For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
It is the will of God that believers silence the ignorance, uninformed accusations and foolish opposition of foolish men by well-doing and doing what is right. As strangers and pilgrims in this world on probation, copying the simplicity of Christ, they lay aside malice and evil and keep conduct honest among unbelievers who speak against them as evildoers. The silencing is accomplished by well-doing rather than by words, and not by answering criticism with wrongdoing. In its setting, the verse calls for respect for civil authority through submission to human ordinances and doing what is right.
Well-doing includes using Christian liberty and freedom as servants of God, not as a cover or excuse for malicious conduct and wrongdoing. Well-doing means loving the Lord with all the heart, soul, strength and mind and loving the neighbor as the self, with faith that works by love and purifies the soul, bearing much fruit to the glory of God. Though the world counts such supreme love to God and equal love to neighbor as going to extremes, God requires it, and this life of love and merciful service is the appointed work that answers criticism. Well-doing means abstaining from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.
When unbelievers behold such good works, they may glorify God in the day of visitation, and believers thereby show forth the praises of Him who called His chosen generation, royal priesthood, holy nation and peculiar people out of darkness into His marvelous light. Such good conduct preserves believers' influence and quiets opposition by removing prejudice. Believers' words and actions in this good conduct show the Spirit of Christ and the reality of their faith and love.
It is the special duty of ministers to represent Christ in this way, and this instruction exhorting believers to live godly lives is to be presented to the people. In their labor, answering ignorance by right doing means physicians and ministers are to stand in the relation God designed, with medical missionary work bound up with gospel ministry in complete unity for soul-saving. While so united they remain separate from the world and free from its contaminating influences, councils and false theories, molded after the likeness of Christ, standing on the platform of truth, and laboring disinterestedly together to save sinners.
It is the will of God that believers silence the ignorance, uninformed accusations and foolish opposition of foolish men by well-doing and doing what is right. As strangers and pilgrims in this world on probation, copying the simplicity of Christ, they lay aside malice and evil and keep conduct honest among unbelievers who speak against them as evildoers. The silencing is accomplished by well-doing rather than by words, and not by answering criticism with wrongdoing. In its setting, the verse calls for respect for civil authority through submission to human ordinances and doing what is right.
Well-doing includes using Christian liberty and freedom as servants of God, not as a cover or excuse for malicious conduct and wrongdoing. Well-doing means loving the Lord with all the heart, soul, strength and mind and loving the neighbor as the self, with faith that works by love and purifies the soul, bearing much fruit to the glory of God. Though the world counts such supreme love to God and equal love to neighbor as going to extremes, God requires it, and this life of love and merciful service is the appointed work that answers criticism. Well-doing means abstaining from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.
When unbelievers behold such good works, they may glorify God in the day of visitation, and believers thereby show forth the praises of Him who called His chosen generation, royal priesthood, holy nation and peculiar people out of darkness into His marvelous light. Such good conduct preserves believers' influence and quiets opposition by removing prejudice. Believers' words and actions in this good conduct show the Spirit of Christ and the reality of their faith and love.
It is the special duty of ministers to represent Christ in this way, and this instruction exhorting believers to live godly lives is to be presented to the people. In their labor, answering ignorance by right doing means physicians and ministers are to stand in the relation God designed, with medical missionary work bound up with gospel ministry in complete unity for soul-saving. While so united they remain separate from the world and free from its contaminating influences, councils and false theories, molded after the likeness of Christ, standing on the platform of truth, and laboring disinterestedly together to save sinners.