man on the same day is multiple times more valid.

2. THE SON OF MAN (JESUS) IS LORD (MASTER, RULER) OF THE SABBATH (MARK 2:28; MAT 12:8; JOHN 7:22,23)
In other words, in Jesus the Sabbath finds its fulfillment.
Jesus is the Author and the Source of our Rest. In Him mankind finds true rest. He inaugurated the Year of Rest (Jubilee, Sabbath) for all. Therefore, He could call and say, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." In Him we are complete. That's why He is called the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, the Faithful and True Amen.

"sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ." (Col 2:16,17)

Hebrews 4 talks about the True Rest of God in Jesus. God's works were already completed from the foundation of the world (Heb 4:3), the Lamb was slain for the foundation of the world. We have entered the rest of God in Christ; THEREFORE, a SPECIAL SABBATH DAY IS NOT REQUIRED OF US.

IN JESUS, we experience:
1. A FINISHED WORK. In Him all righteousness is fulfilled.
2. A FRUITFUL LIFE. As we abide in Him, we bear fruit (There are works of the flesh, but not works of the Spirit -- only fruit of the Spirit).
3. FULFILLMENT OF JOY. Fruitfulness brings fulfillment and joy.

The Constitution



After FREEDOM, the Constitution came and defined our:

1. FORM - The word "Constitution" itself speaks of form and identity. The Constitution declared the nature, form, and identity of the nation. It answered questions like "What is this nation?" "What is its form?" "Who is its citizen?" "Who are the officials?"
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From the Wikipedia
In India, Republic Day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India on 26 January 1950.

The date of 26 January was chosen to honour the declaration of independence of 1930 at Lahore. The new Constitution of India, as drafted and approved by the Constituent Assembly of India, was mandated to take effect on January 26, 1950, to commemorate the 1930 declaration. On that day in 1950, India became a republic....

India achieved independence from British rule on 15 August 1947 following the Indian independence movement noted for largely peaceful nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience led by the Indian National Congress. The independence came through the Indian Independence Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo 6 c. 30), an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that partitioned British India into the two new independent Dominions of the British Commonwealth (later Commonwealth of Nations): India and Pakistan.[2] India obtained its independence on 15 August 1947 as a constitutional monarchy with George VI as head of state and the Earl Mountbatten as governor-general. The country, though, did not yet have a permanent constitution; instead its laws were based on the modified colonial Government of India Act 1935. On 28 August 1947, the Drafting Committee was appointed to draft a permanent constitution, with Dr.B. R. Ambedkar as chairman. While India's Independence Day celebrates its freedom from British Rule, the Republic Day celebrates the coming into force of its constitution.

A draft constitution was prepared by the committee and submitted to the Assembly on 4 November 1947. The Assembly met, in sessions open to public, for 166 days, spread over a period of 2 years, 11 months and 18 days before adopting the Constitution. After many deliberations and some modifications, the 308 members of the Assembly signed two hand-written copies of the document (one each in Hindi and English) on 24 January 1950. Two days later, it came into effect throughout the nation.
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2. FUNCTION. The Constitution established the various functions of the State: of the governing officials as well as the citizens. As responsible citizens, we are called to abide by the rules of the Constitution of our nation.

Without the Constitution we were without a distinct form and function.

______________

BIBLICAL REFLECTIONS
Old Testament

The Israelites got FREEDOM from Egyptian slavery in Exodus 12; but it was only in Exodus 19 that they saw who they were as a Covenant People (Form) and what they were supposed to do (Function) - the Covenant Laws.

New TestamentThe Church also began with FREEDOM; but, Freedom is not an excuse for Lawlessness. We see a FORM emerge through the Book of Acts and the Epistles. The various FUNCTIONS of the members of the Body were pointed out. Commandments and observances were given.

The Republic Day reminds us of the importance of Constitution, first, within our own selves. Law-abiding begins within us. Law-abiding is the sign of a healthy soul; in which every element within our self is in its proper place and fulfills its proper role. If the Law is written in the book of our hearts, then Justice and Liberty will be innate to us.

Breastplate of Righteousness (Ephesians 6:14)

The Roman army was known for its strength, its order, and discipline. For centuries it stood impenetrable and invincible, and had successfully conquered kingdoms, crushed revolutions, and controlled provinces with an iron fist. The Roman military personal equipment itself bore the hallmark of order and discipline and its standard patterns and uses came to be known as the res militaris or disciplina. The very military structure of the Roman forces and ranks has been a matter of deep interest for centuries now. The disciplined maneuvering and formation techniques that they developed have cast an immense impact on the history of military warfare strategy. They had the Testudo or Tortoise Formation, for instance, in which ranks of soldiers would stick closer to each other and raise their shields above and around them forming an impenetrable shell of protection from the fiery missiles that would come sizzling down on them from the enemy at a distance. However, when they got into hand-to-hand combat with the enemy (at wrestling arm-lengths), every piece of the Roman armor counted. And, one of the most important pieces of equipment was the breastplate, because it protected the very vital organs of the soldier.

The Romans referred to the breastplate as kardiophulax or the heart-guard. For Apostle Paul, while the metal plated armor of the day protected the heart of the Roman soldier engaged in a hand-to-hand combat with flesh and blood, it was righteousness that protected the heart of the Christian engaged in a battle with the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Now, while the heart of flesh was the organ that pumped fresh blood into the whole body-system of a human, the spiritual heart that Paul talked about pumped life into the total system of the Christian person. Any harm to this organ spelled death to the believer’s life. Therefore, protecting it was more important than protecting anything else.

“Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23, Amplified Bible)

Paul teaches us that there is only one thing that can protect the spiritual life-pumping organ of a Christian, and it is righteousness (Ephesians 6:14). It is not disconnectedly that the breastplate of the High Priest’s garment in the Old Testament was called the breastplate of judgment (Exodus 28:15). But, there was a difference between the two scenes. In the temple setting of the Old Testament, man stood as a condemned sinner, a captive held in chains with the sentence of death pronounced over him. It was the atoning ministry of the High Priest who bore the judgment of man on his breastplate year after year that made possible any point of contact between God and man. But, now, in the New Testament, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, all condemnation is removed. He bore the judgment of God on His breast and wiped away all writing of ordinances against us, nailing them to the cross (Colossians 2:14). Through the sacrifice of His flesh and the pouring of His blood, the veil of separation was torn and we now stand justified, i.e. “declared righteous”, before God (Hebrews 10:20). Now, we are no longer captives and criminals waiting execution; we are soldiers in the very army of God called out to stand our ground and take possession of our inheritance. Jesus built His Church upon the Rock, and the gates of hades can’t prevail against it anymore. No accusation, no missile of condemnation, no assault of the enemy can get through to the heart of Christian; because the Christian’s heart is protected by the blood of Jesus Christ, his heart is protected by the righteousness of Christ. Christ is the righteousness of God (1Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 3:9).

Now, the heart of man is considered to be the seat of emotions. We talk of broken hearts, which refers to the emotional brokenness of a person. The famous adhesive Quickfix of Wembley still runs the slogan “Joins everything except broken hearts.” They seemed to be pretty honest at that! The Bible tells us that “by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken” (Proverbs 15:13). Flesh and blood cannot put together a broken heart. No material thing can heal a broken spirit. The healing has to be spiritual. It has to be by the Spirit of the Lord: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted” (Luke 4:18).

The righteousness of the Law (self-righteousness) brought condemnation; it broke the heart. But, the righteousness of faith in Jesus Christ removes all condemnation and brings justification and spiritual healing to the soul. It purifies our conscience to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14).

Righteousness protects our emotional life. When the sharp weapons of accusation and condemnation try to tear us down, the breastplate of Christ’s righteousness stands in between and blocks them off. When we know who we are in Christ, and that we are in right standing in Him, and that God is not against us but for us, then the assault of world fall like dry leaves on a stiff ground. His gracious love protects our heart. Take the instance of a young woman who is filled with guilt about things in the past and with hopelessness regarding things in the future. Let her ask herself this question: Does the Father treat me this way? Does He treat me as a condemned criminal? Would He like that I treat myself in this way? The answer would be evident: The Father loves us and He has blotted all our sins away. He has left us no reason to still abide under the shadow of guilt. He wants us to walk into the light with the armor of God and stand our ground. When He looks at us, He doesn’t see our failings; He sees the righteousness of Christ upon us. Why do we then try to see what He has thrown behind His back? Why do we search for the living among the dead? Take another instance of a young man who is filled with feelings of loneliness and forsakenness all of a sudden. The devil tells him that he is unloved and uncared for. If the young man will fall for the words of the devil, that might even look sustained by the circumstances around him, he is living by sight and not by faith in the Word of God. What does the Word say? It tells us that we aren’t unloved and forsaken; it tells us that God so loved us that He sent His only begotten Son, and that Christ came to give us abundant life, and that He is with us forever. When we live by faith in God’s Word, we have donned the breastplate of righteousness over our heart.

Righteousness protects our thought life. Jesus said that out of the heart proceed evil thoughts (Matthew 15:19). But, a good man, He said, out of the treasure of his good heart brings forth good things; for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34, 35). The heart of a man is like a field. What one allows to be sown in it is what is produced out of it. Jesus demanded, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit” (Matthew 12:33). What one allows to be sown in the heart can either prove life-giving or fatal to a person. When Annanias and his wife conspired to lie against the Church, Peter cried at Annanias saying, “Ananias, why did you let Satan fill you with the idea that you could deceive the Holy Spirit? (Acts 5:3, God’s Word). In the next few moments, both he and his wife were dead. We can’t allow our hearts to be offguard. Therefore, the Bible commands us to “put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24). It calls us to be renewed in the spirit of our mind (Ephesians 4:23).

Finally, righteousness also controls our walk. While the steel plated armor of a Roman soldier could at times become too heavy for the soldier, tiring him out after a length of battle time, the righteousness of God is always strengthening like the fresh dew from heaven.

“Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven.”  (Psalm 85:11)

“For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.”  (Isaiah 61:11)

Righteousness not only will keep us fresh like the morning dew; it will also help us to walk in the freedom of the Spirit. Righteousness helps us to not grow weary of well doing; it helps us to not lose heart, so that we reap the fruits of righteousness in due season (Galatians 6:9).

Also scheduled to be published in REVIVE magazine, January 2013.

Welcome Speech - Commencement Exercise (Graduation) 2012


HONORABLE PRESIDENT, Matron, Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Board of FPCGI, Board of PCG Itarsi, Dear Pastors, Guests, Colleagues, Delegates and all Friends.

I count it a privilege once again this year to stand and welcome you to another Commencement Service of Central India Theological Seminary. The goal of education is the acquisition and discovery of truth. Jesus declared to Pilate His mission as being a witness to the truth. Of course, Pilate was not in a position to accept such a position as worthwhile; for brute force and wisdom are two different worlds. History is witness to the fact that brute force has often tried to silence the voice of wisdom; while the purpose of wisdom has always been to introduce order into a world full of chaos. The word is supposed to calm the storms. Man lost that power when he fell from truth and disobeyed God’s word. But, the Word of God Himself incarnated as man and men marveled that even the winds and the storms obeyed His word. They obeyed, not just because He is God, but because the Wisdom and Truth of God has its finality in Him in bodily form.

Truth is a difficult word in the modern context of things. The world is a dark habitation of skepticism, doubt, suspicion, mistrust, and fear. We aren’t even often able to trust each other within the very Body of Christ. Falsehood is a deeply rooted problem. But, God has not willed it so. Jesus said that we must have salt among ourselves. We are called the children of light and called to walk in the light. We are called to stand out and hold out God’s word among a crooked and perverse generation. God expects us to drop our masks and behold Him with an open face, in the liberty of the Spirit. He wants us to look into the Law of Liberty and be transformed thereby.

Towards this end, we strive in our Seminary to guide and lead our learners to the discovery of truth. We have also extended our borders to embrace learners beyond the four walls of seminary, and we have done that by means of our distance education department and theological publications.... A clear understanding of God’s truth liberates God to move in greater proportions in our life. We can only walk in the light. And, so we are grateful to you all this morning for joining us in this cause of the Kingdom. We thank you for being a part and parcel of this vision of excellency in Christian education. And, we appreciate that you have come here to share in the joy of our fruits. This graduation marks the completion of a term in education for the graduating class. But, certainly they know it that the learning goes on.

