No Christianity Without Self-Control
Self control is a vital part of the Christian life.
Temperance or self-control must be added to the foundation of faith. "But
also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to
virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to
perseverance godliness." (2 Peter 1:5-6) Those that have been buried with
Christ in baptism (Romans 6:3-4) must not allow evil to again become their
master. "Therefore do not let sin
reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not
present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present
yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments
of righteousness to God." (Romans 6:12-13) Self-control makes it possible
for man to fulfill his responsibility for what he does in his body.
What is self-control? Paul
wanted the brethren at
How
is self-control attained? The decision to put aside or crucify our own desires is attained
through daily following the Lord. "Then He said to them all, if anyone desires
to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross daily, and follow Me." (Luke 9:23) This self-control grows out
of crucifying the flesh. "And those who are Christ's have crucified the
flesh with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24) This giving up
sinful practices and bringing ourselves under control to Christ could only be
called a crucifixion. "I have been
crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live,
but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by
faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians
2:20) Every Christian should be
motivated to self-control by our person responsibility and accountability at
judgment. "For we must all appear
before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done
in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (2
Corinthians 5:10)
When self-control is absent: When
self-control is absent Eve will look at the forbidden fruit and take it.
"So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was
pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its
fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate."
(Genesis 3:6) A lack of self-control
caused Achan to take silver and gold from
When self-control is practiced: Paul
was a great servant of God as a result of self-control. "But I discipline
my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I
myself should become disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:27) Joseph avoided
being a fornicator with Potipher's wife through
self-control. "And it came to pass after these things that his master's
wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, Lie with me. But he refused and
said to his master's wife, look, my master does not know what is with me in the
house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one
greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you,
because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin
against God?" (Genesis 39:7-9) When self-control is present men possess
one of the qualities necessary for leadership in the church of our Lord.
"But hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy,
self-controlled." (Titus 1:8)
Where Christians must practice self-control:
Self-control must be practiced in good and right things: (1) eating, (2)
pleasure, (3) work, and (4) sleep. Self-control must be practiced as Christians
completely abstain from: (1) fornication, (2) lying, (3) gambling, (4)
drunkenness, and (5) stealing. Christians must control their temper. (Proverbs
14:29) The tongue must also be controlled by Christians. "If anyone among
you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own
heart, this one's religion is useless." (James 1:26)
Self-control must be practiced because it
is part of the fruit of the spirit. (Galatians 5:23) It is also one of the
Christian graces. (2 Peter 1:5-8) No one
will receive that abundant entrance that does not practice self-control. (2
Peter 1:11) Self-control results from
bringing our thoughts into captivity to Christ. "Casting down arguments
and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing
every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians
10:5) Do you have self under control?
Those who do the Lord's commandments will
be blessed with an entrance into heaven and with the tree of life. (Revelation
22:14) To become a Christian, you must
hear the gospel (Romans
By Charles
Box,