Knowledge is the next logical step, because clearly one cannot be pleasing to God without knowing the things that please God. For example, my wife, when she learned I love spinach, had a hard decision to make since she hates spinach and the smell of it turns her stomach. Thus whenever I find my wife has cooked spinach, I know the effort she has gone to in order to please me.
Temperance (Self-Control) is the next logical step. This basically deals with bringing what one thinks, says, and does, in line with the things God wants. If one has a drug addiction, an alcohol addiction, a nicotine addiction, or any other type of addiction they will want to put it behind them. If one has a problem with their temper or viewing pornography or whatever, they need to begin concentrating on turning these problems over to God.
Temperance is controlling your body, your mind, your needs, and your reliance on people.
The words in the Hebrew and Greek that are translated temperance show this involves taking control of our body, our mind, our needs, and our reliance on other people. What is meant by reliance on people is simply this, when we first obey the gospel, we tend to serve God based on what the people we trust tell us. If someone we trust says something that hurts our feelings in the early stages of living the Christian life, many times, the new Christian may over react and just walk away from the Lord and the Church. During this stage of Christian growth, a Christian needs to learn how to transfer their strength from mankind to God. This includes learning a Christian is not to be guided by one’s emotions, but rather one learns to submit their emotions to the will of God.
Strong’s Number NT:1466 egkrateia -- self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites)
Strong’s number, 1466, is the word that is used in II Peter 1, which is translated temperance. This word, according to Strong’s, means self-control, one who has mastered his desires and passions, especially their sensual desires and appetites. Temperance deals with the effort one puts forth to control their desires, their passions, their emotions, and their needs.
JAMES 3:1-12 "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh."
We are not to have many masters, or in other words, we are not to be controlled by many things. The perfect man, the mature Christian, is one who is able to control their tongue. In the same way that a little helm controls a big ship; it is the little things that determine our spiritual destination. The tongue can never be tamed, thus you always have to keep it under tight control. The image is of a wild animal, which can never be tamed, only controlled comes to mind. For example a dog or cat can be tamed. I can go to sleep at night with our 10 year old white miniature Schnauzer, Drew, in the room without worrying about being attacked, even if she got hungry. But if I had a Siberian Tiger in my room I would make sure it was VERY WELL FED and I had it under control at all times. Just because the tiger does not bite me at a given time, does not mean I am safe around it at all times. Our tongue is the same way. We need to keep it under tight control. Just because one says something nice about a person, does not mean you can not slip and say something cruel and hateful later. Can a fountain yield salt water and fresh water, of course not! If there are two types of water poured together they do not stay separate, they mix and affect one another. Does a fig tree produce olives? The obvious answer is no. Can a Christian produce both works for God and works for Satan? The obvious answer is no. Is the thing I am about to say or do good for my brothers and sisters in Christ and for the Church? If the answer is not yes, then I need to rethink the action I am thinking about doing.
Hebrews 10:24 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:"
This verse defines the very nature of a Christian. Christians are not to be a selfish people. We are to be guided by the principle of putting what is best for our brethren first. Is the thing we are going to say or going to do, is it going to encourage our brothers or sisters in Christ to grow in love and good works? If not, then we probably shouldn’t be doing it or saying it. Christians are to grow to the point they put what is best for others in the Church before what they may want.
PROVERBS 16:32 "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty. In today’s wording, we could say it in this fashion, a 97 lb weakling who controls their temper and does not get them self into trouble is better off than a strong man, like Mike Tyson. Mike Tyson was one of the strongest men in the world, yet he kept losing his temper and getting himself in bad situations. In fact, he spent several years in prison. Who do you think was better off, Mike Tyson, one of the strongest men in the world, who was in prison or an average Joe, who kept his temper and stayed out of prison?
He that ruleth his spirit is better than he that taketh a city. It is possible for an army to conquer and control a country, but they can not control what the people think. Look at Iran, a nation controlled by Islamic fundamentalists, who control their country through fear, yet the people march in the streets and protest for free elections. Just because they control the country does not mean they can make the people think in the manner they want them to. If one can control their own mind, they are better than an entire army, who may control a country, but cannot control the minds of the people.
Matthew 5:21-26 "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing."
