THE MAN GOD CAN USE; from ELTON TRUEBLOOD

The Man God Can Use - Romans 12
    (The ideas in this post were suggested by the book, "The New 
   Man for Our Times" by Elton Trueblood, Harper & Row, 1970.)

 The Apostle Paul's letter to the church at Rome is said to be unique, 
without equal. All I know is; it has truths seemingly essential for an 
understanding of who God is, how he relates to mankind and how we 
must relate  to  Him.  There  are  no  wasted  words.   It is  certainly a 
Divinely  inspired and empowered work,  as is all of  Scripture.  See II 
Timothy 3: 15-16:
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
  doctrine, for reproof, for correction  for instruction in righteous-
  ness: That the  man of God may be perfect, throughly  furnished  
  unto all good works." (kjv)  "Perfect" here is Spiritual maturity. 

In the early part of chapter 12 we find this: “...present your bodies a 
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable  
service.”  

The first thought that occurred is one of a bodily sacrifice.  Here we 
have  a concept  reminiscent of  Isaac’s  experience with  his  father  
Abraham.  The Lord God told Abraham; "..offer your son, your only 
son, Isaac..” as a sacrifice.  Abraham was to kill  his son.  You know 
the story how the Lord intervened at  the last moment, providing an 
alternate.  He was testing  Abraham’s faith  and  obedience.  We, as 
His Children are to reckon ourselves to be dead to self, turning con-
trol of  our lives over to Jesus Christ  through His indwelling  Spirit.  
The Lord  has never been so  interested in  dead sacrifices as  in the 
faithful obedience of His Children.  Burnt offering and sacrifice has
never  taken  the  place  of  obedience to God and His Word.  Burnt 
offerings becomes ritual and ritual  becomes outward manifestation 
without the essential inward obedience.  As a  living sacrifice we not 
only,  once and for all commit ourselves to our heavenly Father, but 
put flesh to death (sacrifice) daily in an on-going effort  to  be a part 
of His plan for our lives and the life of  His Church for whom Christ 
died.  One aside  here:  God  provides  the life.  He provides the holi-
ness  (without which  "no man will see God'")   In no other way may 
we  become  acceptable to Him.  Only things originating in the heart  
and  mind of Christ are acceptable to Him.  If  it  is our idea  (in the 
flesh) it is tainted and of no use in His cause.  “...lest anyone should 
boast.”

Finally we  are told;   "...this is your reasonable service."   In other 
words,  we do this  as a  matter of  course.   It becomes  clear as we 
study the Word; learn how our Lord works in the lives of  His Chil-
dren;  any other path we may take is of the  “flesh” and  cannot be 
pleasing  in His sight.  “As many as are led by the Spirit...”  We are 
only sons of God as we daily,  follow the Lord Christ,  faithfully, in  
His power and wisdom with the fruit of the  Spirit on our lives.  

In verse two we are given a command to be transformed,  by having 
our  minds renewed along  with  a negative; “...do not be conformed 
to this world.” We are not here told how to accomplish this,  but the 
probable reason for  the two  commands are so we may find His will  
for our lives. Continuing here, we have instruction on how to accom-
plish the  renewal and how it looks.  First,  pride must be eliminated 
by a better understanding of  who  God is. When we realize He is the 
source of our blessings we find God  has given each of us gifts of His 
Holy Spirit.  These gifts are  freely  given and never merited.  He has 
given each of  us  responsibilities within the Body of Christ (Church)  
matching the gifts.  He arms us with  knowledge from His Word,  the
source of our talents, abilities and gifts.  

     Humility seems only natural and normal for the believer who has 
this  self-knowledge  enlightened  by  the  Spirit of  Christ.  One  who  
seems to  have the  gifts of the Spirit of  God,  but  is proud,  is  in an
immature  state and cannot  be used effectively in the Lord’s service.
Each of  us have had  this experience and must  be sympathetic with 
one who has not learned the source of his gifts, resulting in humility 
and  usefulness.  This  is reminiscent  of  Proverbs 3,  “Trust in the 
Lord with all thine heart; and lean not on thine own understanding.  
In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." 
 (This might also be rendered; ...He shall make thy paths straight.)
                                                                                                  
                  (GOD CAN, AND WILL USE SUCH A MAN.)
                     donporter,sr 6/23/12            edited 3.04.17, 12.09.17

"TO THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE."

