Thoughts on Faith and Judgement

This document has been a work in progress. I have been born-again and have done my own Bible study to be taught and be corrected by the word of God, and I'm feeling confident with what I have written here, if I have said anything in error I pray that it would be corrected. I'm trying to speak the truth in mercy. This document shows my current understanding at the time of writing. I'm not judging people. This is just a Bible study. I have just wanted to read the Bible for myself to understand and apply the Scriptures, come into agreement with God's Truth and share my understanding it with others for accountability purposes, and also affirm truth as I am renewed in mind by it. I don't presume to be always right. Also, just because I have quoted some pastors and authors does not mean that I affirm everything they have ever said, but I have selected quotes which I have found to be relevant and helpful. I want to let the Bible smash bad theology. I've also added parts of my own testimony. It's my hope that this Bible study helps other people to come to the obedience of faith in God through Jesus Christ.

Psalms 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (ESV)

Job 42:7 - After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. (ESV)

We are accountable to our Lord Jesus Christ for our actions and beliefs
youtube.com: Isn't Veganism Closer to God's Original Design?

Romans 14:4 - Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (ESV)

This is a short preview of where I'm at with my theology. I don't claim to know everything or to have perfect theology:

 1: If we trust God, believing on Yeshua's (Jesus's) name, it's typically the
 2: initial act of obedience of a Christian, Jesus having commanded us to trust
 3: Him, and believe Him, especialy concerning His name as Son of God, Christ,
 4: Messiah as foretold by the prophets, and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit when
 5: we do this.
 6: 
 7:     Acts 10:43 - To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who
 8:     believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
 9:     (ESV)
10: 
11:     Ephesians 1:7-12 - In him we have redemption through his blood, the
12:     forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which
13:     he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the
14:     mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in
15:     Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him,
16:     things in heaven and things on earth.
17:     In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according
18:     to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his
19:     will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the
20:     praise of his glory.
21:     (ESV)
22: 
23: Trust, obedience, belief and faith are not really separate things when it
24: comes to believing the Word of God in the heart, and if a person has put their
25: trust in Jesus then they've done something which is in the will of God.
26: 
27: Our faith and obedience are supposed to continue as we are sanctified and are
28: taught by Christ, especially by the teachings He taught while walking the
29: earth even before His crucifixion.
30: 
31: Trust, belief and obedience, and even agape and knowledge of God when they are
32: settled in the heart is what God sees and God is our justifier, and He
33: justifies the one who puts their faith/trust in Jesus Christ.
34: 
35: We believe by faith that we are justified by the blood of Jesus and just get
36: to serving God with agape love proceeding from a good conscience having
37: believed the Gospel and placed our faith in Christ.
38: 
39: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, He was
40: raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and He appeared to many
41: eye-witnesses.
42: 
43: In this way did God agape love (treasure/value) the world, that He gave His
44: Only-Begotten Son that everyone who is trusting/believing in Him may not
45: perish, but may have life everlasting which is to be reconciled to our Creator
46: and His Son, in relationship with God forever, never perishing nor being cut
47: off from our source of life and all that is good.
48: 
49: Agape love is a treasuring/valuing/preserving/compassion love and God the
50: Father and Jesus God the Son should be our first agape love, and those in the
51: family of Christ we must also agape love, and our spouses we must agape love
52: and we are even called to agape all people, but we're supposed to have no
53: agape for this world.
54: 
55: Agape-loving our neighbour as ourself necessitates not bearing a grudge against
56: our neighbour and not taking vengeance - there is no fear or grudge or
57: vengence in agape love because agape love is selfless and compassionate and
58: agape love gives everything and holds nothing back to have a chance to
59: preserve and protect, to save. God would have sent Jesus even if there was
60: only one more person to save. Agape comes from God. God loved us this way and
61: paid the price for us for sin to be defeated that we may be reconciled back to
62: Him through Jesus. And we pass this type of love, agape love, forward to
63: others.
64: 
65: We move forward serving God with hope to see His glory.
66: 
67: Obedience is in the heart, along with belief in the Truth and understanding of
68: the gospel.
69: 
70: Obedience can exist without work.
71: 
72: Jesus said, "The spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak." The law can
73: also be followed by faith where it's a matter of seeking praise from God and
74: not from men.
75: 
76: Our faith should be modelled on Abraham's faith.
77: 
78: We're supposed to have joy in our obedience to God.
79: 
80: We're supposed to go from agapeing darkness to agapeing God's light, and into
81: walking in the light, walking in God's will, and we're supported by God's
82: Spirit as we are doing this.

We serve the Only True God, the Most High God, Jehovah and Jesus Christ who He has sent - the same God, and we are found in Christ Jesus:

I Corinthians 8:5-7 - For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earthas indeed there are many gods and many lords — yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 10:17 - For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. (ESV)

Jesus is preparing us to be able to stand before Father God blamelessly:

I Thessalonians 3:11-13 - Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. (ESV)

Our relationship with God is based on our purity, not just our forgiveness:

II Corinthians 6:16-18 - What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty. (ESV)

Father God is pleased with showing love for people, especially those who the world neglects. Father God is pleased when we keep ourselves unstained from the world, and not in love with the world and not in love with the lusts of the world. We should have agape love for people (treasuring people) and no agape for the world:

James 1:27 - Religion that is pure and undefiled (283. amiantos) before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (ESV)

James 4:4 - You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (ESV)

This morning (<2024-09-14 Sat>) I had this running through my head during my sleep and as I was waking up - I love it when God does that. I feel much cleaner today. This morning <2024-09-18 Wed> (4 days later) I was hit with some spiritual attack (including strange dreams) so I purposefully stayed up singing this song in my heart and mind and as I did, trying to 'will from the heart' to desire to do God's will and I was able to beat the spiritual attack back this morning :):

youtube.com: Purify My Heart {Refiner's Fire} | Jeremy Riddle - Worship Moment

Purify my heart. Let me be as gold and precious silver. Purify my heart. Let me be as gold, pure gold.

Refiner's fire, My heart's one desire is to be holy, set apart for You, Lord. I choose to be holy, set apart for You, my Master, ready to do Your will

Sermon
youtube.com: Unstained from the World: The Battle for Purity - Tim Conway

To let go and let God purify us is generally incorrect. The Bible teaches that we should cleanse our hearts, and it also teaches that God will cleanse our heart. I like the phrase "let go of darkness and trust God" more. See: youtube.com: Billy Graham Messages 2024 | LET GO & TRUST GOD:

James 4:8 - Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (ESV)

Acts 15:9 - and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. (ESV)

Christ is reigning until all things are subjected to Him. We must come under the Lordship of Christ Jesus. I consider any so-called god which is in rebellion to Christ to be a demon:

I Corinthians 15:25-28 - For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it says, all things are put in subjection, it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. (ESV)

Daniel 7:13-14 - I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper

So if I were to put a title on this message it would be "No neutrality. [There is] nothing in-between for and against (i.e. there are only two options: for and against) - No neutrality. If you're not for Him, [then] Jesus says you're against Him.

And I can imagine a person coming into this room and saying, "I'm not against Jesus. I don't even think about Jesus most of the time."

To which I would respond, "You need to think about what you just said, because to be against Jesus is to be against his purpose for your life, and his purpose for your life does not mean you should spend 99% of your time not thinking about him. That's not his purpose"

We have no other Lord, King, no other Master than Jesus Christ, but we serve Jesus in serving each other:

Matthew 23:8-11 - But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. (ESV)

Matthew 12:28-30 - But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. (ESV)

II Corinthians 4:5 - For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. (ESV)

We don't worship foreign gods. We don't worship other servants of God, angels or demons. We worship Jehovah God, and most Christians worship Jesus Christ as God the Son, reigning as God with His Father - that's totally all good:

Revelation of John 22:8-9 - I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God. (ESV)

I'm trying to side with Jesus over issues regarding the evil which is still present in the world and "hate the sin, not the sinner", and starting by first taking a look at my own problems but by no means endorsing sinful things even things I consider I do which are sinful, I don't endorse them for myself either:

John 7:6-8 - Jesus said to them, My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come. (ESV)

Psalms 82:1-8 - God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: A Psalm of Asaph. How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. I said, You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince. Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations! (ESV)

youtube.com: Deuteronomy 32 World View - There are Principalities That Rule over Nations @time: 17 min 56 sec

Here's just one observation from I John 3 and John 1. You go back in the Old Testament. Who are the holy ones?

Overwhelmingly, like 98% of the time, it's members of the heavenly host, the Divine Council. In the New Testament, holy ones, your English Bible will have 'saints'. That title is never used of the heavenly host, the angels, it's only used of you - of believers. Why the switch? Because we are the new sons and daughters of God. We are going to replace what was lost in all these rebellions both on Earth and ultimately in heaven, or the new Earth, the new Eden. You go to Hebrews 2 where this is the passage where Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers, siblings. Where does that scene take place? If go read the passage? Before the congregation. Before the council. It's right there in the text. Paul in 1 Corinthians 6 tells the Corinthians who are basically doing everything wrong, he says "Look, will you stop taking each other to court. Don't you know that you're going to rule or judge angels.

What it means is: How are we going to judge angels? If you keep reading Revelation 2, Revelation 3, in the new Eden we are put over the nations. To him that overcomes I will put him over the nations. To the one that overcomes I will let him sit on my throne and rule the nations. Who rules the nations now? The fallen gods, the principalities, the powers the rebellious sons of God. Who gets to replace them? Who judges them? Who will ultimately rule over them and displace and replace them? That would be us. This is not a throwaway line in Paul.

Quote from Mari Mari Emmanuel
So fear nothing, love everyone, but be firm when it comes to speaking the truth. Truth cannot be compromised. It cannot be sold.
Amen
youtube.com youtube.com: Day 9: Repent New York City | Phillip Blair

I agree whole heartedly with Keith Green here:

I agree whole heartedly also with MP Nick Fletcher:

I agree whole heartedly with John Piper in these videos. I've been watching some sermons from Desiring God:

I agree whole-heartedly with David Mathis also:

I affirm this man's message:

I appreciated hearing about Tucker Carlson's journey here and I also appreciate Living Waters' very straight-forward gospel message:

Acknowledgement
To be able to have affection for God and treasure God, and have a desire for God is such a gift…. Thank you John Piper for helping me to see that, and lead me into that truth… It makes so much sense in hindsight. Nothing in this world could replace the gift of being able to know God Himself and have an affectionate, treasuring, obedient, believing, desiring love for God.

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (ESV)

Because God loved us first:

Philippians 3:9-13 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (ESV)

It's perfect self-humbling obedience throughout His sinless life as He walked the earth in the flesh that only Jesus Christ has reached, was able to reach and was destined to reach:

Philippians 2:8 - And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV)

I Corinthians 15:45 - Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (ESV)

We obey the truth. We believe the gospel and obey the truth. We live according to the truth. We are saved to serve/obey Christ. In my view it's all obedience to the truth and essentially means accepting the gospel and letting it work in your life through belief-obedience.

Luke 8:15 - As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. (ESV)

Luke 8:21 - But he answered them, My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it. (ESV)

When we are living in faith in God for His promises we are living in an obedient way. Belief and obedience are not separate things in my opinion, but we must have both obedience and belief in the heart - we must agree that gospel of Jesus is Truth and live in that reality holding faith and being obedient to Jesus and God will make it happen. So living by faith walks according to the will of God with hope in His promises, trust in Jesus and faithfulness-obedience to His commandments, walking in the ways of God seeking God's commendation, trusting in God, and living as though He exists:

I Peter 1:22 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)

Acts 15:9 - and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. (ESV)

youtube.com: Hope and the Fruit of Love @time: 13 min 58 sec
"You have cleansed your heart by obedience to the truth." Acts 15:9 says, "God cleansed their hearts by faith." The gospel demands faith. Therefore, obedience to the gospel is faith and faith is hope - faith in the future that God is providing. Faith in all these truths of chapter 1 (i.e. [I Peter 1]), means "hoping faith is the assurance of things hoped for."

Our faith should be in God and our hope should be for God's promises. God has spoken a lot already in the Scriptures and about how we should listen to Jesus. Saving faith trusts God:

I Peter 1:20-23 - He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (ESV)

Both belief and obedience come out of a trust of God in the heart. So our faith should be based on hope that is based on truth. We must understand the truth in our hearts, and allow it to work itself out in us. The word of God in the heart saves us.

When we trust in the name (onoma) of the Son of God, we receive forgiveness of sins. Everyone who believes/trusts in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through His name:

Acts 10:43-45 - To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. (ESV)

The Apostle Paul was obedient to God. This is Paul exercising his faith in God through obedience. Also, this was obedience to a heavenly vision - a vision in which Jesus was confessed (I John 4:3) - and it was a truthful vision that is in accordance with the gospel which the earlier Apostles were teaching:

Acts 26:14-15 - And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads. And I said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. (ESV)

Acts 26:19 - Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, (ESV)

We abide in Jesus when He washes us. When the Holy Spirit washes us, the Holy Spirit helps us to put sin to death:

John 13:8 - Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me. (ESV)

Peter believed/received/obeyed/trusted like a child of God (he cooperated) to let Jesus wash him but it was Jesus doing the work:

John 13:9 - Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head! (ESV)

Jesus' servants (people who believe and obey Him) are found in him. We know Christ by living in the pattern in which he lived. Jesus' servants are those who have accepted Jesus to wash them, and they ought to then wash one another:

Psalms 34:22 - The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. (ESV)

And they were put in Him by Him:

Titus 3:5-7 - he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (ESV)

When we walk in trusting, believing, obedient faith, God works in us and to deliver us and makes our paths straight for us:

Philippians 1:6 - And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Matthew 7:15-20 - Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (ESV)

Matthew 12:33-35 - Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. (ESV)

youtube.com: STOP Trying To Be a Better Christian… {Let Me Explain}

David Mathis
"Don't think that becoming like Jesus in his death means that Paul is anticipating that he himself will be crucified, or that we will be crucified, but that he wants us to know Christ as we live in the pattern in which he lived; That we would have his heart, we would have his mind (mindset). We would know him by walking in that mind, in that heart. That's the pattern Paul wants to be conformed to. And knowing Christ by sharing in his sufferings means walking in the footsteps of his self-humbling, and experiencing Jesus' help and the fellowship of having Him near and His resurrection power on the path of our obedience when it's the hardest".

Very well put by David Mathis. I'd say that in obeying Christ and imitating Christ, we endeavour to be found in Him, and He is our righteousness, and He is also our strength. However, I still believe that the upward call of God in Christ Jesus may result in some being martyred.

John 21:19 - (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, Follow me. (ESV)

We must act out our new nature:

youtube.com: The Hidden Snare of Bitterness @time: 4 min 6 sec
So when Paul says, "Put it on, this new nature, he means, 'Act it out'." If you have been created anew after the likeness of God clothe yourselves with godly garments. Now what is clothing? Clothing is what people see. When you put clothing around yourself you give something for people to look at that's presentable. So when Paul says "clothe yourselves, put on your new nature," he means, "let that inner reality that God has created work itself out in visible actions and behaviors and attitudes. Become what you are within."
Mathetes to Diognetus
They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table, but not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life. They are poor, yet make many rich; they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonoured, and yet in their very dishonour are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless; they are insulted, and repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred. To sum up all in one word–what the soul is in the body, that are Christians in the world. The soul is dispersed through all the members of the body, and Christians are scattered through all the cities of the world. The soul dwells in the body, yet is not of the body; and Christians dwell in the world, yet are not of the world. The invisible soul is guarded by the visible body, and Christians are known indeed to be in the world, but their godliness remains invisible.

Philippians 2:15 - that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, (ESV)

Jesus follows us and supports us:

I Corinthians 10:4 - and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. (ESV)

Thanks to Jesus' endurance, His spirit empowers us to live as He lived, and to be conformed to His image. Jesus wants us to practice His love, His faith, His commandments:

Hebrews 12:1-3 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (ESV)

Hebrews 2:16-18 - For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (ESV)

This is Christ's law:

John 15:12 - This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (ESV)

We must have faith in Jesus to be justified by faith. God justifies the person who trusts in Jesus and I believe we should be doers of Christ's law (which is not outside the law of God, so we are doers of the law), and God justifies the person with the blood of Jesus. If we're trusting in Jesus then we're trusting in God who justifies the ungodly. We're not trusting in God to justify our ungodliness, but to justify us as we keep our faith in Jesus:

Romans 2:13-16 - For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

God's strength does not guarantee that we will not suffer as a result of following Jesus. But God gives us the power at the time we need it to endure the suffering:

Hebrews 12:1-3 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (ESV)

youtube.com: Sanctify Christ as Lord @time: 21 min 49 sec

When I stress that the glory of Christianity is that God wants His name to be hallowed through your hoping in what He does for you rather than for what you do for Him, that does not lead to passivity. It never has in the history of the Christian church.

The people that believe that most dearly and most intently have the Holy Spirit working not instead of them but inside of them, stirring them up to maximise their enjoyment of the grace of God shed abroad in their labours.

God took the sting out of death and He took the futility out of labour, so that He says, "You will mount up like wings like eagles. You will run and not grow weary. You will walk and not faint." His power doesn't take the joy of meaningful labour and productivity away from up.

It gets under it. It gets behind it. It gets in it. It gets in front of it with reward.

It empowers it so that it's satisfying and freeing and liberating and you come to the end of your day wonderfully weary, not excruciatingly weary.

The main point of the message is that God's name and His Son's name should be hallowed in our hearts and it should be hallowed best when we hope most in Him.

Quote from John Piper
God took the sting out of death and He took the futility out of labour, so that He says, "You will mount up like wings like eagles. You will run and not grow weary. You will walk and not faint."

AMEN to that!

The followers of Paul the Apostle live by (walk by) faith; those are the righteous ones. It's a lifestyle:

Galatians 3:11 - Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for The righteous shall live by faith. (ESV)

The crown of life is gifted to those who are obedient, and have been tested. I think this verse can also be taken in the literal sense:

Revelation 2:10 - Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. (ESV)

Jesus will manifest to those who keep His commandments:

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

Even the Apostle Paul explains that our freedom is for serving one another:

Galatians 5:13 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (ESV)

Our freedom is so that we might live to God:

Galatians 2:19 - For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. (ESV)

Psalms 119:45 - And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts. (NASB)

God is our life. We must love, obey, and hold fast to Him. Faith is not without obedience, but we are to obey Jesus Christ and to believe in Jesus is to have begun to obey Him:

Deuteronomy 30:20 - loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. (ESV)

God is our life because Christ is our life. Our life is hidden with Christ in God:

Colossians 3:1-4 - If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (ESV)

Obey God, obey Jesus. This doesn't say that obeying the 10 commandments is not important. To love God and your neighbour in truth from the heart is the way to do this. But Mark 10:17-21 does say that following Jesus (treasuring Jesus, His words and putting them into practice) is vitally important:

Mark 10:17-21 - And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother. And he said to him, Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth. And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.

To get to know Jesus, we must obey His commandments:

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

Christ Jesus has set us free to serve God, living for Him. Obeying Christ Jesus, we are found in Him:

John 13:34 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (ESV)

In Christ Jesus seek to follow the pattern of His life to get to know Him, and He gave us commandments to follow to do that. Faith in Christ Jesus is not just a belief in the head but faith is trusting Him, and trusting in Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Both our belief in Him and obedience to Him flow from our trust in Him. Anyone who claims to have come to know Jesus but does not do what Jesus says is a liar and they are not in the truth:

Galatians 2:1-5 - Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. (ESV)

Yes, Jesus has set us free, but it's to serve God by serving Christ. We are freed in order to love and serve God:

Galatians 5:1 - For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (ESV)

Daniel 7:27 - Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’ (NASB)

Song
youtube.com: Satellite - Let Freedom Ring {Live at Eastercamp 2013}

Slaves worship idols. Christians obey God, and in obeying God we are free. We love God and trust God and love Jesus and follow Jesus:

Exodus 20:2-3 - I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. (ESV)

In believing we have eternal life, but we need to continue in obedience to Jesus Christ or will not see life, so there should be a change of behaviour. We should have changed to serve God. Even if "apeitheó" is better translated to "not be pursuaded", trusting in Jesus Christ is still obedience. Unless you believe that trusting in Jesus is disobedience, which it is not. It's obedient to trust in Jesus because He commanded it in John 14:1. They're not separate things. A heart that is pursuaded to trust Jesus is an obedient heart:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer says it like this, “Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.”

Read
gbtseminary.org: Cheap Grace: Bonhoeffer and the Cost of Discipleship - Grace Bible Theological Seminary
Read
goodreads.com: The Cost of Discipleship Quotes by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

We should disobey sin, and present ourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and our members as instruments of righteousness to God. We should be practicing righteousness, practicing love and holiness and truth:

Romans 6:12-13 - Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. (NASB)

We need to receive the Holy Spirit:

Quote by John Piper
Hold fast in obedience to what you have heard and believed.

Father God loved Jesus, Jesus loved us, we love God back by loving Jesus back by keeping Jesus' commandments, and Jesus sends His Holy Spirit to us, and we come to know Jesus intimately:

John 15:9 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (ESV)

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

We love in the way Jesus loved us, which is how God loved Jesus:

John 17:26 - I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. (ESV)

John 17:23 - I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (ESV)

John 14:15-17 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (ESV)

I John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (ESV)

I John 4:13 - By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. (ESV)

God loves Jesus, God loved us first through Jesus. Jesus loved us. Love comes from God. We then endeavour to love one another in the way Jesus loved us, passing forward this love. We don't take Jesus (God the Son) out of the equation, nor do we take Father God out of the equation. We were loved first by God:

I John 4:9-10 - In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (ESV)

Jesus and Father God manifest to those who keep His word and obey Him:

John 14:22-23 - Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world? Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
Hold fast in obedience to what you have heard and believed. John 14:22 really bothers some people. John 14:22, here's what it says: "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." This is not unconditional love. This is profoundly conditional. I'll read it again: "Lord how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world, to us - we are your disciples. If anyone loves me he will keep my word and my father will love him - In a way that he doesn't love everybody! My father will love him, and We will come to him to that one who loves us and keeps our word. We will come to that one, make our home, our abode, with him. There is an experience of intimacy and at homeness with Jesus and the father that comes only through obedience. Those who love me so much that keeping my word is not the works of the law, but the overflow of their affections for Me - and how could we not move into such in such a heart with the fullness of the at homeness that you longed for. If anyone keeps My word, holds fast treasures it, in obedience, that person will not be quenching the spirit, that person will not be grieving the spirit, but will know the fullness and sweetness of fellowship with the Father and the Son. If you're watching pornagraphy every week, do not expect this experience - you wont have it. If you're harsh with your wife, you wont have it.

AMEN!!

youtube.com: Accept the Holy Spirit - Derek Prince Sermon @time: 9 min 47 sec
I don't believe you can be saved without meeting Jesus. I don't mean that you mean that you meet him visibly as the disciples did but I don't believe there's any way into the true church of Jesus Christ except Jesus. He said, "I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved." So I believe this is a pattern for the new birth for every person. We have to meet Jesus. Not just believe a Doctrine or join a church, but have a personal encounter with the resurrected Christ and receive from him the in breathed Breath of God which is the Holy Spirit and become a new creation. We pass from death to life. I remember when I met Jesus face to face, not visibly, but face to face in an army barracks room in the British Army in World War II. I didn't have any doctrinal knowledge of Salvation. I couldn't say I was born again. I didn't know what you had to do to be saved, but believe me I was saved. Later on I got the doctrine. But I'd met Jesus and I just want to tell you dear friends that you cannot meet Jesus and stay the same. You can join a church and remain unchanged. You can believe all sorts of things with your head and remain unchanged, but when you meet the resurrected Christ it's transforming and it's permanent.
youtube.com: Jesus Is Not Just A Prophet Or A Guru @time: 3 min 52 sec

I'd been deeply involved in yoga. And when I was challenged with the gospel and the presentation of Jesus Christ, I simply was not able to acknowledge Him as Son of God and Messiah until I had a tremendous deliverance.

That was the first deliverance I was ever in, it was the middle of the night, it was in an army barrack room.

I was flat on my back on the floor and I have no idea how many demons came out of me. But many. And the moment that yoga demon left I knew that Jesus is the Son of God, I didn't have any more doubt.

When I was born again of the Spirit, in faith I confessed Jesus - I wasn't told "this is Jesus here making you born-again" - I asked Jesus to save me, and then continued walking in faith, believing I had an experience with God, so I believed God existed, but I sought then to demonstrate my faith to Jesus in my walk, through my inward thoughts, my prayer life with Jesus, my outward actions and my outward words:

Romans 8:23-25 - And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (ESV)

Then after a month I confessed Jesus a second time after "giving God my first-fruits" in response.

OK, so in response for being forgiven and born-again, we should live to serve God through serving Christ, getting to know Christ, and disobeying sin.

Romans 7:1-4 - Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? Thus a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. (ESV)

I believe that if I am disobeying sin and obeying Jesus then I am cooperating with Jesus as He fights for me to overcome the sin and to put the sin to death:

Colossians 3:5 - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (ESV)

That is the obvious conclusion. I should not be a hypocrite about it.

Jesus has set me free, and there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ, but we should have a response of love for Jesus, and live to serve Jesus, and it's very, very important to embrace sanctification, and to put a stop to willful sin.

desiringgod.org: The High Cost of Sexual Sin | Desiring God
I'm trying to explode the doctrine that the battle for obedience is optional because only faith is necessary for salvation. This is very tricky the way words are used here. The battle for obedience is absolutely necessary for salvation because it is the fight of faith. The battle for obedience is absolutely necessary for getting to heaven because it is the battle against unbelief. It is the fight of faith. There are not two battles: one to get yourself saved by a single act of faith, and the other to collect rewards by work. There is only one battle - it's the one that gets you started, it's the one that gets you there, and it's the fight of faith not works! Faith is what severs the root of covetousness, misplaced shame, anxiety, lust, envy, and six more before we are done this year. There is one warfare, and it is the warfare of faith.

AMEN!! If only someone had told me this first. Repentance (metanoia) from sin is an important part of salvation.

John Piper - We should rely entirely on the righteousness of Christ imputed to us by faith alone as the ground of God being 100% for us after which necessary sanctification comes.􀀱􂮌

I don't think repentance from sin is a separate issue from salvation but is a continuation of accepting the gospel. We continue to believe the Truth, being washed in the Truth, God's Word, and alongside that our souls are being purified through obedience to the Truth, God's Word. Jesus is the Son of God, the Word of God, the Word of God made flesh. God's spoken Word is the Word of God. Jesus' Words are also the Word. We trust, believe and obey the Word of God, and this repentance is absolutely necessary for salvation.

We must embrace sanctification, and be slaves of God, obeying God, obeying righteousness:

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (ESV)

Romans 6:20-23 - When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

I do believe that now. After receiving the Holy Spirit, we must use the spirit to put sin to death, and stop willfully sinning. Committing sin against our own bodies is very, very unwise:

Romans 8:13 - For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (ESV)

The Apostle Paul still recognises that we are supposed to have a heart of obedience to Jesus. And I imagine the others who Paul came into an argument with were also concerned about going on without love. In return for the grace given to us, we are supposed to love Jesus back in obedience to His commandments:

Galatians 2:10 - Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. (ESV)

Those who teach others to disobey Jesus, calling Jesus' commandments contrary to grace, are not being humble. We're not being set free from Jesus - we're getting married to Him. But Jesus indeed did give us freedom. We can resist people who try to put us under a yoke of slavery, but we don't teach people to disobey Jesus as to do so is to teach pride and lawlessness and against trusting in Jesus, and against obeying Jesus, and against believing Jesus regarding all the warnings about disobedience and disbelief, and I think it's without the fear of God to teach others to disobey Jesus.

God gives grace to the humble (not the self-righteous). That is true. But recognising your own sin and calling it sin is humility. And in wanting to turn from it, God may give grace to do so:

James 4:6 - But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (ESV)

We are supposed to have a response of repentance from sin. God's kindness is meant to lead us to repentance from sin. And turning from sin is a loving response to grace given:

Romans 2:4 - Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (ESV)

Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ is available for all who believe. It is received by faith, and God is the one who justifies us. We must hold faith in Jesus and seek God's justification. We don't justify ourselves. Faith continues. I think it's really important to believe, trust in and obey Jesus since that's what Abraham's faith was like - it was believing, trusting and obedient:

Romans 3:20-26 - For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

Those in the kingdom of God hold faith in Jesus and serve Jesus:

Romans 14:17-18 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

There are commandments from God which even Paul the Apostle regarded as important to follow for all people who serve Jesus, such as the 10 Commandments and the commandments which came from Jesus Himself, including the Golden Rule:

Romans 13:9-10 - The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)

Quote by John Bunyan
Interpreter explained, "This parlor is the heart of a man which has never been sanctified by the sweet grace of the Gospel. The dust is his original sin and inward corruptions, which have defiled the whole man. He who began to sweep at first, is the Law. The maiden who brought and sprinkled the water, is the Gospel. "You saw that as soon as the man began to sweep, that the dust thickly swirled around the room, and became even more difficult to cleanse, nearly choking you to death. This is to show you that the Law, instead of cleansing the heart from sin—does in fact arouse sin, giving greater strength to it—and causing it to flourish in the soul. The Law both manifests and forbids sin—but it has no power to subdue sin. "Again, you saw the maiden sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleansed with ease. This is to show you, that when the Gospel comes in the sweet and precious influences thereof to the heart—then, I say, even as you saw the maiden subdue the dust by sprinkling the floor with water—just so is sin vanquished and subdued, and the soul made clean, through faith, and consequently fit for the King of glory to inhabit."

The law is good. It's not our source of justification but we don't teach people to disobey it, especially those who follow it by faith.

Romans 14:10-14 - Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. (ESV)

The command to believe is the same as the command to action. The command to action is not the law but to trust Jesus. While the law of God revives the soul while we are actually meditating on it and doing it, the law doesn't save to perfection:

Psalms 19:7-9 - The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. (ESV)

Hebrews 7:19 - (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. (ESV)

The obedience we have in the heart which saves is trust in Jesus Christ Himself where we become trusting, believing and obedient to Jesus, and as we hold fast to His gospel, Jesus brings us to God:

I Peter 3:18-20 - For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. (ESV)

And, if we live in the flesh, the sinful passions are aroused by the law to bear fruit for death:

Romans 7:5 - For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. (ESV)

We are not perfected by the law, but by the Spirit:

Galatians 3:3 - Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (ESV)

Instead we focus on following Jesus first and foremost:

Romans 14:22-23 - The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (ESV)

And we are perfected through faith in Jesus as His Spirit sanctifies us:

Matthew 5:43-48 - You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
That's who we are as Christians. When we walk according to the Spirit, we fulfill the just requirement of the law. That is, we keep the commandments, we love. We are doers of the law. Not sinlessly perfect law-keepers. Nobody is nor anybody has been except Jesus, which is why we depend on Him, but rather, radically transformed people, through faith, in the power of the Holy Spirit, leaning on the grace of God that comes to us through Jesus Christ.

We're saved and rescued from idolatry and from other lawlessness, and in order to serve God and obey His commandments as Jesus has taught us to keep them:

Ezekiel 36:25-27 - I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. (ESV)

Polycarp 2:1
Wherefore gird up your loins and serve God in fear and truth, forsaking the vain and empty talking and the error of the many, for that ye have believed on Him that raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and gave unto him glory and a throne on His right hand; unto whom all things were made subject that are in heaven and that are on the earth; to whom every creature that hath breath doeth service; who cometh as judge of quick and dead; whose blood God will require of them that are disobedient unto Him.

A short version of my testimony of being born-again and Jesus setting me free:

I really affirm Marc's message here:

I'll also add Geoff Winter's testimony:

Romans 10:12-13 - For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (ESV)

AMEN!!

1. Confessions of faith

I plan on adhering to what the Word of God says, even if it offends other Christians when it comes to contentious topics as the order of salvation, or salvation by obedience and I want my theology to be 'raw and real', and always Scriptural.

The gospel in a nutshell:

Acts 26:14-20 - And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads. And I said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. (ESV)

Acts 28:25-28 - And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: Go to this people, and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen. (ESV)

The general order of salvation from what I can dilvulge from Acts 26 and Acts 28:

  • See with their eyes
    • II Corinthians 4:6 - For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV)
    • Isaiah 42:6-7 - I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. (ESV)
    • Luke 4:18-19 - The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. (ESV)
    • John 8:12 - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (ESV)
  • Hear with their ears
    • Matthew 11:15 - He who has ears to hear, let him hear. (ESV)
    • Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (ESV)
  • Understand with their heart
    • Romans 10:10 - For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (ESV)
  • Turn from darkness to light
    • They believe the truth, and place their faith in Jesus
      • Ephesians 1:13-14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (ESV)
    • They believe in / trust in Jesus Christ's name
      • Acts 10:43-45 - To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. (ESV)
    • They become trusting to God, pursuaded in the heart, believing and obedient
      • John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)
      • Hebrews 11:8 - By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. (ESV)
  • Turn from the power of Satan to God
    • Satan stops controlling them. God starts working through them, as we believe and obey, and our house is built.
      • Philippians 2:13 - for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)
      • Psalms 127:1 - Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. (ESV)
      • Luke 6:48 - he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. (ESV)
      • II Timothy 2:24-26 - And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (ESV)
      • II Corinthians 5:1-3 - For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. (ESV)
  • Sin is forgiven as a person turns from darkness to light and turns from satan's will to God's will
    • Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (ESV)
  • God heals
    • Sanctification is received through working faith, obedience, belief, trust - receiving healing, being renewed in mind, being conformed to Christ's image
      • Luke 8:15 - As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. (ESV)
      • I John 4:17 - By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)
      • Acts 26:20 - but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. (ESV)
  • Receive the inheritance

God is the justifier, not us:

Romans 3:26 - It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

I really like John MacArthur's church's doctrinal statement.

1.1. 1689 Baptist confession of faith

1.1.1. Chapter 1

 1: Paragraph 10
 2: 
 3: The supreme judge, by which all controversies
 4: of religion are to be determined, and all
 5: decrees of councils, opinions of ancient
 6: writers, doctrines of men, and private
 7: spirits, are to be examined, and in whose
 8: sentence we are to rest, can be no other but
 9: the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit,
10: into which Scripture so delivered, our faith
11: is finally resolved
12: 
13: 21 Matt. 22:29, 31, 32; Eph. 2:20; Acts 28:23

AMEN!!

1.1.2. Notes for Chapter 2, paragraph 1

Numbers 14:18 - The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation. (ESV)

Romans 4:5 - And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, (ESV)

Romans 14:18 - Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

If you have trusting faith in God then you will walk according to the will of God (walk the way Jesus Christ calls us to walk in obedience to Jesus, as a response of love to God in the knowledge He loved us first). Led by the Spirit = following Jesus.

John 12:26 - If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (ESV)

That's not working but it is walking and it is being obedient to Jesus. The Israelites through the Red Sea were being led by the Spirit - they were not working for God as they walked in obedience:

Galatians 5:16-18 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Song
youtube.com: Shane & Shane: I Will Wait For You {Psalm 130}

Jesus' disciples here were being led by Jesus. As I understand it, we're only not guilty if we're trusting Jehovah God who justifies the ungodly by trusting Jesus. Serving Jesus = Following Jesus. We've got to follow Jesus:

John 12:26 - If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (ESV)

Matthew 8:22 - And Jesus said to him, Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead. (ESV)

Luke 9:60 - And Jesus said to him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Trusting Him who justifies the ungodly has noticeable fruit of following Him because those who trust Him follow Him:

Matthew 12:1-8 - At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath. He said to them, Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath. (ESV)

As you can see, the disciples still generally followed the commandment to rest on the Sabbath day:

Luke 23:56 - Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. (ESV)

But Jesus is lord of the Sabbath:

Mark 2:27-28 - And he said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath. (ESV)

Jesus will serve His servants who are awake:

Luke 12:37 - Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. (ESV)

Matthew 23:11 - The greatest among you shall be your servant. (ESV)

1.1.3. Notes for Chapter 9, paragraph 3

 1: Paragraph 3
 2: 
 3: Man, by his fall into a state of sin, has
 4: wholly lost all ability of will to any
 5: spiritual good accompanying salvation;4 so as
 6: a natural man, being altogether averse from
 7: that good, and dead in sin,5 is not able by
 8: his own strength to convert himself, or to
 9: prepare himself thereunto.6
10: 
11: 4 Rom. 5:6, 8:7
12: 5 Eph. 2:1,5
13: 6 Titus 3:3–5; John 6:44

I don't entirely agree with this paragraph saying all ability of will is lost (I could be wrong). But I do believe that without God's assistance in drawing us to Jesus, it is impossible for us to be saved.

Isaiah 1:19 - If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; (ESV)

Man's inability to do any spiritual good accompanying salvation is essentially like a broken-down car's inability to drive and without God's assistance by empowering us with His Holy Spirit (either inside or around us), though a person might seek after God or will to repent, they're not able to save themself.

Acts 17:26-27 - And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, (ESV)

So the problem in my opinion is not the will to do the will of God but the ability to carry out the will of God.

John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (ESV)

Matthew 7:7 - Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (ESV)

Matthew 26:40-43 - And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. (ESV)

Romans 7:16-18 - Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. (ESV)

1.2. Heidelberg Catechism

I affirm almost all of the Heidelberg Catechism. However, I see it as a teaching resource, and not Scripture. Though, after doing the independent Bible study below, I am pleasantly surprised to be in (from what I can currently tell) almost full agreement with it, with some minor differences. For example, when I read its logical statements such as "Q. What is the aim of the tenth commandment? A. That not even the…", I think there's a bit more to it.

Also, I believe that believer's baptism is Scriptural and should result in following Jesus.

I link the Heidelberg Catechism here for others' reference. By all means read the Heidelberg Catechism first.

Also, I think that Q&A 133 could more greatly emphasise that we should covet God alone; that Jesus must be our #1 treasure, our Pearl of Great Price:

Luke 12:15 - And he said to them, Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. (ESV)

Colossians 3:5 - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (ESV)

 1: Lord’s Day 44
 2: Q&A 113
 3: Q. What is the aim of the tenth commandment?
 4: A. That not even the slightest desire or thought
 5:    contrary to any one of God’s commandments
 6:    should ever arise in our hearts.
 7: 
 8:    Rather, with all our hearts
 9:    we should always hate sin
10:    and take pleasure in whatever is right.
11: 
12: 1 Ps. 19:7-14; 139:23-24; Rom 7:7-8

I may use the catechism to make adjustments to my theology document if I find errors in my understanding.

2. My thoughts and bible references regarding theology

I've been thinking about belief, faith, works, law and receiving the Holy Spirit! Please let me know what you think if you have the time.

I'm trying to get clearer on this. Please feel free to discuss it with me.

2.1. Bible versions used in this document

Almost all of verses are taken from the ESV (English Standard Version) bible with the odd NASB (New American Standard Bible), KJV (King James Version), and BSB (Berean Study Bible) used here and there.

I have also used the original Hebrew and Greek from the Interlinear Bible on Biblehub.com a couple of times.

By default I will use the ESV and where it is not from the ESV, I have almost certainly marked it with the alternative version used.

3. Being born-again

Billy Graham really explains this quite well
Born Again | Billy Graham Classic - YouTube @time: 10 min 50 sec

I believe we are set free from sin and from being condemned by / under the Mosaic Law to become a slave to Christ Jesus under grace - a slave to righteousness.

Romans 6:20 - When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. (ESV)

Romans 8:1-2 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (ESV)

Romans 6:22-23 - But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NASB)

Galatians 4:8 - Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. (ESV)

Romans 6:18-20 - and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. (ESV)

We are saved while believing in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the only Son of God:

John 3:18 - Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (ESV)

And brought into doing the will of God:

Romans 15:17-18 - In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed,

Job 22:24-26 - if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent bed, then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver. For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. (ESV)

God wants us to love Him, treasure Him (25. agapaó), value Him with all our heart, and love and value and treasure one another (25. agapaó) as ourselves
youtube.com: What Is It Like to Enjoy God? @time: 35 min 16 sec

Yeah, I agree with John Piper, for the most part. Loving God is not actually first working for God. But it is to truly desire God, and treasure Him (25. agapaó), and treasure His word, and treasure His commandments, to give Him due praise, and to honour God, and give Him the glory, to love Him in the affectionate and treasuring sense is what God wants of us, and Jesus says that if we love Him then we will keep His commandments. Where John Piper says 'affectionate love comes before obedience', I prefer to say that 'treasuring God includes a heart of obedience, trust, belief, desiring God, and affectionate love' and I also think that obedience (being in the will of God) may produce work for God but doesn't strictly mean work. We want to keep His commandments so I believe we should treasure God with all our heart. God also commands us to love one another as ourselves, so we should also love and value other people with that same treasuring love, but God wants Him to be our number one treasure, and I think we have to make God our number one love.

God wants Him to be our treasure. We must obey Jesus and Jehovah Jireh will provide:

I have also had a lot of suffering as I keep a good conscience with God, having been obedient to Him.

I Timothy 1:3-5 - As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (ESV)

I Timothy 1:18-20 - This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (ESV)

But a good conscience with God remaining obedient to Him, enduring suffering and continuing to be faithful to God, and keeping the commandments of Jesus Christ while feeling like a zombie having what you love stolen from you by the enemy - this is still love for God to continue keeping the commandments of Jesus Christ.

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

youtube.com: Especially for someone who is feeling downcast - Lamentations 3: 22-23 | 29th September @time: 14 sec

The book of Lamentations is unlikely to be the most popular book in the Bible, and the reason for this is it's a book of laments. It's written round about the time of the Babylonian exile and it's it's written from the point of view of someone who has lost everything and doesn't hold back in how he feels about this. But nevertheless, if you look hard enough, you'll find that the book of Lamentations does contain some nuggets of pure, pure gold, and this week's verses are a case in point.

They help us show the difference it can make if we focus our eyes not so much on what we have lost but on what we still have. If all we do is focus on our eyes on all that we have lost, the result will be a soul that is downcast. Whereas, if we remember to focus on what we still have, the result is a soul that still has hope for better times to come.

Lamentations 3:19-23 - Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (ESV)

Consider Job. Obedience is in the heart, along with belief in the Truth and understanding of the gospel. Obedience can exist without work. Jesus said, "The spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak."

Matthew 26:41 - Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (ESV)

Some people endure great suffering for serving God. Our obedience to God, having accepted Jesus, and passing forward love and forgiveness, is having a heart close to Jesus through keeping Jesus' commandments - see I John 4, John 14,15,16 and 17. Now having affections for God is great, but joy can exist alongside . Having a good conscience with God is great. John Piper I think incorrectly says just after 9:39 here that loving Jesus cannot mean obedience to Jesus' commands in this verse. We have to remain faithful to Jesus above all, I think. For the sake of making testimony of Jesus to those who are in darkness, for example. To bear the reproach that Jesus did for the sake of Jesus and His gospel. To remain obedient to the Truth as things are taken away from you, like what happened to Job - this is still love for God, but God wants us to treasure Him more than anything.

As I understand it, I John 5:2-3 isn't saying that God's commandments are universally unburdensome to all people. It's saying that when we love God then keeping His commandments is unburdensome. If we're struggling with keeping the commandments of God and struggling with sin then we should make Him our number one love heart's desire and treasure and seek Him first with all our heart and we will be able to find His commandments unburdensome! It's true.

I feel like I could still say, "Loving God is obedience to God," but I would rather rephrase it as, "God in His love gifted me to be able to love Him back and live. I can see in retrospect He had been working in my life and it's awesome and magnificent and I just want to cherish and obey God now, and God made the way for me to do that!"

John 16:27-28 - for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father. (ESV)

We have confidence when we keep His commandments, believing in the name of God's Son Jesus Christ and loving one another and our heart doesn't condemn us:

I John 3:21-24 - Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

It's obedience which leads to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith:

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Delirious? - Touch

We end up thinking in a similar fashion to Jesus:

I Corinthians 2:16 - For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (ESV)

Philippians 2:5-7 - Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (ESV)

Jesus was self-humbling and obedient to God, and we end up thinking this way:

Philippians 2:8 - And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV)

We become enslaved to righteousness in Christ, not enslaved to corruption, but through persevering obedience to Jesus, we consolidate walking in the light, in obedience and faith to Jesus and we are conformed to practicing righteousness, walking as He walked:

II Peter 2:19 - They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. (ESV)

I John 2:6 - whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

We become conformed to Christ's image practicing righteousness - doing works of righteousness which are done in faith in Him:

Romans 8:29 - For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (ESV)

I John 3:7-8 - Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. (ESV)

In Christ Jesus there is freedom from things which were bad for us, including selfishness, condemnation, slavery to sin and death, and feeling like we're not good enough for God. There is freedom from anything that tries to hinder us from obeying God in truth:

I Peter 2:16 - Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. (ESV)

Galatians 5:1-6 - For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (ESV)

We are freed from, for example, making the worries of the world our first thought in the day such as thinking always in terms of "will I have enough money, for example", to instead, with the Holy Spirit in us, thinking correctly, having joy in being able to live out the great commandments in actuality, to be able to love God, I believe with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbour as ourselves, and as we abide in Jesus Christ, focused on Jesus as our Pearl of Great Price, obeying God in word and deed, passing-forward Christ's love to others, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin:

II Corinthians 3:17 - Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (ESV)

youtube.com: Toward Need, Not Comfort: The Blood-Bought Path of the Good Samaritan
Father, I ask now that [in this room] you would put all of us onto the blood-bought path that leads to eternal life, the path of love, the path where we move toward need, not comfort.
youtube.com: God Is Our Savior from What? 1 Timothy 1:1-2, Part 2 @time: 2 min 33 sec

Salvation? Savior? From what? There's a whole world view implied in that word 'Savior' that many people do not grasp at all. Unbelievers don't know what they need to be saved from.

One of the things we're saved from is this awful bent towards sinning.

Our salvation looks like being cleaned up by His spirit, behaving in a way now reflecting that we have knowledge of God (i.e. godliness), and not worldliness, treasuring God and one another, and letting go of treasuring/valuing worldly things, with hope for eternal life:

Titus 2:11-13 - For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (ESV)

Titus 3:3-7 - For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (ESV)

We're supposed to arrive at doing the will of God from the heart, loving one another in peace:

I Timothy 2:1-4 - First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (ESV)

We must embrace sanctification:

Romans 6:20-23 - When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Jesus All for Jesus {Lyrics}
Lyrics
Jesus, all for Jesus; All I am and have and ever hope to be; All of my ambitions, hopes and plans; I surrender these into your hands; For it's only in your will that I am free;

I believe this. If anyone is trusting that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, then they have life in His name. That doesn't mean they have come to know Him yet. But if they have just begun to trust that Jesus is the Christ, they have started on their journey to get to know Him. They are an infant in Christ:

John 20:31 - but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (ESV)

We must get on the path of having faith in Jesus, believe in the name of Jesus, God's Son, and obey God to have confidence:

Proverbs 10:17 - Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. (ESV)

I John 3:21-22 - Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
Christ by his death and resurrection dealt a decisive defeating blow against Satan, he cannot destroy you except by tempting you to distrust Jesus and walk in sin. Believe in the triumph that you already have - down payment by the spirit in your life and walk in this victory.

As we hold our faith in God, we understand that He loved us first. As we hold our faith in God, we draw closer to God as we practice Christ's love towards others:

I John 4:8-11 - Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)

While obedience exists in the heart, as belief does, as faith is believing and obedient trust, works are the actions we do out of that obedience, that love for Jesus, and out of ongoing believing, obedient faith, out of obedience to the Holy Spirit. Doing the will of God isn't "work", but is a just mode of walking. It's a mode of walking that is different from doing the will of satan. Satan is not God's equal and opposite.

John 3:36 - The [one] believing (pisteuōn) in the Son has life eternal; the [one] however not obeying (apeithōn) the Son not will see life but the wrath - of God abides on him (Interlinear)

We need a trusting, obedient heart. It's not just about obeying one point of belief in Jesus, but about having a heart which believes Jesus, trusts Jesus, obeys Jesus, and accepting Him and His words.

 1: 3588      4100      1519 3588    5207  2192     2222  166
 2: ho        pisteuōn  eis  ton     Huion echei    zōēn  aiōnion
 3: ὁ         πιστεύων  εἰς  τὸν     Υἱὸν  ἔχει     ζωὴν  αἰώνιον  ;
 4: The [one] believing in   the     Son   has      life  eternal
 5: Art-NMS   V-PPA-NMS Prep Art-AMS N-AMS V-PIA-3S N-AFS Adj-AFS
 6: 
 7: 3588      1161     544         3588     5207   3756 3708
 8: ho        de       apeithōn    tō       Huiō   ouk  opsetai
 9: ὁ         δὲ       ἀπειθῶν     τῷ       Υἱῷ  , οὐκ  ὄψεται
10: the [one] however  not obeying the      Son    not  will see
11: Art-NMS   Conj     V-PPA-NMS   Art-DMS  N-DMS  Adv  V-FIM-3S
12: 
13: 2222    235  3588    3709  3588    2316   3306     1909 846
14: zōēn    all’ hē      orgē  tou     Theou  menei    ep’  auton
15: ζωήν  , ἀλλ’ ἡ       ὀργὴ  τοῦ     Θεοῦ   μένει    ἐπ’  αὐτόν  .
16: life    but  the     wrath  -      of God abides   on   him
17: N-AFS   Conj Art-NFS N-NFS Art-GMS N-GMS  V-PIA-3S Prep PPro-AM3S

The reason Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness is because no distrust made him waver (Abraham faithfully trusted God regarding the promise). Abraham believed God was able to do what He had promised. So a good indicator that Abraham was totally trusting of God is that Abraham walked in the promise of God:

Romans 4:20-22 - No distrust (apistia) made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. (ESV)

And the obedience doesn't end. We continue to be sanctified through faith. We are saved from darkness, believing the word of God, and in obedience we are saved from sinning and try to fulfill the Royal Law, and even using our freedom in Christ to do good works that are pleasing to God:

Titus 3:8 - The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. (ESV)

Talk by
John Lennox - How Christianity Is Different From Every Religion - YouTube
youtube.com: John Lennox: How do I choose which religion to follow? @time: 8 min 12 sec

You've heard about my wife. Well, over fifty years ago, I saw this vision in Cambridge, so I decided I'd like to marry her. So I came to her one day and I had a little present wrapped up for her. It was a cookbook. So I said, "I'd like to marry you, Sally. Now the condition would be this: Let's look at page 147 - it's apple cake, and here are the laws for making apple cake. Thou shalt take some what's flour, thou shall take some what sugar, and there you are. Now, here's the way it's gonna be: If you keep these laws for the next forty years, I think about accepting you. If you don't, you can go back to your mother."

But, look why are you laughing? That is what many of you sitting here think about God. And you would never insult a fellow human being by basing a relationship of merit. You wouldn't. And so my marriage, it's been good, why? Because my wife is not cooking in order to gain my acceptance. She likes cooking because she's got it. And the wonderful thing about Christianity is precisely that. It's not religion in that sense, it's a relationship.

Amen to that.

Christianity is a relationship, like a marriage:

  • Acceptance comes at the beginning; Jesus gives us the benefit of the doubt. Just start serving Jesus
    • We must still forgive and love our family in Christ. This isn't 'work', but it is obedience, and it is a required heart attitude
    • Romans 14:18 - Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)
  • Salvation is based on Jesus' merit but also on our working-out of that free salvation gift with hope, faith, repentance and obedience
  • We must have a response of love for Jesus
    • John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)
    • John 16:27 - for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. (ESV)
  • In whatever we do, we should be serving the Lord Jesus Christ
    • I Corinthians 10:31 - So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (ESV)
    • Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (ESV)
    • I Corinthians 16:14 - Let all that you do be done in love. (ESV)
    • Romans 12:9 - Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. (ESV)

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (ESV)

Belief in Jesus Christ continues in obedience, and imitating Christ:

John 14:12 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (ESV)

It's imperative that we continue in obedience to abide by the Lord Jesus' teachings, and that includes repentance from sin:

Colossians 3:23-25 - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

Psalms 119:11 - I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (ESV)

We must forgive each other:

Colossians 3:13 - bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (ESV)

We must love our brother and our sister in Christ. It's imperative that we follow Jesus Christ's teachings and commandments:

I John 4:20-21 - If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (ESV)

Jesus is our brother - He is not ashamed to call those brothers who He sanctifies:

gotquestions.org Jesus-our-brother.html: Is Jesus our brother? | GotQuestions.org

Hebrews 2:11 - For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, (ESV)

Romans 8:29 - For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (ESV)

Mark 3:34-35 - And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother. (ESV)

Galatians 4:4-5 - But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (ESV)

I Corinthians 15:20-23 - But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. (ESV)

The will of Father God is for us to love, trust and obey His Son Jesus Christ:

II Thessalonians 1:8 - in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (ESV)

Romans 2:7-8 - to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. (ESV)

I confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and I believe that God loved us first and that we must love God and love one another:

I John 4:15 - Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (ESV)

Someone who has just put their faith in Jesus for the first time and is believing that Jesus is the Christ is a newborn Christian:

I John 5:1 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (ESV)

The Jesus which the Apostles proclaimed is the same Jesus we need to proclaim in Church - so Jesus' teachings should be taught right along with the gospel and along with all that the prophets have spoken which relate to Jesus:

II Corinthians 11:4 - For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. (ESV)

Talk by John Piper
youtube.com: You Cannot Obey God Without God

It's imperative that as we go ahead, we must abide in the teaching of Christ, or we won't have God (Jehovah God), and God is love and love comes from God, so we need to abide in Christ's teachings, by belief and by obedience. For example, in Mark 10:18, Jesus affirmed that God is Good. Therefore when we read this, we must also be sanctified by this truth, affirming and coming into agreement that God is Good. Also, Jesus commanded us to love one another as He loved us John 13:34-35:

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

Jesus said to these believers that if they abide in His word (and I believe that means keep His word, even in obedience), they are His disciples - so a person can be a believer before they are a disciple. But we're supposed to make this transition:

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

Don't stop believing. We must continue trusting and believing the Truth to be saved:

Luke 8:12 - The ones along the path are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. (ESV)

Be grounded in the Truth and able to overcome testing / trial / tribulation:

Luke 8:13 - And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. (ESV)

Continue walking in the light, and does not go back to falling in love with the world. (i.e. they gave up earthly treasure, and in doing so stored up heavenly treasure, and go after Jesus, their Pearl of Great Price), trusting, believing and obeying Jesus:

Luke 8:14 - And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. (ESV)

Holding fast in faith, out of an honest and good heart, bear good fruit including works of righteousness, even remaining steadfast through trial and tribulation:

Luke 8:15 - As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. (ESV)

Quote from John Piper
If God in fact in his grace and power enables us to do things that are good, He is going to reward them, not ignore them. He's going to say, "Well done good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21). Works of Faith are going to be rewarded, not thrown away as filthy rags.

II Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (ESV)

God considers being obedient from a forgiven heart, trusting in Jesus, to faithful service:

Matthew 25:23 - His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. (ESV)

Quote from John Piper
He bought us by grace, he sustains us by grace, he enables us to do good works by grace and we do the works trusting that grace.

Ephesians 6:8 - knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:36 - For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. (ESV)

Luke 6:45 - The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (ESV)

Bearing fruit looks like "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God".

Colossians 1:3-12 - We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (ESV)

Right after the parable of the soil, Jesus says this:

Luke 8:21 - But he answered them, My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it. (ESV)

Bear good fruit to prove to be a disciple of Jesus:

John 15:8 - By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (ESV)

People will recognise we are Jesus' disciples by the love we have for one another:

John 13:35 - By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)

Jesus is the Rock:

I Corinthians 10:4 - and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. (ESV)

Belief is important (and is an initial act of obedience):

Matthew 16:15-18 - He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (ESV)

Obedience is important:

Luke 6:46-49 - Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (ESV)

Our obedience is not without trust. We obey because we trust God - we obey out of faith in God:

Jeremiah 17:5-8 - Thus says the LORD: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. (ESV)

Our obedience is in the heart. We want to obey because we love Jesus (we will to):

Luke 10:25-37 - And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said to him, What is written in the Law? How do you read it? And he answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. And he said to him, You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live. But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? Jesus replied, A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back. Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? He said, The one who showed him mercy. And Jesus said to him, You go, and do likewise. (ESV)

 1: 2036     25             2962       3588     2316
 2: eipen    Agapēseis      Kyrion     ton      Theon
 3: εἶπεν  , Ἀγαπήσεις      Κύριον     τὸν      Θεόν
 4: he said  You shall love [the] Lord the      God
 5: V-AIA-3S V-FIA-2S       N-AMS      Art-AMS  N-AMS
 6:         +-------+
 7: 4771    |1537   | 3650     3588     2588     4771
 8: sou     |ex  <--+ holēs    tēs      kardias  sou
 9: σου     |ἐξ     | ὅλης     τῆς      καρδίας  σου  ,
10: of you  |with   | all      the      heart    of you
11: PPro-G2S|Prep   | Adj-GFS  Art-GFS  N-GFS    PPro-G2S
12:         +-------+
13: 2532    |1722   | 3650     3588     5590     4771
14: kai     |en     | holē     tē       psychē   sou
15: καὶ     |ἐν     | ὅλῃ      τῇ       ψυχῇ     σου  ,
16: and     |with   | all      the      soul     of you
17: Conj    |Prep   | Adj-DFS  Art-DFS  N-DFS    PPro-G2S
18:         |       |
19: 2532    |1722   | 3650     3588     2479     4771
20: kai     |en     | holē     tē       ischui   sou
21: καὶ     |ἐν     | ὅλῃ      τῇ       ἰσχύϊ    σου  ,
22: and     |with   | all      the      strength of you
23: Conj    |Prep   | Adj-DFS  Art-DFS  N-DFS    PPro-G2S
24:         |       |
25: 2532    |1722   | 3650     3588     1271     4771
26: kai     |en     | holē     tē       dianoia  sou
27: καὶ     |ἐν     | ὅλῃ      τῇ       διανοίᾳ  σου
28: and     |with   | all      the      mind     of you
29: Conj    |Prep   | Adj-DFS  Art-DFS  N-DFS    PPro-G2S
30:         |       |
31: 2532    |3588   | 4139     4771     5613     4572
32: kai     |Ton    | plēsion  sou      hōs      seauton
33: καὶ     |Τὸν    | πλησίον  σου      ὡς       σεαυτόν  .
34: and     |The    | neighbor of you   as       yourself
35: Conj    |Art-AMS| Adv      PPro-G2S Adv      PPro-AM2S
36:         +-------+
youtube.com: The Joy of the Puritans

Love for God is from the heart. Now, Luke's version of the great commandment gives a clue that that's the case. Luke's version: Just to read it now in the ESV, the lawyer expresses this and Jesus approves it, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind" but that translation isn't exactly right. Because those four prepositional phrases in the English are all the same, and in Greek they're not. The first one heart has a different preposition than the other three. It has the preposition EX "from or out-of" and the others are all EN "in or with/by".

So literally I would say it goes like this, "You shall love the Lord your God from (or out of) your heart, with your soul, and with your strength and with your mind." Now, why does that matter?

That's a clue, that's a that's a hint that the human heart is unique in its role that it plays in loving God.

Quote by John Piper
The essence of love is heart work, not mind work.

AMEN.

We learn Christ, and are taught by Christ (becoming obedient to His teachings and commandments) while we are in Him:

Ephesians 4:20-21 - But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, (ESV)

Therefore, even before I was noticeably "born-again of the water and the Spirit" in 2022, I had begun to try to practice Jesus' commandments in 2020/2021 in an effort to seek God, Jesus must have been already working in me, but I say this to explain how I believe that it might be quite hard to pinpoint the starting point, but we know that it's God's grace through faith (believing, obedient, trusting faith) that it happens, but that doesn't mean believing and obeying Jesus are not important to receive the Holy Spirit, because they are.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)

By His grace we have to actually come into obeying Jesus to find life. Think about what it means to obey Jesus: It's to walk in the Spirit, to abide in Jesus' Spirit, to be obeying Jesus' commandments, to seek to follow the pattern of life that He lived to be found in Him. You can abide in Jesus' Spirit if you have faith in Him, believing in Him, believing, trusting and obeying Him, knowing Him, and being found in Him!

Philippians 3:9-13 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (ESV)

Faith in Christ I believe means believing in Him and being obedient to Him, having communion with Him, etc. becoming intimate with Him, following Him. This isn't our own merit, but we still obey Jesus to be found in Him. In Him we have Jesus' righteousness:

Matthew 16:25 - For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (ESV)

And we should be building each other up, helping each other attain unity of faith and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God:

Ephesians 4:12-13 - to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, (ESV)

It's unity in faith and truth and love:

Colossians 3:14 - Beyond all (G3956 pas) these things put on love (G26 agape), which (G3739 hos) is the perfect bond of unity.

John 17:23 - I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (ESV)

II Timothy 1:13 - Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Being prone to stir up division, particularly over foolish controversies, is bad. Rather, we want unity in faith, love and Truth. The Truth does matter:

Titus 3:10-11 - The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division (141. hairetikos), after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. (ESV)

  • 141. hairetikos:: Definition: causing division. Usage: disposed to form sects, sectarian, heretical, factious.

We must agape love God, and our family in Christ and called to agape love even our enemies - How Christians agape love:

Agape is definitely a treasuring love. God is worth infinitely more than anything. God must be our first agape. People are worth infinitely more than chatbots or anything worldly, for example.

26 (agápē) typically refers to divine love (= what God prefers).

See where else this word used to describe agape love is used:

Agape-love can be misplaced. We go from agape-loving (treasuring, valuing) darkness to agape-loving (treasuring, valuing) light:

John 3:16-20 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved (25. agapaó) the darkness rather than the light (5457. phós) because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. (ESV)

Thus so (Houtōs) (in this way) did God love (25. agapaó - value,treasure) the world, that He gave His Only-Begotten Son that everyone who is trusting/believing in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting:

biblehub.com 3-16.htm: John 3:16 Interlinear: for God did so love the world, that His Son – the only begotten – He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during.

Who Christians must agape love:

Who Christians are called to agape love:

What Christians must not agape love:

Agape love must not be to anything of the world:

Book
timothykeller.com: Counterfeit Gods - Timothy Keller
Sermon
youtube.com: Counterfeit Gods - Tim Keller

Agape-ing things of this world is worldly-mindedness and makes it very difficult to discern the will of God:

Luke 11:43 - Woe to you Pharisees! For you love (agapate) the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. (ESV)

youtube.com: Petra - Beyond Belief @time: 29 min 43 sec

I've been looking over your recent stats. You're going to have to run well in this one, guy. yes sir. We still think you've got potential. The scholarship could be yours, but you're going to have to really want it. I do sir. Good, cuz as far as your concerned this race is the most important thing in your life. Be out there in 30 minutes.

Danny, can I ask you something? Sure. When you grow up and move away, would you still be my brother? Chad, you can't change that. You think you'll forget about us? How can I forget about you? You're my brother. Hey, tell you what, I've been wanting to give this to you for a long time. As God is our witness, brothers forever. Woww. okay boys, let's settle down. Dad, can I ask you something? Sure, pal. When we grow up and move away, will you still be my dad? I'll always be your dad and that'll never change. Do you promise? Son, the most important thing in our our Lives is that we always love each other. Now, you remember that, okay? Okay boys, prayers.

I think I John 2:15-17 is essentially saying, "Do not agape love the world or what's in the world. Do not love the things of this world with the type of love that we have for God and for people, namely agape love." If we fall out of agape love for the world and are not conformed to the world but are transformed by the renewing of our minds then by testing we will be able to discern the will of God:

I John 2:15-17 - Do not love (agapate) the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

OK, so we accept forgiveness from God, we forgive others, and we then walk in that reality and don't turn back - we live that reality out. We accept that God has loved us by making atonement through Jesus' blood, and then we pass-forward that loving forgiveness to others and we walk in that reality and don't turn back.

II Corinthians 4:11-12 - For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. (ESV)

We must have faith in Jesus to be justified by faith. I believe the finished work of Christ is enough, but that God is still working, His grace extending through faithful obedience to Jesus, Jesus grace reaches more people:

II Corinthians 4:11-15 - For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, I believed, and so I spoke, we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. (ESV)

We also try to live holy lives - be holy as He is Holy.

We put on Christ:

Galatians 3:27-28 - For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

When the day of judgement comes, we must have accepted forgiveness from God, or face the wrath of God:

Romans 4:7-8 - Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin. (ESV)

When the day of judgement comes, we should be loving our brother and sister in Christ, or we may face the wrath of God:

I John 4:17-21 - By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (ESV)

Our sins are forgiven and we love one another the way Christ loved us. It should be our aim to have arrived at this point where we are living in this reality as soon as possible:

I John 2:11-12 - But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. (ESV)

If we are merciful then we will receive mercy:

Matthew 5:7 - Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

James 2:13 - For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

To get to know Jesus, we must obey His commandments:

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

Belief leads to obedience which leads to knowledge of the truth:

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ who He has sent:

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (ESV)

We need to take hold of it:

I Timothy 6:12 - Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (ESV)

In order to know God we must love one another in the way that God has loved us:

I John 4:7-12 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (ESV)

We live through the life of Jesus in this intellectual and experiential knowledge - a bit like an umbilical cord:

I John 4:8-11 - Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Jesus Himself is the bread of God - Jesus Himself is the source of life:

John 6:33 - For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

We should labor for the food that endures to eternal life:

John 6:27 - Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal. (ESV)

John 4:34 - Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. (ESV)

We have to put sin away after we come to believe in Him:

Colossians 3:5-10 - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

A new creation lives for Christ:

II Corinthians 5:14-17 - For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Being born-again, my old man died and now my life is hidden with Christ in God, and I'm seated with Him in the heavenly places in Christ living to serve Jesus:

Colossians 3:3 - For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (ESV)

Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, (ESV)

Ephesians 2:6 - and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (ESV)

We have authority in God:

Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (ESV)

Matthew 20:27-28 - and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (ESV)

We must be in Christ Jesus. Those who have been born-again have become obedient to Jesus Christ. Having been born-again, we walk by faith, not sight:

Romans 8:23-25 - And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (ESV)

II Corinthians 5:6-7 - So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. (ESV)

We don't transition away from being servants of Jesus when we become friends of Jesus - we still serve and obey Him. Jesus started calling His servants His friends because Jesus had explained to them all He heard from Father God. Jesus' friends still serve Jesus, and they obey Jesus but they also know what Jesus is doing.

John 15:14-15 - You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

We must be born-again:

Quote of John Piper
Your life becomes a foretaste for others of your cherished future. But if your future that you cherish is grace coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ and that is your treasure, and that is your hope and that is your faith and that is your vision and what you hold onto and embrace, you cannot return evil for evil. You know why you cannot return evil for evil? (If that's where your heart is.) Because the cherished grace that's coming is that He's not going to return evil for evil to you. Then we cannot turn around and have a lifestyle of returning evil for evil or insulting for insulting, and therefore the point of saying it's a condition for that is simply this, "You must be born again." Therefore, it's a condition, not in the sense of earning anything but in the sense of bearing witness that you've fallen in love and live out of that confidence.

Amen. I want to say though that I obey Jesus when I'm feeling depressed and having a bad day myself, it most certainly still counts as love to Jesus. If I'm suffering for exercising obedient faith in Jesus, that obedience is still loving Jesus. In fact, it's more blessed to give than to receive. The obedience is still done out of love for Jesus and out of faith in Jesus. I believe that obedience to Jesus is an expression of faith in Jesus, and an expression of love for Jesus, and hope in Jesus. I've invested my life in Jesus, and happy about it because I believe and hope in Jesus.

To love your neighbour as yourself means forgiving them too, and remember that Jesus forgave us. It also means to not take vengeance (Christ's law includes not rendering evil for evil):

Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (ESV)

OK, so to be obedient while enduring suffering, which God has allowed is love which is greater than faith and hope which both abide; It's more blessed to give than to receive. I would argue though that to maintain an affectionate love for God while enduring suffering which God has allowed to happen is even more difficult and more blessed than to maintain good works while suffering. Love gives - love obeys Jesus' teaching. Love forgives and gives while being stolen from and abused - love obeys. Love praises God and affectionately loves God despite experiencing being thrown into darkness and God allowing them to be tormented by the enemy..

Faithfulness to Jesus, though, is a baseline requirement:

Matthew 24:12-13 - And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (ESV)

See how faithfulness is related to faith - faith is faithful to God. Having faith in God is keeping accountability with God with regard to His commands and promises and maintaining faithfulness with God who sees in secret:

II Timothy 2:13 - if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. (ESV)

I have a strong desire to do what God wants me to do as I feel comfortable that God is on my side and will not put me to shame for my shortcomings because I am trusting Him. If the devil tries to damage me to make me sin and I sin I know I have confidence that God is still taking care of me and knows everything. Now I know I want to love other people because I have joy in knowing God. But on a bad day, especially during this intense trial that I face, I have confidence that even though I may have a Job 23:1-17 day, I will still I will still keep my heart of obedience to God, especially the call to love others because I do not want to misrepresent God or shame God in public which would be akin to taking His name in vain.

Job 23:1-17 - Then Job answered and said: Today also my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy on account of my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat! I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me. There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food. But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does. For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind. Therefore I am terrified at his presence; when I consider, I am in dread of him. God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; yet I am not silenced because of the darkness, nor because thick darkness covers my face. (ESV)

So I have a joy that's in God, yes, but it does not mean that on a bad day (when I complain to God and feel as though I have no joy) that I have no love for God. I'm fully convinced that Job still loved God, and the "joy" of God was most likely still deep in Job's heart even though he felt bitter. That's how I feel sometimes. I love Jesus but I tell him I'm angry at him. Perhaps a bit like Martin Luther's psychosis:

youtube.com: The Insanity of Luther: The Holiness of God with R.C. Sproul
He had such a fear of the wrath of God that early on in his ministry somebody put this question to him: "Brother Martin, do you love God?" You know what he said? He said, "Love God? You ask me if I love God? Love God? Sometimes I hate God. I see Christ as a consuming judge who is simply looking at me to evaluate me and to visit affliction upon me.

And I am convinced that God still loves Job even when he had a bad complaint and he felt bitterness. And I'm convinced that Martin Luther also loved God and God loved Martin Luther.

Jesus says that the one who loves Him is the one who keeps His commandments. Amen.

I love it when I have the II Corinthians 8:2 joy which spills over into following Jesus' commandments - it makes it much easier!

We should be serving in gladness and joy because we have perspective - we have God, and we should have joy in serving God and being used by God:

youtube.com: Overcoming Spiritual Dryness @time: 9 min 7 sec

The fight for joy is not a fight to be comfortable or have security or be prosperous or any other of the American 'ideals' that are advertised to us every day. It is a fight to join Jesus on the Calvary road. The fight to be happy is a fight to join Jesus on the Calvary road.

It's not a praise God anyhow road. It's a road of suffering, it's a road of tears, it's a road of empathy with all the dying people that you're aware of, or who's marriages are in trouble or who's kids are on drugs. It's the people you know that are broken in your vicinity and your joy is going to become a high pressure zone that begins to make wind when it bumps up against low-pressure zones of need and that wind is called love. Because your joy is moving out and spilling over - "I have so much in Jesus, I know I have a lot of stuff but oh I'm brimming with what really counts in life and I'm going to use my stuff and my time and my energy to make your day for Jesus. I want to serve you for Jesus."

Joy in God spilling over into serving God is where we want to be:

II Corinthians 8:2 - for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. (ESV)

This is the road we should be on:

Hebrews 12:2 - looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)

It's good to have God. Having God is truly having everything we need:

II Corinthians 6:10 - as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. (ESV)

We're actually commanded to delight ourselves in God, and it's for our own good. It's the correct way to think:

Psalms 37:4 - Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (ESV)

Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. (ESV)

Cesare Borgia (Atheist)
While I lived, I provided for everything but death. Now I must die and I'm unprepared to die.
Sir Thomas Scott
a privy councillor of James V. of Scotland, was a noted persecutor of the reformers. Being taken suddenly ill, and finding himself dying, he cried out to the Roman priests who sought to comfort him, "Begone, you and your trumpery; until this moment I believed that there was neither a God nor a hell. Now I know and I feel that there are both, and I am doomed to perdition by the just judgment of the Almighty."

If you're keeping Jesus' words, and valuing them and seeking to live by them then you'll be loved by Jehovah God, Abba Father God for loving Jesus:

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

The following is Scripture and trumps my own thoughts. I affirm these verses wholeheartedly:

II Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

A new creation has faith working through love and keeps Jesus Christ's commandments:

Galatians 6:15 - For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. (ESV)

We both love/obey (25. agapaó) Jesus and believe/trust (4100. pisteuó) in Him and receive the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls:

I Peter 1:8-9 - Though you have not seen him, you love (25. agapaó) him. Though you do not now see him, you believe (4100. pisteuó) in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (ESV)

And our trusting love is not merely obedient by affectionate:

John 16:27 - for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved (5368. phileó) me and have believed (4100. pisteuó) that I came from God. (ESV)

1: Cognate: 25 agapáō – properly, to prefer, to love; for the believer, preferring to "live through Christ" (1 Jn 4:9,10), i.e. embracing God's will (choosing His choices) and obeying them through His power. 25 (agapáō) preeminently refers to what God prefers as He "is love" (1 Jn 4:8,16). See 26 (agapē).
2: 
3: With the believer, 25 /agapáō ("to love") means actively doing what the Lord prefers, with Him (by His power and direction). True 25 /agapáō ("loving") is always defined by God – a "discriminating affection which involves choice and selection" (WS, 477). 1 Jn 4:8,16,17 for example convey how loving ("preferring," 25 /agapáō) is Christ living His life through the believer.
1: 5368 philéō (from 5384 /phílos, "affectionate friendship") – properly, to show warm affection in intimate friendship, characterized by tender, heartfelt consideration and kinship.
Song
Steve Apirana - Born Again - YouTube

Out with the old selfish self and in with the new selflessly loving self:

Galatians 5:6 - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (ESV)

Baptism should result in faith working through/by love; maintaining faith in Jesus, and passing-forward love. This is really what it means to have put on Christ - to have received forgiveness and love from God through faith and then to forgive and love others:

Galatians 3:25-27 - But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (ESV)

Out with the old selfish self and in with the new selflessly loving, and obedient to God self:

I Corinthians 7:19 - For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. (ESV)

There is a change in our lives:

Ephesians 2:3-7 - among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

And eventually His commandments become unburdensome, and we're keeping them, and we have confidence we have come to know Him:

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

We must live in the spirit the way God does, not for human passions, but for the will of God:

I Peter 4:1-6 - Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. (ESV)

When we believe God's word given through Jesus, we have passed from death to life. We should definitely then listen to Jesus to see what He has actually spoken.

I think John 5:24 reads that the one who is trusting the words spoken through Jesus, trusting God, trusting Jesus is holds/posesses eternal life and has passed from death into life.

