CREDIBILITY ROSS SMITH 160316
(ALL REFERENCES ARE FROM AMPLIFIED BIBLE)
Acts 17:31 Because He has fixed a day when He will judge the world righteously (justly) by a Man Whom He has destined and appointed for that task, and HE HAS MADE THIS CREDIBLE AND given conviction and assurance and evidence to everyone BY RAISING HIM FROM THE DEAD.
We also have a commission found in 2 Corinthians 3:6, “Qualified ministers”
“CREDIBILITY” The quality of being convincing or believable
The quality of being believed in and trusted.
The quality or power of inspiring belief
NOTE THE PROGRESSION, WE HAVE TO BE CONVINCING OR BELIEVABLE BEFORE WE CAN BE BELIEVED AND TRUSTED, AND THEN RECOGNISED FOR OUR ABILITY TO INSPIRE BELIEF
Notice that all these definitions identify “CREDIBILITY” as a “QUALITY”. So in Acts 17 we have the assurance of Gods purpose defined clearly, without any ambiguity, in the demonstration of Jesus life, a life of unparalleled QUALITY. Not only does His life provide reason for credibility, but more so does His resurrection, an unquestionable quality, and to such a degree that we have “conviction, assurance, and evidence” of His credibility. Another term is “VALIDITY”.
Inconsistency on the part of Pastors and of the Christian community, between what they say and what they do, between word, and manner of life, is undermining the churches “CREDIBILITY”.
A practical, mundane example of “Credibility” was when we purchased a second-hand caravan. I asked the retailer for some warranty on the van and they declared, “Our reputation is our warranty”. The first week required some repairs to the van but when I went to recover the expense, the retailer refused to pay. They failed to deliver therefore they lost their credibility, and destroyed their reputation. HAVE WE DELIVERED?
Ecclesiastes 5:5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. (or say, and not do)
Every action, or perceived action shapes credibility. When you break a promise you lose credibility and when you lose credibility you lose trust.
Should you be uncomfortable with the term “CREDIBILITY”, then include these words as alternatives in your study: – “Integrity, legitimacy, authenticity, sincerity, virtue, validity”. (And remember ACCURACY IMPROVES INTEGRITY)
The apostle Paul had no problem with any of these terms, he was confident of his credibility, for he stated in 1 Corinthians 11:1 PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [FOLLOW MY EXAMPLE], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah)
We should always test the credibility of a man, or of an incident, in the light of the credibility that is evidenced, not just face value, but with discernment and insight initiated and energised by the Holy Spirit.
Do we have any “Credibility”? — The first thing to look for to answer this question is, “where is the fruit”? FRUIT CONFIRMS CREDIBILITY and the first fruit we need is “LOVE”. This type of fruit is both plain and exotic, it has basic qualities that should be evidenced in our daily walk, and then it has those exotic qualities that can even compel a man to, lay down his life for his friend”. (John 15:13)
John 13:35 By this shall ALL [MEN] KNOW that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].
NICE TODAY AND NASTY TOMORROW!!!!!
This knowledge is universal, no one will be left in any doubt as to the “CREDIBILITY” of the man who has a glut of LOVE, of fruit in abundance. Sometimes we are recognised within our circle of friends, or within a fellowship, as having a degree of love, but this constitutes “Some men shall know, not ALL men shall know”.
A similar intention is expressed in 1 Thessalonians 4:12 and identifies behaviour patterns which constitute “CREDIBILITY” in the following terms,
“So that you may bear yourselves becomingly and be correct and honourable and COMMAND THE RESPECT OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD,”
The incidence of “All men know” and the “Command the respect of the outside world” is supported by PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION, not just some ethereal claim or academic achievement. So the initial excursion into “CREDIBILITY” has two simple tests, and I can obtain the answers from within myself and have no need for prompting. These question are: –
Do I “Love one another”?
Do I “Command respect”? (This is different to “DEMAND” respect )
Depending upon our perceptions or misconceptions, we will all come up with different responses, many of which are intended to vindicate my position or excuse my failures, or to rephrase the question so it is not so pointed. Attempted vindication is attempted delusion, and the only person deluded is SELF. The world is clamoring for more time off, more money, more benefits, more leisure, more of anything else but I do not see too many wanting more of God, for when we do it is a sure sign that we want “CREDIBILITY”.
Some deep introspection is involved in these two simple questions above, because they involve a degree of dedication, commitment, denial of self, things that we are mentally aware of but spiritually devoid of.
