The Incarnation of God the Son: Crucial Doctrine, Practical Application

Image credit: Phoebe Kautt

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, May 1, 2011

Philippians 2:1-16, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”

This message is really mean to be a continuation of our study during the Bible School hour a few moments ago, and what you might call an ‘overflow’ of the messages regarding the April Fool which were our study focus last month. The questions before us, when reading and studying a passage like this are numerous – complex – and I think quite riveting. I’d like to invite you to walk through the passage with me and consider with me the deep truths of the gospel and how those truths, that Biblical doctrine are meant to transform you and me.

Going back to the records, the accounts of Jesus’ birth found in Matthew chapters one and two, and Luke chapters one and two, the first truth of the gospel, the first core doctrine with which the apostle Paul instructs his friends at Philippi and his friends at McKinney is the doctrine of the Incarnation. In startling, almost mind-boggling contrast, the apostle Paul, like apostle John and the apostle Matthew, and like the inspired writer Luke sets forth this truth: Jesus Christ was in the very form of God. He was in every way of the same nature and of the same essence, and possessed the same eternal and infinite attributes as God the Father. He was, is and always will be the Second member of the Triune Godhead, the One Scripture describes as God the Son.

The apostle John, opening up his gospel in much the same way as the Book of Genesis opens up the Bible, the apostle John speaks of Jesus’ eternal nature and of His oneness with the Father from eternity past like this: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…” Don’t miss that last phrase either. That’s the phrase the Jehovah’s Witnesses have reworked in their theology and re-translated in their ‘Bible’ so as to claim that Jesus Christ is somehow, some way a lesser, an inferior ‘god’ with a small ‘g’. Just like the apostle John, whose bold, emphatic and exceedingly clear declaration was: Jesus, the Eternal Word of God, was, is and always will be God, what God was, fully and eternally divine… so, the apostle Paul reminds us in this first statement of gospel doctrine that Jesus Christ was equal with God.

By the way, did you remember that that unique relationship, that unparalleled status and position of equality with God was what Satan urged Adam and Eve to pursue in the garden? Genesis 4:3 – “Go ahead. You won’t die! Go ahead, eat the forbidden fruit, because if you do you will be like God, knowing good and evil…”

Listen, my Loved Ones, I know this is deep, deep stuff, and difficult for us to totally comprehend. But listen, the doctrine of the Incarnation, that core gospel doctrine is ravaged of its stumbling block ability – you know, “it if foolishness to those who are perishing” (1 Cor. 1:18) – and also it is robbed of its life-altering, eternal destiny changing power in our lives, if we don’t grasp, or if we, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and many other false groups, remove from it the fact that Jesus Christ, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, was first of all the Eternal Word of God, God the Son, fully, infinitely, eternally EQUAL WITH GOD!

Yes, go ahead, take a minute and let what I’ve just explained to you sort of sink in. It’s difficulty stuff, isn’t it? We look at pictures, artists’ rendering of what Jesus may have looked like, maybe have even in our own minds a mental image of our Savior’s face, so tender, so warm, so human! But listen, as nice as those things might be, listen, that’s not who Jesus was before Bethlehem! No! He was, as Luke records in his genealogy of Jesus found in Luke chapter three, the Son of God, last line, startling, mind-boggling last line of the genealogy, Jesus was not, as most everyone supposed, the son of Joseph, the carpenter from Nazareth! No! He was – is – always will be, the Son of God! (Luke 3:38) The Eternal Word of God – with God – in the beginning.

Now, why do I press this point so intensely? Two reasons; number one, because of how it helps us see the depths of what Christ did for us! And, what an awesome things all of that is! But secondly, I press this point about the full deity of Christ, about His being in ‘very nature’ God (that’s what the simply word ‘form’ means, there in verse 6); Jesus’ Christ essential being and nature is God – the same - not less than, not different from God the Father, but the same. I press this point about Jesus Christ’s full deity because of how it serves to instruct us, and yes, I would say, even confront us and rebuke us, right where we NEED rebuke, confrontation and instruction. Let’s open each of these up for just a moment, shall we?