Most Welcome and May God Bless You ALL!

16 November 2012, Central India.

The Wheat & the Weed (Matt.13:24-43)

Itarsi, 30 August, 2008.

TEXT: Matthew.13:24-43
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;
"but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.
"But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.
"So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'
"He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'
"But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.
'Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." ' "
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field,
"which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."
Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."
All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them,
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."
Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."
He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
"The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked [one.]
"The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.
"Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.
"The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,
"and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
"Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!


Parables are windows to truth.

1. The World Belongs to God

The field is of God. The devil is just an infiltrator. The world is God's field.

False Notions
False View # 1. The World Belongs to Man - Anthropocentric View.
Psalm 115:16 means that the heavens are solely governed by God, but the earth is given to man. Yet, the earth is not given over to man as an independent sovereign domain. Daniel 4:25 tells us that the Sovereign God rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever He wills. If the earth were a separated domain, then God would have no authority over it. He could not legally interfere with its affairs. He could not judge or condemn anyone since it would be the matter of a separate kingdom and unrelated to Him. Sin, then would be an internal problem of man - something that man would have to settle. It would not be sin against God. The only law that would be recognized in the kingdom of man would be the law of man. But the fact that sin is a violation of God's law is itself proof that the the world is under the domain of God. This is God's world.

The false view that the world is man's world leads to irresponsible usage of the earth's resources, exploitation of nature, and an independent spirit that doesn't honor God.

Even the very life of man belongs to God. Man is not an independent creature. There is difference between freedom and independence. Freedom means that one is free to choose any action. Independence means that one needs to give an account to nobody since he is under no one's rule. He is sovereign, self-governing, and self-dependent. (e.g. India is free and independent; it is a sovereign nation not under a foreign rule).

Man is not independent and his freedom involves responsibility.

2. False View # 2. The World Belongs to the Devil - The Evil-Centered View.
It's extremity is docetism that looks at all matter as inherently evil
(Lk.4:6; 1Jn.5:19; 2Cor.4:4; Eph.2:2).

It is falsely believed by some that the kingdom was handed over to the devil's hands by Adam. This is false since Adam had no right of transfer. He never had the absolute authority to transfer ownership of the world because the world never belonged to him as an inheritance. Man is not sovereign. Only God is sovereign.

The devil spoke a lie by appeal to appearance.

Things appear as if the devil is in control everywhere, but just because he has sown weeds in God's field by stealth doesn't mean this field now belongs to him. The word "world" has several meanings: "universe", "earth", "terrestrial", "humanity in general" (John 3:16), "sinful humanity" (2Cor.4; 1Jn.5). Sinful humanity with its worldly wisdom is in the condemnation of the devil, believing his lies, and walking after the doctrines of demons. The devil and his angels will be judged for their rebellion.

False View #3. The World Belongs to Life - Eco-centric View.Man is part of the eco-system of balance and must live in conformity with the laws of nature so that the earth will always be conducive to life. We are in danger of losing the earth as the only habitat of life by deforestation, depletion of ozone layer, rise of seal level, global warming, etc. Since man is the only rational being, it is his responsibility to conserve nature. Nature becomes a goal in the sense that life is the purpose of this world. Some modern scientists have gone to the extent of saying that "Mother Earth", nature is alive (GAIA Hypothesis). There are other versions such as Tao and Yoga (attunement with nature).

The Biblical View: Christocentric View
Colossians 1:19ff, Psalm 89:11.

The world belongs to God.
Dan.4:25: God rules over the kingdom of men.

Why does God rule? Because it belongs to Him. It is sinful man who questions the authority of God.

Do you acknowledge the Sovereignty & Lordship of God over your life?

The Son of man is the Sower of the Good Seed.

2. The Wheat are the Children of the Kingdom

This means that they are the original heirs of the Kingdom. The ones who really belong to God and to His Kingdom. They are children of God.

2Tim.2:9: The Lord knows those that are His.

They are originally intended to live and grow in the world. But the enemy comes and pollutes it with evil seed, poisonous weeds.

Few Things to Note
Don't over allegorize the parable.
Proceed from facts to parable; not from parable to facts.

e.g. The wheat in sower's hand must not be interpreted as saying that man has no choice, etc.
--Unlike wheat grain, humans have freewill, personality, moral choice...
--It is by choice that one aligns himself with the will of God.
--The wheat is the original intention of the sower. The child of God is the original intention of God.
--The wheat is that which is ultimately useful. All the act of the weed is only hurtful and useless at the end to be burnt in fire.
-- Understand your purpose -- your destiny.
--Your identity is determined by your choice.

It is not that God created the good ones and the devil created the evil ones - as some people think about Cain that he was born out of Eve & Satan's relationship. The devil can create nothing.

God created men alike but all those who respond by faith in His word are the wheat of God. The rest are devil's seed.

Your character is determined by your choices.

False Views About Man As Wheat

1. Essentialist View. That men are essentially good or evil. Some Indian schools of philosophy talked about Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. That some are born as rational, some as passionate, and some as lazy. Calvin emphasized or pre-election and quoted "Vessels of honor" versus Vessels of dishonor.

When the Bible says that the wicked are by nature the children of wrath, it doesn't mean that they have such nature but that the natural consequences are punishment.

People are not born as wheat or weed; they become wheat or weed by choice.

2. Situationist View. Man is a slave of circumstances and man becomes what circumstances make of him. This may have some truth but not ultimately true.

Determinism is assumed much in psychology. Man is regarded as a bunch of chemical reations, genetically determined and evolving in response to his environment.

If man was determined and had no free choice, then sin cannot exist as willful rebellion. It would only exit as mechanical response and would not be rebellious but malfunction.You don't judge mechanics in law courts, and you don't put computer in prison.

It's one's moral choice that determines one's character. Your willingness or unwillingness to believe God makes you what you become.

God can't hold you responsible if you can blame it all on someone else. The blame finally ends in you. You are the sole decider of your fate. It is your determination of what is meaningful to you that determines the meaning of your life.

Are you a Wheat or a Weed?

The Weed are the Children of the Wicked One

They are the trouble-makers, the fast-growers, the seemingly successful. dominant, notorious, and false occupiers of God's world.

They are the weed. They belong to the devil and his wicked rebellious group. Cain joined hands with the devil against God.

Something to note about weeds
1. Simulator: Weed looks like wheat. Look is alike. The devil is a good simulator.
2. Persecutors: Poisonous Weed. They are scoffers, mockers, violent.
3. Occupies: Not encroachment, but application. Psalm 73.
4. Day of Judgement: Final decision - It is God's barn.
Sovereignty, Ownership, and Choice of destiny.

Blessings of Abiding in Christ (John 15)

1. PURIFIED HEART

"Every [branch] that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you." (John 15:2,3)

2. PRODUCTIVE LIFE
"I am the vine, you [are] the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

3. PRAYERS ANSWERED
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." (John 15:7)

4. PROVEN DISCIPLESHIP
"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:8)

5. PROXIMATE RELATIONSHIP
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love." (John 15:9-10)

6. PERFECTED JOY
"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and [that] your joy may be full." (John 15:11)

You Are the Light of the World (Matthew 5:14)


"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

Often, the temptation in life is to try to run away from people. Someone would say, "I can do ministry; only if there were no people!" But, ministry and people are connected; it is impossible to separate both. Jesus Himself came to serve, not to be served. There would be someone else who might say, "Only if I could just run away to a new place and then it would be wonderful." Yes, you should run to many new places, as the Lord opens doors; but, do not despise the place you are in right now. Every candle has its own stand. Of course, sometimes, especially when it is dark, we have to carry our candle from one place to another (or carry our torches where we go) in order to light another candle there. Similarly, God will carry you from one place to another in order to light more candles, so that the whole world will see the light of God.

So, the FACT is stated: You are the light of the world; and the COMMAND is given: Let your light shine before men!

SHINE BOLDLY - Do not be afraid to shine. It's not bad or prideful or over exerting to shine; because to shine is the duty of light. Do not be afraid to let your light shine before people. Do not hide your talents. Do not think "What will they say?" Do not be afraid that people will criticize. Millions of them still criticize God. Don't be afraid if people look rough and tough. Don't be afraid that they may reject you or not accept you. Because once the light has shone, there is no reversal. The job is done; it is impossible not to see what light has exposed, unless people choose to cover their eyes and run into darkness. So, shine. Shine boldy!

SHINE BRIGHTLY - Don't let the fire be dim. Shine brightly. Let the fire glow bright. It should attract attention. It should be clearly visible. Don't just go into a corner and hide and believe God will use you from your hiding place. He didn't say "Stay inside your house." He said, "Go out into all the world." It's okay, if some people may get envious or mad or angry. There are many others who will be happy to see light. But, be bright. Speak the truth loudly, clearly, constantly, and sincerely.

LIGHT TALKS ABOUT:


THE TRUTH OF GOD - Declare the Truth of God to this generation. Be a messenger of God's word to the people. Speak out His Word.
THE LOVE OF GOD - Light talks about good deeds, which is nothing other than deeds of divine love. The Bible says that the Love of God is the fulfills the Law of God. However, darkness signifies evil deeds. But light overcomes darkness; similarly the Bible calls us to overcome evil by good.
THE LIFE OF GOD - Light also signifies life. That is what is meant by the phrase "light of life". Communicate life wherever you are. The words that you speak and the works that you do must communicate the life of God into people's life.

Abstaining from Eating Blood

In the Jerusalem Council, mentioned in Acts 15:20, one of the things that the apostles by the Holy Spirit made mandatory to abstain from was eating of blood. The Old Testament commandment applied even in the New Testament. God gave two reasons for abstaining from blood (Leviticus 17:11):
1. Life is in the blood, so we are prohibited to eat blood. That life is in the blood is a scientific fact that has not changed even today. So, the law applies.
2. God had given it to us upon the altar to make atonement for our souls, for it is blood that makes atonement for the soul, the Bible says. In the New Testament, God did just that, He offered His blood on the Altar. The blood belongs to the altar exclusively, and so we are called to abstain from it.

KEYS that KEEP (Psalm 25:12,15)

There are two keys that will keep us safe in the Kingdom of God. They must be the ones that ultimately rule our inner life.
  1. FEAR of God (End of Emotions)Fear of God is the goal and end of emotions that God has given us. Psalm 25:12 says, "Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him." In other words, God can only show the way that He has prepared for a person if that person is one who has fearful respect and reverence for God. If a person despises and disregards the authority of God over his life, then God cannot lead him anywhere; because such a man has no place for God in his heart. To fear God is nothing but to respect the authority of God over one's life. The fear of God safeguards our emotional life.

  2. FAITH in God (End of Logic)Faith in God is the goal and end of reason and logic that God has made us capable of. The Psalmist confesses in Psalm 25:15: "My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only He will release my feet from the snare." Faith in God is affirmed by the truth, the love, the patience, and the works of God. The Bible teaches us that the faith of God is itself the evidence of things not seen. In other words, it is that form of spiritual assurance and confidence that comes from God Himself and is not like the knowledge that comes from sense-experience. Therefore, the Bible also affirms that we walk by faith, not by sight. Because, it is possible to allow a shadow of doubt regarding what is seen with our physical eyes; but, the vision of faith is absolute and final, because divine faith is the end of logic. It absolutely keeps the heart perfectly safe in God. Faith in God safeguards our intellectual life.
Let's hold on to godly fear and faith, and may His grace keep us through the year.