2064. erchomai
to come, go
3327. metabain
to pass over, withdraw, depart

In trusting Jesus' words - or even His name (onoma) and He is the judge - we do not come into judgement, but change direction, and instead our destiny is life eternal. Jesus is the judge of that. We do not come into judgement:

John 5:21-24 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears (191. akouó) my word (3056. logos) and believes (4100. pisteuó) him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come (2064. erchomai) into judgment, but has passed (3327. metabain) from death to life. (ESV)

John 3:18 - Whoever believes (pisteuōn) in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name (onoma) of the only Son of God. (ESV)

An indication that we have passed from death to life is that we agapé / treasure our family in Christ:

I John 3:14-20 - We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love (agapōmen) the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. (ESV)

Belief (in the heart) that Jesus is the Son of God leads to:

  • experiencing the love of God, and
  • overcoming the world, which feels like:
    • God's commandments are not burdensome
      • Having agape for God and family in Christ and even for other people, and
      • not having agape for the world or worldly things

I John 5:3-5 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (ESV)

Acts 28:27 - For the heart of this people has become dull, And with their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes; Otherwise they might see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.”’

Song
youtube.com: Pat Barrett - Build My Life {feat. Chris Tomlin} {Live}

New creation love:

Quote from John Piper
Love is the overflow of joy that meets the needs of others.

II Corinthians 8:1-2 - We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. (ESV)

Quote from John Piper
Christ-exalting love for people is the overflow of joy in God or it's not love in a Biblical sense.

New creation love is emulating Christ's love towards others from a position of a good conscience with God having been obedient to the gospel or it's not love in a Biblical sense.

Feel free to quote me on that. It's continued obedience to God that proceeds from a good conscience with God.

Quote by Mari Mari Emmanuel
Until I had a true encounter with Christ, the love of my life, there was never joy within, never joy. When my sins are forgiven, when that beautiful voice, that loving tender kind voice says to me, "I forgive you," then I rejoice. That's why joy is to do with salvation.

Fear of God is not only about having the heart to repent from sin and "beat hand on chest and ask God for mercy", but it is also having a changed heart, endeavoring to please Christ with our actions:

II Corinthians 5:6-11 - So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. (ESV)

Isaiah 66:2 - All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. (ESV)

The repentant sinner next to Jesus on the cross knew he deserved his punishment, and he even demonstrated that he had a heart that obeys the gospel (whereas the other person appears to have been disobedient to the gospel to death):

John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

The unrepentant sinner wanted Jesus to save his present life:

Luke 23:39 - One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!”

The repentant sinner feared God and put his hope on Jesus Christ, not to save him from the cross, but to save his soul:

Luke 23:40-43 - But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

 1: Our Father in Heaven,
 2: 
 3: thank You, God, for loving us first by paying
 4: the price for our sin with Jesus' blood.
 5: 
 6: Thank You God that we can now love You and our
 7: neighbour from a good conscience with You,
 8: showing others forgiveness and love as we have
 9: received forgiveness and love.
10: 
11: Please God, help us to trust and obey You
12: through trusting and obey Jesus Christ our
13: Lord.
14: 
15: Please God never let us fall away but sanctify
16: us through Your Spirit.
17: 
18: In Jesus Christ's name I ask.
19: 
20: AMEN!!

3.1. Being born-again of the Spirit

People were being born according to the Spirit for quite some time before Jesus was born of the virgin Mary but it has been restricted to the children of promise i.e. Abraham's descendants through Isaac:

Galatians 4:28-31 - Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman. So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. (ESV)

Rather than being born according to the flesh, to be born according to the Spirit happens being born through promise:

Galatians 4:23 - But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. (ESV)

OK, so the Spirit is received through faith (faith like Abraham's) in Jesus Christ to all who believe. The promise was made to Christ. Now we must be found in Christ. Amen:

Galatians 3:13-16 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, And to offsprings, referring to many, but referring to one, And to your offspring, who is Christ. (ESV)

It's a very big mystery to me that I was born-again of the Spirit on the first day of Nisan, and had a meeting with the Holy Spirit (apparently) at the tail end of Nisan. Well, whatever it was that happened to me happened.

Interestingly, the dates also line up very closely with Ramadan, but it was actually Nisan, which was a Saturday (Shabbat) that I was born-again:

lmc.edu a-coincidence-that-happens-only-about-every-33-years.htm: In 2022 Passover, Ramadan, and Easter all fall in April, a coincidence that happens only about every 33 years

1: In 2022 Passover, Ramadan, and Easter all fall
2: in April, a coincidence that happens only
3: about every 33 years.

vercalendario.info compare-5782.html: Jewish Calendar 5782

Event Dates
Ramadan Evening of Fri, 1 Apr 2022 – Sun, 1 May 2022
Nisan 2 April 2022 (Saturday) - May 1 2022
Passover Evening of Fri, 15 Apr 2022 – Sat, 23 Apr 2022
Lent Wed, 2 Mar 2022 – Thu, 14 Apr 2022
1: 1 Nisan Lunar new year, marking the month of
2: Aviv meaning spring, as the first month of the
3: year, which month was later called Nisan.
4: 
5: The first national mitzvah that was given to
6: the Jewish people to fix the calendar to the
7: new moon of Aviv, according to the Book of
8: Exodus 12:1-2, 12:18. (c. 1456 BCE)

So I was born-again of the Spirit on 1 Nisan, which commemorates the death of Abraham and the day the floodwaters receded from the earth:

1: 1 Nisan The day the floodwaters receded from the earth, after the dove was sent out by Noah and returned with an olive branch, according to Genesis 8:10-13
2: 1 Nisan (c. 1638 BCE) – Death of Abraham according to the Talmud[2]
3: 1 Nisan (c. 1533 BCE) – Death of Isaac according to the Talmud[2]
4: 1 Nisan (c. 1506 BCE) – Death of Jacob according to the Talmud[2]
5: 1 Nisan (c. 1455 BCE) – Tabernacle (Mishkan) inaugurated on the second year "Exodus 40".
6: 1 Nisan (c. 1455 BCE) death of Nadab and Abihu[3]
7: 1 Nisan (c. 3761 BCE) – Creation of the Universe according to Joshua ben Hananiah's opinion in the Talmud, tractate Rosh Hashanah 10b–11a).
8: 1 Nisan (1772) – Birth of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov[citation needed]
9: 1 Nisan (1892) – Death of Rabbi Elimelech Szapira of Grodzhisk

lifecenter.ca the-hebrew-month-of-nissan-2022.html: THE HEBREW MONTH OF NISSAN {2022} - Ahava Life Centre

Exodus 12:1-2 - The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. (ESV)

I Peter 3:21 - Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (ESV)

I just want to say that I don't observe any of these seasons, but it still happened that way. I guess God has liberated me from observing them, among others things, if that makes sense:

Galatians 4:6-11 - And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain. (ESV)

As I have repented to be corrected by the Word of God, agreeing with it and endeavoring to obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it feels as though I have been rejecting lots and lots of heresies, and rejecting lots and lots of false religion, and I hope that this helps others also to be corrected. I have been trying to be corrected by obedience to the Gospel of Jesus a lot since recording this 'dream' / conversation in my sleep. After actively trying to be obedient to the Truth, obedient to Jesus, saved to obey Jesus, I have come to distrust odd spirits which speak to me in my sleep.

I believe that among other things I have had to fight against, reject or repent from:

I have also had to:

  • be sanctified through obedience to the Truth, faith and the Spirit
    • John 17:19 - And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (ESV)
    • Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (ESV)
    • I Peter 1:22 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)
  • get to know Jesus better through following His commandments
    • I John 2:4 - Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)
  • allow the LORD to build my house
    • Psalms 127:1 - Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. (ESV)

I appreciated Bryce's testimony here as he also had to turn away from false religion to follow Jesus:

youtube.com: Bryce Crawford's testimony: Sharing Jesus With An Atheist!

So there was a night I was going to take my life - it was on Christmas of 2020 - and I went to go have my last meal and I had a supernatural encounter with Jesus - not religion - Jesus Christ I had a supernatural encounter with. Right before, a few months before, I had actually looked into all these other religions cuz like you said, you were like, "Oh, any sort of faith provides good structure and that's what I had heard all my life. So I was like, "Man, if I just believe in something, maybe it will get me out of this depression pit." So I was looking at Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, New Age, like everything on the planet. And when I was looking at these things, like in Islam, for example, you have like the five pillars of Islam, basically. You got to pray five times a day, give alms to the poor, and the goal is to be a good person. When you die, Allah is going to weigh your good and your bad, and if you did more good than bad you're good but if you did more bad than good, not good.

And then I was like, "Well, it doesn't say how much is enough, so how do I know if by the time I'm dead if I did enough? And then, you know, Buddhism and Hinduism, they've got thousands of gods and you're trying to get enlightened and not get bad karma cuz then you might get reincarnated into something bad. And so I was like looking at all these religions and I felt hopeless because I thought, "I have a hole in my heart. And if I'm a broken human being - you know how wicked this world is - and [with] a broken heart - I couldn't even heal the broken heart with the broken world." So I was like, "If I live in a broken world with a broken heart how could I ever work to perfection?"

It seemed impossible, and I knew I couldn't do it, so I was ready to take my life that night in Waffle House and I had this Supernatural Encounter With Jesus. I realized, man, I'm not following religion. I mean, yes, like Christianity is like a labeled religion but I'm not following structured religion, I'm following Jesus. I'm putting my faith and trust in him.

Now I had gone into court willingly after being born-again as I held my faith in Jesus and submitted to the authorities, but not perfect. After breaking bail to get baptised and bring everything into the light, obeying God and not man (See this video), the whole thing felt outside of my control (extremely graceless), and I was under clear impression especially later in 2022 that I was battling an antichrist spirit pressuring me into several things:

  • Justification by works after I had already received the Spirit earlier that year:
    • Galatians 3:3 - Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (ESV)
  • Tempting me to out of faith with Jesus, by making me fearful of jail
    • Hebrews 12:16 - that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. (ESV)
    • I John 4:18 - There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (ESV)
  • Pressuring me to not pass forward the love of Christ
    • Matthew 6:14-15 - For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (ESV)
    • Colossians 3:13 - bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (ESV)
  • Pressuring me to affirm all my error instead of embracing sanctification:
    • I Peter 1:2 - according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (ESV)

As interesting as the parallels or similarities are with my own testimony, I think this Mormon doctrine shows interesting parallels or similarities with my own testimony but I cannot affirm everything, nor their extra books, and I am not a Mormon :: thechurchnews.com: Isaac: Child of the promise and heir of the promises - Church News (Mormonism)

I don't need to prove myself to men, as God sees the heart, but I have my relationship with God:

  • I Chronicles 29:17 - I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. (ESV)

So through obedience to the gospel, I came into the light, I pleaded guilty, I made testimony of Jesus, etc. "whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." This is Biblical gospel teaching, that through faith in Jesus we may be saved, and I disagree with the Mormans' interpretation.

  • John 3:21 - But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God. (ESV)
  • Matthew 16:25 - For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (ESV)

It's really interesting what has happened regarding my testimony of getting born-again, my blog writings of 2022 and of course, court and how it relates to Isaiah 1:12-17. I think the take-away from this is that we should cease to do evil and learn to do good. It is odd that although I do not observe new moons or religious 'feasts', whatever has happened has happened. I think everyone involved should repent before God going forward:

Isaiah 1:12-17 - When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. (ESV)

I also do not affirm the LDS doctrine here:

I see the LDS stuff here as heretical, and I do not consider their extra books to be Scripture.

I've been attending Bible studies and allowing myself to be corrected and renewed in mind by the Truth which is the Word of God:

John 17:17 - Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (ESV)

And I think that the spirits which I attacked me tried to bundle in my desire to marry the girl I had met with false religion.

I affirm that I wanted to marry her when I met her at the Baptist church long before (if I recall the events precisely) I had even visited the Mormon church, so I have a good conscience before God with regards to the marriage proposal and that. Jehovah God as my witness, it was love that issued from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith and I believe the enemy tried to sabotage me:

I Timothy 1:3-5 - As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (ESV)

I cannot affirm spirits or dreams which do not confess Jesus. Neither can I affirm as without error my own writings, especially those I have written as I've been repenting from error:

I John 4:1-3 - Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. (ESV)

Now I endeavour to take every thought captive to Christ:

II Corinthians 10:5-6 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (ESV)

No, You Do Not Hold The Melchizedek Priesthood

So he is King of Peace and King of Righteousness, serving bread and wine, praising God, a priest, and Abram tithes to him! However, I don’t believe he is actually a preincarnate appearance of Christ—Hebrews 7:3 tells us that Melchizedek resembled Jesus, not that he was Jesus.

And that is a key point: The text isn’t saying that Jesus is like Melchizedek, but that Melchizedek is like Jesus—that Jesus is the true and better Melchizedek, just as he is the true and better Temple, Lamb, Passover, Moses, David, on forward. This is another case of typology, that this is about that. God wrote the story of Melchizedek in living history, to later teach us something of the Person and work of Jesus. So that is the origin of this designation.

AMEN!!

For a long while now I have affirmed that Jesus is the only King, and my King and in doing so I really mean to say that I am not a king, but would happily let Jesus call me His brother and a royal priest in His kingdom:

Song
youtube.com: Only King Forever | Live | Elevation Worship

Revelation of John 19:19 - And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. (ESV)

Psalms 82:6-8 - I said, You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince. Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations! (ESV)

Verses such as this demonstrate the holy justice of God. God nearly put Moses to death:

Exodus 4:24-26 - At a lodging place on the way the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me! So he let him alone. It was then that she said, A bridegroom of blood, because of the circumcision. (ESV)

Thus so (Houtōs) (in this way) did God love (25. agapaó - value,treasure) the world, that He gave His Only-Begotten Son that everyone who is trusting/believing in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting:

biblehub.com 3-16.htm: John 3:16 Interlinear: for God did so love the world, that His Son – the only begotten – He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during.

John 3:16-17 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (ESV)

We are found in Christ by having faith in Christ and putting on Christ. This was my behaviour during 2022 after being born-again. I was acting obediently and in faith knowing I was born-again and saved already and had to pass on love and forgiveness, and also repent from error - all of these:

Galatians 3:22-29 - But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (ESV)

Quote from John Piper
The most profound change in the universe is when a human being passes from death to life - from spiritual deadness to spiritual aliveness and this text is about how to help that change happen.

AMEN!

youtube.com: How to Seek the Holy Spirit @time: 48 min 13 sec
"If anyone keeps Jesus' word, holds fast, treasures it, in obedience, that person will not be quenching the Spirit, that person will not be grieving the Spirit, but will know the fullness and sweetness of fellowship with the Father and the Son."

AMEN to that, John Piper.

Ephesians 3:6 - This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (ESV)

We must be children of the promise:

Romans 9:6-8 - But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but Through Isaac shall your offspring be named. This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. (ESV)

Romans 2:26-29 - So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (ESV)

The promise is to be an heir of the world:

Romans 4:13 - For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. (ESV)

We trust/believe in the one true God who raised Jesus Christ our Lord from the dead. We have peace with God through trusting faith:

Romans 4:23-25,5:1-2 - But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (ESV)

We have faith in Almighty God who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Our faith is modeled on Abraham's:

Romans 4:16-17 - That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, I have made you the father of many nations—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. (ESV)

We need to call on God for help:

Romans 10:8-13 - But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (ESV)

OK, so the Spirit is received through faith (faith like Abraham's) in Jesus Christ to all who believe. The promise was made to Abraham and to Christ. Now we must be found in Christ. Amen:

Galatians 3:13-16 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, And to offsprings, referring to many, but referring to one, And to your offspring, who is Christ. (ESV)

3.1.1. Becoming born-again of the Spirit may be receiving the inheritance

Then there may be some nuance between receiving the Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance, and being born of the Spirit which may be [part of] our inheritance.

I Corinthians 15:50 - I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (ESV)

In trusting in Jesus Christ, we may receive the Holy Spirit:

John 7:37-39 - On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, If anyone thirsts (G1372 dipsaó), let him come to me and drink (G4095 pinó). Whoever believes (G4100 pisteuó) in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (ESV)

Ephesians 1:13-14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (ESV)

John 3:5 - Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

3.1.2. The living water, the Holy Spirit of promise is the seal of our inheritance, and received through faith in Jesus

John 4:10 - Jesus answered her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. (ESV)

John 4:14 - but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (ESV)

3.1.3. Jesus being glorified means we can receive the Holy Spirit through faith

John 13:31-32 - Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. (KJV)

John 20:22 - And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

Acts 2:4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (ESV)

3.1.4. When we are born of the Spirit, we receive a regenerated spirit-man. This is part of the inheritance, I think

Being born of the Spirit / spiritually regenerated I think is a different event to receiving the Holy Spirit which typically happens beforehand, particularly for Gentile Christians when we give our heart to the Lord Jesus:

Galatians 4:28-31 - Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman. So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. (ESV)

Romans 4:13-18 - For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, I have made you the father of many nations—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, So shall your offspring be. (ESV)

Ephesians 1:13-14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (ESV)

3.1.5. Any spiritual experience should be in the character of the Holy Spirit

youtube.com: How to Preach with Supernatural Power @time: 8 min 16 sec
He does not mean that something spiritual is religious or mystical or other-worldly. That's what most people think about spiritual… Well, no it's not. Instead spiritual for Paul meant originating by the Holy Spirit and having the quality of the Holy Spirit, formed by the character of the Holy Spirit. It is supernatural, wrought, shaped by the Holy Spirit… The problem with the 'mind of the flesh is not that it fails to be religious, or that it fails to be mystical or that it fails to be other-worldly. In fact, the mind of the flesh may be intensely religious. The mind of the flesh may be very mystical, very other-worldly. The problem with the mind of the flesh is that it's hardened againsnt the beauty of God, the worth of God, the authority of God. It's hard against God. It's unable to welcome and love and delight in and enjoy God.

AMEN John Piper. Thanks.

youtube.com: C. S. Lewis 2024 - Characteristics of the Holy Spirit's personality

Romans 8:6-9 - To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (ESV)

3.1.6. My testimony of being born-again of the Spirit

Being born of the Spirit is something which is genuinely unpredictable but we can sense its coming and going. It's not the same thing as getting someone to pray a sinner's prayer, for example, otherwise Jesus would not have used this analogy. We can sense it (hear it's sound, such as making testimony of being born of the Spirit), but we don't know where it comes form or where it goes:

John 3:3-8 - Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (ESV)

People were being born according to the Spirit for quite some time before Jesus was born of the virgin Mary but it has been restricted to the children of promise i.e. Abraham's descendants through Isaac:

Galatians 4:28-31 - Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman. So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. (ESV)

I was born-again 'of the Spirit' on 2 April 2022 where I was given a new body, or it was regenerated - a blue light-body.

Galatians 6:14-17 - But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. (ESV)

II Corinthians 5:5 - He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: Be Who You Are: Living Out Identity in Christ, Part 1

We are saved to serve Christ:

II Corinthians 5:15 - and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (ESV)

We are meant to serve God. We are saved from not serving God, that we serve God through serving Christ:

Luke 4:4-8 - And Jesus answered him, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone. And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours. And Jesus answered him, It is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. (ESV)

We are saved to work for Christ for the sake of Christ and the ministry of reconciling other sinners to God through Christ:

II Corinthians 5:18 - All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; (ESV)

The Apostles were working with Christ. I believe the Apostles also here are exhorting believers to work with Christ to receive the grace of God:

II Corinthians 5:21-6:1 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (ESV)

James 2:22 - You see that faith (G4102 pistis) was working with (4903. sunergeó) his works (G2041 ergon), and as a result of the works (G2041 ergon), faith (G4102 pistis) was perfected (G5048 teleioo);

4903. sunergeó
Definition: to work together. Usage: I cooperate with, work together.

II Corinthians 7:15 - And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. (ESV)

God put our sin on Jesus:

youtube.com: John MacArthur | The Gospel in 1 Minute | #paulwasher #voddiebaucham #billygraham #johnmacarthur

The Bible, II Corinthians 5:21 - He made Him who knew no sin sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Let me unpack those 15 Greek words. He, God, made Jesus sin. What do you mean He made Jesus sin? Only in one sense he treated him as if he had committed every sin ever committed by every person who would ever believe, though in fact he committed none of them. Hanging on the cross, He was Holy, harmless, undefiled. Hanging on the cross, He was a spotless Lamb. He was never for a split second a sinner. He is Holy God on the cross. But God is treating him - I'll put it more practically - as if he lived my life.

God punished Jesus for my sin, turns right around and treats me as if I lived His life.

That's the great doctrine of substitution and on that Doctrine turned the whole Reformation of the church - that is the heart of the gospel. And what you get is complete forgiveness covered by the righteousness of Jesus Christ. When He (God) looks at the cross he sees you. When He looks at you he sees Christ.

Being born-again of the spirit was a total gift received through faith in Jesus, none of my own merit at all - simple very imperfect repentance from sin and faith in God exercising faithfulness:

I don't really know what this is. It was something like a singularity event and my perception of the world is now spiritual. Most of my life I have not been a very faithful Christian. I was a 'nominal' Christian but I didn't really have a lot of faith or knowledge of God. I had not been seeking out Jesus. For the 2 years leading up to 2 April 2022, I can tell now in retrospect that God was working in my life, and I had begun seeking Jesus, and trying out repentance, and eventually arrived at the point where I was crying to God for help. So when was I born-again? Was it when I first believed as a child, or when I was baptised as a teenager? Not in the same way I was born-again on 2 April 2022. On 2 April 2022 I was truly born-again of the Spirit, and my best explanation as to what had changed was that I had begun to authentically seek God and to be obedient to Jesus, accountable to God who sees in secret, and not to man, and that activated a real prayer life, and actively believing God exists and sees, and I had asked God to give me His Holy Spirit. Even though I could not yet hear His voice, I was praying and seeking and beginning to repent. On the 2 April 2022 I was born-again the Spirit - I was spiritually regenerated - whatever it was that happened which I described. When that happened God had put the fear of Him in my heart so that I would not turn from Him, and it was receiving a new spiritual light-body like being birthed from a womb. When I first 'believed' the gospel, this had not happened yet, but I had the testimony I guess. This event, what I experienced on 2 April 2022 I consider to me being born of 'water and the Spirit'. But hearing and keeping the gospel of Jesus, and asking God to receive the Holy Spirit, or seeking God I guess they will have some events, probably different to my 2 April 2022 event something similar happen then or in their future some time, I assume, or perhaps it is 'entering the Kingdom of God'. I don't know exactly how it works. I'm retroactively trying to figure things out by reading the Scriptures.

As I understand it, if someone is "born of God", they would love Jesus. If someone loves with Christ's love then they are "born of God and know God" and they would love Jesus if presented with Jesus. If someone is "born of the Spirit" then they have been spiritually regenerated. Being born of the Spirit is what I understand is to be "born-again of water and the Spirit".

Maybe these two things are at the same time if a person believes without doubting.

A person may not yet have received the Holy Spirit at the time they believed. I think it's certainly essential to have obedience to God in order to be born of the Spirit, as far as I can tell.

When the following says "they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus", I'm sure this is baptism in water. It's also apparent that a person may receive the Holy Spirit at the time they believed, and the passage also seems to suggest that believing alongside being baptized in water, the person is expected to receive the Holy Spirit:

Acts 19:1-6 - And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said, No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. And he said, Into what then were you baptized? They said, Into John's baptism. And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus. On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. (ESV)

Also, a person may not have been "Born of the Spirit" (whatever it was that happened to me on 2 April 2022) when they intially believed. But rather, I think they are "born of God", that is if they do in truth believe that Jesus is the Christ:

I John 5:1 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (ESV)

I had begun to authentically seek God and to be obedient to Jesus, accountable to God who sees in secret. Then I was born of the Spirit.

We must love Jesus by keeping His commandments:

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

A friend said this at church the very day after I was born again of the Spirit, " Just because some messages may have been wrong, don't quench the work of God's Spirit among you by banning all prophecies, but rather make sure you test them. Hold onto what is good and dismiss those that are not good (i.e. those that are evil). "

I Thessalonians 5:20-21 - Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. (ESV)

I feel that way about my experience of being born-again of the Spirit and then undergoing purification and ongoing repentance and correction.

Over the course of 2022, I was actually speaking a lot of prophecy. There was a lot of truth in it, and a lot of error, but my defense is Jesus and I was getting to know Jesus through being washed in the word, and in obedience to Jesus' commandments, and being corrected by the word, but we don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Revelation of John 19:10 - Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 1:4-5 - For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. (ESV)

Romans 8:9 - You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (ESV)

I Corinthians 6:19 - Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, (ESV)

As a result of being born of the Spirit and subsequent obedience to Jesus' commandments has resulted in a huge amount of worldly resistance, and also I've had to fight against a spirit of justification by law compliance, and I've had to fight against a spirit which denies my sins were atoned for and tries to get me to do good works for justification. I still do good works out of obedience but I resist the spirit pressuring me to work for justification (it is a very vindictive, Christ-denying spirit, and it is incredibly persistent):

Galatians 4:29 - But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. (ESV)

3.2. Experiential heart belief through obedience

If you want to really get to know someone then you would learn to walk in their footsteps. Belief must arrive in the heart, not merely the head. There's a confession, an admittance, and a belief in the heart:

Romans 10:9 - because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (ESV)

We should definitely confess Jesus to others:

Luke 12:8-9 - And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. (ESV)

Faith presses on to walk the same way Jesus walked - even to spend the rest of the time on earth obedient to Jesus to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection, becoming like Him in His death (i.e. being faithful to God, stopping sin, exercising righteousness, becoming a scapegoat, even to death like the Apostles, sharing in His sufferings, living has He lived) and His resurrection:

Philippians 3:9-13 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (ESV)

3.3. Repentance from sin may come before believing in Jesus

Acts 19:4 - And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus. (ESV)

3.4. Born of God

I think being born of God might in some way mean being born of the will of God:

John 1:13 - who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (ESV)

I John 5:1 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (ESV)

I think this verse could likely mean that the person who is born of God has the power to not sin, as opposed to "never sins", but I'd have to research that:

 1: 3956    3588    1080             1537 3588
 2: Pas     ho      gegennēmenos     ek   tou
 3: Πᾶς     ὁ       γεγεννημένος     ἐκ   τοῦ
 4: Anyone   -      having been born of    -
 5: Adj-NMS Art-NMS V-RPM/P-NMS      Prep Art-GMS
 6: 
 7: 2316    266       3756 4160      3754    4690
 8: Theou   hamartian ou   poiei     hoti    sperma
 9: Θεοῦ  , ἁμαρτίαν  οὐ   ποιεῖ  ,  ὅτι     σπέρμα
10: God     sin       not  practices because seed
11: N-GMS   N-AFS     Adv  V-PIA-3S  Conj    N-NNS
12: 
13: 846       1722 846       3306     2532 3756
14: autou     en   autō      menei    kai  ou
15: αὐτοῦ     ἐν   αὐτῷ      μένει  , καὶ  οὐ
16: of Him    in   him       abides   and  not
17: PPro-GM3S Prep PPro-DM3S V-PIA-3S Conj Adv
18: 
19: 1410       264                 3754
20: dynatai    hamartanein         hoti
21: δύναται    ἁμαρτάνειν  ,       ὅτι
22: he is able to continue sinning because
23: V-PIM/P-3S V-PNA               Conj
24: 
25: 1537 3588    2316  1080
26: ek   tou     Theou gegennētai
27: ἐκ   τοῦ     Θεοῦ  γεγέννηται  .
28: of   mfs -   God   he has been born
29: Prep Art-GMS N-GMS V-RIM/P-3S

One thing for sure, the person born of God is brought into doing the will of God:

I John 5:18 - We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (KJV)

I John 5:4 - For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (ESV)

Someone who has just been born of God is a newborn, an infant in Christ.

Keeping Father God's commandments, we love Father God and we love all those who have been born of Him. We must love all those who believes that Jesus is the Messiah because anyone who believes Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God:

I John 5:1 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (ESV)

The one who believes Jesus is the Son of God is loved by the brethren, joins the family and overcomes the world:

I John 5:5 - Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (ESV)

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. (ESV)

3.4.1. We put away the false gods, and only worship the One True God: Jehovah, and Jesus Christ who He sent

Jehovah is God Almighty who was working through Jesus Christ who is the Son of God who also is to be worshiped as Jehovah God, now reigning on the throne of His Father:

Exodus 6:3 - I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. (ESV)

Exodus 6:3 (Interlinear)
and I appear unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty; as to My name Jehovah, I have not been known to them;

Jesus reigns and inherits all things. Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God:

Hebrews 1:1-4 - Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (ESV)

Jesus is to be honoured just the Father is honoured:

John 5:22-23 - The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (ESV)

The Bible actually teaches that other so-called gods (all those Hindu gods, for example) are not the One True God who created everything. I affirm Christianity's perspective on this. According to Christianity, to serve them is actually to live in some kind of delusion:

I Corinthians 8:3-7 - But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that an idol has no real existence, and that there is no God but one. For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many gods and many lords— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. (ESV)

It's true that there are such heavenly beings, but we're not supposed to worship them:

Psalms 82:6-8 - I said, You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince. Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations! (ESV)

Colossians 2:18 - Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, (ESV)

In times past, God overlooked the worship of false-gods:

Joshua 24:15 - And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (ESV)

John 10:34-38 - Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your Law, I said, you are gods? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, You are blaspheming, because I said, I am the Son of God? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father. (ESV)

But now God calls all people everywhere to repent. Christians must turn away from worshiping false-gods, practicing witchcraft, etc.:

Acts 17:29-32 - Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, We will hear you again about this. (ESV)

Christians do not worship foreign gods:

Joshua 24:23 - He said, Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel. (ESV)

Genesis 35:2-3 - So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone. (ESV)

As a Christian, I want nothing to do with false-gods:

Revelation of John 9:20-21 - The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. (ESV)

And as a prophetic person, I do not want to encourage anyone to worship false-gods and so be labeled as a false-prophet:

Revelation of John 16:13-15 - And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. (Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!) (ESV)

3.4.2. Peter initially protested, but then came to trust Jesus and have a "share with Jesus"

John 13:6-9 - He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered him, What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand. Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head! (ESV)

3.4.3. Jesus created disciples of Himself

We must turn to obedience to Jesus and loving with Christ's love to come to know Him. We ought to love as Christ loved us, as He is our Lord and Teacher, but Jesus WASHED (past-tense) us and then we ought to love as He did and we practice personal righteousness while having His imputed righteousness, as he is our Master.

We are saved to obey God better. God puts us into Christ. We obey to wash others, and for ourselves to be sanctified, like a branch becoming healthier in the tree:

John 13:12-16 - When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. (ESV)

John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)

3.4.4. Everyone who is actively and actually believing that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God

I John 5:1 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (ESV)

3.4.5. Whoever loves with Christ's love has been born of God and knows God

I John 4:6-12 - We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (ESV)

3.5. A person who is really believing in Jesus will do the works of Jesus - they'll produce good works

This doesn't necessarily mean that obedience is nonexistent before good works, as believing in Jesus is obedience, and repentance is obedience and these things are not done in a heart of "working for justification". It is obedient to end (turn away from) the bad works:

John 14:12 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (ESV)

We just turn away from doing satan's will and turn torwards doing God's will:

Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (ESV)

But repentance and belief should result in good works (serving the living God):

Hebrews 9:14 - how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. (ESV)

3.5.1. Receiving the inheritance naturally comes after hearing the word of truth and believing in Jesus

The initial seal of the Holy Spirit comes with hearing the gospel and believing in Jesus.

Ephesians 1:13-14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (ESV)

Acts 20:32 - And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (ESV)

3.6. Further repentance from sin and to come to love in the way that Jesus did is an inevitable consequence of being born of God i.e. truly believing in Jesus

People are able to repent from sin before coming to believe in Jesus but it's much easier and inevitable after coming to believe in Jesus.

Sermon :: youtube.com: Killing Lust with the Cross of Christ
Step 1: The sin is cancelled by the blood of Christ. We're Justified before God, and then Step 2: We purge that sin from our lives; Can't ever get that backwards. Sin canceled, then sin purged.

God's spirit really helps us to stop sinning. Actively believing in Jesus should produce the fruit of putting a stop to sin:

I John 3:9 - No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. (ESV)

I John 5:18 - We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. (ESV)

3.7. Knowing God by obeying Jesus and loving with Christ's love implies you have at some stage been born of God

I John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (ESV)

I John 5:1 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (ESV)

3.8. Obedience lead to belief which leads to obedience (loving with Christ's love with the help of God's spirit) which leads to overcoming the world

I John 5:4 - For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (ESV)

3.9. We overcome the world with a new spirit God has given us to wait and trust on Him and obey Him

I John 5:4 - For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (ESV)

We overcome the world, reigning in life thanks to the free gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ:

Romans 5:15-17 - But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign (basileuó) in life through the one man Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Polycarp 5:1
Knowing then that God is not mocked, we ought to walk worthily of His commandment and His glory.
Polycarp 5:2
In like manner deacons should be blameless in the presence of His righteousness, as deacons of God and Christ and not of men; not calumniators, not double-tongued, not lovers of money, temperate in all things, compassionate, diligent, walking according to the truth of the Lord who became a minister (deacon) of all. For if we be well pleasing unto Him in this present world, we shall receive the future world also, according as He promised us to raise us from the dead, and that if we conduct ourselves worthily of Him we shall also reign with Him, if indeed we have faith.

Ezekiel 11:19-20 - And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (ESV)

We receive the spirit by getting Jesus' words into us, believing them and obeying them. Feeding on them, we get Jesus' spirit and life into us:

John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (ESV)

We can repent from sin as an act of obedient faith to God:

Jeremiah 4:4 - Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 10:16-17 - Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. (ESV)

It's simultaneous:

James 4:8 - Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (ESV)

And God helps us to do that. God changes our heart to love Him, so that we will live:

Deuteronomy 30:6 - And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (ESV)

I believe that as we believe and obey Jesus, God sends His Spirit to help us to obey Him.

In other words, believing the gospel and trusting repentance leads to getting born-again of the Spirit.

I just want to illustrate how people who hear, believe and do are trusting of Jesus. And we gotta trust Jesus (Isaiah 12:2, Hebrews 12:2). We should believe Him and obey Him - not one without the other. Believers who are not obeyers are like people who only turn left. 'Obeyers' who are not believers are like people who only turn right. People who believe and obey when they hear any of Jesus' teachings including commandments are like people who take the straight and narrow. Jesus commanded us to trust in Him so if we hear His word to trust in Him and we do trust in Him we have become obedient. I think we're supposed to continue to trust Jesus, and get off the milk and onto the solid food as Hebrews describes. We have to abide in Jesus' teachings.

Hebrews 5:14 - But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (ESV)

I believe that belief and obedience to Jesus naturally comes before being born-again of the Spirit, but that obedience is much easier after being born-again of the Spirit, because this is the way it happened with me, and it's also scriptural.

John 14:15-17 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (ESV)

3.9.1. Marriage should not become idolatry

The Hebrew has two words for 'helper'. The word which the greek in John 14 refers to I believe is the Saviour one:

1: מוֹשִׁיעַ
2: savior, deliverer, helper, saviour

But the Hebrew for helper in Genesis 2:18 is not the 'saviour' but the assistant!:

1: עוֹזֵר
2: assistant, aide, helper, second

Genesis 2:18 - Then the Lord (H3068 Yhovah) God (H430 'elohiym) said (H559 'amar), “It is not good (H2896 towb) for the man (H120 'adam) to be alone (H905 bad); I will make (H6213 `asah) him a helper (H5828 `ezer) suitable (H5048 neged) for him.”

3.10. The importance of loving one another

Believing Jesus, having the love of God within us, loving Father God, and loving one another who are children of God, all should be true together:

John 5:37-42 - And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. (ESV)

Those who trust Jesus and believe Jesus is the Son of God, now being far more obedient to God, cheerfully obey His commandments rather than find them difficult (for example: they find it unburdensome to act like the good Samaritan):

I John 5:1-3 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (ESV)

We don't justify ourselves. The lawyer here was desiring to justify himself. God is the justifier. Jesus explains that the one who proved to be a neighbour is the one who showed compassion for and took care of the helpless person, taking care of them with mercy:

Luke 10:25-37 - And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said to him, What is written in the Law? How do you read it? And he answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. And he said to him, You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live. But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? Jesus replied, A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back. Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? He said, The one who showed him mercy. And Jesus said to him, You go, and do likewise. (ESV)

Romans 3:26 - It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

Also being true together with believing Jesus Christ is obeying His commandments, and being obedient to Him. The way I read the following is, "Whoever trusts that Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world through their believing, obedient faith and God's commandments are no longer burdensome to them":

I John 5:4-5 - For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (ESV)

Their heart is purified through faith, believing in and obeying Jesus, and now they love God and they love the children of God:

I John 4:7-17 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

To get close to us we must accept God's love and love God back:

James 4:8 - Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (ESV)

In order to know God we must love one another in the way that God has loved us:

I John 4:7-12 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (ESV)

3.11. Receiving the Holy Spirit

So we must receive the Holy Spirit.

I learned a lot from John Piper about this today. I really affirm this message:

I also really affirm Derek Prince here:

When the following says "they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus", I'm sure this is baptism in water. It's also apparent that a person may receive the Holy Spirit at the time they believed, and the passage also seems to suggest that believing alongside being baptized in water, the person is expected to receive the Holy Spirit:

Acts 19:1-6 - And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said, No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. And he said, Into what then were you baptized? They said, Into John's baptism. And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus. On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. (ESV)

Again, these people were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus, but they hadn't yet received the Holy Spirit. So the point I'd like to make is that there may be some delay, or another vector for receiving the Holy Spirit, such as through the hands of the Apostles:

Acts 8:14-17 - Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

For me it was years after being baptised in water that I was born-again of the Spirit, and being born-again of the Spirit happened shortly after I had begun seeking God in truth, and repenting from sin.

I think this guy puts it well here:

 1: I believe that this answers the
 2: questions of many people that say,
 3:   "Oh, I've bent over backwards to receive the
 4:   Holy Spirit and I still don't have Him.
 5:   I've been the church for 30, 50 years, I'm
 6:   in the church for 47 years and I still
 7:   haven't received the Holy Spirit."
 8: 
 9: Why? because you haven't repented. You have
10: not repented. And if you are waiting to feel
11: something in order to repent you never
12: repent because it doesn't depend on a
13: feeling.
14: 
15:  ...
16: 
17:  But they do not make the decision to
18:  abandon their old life. The same thing,
19:  you get married but you don't want to
20:  stop being single, you want to continue
21:  acting as though you are single. Of
22:  course your marriage won't work - it's a
23:  pretense, it's fake.

Jesus gives both repentance and forgiveness:

Acts 5:31-32 - God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

Stephen stressed the importance of being circumcised in the heart (something that they should have been able to be) and in the same sentence implies that to be uncircumcised in heart is to resist the Holy Spirit:

Acts 7:51-53 - You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it. (ESV)

It's totally fair to say that anybody should be able to circumcise themself to the LORD, and that makes a person a Jew inwardly. We must repent in this way:

Jeremiah 4:4 - Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds. (ESV)

Romans 2:29 - But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (ESV)

I know I had begun to repent according to the 10 commandments even a year in advance of being born-again of the Spirit in an effort to seek God and I got born-again.

It's been commanded all the way back here in Deuteronomy:

Deuteronomy 10:12-17 - And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good? Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. (ESV)

Simon had believed and been baptized but he needed to repent so that his heart was right before God:

Acts 8:13-23 - Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. (ESV)

3.11.1. Water baptism as an appeal to God

Water baptism is an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I think baptism of water is an appeal to God and identifying oneself into Christ's death and resurrection but the sacrament maybe is not strictly required to be saved (as far as I understand).

I Peter 3:21 - Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (ESV)

3.11.2. We need are sealed with the Holy Spirit through accepting the truth of the good news of Jesus and God's Living Word works in us to save us

youtube.com: How Do I Know If the Holy Spirit Is in Me?

We are sealed when we give our heart to Jesus, believing / trusting in Him:

Ephesians 1:13-14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (ESV)

II Corinthians 1:21-22 - And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (ESV)

I John 5:1 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (ESV)

Romans 8:9 - You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (ESV)

Ephesians 4:30 - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (ESV)

The word of God works in us as we believe and trust Jesus, and are obedient to Jesus:

I Thessalonians 2:13 - And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. (ESV)

Galatians 3:13-14 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (ESV)

It's the power to be changed from doing evil deeds to walking in obedience and love to God, in a relationship with God:

Colossians 1:21-23 - And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. (ESV)

Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (ESV)

3.11.3. We need to be born-again and we want to be filled with and baptised by the Holy Spirit

It's natural to water baptize a person after they believe:

Acts 8:36-38 - And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized? And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. (ESV)

Also, the Lord Jesus Himself baptized Gentile believers in the Holy Spirit, people who were not yet baptised in water:

Acts 10:44-48 - While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. (ESV)

Matthew 3:11 - I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (ESV)

Interlinear Bible
biblehub.com 3-11.htm: Matthew 3:11 Interlinear

We need to be born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God:

John 3:5 - Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

And as it happened for me, the water baptism was a precursor to being born-again of the Spirit spontaneously years later and my Holy Spirit baptism happened shortly after being born-again of the spirit.

Therefore, I see water baptism as firstly to be baptized into Jesus Christ's name, in the names of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and as an appeal to God for a good conscience through the death and resurrection of Jesus, appealing also to be born-again of the Spirit and to receive the Holy Spirit baptism.

And begin born-again of the Spirit and receiving the Holy Spirit helps us to obey God.

I Corinthians 2:14 - The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (ESV)

John 3:3-5 - Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

3.11.4. The Holy Spirit may teach us even before He is in us, by helping us as He dwells with us

John 14:16-21 - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

3.12. Our will should be for God's will to be done, and to will to do God's will

We may ask God for a willing spirit:

Psalms 51:10-12 - Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. (ESV)

Obedience is good:

Psalms 40:6-8 - Sacrifice and offering you have not desired, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. (ESV)

I believe that eventually our own will lines up with God's will for us, and I believe that His will is that we will to do His will, and that we will for His will to be done. So I believe we should desire both to do His will as God has revealed to us though the Scriptures, and also to desire that God's will be done over our own will, but that our will may become His will.

Song
So Will I {100 Billion X} - Hillsong Worship - YouTube

Matthew 6:10 - Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (ESV)

Matthew 26:42 - Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done. (ESV)

I Peter 3:17 - For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. (ESV)

I Peter 4:19 - Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (ESV)

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

What God does by way of initiative and what we do as a response is inextricably woven together [to the point where our obedience and God's work may be indistinguishable]. God turns our enmity to love and our disbelief to faith:

Sermon
Born Again - Alistair Begg, Parkside Church - YouTube @time: 34 min 12 sec

Philippians 2:13 - for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)

Paul toils, struggling with all God's energy that God works powerfully within him:

Colossians 1:29 - For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (ESV)

Father God in Jesus was also doing His work through Jesus:

John 14:10 - Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. (NASB)

Here it is further echoed by Paul that though these people were acting of their own free will, they were doing God's will:

Paul commends giving oneself to others by the will of God (their will was doing God's will):

II Corinthians 8:3-5 - For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. (ESV)

Paul commends both desiring to do the will of God, and then encourages to complete the work they desire to do, but says that if the will (obedience of heart) is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has:

II Corinthians 8:10-12 - And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. (ESV)

In "The Blazing Center: Part 3 - YouTube" John Piper says, "Maybe my will could correspond to God's will so I could do His will and it would be my will?!" I agree with him.

And through our obedience to Jesus we are saved. The Bible is clear - a works-based gospel based on God working through us saves:

Hebrews 5:8-9 - Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, (ESV)

It's actually a faith-based gospel, and the works are a gift. So believing, obedient faith comes first and God works in us to change our heart to be transformed to love in the likeness of Jesus:

Ephesians 2:8-10 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)

Jesus can work in a person to bring them to belief in Him.

When you obey Jesus' commandments, Jesus may be working in you, and you may arrive at belief.

Psalms 127:1 - Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. (ESV)

Matthew 7:24 - Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (ESV)

Can a person be saved through:

  • reading their Bible, or
  • listening to the word of Christ?

There are people who would say that a person is not saved through obedience to the gospel, but by making that claim they are contradicting many scriptures:

Hebrews 5:9 - And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

Like the:

  • Israelites walking through the Red Sea, or
  • Noah building the ark, or
  • The lame man standing up to be healed, or
  • Peter allowing Jesus to wash his feet

Obedience to the gospel leads to eternal salvation. I believe obedience should arrive at belief, and belief should yield obedience, and knowledge.

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

Obeying Jesus is quite simply one aspect of having faith in Jesus.

Jesus is the vine. We can do nothing without Jesus working through us. We just have to be a believing, willing, obedient vessel for Him:

John 15:4 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. (ESV)

That obedience may, for example, look like proclaiming the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

Luke 8:39 - Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you. And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. (ESV)

I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (ESV)

Therefore, we teach people to both believe and to obey the Gospel. When we obey Jesus' commandments it's actually Jesus working in and through us. We want Jesus to be able to carry out work in us, so we obey Him - our will and God's will come into alignment when we obey Jesus' commandments.

In Christ Jesus, through faith in Him (through trusting Him, believing Him, believing in Him and obeying Him), we have Jesus as our righteousness, and sanctification and redemption:

I Corinthians 1:30 - He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Be Thou My Vision - Audrey Assad

Believing in your heart is an initial act of obedience before continuing in the teaching of Christ. If we believe in Him we have obeyed Him, but belief doesn't end there:

John 14:1 - “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe (G4100 pisteuo) in God, believe (G4100 pisteuo) also in Me. (NASB)

It's imperative that as we go ahead, we must abide in the teaching of Christ, or we won't have God (Jehovah God), and God is love and love comes from God, so we need to abide in Christ's teachings, by belief and by obedience. For example, in Mark 10:18, Jesus affirmed that God is Good. Therefore when we read this, we must also be sanctified by this truth, affirming and coming into agreement that God is Good. Also, Jesus commanded us to love one another as He loved us John 13:34-35:

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

And our obedience is not burdensome:

I John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (ESV)

We receive the spirit by getting Jesus' words into us, believing them and obeying them. Feeding on them, we get Jesus' spirit and life into us:

John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (ESV)

We rest in believing what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf, but our heart should have become obedient to Jesus.

We don't claim perfect obedience, but God also helps us and supports us:

Isaiah 64:4 - From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. (ESV)

Also, waiting on the LORD our strength is renewed:

Isaiah 40:31 - but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (ESV)

It's crucial to keep Jesus Christ's commandments:

I John 3:20-24 - for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

Work flowing from obedience is still totally by grace because we needed Jesus to obey God perfectly first! We must still obey Jesus.

Believing in Jesus should result in continued loving obedience to Jesus (following Jesus), and doing the work which is similar to the work that Jesus did:

John 14:12 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (ESV)

I think works that we can expect to come from believers in Jesus are:

  • helping to bring about the obedience of faith
  • loving selflessly while not breaking faith with God

John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)

The Apostle John also commands us to:

  • follow Jesus' commandment to believe in the name of God's Son Jesus Christ, and
  • love one another just as He commanded us.

1 John 3:23 - And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. (ESV)

Whoever keeps (5083. téreó) His commandments (plural) abides in Jesus, and Jesus in them. Yes, so I think we must believe Jesus and obey Him:

I John 3:24 - Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

John 14:10-15 - Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (ESV)

John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. (ESV)

John 4:32-34 - But he said to them, I have food to eat that you do not know about. So the disciples said to one another, Has anyone brought him something to eat? Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. (ESV)

Romans 16:26 - but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith — (ESV)

Romans 15:17-18 - In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed,

Like Jesus, we should do the will of God:

Hebrews 10:7 - Then I said, Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book. (ESV)

3.12.1. Being filled with the Holy Spirit

  • Being a servant of God is a likely precursor to being filled with the Holy Spirit
    • Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)
  • Speaking the word of God with boldness is a sure sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
  • Saying one's own belongings are not our own [but belong to God] is a sure sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
    • Giving to others freely to relieve the burdens of others is a another sure sign.
      • Acts 2:45 - And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. (ESV)
    • Job 1:21 - And he said, Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (ESV)
    • Romans 11:36 - For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (ESV)

Acts 4:24-35 - And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed— for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. (ESV)

3.13. In God's mercy, we come to obedient faith and come into Christ Jesus

"At one time disobedient…" means we are brought to obedience. Therefore, God's mercy is that we become obedient:

Romans 11:30-32 - Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. (ESV)

Mercy is so that we can be forgiven and change our ways:

John 8:11 - She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more. (ESV)

Song
King of Kings {Lyric Video} - Hillsong Worship - YouTube

3.13.1. In Christ Jesus, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin

We trust that our sin is covered by Jesus Christ's blood, as we abide in Him through belief and obedience:

Romans 4:5-8 - And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin. (ESV)

Revelation of John 1:4-6 - John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)

In Jesus Christ we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and are transferred into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ:

Colossians 1:13-14 - He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

As we walk in the light, as He is in the light, that is in the Truth, walking in, believing, professing and obeying Jesus Christ in Truth, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin:

I John 1:6-7 - If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV)

We are sanctified in the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ, and for sprinkling with His blood:

I Peter 1:2 - according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (ESV)

Hebrews 7:22 - This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:9-14 - then he added, Behold, I have come to do your will. He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (ESV)

We are ransomed:

I Peter 1:18-19 - knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (ESV)

The blood of Jesus secures an eternal redemption:

Hebrews 9:11-15 - But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. (ESV)

The eternal redemption is in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 1:7 - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, (ESV)

Hebrews 5:9-10 - And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. (ESV)

3.14. Obedience is absolutely within our ability

God's commandments are not too difficult to follow.

We may ask God for a willing spirit:

Psalms 51:10-12 - Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. (ESV)

Love the LORD your God:

Deuteronomy 30:10-11 - when you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. (ESV)

Serve God:

Joshua 22:5 - Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. (ESV)

Love God [from the heart and soul] so that we may live:

Deuteronomy 30:6 - And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (ESV)

To love your neighbour as yourself means forgiving them too, and remember that Jesus forgave us. It also means to not take vengeance (Christ's law includes not rendering evil for evil):

Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (ESV)

Jesus' commandments us to even love one another, anyone around you, with selfless love:

John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)

And the Apostle John echos that the commandment is still extremely important:

II John 1:5-6 - And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. (ESV)

Loving our neighbour as ourself should look like showing merciful love to those around you:

Luke 10:29-37 - But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? Jesus replied, A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back. Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? He said, The one who showed him mercy. And Jesus said to him, You go, and do likewise. (ESV)

We should be loving our neighbour continually:

John 13:1 - Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (ESV)

Mark 12:30-31 - And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. (ESV)

Mark 12:32-34 - And the scribe said to him, You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God. And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. (ESV)

We are supposed to fulfill the Royal Law, even after having received forgiveness:

James 2:1 - My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. (ESV)

James 2:8-9 - If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (ESV)

The same way that Jesus loved, selflessly:

Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (ESV)

Loving one another includes forgiving one another. Forgiving others means not holding a grudge:

Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (ESV)

We should aim to fulfill these great commandments while being merciful:

James 2:11-13 - For he who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (ESV)

It's perfect self-humbling obedience without committing sin which only Jesus Christ managed to reach, was able to reach and was destined to reach:

Philippians 2:8 - And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV)

We come to having obedient faith in God through obedient faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ obeyed Father God perfectly, and sinners put Him to death, and He became the source of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him:

Hebrews 5:8-9 - Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, (ESV)

John 1:29 - The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (ESV)

3.14.1. Observing Jesus, continuing to believe in Him and believe His words and abide in His word, we will live forever

We should be led into the knowledge of the Truth:

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

We should come into a relationship with Jesus Christ and with Father God:

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (ESV)

Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ, the Only Son of God, is not condemned. But the person who is not believing in Jesus Christ, the Only Son of God is condemned already:

John 3:18 - Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (ESV)

There is always more chances to believe:

Romans 11:23-24 - And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV)

In believing we have eternal life, but we need to continue in obedience to Jesus Christ or will not see life, so there should be a change of behaviour. We should have changed to serve God. Even if "apeitheó" is better translated to "not be pursuaded", trusting in Jesus Christ is still obedience. Unless you believe that trusting in Jesus is disobedience, which it is not. It's obedient to trust in Jesus because He commanded it in John 14:1. They're not separate things. A heart that is pursuaded to trust Jesus is an obedient heart:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

Jesus Christ is our Lord and Teacher - that means we believe and obey Him:

John 13:13-14 - You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. (ESV)

If you hear Jesus' word and believe Father God, then you have eternal life, and don't come into judgement. I don't doubt it. We must continue trusting. But the enemy will certainly try to condemn the person after they are born-again.

Trusting Jesus' words we do not come into judgement, but change direction, and instead our destiny is life eternal. We do not come into judgement. Jesus is the judge of that:

John 5:21-24 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word (191. akouó) and believes (4100. pisteuó) him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come (2064. erchomai) into judgment, but has passed (3327. metabain) from death to life. (ESV)

I think John 5:24 reads that the one who is trusting the words spoken through Jesus, trusting God, trusting Jesus is holds/posesses eternal life and has passed from death into life.

2064. erchomai
to come, go
3327. metabain
to pass over, withdraw, depart

If we actually believe Jesus Christ is who He says He is, the Son of God, Messiah, we are not condemned. We're never condemned if we are believing in Jesus Christ, Son of God:

John 6:35 - Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (ESV)

If you look upon Jesus Christ and believe in Him, you should have eternal life:

John 6:40-44 - For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, I am the bread that came down from heaven. They said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, I have come down from heaven? Jesus answered them, Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. (ESV)

John 6:47-51 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. (ESV)

John 6:53-58 - So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever. (ESV)

Eternal life is given to anyone who believes in Him. I guess there are simply some things I wont understand fully, but I do believe it. I trust in God, and lean not on my own understanding. I believe Jesus' words that are written in the Scriptures:

John 6:47 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. (ESV)

I John 2:27 - But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything—and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you—abide in him. (ESV)

I John 2:24 - Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. (ESV)

God commanded eternal life for those who believe: God's word never comes back void:

Isaiah 55:11 - so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (ESV)

In this current time (world) we may receive more than we lose for the sake of the kingdom, and eternal life is also received in the age to come:

Luke 18:29-30 - And he said to them, Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life. (ESV)

I do not affirm all religions. But I affirm Romans 10:9. I affirm that individual people are saved through belief and I think it should be true belief that's in the heart:

Romans 10:9 - because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (ESV)

We should definitely confess Jesus to others:

Luke 12:8-9 - And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. (ESV)

Everything is in subjection to Jesus, God has left nothing outside Jesus' control.

From our perspective it may look like things are still being brought into subjection to Him. It still looks that way to me:

Ephesians 1:22 - And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

Hebrews 2:5-8 - Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.

Everything is put in subjection under Jesus and in subjection under Father God:

I Corinthians 15:24-28 - Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it says, all things are put in subjection, it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

Including our own mortal bodies!

Philippians 3:21 - who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (ESV)

Consider that in truthfully confessing that Jesus is Lord, that person has faith in Jesus, and in believing in their heart that God raised Him from the dead, that person has faith in God even in the matter that Jesus was resurrected, even for our justification. So it's faith not only in the finished work of Christ on the cross, but faith in Jesus Himself.

That's important in my opinion because we must trust Jesus Himself to follow Him, to love Him, to keep His words, to keep His commandments, to keep our eyes on Him, to abide by His teaching.

youtube.com: John Piper - Saved Forever @time: 9 min 58 sec
Salvation is not static, as though I did something once to get saved (I believed), and God did something once to save me (He sent Jesus to die and rise from the dead) and that's all there is to it. Now this verse is one screaming announcement that is not all there is to it and what I want to try to do in these last moments is is take a Sunday school understanding that's true that simple past, "I believe, He died, I'm saved - period" and grow it into biblical proportions with a verse like Hebrews 7:25 because Hebrews 7:25 says there is not only more that Jesus did, there is more that you do as well. What Jesus does is go on praying for you, interceding for you, coming between you and the Father and making a case for you, and standing up for you.

And out of the heart should flow rivers of living water. Now that re-emphasises that belief should be in the heart:

John 7:38 - Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. (ESV)

Walk as an imitator of Christ:

Philippians 3:17-18 - Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. (ESV)

I Corinthians 11:1 - Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (ESV)

We must be imitators of Christ Jesus. See what Paul is doing as an example of imitating Christ. We repent from sin, we do what God says, we are accountable to God with His precepts and are doers of His commandments, we forgive others as we've been forgiven and we love others as we've been loved, and we have our minds set on heavenly things and the promises of God:

Philippians 3:12-21 - Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (ESV)

Do not be an enemy of the cross of Christ, submit to the righteousness of God - we needed Jehovah God, Father of Jesus Christ, to pay for our sin - and we must imitate Christ, passing forward Christ's love and forgiving as we have been forgiven, and repenting from sin:

Hebrews 13:7 - Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (ESV)

III John 1:11 - Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. (ESV)

Jude 1:4 - For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (ESV)

3.14.2. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ

It's God's grace that enables us to be saved through faith. While we are saved exercising obedient, trusting, believing faith, Paul says it was actually God's doing:

Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (ESV)

Just because we're gifted repentance to life, that doesn't mean that to go ahead and obediently repent makes the gift of repentance no longer a gift!

Acts 11:18 - When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.

Sermon
The Heart of the Gospel - YouTube

We believe on Jesus Christ and receive eternal life, and we are saved through Jesus Christ. We see that Jesus Christ obeyed God perfectly and He is the light. We have our hope on Jesus to save us when we believe on Him. We should trust Jesus enough to obey His commandments when we are presented with opportunities to glorify God with our actions. God works through us as we obey Jesus.

John 3:16-19 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. (ESV)

We must hear the words of God. If we hear them then we are of God. I know I hear them. If we keep Jesus' word (obey Jesus) we will not see death:

John 8:47 - Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God. (ESV)

John 8:51 - Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. (ESV)

To keep Jesus' word means to hear them and to obey:

Proverbs 7:1-3 - My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. (ESV)

Keeping means, not only having them but also keeping, obeying them:

John 14:21-24 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world? Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. (ESV)

Jesus comes to dwell in our hearts through faith, His spirit in our inner being, as we are rooted and grounded in love:

Ephesians 3:14-21 - For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)

I John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (ESV)

John 8:55 - But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. (ESV)

We are not condemned if we believe in the name of Jesus Christ, the only Son of God. That's really good news!:

John 3:18 - Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (ESV)

AMEN!!

Trusting Jesus' words we do not come into judgement, but change direction, and instead our destiny is life eternal. We do not come into judgement. Jesus is the judge of that:

John 5:21-24 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word (191. akouó) and believes (4100. pisteuó) him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come (2064. erchomai) into judgment, but has passed (3327. metabain) from death to life. (ESV)

I think John 5:24 reads that the one who is trusting the words spoken through Jesus, trusting God, trusting Jesus is holds/posesses eternal life and has passed from death into life.

2064. erchomai
to come, go
3327. metabain
to pass over, withdraw, depart

AMEN!!

II Timothy 2:11 - The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; (ESV)

Justification comes through through the righteousness of living by faith:

Habakkuk 2:4 - Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith. (ESV)

We are justified by His grace as a free gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, received by [living by] faith:

Romans 3:21-25 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (ESV)

Even the new believer is not condemned:

I Corinthians 3:1 - But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. (ESV)

And as we know, no-one in Christ is condemned:

Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

youtube.com: God Is Our Savior from What? 1 Timothy 1:1-2, Part 2 @time: 5 min 20 sec

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. This was the main problem.

The main problem is God's response to sin is a legal and just and holy condemnation - we must escape this. And in Christ Jesus we are saved from condemnation.

Romans 5:9 - Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (ESV)

We must continue in our faith. We must continue to believe Jesus and trust in Jesus:

Philippians 3:9-13 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (ESV)

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

I believe that we are saved not because of our own merit, but, still, obedience to the Gospel leads to righteousness which leads to salvation:

Hebrews 5:9 - And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, (ESV)

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

John 14:15-16 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, (ESV)

John 15:26 - But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. (ESV)

Romans 6:16-18 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (ESV)

II Timothy 1:7-10 - for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, (ESV)

I believe that becoming the righteousness of God is cooperative in that we allow Jesus to wash us, and work in us, and that a childlike trust in Jesus (a believing and obedient trust), following Jesus, walking in faith, and behaving as one of God's children is how we receive and walk into the kingdom which is given to us and that walking (living, katergazomai) in a childlike faith in Jesus is how we have the righteousness that is by faith. Living by faith is walking in faith, is following Jesus. I really wish there was not a chapter break between these two verses because it's revealing to to read them side by side:

II Corinthians 5:21-6:1 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (ESV)

James 2:22 - You see that faith (G4102 pistis) was working with (4903. sunergeó) his works (G2041 ergon), and as a result of the works (G2041 ergon), faith (G4102 pistis) was perfected (G5048 teleioo);

4903. sunergeó
Definition: to work together. Usage: I cooperate with, work together.

We should disobey sin, and present ourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and our members as instruments of righteousness to God. We should be practicing righteousness, practicing love and holiness and truth:

Romans 6:12-13 - Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. (NASB)

3.14.3. We become obedient to Jesus

The righteous try to be obedient. They make mistakes sometimes, they mess up sometimes but they return to God with the fear of God (they repent):

Proverbs 24:15-18 - Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home; for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him. (ESV)

John Piper - "Mercy means that our obedience doesn't have to be perfect, it has to be penitent."

He paid the price for our sin:

Romans 4:25 - who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (ESV)

And we are justified and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who we are following:

Romans 5:1 - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Long before we ever believed in / obeyed Jesus, God had chosen us to believe in Him and to take part in His holy calling:

II Timothy 1:9 - who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, (ESV)

II Timothy 1:13 - Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

We love our neighbour the way Jesus commanded:

I Corinthians 9:21 - To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. (ESV)

Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (ESV)

John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)

Jesus loved us selflessly. We should love one another selflessly:

John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. (ESV)

We should disobey sin, and present ourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and our members as instruments of righteousness to God. We should be practicing righteousness, practicing love and holiness and truth:

Romans 6:12-13 - Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. (NASB)

3.14.4. There's some bonuses to suffering for Christ's sake and for endurance

If we keep His commandments, keep His works we will reign with Him:

II Timothy 2:12-13 - if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. (ESV)

Revelation of John 2:26 - The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, (ESV)

Romans 8:17 - and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)

But suffering for Christ's sake should be for giving glory to Jesus:

3.14.5. Eternal life and salvation is a gift received through faith and obedience to God

We put our hope on Him to be our High Priest and Advocate, we obey Him as He saves us.

These should really go hand in hand:

When you believe Jesus' words you are trusting of Jesus. If you believe Jesus then you believe when He says He is the Son of God, for example. Someone who hears Jesus' voice and does it is someone who believes Jesus and trusts Him. A person can have a heart of obedience to Jesus and that's a heart of trust, it's a heart of belief. If you trust Jesus you will believe what He says and you will have obedience to Him.

At it's most basic form repentance (metanoia) means a person changes their mind to believe and trust and have a heart of obedience - accepting of the will of God. To repent means stop distrusting and start trusting God.

We have believe Jesus and to trust Jesus. When Jesus says He is the Son of God, we must believe it because we trust Him. Likewise when He commands us to repent from sinning we should agree with Jesus and be obedient:

John 16:8-9 - And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; (ESV)

Luke 13:3 - No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. (ESV)

We keep eyes on Jesus and trust Him:

Hebrews 12:2 - looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)

Isaiah 12:2 - Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. (ESV)

We must be taught by Jesus. We must be teachable. We must accept what God says and accept he one He sent (Jesus):

II John 1:9 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (ESV)

Here is a verse that shows that repenting from evil deeds is important:

Revelation of John 2:22 - Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, (ESV)

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (ESV)

We endeavour to be justified in Christ - in Christ means abiding in Christ - through faith; trusting, believing, obedient faith:

Galatians 2:16-19 - yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith (G4102 pistis) in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed (G4100 pisteuo) in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. (ESV)

Abraham's trusting faith was counted to him as righteousness. I guess it was counted because he was fully conviced, and trusting God. This same justification will be counted to those who trust in God who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification:

Romans 4:20-25 - No distrust (apistia) made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (ESV)

We believe that our justification comes by faith so we place our trust in God and continue trusting; we just get on with living for God and serving God and trusting in God for that justification as we serve God and live in the peace of God. We don't justify ourselves. We have faith in God that He will/does justify us, and we get on with living for and serving God:

Romans 5:1-2 - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (ESV)

Being justified by Jesus' blood, we are saved by Him from the wrath of God. We have faith in God also to be saved from the wrath of God. That come with God asking us to turn from our sin:

Romans 5:9 - Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (ESV)

Continuing to be sanctified by faith is a process where a person continues in Jesus' words because they are sanctified by faith in Jesus and that means ongoing trust and faithful obedience.

Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (ESV)

To be sanctified by faith in Jesus is an applied process, I think:

Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (ESV)

  • Immediately we are reconciled to God by the death of His Son. We are justified,
  • and then we are saved from the wrath of God by His life, repenting from sin and keeping His commandments, being sanctified, not resisting the Holy Spirit's work of sanctifying us to correcct out behaviour and thoughts, and separated from the world, since friendship with the world is emnity with God
    • Ephesians 2:3 - among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (ESV)
  • also, we meanwhile rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Romans 5:8-11 - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (ESV)

Jesus' act of obedience leads to:

Romans 5:18 - Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. (ESV)

I Peter 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (ESV)

Faith presses on, faithful to Jesus, walking in the manner which Jesus walked - even to spend the rest of the time on earth being obedient to Jesus to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection, becoming like Him in His death (i.e. being faithful to God, stopping sin, exercising righteousness, becoming a scapegoat, even to death like the Apostles, sharing in His sufferings, living has He lived) and His resurrection:

Philippians 3:9-13 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (ESV)

We are saved from the wrath of God by the life of Jesus Christ. I think that's in part saying that the life of Jesus helps us to stop practicing sinful things:

Ephesians 5:5-7 - For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them;

Ephesians 2:3 - among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (ESV)

That's confirmed here:

I John 3:5-6 - You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

We need to obey Jesus to see the life. That obedience isn't "working" but it is "performing/carrying out" but our justification isn't contingent on "working":

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

On the other hand, if we obey Jesus we will never see death:

John 8:51 - Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. (ESV)

In treasuring Jesus' words, keeping them, guarding them, observing them, in Him the agape (treasuring, valuing love) has truly been perfected. Having Jesus' teachings in us clearly should result in us walking as He did:

I John 2:5-6 - but whoever keeps (5083. téreó) His word (G3056 logos), in him the love (G26 agape) of God (G2316 theos) has truly been perfected (G5048 teleioo). By this we know (G1097 ginosko) that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

Repent, be sanctified, love God and your neighbour, believe and obey Jesus:

Luke 10:25-28 - And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said to him, What is written in the Law? How do you read it? And he answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. And he said to him, You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live. (ESV)

Repent from sin and receive with meekness the implanted word, the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is able to save us, and persevere with it and allow it to change us:

James 1:21-24 - Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. (ESV)

Matthew 24:9-13 - Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (ESV)

Being saved by Him I think involves us becoming obedient, and faithfully obeying Jesus Christ our Lord:

Ephesians 5:5-10 - For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Eternal life is in Jesus:

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

I John 5:11 - And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (ESV)

We receive / walk into the eternal life through faith in Jesus:

John 10:27-28 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (ESV)

If you hear Jesus' words which came from God and trust God then you have eternal life:

Trusting Jesus' words we do not come into judgement, but change direction, and instead our destiny is life eternal. We do not come into judgement. Jesus is the judge of that:

John 5:21-24 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word (191. akouó) and believes (4100. pisteuó) him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come (2064. erchomai) into judgment, but has passed (3327. metabain) from death to life. (ESV)

I think John 5:24 reads that the one who is trusting the words spoken through Jesus, trusting God, trusting Jesus is holds/posesses eternal life and has passed from death into life.

2064. erchomai
to come, go
3327. metabain
to pass over, withdraw, depart

John 7:16 - So Jesus answered them, My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. (ESV)

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

I Timothy 6:3-4 - If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, (ESV)

3.15. Treasuring anything else more than God is sin

Quote by Tim Keller
Know what the Bible says: Sin is craving something more than God. Sin is making something more important than God. Sin is is living for something more than God. If God is at the periphery of your life, if you're just religious occasionally, if God [is] sort of on the outskirts of your life, that is sin. That's the essence of sin.

Luke 10:27-28 - And he answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. And he said to him, You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live. (ESV)

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. (ESV)

youtube.com: Love Jesus More Than You Love Anything

Philippians 3:8 - Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (ESV)

3.15.1. Eschatology

I really appreciated Allie's video here
youtube.com: Eschatology, End Times and What's to Come | Ep 134

Before the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ there is the appearance of the "man of lawlessness":

II Thessalonians 2:1-4 - Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (ESV)

3.15.2. How we should act how we're instructed to act while awaiting the Lord's return

Sermon
youtube.com: Live with the End in View

Luke 21:36 - But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. (ESV)

I Peter 4:7-11 - The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)

Jesus doesn't delay. We must be vigilant and ready to serve Jesus:

Hebrews 10:37 - For, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; (ESV)

Matthew 24:48 - But if that wicked servant says to himself, My master is delayed, (ESV)

God wants as many people as possible to be saved (I think of this a bit like as 'delaying' the second coming - my own speculation on eschatology is just me speculating), but not like delaying Jesus' work, as we should be vigilant about anticipating Jesus. Jesus does not delay. Jesus literally visits people imminently in this life time, and we should also consider the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to be imminent:

I Timothy 2:4 - who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (ESV)

John 1:12-13 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (NASB)

hymnary.org: All People That on Earth Do Dwell | Hymnary.org
All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the LORD with cheerful voice; Him serve with mirth, His praise forth-tell; come ye before Him and rejoice!

II Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (ESV)

Ezekiel 18:23 - Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? (ESV)

Receiving Jesus, we have the 'right', the 'authority' to become children of God, even by receiving Him through the knowledge of His name (onoma):

John 1:12 - As many as however received Him He gave to them authority children of God to be to those believing in the name of Him (Interlinear)

 1: 3745       1161     2983     846       1325     846
 2: hosoi      de       elabon   auton     edōken   autois
 3: ὅσοι       δὲ       ἔλαβον   αὐτόν  ,  ἔδωκεν   αὐτοῖς
 4: As many as however  received Him       He gave  to them
 5: RelPro-NMP Conj     V-AIA-3P PPro-AM3S V-AIA-3S PPro-DM3P
 6: 
 7: 1849      5043     2316   1096        3588     4100
 8: exousian  tekna    Theou  genesthai   tois     pisteuousin
 9: ἐξουσίαν  τέκνα    Θεοῦ   γενέσθαι  , τοῖς     πιστεύουσιν
10: authority children of God to be       to those believing
11: N-AFS     N-ANP    N-GMS  V-ANM       Art-DMP  V-PPA-DMP
12: 
13: 1519 3588    3686  846
14: eis  to      onoma autou
15: εἰς  τὸ      ὄνομα αὐτοῦ  ,
16: in   the     name  of Him
17: Prep Art-ANS N-ANS PPro-GM3S

John 6:40 - For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks (2334. theóreó) on the Son and believes (4100. pisteuó) in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (ESV)

I consider the 'coming of the Lord' to be something which happens during one's time on earth probably to every servant of the Lord:

Matthew 25:11-15 - Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. But he answered, Truly, I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. (ESV)

Matthew 24:42 - Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. (ESV)

Just as it is inevitable that every son or daughter of God will be disciplined:

Hebrews 12:6 - For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. (ESV)

I still hold imminence with regards to rapture a possibility on the basis that when I was born of the Spirit, things progressed very rapidly I was quickly baptised in the Holy Spirit and I asked God in prayer that the whole of my city would be saved. My words seemed to have a lot of impact during this time. This is my own speculation. I was riding by the seat of my pants after being born of the spirit.

video
youtube.com: Life or Death by Your Tongue

I guess that God has been testing me and using me similarly to as He did with Paul the Apostle after he was taken into service by Jesus but also I had much error and my tongue may was not well-bridled.

Paul was an Apostle by Command. As for me, I'm just acting on faith after confessing Jesus.

Perhaps I still speak too much.

James 3:3 - If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. (ESV)

I received lots of visions and many of them came from the enemy I believe after I had even been reading Apocryphal gospels which I think are misleading and I do not affirm them. Then, after I had said towards the end of 2022 on my blog that we should get ready for Armageddon, war broke out in the middle east soon after. I felt as though I nearly did actually get 'raptured' or it was quickly progressing that way or something like that, and then I made a declaration to court that Jesus is the Truth, I forgive everyone etc. That resulted in some very rapid changes. Things in my life spiritually began to stabilise as I have gone through police corrections and used the time to attend Bible studies, and be corrected by the Scripture in my beliefs, obedience and deeds. I'm still trying to be sanctified ongoingly. I am really sorry for misleading people with regards to any error in my writings, but the way to handle this, I believe, is not to throw the baby out with the bath-water but to be corrected by the word of God. I'm still a work in progress.

A friend said this at church the very day after I was born again of the Spirit, " Just because some messages may have been wrong, don't quench the work of God's Spirit among you by banning all prophecies, but rather make sure you test them. Hold onto what is good and dismiss those that are not good (i.e. those that are evil). "

I Thessalonians 5:20-21 - Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. (ESV)

I feel that way about my experience of being born-again of the Spirit and then undergoing purification and ongoing repentance and correction.

Over the course of 2022, I was actually speaking a lot of prophecy. There was a lot of truth in it, and a lot of error, but my defense is Jesus and I was getting to know Jesus through being washed in the word, and in obedience to Jesus' commandments, and being corrected by the word, but we don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Mark 13:20 - And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. (ESV)

Ultimately, we are waiting for incorruptible bodies, and I totally believe in rapture and ultimately a completely new heavens and earth (not just a renewal, although I do believe God is still taking care of and reigning on the earth), so I think that whatever Paul the Apostle is referring to here, well I have my speculatinons, is something more imminent, and perhaps more to do with God's kingdom work on the earth, but I still hold the eschatological view that there is ultimately an entirely new heavens and earth without any corruption:

I Corinthians 7:29-31 - This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (ESV)

Acts 14:22 - strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

In some sense I think the rapture and judgement is imminent, and I think probably when each son or daughter is brought into the kingdom they may have a 'taste of it'. In other words, God is still adopting sons and daughters and we don't know who the last one to be adopted is.

So in a sense it's been on the verge of the second coming of Christ for quite a long time:

Luke 21:20-24 - But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (ESV)

The Bible also predicts scoffers - but as Peter puts it, with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day:

II Peter 3:1-8 - This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation. For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (ESV)

Those are my current eschatological thoughts, but I am no expert.

"When Jesus became my Lord and Savior, a battle between good and evil started." as one commenter said on this video.

After I began obeying Jesus, and especially repenting and denouncing sin and heresy, that's when I started getting attacked spiritually, as this guy (MarcTheMessenger) describes:

Matthew 3:10 - Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (ESV)

Even regards to the rapture, ultimately we leave this world behind. Ultimately, I think we need to go all-in for Jesus and get used to relying on God completely, and be ready to leave this world behind. If we go all-in for Jesus now then we will experience the kingdom of God on earth.

