INTRODUCTION
study of today is wake up heated arguments, pro and con. However, while not intended to be limited to, deem it necessary to mention this topic in this series of Bible studies.
When the believer accepts the Gospel, we lose nothing of what was real value in life. Simply discard what is spurious, for cultivate what is genuinely beautiful, useful and constructive. His clothing and recreation should reflect a character transformed by the grace of Christ refiner.
1. General Principles
1. What is not to love a Christian and why? 1 John 2:15 - 17. "Love not the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of eyes and the pride of life, not of the Father, but the world. And the world passeth away, and desires, but whoever does the will of God abideth forever. "
Note: The human tendency is to imitate. Since it mimics a baby, is the method of learning. However, in this world there are many things that do not correspond to the way of being a Christian, and the temptation is often to mimic the taste and personality, act, behave and even to speak of "world." Very often it is even what more we "feel like" the letting go for a new car, the latest clothing, computer, etc. All that is perishable, and many lost time (and money) for something which is perishable, even to sacrifice principles to live with the latest fashion.
2. What is true worship? Romans 12:1, 2 "So you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. Not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what the will of God, pleasing and perfect ".
Note: This text can be applied in many ways, and may not all be justified. However, respect for the body is basic to this text (already seen studies diet, the use of toxic substances, including wine study the Bible ). The Respect goes so far when dealing with drilling and other things that "decorate" the body, one way or another.
James 4:4 "Ye adulterers, know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."
Note: This text, again not always used wisely, however, if a Christian is behaving differently and go unnoticed, do what he knows he should not, goes against God. For example, the apostle Peter was identified on the night of Jesus' trial, to move as one, swore, said bad words to be confused with others (Matthew 26:74 " Then he began to curse and swear, I do not know the man. And immediately the cock ).
2 Corinthians 6:17, 18 "Wherefore come out from among them and be separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you, And be a father to you, and ye be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. "
Note: Some people confuse this type of biblical teaching of salvation by works. Nothing is further from the truth. We know that we are saved by faith and works that no one is saved. However, God invites us to be faithful, to show that we accept be their sons and daughters. The love of a father or a mother is shown with love, hugs, good treatment and others, in any case have to do that to have a loving parents, rather, we do this BECAUSE we have a loving parents (children, siblings, etc. .).
Similarly, the text of Corinthians does not tell us we should do this or that for God to receive us and sent his son to die for us even before birth. This text is telling us that if we accepted Christ, we will not imitate things that have nothing to do with his plan for our lives, or we will leave to act as in the past, when we were without the knowledge of His Word.
3. How purifies the life of God's grace? Titus 2:11 - 14 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, waiting for the blessed hope the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. "
Note: These worldly desires, wickedness, start by not having jealousy, envy, vengeance, not behaving like others, returning evil for evil, but good for evil, and so on. Behavior should also be seen in our health management, property and life.
4. How life waiting purifies the second coming of Jesus? 1 John 3:2, 3 "Beloved, now we are children of God, and has not yet been revealed what we shall be: but we know that when he appears we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. "
Note: Anyone who expected the second coming of Jesus, seeking to please the Master, seeking the purity of spirit, mind and body. We seek to be transformed into the image of Christ reflect its character, and that also involves his desire to act as he acted, to speak as he spoke, live as he lived.
5. What principle should guide all our behavior? 1 Corinthians 10:31. "If you eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
Note: Everything a Christian does, must pass through the lens of the Bible. It is difficult to devote a Bible study every aspect of life. However, there is a basic rule applies to everything a person can make in your life: What I do, I do it to honor God or to please myself? Why I do this, or carry that, or I get that, or say what about that?
2. Ornaments
1. How does God show his distaste for the trappings? Isaiah 3:18 - 24 "That day the Lord removed the dress shoe, the nets, the ornaments, necklaces, earrings and bracelets, headdresses, the ornaments of the legs, hair starters, the little squirt of smell and the earrings, rings, and jewels of noses, robes, shawls, veils, purses, mirrors, fine linen, gauze and touched. And instead of sweet smell coming stench, and instead of rope belt, and head instead of the shaved hair restraint, instead of ceñimiento evening dress in sackcloth, and burning instead of beauty. "
Note: Most ornaments referred to in the text, were destined for idolatry, in addition to the exaltation of female beauty dishonest purposes. The pride, the pride grew so big that God himself announced a severe humbling. The people had given importance to the external image (probably with idolatrous connotations) and this will led to unbridled sensuality, ultimately, losing sight of the divine and focusing on physical appearance and beauty as the ultimate goal.