 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath
blessed us with all spiritual  blessings in  heavenly places  in Christ.
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.
Having  predestinated  us  unto  the  adoption of  children  by  Jesus 
Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.  To the 
praise of the glory of  his grace,  wherein he hath made us accepted 
in the beloved".    Ephesians 1: 3-6"


"And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, in 
  whom I am well pleased."    Matthew 3: 17

Throughout his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul shows the
measureless blessings afforded to the Children of the Kingdom.  Early 
on, verse 6, he indicates we are,  “...for the praise of  His glory, accep-
ted in the Beloved."  This acceptance is all of  grace with no  merit  on 
our  part.  ("Not of  works  lest  any  man  should  boast.")  One  thing  
comes  to  mind;   He expects us  to pass  along this  attitude of  accep-
tance.  How could this acceptance be to  the  praise of His Glory  if we
do not  pass it along.  Every  gift  our  Lord gives is to be used to draw 
men to Him.  (And I,  if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men 
unto me...John 12:32)

   When the true Christ lives in a believer, it shows; all around  know it.
It seems the fundamental  problem with the visible church is the appa-
rent factions in the body of Christ.  When unbelievers observe it,  they
become disillusioned and will  not be drawn to the body.  When  mem-
bers become aware of these apparent  factions,  they have a  tendency 
to disassociate and become “Lone Ranger” believers.  There  are num-
berless  individuals who simply withdraw from  fellowships, becoming 
inactive.  Although some seek out other assemblies with whom to join,
many  drop out altogether.  When  God’s Word  says, “...they went out 
from us because they were not of us,”  this does not refer to those who
are driven away by factions in the body. There are some who thrive on 
controversy,  but there are  many repelled  by it.  We may and  have at  
times placed blame on the drop-out, but  God's Word shows we will be 
held accountable if our actions offends “one of  these little ones.” This 
may well apply to acceptance.  Our failure to  truly  accept or  approve 
another believer leads to  schism.

     At times I have found myself  measuring a fellow believer, having 
that one  fall short on  my “yard stick.”  This happens in spite of  the 
fact I am accepted by the Lord, in the Beloved, despite my sin. Since 
all  of  us  are  about  average  as  God’s  Children go and  none  are 
“Super  Saints,”  let's stop  appraising  each other to determine whe-
ther an of  us qualifies  for fellowship.  If  God accepts a  believer in 
Jesus Christ,  we are obligated to accept each one.  This is not to be 
determined  by how  he “measures up.”  The contradiction is;  none 
of us is perfect, that being evident to all.  We become  respecters of 
persons and  accept those about  whom we care,  and fail to  accept 
others.  As  the Apostle Paul  wrote in  his letters to  the Corinthian  
believers; he longed for them, loved them and  agonized over them.     
He was demonstrative about his love and acceptance of  them.  He 
did not separate himself from  any because of  their failure to mea-
sure up to some arbitrary standard,  but to warn and reprove them 
of error. The Scripture says,  the “wounds” of  a friend are faithful.  
(Proverbs 27: 6)

    When we would wound a friend it is all in the Spirit in which it is 
done.  If we are wise,  as was  the Apostle,  we will  handle differen-
ces with grace and finding it redemptive.  If we act vindictively, with-
out grace,  and  are not  motivated by  the  Love of God, we are not  
friends,  and  even  our  kisses  are  deceitful.   Could  this  ever  be
“...to the praise of His Glory.” 

