Foundation
Doctrine #3: Man's Thinking
Doctrine #3
Doctrine #3 Read
I have experienced the spotlight. When I was 24 years old the band I played drums in performed at the X-Games in Aspen, Colorado. The chalet we stayed in was $2,000 a night, and we got to ski for free. I love skiing, by the way. When I got to the top of the mountain I had an epiphany. I wanted to go home. I felt lonely and sad. I believed if I could experience success I would be happy and I wasn't. I attained my "plan" and it left me empty. I knew I needed to start over.
Overview
Every human thinks unconsciously, without even trying. Every human has the ability to think consciously, however, it is an intentional choice. This means choosing not to consciously think is actually a choice to think unconsciously. Even so, man's natural way of consciously thinking is short-term and focused on the physical/tangible. Man naturally thinks in a way that justifies himself.
Discussion Question
Do you believe you justify yourself?
Scripture
Proverbs 16:2
ChapterRead the ChapterChanges this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits.
2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Commentary
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 1-2
This was comparative thinking: seeing yourself as always right. Contrastive thinking was considering you could be wrong. Man did not do this in his flesh: "the ways of a man."
1 Corinthians 8:2
ChapterRead the ChapterChanges this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
2If any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he ought to know;
2And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
Commentary
Proof we are wrong is that we think we can reach a state where we will be done thinking because we are right. This is a focus on immediate gratification: the short-term. We can never do enough thinking to be always and completely right. The proof, we get tired from focusing on something too much.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verse 2
Doctrine: If any man thinks he knows anything so well he cannot be taught anything new, then he is proving he does not know everything. We will never know everything and we ought to always be willing and able to consider we could be wrong. That is humility.
5Now therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Consider your ways.
6Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
7Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Consider your ways.
5Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
6Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
7Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
Commentary
The word "consider" means "with side". Internally, when we are operating in man's thinking we have the ability to see another perspective, or argue another "side".
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 2-5
God told the people to consider their ways. He wanted them to be contrastive, to consider where they were wrong: humility.
Commentary · verse 6
Their ways had been unprofitable.
Commentary · verse 7
They were told to consider their ways again...
6For we are all become as one that is unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment: and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
6But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Commentary
A piece of cloth can start out beautiful, but eventually will become torn and ragged. The color of leaves is beautiful in the fall, yet in a matter of months they die. Externally, the natural progression of man's thinking is actions that look good then over time require adjustment. It is good to start with man's thinking, but we cannot stay there. We have heard the saying, "I'm not as sharp as I used to be!"
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 5-6
The righteousness of our works was as a "polluted garment" compared to the Righteousness from God (grace). God's Righteousness led to Salvation. Our righteousness led to Reward, but has no effect on our Salvation.
19And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
19And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Commentary
Another way to say "man's thinking" is called "operating in a human thought process." The way for a person to remain in a human thought process is to intentionally remember or imagine. This requires us to be conscious. We can choose to operate outside of our normal patterns, which makes us humans. When we take communion it is a chance for us to regain our human thought process if we are thinking unconsciously. Remembering what Jesus has done for us will break our cycle of "going through the motions" during a church service.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 19-20
Verses 19-20: the Lord's Supper.
Proverbs 14:12
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12There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.
12There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 11-12
The way that seemed right to man, that led to death, was the way that caused man to think he knew all he needed to know. He thought he was in need of nothing.
Proverbs 16:25
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25There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.
25There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Commentary
Our belief that we are completely right can lead to death because we are actually wrong. Over time a man will not be able to think well enough to determine which way is right and which way will lead to death. Did King Solomon (the author of most of the proverbs) end his life pursuing that which led to what was right, or that which led to death?
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 24-25
More teaching about the ways of man (flesh) being short term and destructive.
21For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22covetings, wickednesses, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness: 23all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man.
21For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Commentary
Our thoughts are the source of our sinful actions. Thinking is the cause, our actions are an effect. We think into our heart, and the decisions that we make are then planted in our hearts. If we think evil, and make evil decisions, our actions will reflect that. This is our choice. We choose what we want to think about.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 14-23
What comes out of man is what defiles him and it comes out through his heart. The heart does not lie. What is planted in (comes through) the heart will result in an effect through Justice, which includes judgment. The cause of our wickedness does not come from outside ourselves, it comes from within ourselves.
5For they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace: 7because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be: 8and they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Commentary
Paul also stated the mind of the flesh is death. We have the ability to choose what we will pursue. We can be after the flesh OR after the Spirit!
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 1-39
Remember, context was crucial. Paul continued to speak about believers who, even though they do evil because of the sin within themselves (body/flesh/brain), chose to serve God with their being (Mind/Soul) through Biblical Grace.
Commentary · verses 5-6
Being physically minded as a cause brings death as an effect which would be seen by others as sin, and the person's response would be to pridefully justify their sin. Being spiritually minded as a cause brings life and peace as an effect and that even though sin could result (because of the flesh), the person's response to the Law (and others) pointing out the sin would be confession and repentance: the person humbly and joyfully removing and repairing the sin in their flesh while not getting in condemnation because they know they are actually their Mind/Soul and not their body/flesh/brain. Notice, God is able to give you an influence intended for good that may end up with you doing sin because of your flaws. God could even do this in order to make you aware you need to remove and repair this sin in you. Which is your focus?
Commentary · verses 7-8
Doctrine: The "mind" of the flesh, the flesh as a being, is against God. Those in the flesh cannot please God. The flesh thinks short term and is without faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Notice how the being of the individual is the Mind/Soul and what the being of the individual chooses to focus on (the Holy Spirit through their spirit or their flesh/body/brain) is the responsibility of the individual with respect to Salvation.
1 Samuel 16:7
ChapterRead the ChapterChanges this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
7But Jehovah said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for Jehovah seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh on the heart.
7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
Commentary
Samuel thought the tallest man was the one whom God chose to be king. Man's thinking focuses on the outside appearance: the physical. God teaches us how He sees because we don't naturally think as He does. Isn't it great that God teaches us to see how He sees?
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 5-7
God told Samuel to not look at the outward appearance, the effects. God looked on the heart, on the causes. God had already stated He would find a man after God's own Heart. God's Heart was to help people to profitably grow by making them aware of their issues. A man after God's own Heart would always respond to God's chastening by growing. He would see God's confrontation/chastening as a benefit. Saul responded to God's chastening by defending himself because of his pride.
11For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and withereth the grass; and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his goings.
11For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
Commentary
We think the rich are the greatest among us because they immediately have physical possessions and look great. However, the greatest among us, in their own strength, are temporary.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verse 11
Grace in this verse was euprepeia - "godly appearance, beauty." This was the one time in the New Testament that "grace" was translated from a different Greek word than charis. The beautiful physical appearance of the rich will eventually fade away because of Justice.
Closing Thoughts
Just like a guy who thinks playing big music venues will make him happy, the way that man thinks is short-term and immediate. We want what we want, and we want it now! This is called the "finish-line" mentality: looking for a position where you can stop pursuing more, where you will be comfortable. God calls us to think, but our natural way of thinking will lead to death. How are we to think? Is there a way to think that leads to life?
All our thinking immediately looks right to us. If you said, "No" you just proved that scripture right!