Jesus deals with the root cause, not only are we to not kill, but we are to eliminate the things in our lives that could lead to killing, such as hatred, jealousy, greed, fear of man, and etc. Jesus also teaches our relationship to God depends in part on our relationship to our brethren (If thy brother have ought against thee, leave thy gift, make it right with thy brother, then bring thy gift) This implies the acceptance of our offering by God depends on the forgiveness of sins between us and our brethren.
Galatians 5:19-26 "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another."
The works of the flesh are the things we need to get out of our lives and replace with the fruit of the Spirit. Adultery and fornication need to be replaced with the love of our spouse and love of God and the desire to encourage our brethren to grow in love and good works. Idolatry and witchcraft we need to replace with faith in God. Envying, wrath strife, variance, we need to replace with peace, longsuffering, gentleness and goodness. If we walk in the Spirit, that walk will help us to overcome the works of the flesh
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
Paul uses things the reader would easily understand to compare to spiritual things in order to teach spiritual truths, such as running a physical race, to living the Christian life. What happens if someone training for the Olympics break training? They do not win, they do not make it to the Olympics. When I was sixteen, I wanted to compete in the Olympics in diving. I practiced and tried to do a twisting backflip and bellyflopped. That ended my training for an Olympic career. Someone who truly wants to make the Olympics gives their lives over to it. Eight hours a day and more in training. A Christian must consider them selves in the Christian race. They must leave behind the lusts of this life, and at the same time consider it worth the time, the sacrifice, and effort.
Titus 1:7-9 "For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers."
If a Christian man desires to be an Elder, they MUST be temperate, putting aside the works of the flesh. They must have their emotions and lusts under control. What we need is every Christian striving to emulate the Elder, to follow his example as he follows Christ. When we have scriptural Elders, they will be temperate men and when the congregation follows their example, as we are commanded to, we will be a temperate congregation, one without strife. Then we will all be together in heaven in the life to come.
Romans 1:21-32 "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
If one does not glorify and submit to God, but rejoices in the lusts of the flesh, God will give them over to an unrepentant heart. They will not be able to see sins such as homosexuality and adultery are wrong. Fornication, which is any sexual contact other than with your lawfully wedded spouse, is defined by both God and Jesus Christ as sin. Covetousness, which is desiring something which belongs to another to the degree, it might cause one to try and obtain it illegally, is also sin. Maliciousness, which is desiring something bad to happen to another person is also listed among these sins Christians should avoid. Envy: phthonos is a Greek word implying wanting something bad enough to take it from the one who has it as opposed to Jealousy: zeloo the Greek word implying we want to have the same as someone else, these are both sins and Christians should avoid these. Debate: eris loving to argue for the sake of arguing, Strife, contention, wrangling, malignity: kakoetheia, having a bad character, depravity of heart and life, malignant subtlety, malicious craftiness whispers: psithuristes, a whisperer, a secret slanderer, a detractor, disobedient to parents, without understanding, those who will not study and learn the will of God. Covenantbreakers: those who do not keep their word. They that commit such things are worthy of death. Paul does not stop here, but he continues on saying not only those who do these things, but also those who have pleasure in them that do them are also worthy of death.
Chapter Summary
- 1. The third thing we are to add to our Christian lives is temperance.
2. The Greek words translated temperance mean controlling one’s body, mind, needs, and reliance on people.
3. Temperance means to have self-control.
4. Temperance means we are not governed by our physical desires.
5. Temperance means we consider what is best for others before what we may want.
6. Temperance means controlling one’s temper.
7. A temperate man is better than a mighty man who loses his temper.
8. A temperate man who controls his spirit is better than an entire army.
9. A temperate man is one who controls his emotions which are the cause of sin.
10. A temperate man is one who puts aside the lusts of the flesh.
11. A temperate man is one who is producing the fruits of the Spirit.
12. A man who strives to be the best in some area must be temperate in all things.
13. A man who desires to be a leader of the Church must be temperate in all things.
14. A man who does not control their physical desires is worthy of death.
15. A temperate man is not controlled by his emotions.
16. A man who is controlled by his emotions is still carnally minded.
17. A man who is controlled by his emotions is headed for hell.
18. In order to make it to heaven, a Christian must be temperate.
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