The present form of it will pass away and is passing away:

I Corinthians 7:30-31 - and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (ESV)

Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (ESV)

I think I John 2:15-17 is essentially saying, "Do not agape love the world or what's in the world. Do not love the things of this world with the type of love that we have for God and for people, namely agape love." If we fall out of agape love for the world and are not conformed to the world but are transformed by the renewing of our minds then by testing we will be able to discern the will of God:

I John 2:15-17 - Do not love (agapate) the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

Matthew 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (ESV)

The repentant criminal on the cross next to Jesus was sold out for the kingdom of God and ready to leave this world behind:

Luke 23:42-43 - And he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And he said to him, Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise. (ESV)

Also, this is interesting:

youtube.com: Strive to let everything bodily die within you, and you will rise before the general resurrection

3.15.3. As Christians, we've got to repent of evil deeds and keep Jesus' works - keep imitating Christ, even in holiness

John 14:12 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (ESV)

II John 1:9 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (ESV)

We follow Christ's teachings:

Revelation of John 2:15-16 - So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. (ESV)

We absolutely must put a stop to sexual immorality and idolatry:

Revelation of John 2:17-24 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they *repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan*, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. (ESV)

We must keep Jesus' teachings to the end:

Revelation of John 2:25-29 - Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (ESV)

3.15.4. We absolutely cling to Jesus as well

I Corinthians 7:25-31 - Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (ESV)

Luke 20:33-36 - In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife. And Jesus said to them, The sons of this age (G165 aion) marry (G1060 gameo) and are given in marriage (G1061 gamisko), but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age (G165 aion) and to the resurrection (G386 anastasis) from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

3.16. Disobedience towards God is sin. Treasuring anything else more than God is sin

Sermon
God is very happy about obedience, and listening to His word. Disobedience is sin, and disobedience is rejecting the word of the LORD:

I Samuel 15:22-23 - And Samuel said, Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king. (ESV)

Leviticus 5:17 - If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the LORD's commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity. (ESV)

The disobedience of mankind started in the Garden of Eden:

Genesis 3:17 - And to Adam he said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, You shall not eat of it, cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; (ESV)

Jesus helps us to overcome sin. Jesus delivers us from it:

Romans 7:22-25 - For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV)

God's commandments through Jesus is within the Law of God:

I Corinthians 9:21 - To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. (ESV)

3.17. God makes us born-again, so we can love Him, obediently

John 3:7 - Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. (ESV)

We must follow Jesus:

John 8:12 - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (ESV)

We must believe Jesus is who He says He is:

John 8:24 - I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins. (ESV)

We must love Jesus:

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

In my understanding, I consider all who are repentantly trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God the Son, for their salvation, if they are willing turn to and obey Him, if Father God puts them in, obediently trusting Jesus Christ who is their life, to be in Christ Jesus, no matter what else I say in this document.

I have been just trying to figure out my theology. One God, three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I don't have the say though. God puts a person in. AMEN!!

I Corinthians 1:30 - But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, (NASB)

We are given the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit cleanses our hearts by faith. As we obey Jesus, going against the resistance, our hearts are being cleansed:

Acts 15:8-9 - And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

If we have faith in Jesus then we obey Jesus' commandments when presented with opportunities. We walk by faith, not sight. When other people discourage you from following Jesus' commandments, but you choose to obey Jesus anyway, this is overcoming the enemy by faith:

II Corinthians 5:7 - for we walk by faith, not by sight. (ESV)

With God's help, we must drop the old selfish self and allow Jesus to come in with the new obediently loving self:

Psalms 37:27 - Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. (ESV)

Selfish people killed Jesus. Jesus was selfless. Christian selfless love is based upon God having loved us first; i.e. Christ's love has more nuance to it than mere charity.

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

Jesus was obedient to God unto death. We identify with Christ with a death like His (dying to sin and living to serve God), to be united with Him in a resurrection like His! This is why obedience to Jesus is so important. How can a person be resurrected if they don't die? We need to die a death to be resurrected:

II Timothy 2:11 - The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; (ESV)

Dying to sin an immediate thing and living to Christ, becoming like Jesus in His death is a lifelong (while on this earth) process. Also, starting to live for God is an immediate thing, and to be with God is the long-term thing:

Romans 6:8-10 - Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. (ESV)

I think baptism of water is an appeal to God and identifying oneself into Christ's death and resurrection but the sacrament maybe is not strictly required to be saved (as far as I understand).

Romans 6:3 - Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (ESV)

Romans 6:1 - What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

As I understand it, in water baptism we make an appeal to partake in the resurrection of Christ, and live to serve Christ. Also in being born of the Spirit / regeneration, we definitely die to sin and live to serve Christ, being able to see the Kingdom of God. But then we spend the rest of our lives on earth becoming like Jesus in His death - being obedient to death here on earth, to become like Him in His resurrection:

Philippians 3:8-11 - Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (ESV)

I think that water baptism in part is an appeal to partake in the baptism of the Holy Spirit:

I Corinthians 12:13 - For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (ESV)

I Corinthians 10:1-4 - I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. (ESV)

Nevertheless the one who trusts in Jesus and dies will yet live. AMEN!! And the following verse, I believe actually applies to baptism (identifying with Christ in His death and resurrection)! So a nice way of reading the following is: If someone, while believing in Jesus Christ, dies to their old selfish nature to live as someone who loves selflessly, they will live, and the one who lives abiding in Jesus Christ's love, having died to their old selfish nature, and believes in Him will never die:

John 11:25-26 - Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?

I like that way of thinking of it because it encapsulates both belief and obedience to Jesus - both which I think are important.

Jesus' selfless love also faithful to God. Without breaking faith with God, Jesus loved back his persecutors:

Hebrews 5:8-9 - Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, (ESV)

No-one took Jesus' life, but Jesus laid it down of His own accord. Nevertheless, he was killed by sinners. To put it another way, while needing to fulfill the law and the prophets, he did not sin, and sinners killed Him and cast lots with His clothes, but actually you could say that Jesus gave His life, and let them have His clothes:

John 10:18 - No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father. (ESV)

Matthew 5:40 - And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. (ESV)

I Peter 2:22 - He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. (ESV)

Matthew 27:35 - And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. (ESV)

I Peter 3:17-18 - For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, (ESV)

And Jesus prayed for his persecutors:

Luke 23:34 - And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they cast lots to divide his garments. (ESV)

Likewise, that's the type of selfless love we should have. Selfless love while trying to maintain faithfulness to God:

I Peter 2:20 - For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. (ESV)

I Peter 4:19 - Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (ESV)

The purest selfless love loves while not breaking faith with God. Jesus maintained faithfulness to God while maintaining selfless love. We should endeavour to have the same mind:

Philippians 2:5-8 - Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV)

The Apostle Paul strove to maintain a clear conscience with God:

Acts 24:14-16 - But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. (ESV)

Yes, it's very important for Christians to practice righteousness:

I John 3:7 - Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. (ESV)

We are commanded to be innocent, and to bear witness of Jesus before men who persecute us:

Matthew 10:16-18 - Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. (ESV)

Philippians 2:15-16 - that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (ESV)

I conjecture that, effectively, Obedience = Believing the gospel, and Selfless love (no longer serving yourself but serving Christ. It's obeying Jesus.).

Nevertheless, where we fall short of obedience, Jesus has us covered. But if we are keeping Jesus' commandments then we're abiding in His love.

Is it crucial to obey the gospel? Yes. Is that a 'works-based' gospel? If we must put a label on it, I'd describe it more of a my-willingness-to-work-serving-Christ-based-on-Jesus'-finished-works-and-God-working-in-me-based gospel.

When we walk in trusting, believing, obedient faith, God works in us and to deliver us and makes our paths straight for us:

Philippians 1:6 - And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Jude 1:21 - keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (ESV)

Although, we will arrive at rest:

Heb 4:1-6 - Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, As I swore in my wrath, They shall not enter my rest, although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: And God rested on the seventh day from all his works. And again in this passage he said, They shall not enter my rest. Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,

Heb 4:9-11 - So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

We work then find rest:

Revelation of John 14:13 - And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Blessed indeed, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them! (ESV)

That rest looks like living for the will of God:

I Peter 4:1-2 - Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. (ESV)

I John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (ESV)

Psalms 46:10 - “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (NASB)

So it's still extremely important for us to try to keep His commandments, and His commandments are to love God and one another as He loved us, selflessly.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)

And I wont stop following Jesus Christ until I know Him as personally as possible - I want His thoughts running through my mind like Father God's thoughts ran through His. Anything less than that and I am unsatisfied.

I Corinthians 2:11-16 - For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (ESV)

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

Jesus knows us and we know Jesus:

John 10:14 - I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, (ESV)

We must be keeping Jesus' commandments for us to be sure that we have come to know Him:

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

Jesus commands us to take His yoke (obey Him) and learn from Him (believe Him):

Matthew 11:29 - Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (ESV)

So receive the words of Jesus and the Apostles to know the thoughts of God inside your own mind:

I Corinthians 2:11-14 - For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (ESV)

We need to perform our salvation in obedience to God:

Philippians 2:12 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out (katergazomai) your own salvation with fear and trembling, (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: Work Out What Christ Has Won: The Christian Life as Gift and Duty
Sermon
youtube.com: Be Who You Are: Living Out Identity in Christ, Part 1

Jesus first made Paul His own, now Paul wants to press on to perfection/completion:

Philippians 3:11-12 - that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (ESV)

We have different gifts, a different calling. We cannot compare or boast. We're different parts of the body of Christ.

I Peter 4:10 - As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: (ESV)

Let's see what the word katergazomai (the word for 'work out') means:

1: 5620      27       1473     2531     3842     5219            3361     5613     1722     3588     3952     1473
2: Hōste     agapētoi mou      kathōs   pantote  hypēkousate     mē       hōs      en       tē       parousia mou
3: Ὥστε  ,   ἀγαπητοί μου  ,   καθὼς    πάντοτε  ὑπηκούσατε  ,   μὴ       ὡς       ἐν       τῇ       παρουσίᾳ μου
4: Therefore beloved  of me    just as  always   you have obeyed not      as       in       the      presence of me
5: Conj      Adj-VMP  PPro-G1S Adv      Adv      V-AIA-2P        Adv      Adv      Prep     Art-DFS  N-DFS    PPro-G1S
1: 3440     235     3568     4183     3123     1722     3588     666     1473     3326     5401     2532
2: monon    alla    nyn      pollō    mallon   en       tē       apousia mou      meta     phobou   kai
3: μόνον  , ἀλλὰ    νῦν      πολλῷ    μᾶλλον   ἐν       τῇ       ἀπουσίᾳ μου  ,   μετὰ     φόβου    καὶ
4: only     but     now      much     more     in       the      absence of me    with     fear     and
5: Adv      Conj    Adv      Adj-DNS  Adv      Prep     Art-DFS  N-DFS   PPro-G1S Prep     N-GMS    Conj

'Work out' (katergazomai) means here to perform your salvation by work (which has yet still been gifted to us, and the salvation which we are performing is not the result of works) - so I think it's more like 'walk''perform''obey' similarly to the Israelites through the Red Sea, but with respect to obeying the gospel, rather than 'work' in any way that is not in obedience to the gospel:

1: 5156      3588     1438        4991      2716
2: tromou    tēn      heautōn     sōtērian  katergazesthe
3: τρόμου    τὴν      ἑαυτῶν      σωτηρίαν  κατεργάζεσθε  .
4: trembling  -       your own    salvation work out
5: N-GMS     Art-AFS  RefPro-GM3P N-AFS     V-PMM/P-2P
1: :  2716  katergazomai  kat-er-gad'-zom-ahee
2: 
3:  from 2596 and 2038; to work fully, i.e. accomplish; by implication, to
4:  finish, fashion:--cause, to (deed), perform, work (out).
5:  see GREEK for 2596
6:  see GREEK for 2038

gospel-of-grace-faq.josephprince.org: Is Philippians 2:12 telling us we need to work for our salvation? - Questions About the Gospel of Grace

If you have trusting faith in God then you will walk according to the will of God (walk the way Jesus Christ calls us to walk in obedience to Jesus, as a response of love to God in the knowledge He loved us first). Led by the Spirit = following Jesus.

John 12:26 - If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (ESV)

That's not working but it is walking and it is being obedient to Jesus. The Israelites through the Red Sea were being led by the Spirit - they were not working for God as they walked in obedience:

Galatians 5:16-18 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

So I think trusting Jesus, obeying Jesus and believing Jesus' words, and believing in Him should be true simultaneously, because people misconstrue Jesus' words to their own destruction. Do we have to obey Christ? Yes we do. We must abide by His teaching:

Matthew 7:13-16 - Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow (4728 stenos ie. narrow, small) and the way is hard (2346 thlibó - meaning: like when circumstances "rub us the wrong way" that make us feel confined (hemmed in); restricted to a "narrow" place/) that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

We are saved from doing evil deeds, and brought into the will of God. Our faith is tested. That sounds like the straight and narrow to me:

I Peter 4:12-19 - Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (ESV)

3.17.1. The Christian life is both gift and duty

Fighting sin is both a gift from God and a duty we act.

We have been given stewardship to exercise love that issues from a pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith, as Paul was given stewardship:

I Timothy 1:4-5 - nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship (3622. oikonomia) from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (ESV)

Ephesians 3:2 - assuming that you have heard of the stewardship (3622. oikonomia) of God's grace that was given to me for you, (ESV)

3622. oikonomia
Usage: management of household affairs, stewardship, administration.

Increasing holiness is both a gift and a duty.

It is a gift of grace that we receive from Jesus and the way that we receive a gift that involves your thoughts, desires and behaviour is by having the thoughts, the desires and actions. It is a gift you live out, work out. It's a 'working out_' of the salvation that is free-grace.

  1. Jesus' obedience

    Philippians 2:7-9 - but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, (ESV)

  2. Our following His example

    How to grow in Christlikeness.

    Philippians 2:12-18 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. (ESV)

    We follow the one who obeyed and was rewarded.

    We work out the salvation He worked for.

    Philippians 2:12 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, (ESV)

    • We self-humblingly obey in joy for the reward.
    • We self-humblingly obey to please our Father.

    Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)

    God's people no longer offer slaughtered animals, but we offer ourselves, all we are, our lives in obedience to Him. We are to practice personal holiness, putting a stop to sin, and living to serve God, and love one another:

    Romans 12:1 - I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (ESV)

    Do nothing from selfish-ambition or conceit:

    Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (ESV)

    Do all things without grumbling or disputing:

    Philippians 2:14 - Do all things without grumbling or questioning, (ESV)

    It seems like we're saved (delivered) from (among other things):

    • selfish ambition
    • conceit
    • grumbling
    • [petty] disputing
    • sin that leads to death

    Titus 3:1-7 - Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (ESV)

3.17.2. God working in us

God loved us first. We must accept that:

I John 4:10-11 - In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (ESV)

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

II Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (ESV)

When we are believing in Jesus Christ's finished work and obeying Jesus, obeying His commandments, it is actually God who is working in us, transforming us, sanctifying us, restoring us:

Philippians 2:13 - for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Yet Not I, But Through Christ In Me - Selah ~ 1 Hour Lyric Video

We serve Christ:

Matthew 25:40 - And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. (ESV)

Mark 9:37 - Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me. (ESV)

If a person serves Christ, this is not a dead works-based gospel, but is simply obeying the gospel. That person has been brought into obedience by the grace of God.

II Peter 3:14-18 - Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

We are supposed to then proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light:

I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (ESV)

God is amazing. Because He made me born-again so I could come into a relationship with Him where I can truthfully say that I was stuck in my sin and God broke that sin off me through making me born-again, and has given me a new Spirit so I can walk in obedience to Him.

It's only possible through what Jesus Christ has achieved for us on the cross, because the blood of Jesus Christ redeems us as we abide in Him:

Ephesians 1:7 - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, (ESV)

Song
Chris Tomlin - Holy Forever {Lyric Video} - YouTube

Hebrews 12:28-29 - Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (ESV)

Even having faith in God through faith in Jesus is obedience according to Romans 16:26. If a person is trusting in Him when they die, they will live.

Romans 16:26 - but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith — (ESV)

Also, faith in Jesus is obedience to Jesus, because we are instructed to hold the faith without partiality - that's faithfulness to God regarding seeking to do His will which includes obedience to His commandments:

James 2:1 - My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. (ESV)

The Apostle Paul says something similar. Faith is a matter of being accountable to God, even with respect to law-keeping:

Romans 14:22 - The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. (ESV)

Through faith to Jesus we are justified - that's believing obedience, accountable to God - so it's quite important to bear one another's burdens because Jesus, our Master, commanded us to do it. We keep accountable to God with what we believe/do in obedience to Him:

Galatians 2:16 - yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (ESV)

We must go to Jesus to receive eternal life.

Our obedience is penitent, but our our justification doesn't hang on our perfection. Our obedience should also be without partiality.

Hebrews 5:9 - And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

Also I conclude that obeying Jesus Christ is having faith in Him.

3.17.3. God acts for those who wait for Him

God wants to be our strength. AMEN!!

What we should do now is acknowledge the LORD, keep our eyes on Jesus, and live godly lives (godliness is behaviour in accordance with the knowledge of God, believe the truth and walk in that truth, love the light, walk in the light, walk in the truth). Trust in the LORD to save us as we walk in the light (in obedience):

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (ESV)

God acts for those who wait for Him:

Isaiah 64:4 - From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. (ESV)

Also, waiting on the LORD our strength is renewed:

Isaiah 40:31 - but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (ESV)

We receive an anointing from God. God teaches us and we learn from it and abide in Him:

I John 2:27 - But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything—and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you—abide in him. (ESV)

God leads us into the truth:

John 16:13 - When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (ESV)

John 17:17 - Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (ESV)

John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (ESV)

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV)

We walk the way in which Jesus walked to abide in Jesus' love:

I John 2:6 - whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

John 15:10 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (ESV)

I John 4:12 - No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (ESV)

I John 4:16 - So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (ESV)

I John 4:15 - Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (ESV)

I John 3:14 - We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. (ESV)

I John 3:17 - But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? (ESV)

As we walk in the Spirit of Jesus, we are strengthened to walk as Jesus walked. We are ourselves empowered to walk as Jesus walked thanks to Jesus' own endurance, and that is unlocked by having believing, obedient, trusting, following faith in Jesus where we are being led by His Spirit, and are walking by His Spirit:

Hebrews 12:1-3 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (ESV)

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (ESV)

God literally helps us if we ask Him for help:

Psalms 46:1-3 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah (ESV)

See how we obey Him and he helps us:

I John 3:21-23 - Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. (ESV)

As obedient children of God we ask God in prayer and if it's according to His will He hears us and he grants us our requests:

I Peter 1:14 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, (ESV)

I John 5:14-15 - And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (ESV)

But we must forgive:

Mark 11:24-25 - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (ESV)

Polycarp 6:2
If then we entreat the Lord that He would forgive us, we also ought to forgive: for we are before the eyes of our Lord and God, and we must all stand at the judgment-seat of Christ, and each man must give an account of himself.

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Everlasting God

Psalms 68:5 - Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. (ESV)

Psalms 82:3-4 - Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. (ESV)

3.17.4. The free gift is God - God is the Gospel

We get out of the way everything that is an obstacle to enjoying God when we are forgiven. AMEN:

Ephesians 1:7 - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, (ESV)

Colossians 1:14 - in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

3.17.5. God the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus - the righteousness of God apart from the law is received by faith

Romans 3:21-26 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

3.17.6. The point of justification - we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, and we are transformed

Sermon
John Piper: God is the Gospel - YouTube @time: 40 min 42 sec

Romans 5:1-2 - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (ESV)

We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. That's the point of justification. Who cares if we are righteous. We don't want to be God - we want to see the glory of God.

The reason we want to be righteous is so we get God. We don't get put in hell.

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (ESV)

Not only are we able to behold the glory of God, but we are transformed!

II Corinthians 3:18 - And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (ESV)

3.17.7. Why do we want to live righteously? To honour Christ

We want to honour/exalt/magnify Christ in our lives, to trust Him, honour Him, believe His promises, and even faithfully wait/hold to those promises, and even want others to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God:

Philippians 1:20-21 - According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (KJV)

II Corinthians 4:4 - In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (ESV)

We want to obey God, and we will be transformed in this life:

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

And have communion with God:

Revelation of John 3:4 - Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. (ESV)

3.17.8. Under the right conditions, I don't see a problem with 'working' for God

The motivation has to be right. We do work for God to honour God, and as a response to Him loving us first, and as a response of love for Him forgiving us first, and giving us the gift of eternal life.

We are instructed to work for God:

II John 1:8 - Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. (ESV)

In believing in Jesus, we are guaranteed an inheritance in heaven:

Ephesians 1:13,14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (ESV)

The inheritance is in heaven:

I Peter 1:4 - to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (ESV)

We work for the Lord while believing in Jesus:

Colossians 3:23-25 - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. (ESV)

So once again, we are actually instructed to work for God, but it's not wrong under the right conditions:

Hebrews 6:10 - For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. (ESV)

All the Apostle Paul is saying here, I think is that in "working for God" doesn't imply you have accepted a gift. But, yes, you can accept the gift (believe in Jesus) and under that condition work for God:

Romans 4:4 - Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. (ESV)

We still really do need to accept the free gift! Actually, it's imperative, no matter how much we've been attempting to work for God, that we accept the free gift from God:

Romans 4:5-8 - And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin. (ESV)

Yes, we must turn from our wicked ways to obey God - absolutely!:

Romans 6:16-18 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (ESV)

The free gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord:

Romans 6:20-23 - When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

After believing in Jesus, we must turn from our wicked ways and serve God:

Luke 6:46-49 - Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (ESV)

Jesus is the definitive Son of God. But we may be adopted as sons through faith in Jesus:

John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (ESV)

Galatians 3:26-29 - for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (ESV)

Jesus has literally taught people that that if we love our enemies, do good and lend, expecting nothing in return we will be rewarded and be sons of the Most High. This shows that obedience to Jesus is just part of having faith in Jesus:

Luke 6:35-36 - But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (ESV)

The prophets, saints, and servants of Jesus will be rewarded:

Revelation of John 11:18 - The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 5:12-14 - We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (ESV)

I just want to be clear that good works we do in obedience to Jesus are still considered a gift to us. We work out what God has worked for. It's even a gift to be in position of being able to do good works in service to Jesus after He has washed us:

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)

  • Eph 2:8 - For by grace you have been saved through faith (G4102 pistis); and that not of yourselves, it is the gift (G1435 doron) of God; (NASB)
  • Eph 2:9 - not as a result of works (G2041 ergon), so that no one may boast. (NASB)
  • Eph 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (G2041 ergon), which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (NASB)
1: :  1435  doron  do'-ron
2: 
3:  a present; specially, a sacrifice:--gift, offering.
1: :  2041  ergon  er'-gon
2: 
3:  from a primary (but obsolete) ergo (to work); toil (as an effort or
4:  occupation); by implication, an act:--deed, doing, labour, work.

Work being done by God in us to sanctify us and bring us fruit for everlasting life is work done in faith:

Romans 6:22 - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. (ESV)

Matthew 3:8 - Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (ESV)

We must be abiding in Jesus to produce fruit, and that means we must have faith in Jesus:

John 15:4 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. (ESV)

OK, so we should confess that Jesus is the Son of God and continue obeying Him in faith:

I John 4:15 - Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (ESV)

So the problem isn't work (even work relating to salvation) but the problem is work that is not done in faith (i.e. dead work).

Hebrews 6:1 - Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, (ESV)

The faith Paul talks about is faith towards God. The faith towards God believes God and believes Jesus:

Romans 14:23 - But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (ESV)

I believe that anyone who trusts (is trusting) in the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation, even they have no works, but only a trusting heart, believing what Jesus said, and putting their hope in Jesus for their salvation, repentant and willing to obey (obedient), theoretically are to be in Christ if God does it. I consider that obedience to Jesus and turning away from sin is essential to be found in Him. If someone dies while trusting in Him they will live. If someone trusts in Him while they live they will never die.

Song
Hillsong+Delirious? - History Maker

3.18. Eternal security for those who follow Jesus

Sermon
Eternal Security - Charles Spurgeon Sermon - YouTube @time: 25 min 13 sec

At the stage they trust in Jesus, they may have no work but I believe at that stage they are justified, when in their heart is obedient, trusting, believing faith in Christ who is their life. But I'm not the one to justify them, God is. And I assume that Jesus knows who those people are - He knows that they are His sheep, and that Father God draws those people to Him. And when they go through Jesus Christ, the door, they are saved.

I believe that if a person trusts and believe on God in their heart, believing that they need saving and that Jesus Christ is their Lord and that Jesus Christ died for their transgressions and was raised for their justification - that they have a hearing heart and a heart that follows Him - that they will be saved.

I simply see no enmity between trusting God for justification through the finished work of the cross by Jesus Christ and trusting God by obeying Jesus Christ. I believe that is a false dichotomy. While faith alone saves, I believe that both belief and obedience (willingness to do the will of God) are intrinsic qualities of faith. God justifies the one who places their faith in Jesus. Having faith in Jesus looks like believing Him and obeying Him. Faith in Jesus looks like trusting Jesus. Therefore, I just focus on trusting Jesus in belief and obedience, and assume God is taking care of the justification issue.

Christian love:

Talk
Believing Loving and Obeying and abiding in the presence of the Holy Spirit - YouTube

We want Jesus, so we should treasure Jesus:

Psalms 37:4 - Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (ESV)

Matthew 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (ESV)

Jesus must be our number 1 heart's desire:

Matthew 10:37 - Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (ESV)

God wants Him to be our treasure. We must obey Jesus and Jehovah Jireh will provide:

Job 22:24-26 - if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent bed, then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver. For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. (ESV)

We must love Jesus by keeping His commandments:

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

If we treasure Jesus, and make Jesus our number 1 heart's desire, we will be able to keep Jesus' commandments:

John 14:15 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (ESV)

We must give ourselves first to the Lord Jesus:

II Corinthians 8:3-5 - For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. (ESV)

And following Jesus' commandments we will love one another:

John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)

3.19. Some indicators to know for sure you are saved

Talk
This is how you can know for SURE that you are saved | Assurance of Salvation | Kaci Nicole - YouTube @time: 12 min 59 sec

For assurance of salvation, here's some indicators:

  • Trust in Jesus. Pursuaded by Jesus Christ
    • Believe that He is the Messiah and Son of God
  • Humility. Broken over their sin, and grateful by what Jesus has done.
    • A change of heart like the example of the repentant thief (Read: Matt 27:43-44 and Luke 23:39-43).
      • the repentant thief had come to a place of humility and fear of God
      • he had an awareness of his own sin and the reality of judgement
      • he knew that it was only by Jesus, not by his own works that he could be saved
      • he affirmed the Lordship and deity of Christ
    • A hatred of one's own sin
    • Accepted forgiveness from God
  • Treasuring and valuing Jesus and His words
  • Obedience to Jesus
    • Passing forward forgiveness and mercy to others
  • That you have kept the faith despite trials and testing
    • What I mean by this is that confidence grows as you go through trials
  • Receiving the Spirit of God

1. A change of heart towards humility, fear of God, belief and trust in Jesus to be saved, an awareness of one's own sin and the reality of judgement, and acknowledging Jesus' Lordship and deity:

All the thief could do was look to Jesus and cry out for mercy but thankfully that is all he needed.

My thoughts: I still think that the thief obeyed the gospel by submitting to the righteousness of God. He had obeyed the gospel, even preached the gospel from his cross, and was no longer an enemy of the cross of Christ. I think if given the opportunity he would have continued on in obedience to Jesus and even in good works of service to Jesus because of his repentant heart. He acknowledged Jesus was righteous and did not deserve the punishment that they deserved, he asked Jesus to remember him in His kingdom, and had the fear of God in his heart which would have caused him to not turn from God.

This was all that was required of him for salvation and the same is true for us.

The thief didn't get to go learn the bible, or get baptised or begin to follow Jesus in the way that he lived, but that is not to say that those things are not important because they are. Those are things that God has commanded us to do, and if we love God then we should want to be obedient in doing those things. The distiction is that those things don't earn our salvation but they are the fruit of a heart that has truly put faith in Jesus. I think that the thief would have gone on to do those things, he just never had a chance. But you might be thinking: I don't always obey Jesus. I still wrestle with sin and the answer is that you won't perfectly obey Jesus. You will still have sin in your life because Jesus will be continuing to work that out in you until the day that you die. But if you desire to know the God of the Bible and to love God and to obey God's word, that in itself is evidence that God is at work in your heart because we cannot do those things on our own. Even if we aren't yet fully where we know we ought to be with those things, the fact that they're there is an indication and that we are continuing to grow in grace.

Both robbers start off mocking Jesus but then one of the robbers has a change of heart:

Matthew 27:43-44 - He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, I am the Son of God. And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. (ESV)

Mark 15:32 - Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe. Those who were crucified with him also reviled him. (ESV)

Luke 23:39-43 - One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us! But the other rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong. And he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And he said to him, Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise. (ESV)

The fear of God should mean we want to do what pleases God - it's a heart that wishes to have a good conscience with God - wishes for God's commendation and not His wrath:

Proverbs 16:6 - By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil. (ESV)

We want to always have the fear of God:

Proverbs 14:27 - The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. (ESV)

It's great having a good conscience with God, and a relationship with God:

Proverbs 23:17 - Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day. (ESV)

We're supposed to live this way as Christians:

Acts 9:31 - So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. (ESV)

2. We must have a hatred of one's own sin:

Proverbs 8:13 - The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. (ESV)

To be a Christian doesn't mean that we are without sin this side of heaven, but it does mean that we have a hatred for our own sin, that we are wrestling with the flesh that is still inside us even as Jesus is making us new, rather than being complacent over our sin.

Romans 7:19-20 - For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (ESV)

It's really important to turn from sin:

I John 3:5-6 - You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

We endeavour to be justified through faithful obedience to Jesus, and if we fall short, we still believe Christ has us covered. But we do endeavour, we do try:

Galatians 2:17 - But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! (ESV)

I Peter 3:15 - but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; (ESV)

youtube.com: Paul Washer - Ongoing Sin @time: 2 min 16 sec

3. Our faith has been tested, and results in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ:

I Peter 1:6-7 - In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

3.19.1. By the Spirit Jesus has given us

II Corinthians 1:22 - and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (ESV)

I John 4:13-16 - By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (ESV)

II Timothy 1:7-9 - for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, (ESV)

3.20. Indicators that we are of the truth

A strong indicator that we are of the truth is that against every condemnation, we know God is greater than our heart and knows everything

I John 3:18-20 - Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

A strong indicator that we are of the truth is that we have the fear of Jehovah God in our hearts, that we do not turn from Him:

Jeremiah 32:40 - I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. (ESV)

More strong indicators that we are of the truth are that:

  • if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God:
  • whatever we ask of God, we receive from Him
    • because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him
      • we know we are believing in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and
      • we know we are loving one another,
      • just has He has commanded us.

I John 3:21-23 - Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. (ESV)

Who is of God listens to us:

I John 4:6 - We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

We know that God abides in us by the Spirit whom He has given us:

I John 3:24 - Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

4. Following Jesus

Isaiah 30:20-21 - And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

I believe the above prophetically talks about Jesus. We must obey Jesus. God doesn't guarantee that following Jesus will be easy.

Song
youtube.com: Steve Apirana - I Have Decided

John 6:44-46 - No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. (ESV)

II John 1:6 - And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. (ESV)

II Peter 2:20-21 - For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

Matthew 21:32 - For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Romans 14:18 - Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

4.1. Being led by the Spirit is not license to sin

Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Repenting from sin, including such things as idolatry, witchcraft, jealousy and sexual immorality is all a part of following Jesus and being led by the Spirit.

Sermon
youtube.com: The Trademarks of Witchcraft - Derek Prince

Practicing witchcraft, for example, is definitely not loving your neighbour as yourself.

Being led by the Spirit and obeying God, repenting from sin and passing forward love and forgiveness, we have our souls purified:

I Peter 1:22 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)

4.2. Walk by the Spirit = Obey Jesus = Led by the Spirit

John 12:26 - If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (ESV)

4.2.1. God loved us first, and forgave us first

Forgiveness from God is received by faith:

Romans 3:25 - whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (ESV)

Because God loved us first:

  • The Apostle Paul endeavours to know Jesus ('makes it his own'. See Php 3:9-13 below) because Jesus made Paul His own
    • To be found in Jesus is what Paul describes as the righteousness from God that depends on faith
    • We know Jesus by believing in Him and obeying His commandments, and when we love and forgive we know God loved us and forgive us first
  • We should love because He loved us first
  • We must forgive as we have been forgiven

God cancelled the record of debt of our sin with the blood of Jesus Christ:

Colossians 2:14 - by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (ESV)

4.2.2. God's kindness is meant to lead us to repentance from sin

We are supposed to have a response of repentance from sin. God's kindness is meant to lead us to repentance from sin. And turning from sin is a loving response to grace given:

Romans 2:4 - Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (ESV)

We are supposed to have a response of love for Jesus. God's forgiveness should lead us to love God and want to obey Him:

Luke 7:42-43 - When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more? Simon answered, The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt. And he said to him, You have judged rightly. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: In Christ Alone {My Hope Is Found} - Adrienne Liesching | LYRIC VIDEO

It's for our own good that we stop sinning. Sin is burdensome:

II Timothy 3:6-9 - For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. (ESV)

Hebrews 12:1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (ESV)

Sin made against our own body is really bad for us. This is a warning:

I Corinthians 6:16-20 - Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, The two will become one flesh. But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (ESV)

Romans 13:14 - But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (ESV)

Sin no more so that nothing worse happens:

John 5:14 - Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you. (ESV)

John 8:10-11 - Jesus stood up and said to her, Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more. (ESV)

Sin enslaves. We're supposed to stop doing it. Jesus payed the price of sin for us to set us free from it and we shouldn't let ourselves become enslaved by sin again.

Quote by Tim Keller
When you do a sin, it has a powerful effect in which your own freedom - your freedom to want the good, to will the good, to think the good or understand the good is being undermined so that you are more and more by sin losing your freedom. It undermines your mind, it undermines your emotions and it undermines your will.

4.2.3. Subsequent behaviour - the Golden Rule and the Royal Law, faith working through love

When it comes to 'works' and 'law-keeping', I believe disciples of Jesus should know they have been forgiven by grace through faith and they should also practice their righteousness and a person who has accepted forgiveness for their sin by the atonement made in Jesus' blood should certainly endeavour after that to fulfill practically the Royal Law, that is to love one's neighbour as themself, even owing that to other people:

Romans 13:8 - Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. (ESV)

Galatians 6:2-6 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. (ESV)

I Peter 1:22 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)

The Golden Rule, I think explains that we should behave like a child of Father God who is by nature Good and gives good gifts to His children, and gifts that are truly good, far exceeding any amount of favour we might show our own children. As we behave like a child of Father God, believing the gospel of Jesus, and loving with Christ's love, we can really say our Father is God, as a child takes after their parents, and a child of Father God behaves like Jesus and follows Jesus. We try to follow Jesus, and imitate Christ's pattern, as Christ is the Son of God.

youtube.com: Sin as Slavery - Timothy Keller Sermon

When it comes to behavior when it comes to the behavior that religions ask and demand and urge upon us, there is almost absolute complete uniformity and universal consensus we're not supposed to tell lies, we're not supposed to break our promises, we're not supposed to rob or murder each other, but respect each other.

In that sense we're supposed to live with justice and equity. We're supposed to live by the Golden Rule. We're supposed to be generous with with our possessions. There's, you know, several of these things every religion - everybody - understands that we should live that way.

There's universal consensus that we should live that way, and then of course on top of that we know that the main reason for all the misery in the world is because we don't live that way. The main reason for all the problems of the of our society is because people don't live that way. Now when everybody agrees what we should be doing what's right, there there's no doubt and everybody agrees that the reason that we're miserable is because we're not doing it - the Bible's explanation is that human hearts are sinful but beyond that that we're slaves to sin.

We should love others, as we would want to be loved by others. God gives common grace to all people, even the evil. We should love in this way, as our Father in Heaven:

Matthew 5:45 - so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (ESV)

I do not think the Golden Rule is saying that "God is humanity." Neither do I think the Golden Rule is saying that God treats us precisely how we treat others.

I think the Golden Rule is really telling us to be loving, and love our enemies, as we would want to be loved by our enemies - love people the way Father God loves us:

Matthew 7:9-12 - Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)

We should be imitators of God's love:

Psalms 103:8 - The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (ESV)

Ephesians 5:1-2 - Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (ESV)

I John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (ESV)

Love your enemies as well as your friends. Be like Your Heavenly Father. Be perfect. Love (25. agapaó) your enemies means "treasuring your enemies" and looks like not repaying evil for evil. It sometimes looks like refusing to do evil and instead doing good to those who do you harm, taking the initiative in overcoming evil with good:

Matthew 5:43-48 - You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)

Proverbs 25:21-22 - If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. (ESV)

Also, as far as law-keeping goes, I believe Christians are not prohibited from following other parts of the Mosaic Law by faith.

Also, different to the Apostle Paul's conviction, I am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that there are things that I should commit to doing for Jesus to be faithful to Him.

Consider downloading N64 ROMS. I don't want to do it any longer. It feels wrong to me. Also, I consider AI fiction to be unclean, so I would avoid it.

Romans 14:23 - But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (ESV)

Here are a few reasons why I don't like AI fiction.

Lies and deceit:

  • Using AI fiction to write a cover letter for a job application
    • Resulting in increased difficulty in getting a job for refusing to write lies on a resume
  • Using AI fiction to misrepresent yourself and lure girls over a dating platform
  • Using AI fiction to impersonate or misrepresent people

Adultery:

  • Fantasizing over AI fiction

Theft:

  • Stealing intellectual property (code, artwork, style etc.)

So if I am experiencing persecution for refusing to use AI fiction to misrepresent myself to get ahead, then I am being persecuted for righteousness-sake and I have a lot of faith that God will honour that I want to obey Him and not sin, and I'm grieved by the use of AI to misrepresent and manipulate people.

Ezekiel 9:4 - And the LORD said to him, Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it. (ESV)

I think a lot of people are literally blinded from being able to see the truth of this:

II Corinthians 4:4 - In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (ESV)

I rebuke AI fiction in Jesus Christ's name and I choose to allow my mind to be conformed to the mind of Christ and I choose to listen to the voice of Christ and follow Christ. All of the generative AI stuff I consider to be unclean.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"I do believe that the church is one of the foundations of our civilization. Without the church performing its sacramental and pastoral functions, the forces of barbarism would be given free sway. The church cannot remain a positive force if it continues to remove itself from the stress and strain of contemporary events. The church has a prophetic role to play in the world, not just a pastoral role. The true church and the world can that always be unfriendly terms. The sort of friendliness between church and society that we have cultivated in the past is actually the cause of the churches increasing irrelevance."

God I hate living in this world. It's a cesspool. I just feel as though it's on the abyss.

Revelation of John 18:4 - Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; (ESV)

Everyone will give an account of themself to God:

Romans 14:12 - So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. (ESV)

Romans 14:14-15 - I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. (ESV)

Mark 7:18-19 - And he said to them, Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled? (Thus he declared all foods clean.) (ESV)

In some cases, I might even admire those that go beyond what a law strictly requires, inclusive of what the law requires. If a person wanted to go beyond Exodus 20:13 to avoid eating meat to spare the lives of animals and make themself accountable to God over that in the hope it pleases God then I admire that commitment actually, but I wouldn't let anyone pass judgement on me over eating meat myself:

Romans 14:16 - So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. (ESV)

Christians should both submit to the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, having the imputed righteousness of Christ that we believe we have as we are walking with Christ and Christians should practice righteousness too (as Jesus said, "go and sin no more"), and Christians should seek to keep accountability primarily to God in regards to the law because He sees everything, and secondarily have good conscience with men, to love as Jesus loved, and give to Caesar what is Caesar's, but give to God what is God's - and God owns our hearts - and we should be prepared to die for Jesus, and remain faithful to Jesus:

Matthew 23:2-7 - The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. (ESV)

We love in the knowledge we have already been loved first when God sent Jesus Christ to pay for our sin with His blood. I was born-again of the Spirit and regenerated on 2 April 2022.

That's how we are found in God, by accepting that He loved us first through Jesus Christ, and God puts us into Him.

John 13:6-7 - He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered him, What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand. (ESV)

After being born-again of the spirit I don't say I'm completely sinless - that would be deceiving myself.

But I continue walking in the light, in trusting obedience to Jesus, and Jesus' blood continues to cleanse me from all sin:

I John 1:7-9 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

It is clear that following Jesus helps us to not sin, which means that the destructiveness of sin for us is still a reality if we are not following Jesus. We get on top of it by following Jesus and walking by His Spirit:

Galatians 5:14-16 - For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (ESV)

Someone who has just been "born of God" is an infant in Christ and is counted as a child of God, but an infant. I mention this because an infant grows into maturity, into living in the Spirit the way that God does, into thinking and behaving as a mature child of God:

I Corinthians 3:1 - But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. (ESV)

Romans 8:14 - For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (ESV)

A person who is mature in Christ has faith in Christ, follows the teachings of Christ and the pattern of His life, and is spiritually minded, and thinks with Christ's wisdom, not worldly wisdom, and lives for the will of God:

Colossians 1:28 - Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. (ESV)

We must live in the spirit the way God does, not for human passions, but for the will of God:

I Peter 4:1-6 - Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. (ESV)

Living by the Golden Rule (or better, the Royal Law) still comes after having been forgiven by Jesus:

Matthew 7:12 - So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)

I've heard it said Christians "do not need to follow the Golden Rule". But the Golden Rule is at the heart of Christ's law and even after being born-again and accepting forgiveness from God, we should walk in the light, following Christ's law.

Applying love to the Golden Rule, we have the second of the great commandments, the Royal Law, which is to: "Love your neighbour as yourself". It's actually very important.

We are supposed to fulfill the Royal Law, even after having received forgiveness:

James 2:1 - My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. (ESV)

Committing sin can still happen after having been forgiven. Committing sin happens when we do not fulfill the Royal Law, or when we are showing unfair bias as we do it. Therefore being led by the Spirit of Jesus, we should be abiding by the Royal law, and to be deliberately breaking the Royal law, a person could no longer say they are being led by the Spirit of Jesus:

James 2:8-9 - If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (ESV)

But we must love like Christ loved us in the knowledge that He loved us first. We must forgive our family in Christ, as we have been forgiven:

Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (ESV)

Also, I believe that abiding by Christ's law and loving your neighbour as yourself does not cancel out the rest of the law of God, but that a person must be actually following Christ by obeying Christ's commandments in order to not be "under the law" and to be "not guilty".

Following Jesus starts with believing in Him and believing He is the Son of God, and Anointed one, the Messiah, and following Jesus continues in getting to know Him through obedience to Him:

Philippians 3:9-13 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (ESV)

So an important part of being led by the Spirit of Jesus and being not "under the law" is to continuing to forgive one another as we have been forgiven by Jesus, and walk in the light as He is in the light.

In Christ Jesus, as we are abiding in Jesus, getting to know Jesus through obedience to Him, getting to know Him in Spirit as we get really intimate with Jesus, walking as He walked, we have the peace of God:

Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Following Jesus includes your thought life:

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (ESV)

All people should seek to follow the Royal Law which is to love one's neighbour as themself, bearing their neighbours burdens and forgiving one another, but who has done that perfectly?

Quote by Tim Keller
"I want you to meet the needs of other people with all of the strength, with all of the joy and all of the creativity and with all of the speed with which you meet your own needs. 12 hours, that's all - Golden Rule, just try it"

As Christians we were at one time disobedient, and were not able to do this perfectly, and we have been saved by Jesus, having been forgiven by Him, and after we are grafted into Christ, we now have His righteousness and Almighty God as our Father, and Jesus is our Master and we seek to please our Master, like the All Blacks try to please their coach, and we seek to follow the Royal Law, which is a part of being obedient to Jesus. We have His Spirit, and His Spirit helps us to do this.

Quote by Billy Graham
And he fell down before them and says, "What must I do to be saved? And they gave him a very simple answer, not something complicated. Simple, so that nobody here can ever say that you did you couldn't do it. He said believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Believe, commit your life to Christ, and you shall be saved. It commits the believer wholeheartedly to one about whose person and work he has gained a clear-cut conviction.
Quote by Billy Graham

And it's so simple that millions stumble over it.

People think it's so complicated to be a Christian, to be a true follower of Christ. No, it is not. You start out very simply.

That first step is to say, "Lord, I'm sorry for my sin. I turn from my sin. I receive Christ as my Lord and Savior."

Now two things are involved in believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. One is repentance. It means that you rethink. The word repentance means "change". I change my attitude. I change my way of living. But you cannot change by yourself. You need God to help you to change. So he sends the Holy Spirit to help you in the changing process.

And then, secondly, it means trust. Faith is described in the Bible as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith or belief is not faith without evidence, but commitment without reservation. It means that you hold nothing back. You totally commit this life, the future life, and everything you are or everything you hope to be to the person of Jesus Christ.

Titus 3:8-15 - The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful. All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. (ESV)

4.2.4. God's name must be hallowed. We should not take it in vain

Matthew 6:9 - Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. (ESV)

1: Dear Heavenly Father,
2: hallowed be Your name.
3: Please forgive me, Father God, for using Your name where it ought not to be used,
4: and for any misrepresentation I have made.
5: In Jesus Christ's name I ask,
6: AMEN!!

For this reason, I think that Bible translations such as the ESV, correctly are reserved about printing the LORD's name inline throughout the whole Bible. The JW, as they consolidate their Bible translation (NWT) using the LORD's name, seems to me either like an effort to try to engineer God, or self-affirm their own understanding, which is self-exalting but may (especially by those in their congregation) be done in ignorance. I do not affirm the NWT translation, but I do affirm the doctrine of Sola Scriptura.

However, I also neither like the way in which the names of other so-called gods are used in other translations of Scriptures and I can understand the concern about that:

Exodus 23:13 - Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips. (ESV)

Let's have reverence for Jehovah God and serve Him:

Malachi 3:15-18 - And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape. Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him. (ESV)

These Scriptures refers to Jesus' name:

Matthew 18:20 - For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. (ESV)

Matthew 18:19-20 - Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. (ESV)

The JW are right to affirm that we must remember God's name. Exodus 3:15 and Malachi 3:16 refer to God's name, Yhvh, and Christians within the English speaking world generally affirm the name is spoken as Jehovah or Yahweh. It's right that we must affirm God's name and remember God's name:

Exodus 3:13-15 - Then Moses said to God, If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, What is his name? what shall I say to them? God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM. And he said, Say this to the people of Israel, I AM has sent me to you. God also said to Moses, Say this to the people of Israel, The LORD (3068. Yhvh), the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. (ESV)

Exodus 9:16 - But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. (ESV)

1: Yhvh: the proper name of the God of Israel
2: Original Word: יְהוָֹה
3: Part of Speech: Proper Name
4: Transliteration: Yhvh
5: Phonetic Spelling: (yeh-ho-vaw')
6: Definition: the proper name of the God of Israel

Malachi 3:16 - Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. (ESV)

Father God has given Jesus Christ all authority in heaven and on earth. In other words, Jesus Christ is God, just as Jehovah is God and Holy Spirit is God:

Philippians 2:9-10 - Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (ESV)

Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (ESV)

Hebrews 3:6 - but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. (ESV)

4.2.5. Christ-like humility

Philippians 2:5-6 - Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, (ESV)

And God in His mercy saves us and brings us to Himself through Jesus His Son:

Ephesians 2:1-5 - And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— (ESV)

4.2.6. Anti-christ-like behaviour

Pride and insubordination against God is antichrist-like behaviour:

II Thessalonians 2:3-4 - Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (ESV)

Now with regards to the way people should (or shouldn't) act:

Quote by Tim Keller
Know what the Bible says: Sin is craving something more than God. Sin is making something more important than God. Sin is is living for something more than God. If God is at the periphery of your life, if you're just religious occasionally, if God [is] sort of on the outskirts of your life, that is sin. That's the essence of sin.

It's really important to respect the testimony of the Cross:

Polycarp 6:3
For every one who shall not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is antichrist: and whosoever shall not confess the testimony of the Cross, is of the devil; and whosoever shall pervert the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts and say that there is neither resurrection nor judgment, that man is the firstborn of Satan.

Bad or unchrist-like behaviour might be making money or some other thing more important than God to "get ahead" materially, placing burdens on others to fulfill the same materialistic/worldly standard, especially on those who have their priorities already in the correct order (they are obeying God, and are keeping their heart clean) and not lifting a finger to help them but actually make things more difficult. What I really mean is, it is the opposite of teaching Christlikeness to force someone to clean up their outward appearance or to meet certain worldly standards when they are in relationship Jesus, spending their time trying to help other people, and the bad outward appearance is a result of sacrificing for others following Jesus - I mean it is anti-christ-like behaviour to try to stop people from following Jesus or punish people for following Jesus.

John 19:28 - After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), I thirst. (ESV)

Matthew 23:26 - You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. (ESV)

Jesus came to help us, shed His blood for us as atonement to ransom us from our sin, so that we can be set free from it and put a stop to it, and to bring us to God. Jesus certainly has made it easier for us to obey God, and we can be sanctified by His blood:

Luke 23:36-37 - The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself! (ESV)

Psalms 69:21 - They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. (ESV)

I still consider that what matters is obedience to God from the heart:

John 8:44 - You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (ESV)

Matthew 23:27-28 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (ESV)

We are also supposed to speak up for the God's Truth. We should affirm sound Christian teaching when it comes to what is sinful. Just because we may not judge others when it comes to something sinful, that doesn't mean that God wont judge us for practicing and affirming something sinful.

It's not loving to make life harder on people by placing higher standards of exterior 'cleanliness' without helping them to achieve it, when in reality the way to achieve it is to clean the inside first:

Matthew 23:4 - They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. (ESV)

Matthew 23:25-29 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, (ESV)

Luke 11:39 - And the Lord said to him, Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. (ESV)

youtube.com: Living For The Lord Jesus - A Fulfilled Life - Mar Mari Emmanuel

Specific example:

Let's say there is a poor by appearances (but rich in God) person on the street who loves God with all their heart but has a rough outward appearance and the reason they have a rough outwards appearance is because the world hates them as a result of their faith in Jesus, being obedient to Jesus. Now along comes a worldly person who loves money, the pride of life and the pride of their possessions, and they love and desire money more than they love God (this is one reason why I don't like the prosperity gospel). This worldly person goes up to the poor person on the street and says they must be burdened with sin because of their outward appearance, that they are poor because of sin, rather than because of obedience, that must should their eyes away from following God and focus on worldly things, that they have demons and need to clean up their appearance to be a real Christian, and they don't lift a finger to help the poor person meet their standard of exterior wellbeing. The worldly ignorant person has just acted like the blind Pharisees, and not like the good Samaritan. The materially poor person may be in that situation because they were the good Samaritan to someone and saved someone's life.

John 15:18-20 - If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. (ESV)

The one worrying about the material things isn't in doing so exhibiting the love of the Father in them but the poor person who loves God does - the materially poor but rich in faith person has their priorities in order and doesn't need correction from the natural, worldly person, but rather needs mercy from the materialistic worldly person.

Revelation of John 2:9 - I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (ESV)

And the materialistic, worldly person needs to learn from the poor person so they can put God first:

Revelation of John 3:17 - For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. (ESV)

This is not glorifying poverty, but rather is about the truth of the matter that we must have God as our top love in our heart:

I John 2:15 - Do not love (agapate) the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (ESV)

Matthew 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (ESV)

James 2:5-8 - Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. (ESV)

It's the ones who serve Jesus who God delights in their prosperity:

Psalms 35:27 - Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant! (ESV)

Servants serve:

Mark 10:43-45 - But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (ESV)

Matthew 6:25-34 - Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (ESV)

4.2.7. We should welcome people who hear Jesus' words and want to learn how to follow Jesus, and we should give them Jesus' words

If anyone claims to be a believer but does not abide in the teaching of Christ, they do not have God, and we should not associate with them. We need to cling to Christ's words and teachings and use them to correct our brothers in Christ. If there is resistance to Christ's teachings within the church, then that is not good.

We should let people in who want to follow Jesus. We should give the cold shoulder to people who do not want to follow Jesus.

If anyone claims to be a believer but doesn't abide in Christ's teachings then don't welcome that person in:

II John 1:9-11 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. (ESV)

I Timothy 6:1-5 - Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. (ESV)

If anyone claims to be a believer but is an unrepentant sinner then don't allow that person in:

I Corinthians 5:11-13 - But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. Purge the evil person from among you. (ESV)

Read
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/avoid-the-unrepentant-but-what-if-theyre-family

If anyone claims to be a believer but does not agape his brother, they are still in darkness:

I John 2:9 - Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. (ESV)

Churches should be teaching Jesus' teachings:

Luke 12:42-49 - And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, My master is delayed in coming, and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! (ESV)

4.2.8. God definitely disciplines us even if we love Jesus - every son he receives

The ones who love Jesus, keep His teachings:

John 14:23-24 - Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. (ESV)

God definitely disciplines us, even if we love Jesus and keep Jesus' commandments:

Hebrews 12:6-8 - For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

Those who love God - those who believe and obey Him - those who trust Him - will experience trial:

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (ESV)

I believe strongly that I am currently going through this and I have been going through this discipline/testing/repentance/forgiving-others stuff for a year or longer now:

I Corinthians 11:32 - But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. (ESV)

We have to believe and obey the Truth. We have to agree with the word of God, and allow God to correct our beliefs and behaviour:

John 17:17-19 - Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (ESV)

I think we can expect God will discipline us to help us to keep the Royal Law.

Whoever loves with Christ's love knows Father God:

I John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (ESV)

4.2.9. Christians should live fulfilling the Royal Law

Those walking (living) according to Jesus' Spirit should be able to do this:

Romans 8:4 - in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (ESV)

James 2:8 - If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. (ESV)

Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (ESV)

Romans 13:10 - Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)

Romans 13:8 - Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. (ESV)

Whoever loves with Christ's love knows Father God:

I John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (ESV)

4.2.10. Fulfilling Christ's law is the least we can endeavour to do as an appropriate response of love for Jesus, Jesus having fulfilled the entire law and prophets

John 15:25 - But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: They hated me without a cause. (ESV)

John 18:9 - This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one. (ESV)

Matthew 26:56 - But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him and fled. (ESV)

Matthew 5:17 - Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (ESV)

To love your neighbour as yourself means forgiving them too, and remember that Jesus forgave us. It also means to not take vengeance (Christ's law includes not rendering evil for evil):

Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (ESV)

4.3. Following Jesus is the way of righteousness

By faith, we continue to abide in Jesus, believing Him and following Him in obedience. We do not simply commend ourselves for one act of belief, and then abandon the way:

Galatians 5:5 - For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. (ESV)

We have peace with God and are justified by faith when we are following Jesus Christ who is our Lord. Yes, we have peace because we are following Jesus::

Romans 5:1 - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

"Jesus our Lord" means we are following Jesus. Those who trust in God who raised Jesus from the dead and follow Jesus will be justified:

Romans 4:23-25 - But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (ESV)

Luke 6:46-49 - Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (ESV)

OBEDIENCE!

youtube.com: How Faith Obeys

Noah trusts God and builds an ark. Abraham trusts God and leaves his homeland. Abraham trusts God again and lives in tents instead of building (a city) city, and Sarah trusts God and conceives when she's old.

The first thing is God; God exists and God speaks. And when He speaks He's reliable, and we now have something to take hold of in life. If there were no God, if there were no speaking, there'd be no faith in God, and there'd be no future for us.

Romans 14:18 - Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

4.4. Obey the Truth, obey Jesus. Serve one another through love

Even Paul shows that in obeying Jesus, we walk by the Spirit:

Galatians 5:13-17 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (ESV)

Walking by the Spirit is being led by the Spirit is being obedient to Jesus.

youtube.com: If We Have the Spirit, Why Commands? Galatians 5:22-26, Part 3 @time: 14 min 38 sec
Don't be conceited. Don't provoke one another. Don't envy, but rather keep in step with the Spirit and the Spirit will incline you to Christ and who and enable you to remember that you are justified by faith and not by law-keeping by which you can show yourself better than somebody. Faith is a great leveler; It's so humble and dependent and it enables you to see that this kind of life here is self-exalting which is exactly the opposite of what walking according to the spirit does because walking according to the holy spirit is walking in love and love humbles itself to serve others, not exalt ourselves above them.

Amen, John Piper.

4.4.1. You cannot serve God, and also be yoked to money

Priorities:

  • 1. Jesus
  • 2-∞. Everything else

Matthew 6:24 - No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (ESV)

Job 22:24-26 - if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent bed, then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver. For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. (ESV)

God wants us to love Him, treasure Him (25. agapaó), value Him with all our heart, and love and value and treasure one another (25. agapaó) as ourselves
youtube.com: What Is It Like to Enjoy God? @time: 35 min 16 sec

We should be able to live while having confidence that Jesus is all we need. The fear of not having enough money should not be stopping us from obeying God and treasuring God above all things and loving one another as God has instructed.

Hebrews 13:5-6 - Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we can confidently say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me? (ESV)

You cannot make money master over you:

Matthew 6:24 - No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (ESV)

We must accept Jesus as Master over us:

Romans 14:4 - Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (ESV)

But not only that; We also have to want God, treasure God and love God. And that means loving Him, treasure Him (25. agapaó), love Him in trust and in belief and obedience. In order to follow Jesus, sometimes you will have to sacrifice financial security because there are many people you around you who need you to lighten their burdens because we value/treasure (25. agapaó) people more than material/worldly things. Also God may even test you to see if you love your money more than Him:

I Peter 4:12 - Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. (ESV)

We should be willing to have our pockets completely emptied as we give mercy to others and get to the point where we're relying on God alone. We should be able to do that if it were required of us. We have to root the love of money out of our own hearts and love God with our whole heart, and trust God who is our life!

Luke 12:23 - For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. (ESV)

Job 22:24-26 - if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent bed, then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver. For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. (ESV)

youtube.com: JESUS | Full Album | Jesus Image @time: 21 min 58 sec
God You're still good and I thank You for what we do have. We may not have all that we've been asking for but we thank You that we have everything that we need because we have You, Jesus!

AMEN!!

Deuteronomy 30:6 - And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (ESV)

I think I John 2:15-17 is essentially saying, "Do not agape love the world or what's in the world. Do not love the things of this world with the type of love that we have for God and for people, namely agape love." If we fall out of agape love for the world and are not conformed to the world but are transformed by the renewing of our minds then by testing we will be able to discern the will of God:

I John 2:15-17 - Do not love (agapate) the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

John 14:15-21 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

Sermon
Seven Reasons We Must Pursue Supreme Satisfaction in God - YouTube

We must get on the path of having faith in Jesus, believe in the name (onoma) of Jesus, God's Son, and obey God to have confidence:

Proverbs 10:17 - Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. (ESV)

I John 3:21-22 - Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. (ESV)

I believe this is really talking about the commandments of Jesus and even of Father God. I personally believe this includes the 10 Commandments which I believe are still important for Christians to follow by faith:

I John 3:21-24 - Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

II Corinthians 1:20 - For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (ESV)

Hebrews 5:8-10 - Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

We must be yoked to Jesus Christ alone. How? By following His commandments in reality. If you're not yoked to Jesus then you're susceptible to being yoked to anything else.

You cannot serve God and cryptocurrency. With money, and with cryptocurrency, you are making a black and white choice between God and money.

Matthew 8:22 - And Jesus said to him, Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead. (ESV)

Acts 8:18-21 - Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

This widow gave in faith, because she believes God will take care of her even if she gives everything (that's the mindset of faith):

Mark 12:41-44 - And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on. (ESV)

Following Jesus doesn't mean not providing for family. In fact, following Jesus does mean providing for family. So when you read Jesus' commandments and someone asks you for help, you give them what they need, without stealing though. If the money is for taking care of family, we must keep that. But our neighbour who we must love are more than just our immediate family. We are commanded by the Apostle Paul to provide for our family:

I Timothy 5:8 - But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (ESV)

Following Jesus comes first, even before following your family. To even love your family best is to put Jesus first. It's for their sake too:

Matthew 10:36-39 - And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (ESV)

Mark 8:34 - And he called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (ESV)

It's black and white - we must be yoked to Jesus:

Mark 10:21 - And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (ESV)

The thoughts that go through our minds must not be:

  • How can I secure my life here on earth with enough crypto to be taken care of so I don't have to worry - that type of thinking is emnity against God. That's making money #1 and Jesus after that.

James 4:4 - You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (ESV)

John 12:25 - Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (ESV)

The thoughts that go through our minds must be:

  • How can I serve God agape-ing God, (valuing and treasuring Him, His name, His words, His precepts), and agape the light of the glory of God in Christ, cease to agape the world or the lusts of the world, and help to bring about the obedience of faith in Christ in other people, and agape other people. Where can I sow into the Kingdom of God? How can I agape people and show people that God agape's them, especially the neglected and needy, like in James 1:27.

James 1:27 - Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (ESV)

Luke 9:23 - And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (ESV)

Luke 9:59-62 - To another he said, Follow me. But he said, Lord, let me first go and bury my father. And Jesus said to him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God. Yet another said, I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home. Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Luke 18:22 - When Jesus heard this, he said to him, One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (ESV)

You can't follow Jesus Christ's instructions in faith while asking OpenAI if it's OK. You can not be led by God and be led by an AI such as ChatGPT. You can not be led by God and be led by a Neuralink chip.

Matthew 8:22 - And Jesus said to him, Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead. (ESV)

We have the Word of God. We can also walk in Jesus' commandments. We've got to be yoked to Jesus Christ.

God can speak to us directly without internet, even through His Spirit, even in a dream.

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV)

youtube.com: Christ is Enough - Hillsong Worship | LYRIC VIDEO
Christ is enough for me. Everything I need is in You.

4.4.2. Make friends with charity while money hasn't yet failed

Money is temporary. While it's in your hands, make friends with it, by giving in charity to those in need.

Money will fail - bitcoin will fail, ethereum will fail, and when it fails people will see you as a friend.

Luke 16:1-8 - He also said to the disciples, There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager. And the manager said to himself, What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses. So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, How much do you owe my master? He said, A hundred measures of oil. He said to him, Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty. Then he said to another, And how much do you owe? He said, A hundred measures of wheat. He said to him, Take your bill, and write eighty. The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. (ESV)

Luke 16:8-9 - And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. (ESV)

4.4.3. In this world God can see if we are to be trusted with true heavenly wealth by seeing how we used our money

Luke 16:11-12 - If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?

I Timothy 6:9-10 - But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (ESV)

4.4.4. We must actually make following Jesus a reality to take hold of the eternal life to which we are called

We make the confession, but we must then take hold of it.

I Timothy 6:11-12 - But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (ESV)

5. Great commission

Obedience to Jesus' commandments (repentance from sin):

Luke 24:46-47 - and said to them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance (G3341 metanoia) and forgiveness (G859 aphesis) of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Obedience to Jesus' commandments (becoming disciples, obeying Jesus' commandments):

Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Keeping the commandments is how to love and Christian's are called to keep God's commandments

I Corinthians 7:19 - For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. (ESV)

We're sure that we abide in Christ when we are keeping His commandments:

I John 2:1-6 - My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

The word tereo means (to keep, observe, obey, follow). Commandments are for obeying. That's all they are for. This observance means to remember and practice. Nowhere in the Bible does it teach to disobey God:

Matthew 28:20 - teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (NASB2020)

Don't teach against needing to do Jesus' commandments. To do so is to teach people to not be a part of Jesus' family. It's great how God has given us Hebrew and Greek to make this unambiguous:

Deuteronomy 5:27 - Go near and hear all that the LORD our God will say and speak to us all that the LORD our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it. (ESV)

It's not just the red letters:

Luke 8:21 - But he answered them, My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it. (ESV)

Obedience to Jesus' commandments (trusting Jesus and being baptised):

Mark 16:15-18 - And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.

John 21:15-17 - When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him, Feed my lambs. He said to him a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him, Tend my sheep. He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Do you love me? and he said to him, Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep.

The original Apostles were instructed to feed Jesus' sheep with the living bread that is Jesus Christ. Likewise, in living testimony we should teach others to walk the way of righteousness:

John 6:33 - For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

Repentance leads to the knowledge of the truth, and ceasing to do the devil's will:

II Timothy 2:24-26 - And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (ESV)

5.1. Even the Old Testament makes a person wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus:

desiringgod.org: How to Get Wisdom: Become a Fool | Desiring God

Trust and believe:

Isaiah 53:7-8 - He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? (ESV)

Isaiah 53:12 - Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. (ESV)

Trust and obey:

II Timothy 3:12-17 - Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (ESV)

Song
Trust And Obey - Big Daddy Weave - YouTube

5.2. Jesus

Jesus is the Word. The world was made through Jesus:

John 1:9-11 - The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. (ESV)

Jesus is the divinely appointed servant of God:

Isaiah 53:4-6 - Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (ESV)

Matthew 20:27-28 - and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (ESV)

He's the image of God:

Colossians 1:15 - He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Let It Be Christ - The Sations

5.3. Belief

Jesus has life in Him, and the life is the Light of men - the true Light.

John 5:26 - For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

John 5:21 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

John 6:33 - For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

John 1:4 - In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. (ESV)

John 1:9 - The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. (ESV)

1 John 2:8 - At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. (ESV)

John 1:6-7 - There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.

John 8:12 - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (ESV)

John 9:5 - As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (ESV)

John 12:36 - While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light. When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

We testify about the Light, so that through our testimony, others might believe.

Matthew 5:14 - You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (ESV)

Philippians 2:15 - that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, (ESV)

Colossians 1:12 - giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (ESV)

James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 5:5 - For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. (ESV)

To anyone who receives Jesus, even those who believe on His name, Jesus has given the right to become children of God, to be born of God.

John 1:11-13 - He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe (G4100 pisteuo) in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

I John 1:6-7 - If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV)

I John 2:10 - Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. (ESV)

Yes, I believe that Jesus can save a person who believes in His name. But He is the judge, and it is written in John's gospel that no person who remains disobedient to Jesus Christ will see life, and I believe that.

Revelation of John 3:8 - I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

We abide in Jesus when He washes us. When the Holy Spirit washes us, the Holy Spirit helps us to put sin to death:

John 13:8 - Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me. (ESV)

Peter believed/received/obeyed/trusted like a child of God (he cooperated) to let Jesus wash him but it was Jesus doing the work:

John 13:9 - Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head! (ESV)

We call on Jesus to wash us:

Acts 22:16 - And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name. (ESV)

I think Jesus calls us to pursue perfection through following Him, and we should definitely give it a go:

John 17:23 - I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

In God's unconditional love He has paid the price for us to be saved from sin and death and hell:

I John 4:9-12 - In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (ESV)

We must accept God's love and forgiveness and keep Jesus' word, His commandments, and God's love will be perfected in us and He and Father God will make Their abode in us. There is a conditional aspect of God's unconditional love for us:

John 14:23-24 - Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. (ESV)

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

I John 4:15-19 - Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

We aim for perfection / to be made complete / full restoration:

II Corinthians 13:11 - Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. (KJV)

II Corinthians 13:11-14 - Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. (NASB)

Paul presses on to try to live like Christ, and his rational is that Jesus made him (Paul) his own (i.e. Jesus loved him), and Paul loves Jesus back, so he wants to be obedient out of love for Jesus (I'm convinced that's the motivation). He wants to be with Jesus.

Philippians 3:9-13 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (ESV)

We are transformed into Christ's image from one degree of glory to another:

II Corinthians 3:18 - And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (ESV)

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

John 15:8 - By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (ESV)

Disciples of Jesus have love for one another, just the same way that Jesus loved us (with selfless love):

John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)

John 12:26 - If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (ESV)

Serving Jesus literally looks a lot like serving other people with selfless love, just as Jesus has practically defined it through His commandments and His example:

Matthew 25:40 - And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. (ESV)

Jesus' teaching is extremely important for Christians to abide in. Jesus' teaching comes from the same God, Jehovah:

John 7:16 - So Jesus answered them, My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 - I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. (ESV)

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

I Timothy 6:3-4 - If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, (ESV)

Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (ESV)

I'm pretty convinced that what Jesus means by the following is that by giving up worldly treasure in the pursuit of Jesus, heavenly treasure is acquired. I'd say it's likely that the heavenly treasure is simply helping those people. Selling what a person possesses and giving to the poor is actually serving Jesus, so doing that is already starting to obediently follow Jesus.

Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.

Jesus' perfect example of patience in mercy towards Paul is to:

  • reassure us that we can trust Jesus as we hope for the promise of eternal life to be received from Him,
  • for us to see that trusting in Him, we are loved by God and led by His love, following Him in patient [endurance] out of a response of love for Him, trusting in Him, as we receive mercy from Him

I Timothy 1:16 - But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (ESV)

We are set free from sin to become slaves of God. The fruit of being a slave to God leads to sanctification and at its end, eternal life:

Romans 6:22-23 - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

Romans 6:7 - For one who has died has been set free from sin. (ESV)

You are not your own:

I Corinthians 6:17-20 - But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (ESV)

Romans 13:14 - But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (ESV)

We must keep ourselves in the love of God by obeying Jesus Christ's commandments, because we're awaiting to receive eternal life:

Jude 1:21 - keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (ESV)

Keeping Jesus Christ's commandments is a requirement to inherit eternal life, not an extra:

John 15:10 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (ESV)

Whoever truly believes Jesus trusts in and is obedient to Jesus. We must obey Jesus Christ, and that obedience means being a slave of righteousness, leading to sanctification, which leads to eternal life:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

I think believing in the Son is also obedience, but it is an act of obedience which is a gift to us.

It's God's grace that enables us to be saved through faith. While we are saved exercising obedient, trusting, believing faith, Paul says it was actually God's doing:

Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (ESV)

John 6:68 - Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Show Us Christ - Sovereign Grace

Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (ESV)

John 4:14 - but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (ESV)

The word for 'believe' which is used in the New Testament is the verb for faith and actually means to 'trust':

The ancient Greek word for “believe” is pisteuó, which derives from “belief” or “pistis.” The word “/pistis/” stems from peíthō, to persuade or be persuaded.

The Greek word pisteuó carries connotations of deep trust and confidence. It means to believe, to entrust, to have confidence in something.

Have faith in God and have faith in Jesus:

John 14:1 - “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe (G4100 pisteuo) in God, believe (G4100 pisteuo) also in Me.

Pisteuo means to trust. Trust in God, trust also in God's Son Jesus:

Romans 4:5 - And to the one who does not work but trusts (G4100 pisteuo) him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, (ESV)

I think faith is more like hopeful/trusting belief that results in action (walking by faith).

Examples:

  • sailing across the Atlantic to find America.
  • obeying Jesus' commandments out of seeking Jesus, or out of belief and love for Jesus, believing that God sees.

5.4. Fun acronyms

5.4.1. A H.A.N.D.S. Approach to Showing Jesus is God

Firstly, I understand that Jesus Christ is God in that He is the Son of God, but that also Jehovah is God. I believe that Jesus Christ is Jehovah in that He is God the Son, but there is also God the Father:

Proverbs 30:4 and John 3:13-7 talk about God and His Son:

Proverbs 30:4 - Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know! (ESV)

John 3:13-17 - No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (ESV)

Colossians 2:9-10 - For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. (ESV)

What reasons do we have for thinking that Jesus is truly God? Robert M. Bowman Jr. and J. Ed Komoszewski in their book Putting Jesus in His Place:The Case for the Deity of Christ published by Kregel in 2007, offer a simple and memorable way to do this. Using the acronym H.A.N.D.S., they reason that the Bible teaches that Jesus shares the Honour due only to God, that Jesus shares the Attributes of God, that Jesus shares the Names ascribed to God, that Jesus does the Deeds that only God can do, and that Jesus is Seated on the throne of God. Here are a few of the lines of evidence from the Scriptures that we can draw on.

H - Honour:

Scripture indicates that God alone is to be worshipped:

Deuteronomy 6:13 - It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. (ESV)

Matthew 4:9-10 - And he said to him, All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, Be gone, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve. (ESV)

Yet Jesus is worshipped and accepts such worship:

Matthew 14:33 - And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, Truly you are the Son of God. (ESV)

Hebrews 1:6 - And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, Let all God's angels worship him. (ESV)

Revelation of John 1:17 - When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, Fear not, I am the first and the last, (ESV)

So who does that mean Jesus truly is? If Jesus were merely human it would be wrong to honour Him as God alone is to be honoured. Yet, we read that devout Jews in the New Testament bowed down and worshipped Jesus (i.e. “doubting” Thomas in John 20:28) and Jesus accepted that worship:

John 20:28 - Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God! (ESV)

If Jesus were merely human it would be wrong to honour Him as God. Yet devout Jews in the New Testament bowed down and worshipped Jesus.

A - Attributes:

The Bible tells us that Jesus has the same attributes as God, being eternal:

John 1:1-3 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (ESV)

all-powerful:

Matthew 28:18 - And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (ESV)

all-knowing:

John 21:17 - He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Do you love me? and he said to him, Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep. (ESV)

loving:

Romans 8:35-39 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

If someone possessed the same characteristics, the same nature as God, in the same way that God did, what would that make Him?

I do recognise that if it wasn't for the salvation which God gives us in His Son Jesus, God would be against us because of sin. But God, out of His love, has appeased His own wrath towards those who are saved by Jesus:

Romans 1:18 - For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness (763. asebeia) and unrighteousness (93. adikia) of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (ESV)

Colossians 3:5-8 - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. (ESV)

N - Names:

(Phil. 2:9-11). Jesus is called God (John 20:28), Lord (Acts 1:24), the King of kings (Rev 19:16), Saviour (Luke 2:11), and the First and the Last (Rev 1:7-8):

Jesus is said to have been given the name that is above every other name:

Philippians 2:9-11 - Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV)

John 20:28 - Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God! (ESV)

Acts 1:24 - And they prayed and said, You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen (ESV)

Revelation of John 19:16 - On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (ESV)

Luke 2:11 - For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (ESV)

Revelation of John 1:7-8 - Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. (ESV)

It would be wrong to call any older man our father, so if Jesus receives such titles, that is saying a lot about who He is:

Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (ESV)

D - Deeds:

All things were made through Him:

John 1:3 - All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (ESV)

The sustainer of all things:

Hebrews 1:2-3 - but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (ESV)

He is sovereign over the forces of nature:

Matthew 8:23-27 - And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, Save us, Lord; we are perishing. And he said to them, Why are you afraid, O you of little faith? Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him? (ESV)

He is the one who forgives sins:

Matthew 9:1-8 - And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven. And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, This man is blaspheming. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise and walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins — he then said to the paralytic—Rise, pick up your bed and go home. And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. (ESV)

He is one who gives life:

John 1:4 - In him was life, and the life was the light of men. (ESV)

John 5:21 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (ESV)

In fact it could be said that everything that God does for us, Jesus does for us. How should one respond to such blessings?

S - Seat:

Jesus sits on God’s throne:

Revelation of John 3:21 - The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (ESV)

Jesus is ruling over all things:

Revelation of John 5:13 - And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! (ESV)

This is nothing short of claiming to be equal with God:

John 10:27-33 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one. The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me? The Jews answered him, It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God. (ESV)

Jesus is the judge of all history, of the entire world, of each person – to Him every knee will bow. Just as Buckingham Palace is the residence of the Queen, so the one who reigns sovereignly from heaven can be none other than the God of gods.

5.5. Our obedient faith should be penitent, and should be without partiality. We aim for perfection, to be conformed to Christ's image

John Piper - "Faith is the baking our hope on the mercy of God."

Obeying Jesus should be impartial:

James 2:1 - My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. (ESV)

John Piper - "Mercy means that our obedience doesn't have to be perfect, it has to be penitent."

Sermon
youtube.com: God's Delight in Obedience @time: 24 min 19 sec

II Corinthians 13:11 - Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (NASB)

II Corinthians 13:11 - Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. (KJV)

II Corinthians 13:11-14 - Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (ESV)

5.5.1. Faith is not merely belief, but faith is walking as Abraham did - believing and obedient

Obedience to God is faith. Abraham went to live in the land of promise by obedience:

Genesis 12:1-8 - Now the LORD said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, To your offspring I will give this land. So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:9 says that Abraham went to live in the land of promise by faith:

Hebrews 11:9 - By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. (ESV)

Disbelief causes disobedience. Disbelief caused the Israelites to not walk in obedience:

Hebrews 3:16-19 - For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. (ESV)

By unrighteousness and ungodliness, people suppress the Truth of God:

Romans 1:17-18 - For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, The righteous shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness (763. asebeia) and unrighteousness (93. adikia) of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (ESV)

When people give up the Truth of God and suppress the Truth of God, then God gives them over to destruction:

Romans 1:19-25 - For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (ESV)

We love God and God's power through His Spirit helps us to serve Him to do works that are pleasing to Him:

II Timothy 3:1-5 - But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (5377. philotheos), having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (ESV)

Paul taught that we accept God's forgiveness for our sins by placing our trusting faith in Jesus, paid Jesus' blood. God cleans our heart. And out of a pure heart and good conscience and sincere faith we love God and one another:

I Timothy 1:5 - The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (ESV)

But our good works can't make atonement for our sin. We must still be granted forgiveness from God. We know that anyone who places their trust in Jesus receives this forgiveness:

Hebrews 9:22 - Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

God judges very fairly, but we must not reject Jesus:

John 12:48 - The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (ESV)

God judges very fairly. He judges the hearts of all people. Christians should naturally serve and obey Jesus as they hold their faith in Jesus. The gospel of Jesus is the power of salvation to all that believe/trust/obey:

Romans 2:1-16 - Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who do such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

We still need to accept forgiveness from God that our sins are forgiven. We can't reject the forgiveness of God. We need God's forgiveness:

Romans 4:7-10 - Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin. Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. (ESV)

Therefore we must trust Jesus, trust in Jesus, receive Jesus Christ Son of God as our Lord and Saviour:

Acts 10:43: Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."

Once again, we must not reject Jesus:

Hebrews 3:15-19 - As it is said, Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. (ESV)

We hear the gospel, and we receive salvation through faith. Reaching it is a journey of applied faith:

Hebrews 4:1-2 - Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. (ESV)

The rest goes to the one who takes Jesus' yoke and learns from Him. Obedience to Jesus will result in finding rest for your soul:

Matthew 11:28-29 - Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (ESV)

The rest goes to those who have believed. Believing in Jesus is obedience to the gospel:

Hebrews 4:3 Interlinear: for we do enter into the rest – we who did believe, as He said, 'So I sware in My anger, If they shall enter into My rest – ;' and yet the works were done from the foundation of the world,

Hebrews 4:3 - For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, As I swore in my wrath, They shall not enter my rest, although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.

We work then find rest:

Revelation of John 14:13 - And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Blessed indeed, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them! (ESV)

That rest looks like living for the will of God:

I Peter 4:1-2 - Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. (ESV)

The demons have belief, but they don't have a response of love towards God:

James 2:19 - You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! (ESV)

Jesus was and is obedient to Father God:

John 6:38 - For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. (ESV)

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. (ESV)

Jesus loves Father God. Jesus obeyed God with perfect self-humbling obedience so that the world may know that He loves Father God:

John 14:31 - but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here. (ESV)

John 8:44 - You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (ESV)

In response to forgiveness, we must love:

Luke 7:47 - Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. (ESV)

He loved us first, and that is why and how we love (knowing we've already received mercy). Christ's love is not simply charity but a) it's passing-forward Christ's love, and b) it's to relieve other's burdens (mercy, not sacrifice):

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

John 15:9-13 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. (ESV)

Acts 2:45 - And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. (ESV)

We should have a loving response to God for Him having saved us. It certainly appears that not having a loving/obedient/thankful response to God for His mercy, we may miss out on 'entering into the joy of our master':

Matthew 25:23 - His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. (ESV)

Our response might be a positive response of proclaiming to others how much God has done for them - giving God the glory:

Luke 8:39 - Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you. And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. (ESV)

We must have a response of love for Jesus:

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. (ESV)

So we want to have a response of love for Jesus:

Luke 12:48 - But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (ESV)

As a husband loves his wife, so Jesus loves us. As a wife respects her husband, so must the members of Christ's body respect Christ:

Ephesians 5:30-33 - because we are members of his body. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (ESV)

Jesus is so generous that He saves people who turn out to be unthankful, but we should definitely love Jesus as a response. This story should be taken not only to see how Good God is, but also taken as a warning against unthankfulness:

Luke 17:11-19 - On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. When he saw them he said to them, Go and show yourselves to the priests. And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? And he said to him, Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well. (ESV)

We must know that God loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. We must believe:

I John 4:10 - In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

We must obey:

II John 1:5-6 - And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. (ESV)

Acts 5:29 - But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men. (ESV)

We must obey Jesus and love one another:

I Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! (ESV)

Luke 6:46-48 - Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. (ESV)

The knowledge comes from having obeyed God's voice. Love becomes perfected in us when we abide in God:

I John 4:15-17 - Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

John 8:55 - But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. (ESV)

In order to know God we must love one another in the way that God has loved us:

I John 4:7-12 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (ESV)

5.5.2. Joy and obedience - we want both of them at the same time

John Piper stresses that although obeying sin steals your joy, making Jesus your Pearl of Great Price makes it much easier to forsake sin.

youtube.com: What Comes First: My Obedience to Jesus or My Joy in Jesus?

When we are living in disobedience to Christ our joy in him will be minimal or non-existent depending on the depth and duration of the disobedience.

By all means forsake bad behaviors but mainly the battle is look to Jesus look to all that God is for you in him and pray for eyes to see his all satisfying beauty and worth so that you rest in him and are so satisfied that the root of sin is severed and you walk in obedience.

I personally believe that joy comes from having been given and maintaining a good conscience with God.

II Corinthians 1:12 - For our boast is this: the testimony of our conscience that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. (ESV)

I Corinthians 16:13-14 - Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (ESV)

johnrasicci.wordpress.com: JOY FROM A CLEAR CONSCIENCE | John Rasicci

We cannot deceive ourselves either by simply proclaiming we are the righteousness of God in Christ while living in sin.

There is a difference in claiming to be the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21) and actually living righteously (Titus 2:12; also called the fruits of righteousness Philippians 1:11).

The former speaks of our spiritual position in Christ by the grace of God but the latter speaks of our practice, the obedience of our faith, our behavior, and our actual daily conduct.

Our position was by the work of Jesus; our practice is by our work.

God sees both our position in Christ and our practice (Hebrews 4:13). Calvary didn’t blind God.

I Timothy 1:5 - The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (ESV)

II Timothy 1:3 - I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. (ESV)

I also affirm the Didache here which shows that the upwards-call of the Christian absolutely involves making earthly sacrifices as we serve Jesus, and there are degrees of glory as we are conformed to Jesus' image:

Didache Chapter 6 - See that no one causes you to err from this way of the Teaching, since apart from God it teaches you. For if you are able to bear the entire yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect; but if you are not able to do this, do what you are able.

Now from John Piper:

I'm dealing with the issue of God's glory and our gladness. Can they really be one? And I'm doing that under the bigger banner of "How can I spread a passion for the supremacy of God?" because I think that phrase "passion for the supremacy of God" pulls together the two things:

  1. "passion" signifies "I'm joyful" and
  2. "supremacy of God" signifies "he's being magnified".

So my biggest longing in life is to be used by God to help people see him for who he really is in his magnificence, and then have emotions that are appropriate to that magnificence. Why do we watch the World Series? Why do we watch gymnastics when the Olympics rolls around? Why do we go to the Grand Canyon? Why do we go to the Alps? Why do we go to the ocean and look out over… Why do we want to get near bigness and beauty and magnificence and excellence? It's because that's what we were made for. We were not made for mirrors. So I want to be absolutely candid, the Christian Life Is War and I'm in the business of helping people know how to fight in the way that they're supposed to, namely for joy.

There's a text in 2 Corinthians 1:24:

II Corinthians 1:24 - Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. (ESV)

I was amazed when I saw that. Paul says "I'm a worker for your joy" as though Joy requires apostolic work, and if it does for him it does for me. And so yeah there are times in the ministerial life or the Christian Life when we're low. It seems like all the joy is gone we want to quit give up the ministry give up the faith, and at those moments we need to fight like heaven to hold on.

Sermon
youtube.com: Sustaining Joy in Christ

I believe that the freedom we have in Christ is for serving Jesus, and we have a heavenly perspective:

Colossians 3:22-25 - Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. (ESV)

5.5.3. We are bought with the precious blood of Christ and we should be obedient to God

I Peter 1:17-19 - And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (ESV)

Faith that from a good conscience with God produces Christ's love:

I Corinthians 16:13-14 - Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (ESV)

I Timothy 1:5 - The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (ESV)

5.5.4. Eternal salvation goes to those who obey Him

Hebrews 5:9 - And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

If you keep Jesus' commandments then the Spirit of Truth will come to you, and help you, and be in you. If we obey Jesus, the Holy Spirit helps us, even before He's inside us:

John 14:15-17 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (ESV)

The above definitely indicates that we should try to keep Jesus Christ's commandments even before receiving the Holy Spirit.

We receive of God's Spirit. That is how we know we abide in Him:

I John 4:13 - By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. (ESV)

5.5.5. Faith in Jesus Christ's name to be saved

Acts 4:12 - And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (ESV)

It's faith in Jesus' name that is powerful, and it's with faith in Jesus' name that we are saved.

We are granted repentance to life; being a slave to righteousness leading to sanctification and at its end, eternal life. We expect to receive salvation as we have faith in Jesus Christ:

Romans 3:21-25 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

AMEN!!

Something like this:

I Thessalonians 1:3 - remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Acts 3:2-9 - And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, Look at us. And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk! And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God,

Acts 3:16 - And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

Acts 4:7-10 - And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what power or by what name did you do this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.

Acts 4:12 - And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Keep God's word:

John 17:6 - I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. (ESV)

Be convinced and keep having and doing faith in Jesus Christ. John uses the verb for faith:

John 20:31 - but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: His Voice in Yours: How Christ Wins the World @time: 12 min 52 sec

Jeremiah 23:5-6 - Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: The LORD is our righteousness. (ESV)

5.6. By God's grace God has saved us and provided us with a means to be reconciled to Him through trusting faith in Him

God has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light:

I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (ESV)

Saving faith does come (originate) from hearing through the word of Christ:

Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (ESV)

I believe that saving faith must arrive and settle in the heart, and as the heart is made clean, a person's outside changes:

Matthew 23:26 - You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. (ESV)

There are some doctrines that are so essential that to deny them is to not be a Christian:

I John 4:2 - By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, (ESV)

I John 2:22 - Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. (ESV)

II John 1:7 - For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. (ESV)

I confess that God was acting through Jesus Christ of Nazareth as He walked the earth in the flesh, around 2000 years ago, and that God is still working through us who are in Christ Jesus.

John 10:32 - Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?”

I also think it's important to have an accurate Christology:

Luke 24:25-27 - And he said to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (ESV)

While I believe that it is central to the gospel that Jesus was raised from the dead, the object of our faith should be Jesus Himself and we should trust Jesus to believe and obey Him - teachings included. We believe the Word of God: We believe Jesus and we believe in Jesus Himself, and we believe the Holy Scriptures which say Jesus was raised from the dead, and we should get a clearer picture of Jesus as we follow Him.

I Corinthians 15:17 - And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. (ESV)

Luke 24:44-48 - Then he said to them, These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. (ESV)

Let's not focus on minimums, but maximums:

Sermon
youtube.com: How Much Error Can I Believe and Still Be Saved?

We must also accept that Jesus Christ, God's Only-Begotten Son was raised from the dead:

I Corinthians 15:14-17 - And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. (ESV)

Luke 24:24-27 - Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see. And he said to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (ESV)

Romans 10:9 - because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (ESV)

We should definitely confess Jesus to others:

Luke 12:8-9 - And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. (ESV)

I believe that trusting Jesus and obedience in the heart towards Jesus is required. Obedience to Jesus is love.

I Corinthians 13:13 - So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

5.7. Receiving Jesus

5.7.1. Receiving Jesus may be as easy as receiving the one who He sends, or receiving a child in His name

John 13:20 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.

Mark 9:37 - Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.

A person may need to ask and seek to receive Jesus:

Luke 11:10 - For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

5.7.2. Receive Jesus and His words, and then put to death the deeds of the body

John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (ESV)

Romans 8:13-25 - For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

5.7.3. God through His mercy saves us. We should respond well

Christ died for us, so through His mercy alone, he purchased us.

Ephesians 1:13-14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (ESV)

Ephesians 2:4 - But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, (ESV)

I John 4:10 - In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (ESV)

5.7.4. Those who have a heart of faith towards Him (and anyone who He wills) may receive forgiveness of sins through his name

It's impossible for man to save himself:

Matthew 19:25-26 - When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. (ESV)

Anyone God wills He may forgive and make clean:

Matthew 8:1-3 - When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, I will; be clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (ESV)

Matthew 9:5-8 - For which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise and walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins — he then said to the paralytic—Rise, pick up your bed and go home. And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. (ESV)

We certainly must trust in the name of the Only-Begotten Son of God if we want to be born of God:

John 1:12-13 - But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (ESV)

An heart of faith looks like:

  • Wanting to do God's will
    • Obedience and repentance from sin: even if it just means wanting to turn from sin
    • because God makes the new heart to enable the person to obey
  • Wanting to follow Jesus
  • Accepting Jesus Christ as one's Lord
  • Accepting through faith the atonement for sin through Jesus Christ
  • Turning away from sin

Return to obedience to God through obedience to Jesus. Turn from sin:

Joel 2:12-13 - Yet even now, declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. (ESV)

God provides the new heart, and God works through us:

Ezekiel 11:19-20 - And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (ESV)

So to be saved a person must have an obedient heart, prepared for the good works which are prepared for us to walk in:

Ephesians 2:8-10 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (ESV)

The tax collector here has an obedient heart (yielding to Jesus), but the Pharisee in the story has a self-righteous heart:

Luke 18:9-14 - He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get. But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.his house justified, rather than the other._ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

It's those that believe in him (trust Him, receive Him, expect to receive Him, have an obedient heart towards Him) that receive forgiveness of sins through his name:

Acts 10:41-44 - not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. (ESV)

John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

We must honour Jesus Christ in our bodies and in our lives - fruitful labour, so that we can be confident with John 5:24. AMEN!! We must be slaves of righteousness, leading to sanctification, which at its end is eternal life:

John 5:21-24 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes (G4100 pisteuo) him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come (2064. erchomai) into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

I believe John 5:24 is a true statement and that it should not be read outside of the words Jesus said directly before it (Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him).

We do not nullify the rest of what Jesus has commanded of and asked of us. If Jesus is your judge, then I think it's wise to take on board the rest of what Jesus has said:

Philippians 1:15-22 - Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.

Paul and the other faithful Apostles were exhibited as last of all, like men sentenced to death for following Jesus:

I Corinthians 4:9-13 - For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. (ESV)

God still makes apostles and prophetic people:

Ephesians 4:11-16 - And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (ESV)

Paul was an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's command:

I Timothy 1:1-2 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

I myself, after being born-again, have had visions of planting churches in the South Pacific. However, to make this more complicated, I've also been going through daily testing and refinement on doctrine, etc. as the Holy Spirit has been teaching me and sanctifying me with the Word.

An apostle, in its literal sense, is an emissary. The word is derived from Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος, literally "one who is sent off", itself derived from the verb ἀποστέλλειν, "to send off".

I've also had a vision of a star rising in a purple sky (like a morning sunrise), and many other such prophetic visions - anyway, my point is the 'prophetic' is a reality, and we believe in a living God, and we believe in the Holy Spirit:

II Peter 1:19 - And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, (ESV)

I believe that cessationists are in error. Modern-day apostles, I believe, like branches on a tree, still branch from the original Apostles, and should preach the same Jesus, and the same gospel, in the same Spirit, and any apostle must have Jesus as their cornerstone:

Matthew 7:14-20 - For the gate is narrow (4728 stenos ie. narrow, small) and the way is hard (2346 thlibó - meaning: like when circumstances "rub us the wrong way" that make us feel confined (hemmed in); restricted to a "narrow" place/) that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (ESV)

youtube.com: An Apostle by Command: 1 Timothy 1:1-2, Part 1 @time: 8 min 0 sec
Paul claims extraordinary authority. Here's what he says in 1 Corinthians 14. If anyone thinks that he's a prophet or spiritual (in other words, if somebody claims to be speaking for God or in the spirit) he should acknowledge that the things that I as apostle am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he's not recognized. In other words, Paul claims that his authority trumps vaunted claims to prophecy or spirituality. If you don't recognize the authority of the Apostle, you're not recognized.

Ephesians 2:19-20 - So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, (ESV)

We have the opportunity to receive correction from God and make the tree good and its fruit good:

Matthew 12:33-35 - Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. (ESV)

I believe Jesus still appoints apostles, and I'm prophetic myself so I have no doubts regarding this. I personally still see all things being placed into subjection under Christ and have no reason to think that Jesus has stopped appointing apostles and prophets as God is growing and guiding His church:

Ephesians 2:20-22 - built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (ESV)

I think a good reason Jesus would still be doing this is for sake of the unity of the church, and demonstration of the Spirit and power of God. We need the prophetic in the church:

1 Corinthians 2:4,5 - and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (ESV)

Proverbs 29:18 - Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. (ESV)

From our perspective it may look like things are still being brought into subjection to Him. It still looks that way to me:

Ephesians 1:22 - And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

Hebrews 2:5-8 - Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.

Anyway, I am very confident that God still makes apostles and I know the 'prophetic' is a reality. God certainly still appoints people with spiritual gifts and is still working on the earth through people in the power of the Holy Spirit. Cessationists are quite simply incorrect.

However apostolic and prophetic people have the truth revealed to them. These roles are service roles though for helping the body of Christ grow in the knowledge of the Son of God, so there's no bragging, just serving one another, as we have different roles in the body of Christ:

Ephesians 3:5 - which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. (ESV)

I Corinthians 2:4 - and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, (ESV)

Also, this seems relevant:

Matthew 11:11 - Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (ESV)

But we should listen to sound teaching first and always test the spirits:

II Timothy 4:3 - For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, (ESV)

Daniel 2:28 - but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: (ESV)

God is loving and altogether gracious:

Exodus 34:5-8 - The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation. And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.

Ezra 9:13 - And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this, (ESV)

Having faith in God involves following Jesus:

Hebrews 10:32-39 - But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

I agree whole heartedly with this guy:

I believe that generally-speaking, there is no difference between being a disciple of Jesus and a Christian because those who have faith in Jesus will do works He does. Some disciples of Jesus turned away. Some believers in Jesus became His disciples:

Acts 11:21 - And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. (ESV)

We're clearly instructed to be disciples:

Matthew 28:19-20 - Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (ESV)

John 13:35 - By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)

John 15:8 - By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (ESV)

Luke 14:33 - So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (ESV)

Luke 14:27 - Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. (ESV)

In fact I think we should be both a believer and a disciple to be sanctified by the truth and regarded by God as on of His saints:

II Corinthians 3:18 - And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (ESV)

Jesus said to these believers that if they abide in His word (and I believe that means keep His word, even in obedience), they are His disciples - so a person can be a believer before they are a disciple. But we're supposed to make this transition:

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

I am increasingly of the opinion that there is a subtle difference between simply 'believer' and 'saint' who is also a believer. Saints both believe and keep the God's commandments. Believing disciples of Jesus may become saints.

II Thessalonians 1:9-12 - They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

There is a transformation in the heart of a born-again Christian that involves changing allegiance towards Jesus Christ, resulting in the will to obey Jesus, and God gives us the spirit to help us to obey Him.

Ezekiel 11:19-20 - And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (ESV)

Romans 6:18-20 - and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. (ESV)

Quote by Joe Rigney
We receive salvation as a gift. But we do work out our own salvation, and we do so because God is at work within us to will and to work for his good pleasure. We are working out what God is working in. And he is working at the level of our will — our desires, our affections, our choices. Fundamental to salvation is heart change, the transformation of our wills by God so that we will and work for his good pleasure.

Hebrews 13:20-21 - Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)

Philippians 2:12-13 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)

5.8. I believe that a loving, trusting ( believing and obedient ) heart for Jesus Christ is essential for permanent abiding in Him

After believing in Him we must go ahead in the teaching of Christ:

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

Romans 6:17-19 - But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. (ESV)

Jesus' disciples (who had made Jesus their Lord) heard his words and were developing their belief for a while:

John 16:29-31 - His disciples said, Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God. Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? (ESV)

If a person truly believes Jesus is who He says He is then they have eternal life and they will go on at some point to do the works Jesus did:

John 14:12 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (ESV)

Like the Apostle Peter, they may be quick to belief, and stumble their way to obedience:

Matthew 16:15-18 - He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (ESV)

Thomas had extreme love towards Jesus and obedience to following Jesus:

John 11:8 - The disciples said to him, Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again? (ESV)

John 11:16 - So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. (ESV)

Hearkening, listening and obeying seems to be what we're called to do:

Deuteronomy 28:1 - “Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. (NASB)

Interlinear of the initial part of Deuteronomy 28:1:

 1: 1961                        518
 2: wə·hā·yāh,                  ’im-
 3: וְהָיָ֗ה                        אִם־
 4: Now it shall come to pass   if
 5: Conj‑w | V‑Qal‑ConjPerf‑3ms Conj
 6: 
 7: 8085 [e]     8085 [e]         6963 [e]       3068 [e]
 8: šā·mō·w·a‘   tiš·ma‘          bə·qō·wl       Yah·weh
 9: שָׁמ֤וֹעַ         תִּשְׁמַע֙             בְּקוֹל֙           יְהוָ֣ה
10: diligently   you obey         the voice      of Yahweh
11: V‑Qal‑InfAbs V‑Qal‑Imperf‑2ms Prep‑b | N‑msc N‑proper‑ms
6963. qol
sound, voice
8085. shama
to hear
tiš·ma‘
heed/hearken/listen/obey/understand
šā·mō·w·a‘
diligently/truly/carefully/will indeed

If a person continues to obey Jesus they will eventually, like Thomas, arrive at the Truth and believe Jesus is who He says He is.

John 20:27-31 - Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe. Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (ESV)

Here is another example where obeying Jesus led to belief:

John 21:4-7 - Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, Children, do you have any fish? They answered him, No. He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, It is the Lord! When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. (ESV)

And another example where obedience to Jesus leads to belief:

Luke 5:4-8 - And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. And Simon answered, Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets. And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. (ESV)

youtube.com: Devotions with DeMarcus - Luke 5

Obeying Jesus and witnessing His glory should brings us to faith in Him. Obeying Jesus should lead us to seeing His glory and an understanding:

Mark 8:17-21 - And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up? They said to him, Twelve. And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up? And they said to him, Seven. And he said to them, Do you not yet understand? (ESV)

Learning to trust in Jesus, learning to trust Jesus, as we obey Him and witness His glory, and come to trust in Him, to believe in Him. Obedience to Jesus leads to witnessing His glory which inspires our faith:

John 2:7-11 - Jesus said to the servants, Fill the jars with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast. So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now. This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples (G3101 mathetes) believed (G4100 pisteuo) in him. (ESV)

Both belief and obedience lead to a knowledge of the Truth, and I believe we must essentially arrive at belief and understanding in the heart and ultimately an actual knowledge:

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV)

I John 4:16 - So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (ESV)

And I believe too that we must arrive at willing to do the will of God:

John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (ESV)

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

Jesus loved us before we loved Him:

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

If someone obeys Jesus they should arrive at belief in Jesus and who He is and what He has accomplished; they should accept Him:

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.

If a person believes on Jesus and what He has accomplished they should arrive at obedience, and if they want to be counted as a friend of Jesus, they certainly they must obey Jesus' commandments:

John 15:10-14 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.

I think faith in Jesus grows as both of these qualities increase, and leads to actual knowledge of Christ:

  • Whoever believes in Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, is not condemned.
  • Otherwise, those who don't believe that fully and do not obey the gospel, I think fall into condemnation or tribulation.
  • Those who obey in part yet do not believe the gospel, I think fall into condemnation or tribulation.

Nevertheless, if someone believes on Him they have begun to obey Him, and so I believe they are in the Lord while they trust in His name, Jesus Christ (Messiah) the Son of God, to be saved, as the following applies:

John 3:18 - Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (ESV)

We still have life in Jesus Christ's name while we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God:

John 20:31 - but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (ESV)

That's confirmed here by saying that these people are not 'spiritual' but they are still in Christ:

I Corinthians 3:1 - But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. (ESV)

And as we know, no-one in Christ is condemned:

Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

So if a person is believing (verb) in Him - I don't think they fall into condemnation, no matter how otherwise disobedient they are.

Actually, at some stage I think we have to just rest in the knowledge that it's all about what He did, as far as being saved goes, not what we've done for Him.

Hebrews 4:10 - for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. (ESV)

God is the justifier, and God is the one who decides who is in Christ.

I Corinthians 1:30 - But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, (NASB)

Love (obedience) and belief:

John 16:27-28 - for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.

John 15:16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

It's possible to follow Jesus' voice even before having come to perfect knowledge and obedience, but Jesus knows His sheep. We must hear Jesus' voice, obey Him, become a slave to righteousness, following His commandments and at its end, Jesus gives us eternal life:

John 10:26-29 - but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. (ESV)

Trust in God (Trusting in God involves trusting God and trusting God enough to do what He says):

  • We should trust in God.
  • We should have faith in God.
  • We should have faith in Jesus.
  • God justifies the one who puts their faith in Jesus, who trusts in Jesus.

Putting faith in Jesus means trusting in Jesus and trusting.

We don't love the Christmas presents more than our parents. Rather, we simply love our parents and they provide the Christmas presents. Likewise, we trust in Jesus and we believe that God justifies the one who trusts in Jesus.

The true believers follow Jesus. They are Jesus' sheep, and they keep His teachings and trust in Him (enough to obey Him penitently):

John 8:47 - Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God. (ESV)

I believe that what this says is that at the point Jesus knows you listen to His voice and obey His voice, He counts you as one of His sheep and He will not let you go.

The righteousness that comes through having faith in Jesus Christ - faith (not mere belief) is required to have the righteousness - to be found in Jesus:

Philippians 3:9 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— (ESV)

The words Jesus Christ spoke were altogether a commandment of eternal life which Father God had given Jesus to speak:

John 12:49-50 - For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me. (ESV)

Believing:

Our heart must be close to Jesus:

Matthew 15:8 - This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; (ESV)

John 6:35 - Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (ESV)

Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (ESV)

If we trust God, we trust in Him. If we trust in Him, we trust Him. We trust Jesus' words. We trust Jehovah's words. Trusting in is not naturally separate from trusting. For the one trusting (it says trusting, not trusted), out of their belly will flow living water:

John 7:38 - The [one] believing (4100. pisteuó) in Me as has said the Scripture Rivers out of the belly of him will flow of water living (Interlinear)

Faith is both believing and obedient, even faith in the heart:

Verse Ref Believe (Jesus is their Saviour) Obey (Jesus is their Lord)
Matthew 11:29 learn from me take my yoke upon you
John 12:36 believe in the light, that you may become sons of light  
John 8:12   I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life
Romans 10:9 believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
John 10:26-27 but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
I John 3:23 this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us
I John 4:10 he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins  
II John 1:6   this is love, that we walk according to his commandments
John 6:35 whoever believes (4100. pisteuó) in me shall never thirst whoever comes to me shall not hunger
John 4:10 would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.  
John 4:34   My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
John 20:31 by believing you may have life in his name.  
Romans 6:22   you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God
John 5:24 whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life  
Hebrews 5:9   eternal salvation to all who obey him,

5.8.1. The Holy Spirit is the living water

We trust Jesus (Yeshua), so we accept and treasure His words, so we trust in Him and obey Him out of trust and He is our strength, and song and Yahweh becomes our salvation. In trusting Jesus (Yeshua) we trust Jehovah (Yahweh) who has sent Jesus (Yeshua). It's Jesus Christ who saves us. It's Yahweh who saves us:

Isaiah 12:1-3 - You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O LORD (3068. Yhvh), for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust (982. batach), and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD (3068. Yhvh) is my strength (5797. oz) and my song (2176. zimrath), and he has become my salvation (3444. yeshuah). With joy (8342. sason) you will draw water (4325. mayim) from the wells of salvation. (ESV)

John 7:37-39 - On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, If anyone thirsts (1372. dipsaó), let him come to me and drink (4095. pinó). Whoever believes (4100. pisteuó) in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (ESV)

If we trust God, we trust in Him. If we trust in Him, we trust Him. We trust Jesus' words. We trust Jehovah's words. Trusting in is not naturally separate from trusting. For the one trusting (it says trusting, not trusted), out of their belly will flow living water:

John 7:38 - The [one] believing (4100. pisteuó) in Me as has said the Scripture Rivers out of the belly of him will flow of water living (Interlinear)

1372. dipsaó
Definition: to thirst. Usage: I thirst for, desire earnestly.

I desire You, Lord Jesus Christ! Please, God, let me always believe in You, trusting in You! Thank You God for Your mercy!

Revelation of John 22:17 - The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price (1432. dórean). (ESV)

1432. dórean
Definition: as a gift, to no purpose. Usage: as a free gift, without payment, freely. Cognate: 1432 dōreán(the adverbial form of 1431/dōrea) – something freely done (as gratis), i.e. without "cause"; unearned (undeserved); freely given (without cost) hence not done out of mere obligation or compulsion. See 1431 (dōrea).

If you're thirsty for Jesus then trust in Jesus! Jesus is always there to satisfy that desire for Him. If you're thirsty, put your trust in Jesus. Keep trusting Jesus, trusting in Him, treasuring and trusting His words, trusting in God and you'll never be thirsty again.

Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (ESV)

Luke 8:6 - And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. (ESV)

Luke 8:12 - The ones along the path are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. (ESV)

Romans 3:24 - and are justified by his grace as a gift (1432. dórean), through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (ESV)

Isaiah 44:2-4 - Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams. (ESV)

Isaiah 58:9-11 - Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. (ESV)

John 7:38 - The [one] believing (4100. pisteuó) in Me as has said the Scripture Rivers out of the belly of him will flow of water living (Interlinear)

 1: 3588      4100      1519 1473     2531   2036     3588    1124      4215
 2: ho        pisteuōn  eis  eme      kathōs eipen    hē      graphē    Potamoi
 3: ὁ         πιστεύων  εἰς  ἐμέ  ,   καθὼς  εἶπεν    ἡ       γραφή  :  Ποταμοὶ
 4: The [one] believing in   Me       as     has said the     Scripture Rivers
 5: Art-NMS   V-PPA-NMS Prep PPro-A1S Adv    V-AIA-3S Art-NFS N-NFS     N-NMP
 6: 
 7: 1537   3588    2836    846       4482       5204     2198
 8: ek     tēs     koilias autou     rheusousin hydatos  zōntos
 9: ἐκ     τῆς     κοιλίας αὐτοῦ     ῥεύσουσιν  ὕδατος   ζῶντος  .
10: out of the     belly   of him    will flow  of water living
11: Prep   Art-GFS N-GFS   PPro-GM3S V-FIA-3P   N-GNS    V-PPA-GNS

5.8.2. Trusting belief (through grace) leads to continued obedience, which leads to knowledge of the Truth

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

Seeking God in truth and not seeking glory from one another is a good place to start in coming to believe:

John 5:44 - How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (ESV)

Willing to actually do the will of God, you'll receive revelation:

John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (ESV)

In seeking God, and coming to Jesus, we must believe that God exists and that in seeking Him, God rewards them:

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

We come to Jesus by faith and not by sight:

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (ESV)

II Corinthians 5:7 - for we walk by faith, not by sight. (ESV)

We must come to Jesus for eternal life:

John 5:39-40 - You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. (ESV)

Jesus is the Rock:

I Corinthians 10:4 - and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. (ESV)

Belief is important (and is an initial act of obedience):

Matthew 16:15-18 - He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (ESV)

Obedience is important:

Luke 6:46-49 - Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (ESV)

We believe the Lord Jesus is who He is, the Christ, the Son of the living God, and Jesus builds the house as we obey Him.

Psalms 127:1 - Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

I John 4:10-16 - In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (ESV)

5.8.3. As we come to Jesus, we are conformed to His image

Romans 8:29 - For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (ESV)

5.8.4. Peter was quick to belief, and his belief led to obedience

Matthew 16:15-18 - He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (ESV)

Peter's obedience wasn't perfect after that, but His belief did lead to doing works that Jesus Himself did.

Peter's belief and obedience worked together for a miracle but He wavered:

Matthew 14:28-33 - And Peter answered him, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. He said, Come. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, Lord, save me. Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, Truly you are the Son of God. (ESV)

5.8.5. Thomas was following Jesus around for a long time and was slow to belief, but arrived

His obedience eventually led to belief. This is in line with the gospel.

John 20:27-31 - Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe. Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (ESV)

Hebrews 5:9 - And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, (ESV)

Then obeying Jesus and believing His words leads to Jesus:

John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (ESV)

5.8.6. Believing Jesus

The drink is to believe that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God, who has come into the world,and receive the Holy Spirit:

John 4:10-56 - Jesus answered her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. Jesus said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. (ESV)

The Holy Spirit is the living water:

John 7:37-39 - On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (ESV)

This belief is a free gift which has to be received in faith (you have to believe it):

John 7:37-38 - On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. (ESV)

God wants to bring people to the obedience of faith. We have to hear Jesus' word and believe God who sent Him - we have to believe what God has told Jesus to tell us:

Trusting Jesus' words we do not come into judgement, but change direction, and instead our destiny is life eternal. We do not come into judgement. Jesus is the judge of that:

John 5:21-24 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word (191. akouó) and believes (4100. pisteuó) him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come (2064. erchomai) into judgment, but has passed (3327. metabain) from death to life. (ESV)

I think John 5:24 reads that the one who is trusting the words spoken through Jesus, trusting God, trusting Jesus is holds/posesses eternal life and has passed from death into life.

2064. erchomai
to come, go
3327. metabain
to pass over, withdraw, depart

Therefore, I believe that believing Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God, who has come into the world, is God's gift to us and it is a very easy to receive (low barrier to entry) act of obedience to Him:

Romans 16:26 - but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith — (ESV)

Obedience should grow. A change should have taken place in the person's life:

John 14:12 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (ESV)

The Holy Spirit leads us:

Romans 8:14-17 - For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)

We must have believing, obedient faith in God regarding Jesus Christ His Son as Abraham had faith in God:

Romans 4:9-12 - Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

It's obedience which leads to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith:

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (ESV)

The righteousness of faith:

Verse Ref Believing God as Abraham believed God Walking obediently in the footsteps of faith of our father Abraham
Genesis 15:6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness  
Genesis 22:17-18   because you have obeyed my voice
Galatians 3:6 Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness  
James 2:21-23 Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness he offered up his son Isaac on the altar
Genesis 26:4-5   because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws

Abraham had righteousness attributed to him when he believed God, while he had an obedient and faithful heart towards God:

Genesis 15:5-6 - And he brought him outside and said, Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them. Then he said to him, So shall your offspring be. And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

The blessing was assured to him by God because of obedience (the obedient works of faith brought him assurance for God's blessing):

Genesis 22:17-18 - I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.

oneplace.com why-the-believer-doubts-part-1-1-1172653.html: Why the Believer Doubts, Part 1 {#1} - Listen to Grace to You with John MacArthur, Jul 1, 2024
John MacArthur - "Assurance is not necessarily always going to be the believer's experience. Assurance is a gift to an obedient deliever, and when there is disobedience in your life as a believer, or when there is sin in your life, or when you have sort of loosened up your intimacy and relationship with the LORD, doubt will begin to grow."

Therefore, we should believe with an obedient heart, and obey to receive God's assurance.

I believe that every one of Jesus' sheep have a believing, obedient heart, and Jesus knows who they are and no-one will be able to snatch them from Jesus' hand.

I personally believe that it's God's role to justify, not ours, and if we want personal assurance that we are saved, we must seek and follow Jesus, and arrive at the door.

Abraham was obedient the entire time, even when God counted Abraham's belief as righteousness. We should, likewise be obedient when we believe. Abraham was justified when He believed with an obedient heart but faith was completed by the works of faith and Abraham was given assurance of the blessing:

James 2:21-23 - Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness—and he was called a friend of God. (ESV)

Where previously I said "I'm going out on a limb when I say that without an obedient heart the so-called belief doesn't qualify as belief:", my best interpretation of this now is that, believing in Jesus Christ, a person has obeyed Jesus and has eternal life at that point or in their future, which is to know Jesus and Father God, but this belief must be true belief, incorporating a sense of 'trust' towards Jesus, the type of trust that elicits obedience in the heart - but also if they don't continue in obedience they may not "see life" and the wrath of God may remain on that person - so we must actually repent from sin and seek to know Jesus by following His commandments.

We need to obey Jesus in order to have a good life, and without obedience to Jesus the wrath of God remains. I really believe we should both believe and obey Jesus, but I don't want to condemn people when I am not the judge, and nor can I see the person's heart.

We need to obey Jesus to see the life. That obedience isn't "working" but it is "performing/carrying out" but our justification isn't contingent on "working":

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

On the other hand, if we obey Jesus we will never see death:

John 8:51 - Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. (ESV)

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 10:13 - and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good? (ESV)

It's definitely about belief in in the heart:

Proverbs 4:23 - Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. (ESV)

Jeremiah 17:10 - I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds. (ESV)

Acts 28:27 - For the heart of this people has become dull, And with their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes; Otherwise they might see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.”’

Eternal salvation goes to those who obey Jesus:

Hebrews 5:8-9 - Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, (ESV)

God's commandment is to bring about the obedience of faith (having faith is in God and through Jesus Christ is being obedient to God):

Romans 16:26 - but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith — (ESV)

So to be saved a person must have an obedient heart, prepared for the good works which are prepared for us to walk in:

Ephesians 2:8-10 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (ESV)

Abraham believed and obeyed:

Genesis 26:4-5 - I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. (ESV)

One of the criminals crucified next to Jesus came to the obedience of faith and obeyed the gospel:

Luke 23:39-43 - One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us! But the other rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong. And he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And he said to him, Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise. (ESV)

In this way we must have faith in God the Father of Jesus Christ, and believe and obey Jesus because God commanded it.

According to Paul, Abraham trusted God and that trust he had meant he didn't waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he have glory to God.

That's right, and Abraham's faith included:

  • faithfulness
  • giving glory to God
  • obedience
  • works of faith
    • not works of the law (which came later), but the works of faith such as:
      • not accepting gifts from the king of Sodom
        • An interesting parallel is how the Apostle John's children/disciples were walking in love while walking in the truth, and rejecting offerings from Gentiles who were not walking in the truth:
        • III John 1:4-8 - I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. (ESV)
      • placing Isaac on the Altar
      • etc.

What I mean to say is, the faithful trust in God that Abraham had concerning the promise of God is exhibited plainly in Abraham's action, and was faithful, enduring, unwavering, over an amount of time.

Romans 4:20-25 - No distrust (apistia) made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Interlinear
biblehub.com 4-20.htm: Romans 4:20 Interlinear: and at the promise of God did not stagger in unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, having given glory to God,
1: apistia: unbelief
2: Original Word: ἀπιστία, ας, ἡ
3: Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
4: Transliteration: apistia
5: Phonetic Spelling: (ap-is-tee'-ah)
6: Definition: unbelief
7: Usage: unbelief, unfaithfulness, distrust.

Therefore, when we trust wholeheartedly in God who has raised from the dead Jesus Christ (who is our Lord, meaning we obey Him), and because we believe, we then inevitably produce working faith.

We're supposed to do good works of faith by Jesus' power so that Jesus' name is glorified - and those works done in Jesus' power are entirely given by grace to us:

II Thessalonians 1:11-12 - To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Our faith is exhibited plainly in our action. Our own actions and way of expressing that faith paint a unique picture, with a faith towards God that may be expressed a little bit differently, in different works of faith, or simply keeping Jesus Christ's words and not denying His name - patient endurance.

Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

But it is all by God's grace that we are saved. A believing and obedient heart is a trusting heart - a heart of faith - and our obedience gives us confidence. All glory to God alone. We must obey Jesus to become like Jesus:

I John 4:17 - By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

We should both believe and obey:

Deuteronomy 30:20 - loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. (ESV)

Believe and obey (follow) Jesus:

John 10:24-28 - So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Exodus 33:17 - And the Lord said to Moses, This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.

John 10:16 - And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. (ESV)

Jesus knows us and we know Jesus:

John 10:14 - I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, (ESV)

We must be keeping Jesus' commandments for us to be sure that we have come to know Him:

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

Jesus commands us to take His yoke (obey Him) and learn from Him (believe Him):

Matthew 11:29 - Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (ESV)

Whoever believes Jesus obeys Jesus - His sheep hear his voice, trust and obey:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

God loves those who love Him and keep His commandments:

Nehemiah 1:5 - And I said, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

If a person has an obedient and believing heart - a heart of faith - towards Jesus, then they will be saved:

  • If a person truthfully confesses (admits) with their mouth that Jesus is Lord, they have an obedient heart.
    • This must result in the person obeying Jesus; freely forgiving others, loving others as He loved us, keeping Jesus' commandments
  • If they believe in their heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, they believe Jesus, and believe God who sent Him.
    • This must result in the person accepting forgiveness for sin

Romans 10:9 - because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (ESV)

We should definitely confess Jesus to others:

Luke 12:8-9 - And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. (ESV)

I believe that a person does not have any security of eternal salvation unless they have in their heart obedient, believing faith in Jesus Christ, and even then there is often a race and a journey to receive it.

alpinebible.com: Rescued Along The Roman Road - Alpine Bible
“Whoever” means that any person can be saved, no matter who that person is. No matter how terrible a person and his circumstances may be, that person can be saved. You may be enslaved by the most terrible spirit of sin and evil imaginable—God will still save you.

biblehub.com 10-9.htm: Romans 10:9 Interlinear: that if thou mayest confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and mayest believe in thy heart that God did raise him out of the dead, thou shalt be saved,

1: 4982 [e]
2: sōthēsē
3: σωθήσῃ  .
4: you will be saved
5: V-FIP-2S

The knowledge of the truth is for those who abide in Jesus' word and follow Him:

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

I believe that obedience is as intrinsic and necessary to faith as belief is.

The good news must be united by obedient faith (putting Jesus' words into action):

Hebrews 4:1-2 - Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. (ESV)

Philippians 2:12 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out (katergazomai) your own salvation with fear and trembling, (ESV)

I believe in 'once saved, always saved, while doing the will of God'. So someone must be a both a believer and a follower of Jesus.

I John 2:17 - And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

It's imperative that as we go ahead, we must abide in the teaching of Christ, or we won't have God (Jehovah God), and God is love and love comes from God, so we need to abide in Christ's teachings, by belief and by obedience. For example, in Mark 10:18, Jesus affirmed that God is Good. Therefore when we read this, we must also be sanctified by this truth, affirming and coming into agreement that God is Good. Also, Jesus commanded us to love one another as He loved us John 13:34-35:

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

I think we are permanently saved when we are following Jesus.

We are saved from dying by Jesus giving us His Spirit and then, so long as we are His sheep, coming to Him (by following His commandments), we will live forever, in Him.

John 6:37 - All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. (ESV)

I believe that anyone who is trusting Jesus is saved by Him through His finished work. That's not a call to not abide in / obey Jesus' teachings. God raised Jesus from the dead for our justification. If we believe this fact we believe God's testimony about Jesus - that's important and it shows we trust God. Believing the gospel and trusting Father God, trusting Jesus, trusting God's words, trusting Jesus and God's words spoken through Jesus is obeying the gospel. When we trust Jesus, we believe who He is and what He accomplished and we believe His words. I also think there's more to faith in Jesus than just an intellectual belief as far as getting to know your Saviour (knowing God) and abiding forever. I think we need to actually trust Jesus - so we believe His words when we hear them. Because we must bear fruit etc. and follow His commandments to come to know Him. I don't condemn anyone who is believing on Him for life through His name.

Doing the will of God is what it means to be led by the Spirit. So you have to do the will of God, being a servant of Christ under the law of Christ, to have the blessing of not being condemned by the law of Moses:

Psalms 143:10 - Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! (ESV)

Jesus Christ is the Lord referred to:

II Corinthians 3:15-18 - Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord (Κύριος, Kyrios, Lord, Master) is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (ESV)

If you have trusting faith in God then you will walk according to the will of God (walk the way Jesus Christ calls us to walk in obedience to Jesus, as a response of love to God in the knowledge He loved us first). Led by the Spirit = following Jesus.

John 12:26 - If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (ESV)

That's not working but it is walking and it is being obedient to Jesus. The Israelites through the Red Sea were being led by the Spirit - they were not working for God as they walked in obedience:

Galatians 5:16-18 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Jesus' disciples here were being led by Jesus. As I understand it, we're only not guilty if we're trusting Jesus who justifies the ungodly. Trusting Him who justifies the ungodly has noticeable fruit of following Him because those who trust Him follow Him:

Matthew 12:1-8 - At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath. He said to them, Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath. (ESV)

Those who love Him, obey Him:

John 14:15-16 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, (ESV)

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (ESV)

We love God and our brothers and sisters in Christ by following God's commandments:

I John 5:1-3 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (ESV)

The crown of life is gifted to those who are obedient, and have been tested. I think this verse can also be taken in the literal sense:

Revelation 2:10 - Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. (ESV)

And I also think people have free will to sabotage their race.

Clearly 'believe' means also 'to be obedient' to because the ones that follow Jesus (which means obey His commandments) are the ones who are counted as believing (pisteuo):

John 10:26-38 - but you do not believe (G4100 pisteuo) because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.

We come into walking in the will of God:

Romans 8:13-17 - For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)

Those in the process of being sanctified by Jesus are sons:

Hebrews 12:5-8 - And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. (ESV)

Hebrews 2:10-13 - For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold, I and the children God has given me. (ESV)

We put our trust in Jehovah God. We put our trust in Jesus:

Isaiah 12:2 - Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. (ESV)

People fall away if they are not freed from sin. We're seeking to be freed from sin:

John 8:34-36 - Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (ESV)

We seek to be adopted as sons. To receive the Spirit of God's Son in our hearts is what I think it means to be set free by the Son:

Galatians 4:4-9 - But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? (ESV)

I guess that means we should become slaves of Christ! We should be overcome by Christ:

Romans 6:22-23- But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (ESV)

Christ's Spirit is a spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" It's not a spirit of slavery. So with a spirit of adoption we are slaves to God:

Romans 8:13-17 - For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)

Abba, Father!

We must be in Christ Jesus as a new creation:

II Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

A new creation has faith working through love and keeps Jesus Christ's commandments:

Galatians 6:15 - For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. (ESV)

Galatians 5:6 - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (ESV)

I Corinthians 7:19 - For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. (ESV)

A new creation lives for Christ:

II Corinthians 5:14-17 - For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Following Jesus Christ is not having a religious spirit, but it's serving God in reality:

Ephesians 5:13-16 - But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (ESV)

Galatians 3:26 - for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. (ESV)

Bible study
youtube.com: Free from Judgment, Fighting Sin, Full Assurance @time: 30 min 46 sec

Jesus is asking of us to believe that He is the resurrection and the life; Coming to a belief which [in John's terminology] involves personally committing oneself to Jesus as Son of God, Saviour, Lord, Lamb of God and King:

Jesus has to know us:

Matthew 25:1-13 - Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered, saying, Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. But he answered, Truly, I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

I believe that Jesus has a lot of grace for the weak and the powerless, the children and the humble:

Revelation of John 3:8 - I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

And it's about the heart:

Mark 12:41-44 - And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on. (ESV)

Good work is rewarded. Lazy, disobedient belief is punished, and the worthless servant who was entrusted with some work but was unfaithful with his work (doesn't matter how much work it is) is cast away. Jesus isn't a hard taskmaster but wants our whole heart. Jesus must be our Master:

Matthew 25:14-30 - For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more. His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more. His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours. But his master answered him, You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

It's all about the heart though, as Ignatius says "Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness. For were He to reward us according to our works, we should cease to be.":

Ignatius to the Magnesians 10 - Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness. For were He to reward us according to our works, we should cease to be. Therefore, having become His disciples, let us learn to live according to the principles of Christianity. For whosoever is called by any other name besides this, is not of God. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the sour leaven, and be ye changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ. Be ye salted in Him, lest any one among you should be corrupted, since by your savour ye shall be convicted. It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus, and to Judaize. For Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism Christianity, that so every tongue which believeth might be gathered together to God.

The righteous obey Jesus, and love our neighbour as He loved them; as He commanded:

Matthew 25:31-40 - When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.

The ones who do not obey Jesus go to eternal punishment:

Matthew 25:41-45 - Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. Then they also will answer, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you? Then he will answer them, saying, Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.

The ones who are slaves to righteousness, following Jesus Christ, go to eternal life:

Matthew 25:46 - And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

5.8.7. Believing Jesus, we have the right to become a child of God

John 1:12 - But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (ESV)

OK, so how? We must continue in what we have learned from the Holy Scriptures and continue in what we have firmly believed:

II Timothy 3:14-15 - But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

We hear the gospel and believe in Him:

Ephesians 1:13-14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (ESV)

Believers then commit to the Lord:

Acts 14:23 - And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (ESV)

This commitment to the Lord I believe is having a love for Jesus, which shows itself in obedience:

John 16:27 - for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. (ESV)

John 15:10 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (ESV)

To abiding in His word is to commit to Jesus:

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

Believers are generally sealed with the Holy Spirit when they first believe:

Acts 11:17 - If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way? (ESV)

Acts 19:2 - And he said to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said, No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

We are saved as we are believing:

Romans 13:11 - Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. (ESV)

In this case, a great number of the total number of believers ended up turning to the Lord:

Acts 11:21 - And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. (ESV)

In this case, the full number of the total believers had turned to the Lord:

Acts 4:32 - Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. (ESV)

Father God who has spoken through the Prophets draws us to Jesus. We believe in Jesus and we are drawn to Jesus:

John 6:64-66 - But there are some of you who do not believe. (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father. After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. (ESV)

John 6:44-51 - No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. (ESV)

Going forward, we must remain faithful to Jesus:

Acts 11:23-24 - When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. (ESV)

We receive the Holy Spirit after / at the same time as believing. We want to be found in Jesus:

John 7:39 - Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (ESV)

I Peter 4:13-14 - But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (ESV)

In this situation, all of the believers were of one heart and mind:

Acts 4:32 - Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Who You Say I Am - Hillsong Worship

We believe and then we come to know Jesus:

John 6:68-69 - Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God. (ESV)

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

Receive Jesus, believing in His name:

John 1:12 - But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (ESV)

We must abide by Jesus Christ's teaching. Whoever does not abide in Jesus Christ's teaching does not have God:

II John 1:9 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

Matthew 4:17 - From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (ESV)

We must obey righteousness. Yes, obey Jesus' commandments and obey Father God's commandments:

Romans 2:6-8 - He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. (ESV)

The children of God are the ones who love other children of God by following God's commandments:

I John 3:10 - By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (ESV)

I John 5:2 - By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. (ESV)

Don't squabble about free-will and sit on the fence until the second coming. Just do it:

I Chronicles 28:20 - Then David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished. (ESV)

Ezra 10:4 - Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it. (ESV)

Luke 8:21 - But he answered them, My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it. (ESV)

God loves us by allowing us to know Him and be called children of God:

Romans 8:16 - The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (ESV)

I John 3:1 - See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (ESV)

John 11:50-52 - Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish. He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. (ESV)

Romans 8:21 - that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (ESV)

God adopts us and cleans us up and puts us on display:

Philippians 2:15 - that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, (ESV)

I John 3:18 - Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (ESV)

Children look like their Father:

I John 3:7 - Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. (ESV)

II John 1:4 - I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. (ESV)

III John 1:4 - I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (ESV)

Whoever loves with Christ's love knows Father God:

I John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (ESV)

I John 2:13 - I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. (ESV)

5.8.8. My understanding of repentance

We need all of these:

  • Belief in Jesus and His atoning sacrifice
  • Obedience to Jesus' commandments
    • Obeying the law of Christ
  • Putting a stop to sin

youtube.com: Is Lordship Salvation Biblical? {The "Cheap Grace" Gospel EXPOSED!!}

II Chronicles 7:14 - if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (ESV)

Repentance leads to belief and obedience to Jesus:

  • Someone who has only belief in the gift of grace and no obedience to Jesus (which is effectively hating Jesus) must repent and come to have an obedient heart.
    • II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)
  • Someone who has only obedience to Jesus' precepts but unbelieving and unsubmissive to the righteousness of God must repent and come to have a believing heart.
    • John 20:27-28 - Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe. Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God!

Jesus' sheep hear His voice and they follow Him:

John 10:26-29 - but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. (ESV)

We love Jesus by keeping His commandments:

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. He has to be our Lord:

Romans 8:38-39 - For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

I repeat this:

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

We want to abide in God's love through following Jesus' commandments, and then nothing can separate us from His love.

God draws the person to Jesus:

John 6:44-46 - No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Draw Me Close | feat. Michael Bethany | Gateway Worship

Jesus said He will not cast people out who have come to Him, and it's His sheep who come to Him, those who follow Him:

John 6:37 - All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. (ESV)

Coming to Jesus is the requirement for not being cast out, and coming to Jesus Christ means obedience and following Jesus.

We must receive the kingdom of God like a child - like Father God's child. Children easily trust, believe, follow and obey their parents - they also act like their parents. We must receive the kingdom of God like a child of God:

Luke 18:16-22 - But Jesus called them to him, saying, Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. And a ruler asked him, Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother. And he said, All these I have kept from my youth. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.

Following Jesus may simply mean going to Him for mercy; asking Him for mercy or forgiveness:

Hebrews 4:15-16 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (ESV)

Jesus' sheep follow Him:

John 12:26 - If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (ESV)

There are wandering sheep, too, sheep that aren't exactly making a bee-line:

Isaiah 53:6 - All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (ESV)

Coming to Jesus involves denying ourself and taking up our cross daily to follow Him:

Luke 9:23 - And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (ESV)

I Corinthians 15:31 - I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! (ESV)

Christ Jesus judged Paul faithful - Paul was faithful, and Jesus Christ is Paul's Lord. Paul received mercy to become obedient. Paul received mercy because he was acting ignorantly - behaving in a way which came from disbelief. So then, Christ Jesus displays in Paul His perfect patience to those who would trust in Him for eternal life and be brought from ungodliness into godliness - disobedience into obedience.

I Timothy 1:12-16 - I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (ESV)

You must believe:

Romans 11:20-23 - That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.

God acts for those who wait for Him:

Isaiah 64:4 - From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. (ESV)

You must obey:

John 15:1-6 - I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Also, waiting on the LORD our strength is renewed:

Isaiah 40:31 - but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (ESV)

We are ourselves empowered thanks to Jesus' own endurance, and that is unlocked by having believing, obedient, trusting, following faith in Jesus where we are being led by His Spirit, and are walking by His Spirit:

Hebrews 12:1-3 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (ESV)

We must put a stop to sin - it's for our own good:

Ezekiel 18:20-21 - The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. (ESV)

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

Jeremiah 4:4 - Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds. (ESV)

So I believe that Jesus saves us by giving us of His Spirit and helping us to put sin to death, through obedient faith:

1 John 3:4-9 - Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. (ESV)

Walking in obedient faith is walking in forgiveness and love towards other people, forgiveness and love that flows out from having been loved and having been forgiven.

The faith working through love towards God and other people flows out of believing in and accepting Jesus and His atoning sacrifice and from being freely forgiven by Jesus.

I think the person who has arrived at this point has repented from dead work and is now living for Jesus.

5.8.9. We must have a changed heart, which longs to serve the living God, to be a bondservant of Jesus. AMEN!!

God gives us the new heart when we seek to have that new heart.

To be saved we need to have an obedient heart to God.

Will to do God's will - will to be obedient, and God will give you the heart to obey Him.

When you trust Jesus, you will to do His will.

Living as a new Creation in Christ means God has given you the heart to desire to obey Jesus' commandments. We are under Christ's law.

It means, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to no longer practice lying, adultery, idolatry, and covetousness, and to no longer dishonour our parents, and to now honour Jesus Christ in our lives and bodies.

It's going from disobedience to God (as Adam was disobedient) to obedience to God (as Christ is obedient):

Romans 15:17-18 - In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed,

I Corinthians 7:19 - For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. (ESV)

Faith works through love; we must be like Jesus - exercising sacrificial, merciful love. The term 'new creature' is used in Galatians 6 after saying we must 'put sin to death and do good', sowing to the spirit and not to the flesh. Sowing to the Spirit is obediently following Jesus:

Galatians 6:7-8 - Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (ESV)

Faith is obedient. Love is applied faith in Jesus:

Galatians 5:6 - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (ESV)

Galatians 6:15 - For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. (ESV)

Talk
youtube.com: No changed life salvation? Refuting Free Grace and @jacksmack77

Grace is free, but a person must become obedient - God gives the heart to obey, but a person must desire to do God's will to receive it.

Revelation of John 22:3 - No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. (ESV)

I believe that becoming the righteousness of God is initially instantaneous when we believe but going forward it also is cooperative as we live, submitting to the righteousness of God (Jesus' righteousness) and then being found in Jesus, letting Jesus wash us, and work in us, transform us, and that a childlike trust in Jesus (a believing and obedient trust), following Jesus, walking in faith, and behaving as one of God's children, following Jesus our Lord and Saviour is how we receive and walk into the kingdom which is given to us and that walking in a childlike faith in Jesus is how we have the righteousness that is by faith. I believe we have righteousness because we are found in Him, and He is our High Priest and or Lord and King, and Saviour. Living by faith is a lifestyle to be found in Jesus and that's how we have righteousness from Him, because we are found in Him and are being perfected and sanctified like a branch getting healthier because it's connected to Jesus. It does not mean we are able to displace Him as the head of the body because we don't have righteousness apart from Him (as far as I understand):

II Corinthians 5:21-6:1 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (ESV)

We must live for the will of God:

I Peter 4:1-2 - Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. (ESV)

If a person doesn't obey Jesus and His commandments then they probably are not saved because they either deny they have the spiritual circumcision which causes us to obey, or they do not have the heart to obey and receive salvation - so they are a goat, not a sheep.

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

5.8.10. Doing the will of God

The will of God:

  • Arrive at maturity and fully assured in all the will of God
    • We must look at what all of the will of God is for us and endeavour to be mature and fully assured with all of it
      • Colossians 4:12 - Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. (ESV)
  • Be transformed by the renewal of your mind
    • Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)
    • We must take every thought captive to be obedient to Christ
      • II Corinthians 10:5-6 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (ESV)
    • We want our mind to be the mind of Christ
      • I Corinthians 2:16 - For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (ESV)
  • Be a servant of Christ
    • Ephesians 6:6 - not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, (ESV)
  • Give thanks in all circumstances
    • I Thessalonians 5:18 - give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (ESV)

Mark 3:35 - Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother. (ESV)

Romans 8:27 - And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (ESV)

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

I Corinthians 1:1 - Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, (ESV)

II Corinthians 1:1 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: (ESV)

II Corinthians 8:5 - and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. (ESV)

Ephesians 1:1 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: (ESV)

Be a servant of Christ:

Ephesians 6:6 - not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, (ESV)

Colossians 1:1 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, (ESV)

Arrive at maturity and fully assured in all the will of God:

Colossians 4:12 - Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 4:3 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; (ESV)

Give thanks in all circumstances:

I Thessalonians 5:18 - give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (ESV)

II Timothy 1:1 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, (ESV)

Hebrews 10:36 - For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. (ESV)

Doing good = holding to our confession and maintaining godly behaviour:

I Peter 2:15 - For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. (ESV)

I John 2:17 - And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

5.8.11. Work may be burned up, and the person who has a believing and obedient heart is still saved

This person worked - served God - and this verse guarantees that the one who tried to work for God is still saved:

1 Corinthians 3:15 - If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (ESV)

5.8.12. Forever abiding is believing and being a disciple, a servant

John 15:4-8 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

We don't try to save our worldly life. We seek the Kingdom of God:

John 12:20-26 - Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, Sir, we wish to see Jesus. Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (ESV)

AMEN!!

Obey God, obey Jesus. This doesn't say that obeying the 10 commandments is not important. To love God and your neighbour in truth from the heart is the way to do this. But Mark 10:17-21 does say that following Jesus (treasuring Jesus, His words and putting them into practice) is vitally important:

Mark 10:17-21 - And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother. And he said to him, Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth. And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.

5.9. God opens the eyes to see the light of the gospel

Sovereign God, looks into dead, glory-ignoring heart and says, "Let there be light!"

II Corinthians 4:3-6 - And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

youtube.com: The Gospel of the Glory of Christ

5.10. Gospel

Amen
youtube.com: The Holy Spirit took over my preaching in Las Vegas and left me in awe and trembling

We are being saved by the gospel as we hold fast to the word:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

By the grace of God, Christ died for our sins:

I Corinthians 15:3-8 - For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (ESV)

By the grace of God we are transformed as we work out our salvation, and it's the grace of God working:

I Corinthians 15:9-11 - For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. (ESV)

Message
youtube.com: C S Lewis message 2024 - Faith in action God fights for you, but you must also act

The Good News of Jesus Christ is the power of God for salvation (stress: power of God for salvation) to everyone who believes:

  • salvation from sin, and
  • eternal life in Christ Jesus.

We have to repent and believe:

Mark 1:14-15 - Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. (ESV)

We have to believe and obey the Truth. We have to agree with the word of God, and allow God to correct our beliefs and behaviour:

John 17:17-19 - Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (ESV)

We have to be corrected by the word of God:

II Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (ESV)

For those who believe, it is the power of God for salvation:

Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (ESV)

The power of God works in us to sanctify us! We must realise that, that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

We have believing, obedient faith in the powerful working of God:

Colossians 2:12 - having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. (ESV)

God works his power mightily towards those who believe:

Ephesians 1:19 - and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might (ESV)

Our faith should rest in the power of God - we should know God's power experientially:

I Corinthians 2:5 - that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (ESV)

Paul toils, struggling with all God's energy that God works powerfully within him:

Colossians 1:29 - For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (ESV)

Paul could noticeably see the power working within him and the others:

Ephesians 3:20 - Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, (ESV)

The true gospel comes in power:

I Thessalonians 1:5 - because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. (ESV)

By the power of God, we share in suffering for the gospel:

II Timothy 1:8 - Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, (ESV)

The gospel allows us to become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the lusts of the world:

II Peter 1:3-4 - seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. (NASB)

youtube.com: Assurance for Battle @time: 18 min 2 sec
If you don't fight you're probably not born again. At least, if you go on and on and on and on, slipping away from the vigilance of faith and fighting sin and the devil, you got no reason to think you're saved. Doesn't really matter what you prayed a long time ago, doesn't matter what card you signed. Doesn't matter. Baptism doesn't matter, what your parents did… Salvation is real. It's real! It's real! It's the work of God in a human heart, and there are effects from it, and one of the effects is when the lion comes you fight. I'm a believer and he will keep me safe through faith - that He, Himself works in me.

Some people will deny the power of the gospel:

II Timothy 3:1-7 - But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (5377. philotheos), having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (ESV)

Jesus Christ bore the punishment for our iniquity to bring us peace with God:

Isaiah 53:5 - But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. (ESV)

We must yield to Jesus. The Spirit we receive causes and helps us to obey. Our obedience is accredited to God working through us:

Ezekiel 11:19-20 - And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (ESV)

Jesus does work through us as we are believing in Him:

Philippians 2:13 - for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)

Jesus makes it clear that the ones who believe do the same works He does:

John 14:12 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (ESV)

We have always obeyed, participating in the Spirit, having one mind, that of a servant - God works through us:

Philippians 2:1-13 - So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)

I Corinthians 3:6-8 - I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: John Fischer - Naphtali - 09 Live in the Power

'Believing obedience' produces work.

We are saved through faith - it's not our own doing - it's not a result of works - the works are a gift:

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)

Whoever trusts in Jesus Christ shouldn't perish, but they should have eternal life. We've just got to have faith in Jesus:

John 3:16-21 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever (G3956 pas) believes (G4100 pisteuo) in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God. (ESV)

The gospel involves having believing and obedient heart. The entrypoint is believing in Jesus Christ to be saved - that itself is an act of obedience.

John 6:28-29 - Then they said to him, What must we do, to be doing the works of God? Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe (G4100 pisteuo) in him whom he has sent. (ESV)

The obedience of heart:

  • having of faith in Jesus and Jesus' name.

The obedience produces work:

  • carrying out deeds done in God.
  • coming to the light.

If belief and obedience can even be separated, I think being saved starts with belief or obedience and arrives at both belief and obedience. Belief and obedience are both fundamental qualities of faith.

Notice how just after John 3:16 it says, "whoever does what is true comes to the light."

Whoever has faith in and puts their trust in in Jesus Christ is not condemned and should not perish.

We have always obeyed - God works through us:

Philippians 2:12-13 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out (katergazomai) your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)

We must honour Jesus Christ:

John 5:21-24 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes (G4100 pisteuo) him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come (2064. erchomai) into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

I believe John 5:24 is a true statement and that it should not be read outside of the words Jesus said directly before it (Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him).

We do not nullify the rest of what Jesus has commanded of and asked of us. If Jesus is your judge, then I think it's wise to take on board the rest of what Jesus has said:

Philippians 1:15-22 - Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.

We're not justified through the works of the law but through faith, and faith involves obedience to Jesus Christ:

Galatians 2:15-16 - “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

It's by faith in Christ that we are justified, and faith involves active belief, active trust - obedience (of the heart).

John 3:36 - Whoever believes (G4100 pisteuo) in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

Verses such as this demonstrate the holy justice of God. God nearly put Moses to death:

Exodus 4:24-26 - At a lodging place on the way the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me! So he let him alone. It was then that she said, A bridegroom of blood, because of the circumcision. (ESV)

Thus so (Houtōs) (in this way) did God love (25. agapaó - value,treasure) the world, that He gave His Only-Begotten Son that everyone who is trusting/believing in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting:

biblehub.com 3-16.htm: John 3:16 Interlinear: for God did so love the world, that His Son – the only begotten – He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during.

 1: 3778   1063 25       3588    2316  3588    2889      5620
 2: Houtōs gar  ēgapēsen ho      Theos ton     kosmon    hōste
 3: Οὕτως  γὰρ  ἠγάπησεν ὁ       Θεὸς  τὸν     κόσμον  , ὥστε
 4: Thus   for  loved     -      God   the     world     that
 5: Adv    Conj V-AIA-3S Art-NMS N-NMS Art-AMS N-AMS     Conj
 6: 
 7: 3588    5207    3588    3439          1325
 8: ton     Huion   ton     monogenē      edōken
 9: τὸν     Υἱὸν  , τὸν     μονογενῆ  ,   ἔδωκεν  ,
10: the     Son     the     only begotten He gave
11: Art-AMS N-AMS   Art-AMS Adj-AMS       V-AIA-3S
12: 
13: 2443    3956     3588    4100      1519 846
14: hina    pas      ho      pisteuōn  eis  auton
15: ἵνα     πᾶς      ὁ       πιστεύων  εἰς  αὐτὸν
16: so that everyone  -      believing in   Him
17: Conj    Adj-NMS  Art-NMS V-PPA-NMS Prep PPro-AM3S
18: 
19: 3361 622           235  2192        2222  166
20: mē   apolētai      all’ echē        zōēn  aiōnion
21: μὴ   ἀπόληται  ,   ἀλλ’ ἔχῃ         ζωὴν  αἰώνιον  .
22: not  should perish but  should have life  eternal
23: Adv  V-ASM-3S      Conj V-PSA-3S    N-AFS Adj-AFS

It's faith in the heart which we need; obedience to Jesus Christ and belief in Jesus Christ in the heart, and belief and obedience to God who has raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes (G4100 pisteuo) in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)

1: :  4100  pisteuo  pist-yoo'-o
2: 
3:  from 4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or
4:  thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's
5:  spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe(-r), commit (to trust), put
6:  in trust with.
7:  see GREEK for 4102
1: :  166  aionios  ahee-o'-nee-os
2: 
3:  from 165; perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as
4:  well):--eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began).
5:  see GREEK for 165
1: :  2222  zoe  dzo-ay'
2: 
3:  from 2198; life (literally or figuratively):--life(-time). Compare
4:  5590.
5:  see GREEK for 2198
6:  see GREEK for 5590

1 John 3:23 - And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. (ESV)

Matthew 22:37-39 - And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (ESV)

Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God. Believing on His name is God's will for us, and loving one another is God's will for us as He has commanded. There is more that Jesus has commanded us, too.

The promise to Gentiles:

Galatians 3:8 - And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, In you shall all the nations be blessed. (ESV)

Genesis 12:3 - I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (ESV)

Because Abraham obeyed God's voice:

Genesis 22:18 - and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice. (ESV)

Repentance from sin, repentance from disbelief, and coming to the light are absolutely part of the gospel!

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you-unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (ESV)

John 8:34-35 - Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.

The grace given to Paul allowed him to turn from his evil ways and pursue Jesus, working diligently for Jesus. Therefore, the grace given to Paul was not in vain, because Paul responded well to the grace:

I Corinthians 15:10 - But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (ESV)

Acts 2:47 - Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: John Piper's Sermon with Scripture only

5.10.1. Living a godly life in Christ Jesus is part of the gospel

We are freely forgiven that we may freely forgive others out of an existing righteous standing we have with God thanks to God paying the price of our sin with Jesus' blood, and we may thus become the righteousness of God.

We are freely given mercy that we may freely give mercy to others out of an existing righteous standing we have with God thanks to God paying the price of our sin with Jesus' blood, and we may thus become the righteousness of God.

I think that believers in Jesus Christ, those that have faith in Jesus, arrive at doing Christ's love, fulfilling Christ's law, while affirming a certain standard of judgement to which they are also held accountable, derived from the original standard being God's Law, and affirming the precepts of God are a good thing where the most important matters are justice, mercy and faithfulness and Jesus' blood sanctifies us. We are also supposed to speak up for the God's Truth. We should affirm sound Christian teaching when it comes to what is sinful. Just because we may not judge others when it comes to something sinful, that doesn't mean that God wont judge us for practicing and affirming something sinful.

Quote from Mari Mari Emmanuel
So fear nothing, love everyone, but be firm when it comes to speaking the truth. Truth cannot be compromised. … The one who is all love, He was sharper than a sword; When it came to holding the Truth, fighting for the Truth, He stood firm, never gave way, never compromised. Now that is love. If you truly love someone, wouldn't you want them to be living in the Truth? If you truly love the person, you will tell them, "This is right… This is wrong…"
Amen
youtube.com: The Holy Spirit took over my preaching in Las Vegas and left me in awe and trembling

II Timothy 3:1-7 - But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (5377. philotheos), having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (ESV)

Godliness (behaviour in accordance with the knowledge of the truth) has the power to change a person's life to go from being selfish to selfless.

We have knowledge of the truth through obedience to the gospel.

5.10.2. Faith is disqualified in people who disregard the teachings - they never arrive at the knowledge of the truth

II Timothy 3:8-12 - Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (ESV)

Galatians 2:14 - But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews? (ESV)

II Timothy 3:12-13 - Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (ESV)

People who go astray:

  • suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing.
  • they count it pleasure to revel in the daytime.
  • they are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you.
  • they have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin.
  • They entice unsteady souls.
  • They have hearts trained in greed.
  • Accursed children! Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray.

God forgive us and grant us sanctification. I know I still have issues, and I want to put to death the sensuality:

II Peter 2:1-22 - But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones, whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord. But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness. These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire. (ESV)

John 8:34-35 - Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.

5.11. Be a disciple of Jesus to be set free and abide forever

  • To be Jesus' disciple, we must abide in Jesus' word / obey His commandments.
    • Have love for one another.
    • Love Jesus as He loved us.
    • Carry our cross:
      • bear one-another's burdens.
      • renounce all that we have.
    • Put following Jesus before all else.
  • To come to know the truth, we must be Jesus' disciple.
  • To be set free, we must know the truth.

John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)

John 8:31-36 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. They answered him, We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, You will become free? Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (ESV)

Luke 9:23-24 - And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. (ESV)

Luke 14:26 - If anyone comes to me and does not hate (3404. miseó, 3404 miséō – properly, to detest (on a comparative basis); hence, denounce; to love someone or something less than someone (something) else, i.e. to renounce one choice in favor of another.) his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (ESV)

Luke 14:27 - Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. (ESV)

If someone exhibits love toward others, learns and lives the expectations unearthed in Scripture, denies self in all situations, has as their first relational allegiance Jesus Christ, and will die for the cause of Christ, then they can rest assured, they are a disciple of Jesus Christ.

See:

Romans 6:22-23 - But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NASB)

Romans 6:22-23 - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

Romans 6:7 - For one who has died has been set free from sin. (ESV)

5.11.1. The high cost of following Christ

Billy Graham said here, "Change your mind and He will change your heart."

Sermon
youtube.com: The High Cost of Following Christ | Billy Graham Classic Sermon

Matthew 13:44 - The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (ESV)

We are supposed to treasure people, that is true. But Jesus has to be our number 1. Jesus is worth more than anyone or anything. Marriage cannot be idolatry. God is worth more and needs to come first.

Matthew 10:37 - Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (ESV)

Luke 14:26-33 - If anyone comes to me and does not hate (3404. miseó, 3404 miséō – properly, to detest (on a comparative basis); hence, denounce; to love someone or something less than someone (something) else, i.e. to renounce one choice in favor of another.) his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (ESV)

Do not love the world:

  • do not love desires of the flesh, and
  • do not love the desires of the eyes, and
  • do not love pride in possessions

I think I John 2:15-17 is essentially saying, "Do not agape love the world or what's in the world. Do not love the things of this world with the type of love that we have for God and for people, namely agape love." If we fall out of agape love for the world and are not conformed to the world but are transformed by the renewing of our minds then by testing we will be able to discern the will of God:

I John 2:15-17 - Do not love (agapate) the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

Romans 12:1 - I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (ESV)

Matthew 24:9-13 - Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (ESV)

Do not resist the one who is evil - but do good to them:

  • Romans 12:21 - Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (ESV)
  • if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also
  • if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well
  • if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles
  • Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you
  • Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

Matthew 5:38-48 - You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate (3404. miseó, 3404 miséō – properly, to detest (on a comparative basis); hence, denounce; to love someone or something less than someone (something) else, i.e. to renounce one choice in favor of another.) your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)

With Jesus' commandments in mind, we should have joy when the time of testing happens and things are taken away from us. It can take a really long time. But we need to not shrink back. I'm also speaking to myself.

Hebrews 10:34-39 - For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (ESV)

We must draw closer to Jesus and seek Jesus first and trust Jesus because to be in relationship with God is the most important thing. To not be in relationship with God is to abide in death:

Matthew 6:31-33 - Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)

We are commanded to reject the idols to treasure God first. If we do this then we draw near to God and God draws near to us:

II Corinthians 6:17-18 - Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty. (ESV)

James 4:8 - Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (ESV)

Psalms 73:25-28 - Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. (ESV)

5.11.2. Give our mind to Christ

1 John 2:3-5 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: (ESV)

We should use the Word of God to come against even arguments and opinions which are raised against the knowledge of God. Even our thoughts must be brought into obedience to Christ:

II Corinthians 10:2-6 - I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (ESV)

"ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete" I think means to even be ready to come against slip-ups.

Proverbs 16:32 - Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. (ESV)

5.12. The free gift of salvation is to be set free from sin to be a slave of righteousness

The free gift is to be set free from sin to be a salve of righteousness - that is received through faith, received by those who obey Jesus.

The faith that receives the free gift of salvation is obedient to Jesus.

So when the Spirit begins working in you, and you obey, you are receiving the salvation.

Is this considered being saved by works or being saved by faith?

This is considered being saved by faith and not by works.

We must now consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. We must now present ourselves as obedient slaves to righteousness - yes, practicing personal righteousness in accordance with Jesus Christ's commandments.

Romans 6 - What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

Therefore, to be in Christ Jesus our Lord, God puts us in and we then have a change of mindset, presenting ourselves as obedient slaves to Jesus Christ. Is that considered a bad thing to be a slave to righteousness? No, it's considered as being in Christ Jesus.

The Holy Spirit in us is the gift which is in us:

II Timothy 1:6-7 - For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (ESV)

II Corinthians 1:21-22 - And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (ESV)

5.12.1. Receiving the Holy Spirit

God poured out His Holy Spirit richly on us through Jesus Christ our Saviour. This would not be possible without having sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins and be raised for our justification. To be able to be justified is pure grace. To be able to have faith in Jesus is pure grace. But we must put our faith in Jesus Christ!

Titus 3:4-7 - But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (ESV)

So we should ask God to receive the Holy Spirit, and believe He will give the Holy Spirit to us:

Luke 11:13 - If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (ESV)

This says Father God gives the Holy Spirit to His children. Then we should seek to behave as His children and ask Him for the Holy Spirit:

I John 3:10 - By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (ESV)

Who receives the Holy Spirit? The ones who obey God!

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

youtube.com: How to Seek the Holy Spirit @time: 48 min 13 sec
"If anyone keeps Jesus' word, holds fast, treasures it, in obedience, that person will not be quenching the Spirit, that person will not be grieving the Spirit, but will know the fullness and sweetness of fellowship with the Father and the Son." - AMEN to that, John Piper

The Holy Spirit is received through faith:

Galatians 3:14 - so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (ESV)

We need to obey Jesus to see the life. That obedience isn't "working" but it is "performing/carrying out" but our justification isn't contingent on "working":

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

On the other hand, if we obey Jesus we will never see death:

John 8:51 - Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. (ESV)

We receive the spirit by getting Jesus' words into us, believing them and obeying them. Feeding on them, we get Jesus' spirit and life into us:

John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (ESV)

The Spirit was given after Jesus was glorified:

John 7:37-39 - On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (ESV)

Jesus was glorified and God glorified in Him when He laid down His life for us and bore much fruit:

Luke 24:26 - Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? (ESV)

John 12:23-24 - And Jesus answered them, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (ESV)

John 17:1 - When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, (ESV)

John 13:31 - When he had gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. (ESV)

This seems to show that to follow Jesus we must also lay our lives down for Him:

John 13:36-38 - Simon Peter said to him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus answered him, Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward. Peter said to him, Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you. Jesus answered, Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times. (ESV)

So to receive the Holy Spirit:

  • Have faith in Jesus,
    • believe Jesus,
    • obey Jesus,
  • practice righteousness, and
    • ask God for the Holy Spirit!
  • lay your life down for Jesus

5.13. The work of the Holy Spirit

5.13.1. The Holy Spirit may teach us even before He is in us, by helping us as He dwells with us

John 14:16-21 - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

5.13.2. Teaching us, leading us into the Truth

John 16:13 - When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (ESV)

I John 2:27 - But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything—and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you—abide in him. (ESV)

5.13.3. The fruit of the Spirit

The fruit of the Spirit are the fruit of Christ's Spirit. Christ's law is not contrary to the fruit of the Spirit. We must also seek to fulfill Christ's law (though it is the righteousness of Christ Himself which justifies us before God).

Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV)

The fruit of the Spirit while lawful we want to encourage. If someone acts in the fruit of the Spirit, and another person is offended then they should apply the law of Christ when they realise their actions are harming their family in Christ and they should stop those actions. But at the same time, the person has maybe done nothing wrong while acting in the fruit of the Spirit. This goes both ways. So when a person acts innocently with the fruit of the Spirit but causes their family in Christ injury in doing so, they should stop doing the thing which causes them injury, and seek to love them by doing no harm to our brother or sister, even if at first our actions seemed to us to be good:

Romans 14:21 - It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. (ESV)

To continue those actions knowing it was harming your neighbour in Christ would be to lack "love" or "self-control".

Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (ESV)

Love is:

I Corinthians 13:4-8 - Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. (ESV)

We shouldn't punish acting while exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, made with pure motivations, and place arbitrary laws against what is good, motivated by fear, by banning the actions every time someone is offended.

But it seems that sometimes with pure motivations, we can still offend others, and there needs to be room to "back off":

Romans 14:17-22 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. (ESV)

But causing offense without warning isn't strictly the same thing as causing crime. Jesus continued to offend some people and be loved by others but he committed no crime:

Matthew 11:6 - And blessed is the one who is not offended by me. (ESV)

Crossing other people's boundaries, though, when we know their boundaries, and knowing it may cause harm, though, is breaking Christ's law:

Exodus 8:26 - But Moses said, It would not be right to do so, for the offerings we shall sacrifice to the LORD our God are an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? (ESV)

Romans 14:21 - It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. (ESV)

We should seek to love everyone, even our enemies, but not to always agree with our enemies, but the love we have for our enemies should always be Christ's love and not "the devil's definition of love".

I also think it is loving to not inhibit the gospel message.

Acts 5:29 - But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men. (ESV)

We should always love with Christ's love:

Romans 12:20 - To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. (ESV)

Even if it becomes anathema to speak the truth and to live out the truth, I would still speak God's truth and act with Christ's love to the end for the sake of truth:

Matthew 24:9-13 - Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (ESV)

We don't want to cultivate what is opposite to the fruit of the Spirit; things such as hate, depression, fear and anxiety, being inconsiderate, abusiveness, unwholesomeness, faithlessness, abrasiveness and quick-temperedness by punishing people who are prompted by the Holy Spirit to act.

But if we are afraid we should seek to have a genuine affection for God, loving Him with our whole heart, and seek to obey Jesus and build one another up in love, and that should cast out fear:

I John 4:18 - There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (ESV)

Romans 14:17-20 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. (ESV)

Christ's Spirit is selfless and bears one another's burdens, and considers others more significant than themselves:

Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (ESV)

youtube.com: Hope and the Fruit of Love @time: 10 min 14 sec

One of the great obstacles to love is fear – that if you pay the price of love, you won't get the flower of the world.

I mean the flowers of the world are very pretty. Money is pretty, and power is pretty, and sex is pretty, and reputation is pretty, and leisure is pretty, and comfort is pretty.

The world has lots to offer. There's a lot of flowers out there.

There are grassy meadows in the world that are tremendously attractive, and this feeling rises up in our hearts: If you pay the price to love you won't get as many flowers, you won't get as much grass.

And therefore we resist loving.

If you endure wrong meekly, if you renounce boasting, don't call attention to yourselves, if we spend time and energy supplying the needs of others without fretting over our own, if we risk making necessary reproofs that are almost surely to be interpreted as unloving, if we receive reproofs without animosity and defensiveness, if we cover a multitude of sins and put away our list of grievances, if we rejoice when others prosper while we don't, if we bless those who curse us, and do good to those who despise us, if we love each other earnestly from the heart, the fear is we won't get any flowers; our grassy Fields will turn brown on us.

And the way we are freed from that fear is to hear God say, "the flower falls and the grass fades but my word that gave you life lasts forever and leads to an inheritance that is unfading, imperishable, undefiled, kept in heaven for you. You are free go ahead pay the price. It doesn't matter what they think. It doesn't matter whether you get the flowers. If you're born of God you are alive and you will last forever.

Amen.

In order to avoid another situation with the pandemic where there was a lack of love (people making decisions on fear instead of on love) like the one in 2020-2021, we should not cease to maintain freedom, faith in God, peace, forgiveness, and love for people. Let our decisions be based on love and not fear:

I Corinthians 16:14 - Let all that you do be done in love. (ESV)

II Timothy 1:7 - for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (ESV)

II Timothy 1:7 - For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. (NASB)

II Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (KJV)

5.14. Becoming a servant, humbling oneself and following Jesus is what we should do

A religious spirit is:

  • not being a servant
  • neglects the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness
  • an emphasis on outward appearances over inner transformation
  • hypocrisy
  • uses the law as a beating tool on other people
    • they use the law superficially
  • but are lawless in reality
    • their relationship with God is really busted up - not being faithful to God

True religion:

  • focuses on purifying the heart, and obeying God's commandments in truth, accountable to God
  • as far as the law is concerned
    • externally prioritises justice, mercy and faithfulness
    • inwardly tries to maintain a holy heart, and a relationship with God
  • serving Jesus
  • avoids judging people with the law to cut people down, but encourages people to be accountable to God with it
  • bear one another's burdens

We're under the law of Christ, and that shouldn't be a heavy burden:

Matthew 23:4 - They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. (ESV)

Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

I John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (ESV)

You must obey Jesus, and that is choosing light and choosing agape love towards God and people and not towards the world or worldly things:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes (G4100 pisteuo) in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

Matthew 23:11-33 - The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. Woe to you, blind guides, who say, If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath. You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath. You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, saying, If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets. Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? (ESV)

We must keep and accept the precepts of God over the precepts of men:

Mark 7:6-9 - And he said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men. And he said to them, You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! (ESV)

This passage is condemning submitting to worldly / human precepts and imploring us to submit to God's precepts. It's not condemning God's precepts but imploring us to put to death what is against God's precepts:

Colossians 2:20-23,3:1-6 - If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. (ESV)

5.15. I believe that I should try as hard as I can to enter via the narrow gate

5.15.1. Narrow is the gate and hard is the way that leads to life

I think this shows the strait and narrow way involves repentance and sanctification:

Matthew 7:13-16 - Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow (4728 stenos ie. narrow, small) and the way is hard (2346 thlibó - meaning: like when circumstances "rub us the wrong way" that make us feel confined (hemmed in); restricted to a "narrow" place/) that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Luke 13:24 - Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

The Way is Jesus Christ - believing in and becoming obedient to Jesus Christ.

It's being begotten as a servant of God, a disciple of Jesus, one of Jesus' sheep.

Believe:

I John 4:9 - In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

Obey:

I John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (ESV)

Believe and obey and treasure God and people:

In treasuring Jesus' words, keeping them, guarding them, observing them, in Him the agape (treasuring, valuing love) has truly been perfected. Having Jesus' teachings in us clearly should result in us walking as He did:

I John 2:5-6 - but whoever keeps (5083. téreó) His word (G3056 logos), in him the love (G26 agape) of God (G2316 theos) has truly been perfected (G5048 teleioo). By this we know (G1097 ginosko) that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

Jude 1:21 - keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

5.15.2. Wide gate

Either of:

  • Pursuing holiness without submitting to the righteousness of God
    • This is denying Jesus and becoming guilty of sin by denying the atonement
    • John 15:22-23 - If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also.
  • Pursuing justification without becoming obedient to God
    • This is being cast out and withering and being thrown into the fire
    • John 15:5-6 - I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

A person needs to have obedient, believing faith in Jesus Christ to take the narrow gate.

These people did not believe and obey Jesus, and produced bad fruit:

Matthew 7:13-16 - Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow (4728 stenos ie. narrow, small) and the way is hard (2346 thlibó - meaning: like when circumstances "rub us the wrong way" that make us feel confined (hemmed in); restricted to a "narrow" place/) that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Those in the following example that prophesied here who cast out demons in Jesus' name and did many mighty works in Jesus' name,

  • didn't have God as their #1 agape love, treasuring Jesus and His words, and
  • didn't in faith keep and obey Jesus' words including commandments, and
  • didn't have a relationship with Jesus involving doing Jesus' words
  • didn't end up coming into the will of God to do their works out of God's will rather than their own will
    • they were probably not really being truly believing and obedient of the words Jesus spoke:

Matthew 7:21-24 - Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

We need to allow God's will to be done in us:

Matthew 6:10 - Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (ESV)

We need to endure in faith:

Matthew 7:13-14 - Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow (4728 stenos ie. narrow, small) and the way is hard (2346 thlibó - meaning: like when circumstances "rub us the wrong way" that make us feel confined (hemmed in); restricted to a "narrow" place/) that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

These people just sat around watching Jesus but didn't obey Him:

Luke 13:24-26 - Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us, then he will answer you, I do not know where you come from. Then you will begin to say, We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets. But he will say, I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!

We strive to enter through Jesus who is the door:

John 10:9-16 - I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. (ESV)

1: agónizomai: to contend for a prize, struggle
2: Original Word: ἀγωνίζομαι
3: Part of Speech: Verb
4: Transliteration: agónizomai
5: Phonetic Spelling: (ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee)
6: Definition: to contend for a prize, struggle
7: Usage: I am struggling, striving (as in an athletic contest or warfare); I contend, as with an adversary.

Matthew 7:13-14 - Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow (4728 stenos ie. narrow, small) and the way is hard (2346 thlibó - meaning: like when circumstances "rub us the wrong way" that make us feel confined (hemmed in); restricted to a "narrow" place/) that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (ESV)

Luke 13:24-30 - Strive (75. agónizomai) to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us, then he will answer you, I do not know where you come from. Then you will begin to say, We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets. But he will say, I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil (93. adikia)! In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last. (ESV)

1: adikia: injustice, unrighteousness
2: Original Word: ἀδικία, ας, ἡ
3: Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
4: Transliteration: adikia
5: Phonetic Spelling: (ad-ee-kee'-ah)
6: Definition: injustice, unrighteousness
7: Usage: injustice, unrighteousness, hurt.

5.15.3. Obedience to Jesus has everything to do with receiving Him, and receiving Salvation

Hebrews 3:18 - And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? (ESV)

Ezekiel 33:31 - And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. (ESV)

Jesus' sheep follow Jesus. Jesus knows them:

John 10:25-28 - Jesus answered them, I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. But you do not believe (G4100 pisteuo) because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow (G190 akoloutheo) Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. (NASB)

1: :  190  akoloutheo  ak-ol-oo-theh'-o
2: 
3:  from 1 (as a particle of union) and keleuthos (a road); properly, to
4:  be in the same way with, i.e. to accompany (specially, as a
5:  disciple):--follow, reach.
6:  see GREEK for 1

The gospel teaches us to serve the Lord Jesus. Those who teach others that the gospel does not, are deceivers, and they do not obey Jesus.

Matthew 7:16 - You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? (ESV)

I Peter 5:14 - Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

The gospel teaches us to serve the Lord Jesus.

Romans 14:18 - Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

Romans 16:17-20 - I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

II Chronicles 7:14 - if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (ESV)

II Corinthians 13:14 - The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (ESV)

5.15.4. Disobedience

Let us continue following and obeying Jesus, and not turn back:

John 6:66 - After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

Luke 9:62 - Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Judas betrayed Jesus after being chosen:

John 6:70-71 - Jesus answered them, Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil. He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.

Hebrews 6:4-8 - For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they then fall away, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: God's Delight in Obedience

I Samuel 15:22-23 - And Samuel said, Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king. (ESV)

5.15.5. The way is easy that leads to destruction

Matthew 7:13-16 - Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow (4728 stenos ie. narrow, small) and the way is hard (2346 thlibó - meaning: like when circumstances "rub us the wrong way" that make us feel confined (hemmed in); restricted to a "narrow" place/) that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

I'm not the judge. But Jesus's words which He left us will be the judge.

5.15.6. Narrow gate

II Peter 1:5-10 - For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. (ESV)

Hebrews 4:11 - Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. (ESV)

Luke 13:24 - Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. (ESV)

I Corinthians 9:24-27 - Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (ESV)

Philippians 2:12-13 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)

Asking Jesus to save me:

I can only say that salvation was a total gift for me, an unrighteous sinner. But I'm still working it out.

5.15.7. The narrow gate vitally requires submitting to God's righteousness. We need God's forgiveness and His justification that comes through faith

Romans 3:21-26 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

Romans 10:3 - For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. (ESV)

Like the following example of the tax collector, we must submit to God's righteousness:

Luke 18:9-14 - He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get. But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

Jesus is the Lamb of God. We must accept God's forgiveness through faith in Jesus:

John 1:29 - The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

God's righteousness is received by faith - through obedience to the gospel:

  • Romans 3:25 - whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (ESV)

We must receive atonement for sin through faith.

The tax collector in the story above has an obedient and believing heart. The tax collector has faith. It's not our own righteousness which is sufficient, but Jesus Christ's righteousness imputed onto us when we are in Him. We must have faith in Jesus.

5.15.8. We have to receive the Kingdom like a child. Don't resist Jesus or His teachings - follow Jesus

I accept that I need Jesus to have mercy on me. Because my own righteousness isn't good enough. I want to obey Jesus for the rest of my life, and live for Him, and I trust Him because I believe His gospel. I know that the Holy Spirit goes to those who obey Him.

Luke 18:15-17 - Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.

And I'm still trusting and having faith in Jesus Christ even up until now. So while through obedience to Jesus we are saved, Jesus is still the source of that salvation:

Hebrews 5:9 - And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

Jesus gave us teachings:

Luke 12:33-34 - Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (ESV)

The Apostle Paul taught these teachings, and taught people to remember Jesus' teachings:

Acts 20:35 - In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (ESV)

And the Holy Spirit helps us to follow His teaching:

Luke 24:49 - And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. (ESV)

Those who seek to know Jesus, following His commandments, may receive His Spirit:

John 14:16-21 - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

5.15.9. We have to believe in and obey Jesus. We all fall short but we still must have faith in Jesus

He is the Light, and He wants to give us the light of life but we have to allow Him to lead us:

John 8:12 - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (ESV)

We have to obey Jesus and take heed to all that He has said. Those who don't take heed to His words walk in darkness:

John 3:19 - And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.

Jesus is God's Son. Jesus is the Lamb of God.

We must receive the redemption that is in Christ Jesus through faith:

Romans 3:22-25 - the righteousness of God through faith (G4102 pistis) in Jesus Christ for all who believe (G4100 pisteuo). For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;

The redemption in Christ Jesus is a gift, and is a substitutionary atonement that is received through faith in Jesus.

As far as glory goes, or sharing in Jesus' holiness, I think in part this works like a blood transfusion, that should be received by faith, faith which includes the belief of faith and the obedience of faith, such as obedience to the discipline of Christ, that should yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness:

II Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)

We should be sanctified by the Truth, as we trust in God, trust in Jesus, trust in God's Word:

John 17:8-26 - For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.

We're not being justified by our works - we've already been redeemed, and we are justified by faith in Jesus, but we are also sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ. God is the one who justifies:

Romans 3:21-26 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

We must be obedient to God, we must be obedient to Jesus, repenting and following His commandments to share His holiness:

Hebrews 12:9-11 - Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (ESV)

We're not being justified by our works - we've already been redeemed, but we do works out of love for Jesus, and out of ongoing faith, ongoing obedience:

Titus 3:8 - The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. (ESV)

We accept that God justifies us, given we place our faith in Jesus, and that means trusting Jesus. Then we continue following Jesus out of faithful obedience.

All of these I believe belong under the umbrella of faith, not works:

  • Taking communion is not 'dead works'. It's obedience / walking in obedient faith.
  • Getting baptised is not 'dead works'. It's obedience / walking in obedient faith.
  • Obeying Jesus Christ's commandments are not 'dead works'. It's obedience / walking in obedient faith.

Faith presses on, faithful to Jesus, walking in the manner which Jesus walked - even to spend the rest of the time on earth being obedient to Jesus to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection, becoming like Him in His death (i.e. being faithful to God, stopping sin, exercising righteousness, becoming a scapegoat, even to death like the Apostles, sharing in His sufferings, living has He lived) and His resurrection:

Philippians 3:9-13 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (ESV)

God will be the judge of who has had faith in Jesus; who has obeyed Him and who has trusted in Him and who has made Him their Lord and who has accepted Him as their Saviour.

John 12:48 - The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

Hebrews 10:10-17 - And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds, then he adds, I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.

Hebrews 10:26 - For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

God please forgive and heal us.

5.15.10. All judgement has been given to Jesus

We must love Jesus and follow Him. Jesus is the judge. Our obedience to Jesus matters. Because the righteousness of God is received through faith. We are implored to strive to follow Jesus to our best ability:

John 5:17-29 - But Jesus answered them, My Father is working until now, and I am working. This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come (2064. erchomai) into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (ESV)

5.15.11. The gospel has to be obeyed

Read
gbtseminary.org: Cheap Grace: Bonhoeffer and the Cost of Discipleship - Grace Bible Theological Seminary

II Thessalonians 1:4-8 - Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

I Peter 4:12-19 - Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Where there is perfect belief, I think there is perfect obedience. i.e. if we hold firm to belief in Jesus, keeping and believing His sayings and obey Jesus through testing, we have eternal life and will see life:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

I am confident also that if we hold firm to obedience in Jesus keeping and obeying His sayings and believe Jesus through testing, we have eternal life and will see life:

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

Bonhoeffer seems to have a very similar view to my own
Though we are not saved by our works, Bonhoeffer believes that there is a great peril in ascribing “chronological distinctions” between belief (faith) and obedience as some often do. He believes that if we divorce the two (faith/obedience) we will inevitably overlook their essential unity to our detriment. You cannot have one without the other. Bonhoeffer says it like this, “Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.”

Matthew 5:44-45 - But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Matthew 5:48 - Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

This is talking about loving fellow human beings:

Didache Chapter 1 - … Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. For what reward is there for loving those who love you? Do not the Gentiles do the same? But love those who hate you, and you shall not have an enemy. …

We still have enemies (that is, the forces of evil, satan and satan's demons and his fallen angels, principalities, powers etc.):

I Peter 5:8 - Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (ESV)

Ephesians 6:12 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (ESV)

Loving all people doesn't mean approving of sin. We should speak the truth:

Acts 24:16 - So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. (ESV)

Romans 12:20 - To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. (ESV)

We want others to come to the truth:

Acts 26:29 - And Paul said, Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains. (ESV)

Quote from Mari Mari Emmanuel
So fear nothing, love everyone, but be firm when it comes to speaking the truth. Truth cannot be compromised. … The one who is all love, He was sharper than a sword; When it came to holding the Truth, fighting for the Truth, He stood firm, never gave way, never compromised. Now that is love. If you truly love someone, wouldn't you want them to be living in the Truth? If you truly love the person, you will tell them, "This is right… This is wrong…"

John 8:44 - You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (ESV)

5.15.12. God will be the judge of who has had faith in Jesus, and who has obeyed Him. I wouldn't take obedience lightly

Luke 20:13-18 - Then the owner of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him. But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours. And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others. When they heard this, they said, Surely not! But he looked directly at them and said, What then is this that is written: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.

  1. Jesus was extremely humble here. Likewise, we should be able to recognise that we need Him as our Lord looking over us

    Also, Jesus didn't actually deny that He is good:

    Luke 18:18-19 - And a ruler asked him, Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

    Isaiah 64:6 - We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. (ESV)

    Nevertheless, we should follow Jesus.

5.15.13. Let us serve Jesus Christ in truth, and have confidence

I John 3:21 - Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

Hebrews 3:14 - For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

I John 4:17 - By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

5.15.14. We must recognise that where our efforts to obey falls short, Jesus's blood covers us. But we must still have the heart to make Jesus our Lord and King, and be following Him

But we must be walking in the light, just as He is in the light.

I John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

So the blood of Jesus covers us while we are following Him.

The Apostle John's children/disciples were walking in love while walking in the truth, and rejecting offerings from Gentiles who were not walking in the truth:

III John 1:4-8 - I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. (ESV)

I really affirm Christa's message:

youtube.com: THE BATTLE IS IN YOUR MIND!!

If you're asking the Lord, "Will you cleanse my will? Will you cleanse my emotions, my heart?

"Cleanse my body with the blood of Jesus. I plead the blood of Jesus over 'so and so'. I plead the blood of Jesus over their mind, over their heart, heal them."

You know, if you start saying this it might really help you, okay, because it's helped me. It has helped me tremendously. And just to encourage you all, just renounce and cancel stuff from the enemy. close those doors, okay.

We got to lead a life of repentance and when you do that friends you are more you are more protected, and you are more covered.

I John 1:6-9

But if you're over there and you're not coming out of agreement with sin if you are not asking the Lord to forgive you of your sin we get be become dirty we become spiritually dirty. And we want to become spiritually clean because when we are spiritually clean we can hear the voice of God.

II Corinthians 7:1

When we are spiritually clean we can see the things of the lord, we can hear things, and he can speak to us more.

We can hear him more when we are spiritually clean.

Read
desiringgod.org: Detox Your Soul | Desiring God

Walking in the light is about walking in the Truth and God's guidance, God's will for us, God's instruction for us:

Psalms 43:3 - Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! (ESV)

Psalms 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (ESV)

The ones in the light agape their family in Christ:

I John 2:9 - Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. (ESV)

The ones in the light practice the truth. Confessing the truth, even the truth of when we have sinned, that is something which people who walk in the light (practice the truth) do:

I John 1:6-9 - If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

We should be cleansing ourselves of every defilement of body, and spirit with faith, the Word of God and the Spirit of God:

II Corinthians 7:1 - Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body (4561. sarx) and spirit (4151. pneuma), bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (ESV)

God cleanses our hearts as we practice our faith in Him:

Acts 15:9 - and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. (ESV)

We walk in the light (God's light, truth) in trust, faith, obedience:

I Peter 1:22 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)

We should be seeking Him out with our heart:

Jeremiah 29:13 - You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, (ESV)

Proverbs 8:17 - I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. (ESV)

Psalms 14:2 - The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. (ESV)

Psalms 24:3-4 - Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:22 - let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (ESV)

5.15.15. Do not condemn others. Speak the truth and leave judgement to the Judge

We are allowed to say that the world's works are evil:

John 7:7 - The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. (ESV)

John 8:16-18 - Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two men is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.

Luke 6:37 - , Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; (ESV)

Jesus is also extremely merciful to the woman who was brought before Jesus:

John 8:10-11 - Jesus stood up and said to her, Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more. (ESV)

5.15.16. Jesus Christ is the word of life, Jesus Christ is the eternal life

I John 1:1-3 - That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (ESV)

That is why we must believe in Him and obey His commandments:

I John 5:3-5 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (ESV)

5.15.17. Simply tell the truth from God. We must not reject Jesus

John 8:21-24 - So he said to them again, I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come. So the Jews said, Will he kill himself, since he says, Where I am going, you cannot come? He said to them, You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.

We must follow Jesus for eternal life:

John 8:12 - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Jesus knows Father God, and Jesus keeps His word. Likewise, we must follow Jesus and keep His word. Jesus is obedient to Father God. We must be obedient to Jesus Christ:

John 8:55-58 - But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad. So the Jews said to him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.

John 10:27-29 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

5.15.18. Jesus is Almighty God's Son and is sitting in Power next to His Father

Jesus obeyed His Father - He willed to do His Father's will:

Luke 22:41-42 - And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done. (ESV)

John 6:38 - For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. (ESV)

Jesus obeyed Father God perfectly and became the source of salvation to all who obey Him:

John 15:10 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (ESV)

John 17:19 - And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (ESV)

We serve Jesus so Jesus is our Master:

John 13:16 - Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. (ESV)

Serving Jesus brings Father God glory:

John 15:8 - By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (ESV)

Jesus being in the form of God took the form of the likeness of men:

Philippians 2:5-7 - Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (ESV)

II Corinthians 8:9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (ESV)

Jesus was appointed by God, learned obedience and made a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek:

Hebrews 5:5-10 - So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, You are my Son, today I have begotten you; as he says also in another place, You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. (ESV)

Jesus is One with Almighty God and their will is in perfect alignment. Jesus demonstrated perfect obedience to Father God:

John 10:30 - I and the Father are one.

John 5:30 - I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. (ESV)

Father God has been working through Jesus, His Son:

John 14:8-10 - Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. (ESV)

Even throughout His ministry on earth, He had power over nature - the power of Father God:

Mark 4:35-41 - On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, Let us go across to the other side. And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Peace! Be still! And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him? (ESV)

John 17:4 - I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. (ESV)

John 17:7 - Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. (ESV)

Matthew 28:16-20 - Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (ESV)

Revelation of John 3:12 - The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. (ESV)

Father God keeps us in His name so that we may be one with Them:

John 17:10-11 - All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. (ESV)

By posing the question, Jesus doesn't deny that he is good. But we agree, affirming what Jesus has spoken that God is good:

Mark 10:18 - And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. (ESV)

Mathetes to Diognetus
For, who of men at all understood before His coming what God is? Do you accept of the vain and silly doctrines of those who are deemed trustworthy philosophers? … But such declarations are simply the startling and erroneous utterances of deceivers; and no man has either seen Him, or made Him known, but He has revealed Himself. And He has manifested Himself through faith, to which alone it is given to behold God. For God, the Lord and Fashioner of all things, who made all things, and assigned them their several positions, proved Himself not merely a friend of mankind, but also long-suffering [in His dealings with them.] Yea, He was always of such a character, and still is, and will ever be, kind and good, and dispassionate (free from wrath), and true, and the only one who is [absolutely] good; and He formed in His mind a great and unspeakable conception, which He communicated to His Son alone. As long, then, as He held and preserved His own wise counsel in concealment, He appeared to neglect us, and to have no care over us. But after He revealed and laid open, through His beloved Son, the things which had been prepared from the beginning, He conferred every blessing all at once upon us, so that we should both share in His benefits, and see and be active [in His service]. Who of us would ever have expected these things? He was aware, then, of all things in His own mind, along with His Son, according to the relation subsisting between them.

I believe there is only one good shepherd, and that is Jesus Christ, Immanuel (God with us, God incarnate, and not merely in the flesh, but the Word became flesh):

John 10:14-15 - I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. (ESV)

I Peter 2:24-25 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (ESV)

Hebrews 13:20-21 - Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)

John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (ESV)

Jesus makes intercession for those who draw near to God through Him:

Hebrews 7:25 - Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Likewise, the Holy Spirit is Almighty God:

Isaiah 48:16-17 - Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there. And now the Lord GOD has sent me, and his Spirit. Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. (ESV)

Acts 5:3-4 - But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God. (ESV)

Matthew 3:16-17 - And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. (ESV)

Immanuel or Emmanuel is a Hebrew name that appears in Isaiah 7:14 as a sign that God will protect the House of David:

Matthew 1:21-23 - She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). (ESV)

Matthew 1:24-25 - When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (ESV)

Isaiah 7:10-20 - Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test. And he said, Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. The LORD will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria. In that day the LORD will whistle for the fly that is at the end of the streams of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines, and in the clefts of the rocks, and on all the thornbushes, and on all the pastures. In that day the Lord will shave with a razor that is hired beyond the River—with the king of Assyria—the head and the hair of the feet, and it will sweep away the beard also. (ESV)

Romans 12:9-21 - Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (ESV)

Genesis 2:18 - Then the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. (ESV)

Quote from Billy Graham
Jesus said, "Seek Jesus ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Put God first. God will take care of the rest. But if you put money and pleasure and power first you're going to be deceived, you're going to come up empty, you're going to come up short-handed.

Philippians 1:9-10 - And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, (ESV)

This quite clearly shows that Jesus Christ is Almighty God:

Zechariah 12:10 - And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. (ESV)

Colossians 2:9 - For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, (ESV)

youtube.com: The Historic Baptist View of the Nicene Creed @time: 10 min 4 sec
Affirming the Nicene Creed has been a historic uncontroversial Baptist conviction. What is happening today is that some Baptists are falling away a little bit from our own roots and so we need reform.

I affirm the Nicene creed wholeheartedly:

 1: We believe in one God,
 2:       the Father almighty,
 3:       maker of heaven and earth,
 4:       of all things visible and invisible.
 5: 
 6: And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
 7:       the only-begotten Son of God,
 8:       begotten from the Father before all ages,
 9:            God from God,
10:            Light from Light,
11:            true God from true God,
12:       begotten, not made;
13:       of the same essence as the Father.
14:       Through him all things were made.
15:       For us and for our salvation
16:            he came down from heaven;
17:            he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
18:            and was made human.
19:            He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
20:            he suffered and was buried.
21:            The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.
22:            He ascended to heaven
23:            and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
24:            He will come again with glory
25:            to judge the living and the dead.
26:            His kingdom will never end.
27: 
28: And we believe in the Holy Spirit,
29:       the Lord, the giver of life.
30:       He proceeds from the Father and the Son,
31:       and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
32:       He spoke through the prophets.
33:       We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
34:       We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
35:       We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
36:       and to life in the world to come. Amen.

AMEN!!

II Corinthians 13:14 - The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: "Agnus Dei" with Michael W Smith & the First Dallas Choir & Orchestra

Hebrews 1:3 - He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus proceeded forth from Father God, and returned to Father God:

John 16:28 - I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father. (ESV)

Jesus Christ is with us in Spirit:

Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (ESV)

Jesus' Spirit may be inside us!

Galatians 4:4-9 - But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? (ESV)

John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (ESV)

Jesus is sitting in power:

Hebrews 1:13 - And to which of the angels has he ever said, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet?

The Holy Spirit is a Person:

John 16:13 - When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (ESV)

If the Holy Spirit dwells in you, you are in the Spirit, not in the flesh:

Romans 8:9 - You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (ESV)

Holy Spirit has emotions:

Isaiah 63:10 - But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them. (ESV)

The Spirit of God is God although He belongs to God.

Holy Spirit speaks:

II Samuel 23:2-4 - The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me; his word is on my tongue. The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. (ESV)

Father God, the LORD, God Almighty the Judge of all the earth has a form:

John 5:37-38 - And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. (ESV)

Genesis 18:1-5 - And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant. So they said, Do as you have said. (ESV)

Genesis 18:25 - Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just? (ESV)

Not only does Father God have children, but Jesus is His Only-Begotten Son:

Deuteronomy 14:1 - You are the sons of the LORD your God. You shall not cut yourselves or make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead. (ESV)

This video is pretty awesome
youtube.com: Did Anyone Believe in the Trinity Before Nicea?

I affirm the doctrine of the Trinity:

Thus, the Son is not one-third of the being of God; he is all of the being of God. The Father is not one-third of the being of God; he is all of the being of God. And likewise with the Holy Spirit. Thus, as Wayne Grudem writes, “When we speak of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together we are not speaking of any greater being than when we speak of the Father alone, the Son alone, or the Holy Spirit alone” (Ibid., 252).

There is only one God. If each Person of the Trinity is distinct and yet fully God, then should we conclude that there is more than one God? Obviously we cannot, for Scripture is clear that there is only one God: “There is no other God besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other”.

Zechariah 12:10 - And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. (ESV)

Isaiah 45:21-22 - Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. (ESV)

Isaiah 44:6-8 - Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any. (ESV)

Holy Spirit is Lord:

II Corinthians 3:18 - And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (ESV)

Jesus was with Father God in the beginning:

Proverbs 8:22-36 - The LORD (3068. Yhvh) possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man. And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death. (ESV)

John 1:1-2 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. (ESV)

Exodus 15:11 - Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? (ESV)

Deuteronomy 4:35 - To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 - Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 32:39 - See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. (ESV)

I Samuel 2:2 - There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. (ESV)

I Kings 8:60 - that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other. (ESV)

AMEN!!

Song
youtube.com: He is Jehovah | by Betty Jean Robinson
Lyrics

He is Jehovah, God of creation.; He is Jehovah, Lord God almighty.; The Balm of Gilead, the Rock of Ages.; He is Jehovah, the God that healeth thee.

He is the great I Am, the God of Abraham,; Jehovah Shalom, the God peace I am.; The God of Israel, the Everlasting One.; He is Jehovah, the God that healeth thee.

Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah,; Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah.; He is Jehovah, Lord God almighty.; He is Jehovah, the God that healeth thee.

I am your Provider, Jehovah Jireh; God of salvation, God of Messiah; My Son who came to you, and testified of him.; He is Jehovah, the God that healeth thee.

Jehovah is God Almighty:

Exodus 6:3 - I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. (ESV)

Exodus 6:3 (Interlinear)
and I appear unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty; as to My name Jehovah, I have not been known to them;

YHWH is Father God:

Matthew 6:9 - Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. (ESV)

Revelation of John 4:11 - Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. (ESV)

Ezekiel 36:23 - And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. (ESV)

Ezekiel 37:13-15 - And you shall know that I am the LORD (3068. Yhvh), when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD. The word of the LORD came to me: (ESV)

Psalms 111:9 - He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! (ESV)

Isaiah 64:8 (Interlinear)
But now Yahweh our Father You [are] we [are] the clay and You our potter and the work of Your hand we all [are]

Isaiah 64:8 - But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. (ESV)

When God revealed His name, He also revealed what His name means:

Exodus 3:13-15 - Then Moses said to God, If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, What is his name? what shall I say to them? God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM. And he said, Say this to the people of Israel, I AM has sent me to you. God also said to Moses, Say this to the people of Israel, The LORD (3068. Yhvh), the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. (ESV)

Knowing God coincides with keeping His word. I think that if we're having trouble understanding the Godhead, we should try to keep God's word:

John 8:54-58 - Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, He is our God. But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad. So the Jews said to him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. (ESV)

God wants us to know Him and obey Him and to do good as He has commanded:

Hosea 6:5-8 - Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me. Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with blood. (ESV)

James 1:22 - But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (ESV)

Psalms 90:2 - Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (ESV)

John 1:18 (Interlinear)
God no one has seen ever yet [the] only begotten God the [One] being in the bosom of the Father He has made [Him] known

Exodus 3:15 - God also said to Moses, Say this to the people of Israel, The LORD (3068. Yhvh), the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. (ESV)

Jesus referred to God as Father:

Mark 14:36 - And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will. (ESV)

Father God put the Spirit of His Son into our heart:

Galatians 4:6 - And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! (ESV)

And we are adopted:

Romans 8:15-16 - For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (ESV)

Jesus also taught us to call the same God our God and Father:

John 20:17 - Jesus said to her, Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. (ESV)

We're supposed to do God's will. It's our food to do God's will:

John 12:27 - Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. (ESV)

John 4:34 - Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. (ESV)

Jesus and Father God are very close:

John 12:28 - Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven: I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again. (ESV)

John 5:19 - So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. (ESV)

Jesus pre-existed before Creation:

John 1:3 - All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (ESV)

John 17:5,24 - And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. (ESV)

5.15.19. Faith and law-keeping as a Christian

When it comes to following the law as a Christian, it's a matter of being accountable to God personally over our own commitment to law adherence while we follow and adhere to Jesus first and foremost, but we should be being sanctified by obedience to the Truth, so we should be becoming more holy and loving and coming to imitate Jesus.

John Piper on Faith and Law-Keeping
youtube.com: How Our Faith and Law-Keeping Work Together in the Christian Life

II Corinthians 3:18 - And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (ESV)

Romans 2:11-12 - For God shows no partiality. For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. (ESV)

Even Christians as children of the promise are supposed to keep the way of the LORD so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has promised to him:

Genesis 18:17-19 - The LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him. (ESV)

Romans 9:6-8 - But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but Through Isaac shall your offspring be named. This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. (ESV)

God is still collecting children of the promise, children of God:

Hebrews 11:13 - These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (ESV)

Fear of God is not only about having the heart to repent from sin and "beat hand on chest and ask God for mercy", but it is also having a changed heart, endeavoring to please Christ with our actions:

II Corinthians 5:6-11 - So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. (ESV)

Disbelief causes disobedience. Disbelief caused the Israelites to not walk in obedience:

Hebrews 3:16-19 - For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. (ESV)

Jesus was pleased with some of the Israelites here. But we must learn from the example here so that we still walk in righteousness and desire to do good and not evil according to God's precepts:

I Corinthians 10:1-10 - I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. (ESV)

It's not "having (having possession of) the law" which counts, but "doing it". I think this part of Romans is really talking about how the Law of God is effectively used to judge people. And what's interesting is that it seems as though, through Christ Jesus, God judges the secrets of men, and that happens to all people:

Romans 2:12-16 - For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers (4163. poiétés) of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

In those who walk according to the Spirit, the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled:

Romans 8:3-4 - For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (ESV)

With regards to those that have faith in Christ Jesus, this be thought of as doing the law (loving one another) shows evidence for or confirming a person's faith in Jesus. I honestly believe that obedience and faith are not mutually exclusive, so in obeying Jesus God may make the person born again, and God may justify them. That's up to God. I think that's fine. God tests the hearts:

Romans 3:26 - It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

We certainly still will to do the will of God after being saved:

Matthew 22:36-40 - Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)

Romans 2:13 - For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers (4163. poiétés) of the law who will be justified. (ESV)

We of course may be imperfect doers of the law, especially as Christians because we are justified by our faith in Jesus:

Quote by John Piper
A person today may be a doer of the law who trusts Jesus as the only basis of their justification before God, who in the power of that faith by the Spirit walks in a manner worthy of the LORD and then at the last judgement Christ will be the basis of our acceptance - Christ alone, the basis of our acceptance with the Father and our life of obedience doing the law will be brought in to confirm that our faith was real, because faith works through love. So "doing the law" will not be the basis of our being in God's favour, but the evidence that we are trusting Christ, united to Christ, and thus necessary at the last day.

AMEN!! This has totally been my stance, but John Piper hit the nail on the head with this one.

We can certainly "be obedient to God's commandments" and that is "doing":

I Peter 1:14-16 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. (ESV)

Titus 3:3 - For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. (ESV)

James 1:22 - But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:31 - By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
The only sin that you can conquer in life is a forgiven sin. The only sin that you can successfully strive against without incurring the judgement of God on your legalism is a forgiven sin. This is glorious. It's a glorious way to become holy.

That's really cool. I think what John Piper says here using the word 'legalism' is that upon confessing a sin and affirming the sinfulness of that sin (if I were to confess that I consider X to be sinful), and I want to repent from the sin, if Jesus has forgiven it, Jesus has also given us the grace to be healed and set free from it.

Acts 13:39 - from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. (ESV)

Romans 6:16-18 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (ESV)

Remember that sin enslaves. Jesus' blood sets us free from sin. Jesus sets us free.

Quote by John Piper
Namely, that the only sin that can be successfully fought is a forgiven sin. And not only that, but also since the forgiveness has been secured infallibly by the blood of Jesus, the fight will be successful.

Perfect obedience though is something Jesus reached but I certainly have not:

Philippians 2:8 - And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV)

The nations have a form of God's law written on our hearts:

Romans 2:14-16 - For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Romans 3:28-29 - For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, (ESV)

Romans 5:1-2 - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (ESV)

There is no problem with keeping the law to your level of commitment accountable to God, but we should not feel under the law that we must keep all of it all the time. Also, our obedience to the law is not what justifies us:

Galatians 5:3-4 - I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. (ESV)

Those who annul and teach others to annul the law will be 'called' least in the kingdom. It's not humility to do so. They're teaching people against bearing good fruit.

We should not forsake Jesus as our Master:

Jude 1:4 - For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (ESV)

We certainly should not forsake the higher precepts of the law - mercy, justice and faithfulness:

Matthew 23:23 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. (ESV)

We certainly should not annul and teach others to annul the Great Commandments or the 10 Commandments:

I Corinthians 7:19 - For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. (ESV)

It's prideful to say that God is wrong, Jesus behaved badly and that the Law is wrong, and we shouldn't love God and our neighbour:

Galatians 5:6 - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (ESV)

Love is the fulfillment of the law. Love does the commandments of God that the law requires. The person who does them can be described as a doer of the law:

Romans 13:8 - Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
That's who we are as Christians. When we walk according to the Spirit, we fulfill the just requirement of the law. That is, we keep the commandments, we love. We are doers of the law. Not sinlessly perfect law-keepers. Nobody is nor anybody has been except Jesus, which is why we depend on Him, but rather, radically transformed people, through faith, in the power of the Holy Spirit, leaning on the grace of God that comes to us through Jesus Christ.

AMEN!!

Jesus' atonement means that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk according to the Spirit - keeping the commandments of God:

Romans 8:3-4 - For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (ESV)

Teaching others to not obey Jesus' commandments and to not obey the 10 Commandments is teaching people against walking by the Spirit.

Teaching others to break the law is teaching bad behaviour.

Romans 2:6-7 - He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; (ESV)

It refuses to acknowledge sin and it refuses to agree with God and it refuses to acknowledge loving God and one another, and it refuses to acknowledge holiness and being a living sacrifice for God:

Luke 1:5-6 - In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. (ESV)

Jesus, the original Apostles and the founding fathers of Christianity still taught us to keep the 2 Great commandments and the 10 Commandments which is sound doctrine:

  • I Corinthians 7:19 - Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. (KJV)

So long as we hold faith in Christ, we're no longer victims of the curse of the law (which is to rely on keeping the full law perfectly to avoid being cursed):

Galatians 3:10-13 - For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them. Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for The righteous shall live by faith. But the law is not of faith, rather The one who does them shall live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree— (ESV)

Those who keep God's commandments and and the righteousness of faith / the testimony of Jesus will be called great in the kingdom:

Matthew 5:19 - Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

It is humility to keep God's commandments by faith (and not works), accountable to God who sees in secret.

Quote by John Piper
"Pride is insubordinate. [It says,] You don't have a right to tell me what to do. That's what happened in the Garden of Eden right at the beginning of our sinful plight. And that's what all of us do apart from God's grace."

It's God who tests the faith, and God who justifies:

II Corinthians 10:18 - For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (ESV)

We 'endeavour' to be justified in Christ. We want to be found in Christ. We don't justify ourselves, and we don't put ourselves in, but we endeavour to be justified by God by being in Christ:

Galatians 2:17 - But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! (ESV)

Surely to be found in Christ we would be trusting Him and and trusting in Him and living for Him, and even serving Him.

We must believe, believe in and obey Christ.

The will of the Father is to believe on the Son, and it's also for us to love.

John 6:40 - For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (ESV)

God gifts us repentance as we believe in Jesus:

Acts 16:31-32 - And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. (ESV)

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)

We need God to know us:

Galatians 4:4-9 - But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? (ESV)

Yes we must trust Him:

Romans 4:5-8 - And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin. (ESV)

We must do the will of the Father:

Matthew 7:15-20 - Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (ESV)

We must not be workers of lawlessness, but our belief should produce more obedience:

Matthew 7:21-23 - Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness (458. anomia). (ESV)

Matthew 6:10 - Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (ESV)

1: anomia: lawlessness
2: Original Word: ἀνομία, ας, ἡ
3: Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
4: Transliteration: anomia
5: Phonetic Spelling: (an-om-ee'-ah)
6: Definition: lawlessness
7: Usage: lawlessness, iniquity, disobedience, sin.
 1: 2532 5119 3670           846       3754   3763      1097
 2: kai  tote homologēsō     autois    hoti   Oudepote  egnōn
 3: καὶ  τότε ὁμολογήσω      αὐτοῖς    ὅτι  , Οὐδέποτε  ἔγνων
 4: And  then I will declare to them    -     Never     knew I
 5: Conj Adv  V-FIA-1S       PPro-DM3P Conj   Adv       V-AIA-1S
 6: 
 7: 4771     672         575  1473     3588    2038 [e]
 8: hymas    apochōreite ap’  emou     hoi     ergazomenoi
 9: ὑμᾶς  ;  ἀποχωρεῖτε  ἀπ’  ἐμοῦ  ,  οἱ      ἐργαζόμενοι
10: you      depart you  from Me       those   working
11: PPro-A2P V-PMA-2P    Prep PPro-G1S Art-VMP V-PPM/P-VMP
12: 
13: 3588    458
14: tēn     anomian
15: τὴν     ἀνομίαν  .
16:  -      lawlessness
17: Art-AFS N-AFS

We must put Jesus' words into action:

Matthew 7:24-28 - Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, (ESV)

The words which Jesus had just spoken which he was probably referring to. We should be doers of the Law, specifically to love - to fulfill the Royal Law - and the "strait and narrow" involves repentance and sanctification:

Matthew 7:1-20 - Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow (4728 stenos ie. narrow, small) and the way is hard (2346 thlibó - meaning: like when circumstances "rub us the wrong way" that make us feel confined (hemmed in); restricted to a "narrow" place/) that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (ESV)

Romans 13:10 - Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)

We should continue serving God:

John 4:34 - Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. (ESV)

John 8:29 - And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him. (ESV)

There are varieties of service, and God empowers us to serve Him:

I Corinthians 12:4-6 - Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. (ESV)

We must keep and accept the precepts of God over the precepts of men:

Mark 7:6-9 - And he said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men. And he said to them, You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! (ESV)

This passage is condemning submitting to worldly / human precepts and imploring us to submit to God's precepts. It's not condemning God's precepts but imploring us to put to death what is against God's precepts:

Colossians 2:20-23,3:1-6 - If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. (ESV)

6. Jehovah is Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and Earth

Jeremiah 31:33 - But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD (H3068 Yhovah): I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (ESV)

Genesis 2:7 - then the LORD (H3068 Yhovah) God (H430 'elohiym) formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: God's Own Name

II Timothy 2:19 - But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: The Lord knows those who are his, and, Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: The Superior Name of the Son

The life which God has given us is in Jesus. And by believing He is who He is, we may have life in His name:

John 20:31 - but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (ESV)

Jehovah God gave Jesus His name, Jesus Christ, Son of God:

Matthew 1:21 - She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. (ESV)

Matthew 3:17 - and behold, a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. (ESV)

Jesus says that Jehovah God gave Him His name, Jesus, and that Jesus is Jehovah God's name:

John 17:11 - And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. (ESV)

God's name is also Yahweh (Jehovah):

Exodus 3:13-15 - Then Moses said to God, If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, What is his name? what shall I say to them? God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM. And he said, Say this to the people of Israel, I AM has sent me to you. God also said to Moses, Say this to the people of Israel, The LORD (3068. Yhvh), the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. (ESV)

Exodus 34:5-7 - The LORD (3068. Yhvh) descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD (3068. Yhvh). The LORD (3068. Yhvh) passed before him and proclaimed, The LORD (3068. Yhvh), the LORD (3068. Yhvh), a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation. (ESV)

Jesus manifested this name:

John 17:6 - I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. (ESV)

John 17:26 - I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. (ESV)

Psalms 22:22 - I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: (ESV)

Hebrews 2:11-12 - For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise. (ESV)

John 1:18 - No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (ESV)

Jesus' name is the name above all names:

Philippians 2:9-11 - Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV)

Father God is greater than all:

John 10:29 - My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. (ESV)

John 20:17 - Jesus said to her, Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. (ESV)

Thoughts:

  • Jesus' name is the name above all names
  • Father God is greater than the Son of God
  • The name of Jesus belongs to both the Father and the Son
  • God is to be remembered as YHWH

I Corinthians 6:17 - But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. (ESV)

Father God has a voice and a form, and sent Jesus:

John 5:37-38 - And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. (ESV)

Father God spoke here:

John 12:27-30 - Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven: I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again. The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, An angel has spoken to him. Jesus answered, This voice has come for your sake, not mine. (ESV)

Father God glorifies Himself as He glorifies Jesus:

John 13:31 - When he had gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. (ESV)

Philippians 2:11 - and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV)

I believe that Jesus Christ is Jehovah and is Immanuel, and I believe in one God revealed in 3 Persons.

I believe that Jesus Christ is Jehovah, in that Jesus is God the Son, and the name Jesus belongs to Jehovah God:

John 1:1-3 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: What A Beautiful Name - Hillsong Worship
Hillsong - What A Beautiful Name (Lyrics)

You didn't want Heaven without us; So Jesus, You brought Heaven down; My sin was great, Your love was greater; What could separate us now?

Death could not hold You, the veil tore before You; You silenced the boast of sin and grave; The Heavens are roaring, the praise of Your glory; For You are raised to life again

You have no rival, You have no equal; Now and forever, God, You reign; Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the Glory; Yours is the Name above all names

What a powerful Name it is, what a powerful Name it is; The Name of Jesus Christ, my King; What a powerful Name it is, nothing can stand against; What a powerful Name it is, the Name of Jesus

John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (ESV)

John 1:17 - For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Romans 9:4-5 - They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. (ESV)

Ezekiel 34:11-12 - For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. (ESV)

biblehub.com 34-11.htm: Ezekiel 34:11 Interlinear: For thus said the Lord Jehovah: Lo, I – even I, have required My flock, And I have sought it out.

John 10:16 - And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. (ESV)

John 11:51-52 - He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. (ESV)

Acts 28:28 - Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen. (ESV)

Video
youtube.com: Gospel of Mark calls Jesus God in every chapter

God the Father and God the Son are one:

John 10:30 - I and the Father are one.

Matthew 11:25-27 - At that time Jesus declared, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (ESV)

Yeshua, Jesus Yahweh, Jehovah
Mark 1:3 - the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight, (ESV) Isaiah 40:3 - A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (ESV)
Mark 2:7 - Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone? (ESV) Isaiah 43:25 - I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. (ESV)
Mark 4:38 - But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? (ESV) Psalms 107:28-29 - Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. (ESV)
Mark 5:35-43 - While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further? But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not fear, only believe. And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping. And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, Talitha cumi, which means, Little girl, I say to you, arise. And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. (ESV) I Kings 17:21-22 - Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again. And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. 2 Kings 4:32-35 - When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD. Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. (ESV)
Yeshua, Jesus Yahweh, Jehovah
Mark 6:48 - And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, (ESV) Job 9:8 - who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea; (ESV)
Mark 7:31-47 - Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak. In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away. And his disciples answered him, How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place? And he asked them, How many loaves do you have? They said, Seven. And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha. (ESV) Exodus 4:11 - Then the LORD said to him, Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? (ESV)
Yeshua, Jesus Yahweh, Jehovah
Mark 8:1-10 - In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away. And his disciples answered him, How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place? And he asked them, How many loaves do you have? They said, Seven. And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha. (ESV) Exodus 16:4 - Then the LORD said to Moses, Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. (ESV)
Mark 9:2-5 - And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah. (ESV) Only 2 people to climb a mountain to commune with God. Moses in Exodus 24, and Elijah in I Kings 19
Mark 14:61-62 - But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. (ESV) Daniel 7:13-14 - I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (ESV)

John 8:18-19 - I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me. They said to him therefore, Where is your Father? Jesus answered, You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also. (ESV)

I Corinthians 10:9-11 - We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. (ESV)

I John 5:20 - And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (ESV)

I John 5:11 - And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (ESV)

Isaiah 43:10 - You are my witnesses, declares the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. (ESV)

To have the Spirit of Christ is to have the Spirit of Jehovah God:

Romans 8:9-10 - You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (ESV)

God sends the Spirit of His Son into our heart, crying, "Abba! Father!" We experience this as our own cry.

This is how we are given the assurance that we are the children of God:

Galatians 4:1-7 - I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (ESV)

We, personally cry "Abba, Father!" We call to Father God.

Romans 8:13-17 - For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: The Spirit in Us Cries 'Abba Father': Galatians 4:1-7, Part 5

I really want to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit cry 'Abba Father', and acknowledge to me in a voice that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.

I John 4:1-3 - Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. (ESV)

As of now (28 April '24), though, I have not actually heard that confession through the Spirit (as I expect to hear it) that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh - just being honest.

I still profess that Jesus Christ is the Only-Begotten Son of God who has proceeded from Father God, come from heaven to earth in the flesh, born of the virgin Mary, was crucified and died for the sins of mankind and raised from the dead on the third day and has ascended to the Father and sits at His right hand, and I pray daily to Father God.

Also, I have had as of 28 May '24 in my dreams:

  • A picture of "Jehovah 🌹" - Jehovah's name with a rose by it, and
  • A distinctly male voice which said, "Jesus is God"

star.net.nz: The Word for Today - The right balance - May 28th

Interesting. It's not exactly what I'm still having faith for, but Jesus is indeed God the Son, and Jehovah is God and is Love. I will be still waiting for the Biblical acknowledgement I am waiting for "Jesus is the Son of God who has proceeded forth from Father God in the flesh from heaven to earth". Otherwise I'm simply not going to trust the spirit sending dreams/visions.

Song
youtube.com: Petra: Love
Petra - Love (Lyrics)

Love is patient, love is kind; No eyes of envy, true love is blind; Love is humble, it knows no pride; No selfish motive hiden inside; Love is gentle, makes no demands; Despite all wrong, true love still stands; Love is holy, love is pure; It lasts forever, it will endure

Love is loyal, believes the best; It loves the truth, love stands the test; Love is God sent in His Son; Love forgives all we have done

Love knows when to let go; Love knows when to say no; Love grows in the light on the Son; And love show the world that the Son of Love has come

In this world where hatred seems to grow; True love goes against the flow; And becomes so hard to show

They can get very tactical sometimes, so I have to be very discerning. Though I will test them because I still get some true visions/dreams sometimes.

I John 4:2-3 - By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. (ESV)

Mari Mari Emmanuel loves Jesus and this is a great sermon. I wish I heard and understood this earlier. Mari is speaking a lot of truth here. I can't fact-check the entire thing but it could have brought me up to speed a bit faster I think if I watched it earlier:

youtube.com: Part 1 Of Works Of The Holy Spirit | Bishop Mari Mari Emmanuel

He (Jesus Christ) is the only one who fulfilled all God's Commandments and laws He is the perfect human, like the Lord said in Matthew 5:48 be as perfect as your Heavenly Father is.

This man is the perfect one like his Heavenly Father.

Therefore this human being can be the Son for God. This human only can be the Son - qualifies to be the Son because he has fulfilled all God's demands, requests, criterias. That's why, lawfully, he qualifies to be the Son. Not in any other way but by law, by law. So no one can challenge his authenticity in any court of law because he has fulfilled all laws.

So whenever he stands in any court of law he can stand with his head up, high up, and can say, "Anyone of you can convict me of sin?" No-one. He's the only human being who never broke God's word, because everything in Him was the yes and the AMEN!!

We are talking here about the Lord's humanity, not divinity. Divinity is God. He's the perfect God. We're talking about the human being, perfect like God.

Hebrews 7:26-28 - For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 5:20-22 - Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. (ESV)

But I am still seeking hearing that acknowledgement by continuing in Jesus' word, endeavoring to keep Jesus' commandments. I certainly have heard many false and deceptive voices, even blasphemy. So I mean, if the devil or evil spirits can speak lies to me then I just have total confidence that at the right time I'll hear from God.

And even up till now I still am seeking irrefutable personal assurance of God's justification beyond the unseen evidence I already hold out for by faith in God, and the faith in the promises of God written in Scripture that say I am justified for my faith in Jesus.

Not everything I have had in my dreams is against the truth. For example, recently I heard this in a dream:

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

Therefore, I will continue to endeavour to keep Jesus' commandments:

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

So it's really important that I remain faithful to Jesus and do my best to not compromise or be swayed by people who deter me from keeping Jesus' commandments.

And eventually His commandments become unburdensome, and we're keeping them, and we have confidence we have come to know Him:

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

Knowing God coincides with keeping His word. I think that if we're having trouble understanding the Godhead, we should try to keep God's word:

John 8:54-58 - Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, He is our God. But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad. So the Jews said to him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. (ESV)

This kind of sounds like people can use their intellect to avoid obeying Jesus, and we must come against that disobedience:

II Corinthians 10:5 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (ESV)

As we abide in the Word of God and are sanctified in the Truth, our spiritual eyesight becomes clearer:

Luke 6:41-42 - Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye, when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.

Also, the Holy Spirit may teach us even before He is in us, by helping us as He dwells with us, and eventually will be in us:

John 14:16-21 - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

Also, it's important to purify ourselves, as we hope in Him:

I John 3:1-3 - See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (ESV)

Colossians 1:18 - And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (ESV)

This entire chapter is very important for testing the spirits:

I John 4:1-17 - Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

  • every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God

We must hold fast to Jesus, the Head:

Colossians 2:18-19 - Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. (ESV)

Believing Father God Jehovah, loving Him, obeying His commandments, loving and obeying Jesus Christ His son, all must be true together, even to have a sound definition of what love is:

I John 5:1-3 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (ESV)

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.

6.1. Seven I AM statements in the Gospel of John

6.1.1. The Bread of Life

John 6:35 - Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (ESV)

John 6:41 - So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, I am the bread that came down from heaven. (ESV)

John 6:48 - I am the bread of life. (ESV)

John 6:51 - I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. (ESV)

6.1.2. The Light of the World

John 8:12 - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (ESV)

John 9:5 - As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Delirious? - Everything {Live}
Delirious? - Everything (Lyrics)
It's a beautiful day and the world is bright; 'cause you took me away from the longest night; What can I do but give all I have to you

6.1.3. The Door

John 10:7 - So Jesus again said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. (ESV)

John 10:9 - I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (ESV)

6.1.4. The Good Shepherd

John 10:11 - I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (ESV)

John 10:14-15 - I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: CityAlight - Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me {Live}
CityAlight - Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me (Lyrics)
To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me; Through the deepest valley, He will lead; Oh, the night has been won, and I shall overcome; Yet not I, but through Christ in me

6.1.5. The Resurrection and the Life

John 11:25 - Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, (ESV)

6.1.6. The Way, the Truth and the Life

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV)

6.1.7. The True Vine

John 15:1 - I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. (ESV)

John 15:5 - I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (ESV)

6.2. Jesus

6.2.1. Jesus has overcome the world

John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (ESV)

John 15:7 - If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (ESV)

AMEN!!

I John 5:12-15 - Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (ESV)

That's really good news for us:

  • He carries our burdens
  • He carries our shame

AMEN!!

Song
youtube.com: Darlene Zschech - In Jesus' Name | Official Live Video

6.2.2. Jesus is the Lamb of God who sits with God on God's throne

Jesus Christ is our God. Forever, He is Father God's revelation to us of Himself.

Revelation of John 7:9 - After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, (ESV)

Revelation of John 7:10-12 - and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen. (ESV)

Revelation of John 7:17 - For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (ESV)

Revelation of John 19:4 - And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, Amen. Hallelujah! (ESV)

Revelation of John 22:3 - No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. (ESV)

6.2.3. Follow Jesus for eternal life. Jesus is the Bread of Life

Luke 18:18-22 - And a ruler asked him, Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother. And he said, All these I have kept from my youth. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.

6.2.4. Believe Jesus and allow His word to abide in you

John 5:46-47 - If you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words? (ESV)

Proverbs 7:1-3 - My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

Jesus' word:

John 8:12 - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

These Jews had believed but didn't abide in Jesus' words, and so prove to be Jesus' disciples:

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

They didn't believe they needed Jesus to set them free from sin:

John 8:33-36 - They answered him, We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, You will become free? Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

We need to believe Jesus is who He says He is:

John 8:24 - I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins. (ESV)

We need to keep Jesus' word until we are set free:

John 8:51 - Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. (ESV)

They couldn't accept that they needed to be saved:

John 8:37 - I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.

Jesus speaks of what He has seen with His Father:

John 8:38 - I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.

6.2.5. We are implored to love Jesus and follow Him

We need to love Jesus because He came from God, to show us the Way as the Light of the world.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life:

John 8:39-42 - They answered him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing what your father did. They said to him, We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God. Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.

John 8:43 - Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

We must obey His commandments to walk in the same way He walked so we get to know Him and are sanctified by faith in the truth, which leads to eternal life:

Hebrews 5:8-9 - Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, (ESV)

6.2.6. We must listen to Jesus

Luke 9:35 - Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!”

John 8:44-47 - You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.

youtube.com: Look at Jesus!

John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (ESV)

John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (ESV)

Hebrews 1:2 - but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (ESV)

Hebrews 2:1 - Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. (ESV)

6.2.7. We are implored to honour Jesus

John 8:48-49 - The Jews answered him, Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon? Jesus answered, I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.

John 5:21-24 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes (G4100 pisteuo) him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come (2064. erchomai) into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

6.2.8. We are implored to keep Jesus' words

John 8:50-51 - Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.

6.2.9. We must receive Jesus. Jesus is God's Only-Begotten Son

John 8:52-59 - The Jews said to him, Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be? Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, He is our God. But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad. So the Jews said to him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

6.2.10. Even those who have faith in Jesus Christ's name may have the right to be born of God and become children of God

The worldly people rejected Him. Neither did His own people receive Him.

John 1:1-13 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens (G5461 photizo) every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

1: :  5461  photizo  fo-tid'-zo
2: 
3:  from 5457; to shed rays, i.e. to shine or (transitively) to brighten
4:  up (literally or figuratively):--enlighten, illuminate, (bring to,
5:  give) light, make to see.
6:  see GREEK for 5457

John 5:17 - But Jesus answered them, My Father is working until now, and I am working. (ESV)

I Corinthians 10:1-7 - I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.

Revelation of John 3:8 - I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

AMEN!!

6.2.11. We must do the will of God, which is the food and drink which Jesus gives us

John 6:27 - Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal. (ESV)

John 7:34-39 - You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come. (ESV) The Jews said to one another, Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What does he mean by saying, You will seek me and you will not find me, and, Where I am you cannot come? On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Certainly, people are judged on their faith in Jesus:

John 5:28-29 - Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Whoever honours Jesus by obeying Him, honours Father God. Whoever hears these words from Jesus and trusts Father God has eternal life and doesn't come into judgement; When we start trusting (believing and obeying) Jesus, we have passed from death into life.

And in obeying Jesus we are performing good works which are works done in faith towards God.

John 5:17-29 - But Jesus answered them, My Father is working until now, and I am working. This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come (2064. erchomai) into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (ESV)

youtube.com: John MacArthur "Jesus is God"
He is to be obeyed in a way that is due only to God.

6.2.12. Having faith (living in accordance with the truth, and in relationship with God) is asked of us - faith continues

What I mean by relationship is:

  • being obedient to God,
    • abiding in Jesus
  • being accountable to God,
  • waiting on God,
  • trusting on God,
  • being led by the Spirit of God,
  • etc.

Led by the Spirit of God is doing God's will:

Psalms 143:10 - Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! (ESV)

II Corinthians 3:18 - And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (ESV)

II Corinthians 3:6 - who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (ESV)

From our perspective we are obedient as we are participating in the Spirit, but God works through us:

Philippians 2:1-13 - So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)

We must obey! This obedience is being led by the Spirit.

Sermon
youtube.com: Love Is the Fruit of the Spirit

Our freedom is for serving one another, and if we are not abiding by Christ's law, producing love which fulfills the law, then we can't say we are being led by the Spirit:

Galatians 5:13-16 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (ESV)

Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV)

  1. We must abide by his teaching

    We must abide by Jesus Christ's teaching. Whoever does not abide in Jesus Christ's teaching does not have God:

    II John 1:9 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

    Matthew 4:17 - From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (ESV)

    We must obey righteousness:

    Romans 2:6-8 - He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. (ESV)

    It is a gift to be able to be obedient to Lord Jesus Christ, trusting in Him so that we may become obedient to Him:

    Romans 6:22-23 - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

  2. We must live sowing to the Spirit

    Galatians 6:7-8 - Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (ESV)

  3. We must be servants of Christ

    Also, from the heart:

    Ephesians 6:5-6 - Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, (ESV)

    Revelation of John 22:3 - No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. (ESV)

    John 12:23-26 - And Jesus answered them, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

  4. We must remain ultimately faithful to Jesus Christ, and never deny Him as our only Master and Lord

    Jude 1:4 - For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (NASB)

    Colossians 2:18-19 - Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

    Revelation of John 2:10 - Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. (ESV)

  5. We must endeavour to live faithfully to our Jesus Christ

    Acts 11:21-24 - And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. (ESV)

    II Timothy 2:13 - if we are faithless, he remains faithful - for he cannot deny himself. (ESV)

  6. Christian faith looks like this

    We worship God by the Spirit, following Jesus, not the flesh:

    Philippians 3:2-3 - Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the real circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— (ESV)

    Hebrews 12:28-29 - Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (ESV)

    Paul says that pursuing the righteousness that is by Mosaic law, is placing confidence in the flesh:

    Philippians 3:4-7 - though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. (ESV)

    But to put confidence in the Spirit is to not to abandon obedience, but to seek instead to know Christ Jesus, our Lord, with obedient faith to Jesus:

    Philippians 3:8-11 - Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (ESV)

    The righteousness from God that depends on faith, faith in Christ:

    • Know him and the power of His resurrection
    • Share His sufferings
    • Become like Him in His death

    Jesus literally commanded us to behave in this way, so keep Jesus' commandments:

    I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

    One example of a command from Jesus:

    Matthew 5:42 - Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. (ESV)

    Mark 12:30-31 - And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. (ESV)

    We are commanded to be innocent, and to bear witness of Jesus before men who persecute us:

    Matthew 10:16-18 - Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. (ESV)

    Philippians 2:15-16 - that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (ESV)

    Matthew 10:39 - Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (ESV)

    Matthew 16:25 - For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (ESV)

    Video
    youtube.com: The Gospel Jesus Preached Is Different than What Most Have Been Taught
    Video
    youtube.com: Did Jesus Preach the Gospel?

    Video notes:

    Tim Keller says that the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke), and Paul all say these 3 things:

    • 1. Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, who came to earth in human form.
      • Luke 3:22 - and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased. (ESV)
    • 2. Jesus died to atone for our sins and it justifies by grace.
      • Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (ESV)
      • Luke 24:44-47 - Then he said to them, These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (ESV)
      • Luke 18:9-14 - He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get. But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. (ESV)
    • 3. On the cross and resurrection He overcame the power of evil and death and at the end of time He will come back to complete that victory.

    Jesus is definitely reigning as King. That is for sure.

    Quote John Piper
    The King, risen, reigning, replaces "Jesus, the King, saying the Kingdom is coming", in which He meant, "I'm here. The Kingdom is in your midst." And now He's come. He's done His ruling work. He's died to establish that. He's risen. He's reigning.

    The gospel of the Kingdom of God (God's reign on earth):

    Revelation of John 11:15 - Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. (ESV)

    Revelation of John 2:26 - The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, (ESV)

    Acts 8:12 - But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (ESV)

    Acts 19:8 - And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. (ESV)

    Zechariah 14:4,9 - On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one. (ESV)

    Acts 28:31 - proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. (ESV)

    It's the same gospel:

    I Corinthians 15:1-11 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. (ESV)

    We must follow Jesus Christ who died for our sins, the light of the world, the Good Shepherd, and come into the truth, and into the Kingdom of God. Jesus is Lord of Lords, our Lord, our Saviour, our Master, our King, our God, the Light, the Truth:

    John 12:44-47 - And Jesus cried out and said, Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. (ESV)

    Mark 8:35 - For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. (ESV)

    John 3:14-16 - And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)

    John 6:40 - For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (ESV)

    Mark 10:19-30 - You know the commandments: Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother. And he said to him, Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth. And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, Then who can be saved? Jesus looked at them and said, With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God. Peter began to say to him, See, we have left everything and followed you. Jesus said, Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. (ESV)

    Mark 13:9-10 - But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. (ESV)

    Luke 9:23-26 - And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. (ESV)

  7. We should clean ourselves with the aid of the Word and the Holy Spirit

    While we may have been justified, we still want to stop willfully sinning so that God can make better use of us:

    Proverbs 16:32 - Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. (ESV)

    We should clean ourselves up:

    II Timothy 2:21 - Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

    Through faith, the Holy Spirit cleanses us:

    Acts 15:8-9 - And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

    By obedience to the word of God:

    Ephesians 5:25-27 - Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

    By the Holy Spirit washing and renewing us:

    Titus 3:4-6- But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

    It's the will of God:

    I Thessalonians 4:3 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

    Our will must align to God's will:

    Psalms 143:10 - Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! (ESV)

    Jesus' words speak for themselves:

    John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (ESV)

    Paul echos this - a willing mind (readiness to obey). They gave themselves first to the Lord and then by God's will to us:

    II Corinthians 8:3-12 - For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. (ESV)

    And doing the will of God is what it means to be led by the Spirit of God:

    Psalms 143:10 - Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! (ESV)

  8. We must clean ourselves up with God's help

    Daniel 12:9-10 - He said, Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.

    Revelation of John 21:27 - But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

    Revelation of John 22:14 - Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. (ESV)

    Philippians 2:13 - for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)

6.2.13. We must be wanting to be cleaned of sin

We must look upon Jesus and stop sexual immorality and stop idolatry. The stories mentioned here are examples for us to follow:

I Corinthians 10:1-7 - I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.

We must take heed of this, because we don't want to fall:

I Corinthians 10:8-13- We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

II Peter 2:2-4 - And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

II Peter 2:19-20 - They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

Therefore, the way of truth involves following Jesus and putting a stop to sin.

I agree with Billy Graham
youtube.com: Billy Graham Classic Sermon

Revelation of John 21:8 - But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." (ESV)

  1. We should put the ignorant to silence through doing good

    I Peter 2:15 - For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

    Jesus says you must obey God to be part of His family:

    Luke 8:21 - But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

    Hebrews 2:11 - For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, (ESV)

    Jesus implies you must obey Him (Jesus) to be part of His family:

    John 7:16 - So Jesus answered them, My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.

    Devotional
    Word for today - Do God's word - March 7th

6.2.14. The obedient children are the ones who are not conformed to the passions of our former ignorance

I Peter 1:14-16 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.

I know I can testify to this fiery trial being a real thing:

I Peter 1:17-19 - And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (ESV)

6.2.15. The sons of disobedience are the ones who are conformed to sexual immorality, impurity, or covetousness, etc.

Ephesians 5:5-7 - For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them;

6.2.16. If we trust in the name of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, we have eternal life

I John 5:10-13 - Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. (ESV)

It's imperative that as we go ahead, we must abide in the teaching of Christ, or we won't have God (Jehovah God), and God is love and love comes from God, so we need to abide in Christ's teachings, by belief and by obedience. For example, in Mark 10:18, Jesus affirmed that God is Good. Therefore when we read this, we must also be sanctified by this truth, affirming and coming into agreement that God is Good. Also, Jesus commanded us to love one another as He loved us John 13:34-35:

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

You must obey Jesus, and that is choosing light and choosing agape love towards God and people and not towards the world or worldly things:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

6.2.17. Get to know Jesus by believing Him and following His commandments

John 10:14-15 - I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. (ESV)

Believing and obeying (loving) Jesus, we will be known by God:

I Corinthians 8:3 - But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. (ESV)

We believe and obey Jesus:

John 3:36 - He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

By His grace we have to actually come into obeying Jesus to find life. Think about what it means to obey Jesus: It's to walk in the Spirit, to abide in Jesus' Spirit, to be obeying Jesus' commandments, to seek to follow the pattern of life that He lived to be found in Him. You can abide in Jesus' Spirit if you have faith in Him, believing in Him, believing, trusting and obeying Him, knowing Him, and being found in Him! Faith in Christ I believe means believing in Him and being obedient to Him, having communion with Him, etc. becoming intimate with Him, following Him. This isn't our own merit, but we still obey Jesus to be found in Him. In Him we have Jesus' righteousness:

Matthew 16:25 - For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (ESV)

God loved us first. We must accept that:

I John 4:10-11 - In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (ESV)

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

John 3:35 - The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. (ESV)

We must also obey the teaching of Jesus, believe on His name and follow His commandments:

Matthew 7:21-27 - Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. (ESV)

Matthew 6:10 - Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (ESV)

Luke 6:46-49 - Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (ESV)

You can't have an abundant life without knowing Jesus, so we must have faith in God and follow Jesus' commandments to get to know Him:

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

In order to know God we must love one another in the way that God has loved us:

I John 4:7-12 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (ESV)

You must obey Jesus:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes (G4100 pisteuo) in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

We must have a response of love for Jesus:

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. (ESV)

We want to go ahead towards knowledge of Jesus, and not remain in darkness:

John 12:46 - I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. (ESV)

In believing and obeying Jesus, we have the Son:

I John 5:12 - Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (ESV)

We must obey God. We have faith in God who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification, and having faith in God is having faith in His Son which is believing in and obeying Jesus Christ:

Romans 4:23-25 - But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe (G4100 pisteuo) in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (ESV)

We must obey Jesus' commandments to know Jesus, just as Jesus obeyed Father God's commandments, and knows Father God:

John 8:55-58 - But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad. So the Jews said to him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.

6.2.18. Atonement

Jesus' sacrifice is the only atonement for our sin we need. It's comprehensive. It must be received through faith in Jesus Christ - and that is not mere belief but obedience:

Romans 3:25 - whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (ESV)

We have been crucified with Christ and we died to sin, as Jesus cancelled our debt, so now we must cease to walk in sin, and not go back to the vomit:

Colossians 2:13-14 - And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

We should do what is valuable in stopping the indulgence of the flesh, and not what is invaluable from human precepts, but instead we should following Christ and His teachings, and His example of what love looks like:

Colossians 2:21-23 - Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Instead, let's follow Jesus Christ's teachings:

Colossians 3:1-4 - If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Firstly, obedient children are children who hear the word of God, believe and love God, and we should be holy in all our conduct if we call on the LORD God who judges impartially according to each one's deeds:

I Peter 1:14-19 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (ESV)

I'm quite convinced that the substitutionary atonement is there to help us put a stop to sin, and live to righteousness and holiness:

II Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)

If people including free-grace Christians do not repent from sin, they may still receive the wrath of God, but I'm not the judge here:

Colossians 3:5-10 - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Whether we circumcise our hearts or God does it or it happens at the same time, we are circumcised in the heart that we might die to sin and practice righteousness. Repenting, we are not resisting the Holy Spirit:

Acts 7:51 - You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 10:12-17 - And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good? Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. (ESV)

Romans 2:5-8 - But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. (ESV)

We must stop doing evil:

Romans 2:9-11 - There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (ESV)

Romans 2:12-13 - For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. (ESV)

Romans 2:14-16 - For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

We must live out the truth:

Romans 6:11 - So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

We stop obeying sin and start obeying righteousness, and God's Spirit helps us to do that:

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (ESV)

Romans 6:17-18 - But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (ESV)

Romans 6:22-23 - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

Romans 7:25 - Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV)

We are debtors. We are debtors to God for His mercy on us so we should by His grace put to death the deeds of the body, the deeds of the flesh:

Romans 8:12-15 - So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! (ESV)

Romans 8:20-21 - For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (ESV)

There's nothing wrong with following the law by faith, knowing God sees our hearts, seeking praise from God and not men, but when presented with Jesus Christ, we should love Him and accept Him and place our faith in Him as He commanded:

Romans 9:32-33 - Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame. (ESV)

Romans 10:8-10 - But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (ESV)

We should still be obedient to God. This verse clearly shows that God desires us to be obedient to Him:

Romans 10:21 - But of Israel he says, All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people. (ESV)

Romans 13:3-5 - For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. (ESV)

We should be compassionate on one another and accept one another, knowing Jesus welcomed us even though we had lots of faults ourselves:

Romans 15:7 - Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (ESV)

Romans 16:17-19 - I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. (ESV)

Romans 15:18-19 - For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; (ESV)

Absolutely:

I Peter 4:17 - For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (ESV)

youtube.com: Keep Rejoicing @time: 6 min 1 sec
For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God. You see the purposefulness in suffering? Now, this is God's judgment upon the church, in this text. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God and if it begins with us, Christians whom he loves with all of his heart and gave his son to die for, what will be the outcome of those who do not obey the gospel? So that Judgment of God is moving through the earth and it begins with churches. And the Judgment of God comes upon churches. Why? Because he hates us? Not at all. But because he loves us so much he will not spare us anything to get out of us what he hates. Did you get that? It's not because he hates us when a church or a Christian goes through times of darkness and trial. It's because he loves us so much he will spare us nothing to to get out of us what he hates, namely sin.

Matthew 5:21-22 - You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, You fool! will be liable to the hell of fire. (ESV)

Ephesians 5:5-7 - For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them;

John 3:36 - Whoever believes (G4100 pisteuo) in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

Colossians 3:23-25 - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

We must serve our Lord:

Colossians 3:23-24 - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

We serve God in various ways:

I Corinthians 12:4-11 - Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (ESV)

Walk how Jesus taught us to walk, with faith in Him, and in so doing receive fellowship with one another and the cleansing of the blood of Jesus:

I John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Be led by God's Spirit by doing God's will:

Psalms 143:10 - Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! (ESV)

We receive reconciliation through Jesus Christ who is our Lord:

Romans 5:11 - More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (ESV)

We are being made into people who walk in the light, not just intellectually but actually obeying God's commandment to love Him and to love one another:

Romans 5:19 - For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. (ESV)

Our loving obedience abounds more as we grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness which looks like stopping sin and being obedient to Jesus, letting Jesus' righteousness shine through us:

Philippians 1:9-11 - And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Follow Jesus through the new and living Way:

Hebrews 10:19-27 - Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

We are ransommed by the blood of Jesus and the blood of Jesus continues to cleanse us as we walk in the light, as we obey the truth:

I Peter 1:16-22 - since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)

I John 1:6-7 - If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV)

Revelation of John 7:14 - I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (ESV)

6.2.19. Everyone needs saving

Romans 11:32 - For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. (ESV)

Romans 3:1-19 - Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged. But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. (ESV)

Romans 3:20 - For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (ESV)

We are saved from this crooked generation:

Acts 2:40 - And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. (ESV)

Zephaniah 3:17 - The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (ESV)

God is our deliverer from this generation (Consider if you were stuck in Sodom and wanted to escape - God can make that happen. God can pull a person out of the sinful generation):

Psalms 18:1-2 - I love you, O LORD, my strength. To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who addressed the words of this song to the LORD on the day when the LORD rescued him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said: The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (ESV)

Jesus picks us out and purifies us so we are set apart for His own possession who are zealous for good works. Jesus rescues us from the crooked generation:

Titus 2:14 - who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (ESV)

Jesus sets us free by His Spirit in us:

Galatians 5:1 - For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (ESV)

I John 4:4 - Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (ESV)

Jesus freely gifts His Spirit to the one who cries out to Him to be saved and wants to be saved:

Psalms 34:17-18 - When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (ESV)

Our sins are blotted out so that we can return to God:

Isaiah 44:22 - I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. (ESV)

We are zealous to do good works, Jesus having redeemed us and given us His Spirit, but we resist coming under condemnation from those who try to make us feel as though we must do them in order to be saved, when we have already been saved. Now repenting from sin is a little bit different. We are zealous to do good works, and we also want to repent from sin, and stop committing bad deeds:

Romans 8:1-2 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (ESV)

Psalms 34:19 - Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. (ESV)

People who are now in Christ are a new creation, and we should be transitioning into the new. That might take some shaking off of old things, and involves being sanctified by obedience to the Truth. But those who are in Christ are a brand new creation, born-again:

 1: 5620 [e]  1487 [e] 5100 [e] 1722 [e] 5547 [e]  2537 [e]
 2: hōste     ei       tis      en       Christō   kainē
 3: ὥστε      εἴ       τις      ἐν       Χριστῷ  , καινὴ
 4: Therefore if       anyone   [is] in  Christ    [he is] a new
 5: Conj      Conj     IPro-NMS Prep     N-DMS     Adj-NFS
 6: 
 7: 2937 [e]  3588 [e] 744 [e]    3928 [e]         2400 [e]
 8: ktisis    ta       archaia    parēlthen        idou
 9: κτίσις  . τὰ       ἀρχαῖα     παρῆλθεν  ;      ἰδοὺ  ,
10: creation  The      old things have passed away behold
11: N-NFS     Art-NNP  Adj-NNP    V-AIA-3S         V-AMA-2S
12: 
13: 1096 [e]            2537 [e]
14: gegonen             kaina
15: γέγονεν             καινά  .
16: has come into being [the] new
17: V-RIA-3S            Adj-NNP

Our sins were paid for by Jesus' death. Jesus rose from the dead:

I Corinthians 15:1-5 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. (ESV)

Jesus went to the place of the dead so people who had died (those who Paul is referring to here) may also be saved. Also, it seems that the rapture doctrine was made known from a word from the Lord:

I Thessalonians 4:14-17 - For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (ESV)

Jesus made me born again and I'm a new creation. Now we wait for ultimate salvation:

I Thessalonians 5:1-10 - Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, There is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. (ESV)

Video
youtube.com: Something HUGE Is Coming!

6.2.20. Righteous deeds

Sermon
youtube.com: John Pipe - Your Holy Deeds Are Not Filthy Rags

Nehemiah 13:14 - Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service. (ESV)

Nehemiah 13:22 - Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love. (ESV)

Nehemiah 13:30-31 - Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. (ESV)

God does not despise the righteous deeds of His children done by faith:

Isaiah 64:5-6 - You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. (ESV)

6.2.21. Whoever makes an appeal to God, calls upon His name will be saved

We call upon the Lord to be saved. And everyone needs saving.

Acts 2:21 - And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (ESV)

Acts 22:16 - And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name. (ESV)

1: :  1941  epikaleomai  ep-ee-kal-eh'-om-ahee
2: 
3:  middle voice from 1909 and 2564; to entitle; by implication, to invoke
4:  (for aid, worship, testimony, decision, etc.):--appeal (unto), call
5:  (on, upon), surname.
6:  see GREEK for 1909
7:  see GREEK for 2564

Confessing that Jesus is Lord is becoming obedient to Him:

Romans 10:8-9 - But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”– that is, the word (G4487 rhema) of faith (G4102 pistis) which we are preaching, that if you confess (G3670 homologeo) with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe (G4100 pisteuo) in your heart (G2588 kardia) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; (NASB)

It's faith in the heart which we need; obedience to Jesus Christ and belief in Jesus Christ in the heart, and belief and obedience to God who has raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (ESV)

Jesus has been perfectly obedient, so Jesus speaks what Father God speaks, and when someone seeks Jesus Christ, they see Father God, because Father God has been revealed to us in Jesus Christ. The Father is in the Son. The Word is God.

Also, through perfect obedience, Jesus has spoken Father God's commandment of eternal life, which is what He has said:

  • "the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak."

God sent Jesus:

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. (ESV)

I Peter 3:17 - For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. (ESV)

Obeying God's will often leads to suffering by the hands of those who are in darkness:

I Peter 4:19 - Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (ESV)

Whoever has faith in Jesus, has faith in God. Whoever sees Jesus sees the Father:

John 12:44-48 - And Jesus cried out and said, Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

Jesus' words bring eternal life. The commandment which Father God gave Jesus is eternal life and the commandment is the words that Jesus Christ has spoken, so we need to abide in Jesus Christ by letting His words abide in us, believing Him and obeying Him; doing what He said:

John 12:49-50- For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.

Jesus has the words of eternal life.

We need to obey Jesus Christ and walk and believe as God has commanded and spoken through Jesus:

John 14:6-11 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him. Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

We must believe Jesus, and have faith in Jesus Christ, obeying Jesus, and that is obeying God and having faith in God:

John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (ESV)

Therefore, to arrive at the knowledge of the truth, you've got to have an obedient heart.

We must hear about Jesus, believe and have faith in Him, and call on Him. In Paul's writing here, the calling on Jesus comes after hearing about Jesus and after believing in Him, and the hear of Jesus, necessitates a preacher:

Romans 10:14-15- But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!

Confess:

1: :  3670  homologeo  hom-ol-og-eh'-o
2: 
3:  from a compound of the base of 3674 and 3056; to assent, i.e.
4:  covenant, acknowledge:--con- (pro-)fess, confession is made, give
5:  thanks, promise.
6:  see GREEK for 3674
7:  see GREEK for 3056
  1. Baptism is an appeal to God for a good conscience through the [death and] resurrection of Jesus Christ's, taking part in it

    I think baptism of water is an appeal to God and identifying oneself into Christ's death and resurrection but the sacrament maybe is not strictly required to be saved (as far as I understand).

    To be baptised is an act of obedience.

    I definitely believe that "believer's baptism" is the right way to perform baptism.

    Baptism does save, but I believe it must be coupled with belief, and also trust, and I think that obedience comes from trust:

    Romans 6:3-4 - Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (ESV)

    I Peter 3:18-21 - For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

    Disbelief causes disobedience. Disbelief caused the Israelites to not walk in obedience:

    Hebrews 3:16-19 - For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. (ESV)

    Doubt is very contrary to faith, even contrary to obedient faith. Ask in obedient faith without any doubting:

    James 1:6-7 - But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (ESV)

    Abraham had trust. Abraham had obedience. I believe that trust is very important to have for faith to be counted as righteousness:

    Romans 4:20-22 - No distrust (apistia) made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. (ESV)

    I Corinthians 6:14 - And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. (ESV)

    Song
    youtube.com: CHRIST IS ENOUGH - HILLSONG LIVE LYRIC VIDEO | GLORIOUS RUINS 2013

6.3. Obedience - A heart of obedience is the start of faith, and belief is the start of continued obedience

Faith which produces love:

Galatians 5:6 - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (ESV)

Faith that from a good conscience with God produces Christ's love:

I Corinthians 16:13-14 - Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (ESV)

I Timothy 1:5 - The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (ESV)

God wants us to know Him and obey Him and to do good as He has commanded:

Hosea 6:5-8 - Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me. Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with blood. (ESV)

The only point I want to make from this text here is that faith is supposed to continue in love and holiness. I believe this continuation of obedience with faith, love and holiness (and self-control, which along with love is one of the fruit of the Spirit) applies to all Christians. John Piper explains this well:

I Timothy 2:13-15 - For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing — if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control. (ESV)

Quote from John Piper
and then all of this: faith, love, holiness, self-control is simply ordinary pathway that all men and women must take in order to come to eternal life and to salvation. We must believe, we must love, that love must yield holiness, and part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in that holiness is self-control.

6.3.1. Continued revelation comes from having a heart of obedience towards God

John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (ESV)

6.3.2. God's commanded is for everyone to come to the obedience of having faith in Him through Jesus Christ

Romans 16:26 - but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith — (ESV)

6.3.3. Fear of the Lord

Isaiah 11:2 - And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Even after Jesus has come, the fear of the Lord is still important in getting God's attention. We still must obey God by obeying Jesus:

Psalms 34:11-22 - Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

We make it our aim to please him:

II Corinthians 5:9-12 - So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.

Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 2:5 - then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 8:13 - The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Proverbs 10:27 - The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.

Proverbs 14:27 - The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.

Proverbs 15:33 - The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 19:23 - The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.

6.4. Repentance does involve turning from sin

Luke 24:46-47 - and said to them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance (G3341 metanoia) and forgiveness (G859 aphesis) of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Malachi 4:4-6 - Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction. (ESV)

Matthew 11:12-14 - From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

Mark 9:11-13 - And they asked him, Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come? And he said to them, Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.

Matthew 11:21-21 - Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

6.4.1. Justification by having faith like Abraham in He who raised Jesus Christ from the dead

Paul the Apostle met James, brother of Jesus:

Galatians 1:15-20- But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! )

Interestingly, James believes that a person is justified not by faith alone, but by works of faith:

James 2:21-24 - Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with (4903. sunergeó) his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Fear-of-God:

Romans 4:5-8 - And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.

AMEN!! But this doesn't mean the other elements of working faith can't play a part.

We may rest from our labors when we die in the Lord:

Revelation of John 14:13 - And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Blessed indeed, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them! (ESV)

Circumcision of the flesh does not matter because salvation by faith is available for both the circumcised (justification by faith with works of faith like Abraham's), and the uncircumcised (justification by faith alone):

Romans 4:9-12 - Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe (G4100 pisteuo) without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

The true circumcised are the ones who obey the precepts of the law, and if they walk in the footsteps of faith which Abraham had before he was circumcised, then that is a valid mode of justification:

Romans 2:25-29 - For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (ESV)

We must share the faith of Abraham to receive the grace:

Romans 4:13-17 - For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, I have made you the father of many nations—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

In hope, Abraham believed against hope. He didn't weaken in faith, even when it seemed impossible. He trusted and believed God, and grew strong in his faith and gave glory to God. We should do the same.

We must believe on Him (God) who raised Jesus from the dead, with the faith that Abraham had - Abraham's faith was working. The faith at the start justified him and the works justified him too.

If a person lives their life as a living sacrifice to honour and serve Jesus Christ, which is honouring and having faith in God as a continuation of their faith, then all of that is analogous to Abraham's works of faith.

Romans 12:1-2 - I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

Hebrews 13:15-16 - Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (ESV)

We must trust God in hope against hope, and not weaken in faith, and trust God's promise, and honour Jesus Christ with our lives - that is what I believe.

The most important thing is this faith - but God certainly uses our works of faith:

Our salvation comes from faith alone in God for the promise of forgiveness from sin and hope of eternal life with Christ Jesus for those who believe in God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead, our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

It's because of what Jesus Christ has done that we are justified, not because of anything we have done. We must trust in God to justify us we hold to our faith.

Romans 4:18-25 - In hope he believed (G4100 pisteuo) against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, So shall your offspring be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe (G4100 pisteuo) in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Therefore, do not put your hope on how little faith you can have for Jesus Christ to scrape through (because Jesus Christ is the judge), but instead live for Him sincerely, doing as He has instructed us.

To follow and obey Jesus Christ with the same type of faith that Abraham had - that is what we should be doing - that's saving faith, I think. Our justification is based on what Jesus Christ has done.

Now as we live by faith, we are justified by this faith and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ who we are believing, following, obeying and honouring.

And we only have access to the grace if we have faith:

Romans 5:1-2 - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Faith involves obeying Jesus Christ:

I John 2:3 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

I John 5:3-4 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

Galatians 3:14 - so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (ESV)

Jesus says you must obey God to be part of His family:

Luke 8:21 - But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

Jesus implies you must obey Him (Jesus) to be part of His family:

John 7:16 - So Jesus answered them, My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.

So obeying Jesus Christ is having faith in God:

Romans 4:23-25 - But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe (G4100 pisteuo) in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (ESV)

6.5. The obedient children are the ones who are not conformed to the passions of our former ignorance

I Peter 1:14-16 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.

6.5.1. Jesus Christ has explained what the faith of Abraham looks like for someone who believes in Him

Repentance from sin, obeying Jesus Christ, making Jesus your Lord and Saviour:

Luke 19:1-10 - He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today. So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (ESV)

Hebrews 6:20 - where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (ESV)

Matthew 5:20 - For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

6.6. Get to know Jesus by following His commandments

Matthew 7:21-27 - Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. (ESV)

Matthew 6:10 - Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (ESV)

Luke 6:46-49 - Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (ESV)

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

You must obey Jesus:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes (G4100 pisteuo) in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

We must obey God. We have faith in God who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification, and having faith in God is having faith in His Son which is believing in and obeying Jesus Christ:

Romans 4:23-25 - But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe (G4100 pisteuo) in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (ESV)

pisteuo is the faith verb.

So the promise is for all who put their faith in God by obeying Jesus Christ with the faith of Abraham to a greater or lesser degree.

6.7. The sons of disobedience are the ones who are conformed to sexual immorality, impurity, or covetousness, etc.

Ephesians 5:5-7 - For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them;

6.7.1. All sin is lawlessness

If we are led by the spirit then we are not under the Mosaic law. So we should stop sinning as it is described by such works of the flesh as listed:

Galatians 5:18-21 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

The law (Mosaic law) is laid down for those who are lawless and disobedient!:

I Timothy 1:9 - understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, (ESV)

Sin is lawlessness:

I John 3:4 - Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. (ESV)

We are under Christ's law, not the Mosaic law:

I Corinthians 9:21 - To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

We must have faith in Jesus to be justified by faith. God justifies the person who trusts in Jesus and I believe we should be doers of Christ's law (which is not outside the law of God, so we are doers of the law), and God justifies the person with the blood of Jesus. If we're trusting in Jesus then we're trusting in God who justifies the ungodly. We're not trusting in God to justify our ungodliness, but to justify us as we keep our faith in Jesus:

Romans 2:13-16 - For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

We must abide in the teachings of Jesus, believing what Jesus has said, believing Jesus:

John 5:37-38 - And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. (ESV)

Job 22:30 - He delivers even the one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands. (ESV)

Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (ESV)

In His flesh the emnity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances is abolished:

Ephesians 2:14-16 - For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. (NASB)

Instead of being under the law, we seek to live for Christ, and follow Christ's teaching:

Galatians 6:12 - It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. (ESV)

Within Christ there is peace:

Galatians 5:13 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (ESV)

We follow Jesus and obey His commandments:

Galatians 5:14 - For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (ESV)

Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (ESV)

We must feed on His flesh to abide in Him:

John 6:53 - So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. (ESV)

John 6:55-56 - For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. (ESV)

Jesus' flesh is the way into the holy places:

Hebrews 10:19-20 - Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, (ESV)

Jesus suffered in the flesh, and we should too, and stop sinning:

I Peter 4:1 - Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, (ESV)

Colossians 1:24 - Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, (ESV)

We're justified by our faith in Christ. We simply follow Jesus:

Galatians 5:4 - You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. (ESV)

There are lawless spirits (spirits which work things like idolatry, and falsehood; anything which is against the truth):

II Thessalonians 2:7-13 - For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. (ESV)

Lawlessness includes idolatry:

I Peter 4:3 - The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. (ESV)

If idolatry is lawlessness then so is falsely witnessing, so is sexual immorality, adultery, murder/hate, etc. And the Apostles in the New Testament and Jesus, and the Bible generally testifies that we must stop being lawless!

Lawlessness includes hate/murder:

Matthew 24:10-13 - And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (ESV)

We are commanded by Paul the Apostle to present our members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification - that's called repentance from sin, folks!:

Romans 6:19 - I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. (ESV)

We were purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ and we are supposed to be changed and purified to no longer being lawless!

Titus 2:14 - who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (ESV)

We must not allow ourselves to be conformed to or carried away by the error of lawless people. The error is their lawlessness:

II Peter 3:17 - You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. (ESV)

We must follow Jesus, and obey Jesus and stop sinning!

Matthew 7:21-24 - Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (ESV)

Part of the will of Father God is that we repent from sin:

I Thessalonians 4:3-7 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. (ESV)

7. Try to clarify what sin looks like from Bible verses

  • 1. Rejecting Jesus
    • John 15:22-23 - If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also.
  • 2. Disobeying God - absolutely 100%
    • Romans 5:19 - For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
    • Breaking God's law? Sure.
      • Breaking the Mosaic Law is sin for Jews and disobedient people.
      • Christians still 'do' the law in faith but don't rely on perfectly doing it for their justification, and don't rely on perfect compliance to it for their justification. We still rely on faith in Jesus for our justification. But the law outlaws a lot of sinful practices which are still very damaging to us
  • 3. An evil heart or mind which is hostile to God
  • 4. Evil deeds. Absolutely How is that defined though?
    • I would say it's breaking the Great Commandments
    • To not love God with all one's heart, mind, soul and strength, and to not love their neighbour.

7.1. Iniquity and sin: In this case, sin is the verb, I think, and iniquity is the noun

Job 10:14 - If I sin, you watch me and do not acquit me of my iniquity. (ESV)

Job 14:16-17 - For then you would number my steps; you would not keep watch over my sin; my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity. (ESV)

Psalms 38:18 - I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. (ESV)

Psalms 51:2 - Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! (ESV)

7.2. God searches the heart and tests the mind

Jeremiah 17:10 - I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds. (ESV)

Proverbs 5:21 - For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths. (ESV)

Job 10:4-8 - Have you eyes of flesh? Do you see as man sees? Are your days as the days of man, or your years as a man's years, that you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin, although you know that I am not guilty, and there is none to deliver out of your hand? Your hands fashioned and made me, and now you have destroyed me altogether. (ESV)

We should ask God to search our heart, and our thoughts, and try us:

Psalms 139:23-24 - Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (ESV)

Psalms 19:14 - Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (ESV)

7.3. The law is laid down for the sinners

Sinners:

  • the lawless and disobedient,
  • the ungodly,
  • and sinners,
  • the unholy and profane

I Timothy 1:9 - understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, (ESV)

7.4. Whoever transgresses the law is liable to judgement

Matthew 5:21 - You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. (ESV)

7.5. Anger leads to the matter being settled in God's court

Anger is not necessarily sinful but it has to be well-placed:

Ephesians 4:26-27 - Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. (ESV)

If someone is angry with his brother, then God may take this matter to judgement:

Matthew 5:22 - But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, You fool! will be liable to the hell of fire. (ESV)

If you're unrighteously angry then watch out:

John 7:19-25 - Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me? The crowd answered, You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you? Jesus answered them, I did one deed, and you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? (ESV)

3709. orgé
"Orgē comes from the verb oragō meaning, 'to teem, to swell'; and thus implies that it is not a sudden outburst, but rather (referring to God's) fixed, controlled, passionate feeling against sin . . . a settled indignation (so Hendriksen)" (D. E. Hiebert, at 1 Thes 1:10).

Jesus' anger here was a godly grief:

Mark 3:4-5 - And he said to them, Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill? But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger (3709. orgé), grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, Stretch out your hand. He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. (ESV)

We must forgive our family in Christ from the heart:

Matthew 18:33-35 - And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. (ESV)

The "anger of man" is exemplified in John 7:23 where some people blindly were angry at Jesus for doing good:

James 1:19-21 - Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (ESV)

God's anger is just and He is Righteous:

Psalms 7:11 - God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 6:15 - for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God, lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth. (ESV)

Nahum 1:2-3 - The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. (ESV)

Nahum 1:2-3 - God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. (KJV)

John 17:25 - O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. (ESV)

youtube.com: John Piper - Saved Forever

If I say my ongoing salvation depends on Christ's ongoing intercessory work for me with the Father, what do I need need saving from? The Father, God, else I would not need an intercessor.

Intercessors interpose themselves to help fix something that isn't fixed, or to keep something fixed.

The big issue is God's wrath.

This book (the Holy Scriptures) … was written to help us get right with a wrathful God.

youtube.com: Saved Forever @time: 11 min 17 sec

Do not conclude from my first implication that Jesus loves me and God hates me, okay? Let's get this straight. Now the reason that would be a false conclusion is because the priesthood is God's idea, not Jesus idea, and Jesus accepted the father's mandate to come save me from his wrath. You got that? The love of God for me, sinner, interposes his Priestly son to save me from his wrath against me.

The love of God for this worthless sinner interposes his most precious possession, His Son whom he loves, in order that he might save me from his his wrath against me all the while vindicating his justice and upholding his glory in the cross.

That's the beauty of the cross. It is the love of God rescuing sinners from the wrath of God by vindicating the justice of God and upholding the glory of God.

You got to get that otherwise you will sentimentalize God and people are sentimentalizing God everywhere.

7.6. Sin - what does it look like

  • doing and devising and being evil
    • disobedience to God
    • divination
    • iniquity
    • idolatry
    • profaning what is holy
    • lies
    • adultery
    • murder, which includes abortion
    • strengthening the hands of evildoers - supporting evildoers
    • self-pride, and prideful sin
    • evil thoughts, inventing evil
    • sexual immorality
    • theft
    • false-witness
    • slander, gossip
    • works of iniquity
    • thoughts of iniquity
    • in the heart, breaking God's 10 commandments
    • envy, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

7.6.1. Transgressing the 10 Commandments

The way to keep the 10 commandments properly is to love your neighbour as yourself. It's lawful to love. It's lawful to save life. It's overarchingly lawful to do good. If we endeavour to keep the 10 commandments, then that is how we should keep them; the way Jesus did and described:

Galatians 5:13-14 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (ESV)

It's lawful to love:

Luke 6:9-10 - And Jesus said to them, I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it? And after looking around at them all he said to him, Stretch out your hand. And he did so, and his hand was restored. (ESV)

Slaves worship idols. Christians obey God, and in obeying God we are free. We love God and trust God and love Jesus and follow Jesus:

Exodus 20:2-3 - I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. (ESV)

The New Testament writers still taught believers to not break the 10 Commandments:

James 2:11 - For he who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. (ESV)

Romans 13:9 - The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (ESV)

Even as born-again Christians, keeping the 10 Commandments is very important. Just because we may be justified by faith in Jesus Christ doesn't mean that followers of Jesus obey unrighteousness. Followers of Jesus still obey righteousness:

Romans 1:29-2:13 - They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who do such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. (ESV)

I Timothy 1:8-11 - Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. (ESV)

The righteousness in the actual doing of the law above is still upheld but there is now the righteousness that is by faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, keeping the commandments of God and following Jesus are not mutually exclusive. And the law still describes what good behaviour looks like and what bad behaviour looks like. But through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, as we follow and place our faith in Jesus, obeying Jesus to repent from sin and to do good and to pass forward love and forgiveness, etc., we can be justified by our faith in Jesus. As we go on living, we keep our obedient believing faith in Jesus, and no longer want to rebel against God's law. Perfect compliance to the law is no longer the basis of our justification but we seek to not break the law:

Romans 3:21-31 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (ESV)

# Bible reference Verses to show these commandments are still important
1 Exodus 20:2-3 - I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. (ESV) II Corinthians 6:16-17 - What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, (ESV) I John 5:21 - Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (ESV) I Corinthians 10:11-14 - Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (ESV) I Corinthians 10:7 - Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. (ESV) I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV) I John 4:10-11 - In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (ESV)
# Bible reference Verses to show these commandments are still important
2 Exodus 20:4-6 - You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (ESV) Acts 17:29 - Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. (ESV) Romans 1:23 - and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. (ESV) Psalms 97:7 - All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods! (ESV) Revelation of John 16:2 - So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. (ESV)
# Bible reference Verses to show these commandments are still important
3 Exodus 20:7 - You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. (ESV) James 5:12 - But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. (ESV)
4 Exodus 20:8-11 - Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (ESV) Genesis 2:3 - So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. (ESV) Luke 23:56 - Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. (ESV) Mark 2:27-28 - And he said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath. (ESV) Colossians 2:16-17 - Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. (ESV) Hebrews 10:25 - not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (ESV)
# Bible reference Verses to show these commandments are still important
5 Exodus 20:12 - Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. (ESV) We should follow God's commandments to love him and so that things go well with us. Ephesians 6:1-3 - Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. (ESV)
6 Exodus 20:13 - You shall not murder. (ESV) I John 3:15 - Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (ESV) Romans 13:9 - The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (ESV)
7 Exodus 20:14 - You shall not commit adultery. (ESV) Proverbs 6:32 - He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. (ESV) Romans 7:2-3 - Thus a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. (ESV)
8 Exodus 20:15 - You shall not steal. (ESV) Ephesians 4:28 - Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (ESV)
# Bible reference Verses to show these commandments are still important
9 Exodus 20:16 - You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (ESV) I Timothy 1:8-11 - Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. (ESV)
10 Exodus 20:17 - You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's. (ESV) Ephesians 5:3 - But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. (ESV) Luke 12:15 - And he said to them, Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. (ESV) Romans 13:9 - The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (ESV) Colossians 3:5 - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (ESV) Romans 7:7-8 - What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, You shall not covet. But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law, sin lies dead. (ESV)
Quote from a friend
"God's will is going to be done. If we don't resist it then it will be a blessing to us and if we resist it then it will be a curse to us."

7.6.2. Having a will to do evil, rather than a will to do God's will

John 8:44 - You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (ESV)

Matthew 15:19 - For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. (ESV)

7.6.3. All manner of unrighteousness

Romans 1:26-32 - For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (ESV)

7.6.4. Murder

I John 3:15 - Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (ESV)

I John 3:12 - We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. (ESV)

Revelation of John 22:15 - Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (ESV)

7.6.5. Theft

Revelation of John 9:21 - nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. (ESV)

7.6.6. Rejecting the word of the LORD

Isaiah 30:9-13 - For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the LORD; who say to the seers, Do not see, and to the prophets, Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel. Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, Because you despise this word and trust in oppression and perverseness and rely on them, therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach in a high wall, bulging out, and about to collapse, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant; (ESV)

1 Samuel 15:23 - For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king. (ESV)

7.6.7. Presumption and going beyond the Scripture

I Corinthians 4:6 - I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. (ESV)

II John 1:9 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (ESV)

II Corinthians 10:5-6 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (ESV)

Psalms 19:13 - Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. (ESV)

I Samuel 15:23 - For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king. (ESV)

7.6.8. Wandering / backsliding from God

Jeremiah 14:7 - Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O LORD, for your name's sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. (ESV)

Jeremiah 14:10 - Thus says the LORD concerning this people: They have loved to wander thus; they have not restrained their feet; therefore the LORD does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins. (ESV)

7.6.9. Prophesying lies

Jeremiah 14:14 - And the LORD said to me: The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. (ESV)

7.6.10. Ungodliness

Isaiah 32:6 - For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the LORD, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink. (ESV)

7.6.11. Pride, debauchery, greed

Ezekiel 16:49-58 - Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it. Samaria has not committed half your sins. You have committed more abominations than they, and have made your sisters appear righteous by all the abominations that you have committed. Bear your disgrace, you also, for you have intervened on behalf of your sisters. Because of your sins in which you acted more abominably than they, they are more in the right than you. So be ashamed, you also, and bear your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous. I will restore their fortunes, both the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters, and I will restore your own fortunes in their midst, that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all that you have done, becoming a consolation to them. As for your sisters, Sodom and her daughters shall return to their former state, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former state, and you and your daughters shall return to your former state. Was not your sister Sodom a byword in your mouth in the day of your pride, before your wickedness was uncovered? Now you have become an object of reproach for the daughters of Syria and all those around her, and for the daughters of the Philistines, those all around who despise you. You bear the penalty of your lewdness and your abominations, declares the LORD. (ESV)

7.6.12. Pride in self and lack of humility towards God

youtube.com: The Great Sin by C. S. Lewis Doodle {BBC Talk 16, Mere Christianity, Bk. 3, Chapter 8}.

Psalms 36:2 - For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. (ESV)

Psalms 10:10-11 - The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might. He says in his heart, God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it. (ESV)

Isaiah 13:11 - I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
"Pride is self-satisfaction."

Hosea 13:4-6 - But I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior. It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought; but when they had grazed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
"Pride is self-sufficiency / self-reliance."

Deuteronomy 8:11-16 - Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock, who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
"Pride considers itself above instruction [from God] - When God speaks and we don't listen."

Jeremiah 13:9-11 - Thus says the LORD: Even so will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing. For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the LORD, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
"Pride is insubordinate. [It says,] You don't have a right to tell me what to do. That's what happened in the Garden of Eden right at the beginning of our sinful plight. And that's what all of us do apart from God's grace."

Psalms 119:21 - You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
"Pride takes credit for what God alone does."

Daniel 4:30-34 - and the king answered and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty? While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws. At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; (ESV)

Daniel 4:37 - Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
"Pride exalts in being made much of."

Matthew 23:6-7 - and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
"Pride aspires to the place of God."

Acts 12:21-23 - On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, The voice of a god, and not of a man! Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
"Pride opposes the very existence of God."

Psalms 10:4 - In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, There is no God. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
"Pride refuses to trust in God. The opposite of arrogance is not just humility, it's trust. Trust is a very lowly demeanor. [Trust is] a way of saying I don't have what I need in here; I have to trust somebody else to give it to me. I don't have the resources in here to save me, to forgive me, to reconcile me to God, to lead my life in a holy way, to be what my family needs from me, to be what a church needs from me. I do not have th the resources, I cannot do it. And you look around for an answer and God says, I have a mighty hand and I promise you I will care for you. Trust me. Pride cringes at the prospect of saying, I am bankrupt and helpless. I need another to save me, and help me and lead me and guide me, and hold me and strengthen me. Everything comes from outside me. Only humility can talk that way. Trust in the promise of God is the expression of humility."

Arrogance is contrasted with trust in God:

Proverbs 28:25 - A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
"Pride is often anxious about the future."

Anxiety flows from pride. If we don't trust God we will be anxious about the future:

I Peter 5:6-7 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (ESV)

7.6.13. Discouraging the righteous, encouraging the wicked, even to misguide them to harm

Ezekiel 13:22 - Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way to save his life, (ESV)

Isaiah 31:2 - And yet he is wise and brings disaster; he does not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers and against the helpers of those who work iniquity. (ESV)

7.6.14. Dishonesty

Isaiah 59:4-8 - No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. They hatch adders' eggs; they weave the spider's web; he who eats their eggs dies, and from one that is crushed a viper is hatched. Their webs will not serve as clothing; men will not cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways. The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace. (ESV)

7.6.15. Lies and adultery

Jeremiah 23:14 - But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah. (ESV)

7.6.16. Iniquity

II Samuel 7:14-15 - I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. (ESV)

Psalms 53:1 - The fool says in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. (ESV)

7.6.17. Profaning what is holy

Leviticus 19:8 - and everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned what is holy to the LORD, and that person shall be cut off from his people. (ESV)

7.6.18. Blasphemy

I Samuel 3:13 - And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. (ESV)

7.6.19. Lawlessness is sin - unresponsive and disobedient to God

I John 3:4 - Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. (ESV)

Isaiah 53:6 - All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (ESV)

7.6.20. Rebellion against God is sin

Deuteronomy 9:7 - Remember and do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD. (ESV)

Joshua 1:18 - Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 13:5 - But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. (ESV)

I Samuel 15:23 - For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king. (ESV)

7.6.21. Not caring for the innocent

Isaiah 59:7 - Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways. (ESV)

7.6.22. Doing evil deeds is sin

Colossians 1:21 - And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, (ESV)

Ecclesiastes 4:3 - But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. (ESV)

Jeremiah 21:12 - O house of David! Thus says the LORD: Execute justice in the morning, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed, lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of your evil deeds. (ESV)

Colossians 1:19-23 - For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. (ESV)

7.6.23. unjust gain

Isaiah 57:17 - Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. (ESV)

7.6.24. dishonesty

Isaiah 59:4 - No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. (ESV)

7.6.25. idolatry

Jeremiah 16:18 - But first I will doubly repay their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted my land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and have filled my inheritance with their abominations. (ESV)

I Corinthians 10:7 - Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. (ESV)

7.6.26. sexual immorality

I Corinthians 10:8-9 - We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, (ESV)

Revelation of John 21:8 - But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. (ESV)

7.6.27. carnal, fleshly things, greed and self-indulgence

James 5:5 - You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. (ESV)

Matthew 23:25-26 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. (ESV)

7.6.28. unnatural desire

I Corinthians 10:8-9 - We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, (ESV)

Colossians 2:23 - These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (ESV)

Defiling passion defiles:

II Peter 2:10 - and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones, (ESV)

Jude 1:7 - just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. (ESV)

7.6.29. Rape is very, very bad

Deuteronomy 22:23-29 - If there is a betrothed virgin, and a man meets her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbor's wife. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. But if in the open country a man meets a young woman who is betrothed, and the man seizes her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die. But you shall do nothing to the young woman; she has committed no offense punishable by death. For this case is like that of a man attacking and murdering his neighbor, because he met her in the open country, and though the betrothed young woman cried for help there was no one to rescue her. If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found, then the man who lay with her shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has violated her. He may not divorce her all his days. (ESV)

7.6.30. Being habitually drunk is sinful

I Corinthians 6:9-10 - Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

I think John Piper's view on this is sound:

youtube.com: Is Drinking Alcohol a Sin?
It could be. Drinking water when you should be giving a glass to someone else in need - that's sin. Drinking water when you should be paying more reverence to the preaching of God's word - that's a sin. Drinking water when just someone just warned you it's contaminated it may kill you - that sin. So drinking water can be sin and presumably then alcohol could be sin, but it may not be.

youtube.com: CAN CHRISTIANS DRINK/SMOKE?! {The Harsh Truth…}

7.6.31. Abortion

Abortion specifically has been condemned as a grave sin since the beginnings of the Church.

The Church has always stood against abortion, and placed it right alongside murder.

Didache Chapter 2 - The Second Commandment: Grave Sin Forbidden. And the second commandment of the Teaching; You shall not commit murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not commit pederasty, you shall not commit fornication, you shall not steal, you shall not practice magic, you shall not practice witchcraft, you shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is born. You shall not covet the things of your neighbor, you shall not swear, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not speak evil, you shall bear no grudge. You shall not be double-minded nor double-tongued, for to be double-tongued is a snare of death. Your speech shall not be false, nor empty, but fulfilled by deed. You shall not be covetous, nor rapacious, nor a hypocrite, nor evil disposed, nor haughty. You shall not take evil counsel against your neighbor. You shall not hate any man; but some you shall reprove, and concerning some you shall pray, and some you shall love more than your own life.

7.6.32. More sins condemned by the early Church

Didache Chapter 3 - Other Sins Forbidden. My child, flee from every evil thing, and from every likeness of it. Be not prone to anger, for anger leads to murder. Be neither jealous, nor quarrelsome, nor of hot temper, for out of all these murders are engendered. My child, be not a lustful one. for lust leads to fornication. Be neither a filthy talker, nor of lofty eye, for out of all these adulteries are engendered. My child, be not an observer of omens, since it leads to idolatry. Be neither an enchanter, nor an astrologer, nor a purifier, nor be willing to took at these things, for out of all these idolatry is engendered. My child, be not a liar, since a lie leads to theft. Be neither money-loving, nor vainglorious, for out of all these thefts are engendered. My child, be not a murmurer, since it leads the way to blasphemy. Be neither self-willed nor evil-minded, for out of all these blasphemies are engendered. Rather, be meek, since the meek shall inherit the earth. Be long-suffering and pitiful and guileless and gentle and good and always trembling at the words which you have heard. You shall not exalt yourself, nor give over-confidence to your soul. Your soul shall not be joined with lofty ones, but with just and lowly ones shall it have its intercourse. Accept whatever happens to you as good, knowing that apart from God nothing comes to pass.

There are heaps more things described as sinful and abomination in the Bible which I have not mentioned.

8. If the world is encouraging you, you're probably in falsehood or taking the wide road

John 7:7 - The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. (ESV)

John 15:18-19 - If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

I John 3:13 - Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.

Paul and the other faithful Apostles were exhibited as last of all, like men sentenced to death for following Jesus:

I Corinthians 4:6-16 - I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. (ESV)

9. The times of ignorance are past

Now God commands all people everywhere to repent:

Acts 17:30-31 - The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. (ESV)

Acts 14:15-17 - Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. (ESV)

10. Common grace

God's common grace extends to even the evil:

Matthew 5:44-45 - But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (ESV)

Jesus is so generous that He saves even unthankful people, but we should definitely love Jesus as a response. This story should be taken to see how Good God is, but also taken as a warning against unthankfulness:

Luke 17:11-19 - On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. When he saw them he said to them, Go and show yourselves to the priests. And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? And he said to him, Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Mercies {New Every Morning} {Live from Trafalgar Square} - Matt Redman

We are meant to exercise common grace to other people.

Luke 6:35-36 - But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (ESV)

When we pray, we should desire to do God's will, as Jesus has prayed for us to remain here to do His will:

Matthew 6:9-12 - Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (ESV)

Jesus has us remaining here to be sanctified in the Truth:

John 17:15-17 - I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

Jesus wants us to do God's will, and love Him and be obedient to Him:

John 8:41-44 - You are doing what your father did. They said to him, We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God. Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

God has common grace for evildoers, and for the unjust, and Jesus wants us to help work that common grace into the lives of other people:

Matthew 5:44-45 - But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (ESV)

See, our actions reflect who our Father is:

Luke 6:35-36 - But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (ESV)

Talk
youtube.com: Christianity is God saves us & we respond to obey, not the other way

11. Justification - declared 'not guilty', if in Christ Jesus

Jesus is God revealed in the flesh.

I think, that means that if a person loves (is obedient to) and has faith in Him, they are most likely saved.

11.1. We must live by faith - live by obedience to God!

Jesus will manifest to those who keep His commandments:

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

Jesus comes to dwell in our hearts through faith, His spirit in our inner being, as we are rooted and grounded in love:

Ephesians 3:14-21 - For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)

The followers of Paul the Apostle live by (walk by) faith; those are the righteous ones. It's a lifestyle:

Galatians 3:11 - Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for The righteous shall live by faith. (ESV)

It's obedience which leads to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith:

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (ESV)

Habakkuk 2:4 - Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith. (ESV)

II Corinthians 5:7 - for we walk by faith, not by sight. (ESV)

Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (ESV)

Being firm in our faith, we can resist:

I Peter 5:8-9 - Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (ESV)

11.2. We must be found in Jesus

Ephesians 2:18 - For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (ESV)

Ephesians 1:1 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: (ESV)

Romans 8:1-2 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (ESV)

Colossians 1:14 - in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

Colossians 2:10 - and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. (ESV)

II Corinthians 1:21 - And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, (ESV)

Colossians 3:3 - For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (ESV)

11.3. The ones who are in Jesus have been called out of darkness and into His light

I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:38 - but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. (ESV)

Romans 1:17 - For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, The righteous shall live by faith. (ESV)

11.4. Sanctification (turning from sin and being cleaned) is a marker of those who are in Jesus

I Corinthians 6:11 - And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (ESV)

We should also ask God to sanctify us, and we should will to be sanctified. God wants us to be sanctified, and to depart from impurity:

I John 5:14-15 - And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 4:3-8 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. (ESV)

11.5. We are justified by faith in God who delivered up for our trespasses and raised Jesus Christ from the dead for our justification

Galatians 5:4 - You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. (ESV)

Galatians 2:16 - yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (ESV)

Galatians 3:24 - So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. (ESV)

We have to have faith which is characteristic of Abraham's faith, but with regards to following the Lord Jesus.

It's obedience which leads to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith:

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (ESV)

Our justification comes from having trusting faith in God our Father, who has raised from the dead Jesus Christ our Lord (our brother who we obey); the Jesus Christ who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised from the dead for our justification.

Obeying God is obeying Jesus. Having faith in God is having faith in Jesus.

He was raised for our justification; now in order to be justified by faith, we simply need to put our faith in Him - we need to trusting Jesus Christ.

Trusting in Jesus should result in following Him, believing Jesus' words, walking as he walked, entrusting ourselves to Father God who judges righteously.

We have to die to our old self and live for Christ, simply abiding in Him.

II Corinthians 5:14-15 - For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

If we walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised, and are doing the will of God, then we would love Jesus and Jesus helps us:

John 8:39-40 - They answered him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. (ESV)

Hebrews 2:16-18 - For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (ESV)

Mark 3:35 - Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother. (ESV)

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. (ESV)

If we walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised, but having faith in God by obeying Jesus Christ who was raised for our justification then we have Jesus Christ's righteousness; we have the righteeousness of faith in God.

Romans 4:22-23 - That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, (ESV)

And the promise will be ours also, because Jesus is our Lord, and we belong to Him.

Romans 4:24-25 - but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (ESV)

Abraham is the the father of all who believe without being circumcised, and the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. The circumcised are the ones who keep the precepts of the law by faith - so the law must be combined with the faith of Abraham:

Romans 4:9-12 - Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

The true circumcised are the ones who obey the precepts of the law, and if they walk in the footsteps of faith which Abraham had before he was circumcised, then that is a valid mode of justification:

Romans 2:25-29 - For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (ESV)

So if we have the faith that Abraham had in his walk before circumcision, such as when he refused the gifts from the king of Sodom, or when he put Isaac on the Altar, but in regards to following Jesus. We must give up our old life to live for Christ:

Genesis 14:21-23 - And the king of Sodom said to Abram, Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself. But Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, I have made Abram rich. (ESV)

So what Jesus is saying is quite similar:

Luke 9:23-24 - And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. (ESV)

Now it makes sense to me how Zacchaeus received slavation:

Luke 19:8-9 - And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. (ESV)

youtube.com: The Golden Stitches of Sovereignty: What Holds Our Gospel Together @time: 39 min 22 sec
So the first self, Jesus says, is going to be lost forever. Whoever would save his life will lose it. And the second self is gonna live forever. Whoever loses his life for me, for me, because you fall in love with me, you've seen me, you love me, you're satisfied with me, your treasuring me. I'm everything to you. You live forever. You're on the road. And you stay on it through death and resurrection and we live together, forever.

11.6. Justified by our words

Matthew 12:37 - for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (ESV)

11.7. Justified by grace

Titus 3:7 - so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (ESV)

youtube.com: God Is No Longer Against Us

Romans 5:2 - Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (ESV)

Christ keeps us standing. His grace is actively making us stand:

Romans 14:4 - Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (ESV)

11.7.1. Justified by faith following Jesus

We have peace with God:

Romans 5:1 - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

  1. When James mentions "justification by works", he actually is referring to justification by obedient faith (obedient faith is still faith)

    It's obedience which leads to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith:

    Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (ESV)

    James 2:25 - And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? (ESV)

    Hebrews 11:31 links obedience to works in James 2:25:

    Hebrews 11:31 - By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. (ESV)

11.7.2. Justified by the blood of Jesus, received through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord

The same Apostle Paul wrote these:

Romans 5:1-2 - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:6-9 - For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Romans 5:9 - Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Lord, I Lift Your Name On High - Petra {Backtrack no guitar?}

The way that Jesus went is the way that we go. The new and living way is the Jesus way:

  • self denial
    • Matthew 16:24 - Then Jesus told his disciples, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (ESV)
  • obedience
  • sacrifice
  • death

We are sanctified by the Father in the way that Jesus was made perfect. We are made perfect the same way He was made perfect, by the sufferings that come through obedience to God's will.

Hebrews 2:10-11 - For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, (ESV)

Matthew 26:39-42 - And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will. And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done. (ESV)

Thee same way Jesus went is the Way, the new and living way, the Jesus way:

Hebrews 5:8-9 - Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, (ESV)

Receiving this is a mixture of belief and obedience towards Jesus. Faith is a mixture of belief and obedience.

I Peter 2:21 - For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. (ESV)

Obedience to God is an act of faith: (Hebrews 11). On the flip side, disobedience flows from unbelief/faithlessness:

I Timothy 1:13 - though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, (ESV)

Acting in accordance with faithlessness is sinful behaviour:

1Ti 1:13 - even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted (G4160 poieo) ignorantly (G50 agnoeo) in unbelief (G570 apaistia, faithlessness, disobedience);

1: :  570  apaistia  ap-is-tee'-ah
2: 
3:  from 571; faithlessness, i.e. (negatively) disbelief (lack of
4:  Christian faith), or (positively) unfaithfulness
5:  (disobedience):--unbelief.
6:  see GREEK for 571
bibletools.org - apaistia
faithlessness

The wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience:

Ephesians 5:5-7 - For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them;

That means that justifying faith involves obeying Jesus:

Romans 5:8-11 - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

The free gift of justification is received through faith.

And I believe we need an obedient heart towards Jesus to receive.

It's not about putting our hope on compliance to the Mosaic law to save us but it's about obeying Jesus / loving Jesus / trusting Jesus, and the compliance to God's law will come naturally while obeying Jesus.

The justifying work is finished - Jesus finished it, now we follow Him through the same way he went, by trusting in Him to save us, believing Him, obeying Him and remaining faithful to Him.

Now we need faith to receive it and I believe that faith necessitates love for Jesus, which includes obedience to Jesus, and it's the heart that matters most, because all the work may be burned up but we are still saved, because it's not the work that saves, it's faith, but I believe that faith necessitates love/obedience to Jesus, as one of His sheep.

Romans 3:21-25 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (ESV)

11.7.3. Believing the Word of Truth - sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

We had faith in him. We had a faithful, obedient heart, and were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit:

Ephesians 1:13-14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (ESV)

I Corinthians 12:13 - For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (ESV)

Paul 'hears of their faith' (their working faith; faith works; otherwise, what is to hear about) and their love toward the saints. (ESV)

Faith in the Lord Jesus means obedience:

Ephesians 1:15-16 - For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, (ESV)

Knowledge of Him results in the heart being enlightened:

Ephesians 1:17-20 - that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, (ESV)

Names have power. Jesus' name is above every other name:

Ephesians 1:21 - far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (ESV)

Acts 4:12 - And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (ESV)

Philippians 2:9 - Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, (ESV)

11.8. Faith, Law, Works

We must live by and within the law of God:

Proverbs 28:9 - If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. (ESV)

Christians are under the law of Christ, which is within the law of God:

I Corinthians 9:21 - To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

A result of abiding by the law of God and our accountability to God for the law of Christ is that people will love God and one another. On the other hand, as a result of obeying impurity and obeying lawlessness, and as a result of not abiding by the law of God, people's love grows cold, and the willful sinning of obeying impurity and lawlessness leads to an eventual death:

Matthew 24:12 - And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. (ESV)

Even though we are under grace, we must still obey God for the hope of righteousness, and we must not obey impurity, and we must not obey lawlessness. We must obey God, and certainly we must turn from our sin and practice righteousness and we rely on God to help us do that:

Romans 6:14-19 - For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. (ESV)

I Peter 5:10 - And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (ESV)

By obedience to God we work out our salvation:

Galatians 5:5 - For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. (ESV)

11.8.1. Love is defined by Jesus

Sermon
The New Commandment of Christ: 'Love One Another As I Have Loved You' | Desiring God

We must love (not just any way you believe it's defined) but in the same way that Jesus loved us:

John 13:34 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (ESV)

I John 4:10-11 - In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (ESV)

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

youtube.com: Hope and the Fruit of Love @time: 2 min 0 sec

Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren - there's there's the pillar - therefore, fervently love one another.

So, the first pillar is Soul purifying obedience to the truth. Do we all see that? Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth, love.

If you do this you can love. If you don't do this, love falls. If you do this, love stands. So there's pillar number one.

Since there is a soul purifying obedience to the truth, you can love each other.

Ephesians 5:25-27 - Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

11.8.2. Christians are not under the Mosaic law because we are under grace as we are under Christ's law, but we don't despise the Torah, nor annul it, nor teach others to annul it

I enjoyed this video, but I still am of the opinion that following the full Mosaic law is not necessary, (but not prohibited, so long as it is pursued by faith and submits to God's righteousness):

Debate
youtube.com: Public Debate - Should Christians Keep The Law?

Relying on the 'works of the law' for one's righteousness puts a person under a curse:

Galatians 3:10 - For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.

The whole world is accountable to God over the law of God:

Romans 3:19-20 - Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (ESV)

The law is still used in judgement, but the one who has faith in Jesus is not condemned.

The law is good and just and Jesus both obeyed it flawlessly, but He also fulfilled it like a prophesy:

Acts 3:18 - But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. (ESV)

John 15:25 - But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: They hated me without a cause. (ESV)

John 18:9 - This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one. (ESV)

Matthew 26:56 - But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him and fled. (ESV)

Matthew 5:17 - Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (ESV)

John 18:32 - This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die. (ESV)

John 19:24 - so they said to one another, Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be. This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. So the soldiers did these things, (ESV)

John 19:28 - After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), I thirst. (ESV)

It was inevitable. The Scripture had to be fulfilled:

Acts 1:16 - Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. (ESV)

11.8.3. Faith in Jesus Christ doesn't exclude obedience. Knowing Jesus is more than knowing about Jesus. About the Galatian error for those who try to use this passage in order to avoid obeying Jesus

Job 22:24-26 - if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent bed, then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver. For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. (ESV)

God wants us to love Him, treasure Him (25. agapaó), value Him with all our heart, and love and value and treasure one another (25. agapaó) as ourselves
youtube.com: What Is It Like to Enjoy God? @time: 35 min 16 sec

Yeah, I agree with John Piper, for the most part. Loving God is not actually first working for God. But it is to truly desire God, and treasure Him (25. agapaó), and treasure His word, and treasure His commandments, to give Him due praise, and to honour God, and give Him the glory, to love Him in the affectionate and treasuring sense is what God wants of us, and Jesus says that if we love Him then we will keep His commandments. Where John Piper says 'affectionate love comes before obedience', I prefer to say that 'treasuring God includes a heart of obedience, trust, belief, desiring God, and affectionate love' and I also think that obedience (being in the will of God) may produce work for God but doesn't strictly mean work. We want to keep His commandments so I believe we should treasure God with all our heart. God also commands us to love one another as ourselves, so we should also love and value other people with that same treasuring love, but God wants Him to be our number one treasure, and I think we have to make God our number one love.

As I understand it, I John 5:2-3 isn't saying that God's commandments are universally unburdensome to all people. It's saying that when we love God then keeping His commandments is unburdensome. If we're struggling with keeping the commandments of God and struggling with sin then we should make Him our number one love heart's desire and treasure and seek Him first with all our heart and we will be able to find His commandments unburdensome! It's true.

I feel like I could still say, "Loving God is obedience to God," but I would rather rephrase it as, "God in His love gifted me to be able to love Him back and live. I can see in retrospect He had been working in my life and it's awesome and magnificent and I just want to cherish and obey God now, and God made the way for me to do that!"

I John 5:2-3 - By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Even the Apostle Paul explains that our freedom is for serving one another:

Galatians 5:13 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (ESV)

Our freedom is so that we might live to God:

Galatians 2:19 - For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. (ESV)

God is our life. We must love, obey, and hold fast to Him. Faith is not without obedience, but we are to obey Jesus Christ and to believe in Jesus is to have begun to obey Him:

Deuteronomy 30:20 - loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. (ESV)

God is our life because Christ is our life. Our life is hidden with Christ in God:

Colossians 3:1-4 - If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (ESV)

I John 5:12 - Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (ESV)

youtube.com: Hope and the Fruit of Love @time: 2 min 0 sec

Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren - there's there's the pillar - therefore, fervently love one another.

So, the first pillar is Soul purifying obedience to the truth. Do we all see that? Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth, love.

If you do this you can love. If you don't do this, love falls. If you do this, love stands. So there's pillar number one.

Since there is a soul purifying obedience to the truth, you can love each other.

To get to know Jesus, we must obey His commandments:

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

Christ Jesus has set us free to serve God, living for Him. Obeying Christ Jesus, we are found in Him:

John 13:34 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (ESV)

In Christ Jesus seek to follow the pattern of His life to get to know Him, and He gave us commandments to follow to do that. Faith in Christ Jesus is not just a belief in the head but faith is trusting Him, and trusting in Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Both our belief in Him and obedience to Him flow from our trust in Him. Anyone who claims to have come to know Jesus but does not do what Jesus says is a liar and they are not in the truth:

Galatians 2:1-5 - Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. (ESV)

Galatians 2:6-9 - And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. (ESV)

We must like, Paul, will to do the will of God:

Galatians 2:10 - Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. (ESV)

Galatians 2:11-15 - But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews? We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; (ESV)

Yes, Jesus has set us free, but it's to serve God by serving Christ. We are freed in order to love and serve God:

Galatians 5:1 - For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (ESV)

We endeavour to be justified in Christ - in Christ means abiding in Christ - through faith; trusting, believing, obedient faith:

Galatians 2:16-19 - yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith (G4102 pistis) in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed (G4100 pisteuo) in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. (ESV)

Trusting, believing, obedient faith is faith which trusts Jesus Christ and obeys Jesus Christ's commandments. The word 'law' should not be anathema. It it possible to be justified by obedience to Christ's commandments which include Christ's law, because obedience to Jesus is a part of faith and is an intrinsic quality of faith, as is belief.

Pisteuo means to trust. Trust in God, trust also in God's Son Jesus:

Romans 4:5 - And to the one who does not work but trusts (G4100 pisteuo) him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, (ESV)

Paul lives by faith in Jesus Christ:

Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (ESV)

The Apostle Paul lives by faith in Jesus Christ and that involves trust, belief, obedience, and Paul makes a point about faith being becoming like Jesus Christ, and seeking to be found in Christ Jesus. Obeying Jesus is not contrary to faith in Jesus:

Philippians 3:8-12 - Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith — that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (ESV)

Galatians 2:21 - I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. (ESV)

11.8.4. Didache

The Didache's estimated range of dating is 50-120 A.D, according to earlychristianwritings.com.

What I like about the Didache is that it upholds righteous living and following God's Great commandments and precepts.

Didache: The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations

I think it's important to live righteously out of love for God and one's neighbour, and out of faith.

That being said, I think God does justify through faith, and I believe faith works. And working may indeed be called faith if the work is done in faith. I also think God likely saves through works because it may be their way of demonstrating faith to Jesus.

11.8.5. Our point of reference

Through faith we are justified, but we should absolutely stop sinning

We are sanctified by the Spirit and faith in the truth (taking God's words as True and using them to combat lies):

II Thessalonians 2:13 - But we should always give thanks (G2168 eucharisteo) to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning (G746 arche) for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith (G4102 pistis) in the truth (G225 aletheia). (NASB)

  • And the Spirit is the Truth
  • And God's Word is Truth
    • God's Words are Truth
    • Jesus is the Truth
  • We must have faith in the truth (i.e. believe and trust in the truth)

Deuteronomy 13:4 - You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.

Think of Jesus here:

  • keep His commandments
  • obey His voice
  • serve Him
  • hold fast to Him

Christians must do this.

It's Jesus' words are forever true:

Matthew 24:35 - Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (ESV)

We will be judged by Jesus' own words which God gave Him, unless we accept Him, and accept His words:

John 12:48 - The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

I believe the following indicates the law exists pretty much forever - there probably isn't an expiry date:

Luke 16:17 - But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

Psalms 119:160 - The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (ESV)

John 17:17-19 - Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (ESV)

Those who are in the faith can't do anything against the truth.

I think the Apostle here understands that we must test ourselves to see if we are in the faith, and encourage others to test themselves. But interestingly, he says, "not that we may appear to have met the test", and "though we may seem to have failed", as if it may appear and seem as though others have failed, but that we should test ourselves.

Sermon
youtube.com: Lord, Savior, and Treasure: The Complex Beauty of Jesus Christ @time: 2 min 44 sec

Though there may seem to be apparent paradoxes, and apparent contradictions in the Scripture, I think they either resolve or we rest in God, not relying on our own understanding. But I confidently affirm God is True, though I don't understand everything, and I affirm that my spiritual eyesight is getting cleaned up by the Spirit, through faith, and by the washing of the word, and I have confidence that Jesus Christ is in me:

II Corinthians 13:5-8 - Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

Because truth is truth, it is imperishable:

I Peter 1:23-25 - since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (ESV)

I Corinthians 15:51-58 - Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (ESV)

Stop sinning by faith in the truth - by faith in Jesus, and trusting obedience in God's words:

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; (ESV)

Mark 10:19 - You know the commandments: Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother. (ESV)

1 John 3:4-9 - Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. (ESV)

Jesus' words will not pass away:

Matthew 24:35 - Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (ESV)

John 6:68 - Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, (ESV)

I Peter 1:23 - since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

I Peter 1:25 - but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Ephesians 1:13,14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (ESV)

Adhering strictly to the Mosaic law is not needed to be justified by God if we believe in and follow Jesus:

Galatians 3:15-18 - To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, And to offsprings, referring to many, but referring to one, And to your offspring, who is Christ. This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

11.8.6. Purity of heart

The Mosaic law is not really in the same category as the 10 commandments, I believe. The 10 commandments if obeyed in truth from the heart would result in a clean heart, I think. So it serves to describe what a pure heart looks like, and the laws we should always try to keep whether Gentile or Jew.

We obey the Truth. We obey Jesus Christ. We obey God. We believe and trust God, even for His finished work on the cross:

I Peter 1:22 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

Even belief must be in the heart:

Romans 10:10- For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (ESV)

11.8.7. We should align our hearts and minds to God's precepts, not submit to worldly precepts which are fictions

Sermon
+ youtube.com: Unstained from the World: The Battle for Purity - Tim Conway @time: 30 min 28 sec

Colossians 2:20-23,3:1-6 - If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. (ESV)

James 1:27 - Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (ESV)

11.8.8. We must cleanse ourself of defilement if we want God to use us more, and if we want to see with faith and hear God more clearly

II Corinthians 7:1 - Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (ESV)

youtube.com: Unstained from the World: The Battle for Purity - Tim Conway @time: 46 min 30 sec
This is not a cleansing from guilt - that's not what this is. This is a cleansing from the pollution of the world.

God's servants may remain 'shelved' because they're unfit for use.

Daniel 12:10-12
Purify themselves, yea, make themselves white, yea, refined are many: and the wicked have done wickedly, and none of the wicked understand, and those acting wisely do understand; (YLT)

II Timothy 2:20-23 - Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. (ESV)

This is a sanctifying cleansing. We are sanctified by obedience to the Truth, faith in Christ, obedience to Christ, trust in Christ:

John 15:3 - Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. (ESV)

Ephesians 5:25-26 - Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (ESV)

Since we await Jesus, we want to be found by Him without spot or blemish. We're supposed to put a stop to sin, fall out of agape love with the world, and be sanctified:

II Peter 3:13-14 - But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. (ESV)

Revelation of John 22:14 - Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. (ESV)

Our relationship with God is based on our purity, not just our forgiveness:

II Corinthians 6:16-18 - What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty. (ESV)

Though we are God's children, we should purify ourself as He is pure. Everyone who has this hope acts on that hope:

I John 3:2-4 - Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. (ESV)

11.8.9. Impurity lies the heart

Luke 11:41 - But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. (ESV)

Matthew 15:19 - For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. (ESV)

Matthew 5:28 - But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Yes, adultery includes looking at pornography, and fantasizing over it. Yes, adultery includes looking at AI-generated pornography as well.

Revelation of John 2:23 - and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.

Similarly, the heart can be trained in greed, always looking to make more money from people. That's sinful thinking too:

II Peter 2:14 - They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!

II Corinthians 5:11-12 - Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.

11.8.10. Purifying the heart

We are given the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit cleanses our hearts by faith. As we obey Jesus, going against the resistance, our hearts are being cleansed:

Acts 15:8-9 - And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

If we have faith in Jesus then we obey Jesus' commandments when presented with opportunities. We walk by faith, not sight. When other people discourage you from following Jesus' commandments, but you choose to obey Jesus anyway, this is overcoming the enemy by faith:

II Corinthians 5:7 - for we walk by faith, not by sight. (ESV)

Do what Jesus says and receive eternal life - obey Jesus:

Romans 6:13-23 - Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed*, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

11.8.11. Being a slave to righteousness is possible without adhering to the Mosaic law, by being led by Jesus' Spirit

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 - He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. (ESV)

God through Jesus is the source of our personal righteousness as we are found in Him, and our righteousness comes through Him. That personal righteousness doesn't belong to us alone, but it also belongs to Christ because it comes from Christ:

Philippians 1:9-11 - And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

We are set free from sin and become slaves of God (so we obey God!!) and the obedience leads to sanctification, and leads to righteousness:

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (ESV)

  1. If a person is led by the Spirit then the Lord Jesus is in control of their life, which means that person obeys Jesus' commandments:

    Faith is the action word. We must be followers of Jesus Christ, not putting ourselves back under the law of Moses to seek justification through it.

    Faith receives and continues to receive the supply of the Spirit and we are led by the Spirit:

    Galatians 3:1-5 - O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— (ESV)

    Sermon
    youtube.com: The Law Refutes Justification by Law: Galatians 3:6a??9, Part 1

    Faith receives and continues to receive the supply of the Spirit. So a person needs to be having faith in Jesus to be led by the Spirit.

    Sanctification is personal righteousness that is fruit that comes from being in Jesus Christ, Him being our righteousness - we're grafted into Jesus like branches on a tree and become healthier. We must and should stop sinning.

    We must live in the spirit the way God does, not for human passions, but for the will of God:

    I Peter 4:1-6 - Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. (ESV)

11.8.12. We must have attention to Jesus Christ our Lord

We are saved from our sins, and from our evil practices.

Jeremiah 7:9-10 - Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered!—only to go on doing all these abominations? (ESV)

We are made a new man in Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 12:33 - Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. (ESV)

John 10:27 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: Holiness Demanded - Charles Spurgeon Sermon
Sermon
youtube.com: Eternal Security - Charles Spurgeon Sermon

11.8.13. Make the tree good and the fruit good

We must simultaneously make the tree good (abide in Jesus) and make the fruit good (be sanctified and glorify God and Jesus in our hearts, minds, bodies and actions).

Matthew 12:33-37 - Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (ESV)

As we make the tree good, we make the fruit good!

I still think the 10 commandments are special, and following them in truth is repenting from sin.

Mark 10:19 - You know the commandments: Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother. (ESV)

Acts 15:28-29 - For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

11.8.14. Judgement

I certainly affirm that Jesus will return to save those waiting for Him, and I currently am waiting for His return:

Hebrews 9:27-28 - And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (ESV)

Jesus went to the place of the dead so people who had died (those who Paul is referring to here) may also be saved. Also, it seems that the rapture doctrine was made known from a word from the Lord:

I Thessalonians 4:14-17 - For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (ESV)

Ultimately, we are waiting for incorruptible bodies, and I totally believe in rapture and ultimately a completely new heavens and earth (not just a renewal, although I do believe God is still taking care of and reigning on the earth), so I think that whatever Paul the Apostle is referring to here, well I have my speculatinons, is something more imminent, and perhaps more to do with God's kingdom work on the earth, but I still hold the eschatological view that there is ultimately an entirely new heavens and earth without any corruption:

I Corinthians 7:29-31 - This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (ESV)

Also, I do not affirm reincarnation, but I think the truth is that it is appointed for man to die once, and after that, judgement, and the LORD creates an entirely new heavens and a new earth. No recycling. No reincarnation. I await the second coming of Christ. AMEN! Amen to the New Covenant. Jesus Christ is my High Priest.

Hebrews 9:27-28 - And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (ESV)

Isaiah 65:17 - For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.

Luke 18:8 - I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?

Will anyone be trusting Jesus, trusting in Jesus, believing and obeying Jesus, being found in the kingdom of God?

The kingdom of God is all about serving Christ, and having righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit:

Romans 14:17-22 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. (ESV)

We must also love one another in the way Jesus has loved us. Jesus recognized that Father God loved Him, and Jesus obediently loved us. We must also recognise that we have been loved by God, and love one another:

I John 4:17 - By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

God's law is still used in judgement, but the one who has faith in Jesus is not condemned because they abide in Jesus, are Jesus' sheep, and are led by the Spirit, obeying and following Jesus' voice:

  • Whoever is actively believing/trusting/obeying Jesus is not judged.
  • Whoever is disbelieving/distrusting/disobeying Jesus is judged even now.

John 3:18 Interlinear: he who is believing in him is not judged, but he who is not believing hath been judged already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:18 - He who believes (G4100 pisteuo) in Him is not judged; he who does not believe (G4100 pisteuo) has been judged (G2919 krino) already (G2235 ede), because he has not believed (G4100 pisteuo) in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (NASB)

Firstly, obedient children are children who hear the word of God, believe and love God, and we should be holy in all our conduct if we call on the LORD God who judges impartially according to each one's deeds:

I Peter 1:14-19 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (ESV)

I'm quite convinced that the substitutionary atonement is there to help us put a stop to sin, and live to righteousness and holiness:

II Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)

Revelation of John 3:1-5 - And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. (ESV)

If people including free-grace Christians do not repent from sin, they may still receive the wrath of God, but I'm not the judge here:

Colossians 3:5-10 - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

1: :  2919  krino  kree'-no
2: 
3:  properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by
4:  implication, to try, condemn, punish:--avenge, conclude, condemn,
5:  damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law,
6:  ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.
1: :  2235  ede  ay'-day
2: 
3:  apparently from 2228 (or possibly 2229) and 1211; even now:--already,
4:  (even) now (already), by this time.
5:  see GREEK for 2228
6:  see GREEK for 2229
7:  see GREEK for 1211

God's still rewarding those who do good and bringing wrath to those who do evil:

Acts 10:4 - And he stared at him in terror and said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. (ESV)

Genesis 19:13 - For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it. (ESV)

Matthew 11:23 - And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. (ESV)

Do not be an enemy of the cross of Christ, submit to the righteousness of God - we needed Jehovah God, Father of Jesus Christ, to pay for our sin - and we must imitate Christ, passing forward Christ's love and forgiving as we have been forgiven, and repenting from sin:

John 3:19 - This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (ESV)

I Peter 4:17 - For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (ESV)

Matthew 12:36-37 - I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

When one speaks evil against a brother, they become a judge of the law.

James 4:11 - Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. (ESV)

Repentance involves turning away from sin, and all believers are supposed to turn away from sin which they themselves condemn:

Romans 2:1-5 - Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who do such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. (ESV)

We must stop doing evil:

Romans 2:6-11 - He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (ESV)

Eternal judgement:

Hebrews 6:2 - and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

  1. Our Lord is the Son of Man, and we should be ready and on alert

    Matthew 24:42 - Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. (ESV)

    Matthew 24:44 - Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (ESV)

    Matthew 25:13 - Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (ESV)

  2. I believe I was saved and born-again by seeking Jesus and calling on the name of the Lord

    Acts 2:17-21 - And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

    I prayed a sinners prayer in my own room, and I had begun trying to repent from sin, but I was still stuck in it and I needed help.

    And when we are born-again and given a new heart we should continue in obedience.

  3. We should not rebel against the law - but we should obey the truth in truth

    Matthew 23:2-7 - The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. (ESV)

    Sermon
    youtube.com: How Preachers Grow Graceless

    We should not live a double-life. We should not deny in our private life what we preach in public.

    Serving Christ means doing the will of God from the heart, in truth, seeking to please God who sees everything even done in private:

    Ephesians 6:5-8 - Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. (ESV)

    I'm not a perfect person. I'm writing this document as I am learning, and interpreting as I go. And I am trying to clean myself up in my own private life.

12. Faith requires obedience

youtube.com: C S Lewis message 2024 - Faith in action God fights for you, but you must also act @time: 13 min 33 sec

The Breastplate of Righteousness (according to C. S. Lewis)
Protects our hearts against the enemy's attacks. It is a reminder of the righteousness we have through Christ, not because of anything we have done. It is about living in obedience and integrity, knowing that we are clothed in His righteousness.

Luke writes that Peter says the Holy Spirit goes to those who obey Jesus.

If the book of Acts is finished after Paul went to Galatia, then it is in knowledge of the letter to the Galatians, where Paul says the promised Spirit is received through faith.

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

Galatians 3:14 - so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (ESV)

Or since Paul's journey to Galatia happened after Peter said the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Jesus, and Paul writes that the promised Spirit is received through faith, even in these two passages, it's doubly confirmed that faith necessitates obedience.

Acts 16:6 - And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.

Jesus says you must obey God to be part of His family:

Luke 8:21 - But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

Jesus implies you must obey Him (Jesus) to be part of His family:

John 7:16 - So Jesus answered them, My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.

Love Jesus (being obedient to Him) and believe that He came from God:

John 16:25-27- I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

Doing the will of God from the heart means obedience, and integrity and seeking to please God:

Ephesians 6:5-8 - Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. (ESV)

12.1. The obedient children are the ones who are not conformed to the passions of our former ignorance

I Peter 1:14-16 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.

12.2. The sons of disobedience are the ones who are conformed to sexual immorality, impurity, or covetousness, etc.

Ephesians 5:5-7 - For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them;

12.3. Get to know Jesus by following His commandments

Matthew 7:21-27 - Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. (ESV)

Matthew 6:10 - Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (ESV)

Luke 6:46-49 - Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (ESV)

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

You must obey Jesus:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes (G4100 pisteuo) in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

We must obey God. We have faith in God who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification, and having faith in God is having faith in His Son which is believing in and obeying Jesus Christ:

Romans 4:23-25 - But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe (G4100 pisteuo) in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (ESV)

13. True religion

  • Be a disciple and representative of Jesus
    • Obedient to Jesus
  • Being a servant to other people
  • Sticking up for truth
    • Be faithful to Jesus
      • Be personally accountable to God and to Jesus
      • Do not deny Jesus
  • Have a pure heart
    • Obey God, being accountable to God
  • Have Jesus' heart
  • Serving Jesus
  • Endeavour to please God
  • Be holy
  • Be godly (behaviour in accordance with the knowledge of God)

God does not despise the righteous deeds of His children done by faith:

Isaiah 64:5-6 - You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. (ESV)

Given a good conscience with God by faith in Jesus, we then do good works in love out of a forgiven heart:

I Timothy 1:5 - The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (ESV)

Quote from John Piper
That misunderstanding of Isaiah 64:6 has caused many Christians to believe that it is impossible for a Christian to please God. If their best works are filthy rags, there's nothing they can do to please him - this is a profoundly unbiblical notion through and through.

Philippians 4:18 - I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. (ESV)

Hebrews 13:16 - Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (ESV)

Our works must be done in faith:

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)

Quote from John Piper
Think what a horrible thing it would be to say that the fruit of the Holy Spirit in the Christian Life is filthy rags. I can hardly stand to think about it. They are not filthy rags.

Galatians 1:10 - For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (ESV)

youtube.com: Unstained from the World: The Battle for Purity - Tim Conway @time: 57 min 19 sec
You have to do it. Those reflexive pronouns mean your responsibility. God doesn't do it for you. You do it. The person sitting next to you, your spouse doesn't do it for you, your friends don't do it. You need to be determined ,and deliberate and intentional, and this is a battle, and we are up against these great strongholds of thought that the world and the god of this world bombards us with. This is no easy thing.

James 1:27 - Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (ESV)

Matthew 15:8-9 - This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (ESV)

1 Samuel 16:7 - But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. (ESV)

I do actually consider theology to be quite important but we should not be whitewashed tombs.

I think the person's lifestyle should be 'pure and undefiled religion' as James defines it.

1 Peter 3:16 - a conscience having good so that in this they might speak against you they shall be ashamed those reviling your - good in Christ manner of life (391. anastrophé) (Interlinear)

I should probably actually do my own Bible study though because there's a lot of false religion out there. Rather than fill my mind with other people's doctrines and religion, we should obey God, knowing God knows.

Also endeavor to also do lots of service as that is what Jesus' Kingdom is all about.

14. Repentance from sin

Repentance leads to the knowledge of the truth, and ceasing to do the devil's will:

II Timothy 2:24-26 - And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (ESV)

We must cease to do the devil's will:

Hebrews 10:26-31 - For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, Vengeance is mine; I will repay. And again, The Lord will judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (ESV)

Before 2 April 2022 when I was born-again and a new creation, I was especially stuck in sin - all sorts of things: pornography, pride, like the prodigal son, but I was also quite oppressed. I hated feeling like I was in a stranglehold of lies where I wasn't able to act on anything I believed was true, and in poverty, and so I continued in sin. Some time in 2021, I had begun putting my trust in God to work, and trying to keep God's commandments. And on 2 April 2022, I was born-again of the Spirit. After that, things had become 'tangibly' spiritual and I was given 'knowledge' that God exists and I believed (and still do) that Jesus is God, so that means ever since then I then had a strong belief that Jesus is with me and Jesus granted me to keep on holding faith in Him without the full knowledge, which is really cool. So now I feel even more urgency with regards to repentance from sin and a desire to be holy. I'm a new creation, so I'm not going back to the way things were. Thank You Jesus.

I Thessalonians 5:20-21 - Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. (ESV)

14.1. Parable of the prodigal son - God's joy over a sinner that repents from sin

 1: prodigal
 2:     Wasteful.
 3: 
 4:     Spending money or using resources freely
 5:     and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.
 6:     "prodigal habits die hard"
 7: 
 8:     A person who spends money in a recklessly
 9:     extravagant way.
10:     "he hated rich prodigals who lived
11:     useless, imprudent lives"

The story of the prodigal son is about a person coming to repentance, and there is great joy over it. It's not saying that following God's commandments are wrong. It's not even saying that 'rulekeeping' is wrong. It does say that sin leads to destruction. It also says that God and the angels are overjoyed when people repent from sin and turn back to Him, and that God forgives and welcomes us back when we do this.

Luke 15:7 - Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:10 - Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

Luke 15:24 - For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to celebrate.

The father was always happy with the obedient son, but he was simply full of joy that his wayward son had returned:

Luke 15:31-32 - And he said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.

Yes, we must feel sorry for our sin:

Luke 18:13 - But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! (ESV)

We must turn from our wicked ways:

2 Chronicles 7:14 - if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (ESV)

Yes, we must turn from our wicked ways to obey God - absolutely!:

Romans 6:16-18 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (ESV)

Assuming you are following Jesus, then when we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. I've heard people say we only need to confess our sin, but we also need to be following Jesus / walking in the light. Repentance is still totally about changing our ways from wickedness to obedience:

I John 1:7-9 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

God wants us to know Him and obey Him and to do good as He has commanded:

Hosea 6:5-8 - Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me. Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with blood. (ESV)

15. Obtain a faith of equal standing with the Apostles by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ

II Peter 1:1 - Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

We obtain a strong faith by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

This requires obedience to Jesus.

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Faith:

  • Belief and Obedience => true knowledge => fruit
    • Belief and obedience leads to true knowledge, and after true knowledge, fruit

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

Also, the Old Testament speaks a lot about how to walk in righteousness:

II Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

This is why it's a good idea to study the Old Testament including Old Testament law, the nature of faith etc. and God's character, precepts and statues, to love God and one's neighbour.

15.1. Knowing and being found in Christ Jesus is what it's all about

Suffering for righteousness sake (suffering for being Christlike).

Philippians 3:8-11 - Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (ESV)

Jesus' servants (people who obey Him) are found in him. Jesus' servants are those who have been washed, and they ought to then wash:

Psalms 34:22 - The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. (ESV)

It involves:

  • believing the truth
  • sanctification while believing the truth
    • putting a stop to sin
    • becoming holy
    • being a slave to righteousness, obeying Jesus
      • being obedient to Jesus, instead of being obedient to the world
    • I Peter 1:16-22 - since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)
  • loving selflessly as Jesus loved

Also, through perfect obedience, Jesus has spoken Father God's commandment of eternal life, which is what He has said:

  • "the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak."

God sent Jesus:

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. (ESV)

I Peter 3:17 - For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. (ESV)

Obeying God's will often leads to suffering by the hands of those who are in darkness:

I Peter 4:19 - Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (ESV)

15.2. We must believe the truth, stop sinning, and live to righteousness

Jesus didn't sin. We need to have the same way of thinking as Jesus had. We need to attempt to cease from sin, and live for the will of God.

1 Peter 4:1-2 - Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. (ESV)

II Thessalonians 2:13 - But we should always give thanks (G2168 eucharisteo) to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning (G746 arche) for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith (G4102 pistis) in the truth (G225 aletheia). (NASB)

Jesus has enabled us to die to sin and live to righteousness:

1 Peter 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (ESV)

Matthew 25:46 - And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. (ESV)

Cleaned up by having faith in the truth.

See how faithfulness is related to faith - faith is faithful to God. Having faith in God is keeping accountability with God with regard to His commands and promises and maintaining faithfulness with God who sees in secret:

II Timothy 2:13 - if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. (ESV)

Faith in the truth - strong faith word! Belief and ongoing faithfulness, trust, reliance.

1: :  4102  pistis  pis'-tis
2: 
3:  from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious
4:  truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially
5:  reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such
6:  profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth
7:  itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
8:  see GREEK for 3982

II Thessalonians 2:11-14 - Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We want to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ - we do this by being Christlike through obeying Jesus Christ, which brings glory to Jesus and glory to God. We obey when we believe and are being sanctified.

Ephesians 6:14 - Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

We must have faith in Jesus for the righteousness of God that comes by faith. We must believe what He's achieved, and we must be born-again of the Spirit.

Romans 10:4 - For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (G4100 pisteuo has faith in Jesus).

Saved, and being saved. Being cleaned while believing.

Jesus is our High Priest.

Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:3-4 - For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Jesus condemned sin in the flesh. Now we walk according to the spirit so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us.

It's still really important to put a stop to sin! And we must walk according to Jesus' commandments:

John 14:24 - Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

15.2.1. Holiness

I have so far found this series by R. C. Sproul to help clarify the meaning of the word 'holiness':

Playlist
youtube.com: The Holiness of God - R.C. Sproul

I will defer to the following video by R. C. Sproul:

Watch
youtube.com: The Meaning of Holiness: The Holiness of God with R.C. Sproul

15.2.2. Personal 'holiness' / 'righteousness' (i.e. devotion to Christ)

Quote by R C Sproul
"What makes something sacred, what makes something holy is the touch of God upon it. When the one who himself is other and different touches that which is ordinary, it becomes extraordinary."

Undivided devotion to Christ:

I Corinthians 7:32-35 - I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. (ESV)

Sincere and pure devotion to Christ:

II Corinthians 11:2-3 - I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (ESV)

When we repent from sin, and serve Jesus with undivided, sincere and pure devotion, we allow Jesus' holiness to shine through us increasingly.

Therefore, it's really not our own holiness or power that is responsible for miracles that happen through us or in cooperation with us, but it is Jesus' power and holiness.

Jesus is the True Vine. We are the branches. AMEN!! We can do nothing apart from Him. AMEN!!

Acts 3:12 - And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? (KJV)

Everyone who names the name of the Lord must depart from iniquity:

I Corinthians 6:17-20 - But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

II Timothy 2:19-22 - But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: The Lord knows those who are his, and, Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity. Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Our bodies are a vessel for Jesus' holiness to shine out of. It's the vessel of the Holy Spirit:

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own (G1438 heautou) vessel (G4632 skeuos) in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; (NASB)

We should not deceive our brothers by lying about the matter of sanctifying our bodies:

I Thessalonians 4:6-7 - and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. (NASB)

Jesus is the light in us, and we must let our light shine:

Luke 8:14-16 - And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. , No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. (ESV)

Matthew 5:15 - Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. (ESV)

Luke 8:21 - But he answered them, My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.

The power comes from Jesus:

Luke 8:46 - But Jesus said, Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.

When we repent and clean ourselves up, we allow Jesus' light to shine through us. The sanctification process is like cleaning a muddy window.

Luke 6:40 - A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

Luke 6:41-42 - Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye, when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.

John 15:5 - I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Luke 6:43 - For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit,

We are the temple of God:

I Corinthians 3:17 - If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. (ESV)

Philippians 2:15-16 - that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (ESV)

  1. We approach Christ's very image

    Romans 8:29 - For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

    Hebrews 2:11-12 - For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise. (ESV)

  2. Repentance: Put off the old self

    Colossians 3:4-9 - When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

    • Stop sexual immorality.
    • Stop idolatry.
    • Stop gossip and slander.
    • Stop being hateful of people.

    I Corinthians 10:7-14 - Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

  3. Put on the new self: Christ-likeness

    Colossians 3:10-17 - and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love (26. agapé), which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

15.2.3. What must be believe, and what we must do: Walk in truth and love the way Jesus has commanded us

We must receive Jesus' words through faith, walk in them through faith and come to know in truth (we must truly know) that Jesus came from God, and continue in faith, continuing to be sanctified.

We must practice the truth:

John 3:21 - But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

Hebrews 10:14 - For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

This is what we must come to know in truth - that Jesus came from Father God, and that Father God sent Him - it is Father God's will:

John 17:8 - For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

  1. Come to the knowledge of the truth

    I Timothy 2:3-6 - This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

    Therefore, we should receive Jesus' words and obey Jesus and arrive at the truth. Obedience is an essential part of faith. Like Abraham obeying God, or like Israel crossing through the Red Sea, it's obedience which leads to sure belief, and obedience that leads a person into sure knowledge of the truth, and obedience which cooperates with sanctification by the Spirit.

    Exodus 14:31 - When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed (H539 'aman) in the Lord and in His servant Moses.

    John 8:31-32 - So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (NASB)

    The true knowledge of Jesus grants us everything pertaining to life and godliness, allowing us to partake in the divine nature:

    II Peter 1:3-4 - seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. (NASB)

    God wants us to know Him and obey Him and to do good as He has commanded:

    Hosea 6:5-8 - Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me. Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with blood. (ESV)

    Being set free through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is at least in part being set free from the defilements of the world. We are redeemed, saved from the sinful generation, set free and forgiven, saved by Jesus, to go on obeying God:

    II Peter 2:20-21 - For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

    Then we continue to add Work/Love/Walking-By-Faith/Virtue to be fruitful:

    But we must practice Jesus' commandments even before we have arrived at the knowledge of the truth, in order to arrive at the knowledge of the truth:

    II Peter 1:8 - For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge (G1922 epignosis) of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    I John 2:3 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

    We come to know Him through obeying Him. He is the Truth. God sent Him. The point at which we have come to know Him is if we are managing to actually keep His commandments.

    John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV)

    Jesus is the living Word. He obeyed God perfectly, and fulfilled the Law, Prophets and Psalms.

    Psalms 119:160 - The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. (ESV)

    John 17:17-19 - Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (ESV)

    Jesus is eternally our Great High Priest. I believe this says Father God has sworn and will not change His mind.

    Psalms 110:4 - The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

    Hebrews 4:14 - Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

    Hebrews 5:9 - And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

    I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

    And the obedience doesn't end. We continue to be sanctified, as slaves of righteousness, abiding by the teaching of Christ:

    Romans 6:16-18 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (ESV)

    And the obedience doesn't end. We continue to be sanctified through faith. We are saved from darkness, believing the word of God, and in obedience we are saved from sinning and try to fulfill the Royal Law, and even using our freedom in Christ to do good works that are pleasing to God:

    II Peter 1:1-11 - Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

    II Thessalonians 2:11-14 - Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Continuing to be sanctified by faith is a process where a person continues in Jesus' words because they are sanctified by faith in Jesus and that means ongoing trust and faithful obedience.

    Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (ESV)

    To be sanctified by faith in Jesus is an applied process, I think:

    Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (ESV)

    In similar fashion to Jesus continually obeying Father God as he endured suffering, I think we should learn to submit and follow Jesus' commandments

    Hebrews 5:7-10 - In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

  2. Identity in Christ
    • I am a child of God, a born-again son of the Most-High God.
      • Galatians 3:26-29 - for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (ESV)
    • I have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, God's Only-Begotten Son, redeemed out of the hand of the enemy and called to be seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus.
      • I Peter 1:19 - but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (ESV)
      • Psalms 107:2-3 - Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. (ESV)
      • Ephesians 2:6 - and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (ESV)
      • Psalms 106:10 - So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. (ESV)
    • I have been born-again, not with corruptible seed, but with the incorruptible seed of the word of God and the washing of regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
      • I Peter 1:23-25 - since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (ESV)
    • I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
    • The same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in me and greater is He that is in my than he that is in the world.
      • Romans 8:11 - If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (ESV)
    • I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus who loved me and gave His life for me, and how much more all things also will God graciously give me having delivered His Son up for us all.
      • Romans 8:37 - No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (ESV)
      • Matthew 7:11 - If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (ESV)
      • Romans 8:32 - He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (ESV)
    • I have a new heart, and my desires are for the things of God
      • Ezekiel 36:26 - And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (ESV)
    • I love the word of God; I love the Holy Spirit
      • Psalms 119:97 - Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. (ESV)
      • I like meditating on Jesus' name and the truths in this song:
      • Romans 5:5 - and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (ESV)
      • I John 4:10 - In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (ESV)
      • I John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (ESV)
    • I love prayer and the disciplines of God that make a vessel of honour for the Lord Jesus and for His mighty good works.
      • Romans 12:1 - I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (ESV)
      • I Peter 3:15-17 - but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. (ESV)
      • Luke 9:26 - For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. (ESV)
      • Acts 3:12 - And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? (ESV)
    • I have been joined to the Lord and I am one spirit with Him.
      • I Corinthians 6:17 - But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. (ESV)
    • I am able to fast. I am able to put down my idols. I am able to make time for God
      • Daniel 10:3 - I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks. (ESV)
      • Daniel 1:8 - But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. (ESV)
      • Matthew 6:16-18 - And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (ESV)
      • I Samuel 7:6 - So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the LORD and fasted on that day and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah. (ESV)
      • https://www.ligonier.org/guides/fasting
      • Luke 10:38-42 - Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me. But the Lord answered her, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her. (ESV)
      • Ecclesiastes 3:11 - He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. (ESV)
    • He has anointed me with the Holy Spirit and with power, and I go around doing good and healing [all] that are oppressed of the devil, and surely no weapon formed against me shall prosper as I walk in obedience to His word and will.
      • Titus 2:14 - who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (ESV)
    • I am complete/made complete in Christ and if God is for me who can be against me?
      • Colossians 2:9-10 - For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. (ESV)
      • Colossians 2:9-10 - For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; (NASB)
      • Romans 8:31 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (ESV)
    • God leads me in triumph in everything through Christ Jesus my Lord, God and Saviour.
      • II Corinthians 2:14 - But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. (ESV)
    • The favour of God opens doors of prosperity and promise ahead of me and the blessings of God chase me down as I serve Him in obedience.
      • Job 36:11 - If they listen and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness. (ESV)
      • Psalms 34:22 - The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. (ESV)
    • I am anointed to preach the gospel of good news, how God has made a way through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and His blood, to deliver me from destruction and the power of sin and my sinful nature and has translated me into the kingdom of God and His love where He has loved me first and bought me so that I can now serve Him, obey Him and be zealous for good works
      • Mark 16:15 - And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. (ESV)
      • Matthew 28:20 - teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (ESV)
      • We are to preach the gospel and not just live out the gospel
        • Romans 10:14-17 - But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (ESV)
    • I choose to worship Him in spirit and in truth, and I will continually offer up the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving as I recognise Jesus Christ as my Lord, God and Saviour
      • John 4:23-24 - But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (ESV)
      • Mark 7:6-9 - And he said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men. And he said to them, You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! (ESV)
      • Psalms 59:17 - O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love. (ESV)
    • I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!
    • AMEN!!
  3. Become what we are by identity - put to death the old leaven

    After being born-again and placed into Christ, we must put to death the old leaven. We consider ourselves dead to sin and alive from the dead.

    We continue trusting, believing Jesus Christ and we will never die.

    A believer in Jesus Christ though he dies, he shall live:

    • Whoever believes in Jesus Christ, though he die, yet shall he live.

    Everyone who lives and believes in Jesus Christ shall never die.

    John 11:25-26 - Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? (ESV)

    I believe that after being born-again of the spirit, I had (with very little knowledge of Jesus' commandments) had to learn Jesus' commandments and apply them, and I believe the Holy Spirit taught me to obey Jesus as I read Jesus' sayings and was subsequently tested on those sayings. For example, if I read that we must give to all who ask, and then the Lord sets up a situation where someone asks for money, then I have a choice to obey Jesus, which means resisting those who try to deter me from obeying Jesus. Upon being tested, someone would offer worldly wisdom in an attempt to deter me from following Jesus, and as I obey God I am led by the Holy Spirit, and taught by the Holy Spirit. And this is an ongoing process. I say this for others' sake to explain how I have come to know how faith in Jesus, following Jesus, works practically, that it is more than mere intellectual belief to be led by the Spirit, but it is also obedience, and a process of sanctification, and walking in the light which involves walking in love characteristic of Christ's love.

    Galatians 6:14-17 - But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. (ESV)

    Sermon
    youtube.com: Be Who You Are: Living Out Identity in Christ, Part 1

    Those who have been united with Christ really are in reality an 'unleavened' lump, and we attack the old leaven to get it out. We have been made new with union in Christ, and then we must then become in experience what we are in reality. The old leaven lingers, so we attack the remaining leaven:

    I Corinthians 5:6-7 - Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (ESV)

    We must consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God:

    Romans 6:2,11 - By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

    Because we have died and our life is hidden with Christ in God we should put to death what is earthly in us. We are really unleavened so we should cleanse out the old leaven:

    Colossians 3:3-5 - For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (ESV)

    II John 1:1-11 highlights:

    • knowing the truth
    • the truth abiding in us
    • walking in the truth
      • we are commanded to do so
    • love one another and loving one another is walking according to Jesus' commandments commandments
      • we are commanded to do so
    • lose not what we have worked for, but may win a full reward
    • to not abide in this teaching is to work wickedness

    II John 1:1-11 - The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. (ESV)

    Paul has taught the Ephesians to follow the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. He said we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus:

    Acts 20:35 - In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (ESV)

    It's imperative that as we go ahead, we must abide in the teaching of Christ, or we won't have God (Jehovah God), and God is love and love comes from God, so we need to abide in Christ's teachings, by belief and by obedience. For example, in Mark 10:18, Jesus affirmed that God is Good. Therefore when we read this, we must also be sanctified by this truth, affirming and coming into agreement that God is Good. Also, Jesus commanded us to love one another as He loved us John 13:34-35:

    II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

    Definitely stop sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth:

    Hebrews 10:26-29 - For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? (ESV)

    Don't live in fear over the warning in Hebrews 10:26-29, just continue confessing sin and continue being sanctified:

    I Corinthians 13:12 - For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (ESV)

    Continue to be sanctified by faith in Jesus:

    Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (ESV)

    Continue to confess sin:

    I John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

    Hebrews 10:14 - For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (ESV)

    To know if Jesus' teaching comes from God, one must desire to do God's will.

    John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (ESV)

    Therefore, to arrive at the knowledge of the truth, you've got to have an obedient heart.

16. Sanctification

16.1. Allow myself to be corrected

Psalms 141:5 - Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds. (ESV)

We are being prepared to be presented to Jesus:

Colossians 1:21-22 - And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, (ESV)

16.1.1. The Holy Spirit will teach you

16.2. Be corrected by the truth

John 17:17-19 - Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (ESV)

As we are have faith in Jesus, even obeying Him to go out into the world, we are also sanctified by the Truth, as Jesus has consecrated Himself.

We are healed, corrected, sanctified by God's word.

I believe that becoming the righteousness of God is initially instantaneous when we believe but going forward it also is cooperative as we live, submitting to the righteousness of God (Jesus' righteousness) and then being found in Jesus, letting Jesus wash us, and work in us, transform us, and that a childlike trust in Jesus (a believing and obedient trust), following Jesus, walking in faith, and behaving as one of God's children, following Jesus our Lord and Saviour is how we receive and walk into the kingdom which is given to us and that walking in a childlike faith in Jesus is how we have the righteousness that is by faith.

An adequate reading of the following which makes sense to me is that being found in Jesus, we have a righteousness which does indeed belong to us but it belongs also to Jesus who we are found in. The righteousness which we have in Jesus doesn't come from the law but through faith in Jesus, depending on faith in Jesus. In other words, the righteousness is not our own apart from Jesus, but the righteousness still belongs to us if it is the righteousness of faith in Jesus, us being found in Jesus. Our righteousness being found in Jesus doesn't make it self-righteousness to obey God's commandments:

Philippians 3:9 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— (ESV)

I believe we have righteousness because we are found in Him, and He is our High Priest and or Lord and King, and Saviour. Living by faith is a lifestyle to be found in Jesus and that's how we have righteousness from Him, because we are found in Him and are being perfected and sanctified like a branch getting healthier because it's connected to Jesus. It does not mean we are able to displace Him as the head of the body because we don't have righteousness apart from Him (as far as I understand):

II Corinthians 5:21-6:1 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (ESV)

The Holy Spirit goes to those who obey God, and causes the person to walk in God's precepts - stopping lying, stealing, coveting, idolizing, cheating, etc.

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

16.3. Repent of evil deeds, feelings and thoughts

Ephesians 4:30-32 - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (ESV)

16.4. Renew our minds

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

Believe in the power of God's Word, allow myself to be corrected, and sanctified by the washing of the Word. Actually read the Scriptures to see what God finds acceptable:

Ephesians 5:26 - that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (ESV)

We are being prepared to be presented to Jesus:

I Peter 1:13 - Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Devotional
star.net.nz: -gods-word-renews-20240704

16.5. Be qualified regarding the faith - renewed in mind, not opposing the truth

II Timothy 3:8 - Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. (ESV)

Colossians 2:18 - Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, (ESV)

I Timothy 6:5 - and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. (ESV)

I Timothy 3:2 - Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, (ESV)

16.5.1. Set our mind on heavenly things, not earthly things

Colossians 3:2 - Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (ESV)

Philippians 3:19 - Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. (ESV)

II Thessalonians 2:1-2 - Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (ESV)

16.6. Put a stop to sin and practice personal righteousness

Because God loved us first:

  • The Apostle Paul endeavours to know Jesus ('makes it his own'. See Php 3:9-13 below) because Jesus made Paul His own
    • To be found in Jesus is what Paul describes as the righteousness from God that depends on faith
    • We know Jesus by believing in Him and obeying His commandments, and when we love and forgive we know God loved us and forgave us first
  • We should love because He loved us first
    • Romans 5:7-8 - For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)
  • We must forgive as we have been forgiven

Practicing righteousness is an indicator that someone is born of God:

I John 3:7 - Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

I John 2:29 - If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. (ESV)

I John 3:10 - By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

I Peter 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

We must honour God with our bodies:

Romans 6:13 - Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. (ESV)

I Corinthians 6:19-20 - Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (ESV)

We must be born of God, die to sin and practice righteousness.

Then while practicing righteousness after dying to sin, we may suffer for practicing righteousness.

Therefore this righteousness is a personal righteousness, which we practice after dying to sin.

I Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

Faith working through love is obeying Jesus.

Galatians 5:5-6 - For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Paul awaits Christ to be formed in the person:

Galatians 4:18-19 - It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!

We want Christ to dwell in our hearts through faith:

Ephesians 3:14-19 - For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith — that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (ESV)

16.7. Sanctification by the Spirit and faith / obedience

2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 - But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. (ESV)

II Thessalonians 2:13 - But we should always give thanks (G2168 eucharisteo) to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning (G746 arche) for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith (G4102 pistis) in the truth (G225 aletheia). (NASB)

Faith in the truth - pistis is a strong faith word!

II Thessalonians 2:11-15 - Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:10 - And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (ESV)

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain (568. apechó) from sexual immorality; (ESV)

1: apechó: to hold back, keep off, to be away, be distant
2: Original Word: ἀπέχω
3: Part of Speech: Verb
4: Transliteration: apechó
5: Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ekh'-o)
6: Definition: to hold back, keep off, to be away, be distant
7: Usage: I have in full, am far, it is enough.

God hates evil and wants to clean us from it. So if we fear God then we also want to turn away from evil and do what is pleasing to God:

Proverbs 8:13 - The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. (ESV)

It's really important to purify ourselves of every defilement of body and spirit. Paul the Apostle quotes the Old Testament on this:

II Corinthians 6:14-18 - Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty. (ESV)

Isaiah 52:11 - Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the LORD. (ESV)

II Corinthians 7:1 - Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (ESV)

I want to be sanctified completely:

I Thessalonians 5:23 - Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

There is no lust in the divine nature:

II Peter 1:4 - by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (ESV)

I want to bring glory to God by being a living sacrifice - living in a holy manner pleasing to God:

Romans 12:1 - I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (ESV)

I Corinthians 6:20 - for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (ESV)

We must keep and accept the precepts of God over the precepts of men:

Mark 7:6-9 - And he said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men. And he said to them, You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! (ESV)

This passage is condemning submitting to worldly / human precepts and imploring us to submit to God's precepts. It's not condemning God's precepts but imploring us to put to death what is against God's precepts:

Colossians 2:20-23,3:1-6 - If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. (ESV)

1 Thessalonians 5:23 :: Himself now the God - of peace may sanctify you completely and entirely your - spirit (pneuma) and - soul (psyche) and - body (soma blameless at the coming of the Lord of us Jesus Christ may be preserved (Interlinear)

I Thessalonians 5:23 - Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

16.8. God is the source of our life in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the source of our wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 - He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. (ESV)

16.8.1. We only boast in Christ Jesus, since He is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption

He is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.

Yes, but that means we must have faith in Him, obeying Him and becoming like Him, and that brings us confidence, because He's in us, and we don't have our lamp hidden, but are cleaned up:

I John 4:17 - By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

We are wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:15 - and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

We must put our trust in Jesus and believe Him and obey Him, and be cleaned up, shining His light:

I Corinthians 1:28-29 - God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Psalms 5:5 - The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. (ESV)

The cross means a changed life, becoming like Jesus, keeping Jesus' commandments:

Galatians 6:13-15 - For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. (ESV)

I Corinthians 7:19 - For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. (ESV)

16.8.2. Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God

God through Jesus is the source of our personal righteousness as we are found in Him, and our righteousness comes through Him. That personal righteousness doesn't belong to us alone, but it also belongs to Christ because it comes from Christ:

Philippians 1:9-11 - And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

16.9. We must both believe the truth and be sanctified, and stop sinning to be saved

II Thessalonians 2:13 - But we should always give thanks (G2168 eucharisteo) to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning (G746 arche) for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith (G4102 pistis) in the truth (G225 aletheia). (NASB)

Cleaned up (stop sinning) by having faith in the truth.

Faith in the truth - strong faith word! Belief and ongoing faithfulness, trust, reliance.

1: :  4102  pistis  pis'-tis
2: 
3:  from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious
4:  truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially
5:  reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such
6:  profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth
7:  itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
8:  see GREEK for 3982

16.9.1. Corruption remains a problem even for the regenerated

The 1689 Baptist confession affirms that the problem of corruption remains after regeneration:

 1: Paragraph 5
 2: 
 3: The corruption of nature, during this life,
 4: does remain in those that are regenerated;13
 5: and although it be through Christ pardoned and
 6: mortified, yet both itself, and the first
 7: motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.14
 8: 
 9: 13 Rom. 7:18,23; Eccles. 7:20; 1 John 1:8
10: 14 Rom. 7:23–25; Gal. 5:17

Romans 7:23-25 - but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV)

I affirm that even after regeneration and being healed, corruption has remained a problem for me, partly because of the influence the world I live in has had on me, but also because I need to be renewed in mind:

  • the influences of worldly people, and
  • the influences of demons
  • I need to just focus on Jesus more

But for the person born of God, they have died to sin, it no longer has a legal hold over them, they cannot keep on doing it, they absolutely hate the sin, we are being sanctified.

Romans 8:1-4 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (ESV)

I John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

I John 3:9 - No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. (ESV)

16.9.2. Bad desire - leads to death. We do not want to be enslaved to corruption

Book
timothykeller.com: Counterfeit Gods - Timothy Keller
Sermon
youtube.com: Counterfeit Gods - Tim Keller

Lust is super bad, even after born-again:

II Peter 2:19-21 - They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

16.9.3. Good desire - Love God and one's neighbour

Deuteronomy 11:13 - And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

Deuteronomy 30:6 - And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

Joshua 22:5 - Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Luke 10:27 - And he answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.

Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

17. Clearing up justifying faith vs justifying works - It's faith in Jesus Himself that matters. Also, it's God who justifies us, not we who justify ourselves. We have faith in God to justify us, as we place our faith in Him

I believe that when a person actually obeys Jesus' commandments out of love for Jesus, this isn't working for justification, but is as if Jesus is working through them.

Jesus is the Rock:

I Corinthians 10:4 - and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. (ESV)

Belief is important (and is an initial act of obedience):

Matthew 16:15-18 - He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (ESV)

Obedience is important:

Luke 6:46-49 - Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (ESV)

Jehovah is the Rock:

Deuteronomy 32:3-4 - For I will proclaim the name of the LORD (3068. Yhvh); ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. (ESV)

Isaiah 44:8 - Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any. (ESV)

I Corinthians 10:4 - and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. (ESV)

It seems reasonable to me to say that God the Father and God the Son share their names/onoma:

John 5:43 - I have come in my Father's name (onomati), and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. (ESV)

Genesis 19:24 seems to read that while the LORD was on earth investigating Sodom He rained sulfur and fire from the LORD in heaven. Does this indicate more than one Person acting as the LORD? Starting at Genesis 18:1:

Genesis 18:1 - And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. (ESV)

Genesis 18:20-23 - Then the LORD said, Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know. So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. Then Abraham drew near and said, Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? (ESV)

It's definitely Almighty God, the Judge of all the earth:

Genesis 18:25-26 - Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just? And the LORD said, If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake. (ESV)

Genesis 18:32-33 - Then he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there. He answered, For the sake of ten I will not destroy it. And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place. (ESV)

Genesis 19:24 - Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. (ESV)

Building our lives on Jesus means believing Him and obeying Him:

Matthew 7:24-27 - Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. (ESV)

John 5:37-40 - And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. (ESV)

youtube.com: How to Find Gold in God's Word: Reading the Bible with Supernatural Help

If I hear Jesus' commandment to repent from sin, for example, and I obediently repent, then that is walking by faith. Since faith comes from hearing the word of Christ - and there faith could come from any part of His teaching. So if I try to actually follow Jesus' commandments, and that leads me to believe that Jesus is who He says He is (consider the Apostle Thomas and his slow belief), then when I arrive at a belief that Jesus is who He says He is, the Son of God, and the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed one, the obedience of one of Jesus commandments leads to more belief and more obedience.

James 2:14-26 - What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (ESV)

Even from James' perspective, it's clearly apparent that God surely can forgive people without work on their part:

James 5:15-16 - And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (ESV)

I think the solution to the justification by 'faith without work' and justification by 'faith with works' apparent paradox is that:

  • if a person is actually obeying Jesus then the works can be attributed to Jesus, and
  • obedience is just one aspect of faith.

Because it's faith in Jesus Himself that matters.

Jesus makes it clear that the ones who truly believe in Him will do the works which He does:

John 14:12 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (ESV)

James believes that people can see the evidence of faith by works:

James 2:22-26 - You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (ESV)

But works by us done in righteousness are not the reason God showed mercy on us to save us. In fact we were all at one point disobedient. God in His mercy simply gave us His Holy Spirit in abundance to wash us, to regenerate us and to renew us, and He did this so that being justified by His grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. We were once really disobedient, but by God's grace through faith in Jesus we are now obedient. The faith was becoming obedient to Jesus, and out of it flows good works and obedience:

Titus 3:3-8 - For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. (ESV)

So Jesus saves us to become set free from various passions and pleasures and to become far more obedient to righteousness, and this is done through faith in Jesus Christ. Believing in Jesus Christ is the entry point for the salvation that is through Him.

So the point I'm trying to make is that the free gift of the Holy Spirit is received by faith alone, just be trusting in Jesus Christ to be saved, but Jesus Christ helps us to become slaves of righteousness which leads to eternal life.

Therefore I still think there's a false dichotomy between faith and works - because obedience is intrinsic to faith, but the gift of the Holy Spirit remains a completely free gift which is received through faith and that merit by works of righteousness is not the reason why it's given to us, but nevertheless, the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Him.

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

Galatians 3:14 - so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (ESV)

Some people think that this obedience means it's no longer a free gift, where I do not agree with those people. I think that the obedience to Jesus is receiving the free gift through faith.

John 6:28-29 - Then they said to him, What must we do, to be doing the works of God? Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe (G4100 pisteuo) in him whom he has sent. (ESV)

True faith is always obedient; faith is always prepared to obey more:

John 7:17- If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

Through faith in Jesus / obedience to Jesus we can have faith in Father God:

I Peter 1:20-22 - He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)

You can't even have faith in God without obeying Jesus because the one who has faith in God has already obeyed Jesus whether they know about Mark 11:22 or not. So it's not a dead work.

Philippians 2:12 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out (katergazomai) your own salvation with fear and trembling, (ESV)

Having believed in Jesus, having begun to trust in Jesus, we have become obedient to Jesus. Jesus works on us as we trust in Him even before we understand what He's doing, and we have become obedient because he commanded us to trust Him:

John 13:6-7 - He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered him, What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper

God is saying, "I have done everything from eternity past in the for knowing of my son to eternity future in the glorifying of my son that you might hope in Me, God!" So that you might not hope in what sin can offer you, but hope in what God can offer you.

The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life. Therefore, he who hopes in sin dies, and he who hopes in God lives forever.

Everything has been done for you that you might escape from the futile way of sin and put your hope in God forever.

I close by calling you to wake up to the folly of hoping in sin and to stop trying to satisfy your hearts with sin and to start satisfying your hearts with God.

And justifying faith is having obedient faith in God with regards to the promise given to Abraham.

Obeying God is having faith in God. Obeying God is loving God. AMEN!!

Mark 11:22 - And Jesus answered them, Have (G2192 echo) faith (G4102 pistis) in God (G2316 theos). (ESV)

pistis is the faith noun.

John 14:1 - “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe (G4100 pisteuo) in God, believe (G4100 pisteuo) also in Me. (NASB)

pisteuo is the faith verb.

echo means 'to hold' - so in Mark 11:22 Jesus says 'hold faith' in God. And in John 14:1 Jesus tells us to 'do faith' in God and to 'do faith' in Him.

If you are believing in Jesus, then you are obediently working.

To be justified, a person must have the faith of Abraham. By faith Abraham obeyed. So the faith has the fruit of walking in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Romans 4:9-12 - Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Having faith in God is obeying God. Loving God is obeying God. AMEN!!

So what Jesus is saying is quite similar - we must have the faith that Abraham had when he put Isaac on the Altar, but in regards to following Jesus:

Luke 9:23-24 - And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. (ESV)

17.0.1. Salvation by obedience

Acts 5:29-32 - But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

Where there is perfect belief, I think there is perfect obedience. i.e. if we hold firm to belief in Jesus, keeping and believing His sayings and obey Jesus through testing, we have eternal life and will see life:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

I am confident also that if we hold firm to obedience in Jesus keeping and obeying His sayings and believe Jesus through testing, we have eternal life and will see life:

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

Since Jesus commanded us to have faith in Him, to trust in Jesus is to have obeyed Him.

Quote by John Piper

God is saying, "I have done everything from eternity past in the for knowing of my son to eternity future in the glorifying of my son that you might hope in Me, God!" So that you might not hope in what sin can offer you, but hope in what God can offer you.

The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life. Therefore, he who hopes in sin dies, and he who hopes in God lives forever.

Everything has been done for you that you might escape from the futile way of sin and put your hope in God forever.

I close by calling you to wake up to the folly of hoping in sin and to stop trying to satisfy your hearts with sin and to start satisfying your hearts with God.

Through faith in Jesus, and obedience to Jesus we can have faith in Father God:

I Peter 1:20-22 - He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)

Have faith in God:

Mark 11:22 - And Jesus answered them, Have (G2192 echo) faith (G4102 pistis) in God (G2316 theos).

Have faith in God and have faith in Jesus:

John 14:1 - “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe (G4100 pisteuo) in God, believe (G4100 pisteuo) also in Me.

Pisteuo means to trust. Trust in God, trust also in God's Son Jesus:

Romans 4:5 - And to the one who does not work but trusts (G4100 pisteuo) him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, (ESV)

Learning to trust in Jesus, learning to trust Jesus, as we obey Him and witness His glory, and come to trust in Him, to believe in Him. Obedience to Jesus leads to witnessing His glory which inspires our faith:

John 2:7-11 - Jesus said to the servants, Fill the jars with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast. So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now. This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples (G3101 mathetes) believed (G4100 pisteuo) in him. (ESV)

1: :  3101  mathetes  math-ay-tes'
2: 
3:  from 3129; a learner, i.e. pupil:--disciple.
4:  see GREEK for 3129

As we see trusting in Jesus and trusting Jesus go hand-in-hand. Jesus has already spoken, and Jesus' words still speak and are active. Do we trust His words? Trusting His words and trusting Him go hand-in-hand. If we trust Jesus, we will obey Him. If we obey Jesus, we will see His glory. If we see see His glory, our faith in Him will increase.

We trust in God to take care of us, as He leads us.

Having believed in Jesus, having begun to trust in Jesus, we have become obedient to Jesus. Jesus works on us as we trust in Him even before we understand what He's doing, and we have become obedient because he commanded us to trust Him:

John 13:6-7 - He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered him, What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand. (ESV)

We abide in Jesus when He washes us. When the Holy Spirit washes us, the Holy Spirit helps us to put sin to death:

John 13:8 - Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me. (ESV)

Peter believed/received/obeyed/trusted like a child of God (he cooperated) to let Jesus wash him but it was Jesus doing the work:

John 13:9 - Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head! (ESV)

Jesus' servants (people who obey Him) are found in him. Jesus' servants are those who have been washed, and they ought to then wash:

Psalms 34:22 - The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. (ESV)

The Israelites didn't "work for God" as they obeyed God to walk through the Red Sea. Walking in obedience is not the same as "working". The Israelites were an actual part of the miracle of going through the Red Sea. The miracle wasn't just the water splitting, the Israelites walking through it was also miraculous. By obeying God, God sent them through the Red Sea.

In obeying God, God helps us:

Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (ESV)

God gave Moses conditional power to split the sea if Moses was obedient. I believe that's what God wants to do with us in terms of abiding in Christ and God working through us. Jesus just wants us to believe Him and obey Him. I believe Jesus wants us to both believe Him and obey Him:

Exodus 14:14-16 - The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. The LORD said to Moses, Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. (ESV)

I just want to be clear that good works we do in obedience to Jesus are still considered a gift to us. We work out what God has worked for. It's even a gift to be in position of being able to do good works in service to Jesus after He has washed us:

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)

No-one can boast to God:

I Corinthians 1:28-29 - God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (ESV)

Before God, no-one can boast of being justified by works done apart from God:

Romans 4:2 - For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. (ESV)

See even the Apostle Paul from my perspective has entertained the idea that a person could be justified by works but that they cannot boast before God, and I would say because they were saved by their work because they were obedient to God and out of that obedient heart, they did what God had instructed them to do to be saved:

James 2:24 - You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (ESV)

Justification and redemption are a total gift:

Romans 3:21-26 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

The redemption (ongoing sanctification) is granted as a gift through faith in Jesus:

Romans 3:24-25 - and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (ESV)

Justification by working-faith (obedience to the gospel producing works) and justification by so-called 'faith alone' is, in my opinion, not a dichotomy, because all the good works we do as a consequence of being redeemed are a gift to us - us being in Him:

  • Eph 2:8 - For by grace you have been saved through faith (G4102 pistis); and that not of yourselves, it is the gift (G1435 doron) of God; (NASB)
  • Eph 2:9 - not as a result of works (G2041 ergon), so that no one may boast. (NASB)
  • Eph 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (G2041 ergon), which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (NASB)

John Piper puts it this way: "The first act of saving faith justifies and the subsequent ones justify too". That's an interesting theory, but it's also God who justifies, not us, so we should let God be God, trust Jesus and serve Him:

youtube.com: Though Our Faith May Falter @time: 8 min 52 sec
The faith to which God looks when He justifies us is a kind of faith which perseveres by God's design so that He can look at that faith at it's first twinkling awakening and say, "Not guilty. You are justified, accepted, forgiven and the righteousness of my Son is yours on the basis of that faith." And, He can look at any given point at the unfolding of that faith throughout your life and say, "For this you are justified, and for this you are justified and for this you are justified." So the continuance of faith is the faith which justifies and the reason you can say, "I am and have been justified", as Romans 5:1-2 does say "having been justified", is because that perseverance is a property as it were contained in the authenticity of the first act of saving faith.

Romans 3:26 - It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

By His grace we have to actually come into obeying Jesus to find life. Think about what it means to obey Jesus: It's to walk in the Spirit, to abide in Jesus' Spirit, to be obeying Jesus' commandments, to seek to follow the pattern of life that He lived to be found in Him. You can abide in Jesus' Spirit if you have faith in Him, believing in Him, believing, trusting and obeying Him, knowing Him, and being found in Him!

Philippians 3:9-13 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (ESV)

Faith in Christ I believe means believing in Him and being obedient to Him, having communion with Him, etc. becoming intimate with Him, following Him. This isn't our own merit, but we still obey Jesus to be found in Him. In Him we have Jesus' righteousness:

Jesus' servants (people who obey Him) are found in him. Jesus' servants are those who have been washed, and they ought to then wash:

Psalms 34:22 - The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. (ESV)

Matthew 16:25 - For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (ESV)

We are instructed to work for God:

II John 1:8 - Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. (ESV)

Once again, we are instructed to work for God:

Colossians 3:23-25 - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. (ESV)

Jesus has literally taught people that that if we love our enemies, do good and lend, expecting nothing in return we will be rewarded and be sons of the Most High. This shows that obedience to Jesus is just part of having faith in Jesus:

Luke 6:35-36 - But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (ESV)

The prophets, saints, and servants of Jesus will be rewarded:

Revelation of John 11:18 - The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth. (ESV)

Ephesians 6:6 - not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, (ESV)

We are slaves to Christ Jesus:

Romans 6:16-18 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (ESV)

As a result of being born of the Spirit and subsequent obedience to Jesus' commandments has resulted in a huge amount of worldly resistance, and also I've had to fight against a spirit of justification by law compliance, and I've had to fight against a spirit which denies my sins were atoned for and tries to get me to do good works for justification. I still do good works out of obedience but I resist the spirit pressuring me to work for justification (it is a very vindictive, Christ-denying spirit, and it is incredibly persistent):

Galatians 4:29 - But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. (ESV)

I have no problem with explaining myself as the Apostle Paul also led by example and used his own life experience as an example to teach others:

II Timothy 4:7-8 - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (ESV)

Philippians 3:17-18 - Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. (ESV)

Romans 6:22-23 - But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NASB)

Connecting Romans 6:22 to Hebrews 13:12, the result of being enslaved to God, obeying God and Christian suffering, results in our sanctification.

Jesus' sacrifice outside Jerusalem is so that we might be sanctified through His own blood and come into Jerusalem. I still think that there's nothing wrong with bearing the reproach Jesus endured - in fact it's encouraged. I think we bear His reproach in order to be sanctified and then call Jerusalem our home:

Hebrews 13:12-14 - So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. (ESV)

I Peter 4:12-13 - Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (ESV)

So to be a slave of righteousness serving Jesus results in sanctification and also calling the Jerusalem above our mother and our home:

Galatians 4:25-26 - Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. (ESV)

Galatians 4:27 - For it is written, Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband. (ESV)

We are not children of the slave woman but we are children of the free woman:

Galatians 4:28-31 - Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman. So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. (ESV)

Bible study
youtube.com: You Are a Child of the Free Woman: Galatians 4:21-31, Part 8 @time: 2 min 6 sec

So John Piper is taking the Apostle John's writing in II John 1:9 and saying that Apostle John is warning against people talking about justification through works, but I don't think that's what the Apostle John is talking about. But I think it's important to affirm Lord Jesus's teaching. And we should be corrected by the Lord's teaching. For example, in Mark 10:18, Jesus affirmed that God is Good. Therefore when we read this, we must also be sanctified by this truth, affirming and coming into agreement that God is Good:

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

I Timothy 6:3-4 - If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, (ESV)

I think the Apostle John means that new believers need to go on to abide in Jesus' teachings, and I suspect that John Piper may be interpreting the verse the same way, but focusing on interpreting the Apostle John's verse to be against justification by works - but I read II John 1:9 as saying we must abide in the full set of teachings of Jesus and the Apostle John is warning about people who oppose Jesus' teachings to love one another, forgive one another, repent from sin, etc., and oppose the truth which is that Jesus has come in the flesh.

John 10:27-28 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (ESV)

I feel like having love for Jesus is inseparable with believing Him and believing in Him for one of Jesus' sheep:

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. (ESV)

II John 1:5-10 - And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

Noah's obedience, or Abraham's obedience, I think are just living by faith, and that's how I reconcile James 2:14-26.

Hebrews 11:7 - By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. (ESV)

Obedience / living by faith is just working faith / walking by faith:

James 2:14-26 - What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (ESV)

Notes for James 2:14-26:

  • Can that faith save him? - Good question.
  • If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. - True. I believe a person receives God's work in us by being obedient to Him.
  • Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, faith apart from works is useless? - I agree. That's why I think God saves us by working in us while we are obedient to Him.
  • faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works - AMEN. In Abraham's case, his faith was completed by his works.
  • You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. - I believe that Jesus has done the work that we may be justified by faith alone with His works, and that Jesus, having first been perfectly obedient Himself, works in us to save us, sanctify us as we are obedient to Him, following Him.

Before God, no-one can boast of being justified by works done apart from God:

Romans 4:2 - For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. (ESV)

See even the Apostle Paul from my perspective has entertained the idea that a person could be justified by works but that they cannot boast before God, and I would say because they were saved by their work because they were obedient to God and out of that obedient heart, they did what God had instructed them to do to be saved:

James 2:24 - You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (ESV)

Also, Jesus' own work on the cross is sufficient work for us to be justified by faith alone without our own work, but that does not mean we should not 'work'/walk for God through obedience which is characteristic of faith, even for our salvation, or be sanctified in the Truth through trusting obedience to God, and arrive at the knowledge of the Truth, even that Jesus Christ is the propitiation of our sin and works in us to save us.

Philippians 2:12 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out (katergazomai) your own salvation with fear and trembling, (ESV)

Faith that from a good conscience with God produces Christ's love:

I Corinthians 16:13-14 - Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (ESV)

I Timothy 1:5 - The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (ESV)

When James mentions "justification by works", he actually is referring to justification by obedient faith (obedient faith is still faith):

James 2:25 - And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? (ESV)

Hebrews 11:31 links obedience to works in James 2:25:

Hebrews 11:31 - By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. (ESV)

Jesus bore our sins in His body on the tree so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. We are also supposed to live in the truth and in the love of God, ourselves practicing the love of Christ, and entrust ourselves to God, even when others make things more difficult.

I Peter 2:22-24 - He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (ESV)

You'll be able to see who has been healed by their fruits.

God is still very busy working:

John 5:17 - But Jesus answered them, My Father is working until now, and I am working. (ESV)

We are God's workmanship:

Ephesians 2:7-10 - so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)

We absolutely must have a response of love for God - we must abide in Christ's love to abide in God.

Because God loved us first:

  • The Apostle Paul endeavours to know Jesus ('makes it his own'. See Php 3:9-13 below) because Jesus made Paul His own
    • To be found in Jesus is what Paul describes as the righteousness from God that depends on faith
    • We know Jesus by believing in Him and obeying His commandments, and when we love and forgive we know God loved us and forgave us first
  • We should love because He loved us first
    • Romans 5:7-8 - For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)
  • We must forgive as we have been forgiven

Philippians 3:9-13 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (ESV)

The redemption in Christ Jesus is a gift, and is a substitutionary atonement that is received through faith in Jesus, which is supposed to result in us passing forward love and forgiveness, and putting sin to death.

As far as "obtaining the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" goes, or sharing in Jesus' holiness, a limited analogy may be that this works like a blood transfusion, or a like Jesus' car battery recharging our car battery, that should be received by faith, faith which includes the belief of faith and the obedience of faith, such as obedience to the discipline of Christ, that should yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness as we then seek to imitate Christ, passing forward love and forgiveness and endeavoring to be holy.

Holiness is brought to completion in the fear of God:

II Corinthians 7:1 - Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (ESV)

John Piper's aim in this sermon is that:

  • 1st: those of you who preach and teach the word of God would do so in a way that makes clear the effective connection between the sin bearing work of Christ and the sin killing work of the Christian
  • 2nd: that you would make clear the effective connection between canceled sin and conquered sin
  • 3rd: that you would make clear the effective connection between the horrors of Christ's suffering and the holiness of Christ's people
  • 4th: that you would make clear the release of people from guilt and how it effectively connects with the securing of their lives of righteousness
  • 5th: that you would make clear the effective connection between justification by his blood and progressive sanctification by that same blood, and
  • 6th: Finally, that you would make clear the effective connection between the the tearing off of the flesh of Christ in crucifixion and the tearing out of your eye in the battle against lust.

Referring to 1 Peter 1:18-20:

Quote by John Piper
"He does not say you were ransommed from guilt. He does not say you were ransommed from condemnation. He does not say you were ransommed from satan. He does not say you were ransommed from hell. He said you were ransommed from ways. Live in holy conduct because He bought it with blood."

I Peter 1:14-20 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
"Conduct yourself in holiness because you know you were ransommed from unholiness. You were ransommed from futile ways into holy ways."
Quote by John Piper
It's not enough to say that God paid the ransom for His wife - so God's wife is kidnapped, she's across the plaza, and He's going to get her, for Himself, and he pays an infinite price, and it's not as though she steps out free from her captors and goes and shacks up with another man! That didn't happen at the cross. It doesn't happen. He doesn't fail in His purchases. He's not impotent. His blood is not ineffective. It was not in vain. The ransom bought a new life for His people, a new holiness for His people. They will walk in the way He bought. If they don't, they have no warrant to believe they're His.

AMEN!!

If we keep His commandments, keep His works we will reign with Him:

II Timothy 2:12-13 - if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. (ESV)

Revelation of John 2:26 - The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, (ESV)

I believe that becoming the righteousness of God is initially instantaneous when we believe but going forward it also is cooperative as we live, submitting to the righteousness of God (Jesus' righteousness) and then being found in Jesus, letting Jesus wash us, and work in us, transform us, and that a childlike trust in Jesus (a believing and obedient trust), following Jesus, walking in faith, and behaving as one of God's children, following Jesus our Lord and Saviour is how we receive and walk into the kingdom which is given to us and that walking in a childlike faith in Jesus is how we have the righteousness that is by faith. I believe we have righteousness because we are found in Him, and He is our High Priest and or Lord and King, and Saviour. Living by faith is a lifestyle to be found in Jesus and that's how we have righteousness from Him, because we are found in Him and are being perfected and sanctified like a branch getting healthier because it's connected to Jesus. It does not mean we are able to displace Him as the head of the body because we don't have righteousness apart from Him (as far as I understand):

II Corinthians 5:21-6:1 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (ESV)

Jesus carried His cross, bore our shame, bore our sin that we might become the righteousness of God; that we might bear others' shame, and pass forward love and forgiveness:

I Peter 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (ESV)

So working together with Jesus, and thanks to being born-again and empowered by Jesus' spirit, Jesus helps us to put to death sin in our own body, forgive those who we had a grudge with, do good works, etc. repent, be sanctified, forgive as we have been forgiven, love as we have been loved:

Hebrews 12:1-3 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (ESV)

By His stripes we are healed, and then we live to serve Jesus:

Isaiah 53:5 - But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. (ESV)

Jesus washed out feet. Now we wash others' feet. A saint, having been forgiven and love by Jesus passes forward this love and forgiveness and bears other people's burdens:

John 13:14-15 - If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. (ESV)

A saint, having been forgiven and love by Jesus passes forward this love and forgiveness and bears other people's burdens:

Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (ESV)

I believe we should have a noticable change of heart and behaviour as a result of trusting obedient faith in Jesus:

II Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)

We are healed by His wounds - a lot of Christians try to suppress the "We are healed" bit. We should also notice that healing comes with stopping sinning. Jesus bore our sins in His body on the tree so that we might stop sinning and live righteous lives in holiness and doing good:

I Peter 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (ESV)

I think we should always be seeking the glory of our Jesus Christ, not seeking our own glory. Personally, my motivations for writing this Bible Study document, and for 'good works' etc. is simply because:

  • I am remorseful for the sin which I've had in my life and want to be healed so that I no longer serve sin, but instead I live to righteousness (being obedient to God)
  • I want to serve God, and I want to live in the truth
  • I have a lot of joy in showing people that Jesus Christ is real
  • I want to love Jesus. It seems to me like it's the reason for living
  • I want my life to honour Jesus
  • Jesus is worthy of all love, all praise, all glory
  • I need Jesus
  • I want to be found as a friend of Jesus

But God chose some to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth:

II Thessalonians 2:13 - But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

Jesus called us to sanctified (i.e. repent from sin, and live to God). We seek the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Interestingly, we don't seek our own glory, but Paul says that God chose us to be sanctified by the Spirit and belief in the truth:

II Thessalonians 2:14 - To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We seek the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, not our own glory. We should aim not to speak on our own authority, but instead to speak the Truth from God:

John 7:18 - The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. (ESV)

I don't want to speak about things I am not confident in affirming, such as monergism because I haven't even scratched the surface of the doctrines surrounding that -it's beyond my study. But I have a childlike trusting, obedient faith in Jesus, which is what Jesus wants of us I think. Something that gives me confidence before God is that I have been brought into obedience to Jesus' commandments in word and deed. Not just intellectually knowledgeable, and I have confidence because I have confidence that Jesus is working in my life). Yes, I believe that we should desire to cooperate with God and do the word of God. We want to be obedient and believing. We trust God. God's faithfulness is greater than our own. That's how it works. God is our life. God works through us and His love is made perfect in us and we love with the same love that Jesus loved us with. Love comes from God. Christ's love is not vain philosophy.

I believe the Holy Spirit can absolutely take over as this evangelist puts it:

Amen
youtube.com: The Holy Spirit took over my preaching in Las Vegas and left me in awe and trembling

I Corinthians 3:9 - For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. (ESV)

For sure, I just want to speak the truth from God, and I want to be sanctified by the Truth, and I want to be corrected by the Truth:

Ephesians 4:15-19 - Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. (ESV)

Seeking God in truth and not seeking glory from one another is a good place to start in coming to believe. I guess that seeking the glory that comes from the only God involves seeking to glorify God:

John 5:44 - How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (ESV)

I believe we should have a noticable change of heart and behaviour as a result of trusting obedient faith in Jesus:

II Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)

We are healed by His wounds - a lot of Christians try to suppress the "We are healed" bit. We should also notice that healing comes with stopping sinning. Jesus bore our sins in His body on the tree so that we might stop sinning and live righteous lives in holiness and doing good:

I Peter 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (ESV)

I don't think James contradicts Paul because I think faith alone is sufficient but that working faith is fine "You'll know them by their fruits.". Also it's God, not us, who justifies:

Matthew 7:15-20 - Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (ESV)

But I think that when we obey Jesus it's Jesus working.

Jesus worked:

John 5:17 - But Jesus answered them, My Father is working until now, and I am working. (ESV)

John 19:30 - When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, It is finished, and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (ESV)

Jesus is still working through us:

Philippians 2:13 - for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Way Maker - Paul McClure | Moment @time: 4 min 12 sec

So when we obey Jesus' words and commandments, Jesus works in us:

John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (ESV)

When we walk in trusting, believing, obedient faith, God works in us and to deliver us and makes our paths straight for us:

Philippians 1:6 - And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Jude 1:21 - keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (ESV)

So we are saved by obeying Jesus:

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

Hebrews 5:9 - And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, (ESV)

Quote from John Piper

Jesus has done everything necessary: He was loved and foreknown and chosen, He appeared at the end of the times, He was crucified for sins, He was raised from the dead, He was glorified at the Father's right hand, and now He is sent by his Spirit into this world and he is doing his purposes to gather his people and through him you have become believers in God.

You've been ransomed from a futile way of life by an infinitely valuable price: namely, the blood of Jesus.

The command to lead your life in fear rises with the value of the ransom paid to rescue you from the sin that some people try to fund with the ransom.

He was born to die and he died to rescue you from this afternoon's sinning. And tomorrow's, as well as all the ones in the past.

We should not treat that ransom with contempt.

But I feel like a lot of people have a problem with salvation by obedience, but it's totally Scriptural. Noah and the Israelites through the Red Sea and the Apostle Thomas after following Jesus around for ages and finally arrived at belief. And I think this is the correct teaching.

Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (ESV)

Faith comes from hearing Jesus' words and we can hear a commandment of Jesus such as 'love your enemies' and that faith can come from that, and it's Jesus working through them when they hear Jesus' words and obey them, and I think a person can be saved this way if they continue in Jesus' word.

Luke 6:35 - But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. (ESV)

A person is justified when God justifies the person, not just because a person says they are justified. So I think God's the justifier of a person's faith and that both obedience and belief are parts of faith, and like Abraham we should keep the faith until and beyond when we receive personal assurance of justification from God.

Interlinear Bible
Romans 3:28
 1: 3049 [e]    1063 [e]  1344 [e]        4102 [e]
 2: logizometha gar       dikaiousthai    pistei
 3: λογιζόμεθα  γὰρ       δικαιοῦσθαι     πίστει
 4: We reckon   therefore to be justified by faith
 5: V-PIM/P-1P  Conj      V-PNM/P         N-DFS
 6: 
 7: 444 [e]     5565 [e]   2041 [e] 3551 [e]
 8: anthrōpon   chōris     ergōn    nomou
 9: ἄνθρωπον  , χωρὶς      ἔργων    νόμου  .
10: a man       apart from works    of the Law
11: N-AMS       Prep       N-GNP    N-GMS

But works of the law is different from works:

Romans 3:28 - For we maintain that a man is justified by faith (G4102 pistis) apart from works of the Law. (NASB)

1: :  4102  pistis  pis'-tis
2: 
3:  from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious
4:  truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially
5:  reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such
6:  profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth
7:  itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
8:  see GREEK for 3982

It's God who tests the faith, and God who justifies:

II Corinthians 10:18 - For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (ESV)

And I do not believe the following verse necessarily is merely talking about justification but also talking about being saved from falsehood, corruption, demons, sin in our bodies and from the wrath of God, and also my definition of faith includes obedience:

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved (sesōsmenoi) through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)

sesōsmenoi (saved)
https://biblehub.com/greek/seso_smenoi_4982.htm

We don't justify ourselves. The lawyer here was desiring to justify himself. God is the justifier. Jesus explains that the one who proved to be a neighbour is the one who showed compassion for and took care of the helpless person, taking care of them with mercy:

Luke 10:25-37 - And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said to him, What is written in the Law? How do you read it? And he answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. And he said to him, You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live. But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? Jesus replied, A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back. Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? He said, The one who showed him mercy. And Jesus said to him, You go, and do likewise. (ESV)

See: 33.4.1

Polycarp 2:1
Wherefore gird up your loins and serve God in fear and truth, forsaking the vain and empty talking and the error of the many, for that ye have believed on Him that raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and gave unto him glory and a throne on His right hand; unto whom all things were made subject that are in heaven and that are on the earth; to whom every creature that hath breath doeth service; who cometh as judge of quick and dead; whose blood God will require of them that are disobedient unto Him.

17.1. Walking in trusting faith in Jesus

I honestly don't know everything and I don't have all the answers. But I think God is sanctifying me through faith. As we hold our faith, willing to do God's will, and trusting Him, we are sanctified - cleaned, washed, and things will become clearer. His spirit sanctifies us. His word sanctifies us. We are sanctified as we hold our faith in Him.

Just keep trusting in, trusting Jesus, believing and obeying and treasuring from the heart and I think things will become clearer. That's what I'm doing.

We trust Jesus (Yeshua), so we accept and treasure His words, so we trust in Him and obey Him out of trust and He is our strength, and song and Yahweh becomes our salvation. In trusting Jesus (Yeshua) we trust Jehovah (Yahweh) who has sent Jesus (Yeshua). It's Jesus Christ who saves us. It's Yahweh who saves us:

Isaiah 12:1-3 - You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O LORD (H3068 Yhvh), for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust (H982 batach), and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD (H3068 Yhvh) is my strength (H5797 oz) and my song (H2176 zimrath), and he has become my salvation (H3444 yeshuah). With joy (H8342 sason) you will draw water (H4325 mayim) from the wells of salvation. (ESV)

John 7:37-39 - On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, If anyone thirsts (G1372 dipsaó), let him come to me and drink (G4095 pinó). Whoever believes (G4100 pisteuó) in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (ESV)

John 7:38 - The [one] believing in Me as has said the Scripture Rivers out of the belly of him will flow of water living (Interlinear)

God is our #1 treasure. Family in Christ is also treasure - we love one another as ourselves as companded. We must treasure family in Christ. Also God wants all people to be saved. We are called to agape treasure all people, even our enemies. We want them to be saved too:

Leviticus 19:9-18 - When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God. You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning. You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD. You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (ESV)

Anyway, we should just keep trusting the Lord and maintain a good conscience before God, follow Him faithfully, trust Him and treasure his words and commandments. Love as he loved, walk as he walked. Like Peter on the water, we keep our eyes on Jesus - the eyes of our heart, and God takes care of us:

Matthew 14:28-33 - And Peter answered him, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. He said, Come. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, Lord, save me. Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, Truly you are the Son of God. (ESV)

I Timothy 1:18-20 - This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (ESV)

The other thing is, we should put out faith on the Truth in the Bible because dreams and visions are very often lying:

Ezekiel 13:6 - They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, Declares the LORD, when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word. (ESV)

I get lied to in dreams and visions from the devil very often, even through other people. This is why it helps to do a good Bible study. So I trust what God has spoken through Bible:

Ephesians 4:11-14 - And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (ESV)

Spiritual dreams and visions happen, and God can speak to us through a dream, but the devil can also lie to us through a dream, so don't trust all your dreams. Most of the dreams I get I don't believe. So this is one reason why we should maintain a good conscience with God, because we don't want to be misled by demons:

I John 3:22-23 - and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. (ESV)

I Timothy 1:18-20 - This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Bob Fitts- Jesus Christ Is Lord {Medley} {Hosanna! Music} @time: 5 min 43 sec

17.1.1. To be "under the law" is to "rely" on your own perfect obedience to the law for justification, life and salvation

It's relying on the works of the law which puts a person on under a curse. That doesn't mean we forsake the law. We just don't rely on it for our justification, life and salvation:

Galatians 3:10 - For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them. (ESV)

The curse of the law (which is the condemnation which arises from imperfect law compliance) is no longer a problem for us by having faith in Jesus, Jesus has taken that curse and paid for it with His blood:

Galatians 3:13-14 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (ESV)

To be "under the law" is to "rely" on [your own perfect obedience to] the law for justification, life and salvation.

To be "under the law" is to be condemned in Adam, rather than justified in Christ.

All unbelievers, both Jews and Gentiles, are "under the law," but all believers in both Testaments are "under grace" (Rom 6:14) in Christ, who came to "redeem those who were under the law" (Gal 4:5).

True believers keep the good law of God in faith, under grace, as an expression of love to God and others because of so great a salvation.

They don't rely on the law to save them, but neither do they reject its authority or goodness.

Though they can never keep the law perfectly, they try to follow the law as an expression of faith in God and love to Him.

Either way, it's still important to accept Jesus when presented with Jesus.

To be regarded as a child of Abraham, a person must fall into one of 2 categories:

  • walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised, I believe with respect to having faith in Jesus Christ, but I also this likely counts to adherents of the law of God (i.e. the circumcised) who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that Abraham had before he was circumcised
    • John 8:39 - They answered him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, (ESV)
  • faith in Jesus Christ:
    • Galatians 3:7-9 - Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, In you shall all the nations be blessed. So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (ESV)

We have believe Jesus and to trust Jesus. When Jesus says He is the Son of God, we must believe it because we trust Him. Likewise when He commands us to repent from sinning we should agree with Jesus and be obedient:

John 16:8-9 - And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; (ESV)

Romans 4:9-12 - Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

I believe this also counts to those who are of the "real/spiritual circumcision". After being born-again of the Spirit, it seems natural to want to obey and trust God the way Abraham did and walk in works of faith like Abraham:

Philippians 3:3 - For we are the real circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— (ESV)

Colossians 2:11-12 - In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. (ESV)

17.1.2. I affirm we are free in Christ Jesus, enslaved to God, and have victory over death

Romans 8:2 - For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (ESV)

Romans 6:22-23 - But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NASB)

So this morning <2024-05-12 Sun> I got a picture of John Piper in my mind with this Bible verse, and so I googled it and found this tweet a few days ago. Also, this morning I had two other dreams:

Awesome:

1: John Piper
2: @JohnPiper
3: God gives us the victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 15:57-58 - But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (ESV)

1: No labor in vain in the Lord.
2: 10:00 PM · Apr 27, 2024

AMEN!!

Also, it looks like John Piper has another talk on this:

Galatians 4:22-23 - For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. (ESV)

Galatians 4:30-31 - But what does the Scripture say? Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman. So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. (ESV)

In Christ Jesus there is freedom from things which were bad for us, including selfishness, condemnation, slavery to sin and death, and feeling like we're not good enough for God. There is freedom from anything that tries to hinder us from obeying God in truth:

I Peter 2:16 - Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. (ESV)

God accepts those who serve Christ. We come under Jesus' banner, and His righteousness, but we still follow after Him and serve Him in word and deed:

Romans 14:18 - Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

We are freed from, for example, making the worries of the world our first thought in the day such as thinking always in terms of "will I have enough money, for example", to instead, with the Holy Spirit in us, thinking correctly, having joy in being able to live out the great commandments in actuality, to be able to love God, I believe with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbour as ourselves, and as we abide in Jesus Christ, focused on Jesus as our Pearl of Great Price, obeying God in word and deed, passing-forward Christ's love to others, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin:

II Corinthians 3:17 - Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (ESV)

Galatians 5:1-6 - For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (ESV)

We have been ransomed from our futile ways, so that our ways may change, and we love God because He loved us first. Therefore, be holy! Obey God:

I Peter 1:16-22 - since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)

We are redeemed from lawless behaviour, God purifies us with the blood of Jesus and we do good deeds out of a corrected will to now do good deeds instead of lawless deeds because Jesus loved us and gave us Himself:

Titus 2:14 - who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (NASB)

Jesus tasted death for us. Since we are saved from death, and from the law of sin and death, we walk by the Spirit now and try to imitate Christ, empowered with His Spirit to help us do that:

Hebrews 2:9 - But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (ESV)

Romans 8:12-13 - So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (ESV)

II Corinthians 3:9 - For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. (ESV)

The reason we do our good deeds is not as if we are trying to earn our acceptance from God all over again, but walking by the Spirit which we have received, we do them out of Christ-defined love because we want to pass forward the love of God:

Galatians 5:1 - For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (ESV)

I John 4:17 - By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

Believing in Jesus and obeying Jesus go hand in hand. Believing in Jesus, obeying Jesus, trusting in Jesus, His words and promises, are all in the heart and not the head. I'm going to keep trying to do all of those things, and not make any sweeping statements about free will:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

Jesus' commandments are all about selfless love. We must abide in Jesus' teaching and believe. It's imperative that as we go ahead, we must abide in the teaching of Christ. Confessing the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh, and walking according to Jesus' commandments go hand in hand:

II John 1:6-9 - And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (ESV)

17.2. God justifies even ungodly people who have faith in Jesus

We have faith in God by having faith in Jesus and by having faith in Jesus we may be justified even though we are ungodly.

God justifies who has faith in Jesus.

https://www.samstorms.org/all-articles/post/are-we-justified-by-faith-or-by-works-yes---james-214-26

There is a way of doing the law that is by faith:

Romans 2:13 - For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers (4163. poiétés) of the law who will be justified. (ESV)

I'm sure that James would be referring to what Paul refers to in Romans 4:11-12:

James 2:24 - You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (ESV)

Romans 9:30-32 - What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, (ESV)

Romans 4:11-12 - He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. (ESV)

Firstly, God owns everything. Whatever we give God, he already owned. Neither do we give God wages as if we were the previous owner of our gift. And we don't give God advice:

Romans 11:34-36 - For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (ESV)

We just depend on and trust and hope on God to justify us, to commend us, to give us mercy, and we simply follow Jesus and have peace with God because we believe in Jesus, and in believing and obeying Jesus we have the hope of being justified by faith in Jesus:

Romans 9:16 - So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:1-2 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. (ESV)

John Piper - "Faith is the baking our hope on the mercy of God."

We were saved in hopeful faith:

Romans 8:23-25 - And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (ESV)

But God is just to take into consideration our work:

Hebrews 6:10-12 - For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (ESV)

My best understanding of Romans 4:4 is: "The person who works receives wages, but the wages are not a gift, but the person does receive reward which is due for his work." - But that's not good enough. We need to accept the gift of salvation from God. So working is not good enough, we must submit to the righteousness of God and accept the gift for forgiveness because we don't deserve the gift of Salvation what God has given us as a gift, by the shedding of Jesus Christ's blood.

Romans 4:4 - Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.

However, the work we produce doesn't justify us before God (it doesn't clear us from being guilty of sin before God). We still need to have faith on God to justify us even though we are ungodly, due to the atonement for our sin by Christ's blood.

We must have faith in Jesus to be justified by faith. God justifies the person who trusts in Jesus and I believe we should be doers of Christ's law (which is not outside the law of God, so we are doers of the law), and God justifies the person with the blood of Jesus. If we're trusting in Jesus then we're trusting in God who justifies the ungodly. We're not trusting in God to justify our ungodliness, but to justify us as we keep our faith in Jesus:

Romans 2:13-16 - For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

God justifies the person who has faith in Jesus:

Romans 3:21-26 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

Before accepting God's forgiveness yourself, submitting to the righteousness of God, believing that you were in need of God's forgiveness and accepting that Jesus' blood has atoned for our sin and placing our faith in Jesus so that God may justify us, no good work of ours could atone for our sin:

Isaiah 64:6 - We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. (ESV)

The "Our Father" prayer applies to those who are actually children of God:

Matthew 6:8-15 - Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (ESV)

If a son of Abraham repents from sin and forgives (return stolen goods) they can have salvation:

Luke 19:1-10 - He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today. So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (ESV)

We can be sons of Abraham through faith in Jesus. So if we believe in Jesus, repent and forgive, we can have salvation:

Galatians 3:6-9 - just as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, In you shall all the nations be blessed. So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (ESV)

We ultimately need God's forgiveness through faith in Jesus, and so we need to come to realise our spiritual bankruptcy before God and cry out to Him to forgive us as we desire to turn a new leaf and walk in the truth, and God can save us.

Self-righteousness has no place in asking God to be forgiven and justified by faith in Jesus. The atonement made by God with Jesus' blood is what has purchased God to be the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. God does the justification. We do the "having faith in Jesus". God does the grafting (the vineyard work):

Romans 4:5-7 - And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: The Hands of Jesus | Billy Graham Classic @time: 11 min 43 sec

We must be able to accept that our gifts which we give to God will never be good enough without the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, and we need to receive the gift of Salvation which God has offered us. God gives that justification and grants repentance to life for those put their faith in Jesus. We need a penitently obedient heart,. We just put our faith in Jesus and continue in faith in Jesus.

I John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

For the person who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness:

Mark 11:25 - And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (ESV)

I'm trusting God wholeheartedly to be justified because of Christ's finished work on the cross, and placing my faith in Jesus (obedient, trusting, believing faith in Jesus) and hoping for God's justification.

However, who am I to restrict God? God may justify and save whom He will:

Acts 2:21 - And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (ESV)

Romans 10:20 - Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me. (ESV)

Romans 2:13 - For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers (4163. poiétés) of the law who will be justified. (ESV)

There is justification by faith is for anyone who trusts God for the forgiveness of their sins through Jesus' finished work on the cross as they place their faith in Jesus and follow Jesus by belief and obedience. I don't deny that to other people. But we are trusting God, not trusting on the work alone without trusting/believing/obeying/loving God. What I mean is, God justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. We believe and obey Jesus, loving one another as He loved us, but in the knowledge that God has loved us first by paying the price for our sin with Jesus' blood:

Romans 3:26 - It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

I'm unsure if the following applies for justification (it may be that it is meant in a different context), but in some sense, forgiving others is still required if someone wants God to forgive them:

Mark 11:25 - And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (ESV)

Matthew 6:12-15 - and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (ESV)

Nevertheless, I forgive everyone, and hold no grudges.

17.3. Obedient action including seeking God in faith (trusting God's words and seeking)

I believe that obedient action which includes seeking God is an important part of faith.

I believe obedience is intrinsic to faith, actually.

True faith is always obedient; faith is always prepared to obey more:

John 7:17- If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

Obedient action is not dead works, and I believe that obedient action is just working faith.

