Christian Attitudes, Part 2

• Re-emphasizing the heart under Christ.
  • I John 3:17 - Returning from extra-scriptural teachings to the attitudinal basis.
    • Good Samaritan - Luke 10:25-37
    • Romans 13:9
• Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5-7
  • Attitudes - Matthew 5:1-12
  • Admonishments - Matthew 5:13-20
    • Be good examples
    • Keep the law
  • How His disciples are to be different from scribes and Pharisees. Points of law and associated attitudes. - Matthew 5:21-48
• Beattitudes - Attitudes, conditions that bring God’s blessings
  • Poor in spirit - Matthew 18:1-3
  • Mourning - II Corinthians 7:9-10
  • Meek - Proverbs 25:8,15; James 3:13
    • Jesus, the ultimate example. John 18:22-23
    • Not for us to impose God’s will or His correction on others.
  • Hunger and thirst - Psalms 42:1-2; 63:1; 107:9

• Acts 20:28
• Ephesians 5:23-27- Jesus is the head of the church, the Savior of the body. The church is subject to Him.
• Colossians 1:22
• Introduction
  • Attitudes
    • Terms such as “legalist,” “anti-,” “liberal,” “conservative,” etc.
  • We’re not interested in:
    • Using unwholesome words or slandering others.
    • Exploiting bias, prejudice, or tradition to make a point.
  • We’re interested in:
    • Uniting upon what we are to do in a local church arrangement.
    • Learning how to study the Bible with clear thinking and logical conclusions.
    • Making the right applications of Bible truths (Acts 17:11

• Hebrews 3:7-12
• King Solomon - “Don’t worry - I know better”
  • I Kings 4:29-34- solomon started out with great wisdom and intent to follow God.
  • I Kings 9:4-5- God warns Solomon about integrity of heart.
  • I Kings 11:1-6- Solomon falls away from God.
  • What should we do? Develop enough integrity of heart so that we actually do what we know is right.
• The Apostle Peter - “No matter what I’ll never fall away”
  • Matthew 26:30-35
  • What should we do? Prepare for everything by trusting in God above all else.
    • Matthew 6:33-34
    • Acts 1:6-8- Peter did not yet understand the full picture. He has to just trust in God.
    • Acts 4:13- Peter has learned to trust in God.
    • Proverbs 3:5

• Attitudes: at the core of compliance
  • Examples
  • Our attitudes are important to God
  • Should be important to us
• Under the law of Moses, did God want compliance or hearts?
  • Compliance - Leviticus 26
  • Hearts - Jeremiah 9:23-26
• Hearts and the Law
  • Proverbs 21:3
  • Isaiah 1:13-18
  • Joel 2:11-13
  • Deuteronomy 13:1-4
  • Deuteronomy 30:6-14
  • They go hand in hand.
    • Throughout Psalm 119
    • Jeremiah 3:7-10
  • Exampl of circumcision
    • Not just a New Testament concept
    • While Jews placed confidence in it, God placed much emphasis on the heart.
      • Deuteronomy 10:14-22
      • Romans 2:25-29
• The disposition of the heart towards God is basic, foundational
  • Leviticus 19:18
  • Mark 12:28-33
• How do the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments in Mark 12?
  • Structure of the law of Moses
    • Commandments
    • Ordinances which “enact” the 10 commandments
    • Basis of each commandment
      • Love for God - Exodus 20:1-11
      • Love for our neighbor - Exodus 20:11-17
    • How do the ordinances reflect this?
    • Judicial precedents
      • Deuteronomy 16:18
      • Deuteronomy 17:8
    • Rabbinic teachings - Matthew 5:43
      • Schools of law according to various sects - Acts 22:3

• Galatians 5:26-6:18
• Galatians 6:1-10- Each verse speaks about individuals doing spiritual good to others. There is no mention of benevolence in this context.
• Galatians 6:17- Paul could be asking people to stop bothering him about the circumcision question because he bore the marks of having stood up for Christ already. It was senseless to accuse Paul of false teaching on circumcision and advocating a return to the old law because he was already suffering for teaching the new law.