SUBSTANCE, NOT SYMBOLISM
I appreciate tradition and symbolism, so this is not an attack on the values found in them. However, if people would be more concerned about getting the spots and blemishes off of their hearts than wearing smudges on their foreheads, it would be much better. Wearing a symbol that declares our commitment to Him should be accompanied by a life that abstains from sin. Otherwise, it is hypocrisy.
VERSES TO CONSIDER...
MATTHEW 6:1
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
MATTHEW 6:5
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
MATTHEW 23:5
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
His Mark Is Love And Holiness
Matthew 7:16-18
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
John 13:35
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
1 John 3:9-10
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother.
God's Witness Concerning His Children
ROMANS 8:13-16
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
The witness of God's Spirit is not just some kind of “approval nudge;” the Holy Spirit testifies to our salvation by giving us lives that are set free from sin and conforms us to His will.
We MORTIFY THE DEEDS OF THE BODY (FLESH),
We are LED BY THE SPIRIT (MEANING WE FOLLOW THE SPIRIT),
The witness of God's Spirit is the life we live in the Spirit.
1 PETER 2:21
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
VERSES TO CONSIDER...
MATTHEW 6:1
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
MATTHEW 6:5
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
MATTHEW 23:5
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
His Mark Is Love And Holiness
Matthew 7:16-18
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
John 13:35
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
1 John 3:9-10
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother.
God's Witness Concerning His Children
ROMANS 8:13-16
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
The witness of God's Spirit is not just some kind of “approval nudge;” the Holy Spirit testifies to our salvation by giving us lives that are set free from sin and conforms us to His will.
ROMANS 8:29
(29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
We are LED BY THE SPIRIT (MEANING WE FOLLOW THE SPIRIT),
The witness of God's Spirit is the life we live in the Spirit.
1 PETER 2:21
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