Do you and I really grasp, in all its depth, in all its meaning, in all of its infinite beauty, what Jesus Christ has done for us? I’d like to suggest to you that we don’t! We should make it our aim to grasp these things. In fact, the apostle Paul prayed that the Christians at Ephesus WOULD grasp the depths of all of this in Ephesians chapters one and three. Take a look.

Ephesians 1:15-23, “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Ephesians 3:14-21, “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Do you and I really comprehend the depths of what Jesus Christ has done for us? I don’t think we do!

But listen, don’t lose heart. Don’t give up or give in. That’s why the apostle Paul wrote Philippians chapter two, to help us, to enable us to more fully understand the awesome nature of what Jesus has done for us, when He became flesh and dwelt among us. That’s why God’s Spirit directed Paul to write Philippians chapter two.

And, what has Jesus Christ done for us in this thing we Christian’s call the Incarnation? It’s deep. I know it is. But listen, in light of what we’ve already learned about the infinite and eternal DEITY of Christ, it is also downright startling! Shocking! And undoubtedly, a stumbling block of FOOLISHNESS to many across the centuries. What am I talking about? Four times, in slightly different ways with slightly different aspects of meaning, but all four, bundled up to penetrate our hearts; here’s what I’m talking about.

Philippians 2:5 and following: “Christ Jesus, who was in the form of God… [and] equal with God… what did He do for us?

In 2 Corinthians 8:9 the apostle Paul puts it this way. Don’t you love this verse? A verse, by the way, that is situated right, smack-dab, in the middle of a section in 2 Corinthians about paying your tithes. In 2 Corinthians 8:9, the apostle Paul describes this startling, almost shocking nature of the doctrine of the Incarnation of Christ like this: “for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich – Donald Trump eat your heart out! Though Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word of God, Second member of the Godhead, though He was rich – with a capital ‘R’ – in His grace, what did He do? “He became poor, born in a stable, placed in a manger, nowhere to lay His head on this earth, no place really to call ‘home’.

The eternally RICH God, the Son, became poor – POOR – that you through His poverty might become rich!” Do you comprehend the DEPTHS of what Jesus Christ did for you? Paul’s hoping, praying, writing so that we will…

And so he says, in Philippians 2:5-8,

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

What did Jesus Christ do for you? He did not grasp for, cling to, that pre-incarnate glory and majesty, but made Himself of no reputation, literally, “He emptied Himself,” took on the form of a slave, a bondservant, and came in the likeness of men; that we, that WE, through His poverty, might become rich!

Now listen, in as simple of terms as I can come up with, that’s the Doctrine of the Incarnation. The Word, the Eternal Word of God, Who was with God in the beginning, God the Son, Jesus Christ, the Infinitely Rich One, the Equal with God One; He became flesh, He became poor. That’s the startling, shocking, stumbling block of the Incarnation. And, that doctrine is at the heart of all that Jesus Christ has done for us. But listen, here’s where the message moves from staggering depths of doctrine, to stunning words of instruction and rebuke. So, get ready, get ready.

Verse 5 – The pivot point for the whole passage, notice what it says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…” Another translation puts it like this: “your attitude, your mindset should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…”

Okay, Paul. Okay. What are you trying to tell us? Drop down to verses 14 through 16 with me, will you? The God and Father who desires to have blameless and un-blemished children in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation – are you a child of God? Blameless and without blemish, is that what you are? The Savior who longs for the ones He came to save to shine like lights in the world. And, ye, even the apostle who prayed, I mean begged God that people at Philippi and people at McKinney would hold fast the Word of life so that he could rejoice in the day of Christ that he had not run or labored in vain.