सुखी परिवार के सात लक्षण

 

परमेश्‍वर चाहता है कि हमारा परिवार सुखी हो। आज हम सुखी परिवार के सात लक्षण देखेंगे, लेकिन इसका मतलब यह नही की लक्षण सात ही है। जैसे जैसे आप और नई बातें सीखेंगे आप इसमें जोडते जाएं।
निम्‍न बिन्‍दुओं पर गौर करें। संक्षिप्‍त में विवरण भी दिए गएं है।
1. स्‍नेह
परिवार में स्‍नेह भावना आवश्‍यक है। परमेश्‍वर चाहता है कि परिवार ही स्‍नेह का सर्वोत्‍तम स्‍थान बनें। जब परिवार में इसकी कमी होती है तो सदस्‍य घर से बाहर स्‍नेह की तालाश करते है जिसके कारण परिवार की मजबूती ज्‍यादा नही रह पाती है।
2. समझ
आपसी मतभेद के बावजूद एक दूसरे को समझने का प्रयास करना अतिआवश्‍यक है। कई बार सदस्‍य एक दूसरे पर दोश लगाने लगते है कि वे समझते नही या ये समझते नही। दोश लगाने से कुछ भला नही होता। समझ प्रेम और विश्‍वास का बंधन है।
3. समर्पण
परिवार मे लक्ष्‍य एवं समर्पण की भावना होना चाहिए। समर्पण आपसी हो और लक्ष्‍य पर केंद्रित हो। यहोशु को याद करे जिसने कहा कि वह अपने घराने समेत ईश्‍वर की सेवा करेगा। समर्पण एवं कर्तव्‍य निष्‍ठा साथ साथ चलते है।
घर के अध्‍यक्ष का परिवार के लिए कुछ लक्ष्‍य रखें है। ईश्‍वर भी जगत में पारिवारिक उददेश्‍य रखता है। उददेश्‍य समर्पण को निर्धारित करता है।
4. स्‍वास्‍थ्‍य
ईश्‍वर न केवल दैवीय चंगाई देता हे बल्कि दैवीय स्‍वास्‍थ भी प्रदान करता है। लेकिन हमें इसके विषय में बेपरवाही नही होना चाहिए। खानपान, रहन सहन, रख रखाव इन सारी बातों पर स्‍वास्‍थ केंद्रित ध्‍यान धरें।
5. सम्‍मान
एक दूसरे को सम्‍मान दें। त्रिएक परमेश्‍वर हमारे लिए आदर्श है। पिता पुत्र और पवित्रात्‍मा के बीच जिस प्रकार आपसी सम्‍मान की भावना है, वही भावना परिवार के सम्‍मान को भी बढ़ाता है।
6. सलाह
सलाह एवं सम्‍मति परिवार में हो तो व्‍यक्ति यहां वहां भटकने से बच सकते है। भजन 1 के अनुसार परमेश्‍वर चाहता है कि धर्मशास्‍त्र हमारे घर के बुनियाद बन जाए। अकसर टीवी और सिनेमा बुरी सलाह से मन को भरमा देते है। परन्‍तु जो घर वचन पर स्‍थापित है वह़ बना रहेगा।
7. सहभागिता
यदि सहभागिता न हो, आपसी वार्तालाप न हो तो फिर परिवार टूटने लगता है। अंग्रजी में कहावत है “The family that prays together stays together” अर्थात जो परिवार मिलकर आराधना करता है वह मिलकर साथ रहता है। परमेश्‍वर के साथ हमारी सहभागिता हो और यह एक दूसरे के साथ की सहभागिता का सही संदर्भ उत्‍पन्‍न करेगा।

मसीही आचार संहिता



परिवार में
माता-पिता के लिए निर्देश
1. अपने बच्‍चे को प्रोत्‍साहित करें
हे बच्चेवालों, अपने बालकों को तंग न करो, न हो कि उन का साहस टूट जाए (कुलु 3:21)
उनके साहस को न तोडें। उन्‍हें उदास, हताश, चिडचिडाछोटा, नीचा, या घटिया मेहसूस होने न दें।
उन्‍हें अच्‍छी अच्‍छी वस्तुऐं दें, जैसा हमारा पिता परमेश्‍वर भी हमें प्रेम से सारी वस्‍तुऐं देता है। (लूका 11:11-13)
2. जब बच्‍चे जवान है तभी उन्‍हें अनुशासन सिखादें ।
जबतक आशा है तो अपने पुत्र को ताड़ना कर, जान बूझकर उसका मार न डाल (नीति 19:18) अनुशासन की शिक्षा देना प्रेम की ही निशानी है ( इब्रा 12: 6:10)
3. प्रभु की शिक्षा, और चितावनी देते हुए, उन का पालन- पोषण करो।
और हे बच्चेवालों अपने बच्चों को रिस न दिलाओ परन्तु प्रभु की शिक्षा, और चितावनी देते हुए, उन का पालन- पोषण करो।। (इफि 6:4) 
- उन्‍हें शिक्षा दें
लड़के को शिक्षा उसी मार्ग की दे जिस में उसको चलना चाहिये, और वह बुढ़ापे में भी उस से न हटेगा। (नीति 22:6)
और बालकपन से पवित्र शास्त्रा तेरा जाना हुआ है, जो तुझे मसीह पर विश्वास करने से उद्धार प्राप्त करने के लिये बुद्धिमान बना सकता है। (2तिम 3:15)
- उन्‍हें अनुशासन में रखें
जो बेटे पर छड़ी नहीं चलाता वह उसका बैरी है, परन्तु जो उस से प्रेम रखता, वह यत्न से उसको शिक्षा देता है। (नीति 13:24)
लड़के के मन में मूढ़त बन्धी रहती है, परन्तु छड़ी की ताड़ना के द्वारा वह उस से दूर की जाती है। (नीति 22:15)
लड़के की ताड़ना न छोड़ना; क्योंकि यदि तू उसका छड़ी से मारे, तो वह न मरेगा। तू उसका छड़ी से मारकर उसका प्राण अधोलोक से बचाएगा। (नीति 23:13)
छड़ी और डांट से बुद्धि प्राप्त होती है, परन्तु जो लड़का योंही छोड़ा जाता है वह अपनी माता की लज्जा का कारण होता है। (नीति 29:15)
अपने घर का अच्छा प्रबन्ध करता हो, और लड़के- बालों को सारी गम्भीरता से आधीन रखता हो।  (जब कोई अपने घर ही का प्रबन्ध करना न जानता हो, तो परमेश्वर की कलीसिया की रखवाली क्योंकर करेगा) (1तिम 3:4-5)
4. बच्‍चों को तंग  न करें, उन्‍हे रिस न दिलाये, न उनके साहस को तोडें (कुलु 3:21, इफि 6:4)
5. अपने घर के लिए प्रबंध करें
पर यदि कोई अपनों की और निज करके अपने घराने की चिन्ता न करे, तो वह विश्वास से मुकर गया है, और अविश्वासी से भी बुरा बन गया है। (1तिम 5:8)
वह अपने घराने के चालचलन को ध्यान से देखती है, और अपनी रोटी बिना परिश्रम नहीं खाती। (नीति 31:27)