When reforms are spiritual, God called to dispose of all such embellishments as an outward symbol of conversion and internal repentance.
2. What was stripped to build the tabernacle and worship God? Exodus 35:22 "They came, both men and women, all volunteers at heart, and brought brooches and earrings, rings and bracelets and all kinds of gold jewelry, and all had an offering of gold to the Lord."
Note: is curious that in this rededication to God for the people of Israel, arise precisely from these objects to build with them the tabernacle. Again the same pattern is repeated, rededication = Stripped of ornaments and jewelry.
3. When taking booty, what gave as an offering to God? Numbers 31:50 "Therefore we have offered the Lord an offering, each of which has been found, gold jewelry, bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces, to make atonement for our souls before the Lord."
Note: not these things were among the booty that was found after a battle. Moreover, it is delivered as an atonement, and so they avoided the temptation to ostentation and greed fight or theft.
4. What were holding non-Israelites? Judges 8:24. "Y Gideon said to them: I make a request, that give me every man the earrings of his prey (as they had a golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites).
Note: In the Bible, when they stayed with tendrils (pending) of gold, he points out, explaining that was NOT the people of God. This means that the Israelites were not ever with this kind of jewelry for their wives or their home.
5. What symbolizes the use of jewelry? Hosea 2:13 "And punish her for the days when the Baals incense, and adorned with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers and forgot me, saith the Lord."
Note : motifs slopes in the Bible, and archaeologically demonstrated, are associated with pagan worship of Baal, Asherah or tie and other pagan deities. The most common rite of worship was having sex with the priestesses dedicated to that particular pagan god. Normally those identified prostitutes priestesses by the jewels, pendants, earrings, necklaces and other things they carried. For example, gold or gold earrings were related to the God Baal or Marduk. The silver or silver earrings were associated with female deities of the Moon (Asherah or Astarte, for example).
6. What is forbidden by God? Leviticus 19:28 "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you. I am the LORD."
Note: In this case, refers to tattooing, permanent marks made in the body. I know people who tell me they simply do the tattoo because they like it, nothing more. But the truth is that most people I've seen go into a tattoo shop, come to take a brand that I remember someone very dear (a friend, colleague, etc.).. In any case, a Christian must respect the body, even though tattooing should not be "Christians" (a cross, the tetragrammaton or the star of David). We respect the body God gave us.
Leviticus 21:5 "Do not make baldness upon their head or fray the corner of their beard, nor in their flesh."
Note: In this text, it mentions the same, this time unrelated to any dead. No body should be marked, puncture, tear, mark. Why spoil the work of God?
1 Corinthians 6:15 "Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? Then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? No way."
7. What is the symbol of the boring parts body? Exodus 21:6 "Then his master will take you to the judges, and I will stand by the door or to the post, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him forever."
Deuteronomy 15:17 "thou shalt take an awl and pierce his ear against the door, and be your servant forever, so will do to your servant."
Note: The piercing of an ear, or both, is a symbol of slavery. Among the women is not as noticeable, but among men it is true that not many years ago was for "fashion" or mimic the "pirates" and its image as "cool" or fun. Precisely such as characters in what film, or even true stories, wore earrings because they were slaves who escaped. When a slave (the brand's owner was the earring) fled from his master, could only enroll in piracy or on a boat where you travel a lot and can not locate. Similarly, women in antiquity, as we have seen, wearing earrings because they were priestesses (slaves) of the god or goddess "X". Carry
outstanding was until a few decades or a few centuries at most, a symbol of slavery in most cultures. God accepted wear an earring (which is not gold) as a symbol of a voluntary surrender a person serving a family.
8. What does that surrender to God? Genesis 35:1 - 4 "God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau. Then Jacob said to his family and all those who were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and clean, and change your clothes. And arise, and go up to Bethel, and will there an altar to the God who answered me in the day of my distress, and has been with me the way I went. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in them, and the earrings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
Note: When Jacob reconsecrating God, with all his family, he urged all his household to draw from in their midst all the statues of gods, and get rid of all symbols of pagan idolatry and slavery, a symbol of inner cleansing. The text says that they took off their earrings which were in their ears and buried as a symbol of leaving behind the past and all its bad habits.