God – our Father – Jesus Christ, our Savior; Paul, inspired apostle, all three of them exhort us with the words… “let this mind, this mindset, this attitude that prompted Jesus Christ to do what He did, let it be in you!” Why? You know why, don’t you? I know, it hurts, it embarrasses us, it really ought to SHAME us, that we NEED that exhortation; but, we need that Christ-like mindset, because instead of enjoying the consolation Christ provides, instead of being comforted by His love, instead of relishing a fellowship, a Holy Spirit-fellowship, richer and deeper than any other on earth; instead of being marked as our Savior is marked, by affection, tender affection and mercy, you know what we are! We are pursuing self! We are watching out only for our own interests! We are esteeming ourselves better than anyone else! We are on the hunt for an empty glory – “I will be like God!” - that is really no glory at all! Let this mind, this Christ-like mindset, be in you! In you! Can you hear the still small voice, the quiet whisper of the Spirit of Jesus, and of the Word of Jesus to the effect that this is the way God intended for you and me to think and behave all along? Can you hear them say, “in Christ, in God, who is at work in His children, both to will and to do for His good pleasure, to please Him! In Him this is the way it CAN be, it WILL BE in you and me? Or, or – Is the only voice we hear the screaming, blaring voice of our Enemy, “you can be as God – go ahead – eat the fruit!”?

The Doctrine of the Incarnation of Christ, and really, also that of the humiliation of Christ, stretched out as He was, on Calvary’s cross, and that of the Exaltation of Christ, here’s what they teach us, what they say to us:

Jesus Christ emptied Himself and thus, was highly exalted…

But we, too often we, exalt ourselves, and thus, God – what does He do? He has to humble us! He has to confront us with the words, “Let this mind, THIS mind be in you…”

Resolved: to Hold Fast to the Past - part 1

Preached at Northwest Christian Church
by David P. Kautt
Sunday morning, January 3, 2010

Acts 2:36-47: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that
God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when
they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of
the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Then Peter said to them,
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For
the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many
as the Lord our God will call.”
And with many other words he testified and
exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”

Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day
about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in
the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread; and in prayers.
Then fear came up on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through
the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had
need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from
house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the
church daily those who were being saved.

Two thousand and ten – can you believe it? We are now fully one decade – 10 years into this new century – this new millenium. And, as we are wont to say at the beginning of a New Year, it’s time to make a fresh start. It’s time to turn over some new leaves. It’s time perhaps to begin some new habits.

However, before you and I head off to pursue the fulfillment of our “New Year’s Resolutions,” allow me to make to you a suggestion of a different sort. Today, as we begin this New Year and this new decade together, I’d like to suggest to you that there are some things – some very important things, I believe, that are worth holding on to – worth continuing in – worth maintaining and enhancing rather than neglecting and abandoning. But, what are those things? What is it that we should continue to pursue, in the midst of our pursuit of other worthwhile new ventures?

Take a closer look at our text with me today, as we seek to answer that crucial question. Acts Chapter two. I wish we had time to read the entirety of this important portion of Scripture. It’s full of a lot of key verses that let us in on the very earliest events of – the “birthday” we might say – of the Early Church. However, in the interest of time, and the other important things in this text we need to examine this morning, I want to direct your attention primarily to one verse from the passage we read a moment ago. That verse is verse 42. Read it again with me if you would, please:

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread; and in prayers.

As we begin a New Year – even a new decade – there is a lot of talk about new starts, fresh beginnings and so forth. However, I’d like for you to consider with me what we don’t want to leave behind as we close the door on 2009. Notice again what Acts 2:42 says – how this verse begins – as it describes the practices, the habits, (there’s a New Year’s resolution word for you) – take a look at Acts 2:42 and seek with me to know, and understand and to do what the Early Church did.

Look first of all at how this verse begins, the first few words of it. It says that “they continued steadfastly….” Some translations put it: “They devoted themselves to….” What does this portion of the text mean? And what are we to do about it? Steadfast – steadfastly. It’s kind of an older, less common English word – but I found it interesting to learn that it has to do with a constant, firm, fixed resolution. Resolution to do something or to BE something. We know a lot about people who are fickle, don’t we? We know a lot about people who waver and waffle in their decision-making, don’t we? But when the Bible says here of these earliest believers that they “continued steadfastly in…” fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer, what it means is that with great diligence, and great fervency, they directed their strength TOWARD these four priorities.

