Our walk with Christ involves our spirit testifying with His Spirit that we are indeed children of God ( Romans 8:16). In actuality, I have that verse quoted backwards but it helps to bring home the message. Campus Crusade for Christ used to have as part of it's 4 points to the Gospel that our feelings should never be at the head of our decisions but faith in God. Christ is the captain of our salvation ( Heb. 2:10). Be thou my vision is an old hymn which typifies this concept. In our love for Christ and being part of His Body (the church) we should indeed have agape for one another; feelings as it were of love that is above and beyond this world and it's affections hence tranforming our minds. ( Romans 12:2).
Experientially; however we are prone to look at some nostalgia that somehow we can return to an Edenic state of innocence; as God has put eternity in our hearts. However; to live for ourselves is of course antithetical to living for Christ whichinvolves dying to self. However; the example of Christ being fully God and fully man demonstrates how real emotions of sadness or grief and indignation can be expressed as He sympathizes with us as our High Priest ( Heb. 4:14-16).
In a sense; we have the future hope in resurrection and the glory of the future rule and reign of Christ where we put our treasure. All things are good indeed if blessed by God; whether finding a wife; or meats etc. But sacrifice is something foreign to human nature; if we do such a deed in our own strength it is either to fulfill some longing we have; or for pride or some sort of satisfaction. What doesn't jive with humanism is revealing the root cause of sin; our sin nature and being willing to expose death so that indeed His chosen ones can have life. In the flesh we are only attracted to what our minds are attracted to with our five senses; the Lord operates outside that but we still react to it as vessels of His temple in us ( 1 Cor. 3:16-17).
As we sojourn through life; there are many pitfalls which we should avoid whenever possible. It is helpful to seek wisdom as Proverbs makes clear it is more valuable than silver and gold (chapter 3; verse 14). Whatever our mission; we do well to consistently check off the boxes; as it were in evaluating how committed we are in our walk as well as be careful to avoid being ensnared in things that so easily entangle us ( Heb. 12:1) in order to run the race to the end.
God; of course is the "captain of our salvation" ( Heb. 2:10) and the author and finisher of our faith ( Heb. 12:2). Having set forth on our trajectory; and not having "shot ourselves in the foot" to cause us to skew off of the path we have Christ as our High Priest; as well as the Body of Christ placed in strategic places. Of course; a lot depends if they are fully aremed as Ephesians 6 describes. Satan always sets out to find the weakest link; and as we know a loose bolt and such can wreak havoc on a jet engine. We can so often consider only our own affect when we fall away rather than collateral damage to others who the Lord would like to use us for as a minister of reconciliation ( 2 Cor. 5:18).
He uses all things for the good for those who LOVE HIM (shouting intentional from Romans 8:28). If we are invaded by hostile forces; and we are walking in the Spirit you can be certain that your light is shining before men thus bringing out that behavior.
Persecution of course is promised for all who would be Godly in Christ Jesus ( 2 Tim. 3:12 and elsewhere). Boldness; however as Paul had helped to spread confidence among the brethren because of His excellent testimony. Would it be that we would be turning the world upside down ( Acts 17:6) rather than those who the world is making shipwrecked ( 1 Tim. 1:19).
Not that I usually quote secular artists but Neil Young said it is better to burn out than fade away (my my hey hey). Let us go out in a blaze of glory.
John 6:65....Jesus plainly tells them NO MAN can come unto me unless my Father that has sent me ( the LIVING WORD ) draws him not the written word as the letter is a killer....As my words are spirit and life....It is the spirit that quickens: The flesh profites nothing...The Words that i speak unto you are Spirit and Life....Living words the seeds of a living being a heavenly being....My lil Children of whom i travail in birth till Christ is formed in you...(By his living words which are his good seeds)...As Peter is saying being bornagain of an incorruptible seed even by the words of God that liveth and abideth for ever....Living words not written words....The difference is like day and night...You are walking in the night when ya think that the bible the written word can save you...Ya gotta realize the Jews, all of Israel had the best bible ever the Torah.... But they were killing most all the Prophets and they rejected the Christ....Their high priest was telling the ppl to ask for Barabas not Jesus....Thats y the scripture is saying that the letter is a killer that old covenant....The Torah was the letter a killer....The soul that sinneth shall SURELY DIE...And they all sinned...Thats y God wanted a new covenant by the blood of Jesus.... Romans 8:2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of SIN and Death...That old written covenant the law which was a killer.
......Listen to what Jesus is telling us in John 6:65....Its the 2 nd time he tells us this...NO MAN CAN COME UNTO ME UNLESS IT IS GIVEN UNTO HIM OF MY FATHER ( THE LIVING WORD ) not the written word the letter a killer....If the written word cd have redeemed humanity then Jesus shed his blood in vain and the CROSS, Calvary was just foolishness...Its only by the love of God and the regeneration of the H.G. that we are redeemed....God so loved the world that he gave us his only son....We all love the kjv but its a lesser light.....Only Christ is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
Promises of course as in my last comment regarding Romans 8:30 are assured with God's status as beyond time as He created that along with all other things. His promises are "yea and amen" ( 2 Cor. 1:20).
This question could be handled on a case by case basis. Clearly; if we are to look at Micah 5:2-4 we see the birthplace of the Messiah and we know it was fulfilled on His first coming. There are others such as Revelation 19 in Armageddon which clearly hasn't happened yet.
Most prophecies; however have at least a dual fulfillment or there are near and far implications in the same passage. Such is the case when Christ read from the scroll from Isaiah 61 he stopped after verse 1. Verse 2 talks about the vengeance of God which is tied into His second coming. Therefore many of His own people didn't recognize who He was because they were looking at prophecies of His Messianic Millennial reign rather than the purpose of atonement and death before the Resurrection into glory.
This "near and far" application is one complexity; another is what applies only to covenental promises for the nation of Israel; what applies to the church alone and what has some dual application. Galatians 3:28 shows how Jew and Gentile are incorporated into the church; and verses such as Galatians 3:7 show how not all Israel are true Israel but only the remnant believers. The church basically IS the true Israel as are the subset of Abraham's seed that are believers.
I find the best rule is to see what scriptures are mentioned in Acts in particular as applying to the church in the deepest sense of the meaning. That is the only way to understand the deepest or final meaning to certain prophecies. What we can't do is make the error of making all prophecy figurative that doesn't fit into our doctrinal picture; or dismissing the covenants that were promised to Israel. That is a subject perhaps for another commentary.
Perhaps an individual application would be from Romans 8:30. It isn't a prophecy as traditionally labeled; but the time frame of predestination guarantees that those who are saved will eventually be glorified after sanctification. All prophecy shows God's certain plans.
The great commission in Matthew 28 comes after others discussing how we should pray more laborers are sent into the harvest. ( Matt. 9:38; Luke 10:2). It also follows the "test run" of the seventy sent out to proclaim the Good News ( Luke 10:1).
Jesus; of course was the "first of the firstfruits" ( 1 Cor. 15:23). He came to suffer as we did; but without sin and now sits at the right hand of God ever to intercede for us. ( Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25).
The fact that He was a man of sorrows as Isaiah predicted; and the life of the Apostles wasn't exactly a cakewalk serves as a reality check to the remnant who remains steadfast today in the Word. Jesus spent much time weeding people out; and it seems often that His own disciples were often more of a hindrance than anything else. Still; there is much to learn when we discover the principle of two or more together and how the Lord is present with us ( Matthew 18:20).
Today; there seems to be the concept of individual membership into the Body of Christ rather than how we are to function as a corporate entity. I have yet to see how various giftings can edify a church; the best I've seen is someone gifted in teaching as a Pastor; or an individual here or there that has occasionally said something profound in terms of a Word of wisdom or knowledge. At many of today's Pentacostal churches you see a heavy emphasis on tongues with little evident in terms of discernment; for instance.
Quite frankly; apart from a lack of sacrificial love found in many fellowships or perhaps contributing to it is the fact that where people feel most comfortable is relaxing at home; with their own circle of family or friends or for some singles just isolating themselves. Fact is; if we don't enjoy fellowshipping together it becomes a ritual which we perform for the minimum amount of time; with a minimum of effort and worst of all with little of our heart and soul invested.
Thank you bro Giannis for your lengthy response. If I might address some of your points.
a. John 3:3-6. "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God". If my Gk Lexicon is correct, the rendering is that 'a man is born out of/out from water and out of/out from the Spirit' ('ek'). In both references to the water & the Spirit, we see that one has to make a new appearance: the first which represents the physical birth (since this whole discussion with Nicodemus is about these two births), & the second, the spiritual birth. In neither of these births, the babe has any control or power. In the physical, the natural laws of human birth must take place, as also in the spiritual, the natural working of the Holy Spirit must take place to produce a new child/creation.
