To have self-control, we must increase the gap between something that happens, what we call a stimulus, and our reactions to that event. 1:7) and What examples does he give in Ephesians 2:1-3 and 4:17-19? 23 All these evils come from within and make a person unclean.”. There are always consequences to our behavior. The apostle Paul is a wonderful illustration of this confidence as one who found his significance, security, and satisfaction through the Savior. With the “therefore”69 in verse 13, Peter based the exhortations in the following verses on the context of the previous doxology (vss. These studies were developed in a team training environment where men were being trained for their role as church leaders, as fathers, and as effective members of a society that desperately needs to see what authentic, biblical Christianity looks like. Self-control means to be in control of one’s attitudes or thought processes, desires or passions, and patterns or habits so they do not dictate one’s behavior. 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 2:5 even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!— 2:6 and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 2:7 to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 5:5; Col. 3:5). Speaking scripturally, self-control is a matter of the control of the self-life from within by spiritual means, i.e., by God’s weapons of spiritual warfare as described in the Word of God (2 Cor. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,4:11 and to aspire to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, as we commanded you. We can see from this brief summary why self-control or staying spiritually sober is so important. Speaking of “the grace of God that has appeared bringing salvation in Christ, he wrote: “It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age…” (Titus 2:12). To Christians who were comparing one leader to another and criticizing the apostle, Paul found his significance not in their assessment of his life and ministry but in his relationship with the Lord and Jesus’ faithfulness to reward His saints. The significance addiction leaves us vulnerable to a host of other personal failures that complicate life and debilitate us spiritually and socially. Learning Self-control— As Paul said in 1 Timothy 4 and 1 Corinthians 9, the most valuable exercise of self-control is not that related to physical exercise, but that which produces godliness. It doesn’t have to be a great difference, just a difference. 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance. The believer is to have his mind (mental powers) collected and always ready for Christ’s coming.71, “Get ready for action” translates the aorist participle, enkrateuomai, “to control oneself, be disciplined, abstain from something.” These words are used in Acts 24:25; 1 Corinthians 7:9; 9:24-27; Galatians 5:23; 2 Peter 1:6; and Titus 1:8. How to Develop Self-Control . 1 Peter 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 18ff; 2:9-12). By way of word order and thus emphasis, the Greek text has, “completely hope…” “Completely” is the adverb These are It may stem from man’s self-centered or worldly objectives rather than from inner controls brought about by a deep relationship with God and biblical beliefs, motives, values, methods and means, and objectives. A comparison of the two proverbs reveals the great importance of self-control as both an offensive and defensive attribute. Greed or covetousness treats the thing coveted (possession, position, praise, pleasure, etc.) With what has now come to light, the same can be said of other presidents like John F. Kennedy. Paul instructs Christians to “abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust” (1 Thessalonians 4:3–5). The believers’ living hope based on their new birth should lead to a lifestyle of holiness. was a 1966 graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and a former pastor of 28 years. The Bible describes self-control as an invaluable trait. 2:11), obey or obedience (Rom. Instead, true significance is founded and secured for us through the finished work of Christ on the cross. (Please refer back to the segment on Mark #4, A Biblical Concept of Oneself. nephalios, “sober, clear headed, temperate, self-controlled” (1 Tim. This leads to a consideration of a key problem that is important in the issue of biblical self-control that is in keeping with the power and kingdom of God. (pg. 6:12-14; 7:13f; Gal. This is most obvious in Galatians 5:23 where it is seen as one part of the fruit (singular) of the Spirit. What are we to be in control of and how are we to achieve it? In other words, some form of worldly craving is really at the core of such self-discipline. 4:21f; Col. 3:16; 1 Thess. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. These intrinsic needs manage and manipulate who we are and what we do. This naturally includes sober self-control through relating one’s life by faith to the salvation that is ours in Christ (For another passage stressing the impact on sonship to behavior, see Ephesians 5:1f). kosmos, the world system. dio, the usual inferential conjunction for passing from a statement to its inference. Rather than allowing outside circumstances to influence their inner lives, believers should be controlled and directed by the inward spiritual dynamics of their new life in Christ for both now and in the future. 2:9, 15), (3) the adverb With this imperative, we come to the primary emphasis and responsibility of Peter’s exhortations. Second, “brought” is a present adjectival participle which describes our future salvation as so certain that it is viewed as already on the way. Our new life in Christ by grace through faith is designed to produce good works for which we were recreated in Christ (Eph. Many probably think of combating dominating habits that can range from the simple to the more complex and debilitating. Thus, being children of a Holy and righteous God and the recipients of such an awesome salvation forms strong biblical motivation for godly living which naturally includes self-control or living soberly in an intoxicated world. 1:6 This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. We trust God’s promises to supply the power for every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:19) and then act in faith that he will do it in and through us (Philippians 2:12–13). The point at which layers of rock shift and reposition in relation to one another is called the focus; this is the energetic center of the earthquake. Since Peter directly relates this to the coming of the Savior or His revelation, this includes the motivations of the Judgment Seat of Christ (the Bema, the place of rewards or their loss [1 Cor. 3. 12:11), so we must be mentally and spiritually prepared to live as sojourners and aliens while on earth (see vv. 1993-1996 Microsoft Corporation. Self-control is bodily and external as well. When and where such belief structures are absent, the absence of self-control in other areas will be just around the corner. In August of 2001 he was diagnosed with lung cancer and on August 29th, 2002 he went home to be with the Lord. While the above terms deal specifically with the concepts of control, restraint, rule, and self-mastery, there are many other terms that should perhaps be mentioned because they are related to self-control in some manner, often as cause and effect or root and fruit. 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