What do I need to do to show I have “love one for the other”?
How do I command respect from the outside world
Does my performance match my profession, this is the hard one.
2 Timothy 3:5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].
In the book of John we find many directions which will assist us in attaining the Credibility that Father requires, not the least of which is JOHN 13:34, which is not just a suggestion, BUT AN ORDER
John 13:34 I give you a NEW COMMANDMENT: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.
If we disobey that “ORDER” or “NEW COMMANDMENT” then we disqualify ourselves from any “CREDIBILITY”. This love that Jesus ordered the disciples to display was their BADGE OF DISCIPLESHIP, and this badge could only be pinned to the “Garb of a Disciple”, that is the garb of OBEDIENCE.
This verse is a reflection of Old Testament instruction written to Israel, and recorded in the book of Leviticus, and was first adopted to indicate that it had for its main subject the duties and functions appertaining to the chief house of the priestly tribe of Levi. As a consequence, we are priests, as described by 1 Peter 2:5, “Come, and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a HOLY (DEDICATED, CONSECRATED) PRIESTHOOD, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ”. This priesthood carries responsibility from way back in the Levitical times
Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take revenge or bear any grudge against the sons of your people, BUT YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF. I am the Lord.
So why, if it was ordered in Leviticus in the Old Testament, is there the necessity for a “New Commandment” in the New Testament? It is called “NEW”, not because there was no command before which required people to love their fellow-man, for the Levitical precept of the law was that they should love their neighbour as themselves, but it was new because it had never before been made that, by which any class or body of people had been KNOWN AND DISTINGUISHED, it was an order that if complied with would ”ESTABLISH CREDIBILITY”.
Matthew intensifies the principle with a dissertation of what this love involves, and the character of love in this context rules out any potential for PARTIALITY, for we have a certain propensity to “pick and choose”. Let me share the details.
Matthew 5:43-48 YOU HAVE HEARD (Matthew seems to be deleting or erasing any excuse that we “didn’t know” … comments mine) that it was said, You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy; (verse 44), But I tell you, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES and PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU, (verse 45) TO SHOW (or SO THAT .. comments mine) that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; (or to establish your CREDIBILITY … comments mine) for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike]. (verse 46) For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that? (verse 47) And if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even THE GENTILES (THE HEATHEN) DO THAT? (verse 48) You, THEREFORE, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in MIND AND CHARACTER,(or in attitude and behaviour …. comments mine) having reached the proper height of VIRTUE AND INTEGRITY], (or using today’s terms, “”CREDIBILITY” … comments mine) as your heavenly Father is perfect.
2 Peter 1:5 ………… employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy)
You may recall that we identified these two characteristics earlier in this study as component and structural requirements forming our “CREDIBILITY”. John describes it in 1 John 1:3 as “And [this] fellowship that we have [which is A DISTINGUISHING MARK of Christians.
So John 13:34 gives the orders, “A new commandment” and then in the next verse (35) gives the results , “All men shall Know”, or adds the “Credibility, Legitimacy, Validity”.
LOVE HAS TO ABOUND …. this has been the MANTRA of the church for generations, but where is the MANIFESTATION? The apostle Paul, in writing to the Philippians, records the parameters with numerous signposts and mileage posts so that we can establish “CREDIBILITY”.
Philippians 1:9-10 And this I pray: that your LOVE MAY ABOUND yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in KNOWLEDGE and all keen INSIGHT [that your love may display itself in greater depth of ACQUAINTANCE and more COMPREHENSIVE DISCERNMENT], (verse 10) SO THAT (These two little words always preface or introduce the results or the consequences, where ever we see “SO THAT” it is beneficial to observe what the outcome will be, and in this case they establish the basis for “CREDIBILITY”… comments mine) YOU MAY SURELY LEARN TO SENSE (this constitutes that vital spiritual ability of discernment and keen insight … comments mine) what is VITAL, and approve and prize what is EXCELLENT and of real VALUE [recognizing the HIGHEST and the BEST, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be UNTAINTED and PURE and UNERRING and BLAMELESS [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble].
For your future study it may be beneficial to explore the terms used here, “VITAL, EXCELLENT, VALUE, HIGHEST, BEST”, then go onto the second part, “UNTAINTED, PURE, UNERRING, BLAMELESS”.