And there must be evidence of that work; Nicodemus could only understand it in the natural sphere, but in the spiritual sphere, the Spirit's Presence & Working must be seen, or else it is false. Therefore, I can understand the Spirit working through the Gospel preached by man & by the Word that is read, to minister to an unbeliever, but when a person turns to Christ & is born again, the Holy Spirit must indwell him & reside permanently ("Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his", Romans 8:9) - a very telling verse, leaving no room for misunderstanding. I could never perceive that the one who is in Christ can ever be one without the Holy Spirit residing within - it simply goes against the reason & working of the Spirit. So when you write, "So the Spirit works in the heart of a born again person, although He may not dwell in them", this is something that I simply cannot understand in light of the Scriptures, because re-birth is always from an inward dwelling, not an outward influence. See Page 2.
It's always tough for me to keep up because all my replies and posts are off my cellphone.
I was looking at how the scripture would look using the Greek as you said. "Oudeis , no one"
Here it goes from verses 2-4.
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
And no one in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
You see it doesn't change nothing using the Greek word
"Oudeis" translated no one.
And I agree John was in the spirit, but John saw, and was shown visions all throughout Revelation.
And he sought the redeemer which had to be a man in particular locations and one was Heaven.
This took place around the throne!
Revelation 4:1-2. "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
John describes what he saw and what he heard in a particular place.
I believe that we shall also reign on earth and that shouldn't void our access to Heaven.
Jesus is able to freely go to and from and I believe we will also because in this regard we shall be like him. 1 John 3:2.
John 14:1"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
Don't be trouble by what people say Trust in The Lord Jesus Christ. anything any man says to you. You need to Gurd your heart with all diligent for out of it the issues of life arise so Check by the scriptures at all times.
Please understanding this Satan main agender is to attack your faith and he will use all means Just to get to you, but you need to go before the Lord and pray against unbelief and renounce its by proclaiming. The Scripters cannot be broken.
Pray and Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ He Knows all you need is to trust in the Lord
For its written in ROMANS 8:35-37.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written,
For thy sake we are killed all the day long;
we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
In part 1 you gave me Luke 1:17 and stated, "This means that another part of John's ministry was to teach Hebrews to clean their heart by preaching them to obey God's commandments. I would have to disagree with you on that.
No one could keep the law therefore it couldn't make you clean. Acts 15:5-10. Romans 8:3. Galatians 3:10-14.
You also referred me to Luke 3:7-18. Notice vs 9) "And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. They couldn't bare fruit! Israel was a degenerate vine.
Jeremiah 2:20-21. Matthew 21:42-44. In contrast to that Jesus is the genuine vine. John 15:1-2.
John was preparing the way for someone to do what the Law couldn't do. and that's Christ.
John's baptism was to turn the Jews "The lost sheep of Israel" to Christ and yet he says there comes one who will give a baptism that exceeds his that brings us to Jesus.
Now John says he must decrease, and Jesus must Increase. Now we have the beginning of Jesus ministry in which he came for the lost sheep of Israel. Due to blindness, they denied there king so as Paul says salvation has come to the Gentiles. That brings us to Pentecost. Here's a predominantly mostly if not all Jewish beginning of the Church. Here is where baptism of the Holyspirit begins and this is where the Spirit of God baptize Jews and Gentiles into the body of Christ and water baptism is a ritual way for you to display what the Spirit of God has already done once you TRULY believed.
So, the obedience is for you to show by display who and what you believe in. It's the faith of Christ that initiates your belief which leads to Salvation.
Basic points: Scripture makes it clear that we as believers are to "suffer for His name's sake" ( Philippians 1:29). We are given a new heart with our stony heart removed ( Ezekiel 36:26). We are to love the brethren ( 1 John 3:14) if we have "passed from death to life." We also love our enemies ( Matt. 5:44) and we should read the entire passage to meditate on how we pray for them who despitefully use you"; etc. We are aliens ( 1 Peter 2:11-12; see also 1 Chron. 29:15) and not of this world. We are truly born again and seated in heavenly places ( Eph. 2:6) and our treasure is now in heaven as well ( Matt. 6:20-21). We understand that we were saved as hopeless sinners and therefore serve as "unworthy servants" ( Luke 17:7-10). We still have peace that passes understanding (Phillipians 4:7); and is not of this world ( John 14:27).
With all this we have an understanding of how we have been called and chosen and predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son ( Romans 8:29).
We learn to love His ways and His Word; trusting God for the difficult and hard scriptures and sayings as well. A true believer is being transformed by the renewing of His mind ( Romans 12:2) and is concerned about the needs of others; particularly within the house of God. Hebrews 13 as well as Paul's example ( 2 Cor. 11:28) despite the persecutions he endured. We desire to grow and also must believe He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him ( Heb. 11:6). That means we also desire to win the prize of the high calling (Phillipians 3:14). Therefore those in Christ should be careful not to lose their reward ( Rev. 3:11).
All this being said; there are examples of those who think they are saved but are not; as well as those who make it into heaven but suffer loss. Evidence of fruit can be seen in time; and each of us are responsible to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith ( 2 Cor. 13:5). Seek and ye shall find ( Matt 7:7-8
Luke 14:31 gives us the hypothetical situation when we have 10000 men about to go to war with 20000. We have to decide whether to fight or seek a peace agreement. Given the very real odds against the armies of Israel; as well as God purposely reducing the size so that only His victory can be acknowledged (such as in Judges 7:2) we should carefully assess whether we are positioned to enter into spiritual warfare (such as Ephesians 6 describes).
Few would argue the importance of love as a virtue of prime importance being that God IS love ( 1 John 4:8). It is to be sought as 1 Corinthians 13:1 demonstrate how other giftings are subordinate to love and of course John 15:13 shows there is no greater love than laying down our life for our friends as demonsrated by our Lord and Savior Himself. I have discussed repentance in earlier posts on this subject. I thought it prudent to point out that we need to go beyond just acknowledgement of what scripture states is sin to the point where there is a revulsion and hatred within. After all; His Spirit is said to testify with our spirit ( Romans 8:16) that we are indeed His children. This sort of balances things out; we are to have Agape love where we love our enemies; also we are to truly hate sin whether it is within us; others or the whole world system. This encompasses the world; the flesh and the Devil. There seems to be a rather laccadasical approach when it comes to the enemy of our souls. Christ makes it perfectly clear as to his character but sadly when the seriousness of the matter of his deadly destructive rampage comes up almost always I seem to get a response that it is really no big deal. That is something frankly I find hard to swallow; given that God Himself will allow Satan to have authority over the whole world so that everyone who isn't written in the Book of Life will worship Antichrist and Satan by default. ( Rev. 13:8). That is coming soon.
-God Created us to have fellowship with Him. This is found in
Genesiss 3:8-And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
God expected to find them, but they were hiding - meaning this followship happened regularly but not anymore for sins has separated friends. Amos 3:3
-Due to the sins committed in Genessi 3:6
6, And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat
-Man died spiritually and at the end he also died physical form the world remembers the wages of sins is death and That followership which we once had with God in the beginning was repaired at the cross by Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. in John 3:16
Its written in John 14:17
17,even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Now you see, from here unless you repent of your sins at the cross and accept Jesus Christ in your heart then Jesus Christ who is the way the truth and life will connect you to the father. the best term here is if you abide in Him.HE will abide in you the man.
as it is written in JOHN 14:23
23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
as we have seen if we love Jesus Christ then we will obey and keep his words and in keeping them the father will love us The trinity will come and followship with us.
Now note this alot of people are still searching for purpose in life but those who have given their lives to Jesus Christ the son of the living God have a purpose in life which is to followship with GOD.
Concluding thoughts on introduction to assurance of salvation.
I would appreciate for those few that regularly respond to my posts to keep these discussions in prayer. I suppose I could put a separate prayer request up; but you guys know who I am talking about here. It would be good for this to permeate to a larger audience. I will; of course ask for prayer on that happening not for my own ego but because there are many who need to have a healthy assurance of salvation; and others who need to wrestle it out; as it were like Jacob with the Angel of God. How bad to we want the blessing; or how bad do we want Jesus? This is not wrong to pursue; as the persistent widow parable states. Sadly (speaking for myself) I spend much of my time asking for things that aren't His will and that is usually due to my heart condition rather than any obvious worldly desire as I wouldn't want to do something that stupid asking for a rebuke. I don't think I'm alone here; I sense that many have hearts that have turned cold and distant so that the concept of a loving God seems like an ecclesiastical topic on an esoteric plane rather than a daily living reality. Ugh; I suppose I'm worse off than I want to admit so I'll take any prayer I can get.