The most difficult thing for an unbeliever to accept about the church  
of Christ is factions. We who are close to the situation have the mind 
of Christ.  There is never  good reason for dissension within the Body
of Christ.  Men of good will go the second mile,  preferring  others to
self and accept personal  loss rather than go to war over an issue that 
is not injustice perpetrated on another. If there is good reason to take
issue with individuals   or groups  it must be  handled discreetly;  with
grace. We must guard against collateral damage to the Body of Christ. 
It is comprised of imperfect, individual saints, not unlike ourselves.  
             “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”    John 8:3-7

  The author does not wish to cast stones, but to issue a mild caution, 
since he has found  himself in the wrong,  in this area  more than he
cares to admit.  Praise God!! "And his mercy endureth forever."  
See Psalms 136...donporter 6/22/12,   edited 3.12.16      

CREED OR STATEMENT OF FAITH

Creed or Statement of Faith..      Hebrews 4: 12 - 13         June 9, 2012

   “For the Word of God is quick,  and powerful, and sharper than any two 

edged sword,  piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and

of  the joints and marrow,  and is a discerner of  the thoughts and  intents 

of  the  heart.  Neither is  there  any  creature  that  is not  manifest in his 

sight:  but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of  him with whom 

we have to do."

    When it comes to a creedal statement, there are two schools of thought
abroad  in the church  today.  One holds  the opinion  that  an organization 

should maintain a creedal  statement or  statement of  faith  to  summarize 

the groups  beliefs and  standards.  The other  group, of which this author 

is  a member,  is convinced a creedal statement is,  of  necessity,  negative
and will never offer an adequate explanation of any persons or groups full
beliefs about the Kingdom of God.     

 Just one word concerning "Statement  of Faith."  This kind of document is
given to offer beliefs of an individual who has gathered them from study of
the Word of God  and life.  The "message"  is somewhat  like a  written ser-
mon, and acceptable as it lines up with God's word.  There is not, however;
 the authority as given to the Scripture.    

     The primary objection to  a  written  creed,  after we  realize it’s  weak-

ness in expressing any person’s or group’s belief system, is the fact that 

the book we would be trying to reduce to a written  creed is alive.  In  the  

King James Version of the Scripture, Hebrews states the Word of God to 

be “quick.”  The use of the word quick is the root word for “quicken,” or  

to make alive. Since God’s Word is alive,  having life in itself,  it would be 

a fools errand  to try to summarize any part of it or put it in other  words, 

as in a creedal statement.  When the words are altered there is no longer 

life in the writing and it is reduced to the work of a mere man. As seen in 

every organization having  a creed,  there  are ultimately  individuals in a 

group who take issue with part of the creed.  Since the written statement 

of faith or creed is the work of  a man or group of men, taking issue with 

such  a creed could be expected.  There would be no authority within the 

creed  to discredit such an one.  On the other hand,  if we are committed  

to the whole Word of God,  our guide for  practicing our faith, there is no

authority without the Word of  God and one who would take issue with it 

could  be  quickly identified  as  an unbeliever and discredited.  Since the 

Word of God is alive and active, God’s Word speaks  to each of us in our 

present circumstance and our individuality.  From  the same passage we 

receive  a message  directed  by God to  our hearts  and  the message is 

tailored to each need.  At  the same  time a message delivered  to one of 

us does not in any way conflict with a message  this same passage may 

convey to another.  It is not  possible for a creed, written by a mere man 

to accomplish  this kind of task.  If  man  has a  hand  in writing  such a 

document without the direct,  divine inspiration of God,  it  has no life in

itself.   It  cannot  speak  with  authority  nor with  flexibility  as  a  living 

document  having  it’s  origin  in the heart of God.  (One aside here;  At
times  men  have  tried  to  say  the Constitution of  the USA  is a  living 
document and therefore subject to alteration by the one who has made
such a statement.  If this were true, there would be no continuity of law
in our land and litigation would even be more  prevalent  than it  is now.
Do we want MORE  litigation?)   On the other  hand. since the only true
and living God is the author of the Bible, He is able to sustain His word 
with His power and wisdom and no man can alter it.  There is also this;
Our  Lord is  omnipresent.  He is here.  Wherever we may go, our God 
is in our presence.   Because of  this  He is always  available  to defend
His word from any attack of the enemy.  (Satan)  In  reality, Satan is the
only  "viable" enemy  of  our Lord, His Kingdom or His People.  He is a
defeated foe whose time seems short.

