God-centered arguments

Just a quick post to point out something I have noticed lately.  Have you ever noticed that God argues based upon Himself and His nature?  Of course, He does, what else is there.  But I just noticed two examples lately I wanted to point out.  We should probably be watching for this pattern in Scripture, I think.

First example:

Genesis 15:1-5 CEV
(1)  Later the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision, “Abram, don’t be afraid! I will protect you and reward you greatly.”
(2)  But Abram answered, “LORD All-Powerful, you have given me everything I could ask for, except children. And when I die, Eliezer of Damascus will get all I own.
(3)  You have not given me any children, and this servant of mine will inherit everything.”
(4)  The LORD replied, “No, he won’t! You will have a son of your own, and everything you have will be his.”
(5)  Then the LORD took Abram outside and said, “Look at the sky and see if you can count the stars. That’s how many descendants you will have.”

“How is this God-centered?” you may ask.  Who created the stars?  God essentially told Abram, “I made the stars, your problem is too big for you, true.  But not too big for Me.”  This wasn’t about the stars, it was about Who made them.  Incidentally the next verse is where God credits Abram with righteousness.

Genesis 15:6 MKJV
(6)  And he believed in Jehovah. And He counted it to him for righteousness.

You see, if you or I argue based upon the stars or the heavens, we are arguing outside of ourselves.  But God is pointing to what He has already done, and what He upholds without effort.  Is anything too hard for Him?

Second example:

Ephesians 4:1-7 MKJV
(1)  I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling with which you are called,
(2)  with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love,
(3)  endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(4)  There is one body and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling,
(5)  one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
(6)  one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all.
(7)  But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

This hits a little closer to home.  Why should we “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”?

Because this represents the nature of God.  Paul steps back from discussing the Spirit and speaks of Christ (one Lord – Christ – one faith – in Christ – one baptism – His baptism),  then of the Father (one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all.)  So the work of the Spirit in us will also be marked by unity with Christ and the Father – as the Spirit is.

Paul did not argue based upon what the effect of this unity would be initially.  (you know, people getting along, good vibes, nice fellowship, etc)  He bases his primary argument upon the nature of God.

Then he explains how that works out in the gifting of the body.

Ephesians 4:11-16 MKJV
(11)  And truly He gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
(12)  for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
(13)  And this until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
(14)  so that we no longer may be infants, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, in the dishonesty of men, in cunning craftiness, to the wiles of deceit.
(15)  But that you, speaking the truth in love, may in all things grow up to Him who is the Head, even Christ;
(16)  from whom the whole body, fitted together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of each part, producing the growth of the body to the edifying of itself in love.

One last thought before I close.  Wouldn’t  a truly God-centered argument be the most powerful one for a man or woman who lives a God centered life?

Craig

P.S.

Any ideas what the “one baptism” is?  I think I know, but I wonder what you think.

8)