Larry Lilly's Journal Volume 17 9/2015
The Excellence of Character Demonstrated Larry Lilly
Ephesians 2:7-10 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
In Bible believing/teaching groups the above verses are certainly near the most dog eared, in that we treasure the wealth of truth concerning our so great salvation. I have long been blessed by verse ten which enables me to rejoice in that while I am not much at singing, strangely the Word assures me that I am a song from the heart of God. You probably know that “workmanship” is Poema, a poem, God’s poem no less!
While rummaging around Ephesians the other day I paused to do a little checking on the above passage and from a glance at Strong’s Greek Indexer the word “kindness” arrested my attention. WOW, what I have been missing. A few Koine Greek words are used in different places to convey the different types of kindness. In verse 7 above it is Chrestotes=kray-stot-ace. It can mean, excellence of character. Thus I know that God in Christ Jesus demonstrated His excellence of character when He reached down His hand for me. To the ancient world and most of the current world, the idea of reaching down to help the helpless is a foreign concept, as the philosophy states so graphically, “God helps those who help themselves.” This passage bypasses this idea and helps those who are incapable of helping themselves! To do such a thing is a trait that sets God apart from all false Deities. In Christ He reaches down and lifts to the highest realm, a realm so exalted that even angels in heaven desire to look into it. The Apostle Peter states it with this:
“To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into.” 1Peter 1:12.
As I write I am recalling that according to God’s Word, prior to believing in Christ with all my heart, I was listed as an “enemy” of God. God’s excellence of character reached down to me in spite of my being on the black list. A story I used some time ago in my twice weekly devotional letter gives a beautiful illustration of how we who name Jesus as Saviour should demonstrate the excellence of character as we imitate God.
“A Union veteran of the Battle of Gettysburg, A.L. Long, tells a gripping story of how bitterly he hated the South. He recounts of being wounded, and near death. As he lay on the ground, not far from Cemetery Ridge, on July 3, 1863, the last day of the battle, he saw General Lee and a few of his officers ride by. He gathered all his strength and shouted as loud as he could, “Hurrah for the Union.” General Lee heard him and dismounted, and walked to him. Long says, “He extended his hand toward me, grasped mine firmly and looking straight into my eyes said, ‘My son, I hope you will soon be well.” If I live a thousand years I will never forget the look on General Lee’s face.”
Musing on this, the thought came to me, will we who know Christ ever forget His compassion and grace for us? Not only at Calvary, but the moment He reached down His hand for us and lifted us from life’s sinking sand?
Compassion, grace, forgiveness comes with understanding. General Lee is one of the most unusual men in all of history. His love for Christ is legendary. His practice of being a hand of Christ to others is something modern people should know and emulate. God’s “Kindness,” His excellence of character, should and must in these trying times, become part of our hearts and minds as the culture at large has decided to attempt to totally eliminate us from society and the world.
Titus uses Kindness the same as Ephesians: “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,” Titus 3:4-5.
After Peter’s terrible failure in Pilates Judgement Hall, Jesus went after Peter, the sinning saint, in the same frame of mind and heart consistent with His “excellence of character” to restore such a one…
How different the life of Christians will be when we get over the pain of different ideas and reach out to wounded Christians as they lay bleeding upon life’s many battlefields.
Paul had excellence of character in mind when he wrote “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1. This passage is addressing the Christian who gets wrapped in some sin. I noted the word gentleness and it is listed as a word that can be used to communicate kindness by Dr. Strong. The point being that we who name Christ really should get off the picking apart a brother or sister in need of restoration rather than re-crucifixion.
If we are loved while we are yet sinners doesn’t it follow that we are loved as children? Paul answers this clearly: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:10.
The purpose for this thought from my “rummaging” is simple; the world is against us, the flesh is against our spirit, the devil is against us. If Christ be for us, with our warts and all, then in the coming days we must be for each other as we work on restoring, considering it is by the Grace of God that we ourselves are not lying wounded and bleeding on life’s battlefield.
An unknown author wrote:
"Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you will go,
Just remember how far you have come.
Remember everything you have faced,
All the battles you have won with the Lord’s armour
surrounding you.
All the fears you’ve overcome with the Lord’s love supporting you.
All the chapters you have written, with the help of the Lord’s Hand guiding you.
Remember the moments that came before when you had the Same doubt and overcame it.
You can go as far as you let yourself go.
Let go and let God, and you will soar farther than
You’ve ever imagined."
****
“But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
****
“The first and worst cause of error that prevails in our day is spiritual pride. This is the main door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those who zealous for the advancement of Christ.”
Jonathan Edwards.
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5.
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8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
In Bible believing/teaching groups the above verses are certainly near the most dog eared, in that we treasure the wealth of truth concerning our so great salvation. I have long been blessed by verse ten which enables me to rejoice in that while I am not much at singing, strangely the Word assures me that I am a song from the heart of God. You probably know that “workmanship” is Poema, a poem, God’s poem no less!
While rummaging around Ephesians the other day I paused to do a little checking on the above passage and from a glance at Strong’s Greek Indexer the word “kindness” arrested my attention. WOW, what I have been missing. A few Koine Greek words are used in different places to convey the different types of kindness. In verse 7 above it is Chrestotes=kray-stot-ace. It can mean, excellence of character. Thus I know that God in Christ Jesus demonstrated His excellence of character when He reached down His hand for me. To the ancient world and most of the current world, the idea of reaching down to help the helpless is a foreign concept, as the philosophy states so graphically, “God helps those who help themselves.” This passage bypasses this idea and helps those who are incapable of helping themselves! To do such a thing is a trait that sets God apart from all false Deities. In Christ He reaches down and lifts to the highest realm, a realm so exalted that even angels in heaven desire to look into it. The Apostle Peter states it with this:
“To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into.” 1Peter 1:12.
As I write I am recalling that according to God’s Word, prior to believing in Christ with all my heart, I was listed as an “enemy” of God. God’s excellence of character reached down to me in spite of my being on the black list. A story I used some time ago in my twice weekly devotional letter gives a beautiful illustration of how we who name Jesus as Saviour should demonstrate the excellence of character as we imitate God.
“A Union veteran of the Battle of Gettysburg, A.L. Long, tells a gripping story of how bitterly he hated the South. He recounts of being wounded, and near death. As he lay on the ground, not far from Cemetery Ridge, on July 3, 1863, the last day of the battle, he saw General Lee and a few of his officers ride by. He gathered all his strength and shouted as loud as he could, “Hurrah for the Union.” General Lee heard him and dismounted, and walked to him. Long says, “He extended his hand toward me, grasped mine firmly and looking straight into my eyes said, ‘My son, I hope you will soon be well.” If I live a thousand years I will never forget the look on General Lee’s face.”
Musing on this, the thought came to me, will we who know Christ ever forget His compassion and grace for us? Not only at Calvary, but the moment He reached down His hand for us and lifted us from life’s sinking sand?
Compassion, grace, forgiveness comes with understanding. General Lee is one of the most unusual men in all of history. His love for Christ is legendary. His practice of being a hand of Christ to others is something modern people should know and emulate. God’s “Kindness,” His excellence of character, should and must in these trying times, become part of our hearts and minds as the culture at large has decided to attempt to totally eliminate us from society and the world.
Titus uses Kindness the same as Ephesians: “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,” Titus 3:4-5.
After Peter’s terrible failure in Pilates Judgement Hall, Jesus went after Peter, the sinning saint, in the same frame of mind and heart consistent with His “excellence of character” to restore such a one…
How different the life of Christians will be when we get over the pain of different ideas and reach out to wounded Christians as they lay bleeding upon life’s many battlefields.
Paul had excellence of character in mind when he wrote “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1. This passage is addressing the Christian who gets wrapped in some sin. I noted the word gentleness and it is listed as a word that can be used to communicate kindness by Dr. Strong. The point being that we who name Christ really should get off the picking apart a brother or sister in need of restoration rather than re-crucifixion.
If we are loved while we are yet sinners doesn’t it follow that we are loved as children? Paul answers this clearly: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:10.
The purpose for this thought from my “rummaging” is simple; the world is against us, the flesh is against our spirit, the devil is against us. If Christ be for us, with our warts and all, then in the coming days we must be for each other as we work on restoring, considering it is by the Grace of God that we ourselves are not lying wounded and bleeding on life’s battlefield.
An unknown author wrote:
"Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you will go,
Just remember how far you have come.
Remember everything you have faced,
All the battles you have won with the Lord’s armour
surrounding you.
All the fears you’ve overcome with the Lord’s love supporting you.
All the chapters you have written, with the help of the Lord’s Hand guiding you.
Remember the moments that came before when you had the Same doubt and overcame it.
You can go as far as you let yourself go.
Let go and let God, and you will soar farther than
You’ve ever imagined."
****
“But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
****
“The first and worst cause of error that prevails in our day is spiritual pride. This is the main door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those who zealous for the advancement of Christ.”
Jonathan Edwards.
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5.
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