      Using  this same reasoning one might  call into question the  practice 

of expository preaching from the Word  of God.  The fallacy here  is;  the

Scripture states in Titus 1:2-3,  "In hope of  eternal  life, which  God,  that 

cannot lie, promised before the world began; but hath in due times mani-

fested his word  through  preaching, which is committed unto me  accor-

ding to the commandment of God our Savior;”  There are other places in 

Scripture validating  the preached word as a proper means of  spreading 

the gospel, but there is no basis for  the Word, summarized in writing, to 
be given authority as a creed.  Any written word of  man may well be the 

object  of disagreement by  others who may  have a different view on the 

subject.  This is as it should be,  since the only document Bible believers 

hold as authoritative is Holy Scripture.  If  it is altered, privately  interpre-

ted or enlarged upon by anyone,  we cannot hold it to be a word we may 

follow.  However;  as  in  preaching,  the  written  word  may be  used  to 

communicate truth and can be a  guide as long as the reader,  as well as 

the writer is guided by the Spirit of  God and will  be faithful as  were the 
Bereans of the New Testament in comparing it with God's Word.  We are
always to keep in  mind that our  efforts are never  to be authoritative on
their own.  Our words have power only as  they  align with God's written
Word,  the Bible, and spring from diligent study and application of  God's  
written Word.  

Thanks for enduring the poor attempt on the part of this flawed individual
to publish the things he has learned through a life dedicated to God and
His Word, Jesus Christ; God the Son... 

donporter,sr    

"...OF THE MAKING MANY BOOKS..."

Ecclesiastes 12: 12, "...of making many books there is no end."

Anyone who seeks to understand  Holy Writ has taken upon himself a 
lifelong  task  of  monumental  proportions.  This  may be  behind  the 
text  in Ecclesiastes  written  by the  wisest of  the seed of Adam.   It  is 
impossible for mankind to restate or summarize God’s Word and do it 
justice.  Anything we might write will  be either less  than  the Word or 
possibly  have  precepts  added.  In either case  it will be inferior to the 
original. Why, then do we reason it necessary;  even helpful to attempt
expository work on God’s Word for publication?

In my personal  experience it began as  a summary, not of  God’s  
Word, but of my beliefs and  philosophy of life.  As  writing  began,  it
was  quickly evident  the beliefs and philosophies of my life are largely
based on a personal  knowledge of  the Scripture.  Finding no basis for 
this way of life except  Scripture,  the writing became my exposition of 
Scripture,  not any creation or wisdom of my own.  Looking back, the 
past  six decades,  now seven, anything  good in  life can  be explained 
through study of  God’s Word.  Realization  finally dawned;  anything 
bad or negative could only be explained in the same way.  If  we are to
understand  the  life we live,  wisdom must come from the living Word 
of God.  This raises our next question.  What is  it we learn from Scrip-
ture causing it to stand alone as a literary work without peer. The text-
book  answer to  the  question?  God  is author of  the Book.  He used  
some 40 writers  over  one  thousand-four hundred  years  to complete 
the task.  These men were vessels through whom the living Word,  was
passed through Holy Writ.  If we were to spend our lifetimes, we could 
never explain the Bible to the satisfaction of a skeptic.  We do find,  at 
times, one who accepts it by faith, not requiring a lengthy explanation.
  One reason for this;  The skeptic cannot have faith,  while a  true see-
ker cannot help  but  believe.   It  is evident  from experience;  men of 
good will  are ready to  accept the Divinely  inspired Word as relevant.  
Men with a  motive to cover their sins are unwilling to let the Light of 
God's Word apply to their shabby lives.  The short answer to the ques-
tion,  "why then, does the Word of God stand alone?"   A living book,
the attributes of Deity as content, the Lord God is the ultimate author, 
and Jesus Christ,  "the Word was made flesh..."   John 1: 14 

