Charity, A More Excellent Way - Part 1

Proverbs 8:6 - Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

Proverbs 17:7 - Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

Proverbs 17:27 - He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

Proverbs 22:20 - Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge.

When one is speaking of a excellent thing, such as the gospel of the grace of God, we should always strive to get men to have understanding in the truth we are speaking. Our intentions should be to give out the knowledge we have on the matter while not boasting of this knowledge.

A more excellent way implies another way was lacking. The law and grace is a great picture of something “good and holy and just” being replaced with something more excellent in grace. The death of the Testator was brought about by a MORE excellent sacrifice.

1 Corinthians 12:25-27 - That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

In Romans 2, we see the danger of the Jew clinging to the law. They were still boasting of God, and boasting of “knowing his will”. They had a “form of knowledge and of truth" (in the law). Verses 18-22 are a question to the Jew resting in the law. Going back into bondage.

Through our traditions we have learned to boast of the law and our knowledge, to preach the ways of the prophets, and to show the world salvation in the God of the Bible instead of His Son Jesus. By doing this in our pulpits and streets, we are guilty of dishonoring God. We are guilty of inducing the “blasphemy of God among the Gentiles” the same way our brethren in God, the Jews, were guilty of in Romans 2.

Romans 2:17-29 - Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

It’s a “more excellent way”. A way far different from the law. The law, which is a schoolmaster, brings us to Christ. The Jew clinging to the law in Romans 2 was attempting to approve the things that are “more excellent” with the law. By attempting to do this, they were causing the Gentiles to blaspheme God.

Paul said there is a more excellent way. And this more excellent way has nothing to do with any law or tradition found in the OT. What is the more excellent way?

I Corinthians 14:12 - Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

He said to covet earnestly the best gifts, and to excel to the edifying of the church. Paul says, yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. He was going to show them! We are to seek gifts that are beneficial to the edifying of the church, the body. We are to excel in this! In Hebrews 8, it talks of a more excellent sacrifice and a better covenant.

Everything within the New Testament that is associated with the new covenant is more excellent.

A more excellent sacrifice, a more excellent ministry, and a more excellent way. Jesus has a more excellent name than the angels in Hebrews 1. Abel’s more excellent sacrifice was blood sacrifice, given by faith, compared to Cain’s sacrifice of fruit, this being a direct reference to Christ.

Hebrews 11:4 - And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Why would we not study to see what is that more excellent way of which Paul spoke? Why would we not incline our ears unto understanding and knowledge concerning these things? Paul is getting ready to shew us (1 Corinthians 12:31 - and yet I shew unto you) what a more excellent way is. The next verse is 1 Corinthians 13:1 which states: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Paul is speaking of charity! The entire chapters' theme is CHARITY. Charity is not mentioned as a fruit of the Spirit because it consists of all of them. Charity is a natural work of the Holy Spirit. Paul’s more excellent way exudes charity. We see acts and traces of charity in the gospels, Acts, and nearly every one of Paul’s epistles.

It’s more important than our knowledge as defenders of righteousness. It’s more vital than our stance on the 1611. It’s more desirable then our power in preaching as Independent Baptists. Charity is opposite the law. Charity is more vital than all of these things.

If you are speaking without it, you are a sounding brass, and a tinkling cymbal!

1 Corinthians 13:1

You may have the gift to preach, teach, and understand in all knowledge, but without it, you are nothing!

1 Corinthians 13:2

You could have all faith, enough to do great things, but without it, you are nothing!

1 Corinthians 13:2

You could give your possessions away, or suffer persecution, and it will profit YOU nothing without charity!

1 Corinthians 13:3

It is a trait that has long suffering, kindness, contentment, and humility. Our reproof and reproving needs to be done with ALL longsuffering and doctrine.

1 Corinthians 13:4

It is a trait that does not behave unseemly or selfishly, but patiently and in pureness.

1 Corinthians 13:5

It is a trait that does not rejoice in iniquity, but in TRUTH. There is a spirit of truth and error.

1 Corinthians 13:6

It is a trait that can never fail when it is being practiced.

1 Corinthians 13:8

It is a trait that is brother to maturity and growth in a Christian.

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

This is not some verse meant to be quoted at a disobedient child who needs to grow up. Nor does it appear to be a verse about a backslider. This is a verse for a out-of-order religious person who refuses to recognize a new ways that came with a new covenant. It is clearly a man who is not recognizing charity. Given the context, it is clearly evident that if you are not practicing charity, you are still acting much like a child. You are still speaking like a child. You are still understanding as a child. You are still thinking as a child. The wisdom of Paul is important in how he dealt with the church in Corinth. Put away childish things. Quit acting like children. Follow after Charity!