बच्‍चों के लिए निर्देश
1. सब बातों में अपने अपने माता- पिता की आज्ञा का पालन करो, क्योंकि प्रभु इस से प्रसन्न होता है।(कुलु 3:20)
2. प्रभु में अपने माता पिता के आज्ञाकारी बनो, क्योंकि यह उचित है।(कुलु 6:1)
3. अपनी माता और पिता का आदर करें ताकि तुमहारा भला हो, और तुम धरती पर बहुत दिन जीवित रहों। (इफि‍ 6:2-3)
4. उनकी सेवा करें। अपने माता- पिता आदि को उन का हक देना सीखें, क्योंकि यह परमेश्वर को भाता है। (1तिम 5:4)
माता पिता की आज्ञा न माननेवालों पर परमेश्‍वर का कोप उतरता है (रोम 1:30,32)

विवाहित दम्‍पतियों के लिए निर्देश
1. दोनों एक तन के समान एक रहें।
इस कारण पुरूष अपने माता पिता को छोड़कर अपनी पत्नी से मिला रहेगा और वे एक तन बनें रहेंगे। (उत्‍प 2:24) इसका यह मतलब भी है कि माता पिता या सांस ससुर दम्‍पति की एकता में हस्‍तक्षेप न करें।
2. वे एक दूसरे से अलग न हो। वि‍वाह के वाचा के प्रति‍ वि‍श्‍वासयोग्‍य रहें।
तुम में से कोई अपनेी जवानी की स्त्री से विश्वासघात न करे। क्योंकि इस्राएल का परमेश्वर यहोवा यह कहता है, कि मैं स्त्री- त्याग से घृणा करता हूं। (मलाकी 2:15, 16)
सो व अब दो नहीं, परन्तु एक तन हैं: इसलिये जिसे परमेश्वर ने जोड़ा है, उसे मनुष्य अलग न करे।  
तुम एक दूसरे से अलग न रहो; परन्तु केवल कुछ समय तक आपस की सम्मति से कि प्रार्थना के लिये अवकाश मिले, और फिर एक साथ रहो, ऐसा न हो, कि तुम्हारे असंयम के कारण शैतान तुम्हें परखे ।  (1कुरु 7:5)
3. वे एक दूसरे का हक पूरा करें।
पति अपनी पत्नी का हक्क पूरा करे; और वैसे ही पत्नी भी अपने पति का।  (1कुरु 7:3)
4. वे एक दूसरे के आधीन रहें।
पत्नी को अपनी देह पर अधिकार नहीं पर उसके पति का अधिकार है; वैसे ही पति को भी अपनी देह पर अधिकार नहीं, परन्तु पत्नी को।  (1कुरु 7:4)
 और मसीह के भय से एक दूसरे के आधीन रहो। (इफि  5:21)
5. वे आपसी सम्‍मति से और परमेश्‍वर की इच्‍छा की समझ के साथ सब कुछ करें ।  (1कुरु 7:5)
6. विवाह के सम्‍बन्‍ध को पवित्र बनाए रखें।
विवाह सब में आदर की बात समझी जाए, और बिछौना निष्कलंक रहे; क्योंकि परमेश्वर व्यभिचारियों, और परस्त्रीगामियों का न्याय करेगा ।  (इब्रा 13: 4)

पतियों के लिए निर्देश
1. अपनी पत्‍नी का सिर अथवा मुखिया और स्‍वामी वह हो।
पति पत्नी का सिर है जैसे कि मसीह कलीसिया का सिर है।  (इफि 5:23)
जैसे सारा इब्राहीम की आज्ञा में रहती और उसे स्वामी कहती थी ।  (1पत 3:6)
2. मसीह को अपना सिर अथवा मुखिया और स्‍वामी जानें।
हर एक पुरूष का सिर मसीह है: और स्त्री का सिर पुरूष है: और मसीह का सिर परमेश्वर है ।  (1कुरु 11:3)
3. जिस प्रकार मसीह कलीसिया से प्रेम करता है वैसे ही पति भी अपनी पत्‍नी से प्रेम करें ।
हे पतियों, अपनी अपनी पत्नी से प्रेम रखो, जैसा मसीह ने भी कलीसिया से प्रेम करके अपने आप को उसके लिये दे दिया।  (इफि 5 :25)
इसी प्रकार उचित है, कि पति अपनी अपनी पत्नी से प्रेम रखता है, वह अपने आप से प्रेम रखता है। क्योंकि किसी ने कभी अपने शरीर से बैर नहीं रखा बरन उसका पालन- पोषण करता है, जैसा मसीह भी कलीसिया के साथ करता है इसलिये कि हम उस की देह के अंग हैं।   (इफि 5 :28-30)
हे पतियो, अपनी अपनी पत्नी से प्रेम रखो, और उन से कठोरता न करो।   (कुलु 3:19)
4. अपनी पत्‍नी का आदर करें।
हे पतियों, तुम भी बुद्धिमानी से पत्नियों के साथ जीवन निर्वाह करो और स्त्री को निर्बल पात्रा जानकर उसका आदर करो, यह समझकर कि हम दोनों जीवन के वरदान के वारिस हैं, जिस से तुम्हारी प्रार्थनाएं रूक न जाएं ।   (1 पत 3:7)