Acts 2:42. As I said, when we come to a crossroads, like a year-ending and a new one beginning, we may have a desire - even a habit - of doing what my sons did on New Year’s day. Time to clean out the garage and haul off some things, time to let go of, turn our back on some things. But, listen. WE call ourselves a New Testament Church, don’t we? Don’t we? Well, then let’s act like one! Let’s follow their example, and not set aside these four key priorities! Think of it this way, would you, my Loved Ones? When the Holy Spirit inspired historian, Dr. Luke – details these things for us here, what he is really says is this: “Day-in-and-day-out, from one month, one year, one decade, one century to the next – what the early church did was they busied themselves with these four things.” 21st century Christians – 2010 Christians – should do the same!

Okay. Okay. But, what does the Bible mean when it says, “the apostles’ doctrine?” What does it mean when it says they held out and held on to the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayer?

Well, let’s take a look, shall we? Four priorities worth continuing – worth maintaining and enhancing – New Year or no New Year – what are they? How are we to go about pursuing them?

First off, priority #1 is the one Luke describes as “the apostles’ doctrine,” the apostles’ teaching. What does this phrase mean? Well, first, let’s uncover what it doesn’t mean. When looking at a phrase like “the apostles’ teaching,” we might be prone to say that Luke is talking here about their activity – that the emphasis of the text is on the DOING of the teacher’s task.

But if that were the emphasis, what good would that be for us who live not in the first, but in the twenty-first century, seeing that the apostles are not still around to carry out that task? “And they devoted themselves to – continued steadfastly in – the apostles’ doctrine, the apostles’ teaching.” What does this phrase mean if it is not emphasizing the activity of the apostles?

Here’s what I believe the Holy Spirit meant for us to understand by this phrase: “Day-in and day-out, the early church held out and held on to – they directed diligent and fervent strength toward – WHAT the apostles taught! The emphasis, in other words, is not on the activity so much as it is on the outcome of that activity, the content of their teaching!

Now, before we move on from here, maybe you’re wondering, what’s the big deal, the content rather than the activity?

Let me take you to two or three passages to see if you might grasp this more clearly.
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

In verse 20, notice the emphasis Jesus makes when He details what’s involved in the process of making disciples. Is the emphasis on the activity, the teaching, OR is the emphasis on what the disciple-maker teaches? Jesus says, “Teach them.” Teach them what? “Teach them to observe – literally, ‘to keep, to guard, to obey’ – all that I have commanded you….” The emphasis is on what? On the teaching of the apostles’ (Jesus’ hand-picked representatives, sent out by Him with His authority). To teach others what – there’s that word again – to teach others WHAT He had taught them!! Take a look at John 14:25-26. Take a look at John 16:12-15. Take a look at 1 John 2:20-27. Take a look even at Acts 1:8, where Jesus commissions His closest men with the words, “You shall be witnesses – to Me!’ And you’ll discover that for the early church, the priority was not the so-called insights of pop-psychology, or of the advice of Dear Abby or Ann Landers or, even of the words of some supposedly lost, but now found, previously unknown portion of “Scripture.” (Like in Dan Brown’s book0) Rather, the priority was on the Word of God, the words of Christ, handed down to us through the apostles, the teachings of Christ, to be learned, to be understood, to be obeyed!

We say we want to be a New Testament church? I agree! Let’s do so. Let’s be so! [Hold up Bible.] “And they continued steadfastly in the authentic, authoritative words of Jesus through the apostles.” There’s a great place to begin! There’s a perfect place to start!

Priority #2 – They devoted themselves – they held out and held on to – the fellowship – the fellowship.