1 Corinthians 16:13 - Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

It is childish to use your gift of preaching without charity. It is childish for you to be persecuted without charity. It is unprofitable to boast of God's truth without it. If you are getting arrested by civil authorities in America where we can still believe and preach without fear, death, or imprisonment, you are NOT practicing charity. You are still a babe in Christ who lacks understanding and discretion. Your knowledge has puffed you up. Your flesh and lust for attention and persecution is provoking your arrest, not the Spirit of God.

Do you have children? Do you know how children act? Think about it! They dominate conversations, cast unfounded accusations, carry on with tumultuous noises, seek and love attention, and want to be heard of every one around them. They won’t give others a chance to talk. They have to tell people something before they forget it. They have to get the last word in. They resort to name calling when not able to answer. They mock. They ask questions to which they already know the answers. They ridicule when faced with opposition. They hang around other children with attributes like themselves. They lack understanding. They lack discretion.

1 Corinthians - 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

We all have knowledge. We know of idolatry and how to preach on it. The Old Time Fundamentalist knows the dispensations and doctrines. We know how to preach like the old-time preachers, but what if we lack charity? Many of us are sounding brass. We are a tinkling cymbal. We say much, loud and unashamed, in our pulpits and on the street corners, but is it a uncertain sound, or indistinct? Does it bring confusion, or does it bring understanding?

1 Corinthians 14:7-9

7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

Preachers have much to say, yet if it isn’t unto edification and filled with understanding, we are merely speaking into the air. Without charity our preached words can be idle words. Unprofitable, and in vain. Are we to lift up our voices like trumpets, as men crying in the wilderness, bemoaning and bewailing sin and the workers of iniquity, showing our “house” their transgressions and the children of the Baptist their sins? Are we to upbraid the cities like Jonah and Jesus Christ did? We are children, having our understanding darkened, thinking and speaking like children!

If men are thinking and speaking like children, even with all authority, they will be like children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine!

Ephesians 4:14 - That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Man is doing that which is right in his own eyes. We do something because we think it is right? And we may even have scripture to back it up. Is that scripture sound doctrine or just Bible doctrine? Is it in order? Is it done with charity?

Paul said:

1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all things be done with charity.

There is a more excellent way, and it is a way that is involving charity, which is a bond of perfectness (Colossians 3:14), towards the body of Christ and the world. We disregard Paul’s order? We disregard Paul’s admonitions and stick closely with the admonitions of the Law? Why?

I like reading mens' responses to things such as this. They give the expected 2 or 3 verses from Paul where it seems at first glance like we have all cause to rebuke the workers of iniquity. These are men who privately interpret scriptures so they can carry on in their ministries how they want. It has nothing to do with what God wants. Is there not a cause? This is what I mean when I say “Bible evidence”. Spiritual with spiritual. Men will hold to 2 or 3 strong verses, ignoring the context, and then they will never deal with overwhelming biblical evidence that is directly contrary to what they believe and preach. For every one verse that they use to "prove" their point for their conduct and behavior, they will have to reject many more.

Men will hold to Ephesians 5:11, so they can reprove the works of darkness.

Men will pull them out of the fire, saving them with fear as seen in Jude.

Men will preach the word instant in season and out of season as seen in Timothy.

Men will reprove and rebuke without longsuffering and doctrine as seen in Timothy.

But all this is primarily done without charity! And somehow they never deal with the multitude of verses and passages that deal with charity, love, patience, and gentleness, not just towards the brethren, but to the lost as well. When a preacher shreds the simpleton with trickery, anger and guile, and then gives chapter, verse, reference, and question, they do it for their own glory and their own pride. These are men who are not attempting to reason with anyone, but instead assume that quoting the Bible or making others look deficient in Bible knowledge protects and justifies them. Why ask rhetorical questions to which we know the answers unless it is just to prove that the person we are attempting to draw to God doesn't? We destroy and judge them as unbelievers, and then we arrogantly ask them to quote us a Bible verse as evidence that they are like us? Why would we expect the worldly Christian or the unbeliever to match our Bible knowledge as Bible Believers? This is wrong!

Even in the passage giving out qualifications to bishops, we usually hear preachers hit on the obvious ones like men "...not given to wine, not a striker, one that ruleth his own house...", etc. But what we almost never hear is: Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

The sin of omission in dealing with context is as detrimental to truth as the sin of addition. Have we been a snare that the devil has used for years? The trap of good works being done the wrong way! It's the snare of the devil!

...a good report of them that are without...