The Real Golden Rule Colossians 3:17

Billington Translation And whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and Father through Him.

A Caution Don’t live for yourself Luke 11:43 “Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces…” Matthew 6 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men to be seen by them…and when you pray you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues…”

A Caution John 5:41-44 “I do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?”

A Caution Don’t live for others 1 Corinthians 1:12-13 “Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘ I am of Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

A Caution Live for Jesus! “I desire above all things that my name should be concealed, and that none be called by the name of Lutheran, but of Christian. What is Luther? My doctrine is not mine, but Christ’s. I was not crucified for any. How comes it to pass that I, who am but a filthy, stinking bag of worms, that any of the sons of God should be denominated from my name? Away with these schismatical names; let us be denominated from Christ, from whom alone we have our doctrine.” (Martin Luther)

The Command Do what Jesus would do! “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus”

The Command Do what Jesus would do! In our thoughts “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (3:5) James 1:14-15 “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin…”

The Command “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” (Matthew 5:22) “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matt 5:28)

The Command In our speech “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth” (3:8) Matthew 5:37 “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ “No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

The Command James 3:2-8 “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire,

The Command world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

The Command In our actions John 15:14 “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” We can used the Sermon on the Mount as our guide for how we are to think, speak, and act

The Command Murder Adultery Divorce Retaliation Charitable deeds Prayer Wealth Love

Our Motive Follow out of Thanksgiving 1 Thessalonians 5:18“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Comes from love and understanding 1 John 4:19 “We love Him because He first loved us.”