9. How do we show loyalty to God? Exodus 33:4-6 "And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned, and no one put their ornaments. For the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel: You are an obstinate people, at one point go up among you, and you consume. Therefore, put off your ornaments, that I know what I do. Then the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments at Mount Horeb. "
Note: Again, we find the pattern of" rededication "- stripped of jewelry and ornaments. It is curious to note that on each occasion that the people of Israel turned away from God, returned to wearing jewelry, men and women. And at a time when God comes to give a last chance to turn to Him, one of the first things they do is shed of jewelry and ornaments.
10. What will offend those who live before the second coming of Christ? Ezekiel 7:19 "They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold will be discarded, nor their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver on the day of Jehovah's fury; not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it was a stumbling block to its evil. "
Note: Ezequiel This text describes the anxiety and anguish of those who, because of the ornaments and jewels and riches in every other respect (expensive cars, gold watches, expensive clothes, expensive homes, etc. ) lost sight of what matters, preparing to meet his God. All that, little by little hindrance almost imperceptible to go slowly increasing wickedness, God go hand leaving almost without realizing it, to get more, more money, more beauty, more popular, etc.
11. What should not be our adornment? 1 Peter 3:3 "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, gold ornaments or fine clothes."
Note: There are those who believe that going to the hairdresser is "sin." This text does not refer to that, but what Isaiah meant, the "nets" the "hair splitters", etc., Composed mainly of gold, silver, pearls and other jewelry, depending on which pagan god concerned. However, the forces of life care should not focus on achieving these things, but in others more important.
12. What it must be our adornment? 1 Peter 3:4 "but the person of the heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious to God."
Note: This is not must understand that a Christian should neglect their external image. On the contrary, an educated, neat, be well dressed, tastefully but not extravagantly and following the principles seen so far.
Proverbs 1:8-9 "Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and forsake not your madrePorque be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about your neck. "Proverbs 4:7-9
Wisdom above all, get wisdom: and with all inteligencia.Engrandécela you have, get, and she will magnify; She will honor you when you've embraced the. Adorno will grace your head will give you a crown of beauty. "
3. Costume
1. What general principle should govern the locker room? 1 Timothy 2:9, 10. " I also want women dress modestly, with decency and modesty, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, as befits women who profess godliness. "
Note: Years ago I heard a veteran pastor who gave sage advice: The believer should not be the first to adopt a "fashion", but not the last to leave. We must be dressed in a contemporary way, we will be showing wisdom. However, it is not about to go dressed in nineteenth century, as some claim also.
Many fashions "are temporary, as well as expensive. But it is true that the costume evolves, and those" trends "that last, become the style of dress, they are expensive and are decent, a Christian must live in time and not outside, but with common sense.
2. What other principle is mentioned? Matthew 6:28 - 29 "And the dress, why do you afanáis? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, but I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of them. "
Note: Many people are sad because they can not get this or that dress, (probably expensive). We should not use energy (and resources) in these issues are temporary. The natural beauty, as the example of the lilies of the field, knowing benefit is more than enough. Many marry a woman, and the morning after the wedding, you wonder who is the stranger who is on your side ... Jokes aside, well exploited natural beauty is more than enough. Is the person who actually has a lover, without artifice, and valued all together, character, personality, etc. without causing mental clouding the senses with sensuality excessive.
3. How enhanced durability and good quality clothes? Proverbs 31:21, 25. "not afraid of snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet [...] Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at things to come."
Note: I recommend all of chapter 31, about a virtuous woman. Here we focus on the clothes should be, above all, quality. Some people, going to the other end, not to look cool and save money, buy clothes of poor quality and ugly. The Bible urges us to have quality clothing, that shelters be lasting and beautiful, looking for balance and common sense.
4. What not to do the believers? Deuteronomy 22:5. "women not wear a man's suit, neither man wear women's clothes, because abomination unto the LORD thy God all that do so."
Note: This text is headache for many believers. Some argue that women should never wear pants. It must be said: Careful, it depends. At the time when this text was written, there were no pants, then does not necessarily relate to this. At that time there were long tunics and men and women. Now do not get robes in both genders, except in some parts of the world, very exotic.
long time this statement was true, as there were no pants designed for a woman, and could be mistaken from behind, or simply had poor hygiene (menstruation, for example is a problem depending on which parts of the world still .)
Moreover, in most countries are currently women's apparel includes pants that a man can never be put, because the seam is not well in a male, and vice versa. Sometimes I put the example: If the pants are only for men, then I can wear pink pants, with seam designed for a woman ... although I make bags to the sides of the hip.