पत्नियों के लिए निर्देश
1. अपने पति के लिए एक ऐसा सहायक बनें जो उस से मेल खाए। (उत्‍प 2:18)
2. अपने पति के ऐसे आधीन रहें जैसे प्रभु के। (इफि 5:22)
पर जैसे कलीसिया मसीह के आधीन है, वैसे ही पत्नियां भी हर बात में अपने अपने पति के आधीन रहें। (इफि 5:24)
3. अपने पति के जीते जी उस से बन्‍धी रहें।
क्योंकि विवाहिता स्त्री व्यवस्था के अनुसार अपने पति के जीते जी उस से बन्धी है।   (रोम 7:2)
यदि पति के जीते जी वह किसी दूसरे पुरूष की हो जाए, तो व्यभिचारिणी कहलाएगी।   (रोम 7 :3)
4. संयमी हो। (तीतुस 2:5)
5. वह पतिव्रता हो। (तीतुस 2:5)
6. वह घर का कारबार करनेवाली हो। (तीतुस 2:5)
7. वह भली स्‍वभाव की हो।
वह अपने जीवन के सारे दिनों में उस से बुरा नहीं, वरन भला ही व्यवहार करती है।   (नीति 31:12)
और संयमी, पतिव्रता, घर का कारबार करनेवाली, भली और अपने अपने पति के आधीन रहनेवाली हों, ताकि परमेश्वर के वचन की निन्दा न होने पाए। (तीतुस 2:5)
इसलिये कि यदि इन में से कोई ऐसे हो जो वचन को न मानते हों, तौभी तुम्हारे भय सहित पवित्र चालचलन को देखकर बिना वचन के अपनी अपनी पत्नी के चालचलन के द्वारा खिंच जाएं। (1पत 3:2)
8. बुद्धिमान हो।
हर बुद्धिमान स्त्री अपने घर को बनाती है, पर मूढ़ स्त्री उसको अपने ही हाथों से ढा देती है । (नीति 14:1)
वह बुद्धि की बात बोलती है, और उसके वचन कृपा की शिक्षा के अनुसार होते हैं। (नीति 31:26)
9 . पति का भय मानने वाली  हो।
पत्नी भी अपने पति का भय माने। (इफि 5:33)
10. अपने पति और बच्चों से प्रीति रखें। (तीतुस 2:4)
11. अपने पति की ओर ही लालसा हो। (उत्‍प 3:16)
12. अपने पति से सीखें ।
यदि वे कुछ सीखना चाहें, तो घर में अपने अपने पति से पूछें। (1कुरु 14:35)
13 . परिश्रमी हो (नीति 31:12-30)
ऐसे मूढ़ स्त्रियों के समान न हो जो- घर घर फिरकर आलसी होना सीखती है, और केवल आलसी नहीं, पर बकबक करती रहती और औरों के काम में हाथ भी डालती हैं और अनुचित बातें बोलती हैं। (1तिम 5:13)
14. शान्‍त स्‍वभाव के हो।
बरन तुम्हारा छिपा हुआ और गुप्त मनुष्यत्व, नम्रता और मन की दीनता की अविनाशी सजावट से सुसज्जित रहे, क्योंकि परमेश्वर की दृष्टि में इसका मूल्य बड़ा है। (1पत 3:4)
झगड़ालू और चिढ़नेवाली पत्नी के संग रहने से जंगल में रहना उत्तम है। (नीति 21:19)
स्त्री को चुपचाप पूरी आधीनता में सीखना चाहिए। (1तिम 2:11)
15. दिखावटी सिंगार करने वाली न हो।
और तुम्हारा सिंगार, दिखावटी न हो, अर्थात् बाल गूंथने, और सोने के गहने, या भांति भांति के कपड़े पहिनना। (1पत 3:3)
वैसे ही स्त्रियां भी संकोच और संयम के साथ सुहावने वस्त्रों से अपने आप को संवारे; न कि बाल गूंथने, और सोने, और मोतियों, और बहुमोल कपड़ों से, पर भले कामों से। क्योंकि परमेश्वर की भक्ति ग्रहण करनेवाली स्त्रियों को यही उचित भी है। (1तिम  2:9-10)
16 . घर में किसको स्‍वागत करना और किसको नही, इस बात का समझ रखने वाली हो।
यह इसलिए क्‍योंकि संसार में कई ऐसे झुठे शिक्षक और अपने आप को परमेश्‍वर के सेवक बताने वाले भेडियां है जो कलीसिया को तोडने के लिए घर घर को भडकानें की कोशीश करते है।
इन्हीं में से वे लोग हैं, जो घरों में दबे पांव घुस आते हैं और छिछौरी स्त्रियों को वश में कर लेते हैं, जो पापों से दबी और हर प्रकार की अभिलाषाओं के वश में हैं। और सदा सीखती तो रहती हैं पर सत्य की पहिचान तक कभी नहीं पहुंचतीं। और जैसे यन्नेस और यम्ब्रेस ने मूसा का विरोध किया था वैसे ही ये भी सत्य का विरोध करते हैं: ये तो ऐसे मनुष्य हैं, जिन की बुद्धि भ्रष्ट हो गई है और वे विश्वास के विषय में निकम्मे हैं। (2‍तिम 3:6-9)
यदि कोई तुम्हारे पास आए, और यही शिक्षा न दे, उसे न तो घर मे आने दो, और न नमस्कार करो। क्योंकि जो कोई ऐसे जन को नमस्कार करता है, वह उस के बुरे कामों में साझी होता है। (2यूह 1:10,11)
17 . भरोसेमन्‍द और विश्‍वासयोग्‍य हो।
उसके पति के मन में उसके प्रति विश्वास है। (नीति 31:10)

कलीसिया में
विश्‍वासियों के लिए निर्देश
1. प्रार्थना में, शिक्षा में, और संगति में लगे रहे (प्रेरित 2:42; कुलु 4:12, प्रेरित 12:5, याकूब 5:15)
2. एक दूसरे से प्रेम रखें (रोम 12:10)
3. एक दूसरे का आदर करें (रोम 12:10)
4. एक दूसरे की मदद और सहायता करें (रोम 12:13; 1कुरु 16:1; गल 6:6)
5. पहनुाई और अतिथि सत्‍कार करने वाले हो (रोम 12:13; 1तिम 3:2)
6. एक दूसरे के दुखों को जानने वाले हो (रोम 12:15; गल 6:5; रोम 15:1-7)
7. नम्र हो (रोम 12:6)
8. भलाई करें (रोम 12:17)
9. उन्‍नति के वचन बालें (इफि 4:29)
10. एक दूसरे को संभालें (गल 6:1,2)
11. वफादार रहें (रोम 12:17; इफि 4:15, 25)
12. वचन द्वारा समझाने के लिए तत्‍पर रहें (2तिम 4:2)
13. एक दूसरे के आधीन रहें (1पत 5:5)
14. एक दूसरे के सहने वाले बनें (कुलु 3:13)
15. एक दूसरे को क्षमा करने वाले बनें (कुलु 3:13)