Fellowship. That’s a word we use quite often as twenty-first century Christians. But do we know what it means, what it entails from a New Testament, from a first-century church perspective? Fellowship. In our era, that word most often is linked with another word – one that you and I might wish were true for today. I’m talking about the word “DINNER.” “FOOD.”
But again, I ask you to consider the teaching of this text and other texts, to see if that is what fellowship really means. While you’re mulling that over, allow me to read three or four passages for you. Please listen closely.

Psalm 133:1-3 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the LORD commanded the blessing –
Life forevermore.

Acts 2:44-47 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

1 John 1:3-4 …that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 9:10-15 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you; who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

“And they continued steadfastly, they diligently and resolutely directed their strength towards… fellowship….” What is the meaning of this word? What difference does it make to us?
Allow me to suggest, first of all, that the meaning of the New Testament term “fellowship” has to do, as Psalm 133 put so beautifully, fellowship has to do with brotherly unity. It has to do with genuine believers in the Lord Jesus Christ drawn to Him by His love and grace towards us, and bound to one another by His Holy Spirit. Fellowship – in one New Testament sense of the term - has to do with people of like precious faith having all things in common, sharing our hearts, our tender affection. “Greet one another with a holy kiss,” the Bible declares. Sharing our heads, our minds, as they are fashioned into the mindset of Jesus Christ. By the way, according to Philippians 2:5-11, the mindset of Jesus Christ is the mindset of unselfish servanthood, washing the feet of the saints (1 Timothy 5:10).

And yes, my friends, if we are to be a truly New Testament church, consistently engaging on a day-by-day, year-by-year, decade-by-decade basis in Biblical fellowship, we will not only share our hearts with our brothers and sisters, and our heads with our brothers, but our hands [reach into pocket and pull out wallet] with our brothers and sisters (2 Cor 9:10-15). By the way, thank you one and all, for how you’ve done that with my family and me for all these years!
New Testament fellowship. How can I say, and put it more simply? Just like with the breaking of the bread, just like with prayer, just like with the apostles’ doctrine – Jesus Christ is central! The breaking of the bread – Jesus’ sacrifice is central! The prayers – Jesus’ power and program is central! “Hollowed be Thy name – Thy kingdom – Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven….” The apostles’ doctrine, Jesus’ Christ’s words are central. And then there’s the fellowship, the brotherly unity of heart and head and, even of hand. And what’s the focus?
Listen closely. They continued steadfastly in the fellowship. What that means is that they kept Christ’s people central! Through prayerful intercession, through humble service, and yes, through generous, even sacrificial giving, they showed, that they remembered Jesus’ words: “In as much as you have done it to the least of these, my brothers, you have done it unto Me!”

Beloved, I’m looking at the clock, and certain that we must close out our study this morning. But the Lord willing, we’ll come back to it next Lord’s Day. But before we bow in prayer, let me say it again like this: When it comes to moving from 2009 to 2010, we may want to close some doors behind us and we may need to put some periods on some sentences, and shut the book on some chapters of our lives. But listen. As New Testament Christians, let us never, ever tire in doing what is right. Let us never, ever stop, or even slow down, our pursuit of, our busying ourselves with, our giving our all to Christ’s Word (the apostles’ doctrine), Christ’s sacrifice (the breaking of bread), Christ’s power and program (the prayers) and Christ’s people (the fellowship).

Let’s pray.

What the Bible Says about Godly Manhood & Godly Fatherhood

What the Bible Says about Godly Manhood and Godly Fatherhood - David Kautt 6-21-2009 Northwest Christian Church - Father's Day Sunday.

• Godly Men Cling to their Own Wives: Genesis 2:23 "And Adam said: 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man.'" Verse 24 concludes with, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."
• Godly Men Rejoice in their Own Wives: Proverbs 5:18 "Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth."
• Godly Men Love their Own Wives: Ephesians 5:25, 28-29 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church."
• Godly Men Give Honor and Respect to their Own Wives: 1 Peter 3:7 "Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered."
• Godly Men Show Their Love for Their Children by Training Them, Disciplining Them and Guiding Them in God's Way: Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 13:24 "He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly." Proverbs 19:18 "Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction." Ephesians 6:4 "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."
• Godly Men Show Their Fitness for Church Leadership by Leading Their Wives and Children in a Godly Way: 1 Timothy 3:1-5 "This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)"

Some important truths that David shared with his congregation this past Sunday (Father's Day). Are you a Godly man? Are you a Godly father? Take some time to study your role as the head of your house.