   In John 1: 14, the statement is made, referring to Christ, “The Word 
 was  made  flesh  and  dwelt  among  us...”   God   identifies  with  His 
 Word.  Where  does  the Word  get  it’s  power?   Some  have said the 
word  “Holy Spirit”  came from the same  word as the word, dynamite. 
It  is  true stated  another way.  The word  dynamite is  from the  word 
“Holy Spirit,” since the Holy Spirit  was a  person   long  before  dyna-
mite was coined. The  word actually means  the ability to do anything.  
The Word of God has the power of  God within,  since it has the  Holy
Spirit  interpreting  it  to each  individual  or  group of believers.  The 
Spirit is only available to the soul who  will  obey the Word,  believing 
the  precepts within that Word.  So, why do we write?

     God  has  given to  us,  His children,  the ministry of  reconciliation 
as in  2 Corinthians 5:18.  You and I  are to take His Word  to a world 
lost without Him,  having no  hope within  themselves or in  any other.
One way we take that Word into the world is through expository  prea-
ching of  the Word.  Do we  claim in  preaching we  always  preach the 
whole counsel of God without error?  Of course not!!  Since we cannot 
make that claim,  should we not quit preaching God's Word?  God for-
bid!  In 1 Corinthians 1:21,  we  read:
  
"For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not 
    God, it pleased  God by the foolishness of  preaching  to save them 
   that believe."  (An aside here; it does not say "foolish preaching.")  

     Just as in all else,  we may be in error at times,  but we strive to be 
true to  the Word.  To quit the effort because it is not perfect is hardly 
acceptable. Our Lord knows our limitations.  He works through imper-
fect  men to  do  His will.   It is well said,  “We are His  hands  and  his 
His feet.”   He has chosen to use a flawed race  (human race)  to  com-
communicate His will and purpose to others of our race, just as Christ 
became one of us to reveal the Father to us.   (In my understanding of  
Scripture and life, there is but one race, the human race.)  People may
be assigned to groups, according to geographic location, religion, ana-
tomy,  color,  even  shade.  God's Word and  good sense allows for all  
people  being  descendants of  two  persons, Adam and  Eve,  as recor-
ded  in the book of  Genesis.  This makes us to  be brothers and sisters  
according to  the  flesh.  When  we  receive  Jesus Christ  as  Lord and 
Savior, we become brothers and  sisters as the Children of  God.  God  
forbid we build artificial walls to separate  brothers  along  prejudicial 
preconceptions,  engendering  misunderstanding,  distrust;  even hate.

     Of late, it has become anathema for one to refer to persons gender,
or to make reference to same. Since our Lord, in His Word, designates
the first of His creation "male," and His second creation "female," we
recognize and honour what He has done, when we refer to each accor-
dingly.  It is not demeaning to the woman (who was taken out of man)
to be female.  There are  obvious differences.  Praise the Lord God, as
He in His wisdom saw the need for these differences.  This does not in 
any way, lessen the value of the woman.  We, as men, are commanded
to love and care for the woman as we do our own selves,  and to even
prefer her  to ourselves.  In some ways she is the "weaker vessel," but 
as we learn in having a relation with her, she is physically weaker, but
in many ways she  is stronger.  (What man among us would be willing
to give birth to a child?  To many, that is possibly the most importan-
tant function of either and is a holy privilege.)  In Ephesians 5: 33, we
see;  "Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own 
  wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."       
    
 http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2014/01/hate-is-not-christian-value.html

                Did you see indications, anywhere, leading us to only share  
               faith in our Lord with those like ourselves and  neglect those 
               who are somewhat different?    "Again, GOD FORBID!!!
               Who is my neighbor? (Look it up; Matthew 5: 42-48) 

              The great commandment; "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
              with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind.
              This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is
              like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  On these
              two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
                                                                                Matthew 22: 37-40
                                        
            donporter,sr...6.21.12  edited 3.02.14, 3.03.16, 8.17.16, 10.01.16, 3.2.17,
                                                    2.08.18