Living out what is truly our living Hope should be done with love; joy; peace; longsuffering and the like. I feel at this juncture that I should ask you guys to pray that my heart is in the same place with my mind; which I feel has been trained to function at some proficiency in meting out the Word as a Berean and in a balanced manner. I want to warn about emotions and things other than the Word and Spirit ( Romans 8:16) giving us assurance. Those who know me here are aware somewhat of my personal struggles living with unsaved parents at present; and scars from a divorce years ago. Isaiah 53:5 is something I feel I must live out more effectively.
Anyway; as I said I hope this generates further discussion on an important topic.
This being the Sunday where we honor Jesus' Resurrection; I don't want to delve too deeply into a new subject of controversy to stimulate discussion. I am planning; Lord willing to tackle the topic of "once saved; always saved" in terms of what (in the correct sense) that means; and what it doesn't mean. Ephesians 2:6-7 seems to indicate that we are in some sense "already raised" with Him; and glorification seems to be the final result of a saved individual after glorification according to Romans 8:30. That also; BTW matches up with John 3:16 with an ongoing (as the Greek indicates) process; rather than someone who believes in a mere confession never dying. These verses fit into the first concept that those who are called and chosen have what we may call undue "favor" on their lives; preserved on this earth until in time and space a verbal confession and change of heart occurs ( Romans 10:9). Also it is a continuing process of sanctification; resulting in good fruit being produced. I will fill in more scripture later on based on that topic.
A basic stumbling block is those who say that any sin can make us disqualified to enter heaven. 1 John 1:10 should be a clear rebuttal of that; and Paul's letters to the Corinthians who clearly were manifesting "carnal" behavior as well as other warnings about losing reward and getting into heaven as though through the fire ( 1 Cor. 3:15) show that there is a more complex theology involving not just the saved and lost but those who are at various levels in their walk. It appears; however that those who are exposed to any truth are held accountable and judged in a harsher manner ( Matt. 11:21 for example).
There are many sections of scripture such as large portions of Hebrews which are very challenging; my Dake's Bible has many hundreds of verses that make it seem we can lose our salvation; some of which are more easily refuted than others.
If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Jesus saith unto him, HAVE I BEEN SO LONG TIME WITH YOU, AND YET HAST THOU NOT KNOWN ME, PHILIP? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
1 Corinthians 15:28.
And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, THAT GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL.
This is after the Millennium reign, Then he will establish the eternal reign.
Then he will return to his place where he was in the beginning,
( back to the God head)
"That God may be all in all"
Who raised Christ from the dead?
John 10:17-18.
Romans 8:11.
Act 13:30.
Answer; The triune God. "Elohm".
If Jesus is the body of the Father but yet a separate God as one claims. That contradicts what is written in scripture.
Ephesians 4:4-6.
"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
We're servants and worshipers of that one God. Now and for ever.
The written word; through BELIEF of those written words, BECOMES the LIVING WORD:
The WORD of God is the SEED
Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: the SEED is the WORD of GOD.
John 1:1 In the beginning was THE WORD (the seed), and THE WORD (the seed) was with God, and THE WORD (the seed) was God.
The WRITTEN words are just a WITNESS, of the LIVING WORD.
John 1:14 And THE WORD was made flesh .....
Romans 8:3 God (the Word, the SEED) sending his own son (the WORD, the SEED) as SINFUL FLESH ....
ALL FLESH (the WORD, THE SEED became flesh) died on the Cross with CHRIST: ALL FLESH arose a NEW CREATION (the WORD, the SEED)
Psalms 12:6 The WORDS (YOU, all men; the new creation, by the WORKS of the resurrection) are pure (living) WORDS: as silver TRIED in the furnace of earth (you were first made of dust), purified seven times (this is speaking of the living WORD (YOU) not the written WORD (the letters of the law).
The WRITTEN WORD has to become the LIVING WORD.
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible SEED (sinful flesh), but incorruptible, by the (living WORD, made known by the written) WORD OF GOD, with liveth and abideth forever.
Isaiah 59:21 As for me (God the WORD, the SEED), this is my covenant with them (the new creation in Christ, by his resurrection), My spirit that I have put upon THEE (CHRIST), and my (living) WORDS that I have put in thy (Christ's) mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed (the WORD), nor out of the mouth of thy SEED'S SEED (the WORD) forever.
I know many see these verses as you, but if I may just give another understanding of John 14:1-6, we have had discussions and I think we respect each other, and both love the word and the truth. This was just before Jesus was going to be crucified and He said, "I go and prepare a place for you". In verse 2 He said in my Father's house are many mansions.
The Greek word translated mansion is #3438 monai, meaning; an abiding dwelling place and this word is only used twice here and in John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. Abode is the Greek word monia.
When Adam sinned God could not dwell in man, Jesus was on His way to shed His blood and undo what the first Adam did so that God could again through the Holy Spirit dwell in man. John 14:17Romans 8:111 John 4:15. In these verses, we can see the place prepared for us by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
I understand you look to be taken to heaven and I am just putting something out there that you may study. Jesus said I will come again, He was on earth when He said I will come again.
Psalm 91 Verse 11 of this Psalm was quoted in Matthew 4:6; which is indicative of the promises which the Son of God no doubt had being part of the eternal Godhead with the angels He created for eternal worship in heavenly places.
Looking at the preceding verses; we see promises for those who are God's children to be hidden (compare with Colossians 3:3); and we shouldn't ignore the following statement in verse 2 about those who TRUST God. We also see promises which apply in general to God's covenant people such as Deuteronomy 7:15; and fulfilled by Christ in verses such as Isaiah 53:5. Ultimately; however these promises will be fulfilled in the Millennial Kingdom as may be indicated in verse 7; and in the Tribulation for those dweiling in heaven as indicated from verse 9.
Luke 10:19 shows how Christ fulfills certain promises in freedom from Satan's grip which is similar to what it states in Psalm 91:13.
The remainder of the Psalm could indicate Christ's reward as well as our own during the Millennial period as well. There will also be natural life expectancies (see Isaiah 65:22) that are vastly extended at that time.
As we look at things today; of course we still live with all of creation groaning as it were; such as indicated in Romans 8:22. Satan himself will get his due reward; ending once and for all his usurper role as a pseudo ruler; who ultimately fulfills God's prophetic plan; as it did when he entered Judas Iscariot so that all things could be fulfilled and Christ would die for our atonement ( Heb. 9:28; also read Isaiah 53 in its entirety). We are all in perishable bodies for a brief time; but we certainly can find ways to shorten our lives due to sin adding to our miseries. For now; pestilences and other things can be held back or mitigated; but that will not be helpful during the Tribulation. At that time the 144,000 will be supernaturally protected before God brings judgments upon the earth. May we live soberly in the fear of God
It's great to see you back. I hope you had a wonderful vacation. And yes, I agree with what you're saying. There is so much packed into that one verse ( 2 Corinthians 13:5).
Knowing that faith literally means persuasion, if I am to examine myself, the question I must answer is whose persuasion am I under? Do I have Christ (His Spirit) in me? If so, I belong to Him. And Paul says in Romans 8:14 that those who belong to Christ are being led by the Spirit of Christ. Factual statement!
My understanding is that in the early church, if there was a test given or an examination as to whether somebody is saved or not, there is only one criteria. Examine yourselves and test yourselves, whether Christ is in you, literally His Spirit.
The very next verse is interesting. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:6, "But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates."
In fact, they are the proof that Christ was in Paul, because Christ spoke through him to them. They got saved and were growing in Christ through Paul's ministry.
So we need to examine ourselves. Whose persuasion are we under? Are we we being persuaded by Christ in us? If so, would His Spirit in us persuade us to walk away? Or are we under a different persuasion?
Again, it is great to see you back. May the Lord continue to bless you and your family abundantly in Christ Jesus!
Thanks brother Jesse for the great & important Truth that you have shared here: Salvation is all of God: He draws, He saves, He gives new birth, He secures, & He gives the sure Hope in this life & into eternity. I reflected on your reference to 2 Corinthians 13:5: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
This I believe was the position & concern of each of the NT writers, not just in calling out evident sin in the Church, but for each one to examine themselves whether they were even in the Faith. In some cases this was clear (as in 1 John 2:18,19), and in others such as Hebrews 3:12-14: "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end", a little unclear. The message here was for each one to encourage & counsel those being led astray by sin or deception, that they might turn back to holy living & not face the Lord's Discipline. But if they persisted, not holding their "confidence stedfast unto the end", it only showed that "they were not all of us", only displaying a show of godliness & religious experience, but inwardly knowing their deceitfulness & hypocrisy.