J.C. Ryle - The Eye of God

J.C. Ryle - The Eye of God, Thoughts for Young Men

- Special Rules for Young People -

(3) For another thing, resolve never to forget the eye of God. The eye of God! Think of that. Everywhere, in every house, in every field, in every room, in every company, alone or in a crowd, the eye of God is always upon you. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." (Prov. 15:3), and they are eyes that read hearts as well as actions (Heb. 4:12, 13).

Endeavor, I beseech you, to realize this fact. Remember that you have to deal with an all-seeing God, - a God who never slumbers nor sleeps (Ps. 121:4), - a God who understands your thoughts afar off (Ps. 139:2), and with whom the night shines as the day. You may leave your father's house, and go away, like the prodigal, into a far country, and think that there is nobody to watch your conduct; but the eye and ear of God are there before you. You may deceive your parents or employers, you may tell them falsehoods, and be one thing before their faces, and another behind their backs, but you cannot deveice God. He knows you through and through. He heard what you said as you spoke to people today. He knows what you are thinking of at this minute. He has set your most secret sins in the light of His countenance, and they will one day come out before the world to your shame, unless you take heed.

How little is this really felt! How many things are done continually, which men would never do if they thought they were seen! How many matters are transacted in the chambers of imagination, which would never bear the light of day! Yes; men entertain thoughts in private, and say words in private, and do acts in private, which they would be ashamed and blush to have exposed before the world. The sound of a footstep coming has stopped many a deed of wickedness. A knock at the door has caused many an evil work to be hastily suspended, and hurriedly laid aside. But oh, what miserable driveling folly is all this! There is an all-seeing Witness with us wherever we go. Lock the door, draw down the blinds, close the shutters, put out the light; it does not matter, it makes no difference; God is everywhere, you cannot shut Him out, or prevent His seeing. "All things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (Heb. 4:13). Well did young Joseph understand this when his master's wife tempted him. There was no one in the house to see them, no human eye to witness against him; but Joseph was one who lived as seeing Him that is invisible: "How can I do this great wickedness," he said, "and sin against God?" (Gen. 39:9)

I ask you to read Psalm 139. I advise you to learn it by heart. Make it the test of all your dealings in this world's business: say to yourself often, "Do I remember that God sees me?"
Live as in the sight of God. This is what Abraham did, - he walked with Him. This is what Enoch did, - he walked with Him. This is what heaven itself will be, - the eternal presence of God. Do nothing you would not like God to see. Say nothing you would not like God to hear. Write nothing you would not like God to read. Go no place where you would not like God to find you. Read no book of which you would not like God to say, "Show it to Me." Never spend your time in such a way that you would not like to have God say, "What are you doing?"

Man's Chief End~

Shorter Catechism (Westminster)

Q: What is the chief end of man?

A: To glorify God – 1 Cor. 10:31 - "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

Col. 3:17 - "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Peter 4:11 "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles (utterances) of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Zechariah 14:21 "Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be [engraved] HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD OF HOSTS."

2 Cor. 4:1-7 - "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels…"

2 Tim. 2: 20-21 - "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wool, and of earth; some to honor, and some to dishonor: if a man therefor purge (cleanse) himself from these (see verses 16, 19), he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified (set apart) and meet (fit, useful) for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work."

Rev. 4:11 - "Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power for Thou has created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created."

Psalms 73:25-26 - "Whom have I in heaven by Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee. My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength (rock) of my heart and my portion forever."

Psalms 16:5-6 - "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup; thou maintainest (upholds) my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage (inheritance)."