Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
The tongue has much power.
But what does the tongue have to do with salvation, where salvation is yet to be defined?
Romans 2:12-15 “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)”
Galations 3:11, 3:24, & 5:4 “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
Romans 3:19-21, &28 “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;…Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
The literal words of the law speaks to those who would see it literally (i.e. being under the law), which becomes a contradiction to their own preaching and exposes their own fault, to the law itself [which brings sin]. The literal law is a vicious circle of fighting sin rather than a covering of sin, but an understanding of the spiritual interpretation does cover sin (faith). The words of those who are under the law are contradicted by the words of the law itself. These contradictory words do not justify.
2 Cor 3:6 “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”
Those that have and use the literal law shall be judged by it and accused of it AND are NOT justified by it but are simply considered “hearers” of the law. But then there are those who do the things contained in the law [hidden beneath the literal word] by nature. These are those who are “doers” of the law BUT not hearers of the law BECAUSE they HAVE NOT the law (literal law). However, they have the SPIRIT of the law written in their hearts by nature, which is not the literal letter, but the spirit of the words or spirit of the law (see 2Co 3:6 above). Those who have the spirit of the law in their hearts (faith) are then justified.
And how is faith the spirit of the law [which is NOT the literal letter of the law]? Faith is a belief or conviction of a truth, which resides in us because we know without a doubt that something is true. And this comes about by the logical understanding of something to be true because it makes sense. Those that do what is intended of the law naturally are those who understand the spiritual law of the universe and the spiritual law of the mind; which is also the spiritual interpretation of the literal law (literal words) in the scriptures (again see 2 Cor 3:6).
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.”
See previous posts (i.e April 4, 2015) on the necessary spiritual interpretation of scriptures. Milk represents the literal carnal law, that needs to go away with “weaning” from the milk as we move from the literal law to the hidden spiritual interpretation. Which in turn moves us on from simply the hearing of the law and moves us on to a truth which brings faith (belief) in something much greater than justification by works, where “good” works is supposedly doing “good” rather than “evil” compared to what our ego mind believes to be good or evil based on the literal law that we think is the truth. (See previous posts on how the tree of knowledge of good and evil really does kill.)
Now that we have an explanation of the difference between justification by works vs faith, let’s look at how the tongue plays a part.
Matthew 12:32-37 ”And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
The tongue shows us our heart and whether we are living under the law or by faith. Those that are under the law speak words that condemn. See Romans 3:19 above. And the “day of judgment” (the day the light bulb comes on and true understanding or “judgment” is gained) is the day you come to understand the true meaning of the spiritual law and leave the carnal literal law and the belief you are justified by adherence to the literal law. And on that day of “judgement” we take back (i.e. “give account”) all the wrong things that we said and believed, and we speak the truth for once, we are then “justified” by those words of truth that we speak because the truth sets us free from the literal law (i.e. ego minds understanding of good and evil, tree of knowledge, etc. ). The logical truth of the spirit goes deep down into our souls to produce an understanding (faith in real truth) that can never be recalled. When we have real truth we live the “law” out of an understanding that is engrained in our hearts, and it becomes our nature to speak “good things” because we understand the truth [which is love] and are no longer under the law (the tree of knowledge of good and evil).
And what are these good things that we speak? And what is the basis of the understanding that is engrained in our hearts which causes us to speak evil things or good things?
Obadiah 1:3 “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?”
Job 41:34 “He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.”
Psalm 59:12 “For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.”
Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”
Proverbs 11:2 “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”
Pride in our heart produces “froward” words which condemn ourselves as well as others. Pride comes from focusing on ourselves, and it has a way of making us think that all we know and understand is better or more right than what others do and think. These prideful thoughts in our mind produce words which condemn. Hearing the carnal law of good vs bad (tree of knowledge of good and evil) has a tendency to produce pride as we think we strive better than others at following the carnal law (see Hebrews 7:16, also see document titled “Why did God respect Abel’s offering but did not respect Cain’s offering” dated June 24 2008). The pride in our hearts produce a mouth full of prideful words which brings condemnation of others. If pride and the carnal law can be compared to the “evil treasure” in Matthew 12 what is the good treasure which produces “good” speech?
Romans 8:39 “…Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
A piece of the love of God is IN Christ and IS Christ.
Ephesians 3:17 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love…”
When we have Christ [which contains and is the love of God] in our hearts, we are grounded in love. Christ represents a piece of God which is a piece of LOVE, because GOD IS LOVE.
1 John 4 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love…If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us….And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
Ephesians 4:2-3 “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
When we truly have love in our hearts we also have lowliness and meekness, which are polar opposites of pride and arrogance. Love produces all the things that reject pride. Love casts pride out of our hearts (see 1John 4:18 where pride coves from fear, a fear of being wrong or a fear of failure, etc.) Love is the good treasure in our hearts which produces words out of our mouth which justify (again see Matt 12 above). “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
Again, the opposite of pride is humility, and with humility comes the ability to admit we were wrong, and with that comes the ability to gain truth, and with that the basis of the understanding spoken of above which provides us the ability to speak words that justify and bring peace.
1 Corinthians 13:1-2 “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. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”
Charity is love. Without love all of our knowledge is NOTHING.
1 Corinthians 13:8 “Charity (love) never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”
1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.”
Love covers and hides sins so we do not even see them! And it never fails as does knowledge; as does the knowledge of good and evil which is the carnal law.
James 1:26 “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.”
James 3 “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”
No man can tame the tongue. Only Love [which is God…] in our heart can put a good treasure in our heart and stop the tongue and bring peace. This love comes from humility, peace, gentleness. Wisdom which comes from above brings peace and humility, not partiality or hypocrisy. And the tongue is a reflection of that truth, or lack thereof, in our heart and mind. Truth comes with humility and meekness of wisdom, not pride. He who has humility can admit they still need to be shown the truth and from that request comes truth (see James 1:5).
1Peter 3:10 “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:”
Ecclesiastes 5:2 “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.”
Psalm 39:1 “[[To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.]] I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.”
Psalm 12:3 “The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:”
Jude 1:2 “Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.”
Our words reflect our heart, and we can use it to help us truly see ourselves. Keep your heart from pride and your mouth will follow. If your knowledge brings pride and condemnation of others then that knowledge needs to be scrutinized carefully. “Good” works do not bring “salvation” but an undeniable understanding (faith) will; because the truth will continue to put humility and love in our hearts, and our words will reflect that humility and love, and that in itself will justify us. A submission to humility must come first if one expects to see truth and leave the darkness.
Salvation is defined as being saved from our own ego mind to come to know truth.