Post by Char on Oct 26, 2008 13:50:19 GMT -6
THE QUALIFICATION NECESSARY FOR TEACHERS OF CHRISTIANITY
JAMES 3:1.
MATT. 23:8..".FOR ONE IS YOUR MASTER, EVEN CHRIST; AND ALL YE ARE BRETHREN."
The words might have been better rendered thus, "be not many teachers, knowing that we shall undergo a severer judgment", and were occasioned by certain novices assuring the office of teachers when utterly unqualified for it When God calls us to teach, He will qualify us then it is up to us to study His Word and pray, and let Him lead our lives.
God will require more from teaches than from others; and their private miscarriages, or unfaithfulness to the duties of their office, will expose them to the severest punishment.
I. PERSONAL RELIGION IS A NECESSARY QUALIFICATION IN THE CHRISTIAN TEACHER.
Those must be clean that bear the vessels of the sanctuary. Their master is holy, their work is holy, and therefore it becomes them to be holy also.
I COR. 10:33..EVEN AS I PLEASE ALL MEN IN ALL THINGS, NOT SEEKING MINE OWN PROFIT, BUT THE PROFIT OF MANY, THAT THEY MAY BE SAVED.
Having tasted that the Lord is gracious, they are unwilling to eat their spiritual morsels alone, and earnestly wish to have others partakers of the same grace of life.
Grace, in lively exercise, makes the teacher honest and impartial, bold and courageous. He will not, through a slavish dread of man, put his candle under a bushel, or withhold the truth in unrighteousness; but endeaours to keep back from his hearers nothing profitable, however distasteful, and to declare to every one of them the whole counsel of God.
He is no respecter of persons; but warns every man, and teaches every man, in all wisdom, that he may present every man perfect in Christ.
Grace, in lively exercise, not only animates the teacher to his work, but assists him in it, and greatly tends to crown it with success. It does so by disposing him to give himself to prayer, as well as to the ministry of the Word.
He is a favorite at the court of heaven, and improves all His interest there for his people’s good.
Further, personal religion promotes knowledge of the truth and aptness to teach, both which are indispensably necessary in the spiritual instructor.
Just as one who perceived the light and brightness of the sun would be little moved by any attempts to prove that these was nothing but darkness around him. True religion will promote in ministers a pious and exemplary behavior.
II. SOUNDNESS IN THE FAITH, IS HIGHLY NECESSARY IN A SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTOR.
Much more stress is laid upon this in the sacred writings than some seem willing to allow.....
Do superstition, enthusiasm, bigotry, or persecution for conscience sake, flow from just sentiments of religion and of the proper means to promote it? Or rather do they not flow from wrong sentiments of these?
Paul cried out "WHO, IS SUFFICIENT FOR THESE THINGS?" II COR. 2:16.
Elisha tells us that scarcely one of a thousand is qualified to deal with the conscience..Job. 33:23.
Above all, one who would teach others to be Christians must himself have a clear and distinct notion of what a Christian should be.
The spiritual instructor should be mighty in the scriptures, able not only to repeat, but to explain them, having the word of God dwelling in him richly, in all wisdom an spiritual understanding.
Dare any of us say with the french king, the state is myself—I am the most important person in the church.
If so, the Holy Ghost is not likely to use such unsuitable instruments; but if we know our places, and desire to keep them with all humility, he will help us, and the churches will flourish beneath our care. Have a good day, (James)
JAMES 3:1.
MATT. 23:8..".FOR ONE IS YOUR MASTER, EVEN CHRIST; AND ALL YE ARE BRETHREN."
The words might have been better rendered thus, "be not many teachers, knowing that we shall undergo a severer judgment", and were occasioned by certain novices assuring the office of teachers when utterly unqualified for it When God calls us to teach, He will qualify us then it is up to us to study His Word and pray, and let Him lead our lives.
God will require more from teaches than from others; and their private miscarriages, or unfaithfulness to the duties of their office, will expose them to the severest punishment.
I. PERSONAL RELIGION IS A NECESSARY QUALIFICATION IN THE CHRISTIAN TEACHER.
Those must be clean that bear the vessels of the sanctuary. Their master is holy, their work is holy, and therefore it becomes them to be holy also.
I COR. 10:33..EVEN AS I PLEASE ALL MEN IN ALL THINGS, NOT SEEKING MINE OWN PROFIT, BUT THE PROFIT OF MANY, THAT THEY MAY BE SAVED.
Having tasted that the Lord is gracious, they are unwilling to eat their spiritual morsels alone, and earnestly wish to have others partakers of the same grace of life.
Grace, in lively exercise, makes the teacher honest and impartial, bold and courageous. He will not, through a slavish dread of man, put his candle under a bushel, or withhold the truth in unrighteousness; but endeaours to keep back from his hearers nothing profitable, however distasteful, and to declare to every one of them the whole counsel of God.
He is no respecter of persons; but warns every man, and teaches every man, in all wisdom, that he may present every man perfect in Christ.
Grace, in lively exercise, not only animates the teacher to his work, but assists him in it, and greatly tends to crown it with success. It does so by disposing him to give himself to prayer, as well as to the ministry of the Word.
He is a favorite at the court of heaven, and improves all His interest there for his people’s good.
Further, personal religion promotes knowledge of the truth and aptness to teach, both which are indispensably necessary in the spiritual instructor.
Just as one who perceived the light and brightness of the sun would be little moved by any attempts to prove that these was nothing but darkness around him. True religion will promote in ministers a pious and exemplary behavior.
II. SOUNDNESS IN THE FAITH, IS HIGHLY NECESSARY IN A SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTOR.
Much more stress is laid upon this in the sacred writings than some seem willing to allow.....
Do superstition, enthusiasm, bigotry, or persecution for conscience sake, flow from just sentiments of religion and of the proper means to promote it? Or rather do they not flow from wrong sentiments of these?
Paul cried out "WHO, IS SUFFICIENT FOR THESE THINGS?" II COR. 2:16.
Elisha tells us that scarcely one of a thousand is qualified to deal with the conscience..Job. 33:23.
Above all, one who would teach others to be Christians must himself have a clear and distinct notion of what a Christian should be.
The spiritual instructor should be mighty in the scriptures, able not only to repeat, but to explain them, having the word of God dwelling in him richly, in all wisdom an spiritual understanding.
Dare any of us say with the french king, the state is myself—I am the most important person in the church.
If so, the Holy Ghost is not likely to use such unsuitable instruments; but if we know our places, and desire to keep them with all humility, he will help us, and the churches will flourish beneath our care. Have a good day, (James)