संसार में
नौकरी करने वालों के लिए
1. अपने मालिक का आदर करें (1तिम 6:1,2)
2. अपने मालिक के प्रति आज्ञाकारी रहें
जो लोग शरीर के अनुसार तुम्हारे स्वामी हैं, अपने मन की सीधाई से डरते, और कांपते हुए, जैसे मसीह की, वैसे ही उन की भी आज्ञा मानो। और मनुष्यों को प्रसन्न करनेवालों की नाई दिखाने के लिये सेवा न करो, पर मसीह के दासों की नाई मन से परमेश्वर की इच्छा पर चलो। और उस सेवा को मनुष्यों की नहीं, परन्तु प्रभु की जानकर सुइच्छा से करो।
और जो कुछ तुम करते हो, तन मन से करो, यह समझकर कि मनुष्यों के लिये नहीं परन्तु प्रभु के लिये करते हो। (इफि 6:5, 6-8; कुलु 3:23-25)
-भय के साथ
- एक मन से
- जैसी की मसीह क आज्ञाकारी है
- मनुष्‍यों को खुश करने के लिए नही
- लेकिन मसीह के सेवक होने के नाते
- परमेश्‍वर की इच्‍छा को पूरा करते हुए
अर्थात, यदी कोई बात वचन के विरुद्ध है तो उसे न करें (घूस, रिश्‍वत, भ्रष्‍टाचार से दूर रहें)
2. उलटकर जवाब न दें।
अपने अपने स्वामी के आधीन रहें, और सब बातों में उन्हें प्रसन्न रखें, और उलटकर जवाब न दें। (तीतुस 2:9)
3. विश्‍वासयोग्‍य रहें ।
चोरी चालाकी न करें; पर सब प्रकार से पूरे विश्वासी निकलें, कि वे सब बातों में हमारे उद्धारकर्ता परमेश्वर के उपदेश की शोभा दें। (तीतुस 2:10)
4. आधीन रहें।
हे सेवकों, हर प्रकार के भय के साथ अपने स्वामियों के आधीन रहो, न केवल भलों और नम्रों के, पर कुटिलों के भी। क्योंकि यदि कोई परमेश्वर का विचार करके अन्याय से दुख उठाता हुआ क्लेश सहता है, तो यह सुहावना है। क्योंकि यदि तुम ने अपराध करके घूसे खाए और धीरज धरा, तो उस में क्या बड़ाई की बात है? पर यदि भला काम करके दुख उठाते हो और धीरज धरते हो, तो यह परमेश्वर को भाता है। (1पत 2:18-20)

स्‍वामियों के लिए निर्देश
1. धमकियां न दें। गाली  गलौच न करें।
हे स्वामियों, तुम भी धमकियां छोड़कर उन के साथ वैसा ही व्यवहार करो, क्योंकि जानते हो, कि उन का और तुम्हारा दानों का स्वामी स्वर्ग में है, और वह किसी का पक्ष नहीं करता। (इफि 6:9)
2. न्‍याय और ठीक ठीक व्‍यवहार करें।
उनके मजदूरी या वेतन में अन्‍याय न करें। उनका शोषण न करें, क्‍योंकि परमेश्‍वर कठोर और अन्‍यायी लोगों को निर्दोष नही छोडेगा।
हे स्वामियों, अपने अपने दासों के साथ न्याय और ठीक ठीक व्यवहार करो, यह समझकर कि स्वर्ग में तुम्हारा भी एक स्वामी है। (कुलु 4:1)
एक दूसरे पर अन्धेर न करना, और न एक दूसरे को लूट लेना। और मजदूर की मजदूरी तेरे पास सारी रात बिहान तक न रहने पाएं। (लैव 19:13)

संसार के प्रति हमारा सामान्‍य कर्तव्‍य
1. संसार में शान्ति के लिए प्रार्थना करें (1तिम 2:1-4)
2. आदर के साथ सबसे व्‍यवहार करें।
सब का आदर करो, भाइयों से प्रेम रखो, परमेश्वर से डरो, राजा का सम्मान करो। (1पत 2:17)
3. बुराई के बदले किसी से बुराई न करो; जो बातें सब लोगों के निकट भली हैं, उन की चिन्ता किया करो। (रोम 12:17)
4. जहां तक हो सके, तुम अपने भरसक सब मनुष्यों के साथ मेल मिलाप रखो। (रोम 12:18)
5. मसीह की गवाही का जीवन जीयें ।
ताकि तुम निर्दोष और भोले होकर टेढ़े और हठीले लोगों के बीच परमेश्वर के निष्कलंक सन्तान बने रहो, (जिन के बीच में तुम जीवन का वचन लिए हुए जगत में जलते दीपकों की नाईं दिखाई देते हो) (फिलि 2:15)
6. जो कुछ तुम चाहते हो, कि मनुष्य तुम्हारे साथ करें, तुम भी उन के साथ वैसा ही करो; क्योंकि व्यवस्था और भविष्यद्वक्तओं की शिक्षा यही है।। (मत्ति 7:11)
7. किसी के कर्जदार न हो।
इसलिये हर एक का हक्क चुकाया करो, जिस कर चाहिए, उसे कर दो; जिसे महसूल चाहिए, उसे महसूल दो; जिस से डरना चाहिए, उस से डरो; जिस का आदर करना चाहिए उसका आदर करो। आपस के प्रेम से छोड़ और किसी बात में किसी के कर्जदार न हो; क्योंकि जो दूसरे से प्रेम रखता है, उसी ने व्यवस्था पूरी की है। (रोम 13:7-8) 
अधिकारियों के प्रति
1. उनका आदर करो (रोम 13:7)
2. उनके आधीन रहो (रोम 13:1, 1पत 2:13-16)
3. उनके लिए प्रार्थना करो (1तिम 2:2-4)