B-A-C
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- Dec 18, 2008
- Messages
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The word practice is an interesting word...
Often it is used in the context of learning.... as in we practice something over and over again until we get it right. You see it used this way in athletic sports frequently... most teams have "practice".
Another way it is used is in the context of doing what you know how to do... there are lawyers who practice law, and doctors who practice medicine. Although these fields are constantly changing, typically the word practice doesn't mean learning here, it means doing what you already know.
In both definitions... practice is something you do repetitively. You can't do something only once and practice it.
In Romans 1:21-31; we see list of sinful things that some people do...
Rom 1:32; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
This verse doesn't say those who have ever done these things are worthy of death. It says those who "practice" these things are worthy of death. It goes on to mention those who approve of others
who "practice" these things.
in Galatians 5:19-21; we have the well known passage about the fruit of the flesh.
Gal 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
Gal 5:21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Much like Romans 1, there is a list of things we shouldn't do. But also like Romans 1:32; it doesn't
say those who have ever done these things will not inherit the kingdom of God... it says, those who
continue to "practice" such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
In Hebrews 5 it mentions milk for infants and meat for the mature... this isn't talking about age,
it's talking about spiritual maturity...
Heb 5:13; For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.
Heb 5:14; But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
There are certain people... it doesn't matter what their physical age is... in fact it doesn't even really matter how long they have been a believer... but for various reasons, they only accept the basic principles of the Bible and never move on to the deeper principles. It says the mature "because of their practice" have been trained to discern good and evil... not only in others, but in themselves.
So far we have been talking about practicing bad things... but we are also told to practice good things.
1 Jn 3:9; No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1 Jn 3:10; By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
Verse 9 above doesn't say those who ever sinned isn't born of God. It says those who "practice" sin.
Verse 10, talks about practicing righteousness... it isn't enough to know righteousness, we have to practice it. If we don't, we aren't from God.
Finally we see in Revelation 22...
Rev 22:11; "Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy."
It says let those who are righteous "practice" righteousness. There are a number of ways to do this, but non of them involve doing "nothing". Practice is doing something over and over until we get it right, or doing what we know how to do.
There is a different between sin.. and "practicing sin".
1 Jn 2:1; My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
It isn't talking about unbelievers here. Unbelievers do not have an advocate.
Matt 18:15; “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
Does this mean our biological brother? No it means any one who is a Christian. Sometimes Christians sin.
Luke 17:3; Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
Luke 17:4; And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”
Sometimes Christians sin.
1 Jn 1:8; If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
1 Jn 1:9; If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 Jn 1:10; If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
Anyone who says they do not sin... is a liar.
Often it is used in the context of learning.... as in we practice something over and over again until we get it right. You see it used this way in athletic sports frequently... most teams have "practice".
Another way it is used is in the context of doing what you know how to do... there are lawyers who practice law, and doctors who practice medicine. Although these fields are constantly changing, typically the word practice doesn't mean learning here, it means doing what you already know.
In both definitions... practice is something you do repetitively. You can't do something only once and practice it.
In Romans 1:21-31; we see list of sinful things that some people do...
Rom 1:32; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
This verse doesn't say those who have ever done these things are worthy of death. It says those who "practice" these things are worthy of death. It goes on to mention those who approve of others
who "practice" these things.
in Galatians 5:19-21; we have the well known passage about the fruit of the flesh.
Gal 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
Gal 5:21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Much like Romans 1, there is a list of things we shouldn't do. But also like Romans 1:32; it doesn't
say those who have ever done these things will not inherit the kingdom of God... it says, those who
continue to "practice" such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
In Hebrews 5 it mentions milk for infants and meat for the mature... this isn't talking about age,
it's talking about spiritual maturity...
Heb 5:13; For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.
Heb 5:14; But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
There are certain people... it doesn't matter what their physical age is... in fact it doesn't even really matter how long they have been a believer... but for various reasons, they only accept the basic principles of the Bible and never move on to the deeper principles. It says the mature "because of their practice" have been trained to discern good and evil... not only in others, but in themselves.
So far we have been talking about practicing bad things... but we are also told to practice good things.
1 Jn 3:9; No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1 Jn 3:10; By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
Verse 9 above doesn't say those who ever sinned isn't born of God. It says those who "practice" sin.
Verse 10, talks about practicing righteousness... it isn't enough to know righteousness, we have to practice it. If we don't, we aren't from God.
Finally we see in Revelation 22...
Rev 22:11; "Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy."
It says let those who are righteous "practice" righteousness. There are a number of ways to do this, but non of them involve doing "nothing". Practice is doing something over and over until we get it right, or doing what we know how to do.
There is a different between sin.. and "practicing sin".
1 Jn 2:1; My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
It isn't talking about unbelievers here. Unbelievers do not have an advocate.
Matt 18:15; “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
Does this mean our biological brother? No it means any one who is a Christian. Sometimes Christians sin.
Luke 17:3; Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
Luke 17:4; And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”
Sometimes Christians sin.
1 Jn 1:8; If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
1 Jn 1:9; If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 Jn 1:10; If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
Anyone who says they do not sin... is a liar.