Today you can buy costumes for man and woman, and I assure you that both are decent and are not interchangeable, the woman will have a jacket (cutaway) with a tucked waist male.
In other cultures men wore skirts, but not were confused with a woman (wearing coat). For example, formerly in the Army of Greece or in Scotland, wore skirts for men, and had nothing to do with women's clothing.
This text refers to the travesty, that a man impersonating a woman, and vice versa. Seeking gender sexual perversion, deception, is that to regard the text. Is the principle can be applied to any time in history.
5. How should we live according to Paul? Titus 2:12 "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly."
Note: Often the desire is, as mentioned before, imitate others, in many ways. Maybe some things can be justified, but others will not. The Christian must therefore be monitored and what is not, according to the principles and culture of where you live.
6. What to say about the apostle Peter? 1 Peter 4:7. "The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."
4. Make
1. Jezebel, wicked woman, pagan priestess, what was usual and for what purpose? 2 Kings 9:30 "Jehu had come to Jezreel, and Jezebel heard of it, she painted her eyes with antimony, and tired her head, and looked through a window."
Note: Following the above explanation, part of the attire of prostitutes idolatrous priests highlight was the white of the eye lids of black paint (antimony).
2. What makes prostitutes (women infidels) in the Bible?
Ezekiel 23:40 "They also sent by men who should come from afar, which had been sent a messenger and came here, and they love you washed, and painted your eyes, and I will adorn themselves with ornaments. "
Jeremiah 4:30 "And you destroyed, what will you do? Even if you dress in scarlet, though you adorn with ornaments of gold, but you paint your eyes with antimony, decked you in vain, your lovers despise you, seek your life. "
5. Recreation
1. What works should not participate? Ephesians 5:11.
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them."
Note: There are activities that are known, have no benefit whatsoever and can only lead to more problems. These activities to avoid.
2. What should we refrain? 1 Peter 2:11.
"While the angels who are greater in strength and power, not railing accusation against them before the Lord. "
Note: The context speaks of cursing others. Those activities in which a person feels prompted to utter bad words against another person should be avoided. Some people can enjoy a healthy sport, while others end up taking too seriously the activity. Everyone knows what is best and if you can perform the activity without falling into the error that says the apostle Peter.
3. Why missed Lot's wife? Genesis 19:24 - 26.
"Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord from heaven, and destroyed cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of those cities, and the fruit of the earth. Then the wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt ".
Note: Although they may be hard to understand, what happened to Lot's wife is that his heart did not want to leave his former life. When you know the Lord must give up some things of his past life (everyone will know what and why). But a delivery medium can lead to moral decay.
4. He mentions some of the sins of last few days that should not exist between the people of God. Ephesians 5:3 - 5.
"But fornication and all impurity or greed even be named among you, as becometh saints: neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator , nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. "
Note: sexuality outside marriage, indecent activities (even though some may seem childish), selfishness (including the desire to beat others in games of pride), avarice in all its forms (activities that do not benefit others but to one or a few), etc. can lead to unbalanced development a Christian character.
5. What did the believers in Ephesus with some bad books? Acts 19:18 - 19.
"And many of those who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and burned them before all men and they counted up the price, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. "
6. What can recreate the Christian?
Psalm 92:4 "For you have cheered me, O Lord, with your works in the works of thy hands my joy"
- The nature and his works. Genesis
2:15
"Took So the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it"
- In the exercise rewarding.
Jeremiah 15:16 "Thy words were found, and I ate them, and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart, because your name is invoked upon me, O Lord God of hosts."
1 Timothy 4:13 "Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation and teaching."
- In good reading.
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing and praising the Lord in your hearts. "
- In the conversations that build.
James 5:13" Is any among you afflicted? Make prayer. Is anyone happy? Sing praises.
- In the good music.
Isaiah 58:10-11 "And if you give your bread to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul shall thy light the darkness and your gloom shall be like noon. Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy thy soul drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. "
- In the works of charity.
Luke 10:17 "And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
- In the preaching of the Gospel.
Isaiah 58:13-14 "If thou turn away thy foot Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and it with delight, the holy of the Lord and honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you will delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob your father: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. "
- In the proper observance of the Sabbath. -------------
previous study: 10.3 Stewardship.
Next study: 10.5 The Baptism .
Back to index.
