Too Strict
October 7, 2020
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061
866-295-4143,
fbns@wayoflife.org
“They are too strict. They are too serious.
The individual, home, and church that seeks to take the Bible seriously in Christian living is widely criticized today, even in “Christian” circles. “They are too strict. They are too serious. They need to lighten up. We shouldn’t be fanatics.”

But how is it possible to obey the following Scriptures without being exceedingly “strict” in doctrine and living?

“... teaching them to observe
ALL THINGS whatsoever I have commanded you” (Mt. 28:20). This is Christ’s description of a New Testament church. A church that doesn’t take “all things” seriously is not obeying Christ.

“Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in
ALL THINGS, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you” (1 Corinthians 11:2). This passage deals with hair length, head coverings, and the Lord’s Supper, which are widely considered to be “non-essentials,” yet Paul praised the church for remembering him in ALL things.

“Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a
LITTLE LEAVEN leaveneth the whole lump?” (1 Corinthians 5:6).

“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in
ALL THINGS. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (1 Corinthians 9:25).

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do
ALL to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

“Give
NONE OFFENCE, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God” (1 Corinthians 10:32).

“Let
ALL THINGS be done unto edifying” (1 Corinthians 14:26).

“Let
ALL THINGS be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

“For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in
ALL THINGS” (2 Corinthians 2:9).

“Therefore if any man
be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, ALL THINGS are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

“... let us cleanse ourselves from
ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Co. 7:1).

“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in
ALL THINGS, which is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).

“Let
NO corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29).

“And have
NO FELLOWSHIP with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11).

“Do
ALL THINGS without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15).

“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man
PERFECT in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28).

“Children, obey
your parents in ALL THINGS: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:20).

“Servants, obey in
ALL THINGS your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:22-23).

“Prove
ALL THINGS; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Paul instructed Timothy, “that thou mightest charge some that they teach
NO other doctrine” (1 Ti. 1:3). That is a most strict standard of holding to sound doctrine and separating from false doctrine.

“Even so
must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in ALL THINGS” (1 Timothy 3:11).

“That thou keep this commandment
WITHOUT SPOT, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Ti. 6:14). A spot is a small thing. Everything will be judged at Christ’s judgment seat. God’s people are to have their eyes on His coming and on pleasing Him in all things, not pleasing themselves and living for this world. This epistle contains commandments about such things as the woman’s modest apparel and her role in ministry (1 Ti. 2:9-14), which are widely considered to be “non-essentials,” but Paul does not treat them as non-essentials.

ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be PERFECT, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

“But watch thou in
ALL THINGS, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make FULL PROOF of thy ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5).

“In
ALL THINGS shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity” (Titus 2:7).

“Not purloining, but shewing
ALL good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in ALL THINGS” (Titus 2:10).

“Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in
ALL THINGS willing to live honestly” (Hebrews 13:18).

“Wherefore lay apart
ALL filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,
and to keep himself UNSPOTTED from the world” (James 1:27).

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in
ALL MANNER of conversation” (1 Peter. 1:15).

“Wherefore laying aside
ALL malice, and ALL guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and ALL evil speakings” (1 Peter 2:1).

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in ALL holy conversation and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11).

“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace,
WITHOUT SPOT, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14).



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