“CREDIBILITY” is a highly visible, easily recognisable, greatly respected and infrequently worn badge, when it is worn, it is “A distinguishing mark”. (John 1:3)
The WORD BECOMES VISIBLE, and this becomes more relevant as we see
John 1:14 “And the Word (Christ) became flesh”, this is where the visibility of our credibility begins to align with “All men shall know”
But it is not only heard, but seen, (1 John 1:3) there was no loss of faculties in Johns case, no deaf ears or blind eyes (Mark 8:18) but “seen and heard ourselves”, constituting acute spiritual perception, and because there was obedience to that “New Commandment”, that direct order to “love one another”, they were keen to share the benefits.
To some the subject of “CREDIBILITY” is of little consequence, as their focus is not concerned with how they are perceived, they have no shame or embarrassment in their unreliability, it just seems like it is a state outside their reality. A torpor of indolence.
I recall a mother who used to say to her little tot, “what does bad behaviour result in” and the child was so well educated in this respect that the answer was a spontaneous “BAD CONSEQUENCES”.
Just because a position is considered “valid” does not mean it is “VALUED”. The fact that we believe there is a God is VALID, but we have to demonstrate our appreciation by how much we VALUE our relationship, or else we erode our CREDIBILITY by our disobedience.
How credible was Saul when Samuel came to him and where on this occasion Saul had not waited for Samuel as instructed. His blaming the people for the sheep they had “stolen” completely destroys his credibility.
1 Samuel 15:14-15 And Samuel said, What then means this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? Saul said, THEY have brought them from the Amalekites; for THE PEOPLE spared the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but the rest we have utterly destroyed.
The basic hierarchy that Lord is seeking is “LOVE”, in the church, in the family, between couples, and extends to “love your enemies”. How much competency do we evidence here, for it is a stark measure of our “CREDIBILITY”.
It is difficult to “command respect” if we intrinsically know we don’t deserve respect. Our credibility is the mirror of the ALIGNMENT OF OUR PROFESSION WITH OUR PERFORMANCE. If I am not “commanding respect” then I need to explore why. What is the hindrance, the contaminant, the evidence that relieves people of the owner’s task of respecting me as God’s representative. It is impossible to fabricate “credibility”, for the Bible says in a Proverbs 23:7, “as a man thinks in his heart so is he”, so the insincerity of a person’s heart always shows up in their character, they are “invalid”, or to extend the word, spiritual invalids, spiritually crippled, socially inept, significantly suspect, suspiciously regarded, scorned.
Now to the positive, what does “CREDIBILITY” consist of, from a scriptural basis, and then how is it evidenced in a “CREDIBLE” life. With CREDIBILITY comes REPUTATION, but it is the CREDIBILITY that we work at, not the REPUTATION. Jesus made Himself of no reputation (Philippians 2:7) but He established His CREDIBILITY. But the Apostle Paul sets up parameters that constitute those qualities that attend “CREDIBILITY”.
Philippians 2:15-16 THAT YOU (a similar prefix as “SO THAT” … comments mine) may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world, (verse 16) Holding out [to it] and offering [to all men] the Word of Life, so that in the day of Christ I may have something of which exultantly to rejoice and glory in that I did not run my race in vain or spend my labour to no purpose. (Or, I had established my credibility … comments mine)
The church presents in its reality such a contrast to its ideal, when in spite of all the wonders it has done, it has failed to do all that is expected of it. Our call from God is not to make our mark, but to show it, to work at it so that we establish credibility, and that requires humility, and humility springs out of “OBEDIENCE”.
Credibility is neither inherited or transferrable. It is created in and by the singular, unique persuasions of the individual. If that individual is convinced that “Jesus Christ is Lord”, then their lifestyle will be constructed to support their convictions, and all aberrations will succumb to the need/desire to evidence that “Jesus Christ is Lord”.
Where we attempt to vindicate our shortcomings, we engage in self delusion, we believe our excuses. “LOVE” enables us to share our thoughts and express our fears, not vindictively, but lovingly. And this is why we have “church hoppers”, they don’t have sufficient love to be able to blend with instruction and correction or the fire and hammer of the Word. The love they have is love of convenience, not true love but infatuation or self gratification and if the atmosphere changes for them, they opt out, they ensure their lack of credibility is made obvious.
Our credibility exists in a climate which varies, there should be continuing maturity achieved and this brings new challenges as we come closer to the Lord.
“UNRELIABILITY” is the antonym for “CREDIBILITY”
Hebrews 13:5 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]
Psalm 115:2 Why should the nations say, Where is now their God?
oOo
Ross Smith 