The Word is abundantly clear that the believer could never acquire or sustain his salvation by his efforts, rather, by the working of the Holy Spirit indwelling him ( Titus 3:4-7; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:24,25). Unfortunately, alongwith the oft preached Gospel of salvation, i.e. 'from God & sustained by man', comes the rarely heard messages of 'life & power given to believers to know, to pursue & enjoy, which comes from the indwelling Spirit'.
It was nice to read your literal renderings of the verses you shared.
We also know from Scripture that no one can keep himself saved. John teaches, in 1 John 5:18 (as recorded in the oldest Greek manuscripts), "We know that everyone who has been born from God does not practice sin; but the one who has been born from God, God is keeping him and the evil one does not touch him."
John also states in John 10:27-29, "My sheep hear my voice and I know them; and they follow me. And I give to them eternal life; and they will never perish forever and not anyone will seize them from out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to seize them from out of the hand of my Father."
Jude states in his doxology in verse 24, "But to the one being able to keep you without stumbling and to set you before His glory blameless in exultation."
Paul in his writings emphasized the keeping power of God's Spirit in Ephesians 1:13-14: "In whom also after having heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also, after having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance, for redemption of the possession, for the praise of His glory."
He states again in Ephesians 4:30, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Probably one of the most powerful Scriptures of God's keeping power is Romans 8:38-39: "For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor powers, nor any thing which has come, nor things coming, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The only way a person can be saved is by a spiritual birth from God; and the only way a person can keep his salvation is through the keeping power of God.
In the early Church, the requirement for salvation was the presence of God's Spirit dwelling within a person. Paul instructed, in Romans 8:9, "Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this one is not of Him." In Romans 8:14, he wrote, "For as many as are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God."
And again, in Romans 8:16, he instructs that "The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are children of God." Also, in 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul challenged the church at Corinth: "Examine yourselves, if you are in the faith; prove your own selves, or do you not know your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, except you are reprobates?"
John, writing in 1 John 3:24 supported this same understanding: "And in this we know that He abides in us, from the Spirit whom He has given to us." He repeats this same truth, although worded somewhat differently, in 1 John 4:13, "In this we know that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He has given to us of His Spirit."
From the preceding scriptures, we see that salvation happens only when God's Spirit enters and remains in a person's spirit, thereby causing spiritual birth. Nothing in the Bible teaches that salvation is accomplished by the repetition of the Sinner's Prayer or through the performance of any other kind of human formula.
In addition to teaching that God is the sole source of salvation, the Bible also teaches that every saved person is kept by the power of God. Peter writes, in 1 Peter 1:5, that believers are, "The ones who are being kept in the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
Adam I hear what you are saying....Very interesting...But satan is gonna sow a Tare in with the good seed the wheat...making us do all kinds of evil things..That y Paul was saying when i wd do good good evil is present with me....Paul was taken hostage by satan and his TARES...Even in the natural sometimes a soldier is taken hostage and the enemy makes him say all kinds of things publicly to his home country...He is brain washed, Thats y Paul was saying if i do something I do not consent unto its not I that does it but sin that dwells in my members...Oh wretched man that i am....Roman 7:16...We are involved in a war with satan....This war is raging in our minds thus war in heaven The tares against the wheat...With my MIND i serve the law of God but with my flesh the Tare the law of sin... Romans 7 :25 kjv..Paul was involved in a warfare...But Paul cd not fallaway simply b/c the Wheat is the H.G....Just b/c a soldier makes all kinds of derogatory remarks about his home country does not make him a traitor....Thats us, the Tares tries to take our MINDS but nothin can separate from the love of God.
...... Romans 8: 38 ...For i am persuaded that nothin can separate us from the love of God...Not life nor death nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor heights nor depth nor any creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God....But we must remain a good soldier and endure to the end...Even tho satan is gonna try very hard with his Tares to make us fallaway...As jesus said my father that gave them me is Greater then all and no man can pluck them out of my Fathers hands....Any way Adam this is my slant on falling away....Hope it helps ya a bit...Gbu Adam
"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
Romans 5:8
" And God commanded HIs love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
1 John 4:16
"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."
1 John 3:1
"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:"
Romans 8:38
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height , nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Thinking on the love of God this morning. So, so good to know that His love is unfailing, eternal, freely poured into us by the Holy Spirit, and allows us to dwell in God and God to dwell in us.
Even in hardships and sufferings, God's love never fails. Even when enemies, mortal or spiritual war against us, His love never departs from us. Even when we are faithless, His love draws us back to faith. Even when we are discouraged and our hope wanes, His love breaks through these and uplifts us and sustains us.
There is so much to be thankful to God for, but His love stands out as so precious to me. Knowing that, before the foundation of the world, God made an everlasting covenant between the Persons of the Godhead to save mankind from sin as essential to His plan to create the universe and all creatures, mortal and physical. And this covenant was made out of the love that defines God so well. He loved us even before He made Adam and Eve. The elect of God was in mind when He created all things. In love, he determined to create a people for Himself to spend eternity with Himself to the praise of His glory which benefits us to the maximum degree.
Jimbob lemme share something with you....Yes the Church is the elect lady but only b/c she is married to the Christ... Romans 8:16....If Children then heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ if we suffer with him...Its the bridegroom the H.G. that is the actual Heir...Jesus said All mine is thine and all thine is mine...Its only Christ that is the actual heir...The Elect ...But the bride the Church is a joint heir with him....Thats y John 2:1 refers to her as the elect lady....The Church wd be nothin without Christ the bridegroom....That died for her...And its his seed the living word that impregnates her....Thats y he has to know us...Her Child is the manchild the H.G. that is gona rule all nations....The Church and Christ are gonna be made 1....Thats y Romans 8 :17 says they are Glorfied together...Made 1 so she is truly the Elect lady....But had he not known her she wd be nothin...ok GBU ALEX....Remember he told some i neva knew you...Thus they birth no Child of PROMISE...The H.G....The actual Elect..
Here are some interesting points highlighted in this discourse;
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many WONDERFUL WORKS? (The wonderful works is not disputed.) There was a outward show of holliness.
And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (CHRIST WILL PROFESS TO THEM HE (NEVER) KNEW THEM! They were NEVER connected to the vine. He NEVER knew them!!
Our outward act needs to generate from within!
This is a circumcised heart Paul speaks of in Romans 2:29. This is not done by man it is done by conversion!
It's what the the Jews couldn't do by self-effort by following command.
This is also what Jesus is telling the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:25-26; Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
This is baptism by the holy spirit. We are quickened by the spirit! Christ IN us!
Romans 8:11-14. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
FOR AS MANY AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, they are the sons of God.
It IS NOT HOW BUSY WE ARE!
IT IS HOW BUSY CHRIST IS IN US, IS THAT WHAT MAKES US SPIRITUAL.
Also, Philippians 1:6.
And if Christ is performing in you, you will have the fruit of the spirit present NOT the works of the flesh!
Jesse, thanks for your response. In the text it says that the man ran to Jesus and knelt before Him. This man must have thought that Jesus was God, too, and was running to Him to obtain eternal life. We don't know if this man witnessed any of Jesus' miracles or heard Him speak before, but most likely he had.
We can count on the goodness of God. We can count on the fact that He will always work all things out according to His perfect and good will for our good, whether in this life or the life to come. ( Romans 8:28) We can count on God giving us good things when we ask in prayer ( Matt. 7:11)
Living in the Spirit (part 5) Separating the Spirit of truth from the spirit of error
In detecting a counterfeit; we are often told that experts rely on their experience seeing the genuine in order to detect that which appears at first glance to be the same but on further investigation has some telltale sign of fraud. I would add to that statement in saying that we should learn to recognize all the appearances of truth and how the enemy uses such things to appeal to the flesh in order to draw us in through whatever toxin he chooses to conceal in the punch; so to speak.
In studying this subject; one can't overlook the key concept of TRUST in God as being the foundation of our walk. The Lord giveth; and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the Lord ( Job 1:21). In studying Job we see that he started his trial well; praising the Lord even when his wife told him to "curse God and die" ( Job 2:9). This was after the blitzkrieg of tragedies that crashed forth; and after his own personal afflictions. We need to keep in mind that it appears he was entirely unaware that Satan was behind the calamaties themselves and all that went on behind the scenes in the councils of God and the angelic/demonic realm.
We are told not to complain or grumble; but nonetheless pleading our cause wasn't even foreign to Christ when He cried greatly for the cup "if possible" to be removed; nonetheless God's will to be done ( Luke 22:42). It is hard to believe in our greatest trials and suffering that they pale in comparison to the "exceeding joy" to come ( Romans 8:18). When we see Paul's struggle, though we are well aware of the extraordinary amount of suffering which God promised he would endure for His nane's sake at the inception of his ministry ( Acts 9:16). Some of this; no doubt may have been due to his earlier persecutions to set an example as well as to chastise him; not as final judgment but as in the case of David caught in adultery; residual damage in this life for earlier sins.
Our childlike faith should never be calloused by the weight of the world. That being said; there is no escaping the fact that we are in mortal bodies which are perishing daily such as 2 Corinthians 4:16 indicates. We have treasure in earthen vessels; though ( 2 Cor. 4:7). There is a healthy abandon which should accompany a mature faith; these aren't needing to be mutually exclusive states of mind and practice. We see those in the parable of the seeds and the sower who have immediate joy but no root in themselves ( Luke 8:13). We also have warnings to the Ephesian church in Revelation about leaving their first love ( Rev. 2:4).
The difference in these two verses is those who have an emotional reaction to the Gospel not rooted in faith; and in the second case those who had a true love in Christ and followed all the right doctrines but didn't continue to have love of Christ as their prime motivation. If we love Him we obey Him ( 1 John 5:2; John 14:21). Love of proper doctrine; law and other protocols should be the offshoot of that love but it must keep a root in a living; active faith else it slips into a religious set of moral dogmas that seeks to either squelch the flesh or brings an attitude of pride and self righteousness to the ecclesiastical leadership that leads to a dead religious set of rituals. Eventually; of course that leads to the tendancy of additional rituals in a Pharisaical manner if we are not careful.
Avoiding dead fellowship is no excuse for a permanant retreat from fellowship; however. Especially as we see the day of His return drawing near we are told NOT to forsake the assembly of one another ( Heb. 10:25). Our identities should be seen as adopted sons and daughters and being part of that heavenly assembly ( Heb. 12:1). There is a knowledge that the earth and heaven must be remade; all creation is groaning and will be until that Day comes ( Romans 8:22). Satan's accusations show us earth is not our home.
Our walk with Christ involves our spirit testifying with His Spirit that we are indeed children of God ( Romans 8:16). In actuality, I have that verse quoted backwards but it helps to bring home the message. Campus Crusade for Christ used to have as part of it's 4 points to the Gospel that our feelings should never be at the head of our decisions but faith in God. Christ is the captain of our salvation ( Heb. 2:10). Be thou my vision is an old hymn which typifies this concept. In our love for Christ and being part of His Body (the church) we should indeed have agape for one another; feelings as it were of love that is above and beyond this world and it's affections hence tranforming our minds. ( Romans 12:2).
Experientially; however we are prone to look at some nostalgia that somehow we can return to an Edenic state of innocence; as God has put eternity in our hearts. However; to live for ourselves is of course antithetical to living for Christ whichinvolves dying to self. However; the example of Christ being fully God and fully man demonstrates how real emotions of sadness or grief and indignation can be expressed as He sympathizes with us as our High Priest ( Heb. 4:14-16).
In a sense; we have the future hope in resurrection and the glory of the future rule and reign of Christ where we put our treasure. All things are good indeed if blessed by God; whether finding a wife; or meats etc. But sacrifice is something foreign to human nature; if we do such a deed in our own strength it is either to fulfill some longing we have; or for pride or some sort of satisfaction. What doesn't jive with humanism is revealing the root cause of sin; our sin nature and being willing to expose death so that indeed His chosen ones can have life. In the flesh we are only attracted to what our minds are attracted to with our five senses; the Lord operates outside that but we still react to it as vessels of His temple in us ( 1 Cor. 3:16-17).
As we sojourn through life; there are many pitfalls which we should avoid whenever possible. It is helpful to seek wisdom as Proverbs makes clear it is more valuable than silver and gold (chapter 3; verse 14). Whatever our mission; we do well to consistently check off the boxes; as it were in evaluating how committed we are in our walk as well as be careful to avoid being ensnared in things that so easily entangle us ( Heb. 12:1) in order to run the race to the end.
God; of course is the "captain of our salvation" ( Heb. 2:10) and the author and finisher of our faith ( Heb. 12:2). Having set forth on our trajectory; and not having "shot ourselves in the foot" to cause us to skew off of the path we have Christ as our High Priest; as well as the Body of Christ placed in strategic places. Of course; a lot depends if they are fully aremed as Ephesians 6 describes. Satan always sets out to find the weakest link; and as we know a loose bolt and such can wreak havoc on a jet engine. We can so often consider only our own affect when we fall away rather than collateral damage to others who the Lord would like to use us for as a minister of reconciliation ( 2 Cor. 5:18).
He uses all things for the good for those who LOVE HIM (shouting intentional from Romans 8:28). If we are invaded by hostile forces; and we are walking in the Spirit you can be certain that your light is shining before men thus bringing out that behavior.
Persecution of course is promised for all who would be Godly in Christ Jesus ( 2 Tim. 3:12 and elsewhere). Boldness; however as Paul had helped to spread confidence among the brethren because of His excellent testimony. Would it be that we would be turning the world upside down ( Acts 17:6) rather than those who the world is making shipwrecked ( 1 Tim. 1:19).
Not that I usually quote secular artists but Neil Young said it is better to burn out than fade away (my my hey hey). Let us go out in a blaze of glory.
......Listen to what Jesus is telling us in John 6:65....Its the 2 nd time he tells us this...NO MAN CAN COME UNTO ME UNLESS IT IS GIVEN UNTO HIM OF MY FATHER ( THE LIVING WORD ) not the written word the letter a killer....If the written word cd have redeemed humanity then Jesus shed his blood in vain and the CROSS, Calvary was just foolishness...Its only by the love of God and the regeneration of the H.G. that we are redeemed....God so loved the world that he gave us his only son....We all love the kjv but its a lesser light.....Only Christ is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
Most prophecies; however have at least a dual fulfillment or there are near and far implications in the same passage. Such is the case when Christ read from the scroll from Isaiah 61 he stopped after verse 1. Verse 2 talks about the vengeance of God which is tied into His second coming. Therefore many of His own people didn't recognize who He was because they were looking at prophecies of His Messianic Millennial reign rather than the purpose of atonement and death before the Resurrection into glory.
This "near and far" application is one complexity; another is what applies only to covenental promises for the nation of Israel; what applies to the church alone and what has some dual application. Galatians 3:28 shows how Jew and Gentile are incorporated into the church; and verses such as Galatians 3:7 show how not all Israel are true Israel but only the remnant believers. The church basically IS the true Israel as are the subset of Abraham's seed that are believers.
I find the best rule is to see what scriptures are mentioned in Acts in particular as applying to the church in the deepest sense of the meaning. That is the only way to understand the deepest or final meaning to certain prophecies. What we can't do is make the error of making all prophecy figurative that doesn't fit into our doctrinal picture; or dismissing the covenants that were promised to Israel. That is a subject perhaps for another commentary.
Perhaps an individual application would be from Romans 8:30. It isn't a prophecy as traditionally labeled; but the time frame of predestination guarantees that those who are saved will eventually be glorified after sanctification. All prophecy shows God's certain plans.
The great commission in Matthew 28 comes after others discussing how we should pray more laborers are sent into the harvest. ( Matt. 9:38; Luke 10:2). It also follows the "test run" of the seventy sent out to proclaim the Good News ( Luke 10:1).
Jesus; of course was the "first of the firstfruits" ( 1 Cor. 15:23). He came to suffer as we did; but without sin and now sits at the right hand of God ever to intercede for us. ( Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25).
The fact that He was a man of sorrows as Isaiah predicted; and the life of the Apostles wasn't exactly a cakewalk serves as a reality check to the remnant who remains steadfast today in the Word. Jesus spent much time weeding people out; and it seems often that His own disciples were often more of a hindrance than anything else. Still; there is much to learn when we discover the principle of two or more together and how the Lord is present with us ( Matthew 18:20).
Today; there seems to be the concept of individual membership into the Body of Christ rather than how we are to function as a corporate entity. I have yet to see how various giftings can edify a church; the best I've seen is someone gifted in teaching as a Pastor; or an individual here or there that has occasionally said something profound in terms of a Word of wisdom or knowledge. At many of today's Pentacostal churches you see a heavy emphasis on tongues with little evident in terms of discernment; for instance.
Quite frankly; apart from a lack of sacrificial love found in many fellowships or perhaps contributing to it is the fact that where people feel most comfortable is relaxing at home; with their own circle of family or friends or for some singles just isolating themselves. Fact is; if we don't enjoy fellowshipping together it becomes a ritual which we perform for the minimum amount of time; with a minimum of effort and worst of all with little of our heart and soul invested.
Thank you bro Giannis for your lengthy response. If I might address some of your points.
a. John 3:3-6. "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God". If my Gk Lexicon is correct, the rendering is that 'a man is born out of/out from water and out of/out from the Spirit' ('ek'). In both references to the water & the Spirit, we see that one has to make a new appearance: the first which represents the physical birth (since this whole discussion with Nicodemus is about these two births), & the second, the spiritual birth. In neither of these births, the babe has any control or power. In the physical, the natural laws of human birth must take place, as also in the spiritual, the natural working of the Holy Spirit must take place to produce a new child/creation.
And there must be evidence of that work; Nicodemus could only understand it in the natural sphere, but in the spiritual sphere, the Spirit's Presence & Working must be seen, or else it is false. Therefore, I can understand the Spirit working through the Gospel preached by man & by the Word that is read, to minister to an unbeliever, but when a person turns to Christ & is born again, the Holy Spirit must indwell him & reside permanently ("Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his", Romans 8:9) - a very telling verse, leaving no room for misunderstanding. I could never perceive that the one who is in Christ can ever be one without the Holy Spirit residing within - it simply goes against the reason & working of the Spirit. So when you write, "So the Spirit works in the heart of a born again person, although He may not dwell in them", this is something that I simply cannot understand in light of the Scriptures, because re-birth is always from an inward dwelling, not an outward influence. See Page 2.
Travels is over for the week!
It's always tough for me to keep up because all my replies and posts are off my cellphone.
I was looking at how the scripture would look using the Greek as you said. "Oudeis , no one"
Here it goes from verses 2-4.
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
And no one in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
You see it doesn't change nothing using the Greek word
"Oudeis" translated no one.
And I agree John was in the spirit, but John saw, and was shown visions all throughout Revelation.
And he sought the redeemer which had to be a man in particular locations and one was Heaven.
This took place around the throne!
Revelation 4:1-2. "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
John describes what he saw and what he heard in a particular place.
I believe that we shall also reign on earth and that shouldn't void our access to Heaven.
Jesus is able to freely go to and from and I believe we will also because in this regard we shall be like him. 1 John 3:2.
Also see Romans 8:16-21.
We're joint heirs with Christ!!
God bless.
Don't be trouble by what people say Trust in The Lord Jesus Christ. anything any man says to you. You need to Gurd your heart with all diligent for out of it the issues of life arise so Check by the scriptures at all times.
Please understanding this Satan main agender is to attack your faith and he will use all means Just to get to you, but you need to go before the Lord and pray against unbelief and renounce its by proclaiming. The Scripters cannot be broken.
Pray and Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ He Knows all you need is to trust in the Lord
For its written in ROMANS 8:35-37.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written,
For thy sake we are killed all the day long;
we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Part 1
In part 1 you gave me Luke 1:17 and stated, "This means that another part of John's ministry was to teach Hebrews to clean their heart by preaching them to obey God's commandments. I would have to disagree with you on that.
No one could keep the law therefore it couldn't make you clean. Acts 15:5-10. Romans 8:3. Galatians 3:10-14.
You also referred me to Luke 3:7-18. Notice vs 9) "And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. They couldn't bare fruit! Israel was a degenerate vine.
Jeremiah 2:20-21. Matthew 21:42-44. In contrast to that Jesus is the genuine vine. John 15:1-2.
John was preparing the way for someone to do what the Law couldn't do. and that's Christ.
John's baptism was to turn the Jews "The lost sheep of Israel" to Christ and yet he says there comes one who will give a baptism that exceeds his that brings us to Jesus.
Now John says he must decrease, and Jesus must Increase. Now we have the beginning of Jesus ministry in which he came for the lost sheep of Israel. Due to blindness, they denied there king so as Paul says salvation has come to the Gentiles. That brings us to Pentecost. Here's a predominantly mostly if not all Jewish beginning of the Church. Here is where baptism of the Holyspirit begins and this is where the Spirit of God baptize Jews and Gentiles into the body of Christ and water baptism is a ritual way for you to display what the Spirit of God has already done once you TRULY believed.
So, the obedience is for you to show by display who and what you believe in. It's the faith of Christ that initiates your belief which leads to Salvation.
See part 2.
Basic points: Scripture makes it clear that we as believers are to "suffer for His name's sake" ( Philippians 1:29). We are given a new heart with our stony heart removed ( Ezekiel 36:26). We are to love the brethren ( 1 John 3:14) if we have "passed from death to life." We also love our enemies ( Matt. 5:44) and we should read the entire passage to meditate on how we pray for them who despitefully use you"; etc. We are aliens ( 1 Peter 2:11-12; see also 1 Chron. 29:15) and not of this world. We are truly born again and seated in heavenly places ( Eph. 2:6) and our treasure is now in heaven as well ( Matt. 6:20-21). We understand that we were saved as hopeless sinners and therefore serve as "unworthy servants" ( Luke 17:7-10). We still have peace that passes understanding (Phillipians 4:7); and is not of this world ( John 14:27).
With all this we have an understanding of how we have been called and chosen and predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son ( Romans 8:29).
We learn to love His ways and His Word; trusting God for the difficult and hard scriptures and sayings as well. A true believer is being transformed by the renewing of His mind ( Romans 12:2) and is concerned about the needs of others; particularly within the house of God. Hebrews 13 as well as Paul's example ( 2 Cor. 11:28) despite the persecutions he endured. We desire to grow and also must believe He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him ( Heb. 11:6). That means we also desire to win the prize of the high calling (Phillipians 3:14). Therefore those in Christ should be careful not to lose their reward ( Rev. 3:11).
All this being said; there are examples of those who think they are saved but are not; as well as those who make it into heaven but suffer loss. Evidence of fruit can be seen in time; and each of us are responsible to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith ( 2 Cor. 13:5). Seek and ye shall find ( Matt 7:7-8
Luke 14:31 gives us the hypothetical situation when we have 10000 men about to go to war with 20000. We have to decide whether to fight or seek a peace agreement. Given the very real odds against the armies of Israel; as well as God purposely reducing the size so that only His victory can be acknowledged (such as in Judges 7:2) we should carefully assess whether we are positioned to enter into spiritual warfare (such as Ephesians 6 describes).
Few would argue the importance of love as a virtue of prime importance being that God IS love ( 1 John 4:8). It is to be sought as 1 Corinthians 13:1 demonstrate how other giftings are subordinate to love and of course John 15:13 shows there is no greater love than laying down our life for our friends as demonsrated by our Lord and Savior Himself. I have discussed repentance in earlier posts on this subject. I thought it prudent to point out that we need to go beyond just acknowledgement of what scripture states is sin to the point where there is a revulsion and hatred within. After all; His Spirit is said to testify with our spirit ( Romans 8:16) that we are indeed His children. This sort of balances things out; we are to have Agape love where we love our enemies; also we are to truly hate sin whether it is within us; others or the whole world system. This encompasses the world; the flesh and the Devil. There seems to be a rather laccadasical approach when it comes to the enemy of our souls. Christ makes it perfectly clear as to his character but sadly when the seriousness of the matter of his deadly destructive rampage comes up almost always I seem to get a response that it is really no big deal. That is something frankly I find hard to swallow; given that God Himself will allow Satan to have authority over the whole world so that everyone who isn't written in the Book of Life will worship Antichrist and Satan by default. ( Rev. 13:8). That is coming soon.
Genesiss 3:8-And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
God expected to find them, but they were hiding - meaning this followship happened regularly but not anymore for sins has separated friends. Amos 3:3
-Due to the sins committed in Genessi 3:6
6, And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat
-Man died spiritually and at the end he also died physical form the world remembers the wages of sins is death and That followership which we once had with God in the beginning was repaired at the cross by Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. in John 3:16
Its written in John 14:17
17,even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Now you see, from here unless you repent of your sins at the cross and accept Jesus Christ in your heart then Jesus Christ who is the way the truth and life will connect you to the father. the best term here is if you abide in Him.HE will abide in you the man.
as it is written in JOHN 14:23
23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
as we have seen if we love Jesus Christ then we will obey and keep his words and in keeping them the father will love us The trinity will come and followship with us.
Now note this alot of people are still searching for purpose in life but those who have given their lives to Jesus Christ the son of the living God have a purpose in life which is to followship with GOD.
ROMANS 8:14
I would appreciate for those few that regularly respond to my posts to keep these discussions in prayer. I suppose I could put a separate prayer request up; but you guys know who I am talking about here. It would be good for this to permeate to a larger audience. I will; of course ask for prayer on that happening not for my own ego but because there are many who need to have a healthy assurance of salvation; and others who need to wrestle it out; as it were like Jacob with the Angel of God. How bad to we want the blessing; or how bad do we want Jesus? This is not wrong to pursue; as the persistent widow parable states. Sadly (speaking for myself) I spend much of my time asking for things that aren't His will and that is usually due to my heart condition rather than any obvious worldly desire as I wouldn't want to do something that stupid asking for a rebuke. I don't think I'm alone here; I sense that many have hearts that have turned cold and distant so that the concept of a loving God seems like an ecclesiastical topic on an esoteric plane rather than a daily living reality. Ugh; I suppose I'm worse off than I want to admit so I'll take any prayer I can get.
Living out what is truly our living Hope should be done with love; joy; peace; longsuffering and the like. I feel at this juncture that I should ask you guys to pray that my heart is in the same place with my mind; which I feel has been trained to function at some proficiency in meting out the Word as a Berean and in a balanced manner. I want to warn about emotions and things other than the Word and Spirit ( Romans 8:16) giving us assurance. Those who know me here are aware somewhat of my personal struggles living with unsaved parents at present; and scars from a divorce years ago. Isaiah 53:5 is something I feel I must live out more effectively.
Anyway; as I said I hope this generates further discussion on an important topic.
This being the Sunday where we honor Jesus' Resurrection; I don't want to delve too deeply into a new subject of controversy to stimulate discussion. I am planning; Lord willing to tackle the topic of "once saved; always saved" in terms of what (in the correct sense) that means; and what it doesn't mean. Ephesians 2:6-7 seems to indicate that we are in some sense "already raised" with Him; and glorification seems to be the final result of a saved individual after glorification according to Romans 8:30. That also; BTW matches up with John 3:16 with an ongoing (as the Greek indicates) process; rather than someone who believes in a mere confession never dying. These verses fit into the first concept that those who are called and chosen have what we may call undue "favor" on their lives; preserved on this earth until in time and space a verbal confession and change of heart occurs ( Romans 10:9). Also it is a continuing process of sanctification; resulting in good fruit being produced. I will fill in more scripture later on based on that topic.
A basic stumbling block is those who say that any sin can make us disqualified to enter heaven. 1 John 1:10 should be a clear rebuttal of that; and Paul's letters to the Corinthians who clearly were manifesting "carnal" behavior as well as other warnings about losing reward and getting into heaven as though through the fire ( 1 Cor. 3:15) show that there is a more complex theology involving not just the saved and lost but those who are at various levels in their walk. It appears; however that those who are exposed to any truth are held accountable and judged in a harsher manner ( Matt. 11:21 for example).
There are many sections of scripture such as large portions of Hebrews which are very challenging; my Dake's Bible has many hundreds of verses that make it seem we can lose our salvation; some of which are more easily refuted than others.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
There's only one God.
John 10:30.
John 14:7-9.
If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Jesus saith unto him, HAVE I BEEN SO LONG TIME WITH YOU, AND YET HAST THOU NOT KNOWN ME, PHILIP? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
1 Corinthians 15:28.
And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, THAT GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL.
This is after the Millennium reign, Then he will establish the eternal reign.
Then he will return to his place where he was in the beginning,
( back to the God head)
"That God may be all in all"
Who raised Christ from the dead?
John 10:17-18.
Romans 8:11.
Act 13:30.
Answer; The triune God. "Elohm".
If Jesus is the body of the Father but yet a separate God as one claims. That contradicts what is written in scripture.
Ephesians 4:4-6.
"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
We're servants and worshipers of that one God. Now and for ever.
God will share his glory with no man.
Isaiah 42:8.
The written word; through BELIEF of those written words, BECOMES the LIVING WORD:
The WORD of God is the SEED
Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: the SEED is the WORD of GOD.
John 1:1 In the beginning was THE WORD (the seed), and THE WORD (the seed) was with God, and THE WORD (the seed) was God.
The WRITTEN words are just a WITNESS, of the LIVING WORD.
John 1:14 And THE WORD was made flesh .....
Romans 8:3 God (the Word, the SEED) sending his own son (the WORD, the SEED) as SINFUL FLESH ....
ALL FLESH (the WORD, THE SEED became flesh) died on the Cross with CHRIST: ALL FLESH arose a NEW CREATION (the WORD, the SEED)
Psalms 12:6 The WORDS (YOU, all men; the new creation, by the WORKS of the resurrection) are pure (living) WORDS: as silver TRIED in the furnace of earth (you were first made of dust), purified seven times (this is speaking of the living WORD (YOU) not the written WORD (the letters of the law).
The WRITTEN WORD has to become the LIVING WORD.
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible SEED (sinful flesh), but incorruptible, by the (living WORD, made known by the written) WORD OF GOD, with liveth and abideth forever.
Isaiah 59:21 As for me (God the WORD, the SEED), this is my covenant with them (the new creation in Christ, by his resurrection), My spirit that I have put upon THEE (CHRIST), and my (living) WORDS that I have put in thy (Christ's) mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed (the WORD), nor out of the mouth of thy SEED'S SEED (the WORD) forever.
God bless you.
I know many see these verses as you, but if I may just give another understanding of John 14:1-6, we have had discussions and I think we respect each other, and both love the word and the truth. This was just before Jesus was going to be crucified and He said, "I go and prepare a place for you". In verse 2 He said in my Father's house are many mansions.
The Greek word translated mansion is #3438 monai, meaning; an abiding dwelling place and this word is only used twice here and in John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. Abode is the Greek word monia.
When Adam sinned God could not dwell in man, Jesus was on His way to shed His blood and undo what the first Adam did so that God could again through the Holy Spirit dwell in man. John 14:17 Romans 8:11 1 John 4:15. In these verses, we can see the place prepared for us by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
I understand you look to be taken to heaven and I am just putting something out there that you may study. Jesus said I will come again, He was on earth when He said I will come again.
God bless,
RLW
Looking at the preceding verses; we see promises for those who are God's children to be hidden (compare with Colossians 3:3); and we shouldn't ignore the following statement in verse 2 about those who TRUST God. We also see promises which apply in general to God's covenant people such as Deuteronomy 7:15; and fulfilled by Christ in verses such as Isaiah 53:5. Ultimately; however these promises will be fulfilled in the Millennial Kingdom as may be indicated in verse 7; and in the Tribulation for those dweiling in heaven as indicated from verse 9.
Luke 10:19 shows how Christ fulfills certain promises in freedom from Satan's grip which is similar to what it states in Psalm 91:13.
The remainder of the Psalm could indicate Christ's reward as well as our own during the Millennial period as well. There will also be natural life expectancies (see Isaiah 65:22) that are vastly extended at that time.
As we look at things today; of course we still live with all of creation groaning as it were; such as indicated in Romans 8:22. Satan himself will get his due reward; ending once and for all his usurper role as a pseudo ruler; who ultimately fulfills God's prophetic plan; as it did when he entered Judas Iscariot so that all things could be fulfilled and Christ would die for our atonement ( Heb. 9:28; also read Isaiah 53 in its entirety). We are all in perishable bodies for a brief time; but we certainly can find ways to shorten our lives due to sin adding to our miseries. For now; pestilences and other things can be held back or mitigated; but that will not be helpful during the Tribulation. At that time the 144,000 will be supernaturally protected before God brings judgments upon the earth. May we live soberly in the fear of God
It's great to see you back. I hope you had a wonderful vacation. And yes, I agree with what you're saying. There is so much packed into that one verse ( 2 Corinthians 13:5).
Knowing that faith literally means persuasion, if I am to examine myself, the question I must answer is whose persuasion am I under? Do I have Christ (His Spirit) in me? If so, I belong to Him. And Paul says in Romans 8:14 that those who belong to Christ are being led by the Spirit of Christ. Factual statement!
My understanding is that in the early church, if there was a test given or an examination as to whether somebody is saved or not, there is only one criteria. Examine yourselves and test yourselves, whether Christ is in you, literally His Spirit.
The very next verse is interesting. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:6, "But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates."
In fact, they are the proof that Christ was in Paul, because Christ spoke through him to them. They got saved and were growing in Christ through Paul's ministry.
So we need to examine ourselves. Whose persuasion are we under? Are we we being persuaded by Christ in us? If so, would His Spirit in us persuade us to walk away? Or are we under a different persuasion?
Again, it is great to see you back. May the Lord continue to bless you and your family abundantly in Christ Jesus!
This I believe was the position & concern of each of the NT writers, not just in calling out evident sin in the Church, but for each one to examine themselves whether they were even in the Faith. In some cases this was clear (as in 1 John 2:18,19), and in others such as Hebrews 3:12-14: "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end", a little unclear. The message here was for each one to encourage & counsel those being led astray by sin or deception, that they might turn back to holy living & not face the Lord's Discipline. But if they persisted, not holding their "confidence stedfast unto the end", it only showed that "they were not all of us", only displaying a show of godliness & religious experience, but inwardly knowing their deceitfulness & hypocrisy.
The Word is abundantly clear that the believer could never acquire or sustain his salvation by his efforts, rather, by the working of the Holy Spirit indwelling him ( Titus 3:4-7; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:24,25). Unfortunately, alongwith the oft preached Gospel of salvation, i.e. 'from God & sustained by man', comes the rarely heard messages of 'life & power given to believers to know, to pursue & enjoy, which comes from the indwelling Spirit'.
It was nice to read your literal renderings of the verses you shared.
(Part 4):
We also know from Scripture that no one can keep himself saved. John teaches, in 1 John 5:18 (as recorded in the oldest Greek manuscripts), "We know that everyone who has been born from God does not practice sin; but the one who has been born from God, God is keeping him and the evil one does not touch him."
John also states in John 10:27-29, "My sheep hear my voice and I know them; and they follow me. And I give to them eternal life; and they will never perish forever and not anyone will seize them from out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to seize them from out of the hand of my Father."
Jude states in his doxology in verse 24, "But to the one being able to keep you without stumbling and to set you before His glory blameless in exultation."
Paul in his writings emphasized the keeping power of God's Spirit in Ephesians 1:13-14: "In whom also after having heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also, after having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance, for redemption of the possession, for the praise of His glory."
He states again in Ephesians 4:30, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Probably one of the most powerful Scriptures of God's keeping power is Romans 8:38-39: "For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor powers, nor any thing which has come, nor things coming, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The only way a person can be saved is by a spiritual birth from God; and the only way a person can keep his salvation is through the keeping power of God.
(Part 2):
In the early Church, the requirement for salvation was the presence of God's Spirit dwelling within a person. Paul instructed, in Romans 8:9, "Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this one is not of Him." In Romans 8:14, he wrote, "For as many as are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God."
And again, in Romans 8:16, he instructs that "The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are children of God." Also, in 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul challenged the church at Corinth: "Examine yourselves, if you are in the faith; prove your own selves, or do you not know your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, except you are reprobates?"
John, writing in 1 John 3:24 supported this same understanding: "And in this we know that He abides in us, from the Spirit whom He has given to us." He repeats this same truth, although worded somewhat differently, in 1 John 4:13, "In this we know that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He has given to us of His Spirit."
From the preceding scriptures, we see that salvation happens only when God's Spirit enters and remains in a person's spirit, thereby causing spiritual birth. Nothing in the Bible teaches that salvation is accomplished by the repetition of the Sinner's Prayer or through the performance of any other kind of human formula.
In addition to teaching that God is the sole source of salvation, the Bible also teaches that every saved person is kept by the power of God. Peter writes, in 1 Peter 1:5, that believers are, "The ones who are being kept in the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
...... Romans 8: 38 ...For i am persuaded that nothin can separate us from the love of God...Not life nor death nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor heights nor depth nor any creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God....But we must remain a good soldier and endure to the end...Even tho satan is gonna try very hard with his Tares to make us fallaway...As jesus said my father that gave them me is Greater then all and no man can pluck them out of my Fathers hands....Any way Adam this is my slant on falling away....Hope it helps ya a bit...Gbu Adam
Romans 5:5
"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
Romans 5:8
" And God commanded HIs love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
1 John 4:16
"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."
1 John 3:1
"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:"
Romans 8:38
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height , nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Thinking on the love of God this morning. So, so good to know that His love is unfailing, eternal, freely poured into us by the Holy Spirit, and allows us to dwell in God and God to dwell in us.
Even in hardships and sufferings, God's love never fails. Even when enemies, mortal or spiritual war against us, His love never departs from us. Even when we are faithless, His love draws us back to faith. Even when we are discouraged and our hope wanes, His love breaks through these and uplifts us and sustains us.
There is so much to be thankful to God for, but His love stands out as so precious to me. Knowing that, before the foundation of the world, God made an everlasting covenant between the Persons of the Godhead to save mankind from sin as essential to His plan to create the universe and all creatures, mortal and physical. And this covenant was made out of the love that defines God so well. He loved us even before He made Adam and Eve. The elect of God was in mind when He created all things. In love, he determined to create a people for Himself to spend eternity with Himself to the praise of His glory which benefits us to the maximum degree.
How precious is our election!
Matthew 7:13-23.
Here are some interesting points highlighted in this discourse;
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many WONDERFUL WORKS? (The wonderful works is not disputed.) There was a outward show of holliness.
And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (CHRIST WILL PROFESS TO THEM HE (NEVER) KNEW THEM! They were NEVER connected to the vine. He NEVER knew them!!
Our outward act needs to generate from within!
This is a circumcised heart Paul speaks of in Romans 2:29. This is not done by man it is done by conversion!
It's what the the Jews couldn't do by self-effort by following command.
This is also what Jesus is telling the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:25-26; Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
This is baptism by the holy spirit. We are quickened by the spirit! Christ IN us!
Romans 8:11-14. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
FOR AS MANY AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, they are the sons of God.
It IS NOT HOW BUSY WE ARE!
IT IS HOW BUSY CHRIST IS IN US, IS THAT WHAT MAKES US SPIRITUAL.
Also, Philippians 1:6.
And if Christ is performing in you, you will have the fruit of the spirit present NOT the works of the flesh!
God bless.
We can count on the goodness of God. We can count on the fact that He will always work all things out according to His perfect and good will for our good, whether in this life or the life to come. ( Romans 8:28) We can count on God giving us good things when we ask in prayer ( Matt. 7:11)
In detecting a counterfeit; we are often told that experts rely on their experience seeing the genuine in order to detect that which appears at first glance to be the same but on further investigation has some telltale sign of fraud. I would add to that statement in saying that we should learn to recognize all the appearances of truth and how the enemy uses such things to appeal to the flesh in order to draw us in through whatever toxin he chooses to conceal in the punch; so to speak.
In studying this subject; one can't overlook the key concept of TRUST in God as being the foundation of our walk. The Lord giveth; and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the Lord ( Job 1:21). In studying Job we see that he started his trial well; praising the Lord even when his wife told him to "curse God and die" ( Job 2:9). This was after the blitzkrieg of tragedies that crashed forth; and after his own personal afflictions. We need to keep in mind that it appears he was entirely unaware that Satan was behind the calamaties themselves and all that went on behind the scenes in the councils of God and the angelic/demonic realm.
We are told not to complain or grumble; but nonetheless pleading our cause wasn't even foreign to Christ when He cried greatly for the cup "if possible" to be removed; nonetheless God's will to be done ( Luke 22:42). It is hard to believe in our greatest trials and suffering that they pale in comparison to the "exceeding joy" to come ( Romans 8:18). When we see Paul's struggle, though we are well aware of the extraordinary amount of suffering which God promised he would endure for His nane's sake at the inception of his ministry ( Acts 9:16). Some of this; no doubt may have been due to his earlier persecutions to set an example as well as to chastise him; not as final judgment but as in the case of David caught in adultery; residual damage in this life for earlier sins.
Our childlike faith should never be calloused by the weight of the world. That being said; there is no escaping the fact that we are in mortal bodies which are perishing daily such as 2 Corinthians 4:16 indicates. We have treasure in earthen vessels; though ( 2 Cor. 4:7). There is a healthy abandon which should accompany a mature faith; these aren't needing to be mutually exclusive states of mind and practice. We see those in the parable of the seeds and the sower who have immediate joy but no root in themselves ( Luke 8:13). We also have warnings to the Ephesian church in Revelation about leaving their first love ( Rev. 2:4).
The difference in these two verses is those who have an emotional reaction to the Gospel not rooted in faith; and in the second case those who had a true love in Christ and followed all the right doctrines but didn't continue to have love of Christ as their prime motivation. If we love Him we obey Him ( 1 John 5:2; John 14:21). Love of proper doctrine; law and other protocols should be the offshoot of that love but it must keep a root in a living; active faith else it slips into a religious set of moral dogmas that seeks to either squelch the flesh or brings an attitude of pride and self righteousness to the ecclesiastical leadership that leads to a dead religious set of rituals. Eventually; of course that leads to the tendancy of additional rituals in a Pharisaical manner if we are not careful.
Avoiding dead fellowship is no excuse for a permanant retreat from fellowship; however. Especially as we see the day of His return drawing near we are told NOT to forsake the assembly of one another ( Heb. 10:25). Our identities should be seen as adopted sons and daughters and being part of that heavenly assembly ( Heb. 12:1). There is a knowledge that the earth and heaven must be remade; all creation is groaning and will be until that Day comes ( Romans 8:22). Satan's accusations show us earth is not our home.