0412. Paul's Second Division–Self-Control

Paul’s Second Division–Self-Control

"He reasoned * * of self-control" (Act_24:25).

The message concerning the righteousness by faith had to do with the Cross. It was there that Christ became sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

The message concerning self-control had to do with the risen and ascended Christ. It is not Calvary that gives us victory in our daily walk, it is Christ ascended and seated, Christ living and interceding.

Paul did not preach unto Felix that the blessings of the salvation which we have by faith in Christ, stops with our standing before God as justified and clean every whit; he preached on how our state could be made to approach our standing, Paul knew well enough, the struggles that the believer has in his daily walk. Paul knew that "imputed righteousness" was one thing, and that "imputed holiness" was another. He realized that our standing did not make sure our state. That while in Christ, we are reckoned righteous, yet in our daily life, we may not yet have reached the place of victory.

Therefore Paul preached self-control. He preached the Cross and saving grace first, but he also preached how one, by the faith in Christ, could live a life of power and dominion over sin.

We believe we know just how about Paul preached this Gospel of the victorious life. He doubtless followed the same line of argument, set forth in the Book of Romans.

First, According to Romans 6, he discussed the fact of victory. The fact that "the body of sin is done away;" that "sin shall not have dominion over you;" that "from henceforth ye should not serve sin."

Second, Paul preached the utter helplessness of the flesh to walk in the will of God; that the flesh could not keep the Law, because it was weak, stricken by sin, that there was but one cry for the one, who, in his own strength, tries to keep the Law–the cry of, "O wretched man that I am."

Third, Paul preached that those who walked in the Spirit would have victory. Paul clearly set forth that there was a place of self-control; that there was a place of holiness in life, made possible to those who walked in touch with the risen Christ; that "through the Spirit," the deeds of the flesh could be mortified.

O, that we would get back to the "self-control" that is by faith in Christ. Every false religion preaches a self-control; but, it is a self-control wholly within one’s self. Confucius might say, "Except a man above himself can erect himself, how vain a thing is man;" or, he might say, "We need a daily renewing," a self-renewing; but, Confucius knew nothing of the "self-control" that Paul preached. The self-life is full of hideous propensities. It is corrupt according to deceitful lusts. How can such an unclean fountain bring forth good water; how can such a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit?

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR