1 KOR.3 TEENOOR 1 KOR.13 DIE VLEESLIKE TEENOOR DIE GEESTELIKE:
INLEIDING:
Die hoof eienskap van vleeslikheid is selfgesentreerdheid. Dit het te doen met die feit dat hierdie persoon nog nooit aan die wil van die Here oorgegee het nie en a.g.v. hiervan is daar sekere teenstrydighede wat u in die vleeslike se lewe sal vind. Die vleeslike is baie hard op ander maar so begripvol vir sy eie foute en selfs sondes.
Die vleeslike sal so maklik in die oomblik van oortuiging bloot net sê dat ek verkeerd is en dan voortgaan of selfs myself regeverdig met een of ander verskoning. Die geestelike sal sy hart voor die Here in gebro-kenheid uitstort.
Die teerheid en sagtheid waarvan Paulus in Fil.2:1 verwys bestaan nie in so ‘n persoon se lewe nie. Hy verwys na die innge tederheid en ont-ferming van die Here.
In die Korinte gemeente het hulle baie bewyse van die werkinge van die Heilige Gees se teenwoordigheid en meer as enige ander gemeente het hulle kort geskied aan die normale bewys van die getuienis van die gereinigde harte.
Die probleem van hulle vleeslikheid het te doen met hulle woorde gedagtes en hulle dade. Jaloersheid is ‘n wonderlike eienskap wanneer dit onder die beheer van die Heilige Gees is, want ons het ‘n jaloerse God, en ‘n man moet sy vrou moet jeloersheid beheen. Na haar omsien.
Jaloersheid by die vleeslike is uit die poel van sonde aangesteek en i.p.v. bande te bou, verbreek dit mense in hulle verhoudinge teenoor ander. Dit dui die staat van die siel aan. Hulle besit innerlike onge-lukkigheid in hulleself en dra dit oor na andere.
Dit veroorsaak tweedrag, en kan nie met andere ooreenkom aangaande sake nie. Hulle handelinge is soos die van die wêreld.
Paulus het geweier om die gawes van die Heilige Gees as bewyse van geestelike diep ondervindige van geestelikheid raak te sien, soos ons in sy hele eerste brief sal sien. Hier het hy bewyse van die Evangelies en van Handelinge gebruik om hulle teë te bewys. Voor Pinksterdag het die dissipels merkwaardige gawes gehad, wat alles aan die Heilige Gees toegeskryf kon word, tog was hulle beslis nog nie met die Heilige Gees vervul nie.
Toe Paulus aan hulle die vraag gestel het in 1 Kor.3:16 “Weet julle nie dat julle ‘n tempel van God is en die Gees van God in julle woon nie?” het hy met hulle individuel gepraat. Hy het hulle as Gees vervulde Christene omskrywe nie. Hy wou vir hulle wys dat die kerk, die ware weergebore Christene is die tempel waarin die Heilige Gees wil woon, is dit ‘n ernstige saak vir enige persoon wat die tempel van die Here wil skend. (1 Kor.6:19).
Verder die algemene beklemtoning van “dat julle liggaame die tempel van die Heilige Gees is nie…” Hy het hier na enige Christen verwys wat nie gereinig en deur en deur met die Heilige Gees vervul is nie.
Een mag vra waarom Paulus nie ronduit aan hulle gevra het waarom hulle nie gereing is nie, hy het hulle koors van vleesagtigheid afgekoel deur hulle aandag na die ware liefde afgelei in 1 Kor.13 sodat hulle ‘n spieël kon gekry het om te weet of hulle opweeg teen die standaard van die Woord van die Here. En dan eers in die tweede brief hulle uit te daag oor hulle persoonlike behoefte na reiniging.
WAT IS DIE STANDAARD VAN LIEFDE:
Weens die feit dat praktiese heiligheid iets is wat so skaars geword het, laat ons na die praktiese uitvloei van heiligheid kyk volgens 1 Kor.13.
Omdat volmaakte liefde die grootste en wonderlikste en mees ver-draagsame en meeste kortskiet in die wêreld, wil ek my besig hou om meer soos die Here Jesus te word.
Vs.4 “Die liefde is lankmoedig en vriendelik…” Dit verdra al die te-kortkominge binne ander kinders van die Here, en vedra al die onheil van die ongeredde mense, en nie vir ‘n kort tydjie nie, maar solank as wat dit die Here behaag.
Die liefde sal jou inspireër met die wonderlikste teerheid en mees ywerige en tere passie, teenoor die een wat jou wetende benadeel. Daarby saam sal dit ‘n teerheid in gees openbaar teenoor elke uitdruk-king en stemtoon. Is dit hoe jy optree.
“Die liefde is nie jaloers nie…” Dit het nie in hom die gees van jaloersheid of vooroordeel selfs in sy hart teenoor andere nie. Daardie jaloerse gevoel wanneer ander erken en waardeer word, meer as wat jy erken word is ‘n gebrek aan liefde.
‘n Onaangename ervaring wanneer ander meer erken en aanvaar of suksesvol is. Het u al ooit in die geheim opgewonde gevoel wanneer ander wat meer suksesvol as jy is ‘n fout begaan. Dit is nie liefde nie, dit is vleeslikheid.
Het jy al ervaar dat jy op ander se foute teer en daarvan ‘n storie maak, en nie eerder die persoon se karakter beskerm in die situasie nie. Dan het ons nie liefde nie.
Verskoon jy jou foute as versoekinge in plaas om dit as inwonende sonde raak te sien.
Vs.4 Ðie liefde praat nie groot nie” Hy tree nie hard en haastig in ‘n moeilike situasie op nie, en sal nie ander kinders van die Here kritiseer nie, want hy weet dat met die oordeel waarmee ek ander oordeel sal ek mee geoordeel word.
Hy is ook nie hardop om sy idee af te dwing nie, maar sal maklik kan dien en buig en die minste wees in ‘n situasie wat selfs nie noodwendig my goedkeuring wegdra nie, maar waarin hy weet dat die eer van die Here deur dit skade sal lei nie.
As hy teegestaan word of in ‘n swak lig gestel word, sal hy dit met sag-moedigheid verdra, en nie baie woorde gebruik om homself te verskoon nie. Hy is stadig om te praat, stadig om te kritiseer, maklik oortuigbaar wanneer hy ‘n fout begaan het, en vinnig om verskoning vir sy ver-keerde optrede te vra. Hoe lyk u lewe.
Vs.4 “Is nie opgelase nie”. Hy jy al ooit belangrik of opgeblase gevoel weens jou sukses of posisie. ‘n Begeerte om deur ander erken of raak-gesien te word, en te hoor dat hulle goed van jou praat.
Aan die ander kant, is jy platgeslaan wanneer hulle jou eenkant sit en nie jou opmerk nie. Hou jy daarvan om van jou vrye tyd te praat, waarin jy iets vir die Here doen bv. dat jy so bid, of besoek of iets dergliks doen, met die doel om die aandag op jou te vestig.
Voel jy nederig op opgeblase as hulle jou prys en jou bo ander verkies. In kort is jy dood aan jouself. So dood dat daar geen begeerte by jou is om goed te voel of groot of wys in enige ander se oog maar die van jou Verlosser alleen nie.
Vs.5 “Die liefde handel nie onwelvoeglik nie…” As jy hierdie liefde in jou hart dra sal jy versigtig wees om situasies te vermy waarin jy dalk mag dink dat die Heilige Gees in jou gegrief of bedroef sal word. Jy sal in besonder versigtig wees teenoor die teenoorgestelde geslag, en sal elke huis so skoon as wat jy kan nalaat. Jy enigste motief sal wees om hulle beste vir hulle te soek. Doen jy dit altyd.
Vs.5 “Soek nie sy eie belang nie…” Hierdie liefde het alle vorme van selfbelang opsy geskuif. In eet of slaap, in ry ens. Wat ookal by die huis of buite die huis gedoen moet word, sal die besitnamer van Goddelike liefde nie na sy eie belange omsien nie. Hy of sy sal die beginsel van doen aan andere wat jy graag aan jouself gedoen wil hê, openbaar.
Hierdie persoon streef daarna om altyd andere gelukkig te wil maak, en neem andere se belange op so ernstig asof dit sy eie is, dikwels tot die nadeel van homself, hoewel dit nie waardeer word wanneer dit gedoen word nie. Dit sal jou ondervinding wees as jy volmaakte liefde het.
Vs.5 “Word nie verbitterd nie…” Wanneer liefde onder druk of om-standighede gejaagd is, kan ons so ongeduldig raak en word ander deur my lewens optrede beinvloed. Moet dit nie as gespanne of as ‘n ver-soeking of heilige toorn verskoon nie, dit is ‘n gebrek aan liefde.
Kla jy as jy pyn en armoede beleef, dit is ‘n gebrek aan liefde. Is jy geiriteerd of ongeskik as daar iets teen jou gesê word, of van iemand wat naby aan jou hart is, dit is ‘n gebrek aan liefde.
Dit lyk alles soos spore van vleeslikheid, en dit moet uitgeban word voordat die vuur van Herlings liefde in u hart sal brand.
“Reken die kwaad nie toe nie” Dink nie selg van ander nie.
Dit doen weg met alle vorme van suspisie. Voel jy onder wantroue teen-oor ander wat hulle aan jou doen. Sal jy bereid wees om deur liefde vertroue by ander te wen.
Vs.6 “Liefde is saam met die waarheid bly” Daar is nie sarkasme in liefde nie, jy sal ook geen satisfaksie kry in ander se doen en late of verliese nie. Jy sal altyd alles in ‘n eerlike en eerbare wyse hanteer. Jy sal net so bly wees oor een siel wat gered is ongeag wie die instrument was asof jyself gered is. Jy sal bly wees om uit te vind dat die wat selfs jou teengestaan het, het dieselfde liefde in hulle harte.
Vs.7 “Dit bedek alles”
Dit bedek ander se foute en onvolkomenhede. Dit praat nie sleg van andere nie.
“Dit glo alles…”
Dit is altyd gewillig om die beste van andere te dink, dit sal alles doen om ander hoër as myself te reken en om ander te wil bevorder.
“Dit hoop alles”
Wanneer daar na die foute en mislukkings verwys word, sal volmaakte nog hoop vir die platgeslane openbaar en nie verder gaan om die per-soon verder te trap nie.
“Dit verdra alles”
Dit sal sonder om moedeloos te word of selfs ongeduld te toon geduldig bly, dat sal alles wat die Here toelaat met geduld en verdraagsaamheid verdra, dit maak nie saak van waar dit kom nie, of van die Here of van die mens of die duiwel.
Het ons so ‘n soort liefde.
Daar was nog nooit ‘n siel wat gereinig was wat nie aan vleeslikheid gesterf het nie. Dood behels nie toewyding nie maar vernietiging.
Ismael is ‘n verteenwoordiger van die vlees, wat nie op die altaar geplaas wou word nie, en as ‘n gawe geoffer mag geword het nie, maar moes uitgeban word, hy moes nie toegewy word nie. Dit is wat gebeur wanneer ‘n siel waarlik geheilig word. Daar is ‘n uitban, ‘n leegmaak, ‘n kruisiging en nie ‘n toewyding nie aan die Here nie.
3) PRACTICAL HOLINESS
Having considered the theological part of holiness let us look at the practical outflow and search our hearts in the light of God’s word.
Since Perfect Love is the Best and Greatest, the most enduring and the most lacking in the world, I am kept busy seeking more of it. Have we got that Love that the Bible speaks of. 1 Cor. 13 says: “Love suffereth long and is kind” (as Shelhammer says in his book Holiness how obtained and retained) Suffers all the meekness of the children of God, all the wickedness of the children of the world, and that not for a little time only, but as long as God pleases? Some can suffer long but are not always kind. This love will at once inspire you with the most amiable sweetness and the most fervent and tender affection toward the one that knowingly injures you, and amid it all you will feel and manifest a tender spirit in every look and tone of voice. Do you do this?
“Love envieth not” Do you ever feel a secret spirit of envy or prejudice shut up in your heart? A jealous feeling when another becomes noticed and appreciated more than you? An unpleasant sensation in view of the prosperity and success of another? Have you ever felt secretly pleased when another more gifted than yourself make a failure? Do you ever find yourself dwelling upon such a one’s faults rather than his virtues? Do you mistake these for temptations. They look like the traits of carnality.
“Love vaunteth not itself.” Acteth not rashly in a violent, headstrong manner, nor passes any rash or severe judgment on the most guilty person. Its possessor is not harsh or pressing in his manner. When contradicted or put in a wrong light, he bears it with meekness rather than use many words to excuse, or clear himself. He is slow to speak, slow to accuse, easily convinced when in fault, and quick to ask forgiveness. How is that with you?
“Love is not puffed up.” Do you ever feel exalted and important because of your success or position? A desire at times to have others notice, or speak well of you? On the other hand, do you feel hurt when set aside and unnoticed? Do you love to speak of special free times in preaching or praying and thus draw attention to self? Do you feel humbled, or lifted up when praised and preferred above others? In short, are you dead to self? So dead that no desires arise to appear good or great or wise, in any but your Savior’s eyes?
“Love doth not behave itself unseemly.” If you have this love you are careful to avoid all such behavior that you think might grieve, or be a source of temptation to another. You will be especially careful toward those of the opposite sex. You will leave every home as pure as you found it. Your only abject will be to seek their good. Do you always do that?
“Love seeketh not her own.” This love will do away with self ishness of all kinds. In eating, sleeping, riding etc. Whether at home or abroad, its possessor continually practises self denial, doing to others as he would be done by. He seeks to promote the interest and happiness of others as sincerely as his own, and often at the expense off his own, though it may not by appreciated or returned. This is your experience if you have perfect love.
“love is not provoked.” When under pressure or in a hurry do you feel impatience stir at the ignorance, slowness, or stubbornness of others? Do not excuse it as nervousness, temptation, or holy indignation. Do you murmur or complain in the midst of pain or poverty? Are you touchy and sensitive, especially when something contemptuous is said or done against your church, relatives, nationality? These look very much like traits of carnality and, of so must be cast out before love can reign without a rival.
“Love thinketh no evil.” This will do away with all uncharitable suspicions. Do you ever find yourself surmising or mistrusting that another has done wrong when you do not positively know it to be so? The ancient heathen’s rule was, “I am so far from lightly believing what one man says against another that I will not easily believe what a man say against himself. I will always allow him second thoughts and many times counsel, too.” Do you live up to that?
“Love rejoiceth not in iniquity.” If you possess this love you never have a feeling of satisfaction in hearing or speaking (though in a truthful and warning manner) of the inconsistencies of others. You do not only weep over the sins and follies of an enemy, take no pleasure in repeating or hearing his faults mentioned, but you desire that they should be forgotten forever.
“Rejoiceth in the truth.” Is not sectarian or bigoted, but rejoices just as much over the salvation of souls in the midst of others as if it were in you own ranks. “Rejoices to find that even those who oppose you, whether with regard to opinions, or some points of practise, are (in some cases) lovers of God, and in other respects unreprovable.”
“Beareth all things.” Covers a multitude of sins, mistakes, imperfections and weaknesses of another; speaks of no man.
“Believeth all things.” Always willing to think the best, to put the most favorable construction on everything that may tend to the advantage of another’s character.
“Hopeth all things.” On being informed of the faults or faillures of another, perfect love “hopeth” it is not so bad after all.
“Endureth all things.” Endureth with “Unwearied patience anything that God can permit, or men and devils inflict.
DO WE POSSESS THAT KIND OF LOVE.
There never was a soul wholly sanctified who did not die to carnality. Death does not imply consecration, but destruction. Ismael being a representative of the carnal nature was not “Laid upon the altar” and sacrificed as a gift, nor was he “consecrated” or blest out, but was “cast out.” and this is what takes place when a soul is genuinely sanctified; there is a casting out, an emptying out, a crucifying rather than a consecration of something to God.
3) PRACTICAL HOLINESS
Having considered the theological part of holiness let us look at the practical outflow and search our hearts in the light of God’s word.
Since Perfect Love is the Best and Greatest, the most enduring and the most lacking in the world, I am kept busy seeking more of it. Have we got that Love that the Bible speaks of. 1 Cor. 13 says: “Love suffereth long and is kind” (as Shelhammer says in his book Holiness how obtained and retained) Suffers all the meekness of the children of God, all the wickedness of the children of the world, and that not for a little time only, but as long as God pleases? Some can suffer long but are not always kind. This love will at once inspire you with the most amiable sweetness and the most fervent and tender affection toward the one that knowingly injures you, and amid it all you will feel and manifest a tender spirit in every look and tone of voice. Do you do this?
“Love envieth not” Do you ever feel a secret spirit of envy or prejudice shut up in your heart? A jealous feeling when another becomes noticed and appreciated more than you? An unpleasant sensation in view of the prosperity and success of another? Have you ever felt secretly pleased when another more gifted than yourself make a failure? Do you ever find yourself dwelling upon such a one’s faults rather than his virtues? Do you mistake these for temptations. They look like the traits of carnality.
“Love vaunteth not itself.” Acteth not rashly in a violent, headstrong manner, nor passes any rash or severe judgment on the most guilty person. Its possessor is not harsh or pressing in his manner. When contradicted or put in a wrong light, he bears it with meekness rather than use many words to excuse, or clear himself. He is slow to speak, slow to accuse, easily convinced when in fault, and quick to ask forgiveness. How is that with you?
“Love is not puffed up.” Do you ever feel exalted and important because of your success or position? A desire at times to have others notice, or speak well of you? On the other hand, do you feel hurt when set aside and unnoticed? Do you love to speak of special free times in preaching or praying and thus draw attention to self? Do you feel humbled, or lifted up when praised and preferred above others? In short, are you dead to self? So dead that no desires arise to appear good or great or wise, in any but your Savior’s eyes?
“Love doth not behave itself unseemly.” If you have this love you are careful to avoid all such behavior that you think might grieve, or be a source of temptation to another. You will be especially careful toward those of the opposite sex. You will leave every home as pure as you found it. Your only abject will be to seek their good. Do you always do that?
“Love seeketh not her own.” This love will do away with self ishness of all kinds. In eating, sleeping, riding etc. Whether at home or abroad, its possessor continually practises self denial, doing to others as he would be done by. He seeks to promote the interest and happiness of others as sincerely as his own, and often at the expense off his own, though it may not by appreciated or returned. This is your experience if you have perfect love.
“love is not provoked.” When under pressure or in a hurry do you feel impatience stir at the ignorance, slowness, or stubbornness of others? Do not excuse it as nervousness, temptation, or holy indignation. Do you murmur or complain in the midst of pain or poverty? Are you touchy and sensitive, especially when something contemptuous is said or done against your church, relatives, nationality? These look very much like traits of carnality and, of so must be cast out before love can reign without a rival.
“Love thinketh no evil.” This will do away with all uncharitable suspicions. Do you ever find yourself surmising or mistrusting that another has done wrong when you do not positively know it to be so? The ancient heathen’s rule was, “I am so far from lightly believing what one man says against another that I will not easily believe what a man say against himself. I will always allow him second thoughts and many times counsel, too.” Do you live up to that?
“Love rejoiceth not in iniquity.” If you possess this love you never have a feeling of satisfaction in hearing or speaking (though in a truthful and warning manner) of the inconsistencies of others. You do not only weep over the sins and follies of an enemy, take no pleasure in repeating or hearing his faults mentioned, but you desire that they should be forgotten forever.
“Rejoiceth in the truth.” Is not sectarian or bigoted, but rejoices just as much over the salvation of souls in the midst of others as if it were in you own ranks. “Rejoices to find that even those who oppose you, whether with regard to opinions, or some points of practise, are (in some cases) lovers of God, and in other respects unreprovable.”
“Beareth all things.” Covers a multitude of sins, mistakes, imperfections and weaknesses of another; speaks of no man.
“Believeth all things.” Always willing to think the best, to put the most favorable construction on everything that may tend to the advantage of another’s character.
“Hopeth all things.” On being informed of the faults or faillures of another, perfect love “hopeth” it is not so bad after all.
“Endureth all things.” Endureth with “Unwearied patience anything that God can permit, or men and devils inflict.
DO WE POSSESS THAT KIND OF LOVE.
There never was a soul wholly sanctified who did not die to carnality. Death does not imply consecration, but destruction. Ismael being a representative of the carnal nature was not “Laid upon the altar” and sacrificed as a gift, nor was he “consecrated” or blest out, but was “cast out.” and this is what takes place when a soul is genuinely sanctified; there is a casting out, an emptying out, a crucifying rather than a consecration of something to God.