Being disobedient to Jesus means disbelieving in Jesus:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes (G4100 pisteuo) in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

Romans 4:2 - For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

Paul doesn't deny that Abraham could have been justified by works, but he claims that Abraham doesn't have anything to boast about before God. AMEN!!

Because he offered nothing to God through his work other than what was asked of him.

Jesus was perfectly faithful to God by being obedient:

Philippians 2:8 - And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV)

Romans 9:15-16 - For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (ESV)

AMEN!! But that doesn't mean human will or exertion cannot be utilised by God.

God rewards faith and may choose to reveal Himself after a while serving God in faith instead of immediately.

Matthew 25:19 - Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

Acts 20:35 - In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

17.4. Obedience belongs in faith

  • Firstly, obedience is a heart attitude, so a person can have obedient faith without any work.
    • Psalms 119:34 - Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. (ESV)
  • Secondly, obedient action is nothing to boast about before God, because God commanded you to do it.
    • Romans 4:2 - For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. (ESV)
  • Thirdly, "working for God" is as step beyond obedient action.
    • Paul doesn't claim his full rights in the gospel (even rights shown by God's precepts in God's law) that He might receive reward from God for going beyond the call of His duty:
    • I Corinthians 9:12,9:15-18 - If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. (ESV)

In God's mercy He has shown us the Way to be reconciled with Him. He has given us Jesus, and we just need to have faith in Him. He has told us what to believe and what to do, and we can choose to be obedient in believing and acting or to not be obedient - to be disobedient.

Jesus is the author of our faith, so having faith is grace from God, and even if works are working with our faith, it's all by grace and we still can't boast before God because our faith and our works are all gifted to us from God.

We're supposed to do good works of faith by Jesus' power so that Jesus' name is glorified - and those works done in Jesus' power are entirely given by grace to us:

II Thessalonians 1:11-12 - To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

For example, Noah's works of building the ark was given to Him by God. God even outlined every detail. Noah acted obediently to God's instruction.

Hebrews 12:1-2 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

  • Obedience belongs inside faith because
    • God commanded it and complying is not really bringing anything to God which He hasn't told you to bring to Him.
      • So it's just acting in faith
      • If God commands you to build an ark, and you build it exactly as specified, is that considered dead works? No, it's just doing exactly what God said. It's faith.
      • If God commands you to wait 5 days before going into battle but you think 8 days would be better, thinking God needs the extra time so you can be more prepared so you wait 8 days then that is no longer faith because it's disobedience.
      • Abraham was commanded to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, and Abraham did offer Isaac out of faithful obedience.
        • Genesis 22:2 - He said, Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.
        • James 2:22 - You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
      • But if Abraham thought he could get even more rewards from God by trying the same thing again and putting Isaac on the altar again without God even commanding it, then that is like trying to justify yourself by doing dead works (i.e. deeds without faith).
    • Choosing to obey God's commandments even when no-one is watching (aside from God) is having faith in God.
      • For example, not stealing from your employer.
      • Therefore, there is a way of abiding by God's commandments which is faith and not works.
      • To not steal is to love God and have faith in God.
  • Seeking God in action belongs in faith because:
    • When someone wills to do God's will, they come to know the truth
      • John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (ESV)
    • When someone has faith, they believe that God exists and that in seeking God, God rewards them:
      • Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Salvation is the gift, and faith implies an obedient heart. Works can be dead works when they're not done in faith. Faith is what justifies. But faith works. Faith requires obedience to God. Faithless works do not justify:

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)

With an obedient heart, a person will receive revelation as they hear the teaching of Jesus.

A person must be at least willing to do His will - obedience is at the essence of faith:

John 7:17 - If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.

Therefore, faith quickly progresses into good work, serving the living God:

Hebrews 9:14 - how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Those who's Father is God love Jesus, and will to do the will of God:

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. (ESV)

But those who's father is the devil lie out of their own character - they mean to lie when they lie, and they will to do the devil's desires:

John 8:44 - You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (ESV)

'Believing in rewards from God for seeking Him' belongs in faith, or it's not faith anymore, even in regards to justifying faith.

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:24-26 - By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

We should pursue Jesus Christ similarly. God commanded it:

Mark 9:7 - And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, This is my beloved Son; listen to him.

Luke 9:35 - And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!

1 Timothy 1:15-17 - The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe (G4100 pisteuo) in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)

17.5. The type of work that is good - works done in faith

We are redeemed to be purified and to perform good works:

Titus 2:14 - who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (ESV)

We've been created in Christ Jesus for good works:

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)

We're not being justified by our works - we've already been redeemed, but we do works out of love for Jesus, and out of ongoing faith, ongoing obedience:

Titus 3:8 - The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. (ESV)

Talk by
youtube.com: How Christianity Is Different From Every Religion
youtube.com: John Lennox: How do I choose which religion to follow? @time: 8 min 12 sec

You've heard about my wife. Well, over fifty years ago, I saw this vision in Cambridge, so I decided I'd like to marry her. So I came to her one day and I had a little present wrapped up for her. It was a cookbook. So I said, "I'd like to marry you, Sally. Now the condition would be this: Let's look at page 147 - it's apple cake, and here are the laws for making apple cake. Thou shalt take some what's flour, thou shall take some what sugar, and there you are. Now, here's the way it's gonna be: If you keep these laws for the next forty years, I think about accepting you. If you don't, you can go back to your mother."

But, look why are you laughing? That is what many of you sitting here think about God. And you would never insult a fellow human being by basing a relationship of merit. You wouldn't. And so my marriage, it's been good, why? Because my wife is not cooking in order to gain my acceptance. She likes cooking because she's got it. And the wonderful thing about Christianity is precisely that. It's not religion in that sense, it's a relationship.

Christianity is a relationship, like a marriage:

  • Acceptance comes at the beginning; Jesus gives us the benefit of the doubt. Just start serving Jesus in faith
    • We must still forgive and love our family in Christ. This isn't 'work', but it is obedience, and it is a required heart attitude
    • Romans 14:18 - Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)
  • Salvation is based on Jesus' merit but also on our working-out of that free salvation gift with hope, faith, repentance and obedience
  • We must have a response of love for Jesus
    • John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)
    • John 16:27 - for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. (ESV)
  • In whatever we do, we should be serving the Lord Jesus Christ
    • I Corinthians 10:31 - So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (ESV)
    • Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (ESV)
    • I Corinthians 16:14 - Let all that you do be done in love. (ESV)
    • Romans 12:9 - Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. (ESV)

The Holy Spirit still goes to those who obey Jesus:

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

I John 3:24 - Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

It's extremely important to have a response of love for Jesus, and to do the good works which we have been created in Christ Jesus to do, but Jesus also saves people who turn out to be unthankful:

Luke 17:11-19 - On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. When he saw them he said to them, Go and show yourselves to the priests. And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? And he said to him, Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well. (ESV)

When we abide in Jesus by belief and obedience, we bear much fruit, but outside of Jesus, we can't actually do anything:

John 15:5 - I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (ESV)

We don't want lazy, cowardly, disobedient faith:

Matthew 25:24-26 - He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours. But his master answered him, You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed? (ESV)

Luke 12:48 - But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (ESV)

It's imperative that as we go ahead, we must abide in the teaching of Christ, or we won't have God (Jehovah God), and God is love and love comes from God, so we need to abide in Christ's teachings, by belief and by obedience. For example, in Mark 10:18, Jesus affirmed that God is Good. Therefore when we read this, we must also be sanctified by this truth, affirming and coming into agreement that God is Good. Also, Jesus commanded us to love one another as He loved us John 13:34-35:

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

Obedience is good:

Psalms 40:6-8 - Sacrifice and offering you have not desired, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. (ESV)

'Working' for God is OK when it's done in faith:

James 2:22-23 - You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness—and he was called a friend of God. (ESV)

I Corinthians 3:9 - For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. (ESV)

Obedience is intrinsic to faith:

Hebrews 11:31 - By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

And after a time, the LORD visits and judges on deeds, and on words:

Revelation of John 3:2-3 - Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.

Jesus judges on deeds and on words (possibly on the way you judge others, the same standard is measured back to you; also important is confessing Jesus Christ before others):

Matthew 12:35-37 - The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

Matthew 25:19 - Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

Jeremiah 17:10 - I the LORD (Yahweh) search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds. (ESV)

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John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.

Revelation of John 3:21 - The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (ESV)

Matthew 25:21 - His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.

Firstly, obedient children are children who hear the word of God, believe and love God, and we should be holy in all our conduct if we call on the LORD God who judges impartially according to each one's deeds:

I Peter 1:14-19 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (ESV)

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 - The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Talk
youtube.com: Ecclesiastes: fear God and obey His commandments- the only hope for a good life

We must follow the way righteousness, repenting from sin, and following Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is Lord:

II Peter 2:1-3 - But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

II Peter 2:20-22 - For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.

17.5.1. Since Jesus has made the way, we serve God with good works. We have received mercy. We should then be merciful:

I Peter 2:10 - Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Luke 6:36 - Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (ESV)

17.5.2. Works must serve God, submitted to the righteousness that comes from God

We have to submit to God's righteousness, accepting that we are sinners, and accept God's forgiveness through the atonement that comes through Jesus, and be obedient to God through being obedient to Jesus.

Mark 2:17 - And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

Luke 5:32 - I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

Romans 10:3-4 - For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (G4100 pisteuo has faith in Jesus). (ESV)

Philippians 3:8-11 - Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (ESV)

17.6. Dead works: The type of work that's bad

What is wrong is trying to establish a righteousness of one's own apart from submitting to the righteousness of God - it's saying, "God, I think you should have this, or, God I think I'm righteous because I did this for you." rather than, "here is what you asked of me, LORD."

Work not done in faith:

Leviticus 10:1-2 - Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.

I Samuel 15:22-23 - And Samuel said, Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king. (ESV)

God didn't ask for the offering which Nadab and Abihu offered.

Ananias gave to God unfaithfully, in a manner similar to Cain.

Acts 4:32 - Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

Acts 5:1-5 - But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God. When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. (ESV)

Cain was half-hearted with his offering to the LORD, as Ananias was:

Genesis 4:3-5 - In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. (ESV)

1 John 3:12 - We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:4 - By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. (ESV)

Hebrews 6:1 - Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Dead works are works not done in service to God, but works done in service to God, He may accept.

17.6.1. Works of the law are dead works. God always desired us to serve Him with mercy

Hebrews 10:8 - When he said above, You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings (these are offered according to the law),

Hebrews addressed the same passage which Jesus addressed:

Matthew 12:3-8 - He said to them, Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.

17.7. Working faith

Works and faith can't exist apart from one another because even to believe in Jesus is a work, and if the belief is true then the obedience continues.

John 6:28-29 - Then they said to him, What must we do, to be doing the works of God? Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe (G4100 pisteuo) in him whom he has sent.

To be justified, a person must have the faith of Abraham. By faith Abraham obeyed. So the faith has the fruit of walking in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Romans 4:9-12 - Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

So what Jesus is saying is quite similar, I think. We must have the faith of Abraham, but in regards to following Jesus. That being said, around when I was born-again of the spirit, I had only exercised very simple faith - believing God exists, Jesus exists, and exercising faithfulness and obedience to Jesus, believing God sees in secret, and after being like that, struggling with sin, I called out to God for help, and He made me born-again of the Spirit. It was a total gift and a rescue:

I Peter 1:23 - since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (ESV)

youtube.com: Hope and the Fruit of Love @time: 2 min 43 sec
New Birth by the word of God. So you got the act of God in causing us to be born again and you've got the active man in obedience to that truth, purifying his heart.

However, faith continues. We should repent from sin and be corrected by the word and Sanctified in the Word of God and carry out the good works which God lines up for us which He had planned for us. And faith continues, and we seek to come after Jesus. A similar situation happened to me like the situation of when Abraham put Isaac on the Altar, and like Abraham I had to give up something I really wanted and it meant obeying Jesus, exercising trusting faith and obedience to Jesus, forgiving and becoming a scapegoat. So I still say that believers who have been born of promise, born of the Spirit, should continue in the faith of Abraham. Obedience leads to reward, commendation, being a friend of God. But to be a disciple of Jesus we should count the cost, because it can be very difficult:

Luke 9:23-24 - And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. (ESV)

I Peter 1:22 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)

youtube.com: Hope and the Fruit of Love @time: 2 min 0 sec

Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren - there's there's the pillar - therefore, fervently love one another.

So, the first pillar is Soul purifying obedience to the truth. Do we all see that? Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth, love.

If you do this you can love. If you don't do this, love falls. If you do this, love stands. So there's pillar number one.

Since there is a soul purifying obedience to the truth, you can love each other.

Even the demons believe God is one and they shudder. The faithful believe God and love God (a totally different response). Love is obedience to God, and includes accepting and having faith in the one who God sent, Jesus.

James 2:19 - You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Believing Father God Jehovah, loving Him, obeying His commandments, loving and obeying Jesus Christ His son, all must be true together, even to have a sound definition of what love is:

I John 5:1-3 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (ESV)

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.

I John 5:2-3 - By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

The command to believe is the same as the command to action. The command to action is not the law but to trust Jesus. While the law of God revives the soul while we are actually meditating on it and doing it, the law doesn't save to perfection. The obedience we have in the heart which saves is trust in Jesus Christ Himself where we become trusting, believing and obedient to Jesus, and as we hold fast to His gospel, Jesus brings us to God:

Hebrews 7:19 - (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. (ESV)

I Peter 3:18-20 - For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. (ESV)

The faith we have in Jesus is based on better hope and better promises and because the Mosaic Law is eclipsed by faith as Abraham received the promise before the law was given through Moses, even Abraham was obedient to God before the Mosaic Law was given. So to relegate obedience to being merely a Mosaic Law thing is incorrect. But we obey Jesus:

Galatians 3:24-27 - So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (ESV)

But the precepts to agape (value, treasure) God, and one's neighbour and faith and obedience to God have been around since the very beginning. We don't say that obedience is only to the Mosaic law - it's not - we can trust God, believe and obey God's voice directly directly as Abraham did. We trust Jesus. A disobedient faith is not faith at all but in coming to trust in Jesus Christ, God's Son, we have become obedient to God through faith.

But we are obedient slaves now to righteousness, slaves of God, as slaves of Christ:

Romans 6:16-18 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (ESV)

Faith doesn't exist without obedience. Obedience doesn't exist without faith. The obedient will love Jesus, obeying Jesus, having faith in Jesus:

James 2:18 - But someone will say, You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

It's wrong to equate Mosaic law with obedience. We were called to obedience before the Mosaic law was even given:

Romans 1:1-7 - Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

And justification is a matter of obedience of faith (in the heart) for the sake of his name. So we become obedient at the same time as we truly believe:

Romans 10:10 - For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (ESV)

Ezekiel 36:24-27 - I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. (ESV)

It makes sense that the basis for continued obedience is trust. But I think the real problem with a lot of theology these days is that people think that obedience means "having produced work".

Romans 6:17-18 - But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (ESV)

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

I Corinthians 3:15 - If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (ESV)

A person can be obedient even before they're given an instruction - like someone waiting for an instruction, after having a heart which is now obedient. Willing to do God's will - and that is not self-seeking.

John 7:17-18 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. (ESV)

I think that coming to trust in Jesus is a free gift to us. It's a really low barrier of entry for us to begin doing the will of God. When we place our faith in Jesus we have become obedient to the heart, but we are supposed to go on becoming obedient in the heart to the standard of teaching we are committed to which comes from Jesus.

Romans 6:17-18 - But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (ESV)

II John 1:9 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (ESV)

Obeying the gospel and having faith in Jesus comes from hearing Jesus' words (his teachings), even from reading it as described in the Old Testament (Romans 1:1-2). Sharing the gospel is speak to people what Jesus has spoken and allowing them to trust Jesus' words, and in trusting Jesus' words we trust in Jesus:

Romans 10:14-17 - But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (ESV)

God's commandment is to bring about the obedience of faith (having faith is in God and through Jesus Christ is being obedient to God):

Romans 16:26 - but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith — (ESV)

We go from performing 'dead works' to 'faithful works'.

Hebrews 9:14 - how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Matthew 25:21 - His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.

We stop doing dead works to serve the living God, which I believe is obedience, which is really similar to work but it's obeying. Obedience gives glory to God. God saves a person, they're converted, and come into God's Kingdom and the angels rejoice.

Luke 15:10 - Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)

Obeying Jesus' commandments are not 'dead works'.

Exodus 20:12-17 - Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.

Jesus said:

Mark 10:19 - You know the commandments: Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother. (ESV)

Obeying God by following the 10 commandments properly, in truth, is not performing 'dead works'.

The Holy Spirit cleanses our hearts by faith:

Acts 15:8-9 - And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

Hebrews 9:14 - how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Service to God is obeying God through Christ's commandments. It's being a bond-servant of Christ.

Also, the following means that having faith in Jesus is tightly coupled to doing the works that Jesus did - to acting like Jesus - to obeying His commandments.

John 14:12 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

Whoever has faith in Jesus, the works that Jesus does, that person will do. Pisteuo (pisteuōn) = faith.

John 14:12 - Truly (G281 amen), truly (G281 amen), I say (G3004 lego) to you, he who believes (G4100 pisteuo) in Me, the works (G2041 ergon) that I do (G4160 poieo), he will do (G4160 poieo) also (G2548 kakeinos); and greater (G3173 megas) works than these (G3778 houtos) he will do (G4160 poieo); because (G3754 hoti) I go (G4198 poreuomai) to the Father (G3962 pater). (NASB)

1: :  4100  pisteuo  pist-yoo'-o
2: 
3:  from 4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or
4:  thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's
5:  spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe(-r), commit (to trust), put
6:  in trust with.
7:  see GREEK for 4102

If someone trusts their Lord then they do what their Lord does and has commanded.

17.7.1. Faith in Jesus Himself

Luke 7:6-9 - And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it. When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. (ESV)

Luke 8:43-48 - And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, Who was it that touched me? When all denied it, Peter said, Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you! But Jesus said, Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me. And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace. (ESV)

17.7.2. Faith is faithful, humble, and enduring - it's active and enduring faithfulness to God in humility

Psalms 31:23 - Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. (ESV)

17.7.3. Jesus's Lordship is not merely His authority over us, but us yielding our lives to Jesus - us wanting to do His will, and us wanting to obey Him

Luke 6:46-49 - Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (ESV)

Colossians 2:5-6 - For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, (ESV)

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

I Peter 1:2-3 - according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (ESV)

Even the demons are subject to the authority of Jesus Christ, but they certainly don't have a response of love for God.

John 6:70 - Jesus answered them, Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil. (ESV)

17.7.4. Lordship salvation and free grace - an apparent paradox

Jesus' words never expire:

Matthew 24:35 - Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (ESV)

I see faith alone for justification and working faith as means of becoming a child of Abraham to be not mutually-exclusive.

Trusting in God, taking steps of faith in God as Abraham had, the true circumcision (people keeping the precepts of the law) may be saved:

John 8:39-40 - They answered him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. (ESV)

Luke 3:8 - Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. (ESV)

Luke 19:8-10 - And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (ESV)

Trusting and continuing to trust in God by trusting the Lord Jesus Christ, anyone (even gentiles) can be saved:

Acts 16:30-34 - Then he brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe (4100. pisteuó) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. (ESV)

I Timothy 1:19 - holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, (ESV)

Gentiles should absolutely move towards continued faithfulness and obedience to God, producing agape love towards God and mankind:

Romans 2:4 - Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (ESV)

I Timothy 1:5 - The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (ESV)

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ - heirs according to promise:

Galatians 3:26-29 - for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (ESV)

You can see here that faith alone and working faith seem to both be ways to be a child of Abraham:

All who a) believe without being circumcised (i.e. they are not under the law), and also b) those who are circumcised (adhere to the law) but walk in the footsteps of faith that Abraham had before he was circumcised (still walk in faith as Abraham did before circumcision) are heirs according to promise:

Romans 4:11-12 - He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. (ESV)

It's evident from Romans 4:11-12 and Romans 3:27-31 that both the circumcised (those still keeping the precepts of the Law) and the uncircumcised are justified by faith. i.e. replacement-theology is wrong. Working-faith as a mode of being justified, walking as Abraham did while keeping the precepts of the law is still a mode of justification, as I currently (<2024-09-28 Sat>) understand:

Romans 3:27-31 - Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (ESV)

Here, Paul actually argues for keeping the precepts of the Torah, and relates actually keeping the precepts to those who have been circumcised in the heart. Being a 'Jew' inwardly is unbound by time:

Romans 2:25-29 - For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

It's obedience which leads to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith:

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: The Book of James - {James 1:1-12} - God's word is a mirror to my condition to encourage what's right in me, correct what's wrong in me, and reflect God's love for me. A sermon by Chris Hilken in the book of James series at College Ave Church.

You can't have only half of Jesus. Jesus both protects us and disciplines us:

Psalms 23:4 - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (ESV)

I believe a heart must be both believing and obedient to receive the grace through faith, since I believe true faith is both obedient and believing.

After receiving justification (counted not guilty) through obedient and believing faith, we should continue in obedient and believing faith but the work we do is to be tested and is not essential to our justification:

1 Corinthians 3:15 - If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (ESV)

We love (obey) because He loved us first, and through obedience we are sanctified, which leads to eternal life.

Firstly, I'm not the judge, but I'm going to share my beliefs.

James 4:12 - There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? (ESV)

I believe that if a person has a believing, obedient heart to Jesus, then that is the type of belief which qualifies as belief. Or perhaps disobedience simply leads to a curse but not condemnation:

I Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! (ESV)

We're certainly supposed to trust Jesus and both believe and obey Him.

Heresies/delusions:

  • free grace without Lordship (without sanctification by the Spirit)
    • Not desiring to do God's will. i.e.:
      • Not willing to keep Jesus' words.
      • Not willing to love Jesus.
      • Not willing to obey Jesus.
      • Not willing to follow Jesus.
      • Not willing to love one another as Jesus loved us.
      • Not servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.
    • Not trusting Jesus who has done the finished work for their justification
  • Lordship without free grace (working to be forgiven, without belief in the truth)
    • Not willing to accept that Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins.
    • Not willing to submit to the righteousness of God which is once again, to accept the propitiation for our sins.
      • We must know that God loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
      • John 10:1 - Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. (ESV)
    • Trusting on their own works to appease God's wrath.
    • Not believing Jesus has done the finished work for their justification

I believe that either of those two heresies/delusions likely (but I'm not the judge) fall under this strong delusion category. It's very serious if they indeed do. We must believe the Truth and repent from sinful behaviour and be sanctified by walking in obedience to the Truth if we do not want to perish along with the world:

2 Thessalonians 2:11-13 - Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. (ESV)

I Corinthians 11:32 - But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. (ESV)

II Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (ESV)

Revelation of John 21:8 - But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. (ESV)

Justified and saved from wrath i.e. has obedient faith:

  • Response of love for Jesus
    • I John 4:10-11 - In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (ESV)
    • Ephesians 6:6 - not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
  • trusting on the finished work of Jesus and trusting on Jesus Himself who has done the work
    • Obedient to Jesus
    • The finished work of Jesus covers them

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

Probably not saved from wrath i.e. without obedient faith:

  • trusting on the finished work of Jesus while not trusting on Jesus Himself who has done the work?
    • No love for Jesus (not Jesus' sheep)
      • not trying to keep His commandments
      • no response of love for Jesus
    • The finished work of Jesus probably doesn't help them because they don't receive it by uniting the gospel with faith

Ephesians 2:3 - among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (ESV)

Probably not justified:

  • not submitting to the righteousness of God
    • not accepting that they needed forgiveness
    • not accepting that God loved them first by atoning for their sin

Seriously, this verse:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

Trusting and obeying Jesus qualifies, but belief without obedience or trust in the heart doesn't qualify, I am quite sure. But I am not the judge, God is.

Trust in God (Trusting in God involves trusting God and trusting God enough to do what He says):

  • We should trust in God.
  • We should have faith in God.
  • We should have faith in Jesus.
  • God justifies the one who puts their faith in Jesus, who trusts in Jesus.

Putting faith in Jesus means trusting in Jesus and trusting.

We don't love the Christmas presents more than our parents. Rather, we simply love our parents and they provide the Christmas presents. Likewise, we trust in Jesus and we believe that God justifies the one who trusts in Jesus.

The true believers follow Jesus. They are Jesus' sheep, and they keep His teachings and trust in Him (enough to obey Him penitently):

  • trust Jesus
  • hear Jesus' voice
  • love Him
  • follow Him (they're being obedient)
  • Jesus knows them

John 10:26-29 - but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. (ESV)

We need to accept that God loved us first, and that we need forgiveness from God, that Jesus is our Lord and God, and King, and the propitiation for our sins. We need to accept forgiveness and pass forward forgiveness, and pass forward love and forgiveness freely as we have received love and forgiveness.

The ones who do not submit to the righteousness of God, but do not accept the love of God and do not accept that we needed God's forgiveness, and do not accept Jesus, and would prefer to be their own god - those people are like thieves. They want to be their own god. Maybe they want to walk on water, and have spiritual experiences, but are content stealing from God:

John 10:1 - Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. (ESV)

Malachi 3:8 - Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, How have we robbed you? In your tithes and contributions. (ESV)

Malachi 3:15-18 - And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape. Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him. (ESV)

God loved us first. We must accept that:

I John 4:10-11 - In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (ESV)

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

The ones who love Jesus, keep His teachings:

John 14:23-24 - Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. (ESV)

The free grace is so that Jesus may bring us (through His Lordship) to God. It's so that we might come to obey God:

I Peter 3:17-21 - For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (ESV)

I wholeheartedly believe that Jesus Christ can bring us to God. I also believe that by obeying Jesus, He works through us. I also believe that God wants us to obey Him of our own volition.

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (ESV)

I John 5:2 - By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

I John 3:24 - Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

We must both believe the truth and be sanctified, and try to stop sinning (i.e. purify ourselves):

II Thessalonians 2:11-14 - Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sanctification:

I Thessalonians 5:23 - Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

I Timothy 6:3-11 - If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. (ESV)

II Peter 2:6 - if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;

I John 3:1-3 - See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (ESV)

I John 3:3-7 - And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. (ESV)

Jude 1:4-5 - For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

Sanctification:

I Thessalonians 5:23 - Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

We are forgiven that we might be brought to God:

Psalms 32:1 - Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (ESV)

Psalms 32:11 - Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (ESV)

If you believe in Him, trust Him, embrace Him, receive Him.

John Piper says, "If you believe, you are united with Him, and it's all yours."

Talk
youtube.com: 2 Peter 2 Destructive Doctrines- guidance from the Word

I'd rather be a doer than merely a hearer.

Matthew 7:16-20 - You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (ESV)

Correct Christology is important, but so is obeying Jesus' commandments.

Matthew 21:28-31 - “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went. The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.

We must keep ourselves in the love of God by obeying Jesus Christ's commandments, because we're awaiting to receive eternal life:

Jude 1:21 - keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (ESV)

Keeping Jesus Christ's commandments is a requirement to inherit eternal life, not an extra:

John 15:10 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (ESV)

Whoever truly believes Jesus trusts in and is obedient to Jesus. We must obey Jesus Christ, and that obedience means being a slave of righteousness, leading to sanctification, which leads to eternal life:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

17.7.5. God desired to give assurance to the heirs of the promise

God let Abraham know He would bless him because he was obedient to His voice and didn't withhold his son (Abraham's faith was tested to show that he agape loved God first before even his only son):

Genesis 22:15-18 - And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice. (ESV)

Hebrews 6:13-20 - For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, Surely I will bless you and multiply you. And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (ESV)

17.7.6. Yield to God

Submit to God's will:

James 4:7 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (ESV)

Proverbs 3:6 - In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (ESV)

Submit to Jesus' lordship:

Matthew 16:24 - Then Jesus told his disciples, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (ESV)

Sow your own life as an investment for Jesus' sake:

Matthew 16:25 - For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (ESV)

John 12:24-26 - Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (ESV)

St. Theophan the Recluse (1815-1894)
The goal of human freedom is not freedom itself… but in God… with the intention that man would voluntarily bring it as a sacrifice to God, a most pleasing offering. (St. Theophan’s “Path to Salvation” Topical Compendium, 169)
youtube.com: Nothing Can Separate Us from Christ's Love
You are so secure in Jesus that you are so bound to him that he has you so firmly that His promises are so precious and so glorious and your destiny in him is so firm and so fixed and so assured that you can actually give your life away - give it away for others.

Seek God:

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)

Accept God's plans:

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (ESV)

Psalms 23:3-4 - He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (ESV)

Desire to do the will of God, and allow God's word to teach you what that is:

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

Actually practice faith, and don't over-intellectualise God:

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (ESV)

We seek the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, not our own glory. We should aim not to speak on our own authority, but instead to speak the Truth from God:

John 7:18 - The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. (ESV)

For sure, I just want to speak the truth from God, and I want to be sanctified by the Truth, and I want to be corrected by the Truth:

Ephesians 4:15-19 - Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. (ESV)

Seeking God in truth and not seeking glory from one another is a good place to start in coming to believe. I guess that seeking the glory that comes from the only God involves seeking to glorify God:

John 5:44 - How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (ESV)

Come to Jesus:

John 5:39-44 - You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (ESV)

Yield to God. Let His will be done in us. If I do not fight against obedience to Jesus' commandments but are willing to do them then I am willing for God's will to be done in me. That is obedience:

Isaiah 45:9 - Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, What are you making? or Your work has no handles? (ESV)

Luke 14:33 - So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (ESV)

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)

17.7.7. Obey God and let Him save you

Fear of God or love for Him in obedience or thankfulness is work which comes out of belief. But faith works, even saving faith works. Saving faith especially requires obedience, I think. Faith without work doesn't exist I think because the work of God is to believe on who He has sent - Jesus.

Exodus 14:14-16 - The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.

17.7.8. The work of God is to trust in who He has sent, Jesus. God's work is God working, and us working in obedience to God

John 6:29 - Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent. (ESV)

God worked in this person's life:

Romans 14:18-21 - Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. (ESV)

17.7.9. Don't underestimate Jesus' saving power

Jesus' blood applied to us can sanctify us:

Hebrews 13:12 - So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. (ESV)

With Lazarus - Jesus performed the miracle so the people watching could believe and have faith. Jesus wept before he raise Lazarus from the dead, and many other people believed in Jesus and were saved, I assume.

John 11:41-42 - So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.

I Corinthians 13:13 - So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

John 11:35 - Jesus wept.

John 11:41-42 - So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.

And Jesus is able to save a person out of Jesus' own will, as he resurrected Lazarus.

Sermon
youtube.com: Where's the Arminian John Piper?

John 11:43 - When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”

Jesus is so generous that He saves even unthankful people, but we should definitely love Jesus as a response. This story should be taken to see how Good God is, but also taken as a warning against unthankfulness:

Luke 17:11-19 - On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. When he saw them he said to them, Go and show yourselves to the priests. And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? And he said to him, Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well. (ESV)

17.7.10. Justification and redemption are a total gift

Romans 3:21-26 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

II Corinthians 10:5-6 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (ESV)

Justification by works/obedience and justification by so-called 'faith alone' is, in my opinion, not a dichotomy, because all the good works we do as a consequence of being redeemed are a gift to us - us being in Him.

Faith is obedient, so faith alone (without any work on our part) is obedient faith alone and to say "justified by working faith" is also true if the work is ascribed to Jesus.

17.7.11. Just believe/obey Jesus to receive more faith and revelation and salvation

The account of Jesus itself when it's read, and Jesus' words, are enough to inspire faith. Therefore, faith comes by hearing the word of Christ.

Jesus calls persistent endurance a work. It's also required to keep our confidence:

Hebrews 10:35-36- Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Faith is like Peter stepping out on the water. Faith works. But I think sometimes to create faith someone just has to actually believe Jesus because Jesus performs the miracle / the work.

The LORD did something similar for the Israelites when He parted the Red Sea. The Israelites obeyed God, and their obedience led them to sure belief. The Israelites didn't "work for God" as they obeyed God to walk through the Red Sea. Walking in obedience is not the same as "working". The Israelites were an actual part of the miracle of going through the Red Sea. The miracle wasn't just the water splitting, the Israelites walking through it was also miraculous. By obeying God, God sent them through the Red Sea. Obedience, belief and trust are all important in faith.

Revelation comes as we do what God commands us:

John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (ESV)

And I feel like we just need to start obeying God and obeying Jesus in order to be saved. Obedience is steps of faith.

Exodus 14:14-16 - The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.

Exodus 14:21-30 - Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians. Then the Lord said to Moses, Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

Exodus 14:31 - When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed (H539 'aman) in the Lord and in His servant Moses.

 1: :  539  'aman
 2: 
 3:  a primitive root; properly, to build up or support; to foster
 4:  as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or
 5:  faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet;
 6:  morally to be true or certain; once ([[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2030%3A21&version=ESV][Isa. 30:21]];
 7:  interchangeable with 541) to go to the right hand:--hence,
 8:  assurance, believe, bring up, establish, + fail, be faithful
 9:  (of long continuance, stedfast, sure, surely, trusty,
10:  verified), nurse, (-ing father), (put), trust, turn to the
11:  right.
12:  see HEBREW for 0541

Exodus 15:2 - The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.

Justification and redemption are a total gift:

Romans 3:21-26 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

Justification by works/obedience and justification by so-called 'faith alone' is, in my opinion, not a dichotomy, because all the good works we do as a consequence of being redeemed are a gift to us - us being in Him.

Salvation is the gift, and faith implies an obedient heart. Works can be dead works when they're not done in faith. Faith is what justifies. But faith works. Faith requires obedience to God. Faithless works do not justify. The works here that Paul speaks of are the works of the person who has been saved. It's Jesus' work on the cross which has brought us salvation:

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved (G4982 sozo) through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works (G2041 ergon), so that no one may boast. (ESV)

1: :  4982  sozo  sode'-zo
2: 
3:  from a primary sos (contraction for obsolete saos, "safe"); to save,
4:  i.e. deliver or protect (literally or figuratively):--heal, preserve,
5:  save (self), do well, be (make) whole.
1: :  2041  ergon  er'-gon
2: 
3:  from a primary (but obsolete) ergo (to work); toil (as an effort or
4:  occupation); by implication, an act:--deed, doing, labour, work.

I believe it's Jesus' works primarily, and that obedience on our part is an inevitable consequence of our redemption which is a gift to us, so to say we are justified by works (and James refers to Rahab who is mentioned in Hebrews 11) is really to say justified by obedience, but obedience is just a heart attitude that is part of faith and any work done in obedience is nothing to boast about because it is God who gives us instruction to obey:

James 2:24 - You see that a person is justified (G1344 dikaioo) by works (G2041 ergon) and not by faith alone. (ESV)

1: :  1344  dikaioo  dik-ah-yo'-o
2: 
3:  from 1342; to render (i.e. show or regard as) just or innocent:--free,
4:  justify(-ier), be righteous.
5:  see GREEK for 1342
Read
https://www.hopefaithprayer.com/rahab-harlot-genealogy-christ/

Since it's faith in Him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord that matters for justification, those who trust and obey God out of obedient faith are justified:

Romans 4:23-25 - But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (ESV)

  1. The obedience of faith

    A person must be at least willing to do His will - obedience is at the essence of faith:

    John 7:17 - If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.

    I think Ephesians 2:8-9 when it says 'through faith' doesn't actually exclude obedience (obeying Jesus), because I think obedience is intrinsic to faith.

    Exodus 14:14-16 - The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.

    The Israelites didn't "work for God" as they obeyed God to walk through the Red Sea. Walking in obedience is not the same as "working".

    When it says "not a result of works", I believe it means something more like, "even if works were tied into the obedient faith, it's by grace". If a person's saving faith included works then that is fine.

    I Corinthians 4:7 - For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (ESV)

    Our works have been gifted to us by God's grace - works of deed and word:

    Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)

    We're supposed to do good works of faith by Jesus' power so that Jesus' name is glorified - and those works done in Jesus' power are entirely given by grace to us:

    II Thessalonians 1:11-12 - To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

    God chose us and called us out of darkness into His marvelous light to proclaim His excellencies:

    I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (ESV)

    Faith-in-God is hearing God's word and believing it, and even acting on it, or at least the readiness to act on it. A person may act on faith in their heart by arriving at conviction. But it has to be faith in the truth. Then, like Peter stepping out on the water, or like the woman at the well going in to town to tell people about Jesus, or turning from sinful things, it produces more obedience.

    Matthew 14:27-32 - But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid. And Peter answered him, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. He said, Come. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, Lord, save me. Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

    And there is an amount of faith, and true belief is all that's required to be saved, but Faith is so tightly linked to Obedience like Faith is linked to Hope. True belief is enough because it accepts what Jesus says, as a child believes. But I don't think this discounts that the same faith continues and increases through obedience.

    Some people never seem to arrive:

    II Timothy 3:6-9 - For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

    But the ones who do arrive actually follow the teaching:

    II Timothy 3:10-13 - You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

    A changed heart is essential to be saved, I think, because it must produce more obedience. The Apostle Paul drives home His point that we must continue to obey Christ:

    II Corinthians 10:5-6 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (ESV)

    Hebrews describes faith as the hope and conviction we need to draw near to God because we need to believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek him.

    Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

    Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

    The whole chapter of Hebrews 11 also describes many 'acts' of faith.

    I Corinthians 13:13 - So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

    1 Timothy 1:5 - The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (ESV)

18. Faith in God

youtube.com: Theology is for Everyone J I Packer @time: 43 min 14 sec
What's faith? Faith is trusting God's promises. Faith is trusting God's Son. Faith is trusting God himself as now our heavenly Father. Faith believes, faith trusts, faith turns in obedience to God, and faith lives touching the invisible, touching the realities of God from this time on as long as life lasts in this world.

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (ESV)

Matthew 21:21-22 - And Jesus answered them, Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea, it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. (ESV)

I think it's dangerous to stop there with describing faith because our faith should be built up trusting in God's Word, and corrected by God's Word.

18.1. Only with God are all things possible for one who believes. Our faith must be faith 'with God', and our faith should in accordance with His will

Romans 8:31 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (ESV)

With faith the impossible is possible, but not without God making it happen:

Matthew 17:20 - He said to them, Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. (ESV)

With God, the impossible is possible. I think this is saying that to be in accordance with God's will is an intrinsic quality of faith:

Mark 10:27 - Jesus looked at them and said, With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God. (ESV)

Matthew 19:26 - But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. (ESV)

Mark 9:23 - And Jesus said to him, If you can! All things are possible for one who believes. (ESV)

But our faith, as Christians, should be while willing God's will. We can ask God for things, but we should desire His will be done:

Mark 14:36 - And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will. (ESV)

18.1.1. We should have faith for what is according to His will

I John 5:14-15 - And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (ESV)

This guy supplicated to Jesus. Did he pray to Jesus? Maybe that's what Jesus meant by prayer:

Mark 9:23-29 - And Jesus said to him, If you can! All things are possible for one who believes. Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, I believe; help my unbelief! And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again. And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could we not cast it out? And he said to them, This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer. (ESV)

Also, one other interesting note is Jesus commanded the demon to come out and to never reenter again.

Also, when we pray, we will for God's will to be done:

Matthew 6:9-12 - Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (ESV)

18.2. Faith should be built up on trusting the Word of God

By Faith we believe the Word of God which says that Yahweh created the universe by His Word:

Hebrews 11:3 - By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (ESV)

Psalms 33:6 - By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. (ESV)

Believe God's prophets:

II Chronicles 20:20 - And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed. (ESV)

When we are living our lives trusting in God, believing that He exists and rewards those who seek Him, I feel like God builds our house, and our faith:

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)

Jesus is the Rock:

I Corinthians 10:4 - and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. (ESV)

Belief is important (and is an initial act of obedience):

Matthew 16:15-18 - He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (ESV)

Obedience is important:

Luke 6:46-49 - Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (ESV)

We believe the Lord Jesus is who He is, the Christ, the Son of the living God, and Jesus builds the house as we obey Him.

18.3. We should have minds that, by testing, we can discern the will of God, and act in faith according to God's will as far as we can discern

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

18.4. Faith that has been built up in God's will produces miracles

Mark 11:23 - Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. (ESV)

Matthew 17:20 - He said to them, Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. (ESV)

Matthew 21:21-22 - And Jesus answered them, Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea, it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. (ESV)

Luke 17:6 - And the Lord said, If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, Be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it would obey you. (ESV)

18.5. This man trusted Jesus' word and acted on it - He had faith in Jesus

The guy believed Jesus and acted on it:

John 4:48-50 - So Jesus said to him, Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe. The official said to him, Sir, come down before my child dies. Jesus said to him, Go; your son will live. The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. (ESV)

Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (ESV)

18.6. This man had faith to be made well. Paul the Apostle was also acting in faith

Acts 14:8-10 - Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, Stand upright on your feet. And he sprang up and began walking. (ESV)

18.7. Jesus, with compassion for the man, and faith in God, sternly commanded the unclean spirit to leave

Mark 9:19 - And he answered them, O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me. (ESV)

Mark 9:23 - And Jesus said to him, If you can! All things are possible for one who believes. (ESV)

Mark 9:22-25 - And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. And Jesus said to him, If you can! All things are possible for one who believes. Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, I believe; help my unbelief! And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again. (ESV)

18.8. healing / deliverance ministries

18.8.1. I feel like we should have compassion when we are serving others, even in healing / deliverance ministries

Matthew 15:32 - Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way. (ESV)

Jesus had genuine compassion while performing miracles, and He had reasons too:

  • Mt 9:36 - When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (ESV)
  • Mt 14:14 - When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. (ESV)
  • Mt 15:32 - Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way. (ESV)
  • Mk 6:34 - When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. (ESV)
  • Mk 8:2 - I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. (ESV)
  • Mk 9:22 - And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. (ESV)
  • Lk 7:13 - And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, Do not weep. (ESV)
youtube.com: God will use these moments, it wasn't for nothing @time: 2 min 52 sec
Why do we have to endure these things? Why do we have to go through difficult times? Well, because it gives you context and perspective for what other people are also dealing with. So in the gospels we read many times that Jesus had compassion on them and then he healed them. Jesus had compassion on them and then he healed them. Now through my journey in a wheelchair my eyes have been opened like never before, for because of the things that I go through I have compassion on other people that are also dealing with the same things. So when when I pray for someone that's in a wheelchair that has a spinal cold cord injury I know what they are going through because I have been through the same things.

Likewise, we should have compassion:

Lk 10:33 - But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. (ESV)

18.9. Deliverance

Faith in God is ultimately all you need, like Jesus.

18.9.1. A simple command should work, with faith

Mark 9:25 - And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again. (ESV)

Matthew 12:28 - But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (ESV)

Luke 10:19 - Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. (ESV)

Mark 1:39 - And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. (ESV)

18.9.2. We can and should use Jesus' name to cast out demons - There is power in the name of Jesus

Luke 10:17 - The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name! (ESV)

Luke 9:49-55 - John answered, Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us. But Jesus said to him, Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you. When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them? But he turned and rebuked them. (ESV)

Luke 10:17 - The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name! (ESV)

Acts 19:13-15 - Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, I adjure you by the Jesus, whom Paul proclaims. Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you? (ESV)

18.9.3. Christians can be afflicted by demons

This is a demon of harassment. I've also seemed to be afflicted with a demon of harassment (harassing dreams) and potentially others quite often during the last 2 years as I've become vocal about my testimony of Jesus and trying to follow Jesus. But I'll be getting some deliverance tonight. I command all unclean spirits to come out of me, stay away from me, to leave me and never return or enter me again in Jesus Christ's name:

II Corinthians 12:7 - So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. (ESV)

18.9.4. Deliverance on oneself (according to Derek Prince)

Try to meet these conditions:

  1. Be humble
  2. Be honest
  3. Confess faith in Christ
  4. Confess any known sin
  5. Repent of all sin
  6. Break with all occult, curses and secret societies
  7. Forgive others
  8. Expel - breathe out

Proverbs 28:13 - Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. (ESV)

18.9.5. Using Jesus' name with faith

The name of Jesus Christ, Messiah, used to cast out a demon from someone who was unwilling:

Acts 16:18 - And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour. (ESV)

18.9.6. Why some people are not delivered (according to Derek Prince)

For not meeting the conditions. It's not so much a test of your spiritual power. It's a test of whether or not you've met the conditions. When performing deliverance on others, don't focus on yourself. Focus on those people meeting the conditions. You may feel yourself a little midget, but you're representing a victorious Christ.

  1. Lack of repentance - There is no guarantee to anybody who is not willing to repent.
  2. Lack of desperation - Deliverance is for the desperate. Summed up in one word 'passivity.' And many times you've got to do something to prod the person who wants to be delivered. Christ has given us authority over human spirits but not over the human will. You cannot will for the other person. The person has to will for them self. I'm desperate.
  3. Wrong motives. We are not delivered in order to get off the hook. We're delivered to serve the LORD. James 4:3 - You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (ESV) youtube.com: How To Expel The Enemy | Basics Of Deliverance Pt. 2 | Derek Prince @time: 27 min 14 sec People who come to get off the hook do not qualify for deliverance.
  4. Self-centeredness. Desire for attention. Some people don't get delivered because they wouldn't be the center of attention anymore. Some of the chronic cases of deliverance never want to get delivered because they're poor, neglected, rejected people. This is the only time they get the center of the stage. One thing you're notice about all people who are focused by demons is that in some way or other they are self-centered. In fact, self-centeredness is an invitation to demon attention. Sometimes you just have to let the person go and say, "Listen, you've had enough. You can do it for yourself and if you don't do it for yourself, nobody else is going to do it for you."
    • We can do this for ourself.
  5. Failure to break with the occult. That includes getting rid of occult objects. Anything that savours a supersition is demonic. Moses said if you bring an accursed thing into your house you become accursed like it. Most Christians need to go through their homes and clean out a lot of rubbish. I make it a principle, I don't want to keep in my house anything that dishonours Jesus Christ or honours satan.
    • Deuteronomy 7:26 - And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house and become devoted to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is devoted to destruction. (ESV)
  6. Failure to sever evil soulish relationships. Sometimes you have to break some relationships; if they're evil, if they're binding, if they're gooey - a kind of sloppy sentimentality that isn't honest.
    • I rebuke in Jesus Christ's name that anti-relationship spirit which has been attacking my relationships which were everything to do with love and honesty and truth, and nothing to do with dishonest sloppy sentimentality.
  7. Under a curse. Will not be delivered or healed until the curse is broken.
    • Any curses against me shall be broken in Jesus Christ's name.
  8. Failure to confess a specific sin. Abortion has to be confessed as murder.
  9. Not "separated" by water baptism
    • People who are not water baptised (in Derek Princes' opinion) do not qualify to stay free.
  10. Part of a larger battle requiring corporate action. Some people are satan's battlefield (this is definitely me), and satan will not let them go because of what they are themselves but because of what they stand for. There are people for who the whole body has to take responsibility. I need prayer to break these chains.

18.9.7. How to keep your deliverance

  1. Make Jesus Lord in every area of my life.
  2. Garment of Praise.
    • Isaiah 61:3 - To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. (NASB)
    • youtube.com: Mighty to Save - Hillsong Worship
  3. Put on the full Armour of God
  4. Live by God's Word.
    • Matthew 4:4 - But he answered, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (ESV)
  5. Submit to God and resist satan.
    • James 4:7 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (ESV)
  6. Right fellowship. Our fellowship is an acid test of where we are at in our spiritual life
  7. Come under discipline.
    • I Samuel 15:23 - For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king. (ESV)
    • Rebellion is as divination/witchcraft. Most Christians indulge their moods and their whims and their fancies. We are not free to do that. It's just as dangerous to do that as it is to indulge your sexual impulses. You are not free to do it.
  8. Make Jesus central.
    • When satan is cast out, we need to fill the vacuum with Jesus. Focus on Jesus.
    • John 12:31-32 - Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. (ESV)

18.9.8. Prayer by Derek Prince

youtube.com: How To Expel The Enemy | Basics Of Deliverance Pt. 2 | Derek Prince @time: 48 min 48 sec
I'm going to lead you in a prayer in which you're going to have the opportunity to humble yourself, to come to Jesus and to affirm that you've met the conditions. I'll put in your mouth the words. You'll renounce the occult and every kind of contact with satanic power. You'll forgive every other person who ever harmed you or wronged you. You'll release yourself from every curse and you'll have to do that in faith without the understanding. And then you'll present yourself as a candidate for deliverance. And when you've said the prayer and met all the conditions. The last thing you'll say is Amen. And when you've said Amen, don't do any more praying. It's very religious to pray. Sounds good, but as long as you are praying, you're keeping the demons inside. They can't get out past your prayer. Don't speak in tongues. Speaking in tongues is wonderful, but it has the same effect, it keeps the demons inside. It's like when the ambulance or the police car goes down the road with its sirens blaring and its lights flashing. Everything else gets off to the side and lets it go past. That's how demons get out. Make way for them. Release them. Let them go out. Faith without works is dead. So don't stand there passive when you've said the prayer, waiting for something to happen. Do one very simple thing. Begin to breathe out. Expel. And you'll find if you have a problem, in a short while it will be more than mere human breath that is coming out. That's what you're after. Now when that happens, you might become undignified. You might not act in a very religious way. If you decide to be dignified and religious, you'll lose what you prayed for. It's your option. I suggest you turn loose and get it out. I've told people the devil is no gentleman. He comes in uninvited and he usually has to be kicked out. Kick him out with everything you've got. Don't spare him. Hate him. Listen, it's no sin to hate the devil. It's a sin not to hate the devil. To be passive and indifferent is sinful.
  1: Now we are praying to Jesus the deliverer.
  2: And I would like you to say these words;
  3: They're all taken out of the Bible
  4: and what I have taught.
  5: 
  6:     Lord Jesus Christ...
  7:     I believe that you are the Son of God
  8:     and the only way to God.
  9:     That You died on the cross for my sins,
 10:     and rose again from the dead.
 11:     I come to You now for mercy
 12:     and for forgiveness.
 13:     I believe You do forgive me
 14:     and receive me as Your child.
 15:     And because You receive me...
 16:     I receive myself as a child of God.
 17:     And now Lord, You know the
 18:     special problem that I have.
 19:     The demonic influences that torment me.
 20:     Lord, I want to meet Your conditions
 21:     and receive Your deliverance.
 22:     First of all,
 23:     I forgive every other person
 24:     who ever harmed me or wronged me.
 25:     I forgive them all now.
 26:     Pause for a moment and quietly
 27:     name the persons you need to forgive.
 28:     We're going on. Lord,
 29:     I have forgiven all these persons.
 30:     I have laid down all bitterness...
 31:     all resentment, all hatred...
 32:     and all rebellion.
 33:     And I believe You've forgiven me.
 34:     I thank You for it.
 35:     I also renounce
 36:     every contact with Satan...
 37:     with occult powers,
 38:     with secret societies...
 39:     with anything in Satan's territory.
 40:     I repent of being on that territory...
 41:     and I turn my back on it now.
 42:     Also Lord, if there's
 43:     a curse over my life...
 44:     I thank You that on the cross...
 45:     You were made a curse...
 46:     that I might be
 47:     redeemed from the curse...
 48:     and receive the blessing.
 49:     And I claim that now.
 50:     Release from the curse
 51:     and entering into the blessing.
 52:     And now Lord, I want to come against...
 53:     any evil spirit in me...
 54:     that occupies any
 55:     area of my personality.
 56:     I want to tell You I hate them.
 57:     They are my enemies.
 58:     I will not make peace with them.
 59:     I will not compromise with them.
 60:     They will have no more place in me.
 61:     I turn against them now...
 62:     and in the authority
 63:     of Your name, Jesus...
 64:     I command them to leave me.
 65:     I expel them right now
 66:     in the name of Jesus.
 67:     Amen.
 68: 
 69: No more praying. I'll do the final
 70: prayer, you do the letting go.
 71: Begin to expel right now in faith.
 72: 
 73:     Now Lord, as your servant and
 74:     representative, under the authority
 75:     of the local leadership I take dominion
 76:     in Jesus' name over every evil spirit
 77:     that has been renounced and I
 78:     command them to go in Jesus' name.
 79:     Release these people
 80:     and go from them now
 81:     in the mighty, all-prevailing
 82:     name of Jesus Christ.
 83:     I affirm that Jesus Christ
 84:     is Lord over this gathering.
 85:     That He has defeated Satan. That He
 86:     holds the keys of death and of Hades.
 87:     That all authority has been given
 88:     unto Him in heaven and in earth.
 89:     Satan, you are subject to us through the
 90:     name of Jesus. You have to obey us.
 91:     You have to go from these people.
 92:     You have no options.
 93:     The Bible says you must leave,
 94:     and leave you must, Satan.
 95:     In the name of Jesus. Amen.
 96: 
 97: Now just get a full deliverance.
 98: Release yourself from everything.
 99: Once the anointing is here
100: you can get rid of everything
101: and it's much more difficult
102: to do it when the anointing lifts.
103: That's right,
104: don't bother about other people.
105: Don't hold onto your dignity,
106: it'll come back in a few moments.
107: That's right. Thank You, Lord.
108: Thank You, Father.
109: Thank You, Lord Jesus.
110: Praise Your holy name.
111: Praise Your name, Lord.

18.10. Deliverance/exorcism

Typically, one person casts out the demon from another person. But we can also perform the exorcism on ourself. But we should have the following conditions met.

Conditions:

  1. Be humble
  2. Be honest
  3. Confess faith in Christ
  4. Confess any known sin
  5. Repent of all sin
  6. Break with all occult, curses and secret societies
  7. Forgive others
  8. Expel - breathe out

18.10.1. Good songs for getting rid of demons (speak the lyrics in your head or out loud, especially say them in your heart)

The Biblical basis for this:

Proverbs 4:23 - Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. (ESV)

Proverbs 23:7 - For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you. (NASB)

This morning (<2024-09-14 Sat>) I had this running through my head during my sleep and as I was waking up - I love it when God does that. I feel much cleaner today. This morning <2024-09-18 Wed> (4 days later) I was hit with some spiritual attack (including strange dreams) so I purposefully stayed up singing this song in my heart and mind and as I did, trying to 'will from the heart' to desire to do God's will and I was able to beat the spiritual attack back this morning :):

youtube.com: PURIFY MY HEART | Praise & Worship Song lyric video

Purify my heart. Let me be as gold and precious silver. Purify my heart. Let me be as gold, pure gold.

Refiner's fire, My heart's one desire is to be holy, set apart for You, Lord. I choose to be holy, set apart for You, my Master, ready to do Your will

When I come under spiritual attack, I think through the lyrics to these songs in my mind and believe them, and this seems to make the attack stop:

I also put on a piece of paper over my body like this:

1: Heavenly Father,
2: deliver me please and ... please in Jesus Christ's name I ask,
3: AMEN!!
4: Deliver me from these harassing spirits in Jesus Christ's name I ask. AMEN!!
5: 
6: I rebuke those harassing spirits in Jesus Christ's name.
7: I rebuke the spirits of ... and ... in Jesus Chrits's name.

18.10.2. We can rebuke the devil with Jesus' authority

youtube.com: Should We Ever Speak Directly to the Devil?

Mark 1:25 we know that Jesus had authority over demons and that he spoke to them like, "Be silent and come out of him." And we know that he gave this authority to his disciples in Mark 6:7. He gave them authority over the unclean spirits and we know that when the 72 disciples returned, not just the 12, but the 72 disciples returned to report about their ministry, they said, "Even the demons are subject to us in your name." The words "in your name" mean that that's how they cast out the demons. Jesus cast them out in his own authority, the disciples cast them out in the name of Jesus. "Get out in the name of Jesus" is probably what they said.

Acts 16:18 - And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour. (ESV)

So when 1 Peter 5:9 and James 4:7 say that we should resist the devil, I think those commands in I Peter and James include those times when the demonic assault on you or your loved one is so plain and so blatant that you should say something like, "No, no in the name of Jesus leave me alone." Or, "Leave my child alone in the name of Jesus. Be gone Satan, get out of this house."

Then we turn to Christ. Oh yes, we we turn to Christ. This is the step that's probably neglected. At that moment we turn to Christ, we turn to the promise of Jesus: "I'll never leave you, I'll never forsake you. I'll always be with you. I bought you. You're mine. No one can snatch you out of my hand. I will help you. I'll be your Shield."

Mark 1:25 - But Jesus rebuked him, saying, Be silent, and come out of him! (ESV)

Example
youtube.com: Deliverance from the Kundalini spirit

18.10.3. Demons are not rare

Mark 1:39 - And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. (ESV)

18.10.4. Demons consider a persons' body their home

  • Sinful thoughts/behaviour attracts demons.

Matthew 12:43-45 - When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, I will return to my house from which I came. And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation. (ESV)

18.10.5. Renounce the ungodliness

Titus 2:11-14 - For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (ESV)

18.10.6. This demon came out within the hour

It's often not instantaneous.

Acts 16:18 - And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour. (ESV)

18.10.7. This demon was resistant

After already commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man, the unclean spirit resisted and then Jesus asked the demon its name.

Luke 8:27-30 - When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me. For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, What is your name? And he said, Legion, for many demons had entered him. (ESV)

Jesus was saying to the man, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" The demon then responded. Then Jesus asked the demon its name.

Mark 5:7-13 - And crying out with a loud voice, he said, What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me. For he was saying to him, Come out of the man, you unclean spirit! And Jesus asked him, What is your name? He replied, My name is Legion, for we are many. And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, Send us to the pigs; let us enter them. So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea. (ESV)

18.10.8. All believers can cast out demons

Mark 16:17 - And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; (ESV)

Luke 10:19 - Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. (ESV)

18.10.9. We must be spiritually-minded, not earthly-minded

I Corinthians 2:14 - The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (ESV)

II Corinthians 5:16 - From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. (ESV)

James 2:26 - For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (ESV)

18.10.10. Exorcism prayer by Derek Prince

Jesus' sacrifice outside Jerusalem is so that we might be sanctified through His own blood and come into Jerusalem. I still think that there's nothing wrong with bearing the reproach Jesus endured - in fact it's encouraged. I think we bear His reproach in order to be sanctified and then call Jerusalem our home:

Hebrews 13:12-14 - So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. (ESV)

Galatians 4:25-26 - Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. (ESV)

Galatians 4:27 - For it is written, Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband. (ESV)

Galatians 4:28-31 - Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman. So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. (ESV)

 1: You are going to affirm your faith in Christ.
 2: He is the High Priest of your confession.
 3: 
 4: Say this: "Lord Jesus Christ, I believe You
 5: are the Son of God and the only way to God,
 6: that You died on the cross for my sins and
 7: rose again that I might be forgiven and
 8: receive eternal life."
 9: 
10: Now we're going to deal with humbling
11: ourselves.
12: 
13: "I renounce all pride and religious self-
14: righteousness, and any dignity that does not
15: come from You. I have no claim on Your mercy
16: except that You died in my place."
17: 
18: Now we come to confessing sin.
19: 
20: "I confess all my sins before You, and hold
21: nothing back. Especially I confess: ..."
22: 
23: And now name any particular sins that which
24: the Holy Spirit has convicted you.
25: 
26: Now we're going to continue with repentance.
27: 
28: "I repent of all my sins. I turn away from
29: them and I turn to You LORD, for mercy and
30: forgiveness."
31: 
32: Now we're going to deal with forgiving other people.
33: 
34: "By a decision of my will I freely forgive all
35: who have ever harmed me or wronged me. I lay
36: down all bitterness, all resentment and all
37: hatred. Specifically I forgive: ..."
38: 
39: And now say [under your breath] the names of
40: people you really need to forgive. The longer
41: you make this list, the better prospect you
42: have of deliverance. Specifically say, "I forgive...".
43: It's not difficult to forgive the person far
44: from you, but the people close to you can be
45: difficult.
46: 
47: Then we deal with the occult.
48: 
49: "I sever all contact I have had with the
50: occult or with all false religion,
51: particularly:"
52: 
53: Now you need to name the things and if you
54: have been in freemasonry or family, specially
55: name freemasonry.
56: 
57: "I commit myself to get rid of all objects
58: associated with the occult or false religion."
59: 
60: Now we're going to deal with any curses that may be over your life.
61: 
62: "Lord Jesus I thank You that on the cross You
63: were made a curse that I might be redeemed
64: from every curse and inherit God's blessing.
65: On that basis I ask You to release me and set
66: me free to receive the deliverance I need,
67: now."
68: 
69: "I take my stand with You Lord against all
70: satan's demons. I submit to You, Lord, and I
71: resist the devil. AMEN!!"
72: 
73: Now we come to the point where you expel.
74: 
75: "Now I speak to any demons that have control over me."
76: 
77: Now you speak to them directly.
78: 
79: "I command you to go from me now in the name
80: of Jesus. I expel you. Come out in the name of
81: Jesus."
82: 
83: Let them go.
84: 
85: Derek Prince said, "Every evil spirit that is
86: in these people I command you to go from them
87: now."
88: 
89: Now expel it. Exhale, cough it out.

18.11. Faith requires obedience - i.e. acting in faith / living by faith

Luke 8:21 - But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

  • The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Jesus.
  • The Holy Spirit is given to those who have faith in Jesus.

You can't have faith without obedience.

Song
Keith Green - To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice (live)

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

Galatians 3:14 - so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (ESV)

We need well-grounded (faith in Jesus), well-placed (on the right stuff) agape love for God, those in Christ, our spouse, and even called to agape love all people with agape love, but not agape-ing the world or the world's lusts:

I Corinthians 13:2 - And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love (26. agapé - treasuring, valuing love), I am nothing. (ESV)

Our hope should not be on our own lustful or idolatrous desires, but our hope should be on God's promises:

Proverbs 4:23 - Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. (ESV)

We should hold the promises of God in our heart:

Mark 7:18-19 - And he said to them, Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled? (Thus he declared all foods clean.) (ESV)

Acts 28:27 - For the heart of this people has become dull, And with their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes; Otherwise they might see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.”’

Actually, our faith and hope and heart's desire and our walking in faith should really be in line with God's will, and God's plan:

Matthew 6:9-12 - Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (ESV)

 1: Faith-in-God = Hope-from/in-God * Work/Love/Walking-By-Faith
 2: 
 3: Hope-from/in-God = Belief(believing God) * Truth(God's word is Truth, Jesus is the Truth)
 4: 
 5: Work/Love/Walking-By-Faith = Obedience * Faithfulness * Fear-of-God * Response-of-love-to-Jesus * Patient-Endurance(time)
 6: 
 7: Obedience = Submitting to the Righteousness of God * Turning from sin, loving, showing mercy, etc.
 8: 
 9: Fear-of-God = e.g. The poor in spirit recognise their need of God's mercy and tremble at His Word: "beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner!"
10:               Fear of God is not only about having the heart to repent from sin and "beat hand on chest and ask God for mercy", but it is also having a changed heart,
11:               endeavoring to please Christ with our actions.
12:               godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret
13: 
14: Response-of-love-to-Jesus = e.g. praise, thankfulness, obeying His commandments
15: 
16: L ∝ f
17: Love is proportional-to the baggage which has been forgiven
18: Love ∝ forgiven-baggage
19: 
20: Obedience ∝ Love
21: 
22: F = H * L
23: Faith = Hope * Love
24: 
25: Faith-in-God when tested by God is found to be true Faith in God.
26: Faith-in-God must submit to the Righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ,
27: Jesus Christ having paid the price of sin, enabling a relationship with God.

I Corinthians 13:1-8 - If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 1:3 - remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

As the LORD's works are done in faithfulness, our work should be done in faithfulness towards God. Everything we do should be done in faithfulness to Him:

Psalms 33:4 - For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. (ESV)

Matthew 24:12-13 - And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (ESV)

Even after arriving at the true knowledge through obedience, faith is further supplemented/nourished/aided by virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love:

II Peter 1:3-7 - His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. (ESV)

The true knowledge of Jesus grants us everything pertaining to life and godliness, allowing us to partake in the divine nature. We should then reinforce the divine nature with such things:

II Peter 1:3-4 - seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. (NASB)

Because, having arrived at the true knowledge of Jesus, we are partakers of the divine nature, in order to be fruitful we should supply to our faith those qualities:

II Peter 1:8 - For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge (G1922 epignosis) of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1: :  1922  epignosis  ep-ig'-no-sis
2: 
3:  from 1921; recognition, i.e. (by implication) full discernment,
4:  acknowledgement:--(ac-)knowledge(-ing, - ment).
5:  see GREEK for 1921

18.11.1. Work/Love/Walking-By-Faith

II John 1:5-6 - And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. (ESV)

We must love in the same way Jesus has loved us - sacrificially, obedient to God - showing God's truthfulness, serving others:

John 15:12 - This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (ESV)

Matthew 19:17 And he said to him, Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.

John 14:15-21 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

Matthew 22:37-40 - And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

Mark 10:19 - You know the commandments: Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother. (ESV)

Mark 12:28 - And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, Which commandment is the most important of all? (ESV)

Mark 12:31 - The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. (ESV)

Luke 1:6 - And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. (ESV)

Jesus' commandments are consistent with the rest of God's commandments:

John 12:49-50 - For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me. (ESV)

John 13:34 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (ESV)

John 14:15 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (ESV)

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

John 15:10 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (ESV)

John 15:12 - This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (ESV)

18.11.2. Fear-of-God

Romans 4:5-8 - And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.

AMEN!! But this doesn't mean the other elements of working faith can't play a part.

Without love, faith is dead:

I Corinthians 13:1 - If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

John 6:28-29 - Then they said to him, What must we do, to be doing the works of God? Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe (G4100 pisteuo) in him whom he has sent. (ESV)

pisteuo is obedient faith as it is the verb for faith (pistis).

James 2:22-26 - You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness-and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (ESV)

Without faith, work is dead. Whatever actions we make outside of faith is sin:

Romans 14:23 - But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

But the work of God is to believe in whom He has sent. So even believing in Jesus is work that is done in faith:

John 6:28-29 - Then they said to him, What must we do, to be doing the works of God? Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe (G4100 pisteuo) in him whom he has sent. (ESV)

18.11.3. Faith vector illustration

Deeds, love, faith, service and perseverance are not mutually exclusive. They're all important to God and overlap:

Revelation of John 2:19 - ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.

He loved us first, and that is why and how we love (knowing we've already received mercy). Christ's love is not simply charity but a) it's passing-forward Christ's love, and b) it's to relieve other's burdens (mercy, not sacrifice):

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

Acts 2:45 - And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. (ESV)

Revelation of John 2:4 - But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. (NASB)

There is a relation here:

I Corinthians 13:7 - Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Timothy 1:5 - The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (ESV)

I Corinthians 13:13 - So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Belief and action are like a vector.

 1: 
 2:        Faith plane                 __
 3:        Serving God plane            /|
 4:                                    /                       From past
 5:                                   /                          baggage          o     _
 6: An obedient    __     agapé    __/       agapé             persecuting       /       /|
 7: and believing   /| 1x Love      /|    2x Love               Jesus           /       /
 8: heart          /               /                           to receiving    /   →   /
 9:   _           /               /                             forgiveness   /       /
10:   /|         /               /                             and loving   |/_      /
11:  o          o               o                                Jesus              o
12: 
13: --------------------------------------------+-------------+----------------------------
14:                                             |  Dead faith |    Impossible to be
15:       Faithless plane                       |             |     simultaneously
16:       Serving yourself plane                |      o      |   agapé-ing,
17:       Justifying yourself plane             |             |   yoked to God  _
18:            __                               | disobedient |  (led by)       /|
19:             /| Dead works                   +-------------+                /
20:            /                                              |    while      o
21:           /                                               |              /
22:          /            These are entirely worthless        |            |/_
23:         x                                                 |  (led by) agapé-ing,
24:                                                           |   yoked to money

Faith has 'substance/magnitude' and may be described as a vector:

  • The origin of hope/belief is represented by the point.
    • On the Faith plane, positive magnitude comes from trust in God
  • Hope-from/in-God is the direction.
  • Work/Love/Walking-By-Faith/Obedience is the magnitude.

I want to be clear, having faith in Jesus Christ is not dead faith. Dead faith is precisely not having faith in Jesus Christ.

An obedient heart is required for it to not be 'dead faith'.

John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

Faith in the wrong thing:

  • On the Faithless plane, positive magnitude comes from trust in something else, i.e. money or self

It's God who tests the faith, and God who justifies:

II Corinthians 10:18 - For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (ESV)

That's why I don't like making an assertion on the exact way that God justifies, because God is the justifier.

Galatians 5:5 - For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

Galatians 5:18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

We must be doing the will of God to not be under the law:

Psalms 143:10 - Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! (ESV)

John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

John 8:12 - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Righteousness is the free gift to be received through obedience:

Romans 5:17 - If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Jesus made the Way - He is the Way:

Romans 5:18-19 - Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

The Way is available to walk for everyone who is obedient.

Doing the will of Father God:

  • obedience to Jesus leads to righteousness - obedience/faith to receive the gift, even of the Spirit
    • led by the Spirit, obeying Jesus' words
      • being led by the Spirit and obeying Jesus' words are in alignment and do not contradict
  • slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification
    • at its end, eternal life
  • sanctification leading to eternal life
    • sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth
    • knowledge of the truth
    • justification

Romans 6:13-23 - Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed*, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The love of the truth must be received and accepted to be saved:

II Thessalonians 2:10 - and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. (NASB)

People will trust in what is false:

II Thessalonians 2:11 - For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe (G4100 pisteuo) what is false (G5579 pseudos), (NASB)

Those people who did not have faith in the truth but took took pleasure in unrighteousness may be condemned:

II Thessalonians 2:12 - in order that all may be condemned who did not believe (G4100 pisteuo) the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

But God chose some to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth:

II Thessalonians 2:13 - But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

Jesus called us to sanctified (i.e. repent from sin, and live to God). We seek the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Interestingly, we don't seek our own glory, but Paul says that God chose us to be sanctified by the Spirit and belief in the truth:

II Thessalonians 2:14 - To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1: 1519 [e] 3739 [e]   2532 [e] 2564 [e]  4771 [e]
2: eis      ho         kai      ekalesen  hymas
3: εἰς      ὃ          καὶ      ἐκάλεσεν  ὑμᾶς  ,
4: to       this       also     He called you
5: Prep     RelPro-ANS Conj     V-AIA-3S  PPro-A2P
1: 1223 [e] 3588 [e] 2098 [e]   1473 [e] 1519 [e] 4047 [e]
2: dia      tou      euangeliou hēmōn    eis      peripoiēsin
3: διὰ      τοῦ      εὐαγγελίου ἡμῶν  ,  εἰς      περιποίησιν
4: through  the      gospel     of us    to       [the] obtaining
5: Prep     Art-GNS  N-GNS      PPro-G1P Prep     N-AFS

of [the] glory of the Lord of us Jesus Christ:

1: 1391 [e]       3588 [e] 2962 [e] 1473 [e] 2424 [e] 5547 [e]
2: doxēs          tou      Kyriou   hēmōn    Iēsou    Christou
3: δόξης          τοῦ      Κυρίου   ἡμῶν     Ἰησοῦ    Χριστοῦ  .
4: of [the] glory of the   Lord     of us    Jesus    Christ
5: N-GFS          Art-GMS  N-GMS    PPro-G1P N-GMS    N-GMS

We seek the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, not our own glory. We should aim not to speak on our own authority, but instead to speak the Truth from God:

John 7:18 - The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. (ESV)

For sure, I just want to speak the truth from God, and I want to be sanctified by the Truth, and I want to be corrected by the Truth:

Ephesians 4:15-19 - Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. (ESV)

Seeking God in truth and not seeking glory from one another is a good place to start in coming to believe. I guess that seeking the glory that comes from the only God involves seeking to glorify God:

John 5:44 - How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (ESV)

We live by the Spirit:

Ephesians 2:18 - For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

We are made alive by the Spirit so we should walk by the Spirit:

Galatians 5:25 - If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

If we walk by the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh:

Galatians 5:16 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

There are sinning people that alienate themselves from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart:

Ephesians 4:18-29 - They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

But having been taught in Jesus, the truth which is in Jesus, to put off the old self and to be renewed in the spirit our our mind, and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness:

Ephesians 4:21-24 - assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Speak the truth and do not sin:

Ephesians 4:25-28 - Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (ESV)

https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/truth-for-life/listen/do-not-give-the-devil-a-foothold-part-1-of-2-1176740.html

Ephesians 1:17 - that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

The outcome of being set free from sin and becoming a slave to God is receiving the gift of eternal life:

Romans 8:33 - Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. (ESV)

Romans 6:22-23 - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (BSB)

Salvation is forever. Once saved, always saved. Once received eternal life, it's forever
youtube.com: John MacArthur - How do I know if I'm really saved?

Hebrews 7:1-25 - For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, You are a priest forever. This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost (3838. pantelés - all complete, entire) those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (ESV)

youtube.com: John Piper - Saved Forever @time: 17 min 16 sec
I am saved today and will be saved tomorrow and all eternity because Hebrews 7:25 C says He always lives to pray for me.

A person must do the will of Father God (not their own will); They must be obedient. Faith and obedience are inseparable.

To be fruitful, a person must be further obedient after arriving at the knowledge of the truth and supplement their faith with Christian virtues:

II Peter 1:8 - For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge (G1922 epignosis) of our Lord Jesus Christ.

19. Jesus has immortality and gives eternal life, but we must come to Him in obedience, and follow Him, to receive it

John 5:39-44 - You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (ESV)

We must take hold of the eternal life to which we are called. We made the confession to eternal life, and we must now fight the good fight of the faith, until after being slaves to righteousness, obeying Jesus, we are sanctified and receive eternal life.

Hebrews 3:13-14 - But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. (ESV)

I Timothy 6:11-16 - But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

Matthew 7:21-23 - Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. (ESV)

So those people doing works in Jesus' name were still disobedient, similar to the following example:

Leviticus 10:1-2 - Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.

John 11:41-42 - So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.

The works have to be the will of Father God. Initially, and ongoing, this is believing in Him whom He has sent. It's believing in Jesus, and continuing to believe in Jesus, putting your trust in Jesus, having faith in Jesus, obeying Jesus and submitting to the righteousness of God.

John 6:29 - Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent. (ESV)

Being a servant of Christ from the heart is doing the will of God.

Ephesians 6:6 - not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

Repenting from sin is doing the will of God.

I Thessalonians 4:3 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

Doing good is doing the will of God.

I Peter 2:15 - For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Doing the will of God, a person will have eternal life.

I John 2:17 - And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

Surely, the Bible teaches that all of these together are the will of God, and not simply one of them without the others.

19.1. Do not doubt, and believe that you have received it, even acting in a way in which it is already received

James 1:1-5 - James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

The one who does not doubt is unwavering and is not tossed around by the sea. Therefore, it's an ongoing thing.

James 1:6 - But he must ask in faith (G4102 pistis) without any doubting (G1252 diakrino), for the one who doubts (G1252 diakrino) is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. (NASB)

But for our prayer requests to be answered this way, we must be keeping His commandments and do what pleases Him:

I John 3:21-24 - Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

Proverbs 14:26 - In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. (ESV)

Faith begins and continues:

  • be walking in obedience
  • no doubting
  • no wavering
  • no withdrawing
  • no hesitating

Mark 11:22-23 - And Jesus answered them, Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

Walk in what you have asked for in prayer:

Mark 11:24 - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

It's important to forgive others in order to move forward, because unforgiveness I think may inhibit moving into what you have asked for in prayer:

Mark 11:25 - And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (ESV)

We must receive Jesus' words, walk in them and come to know in truth (we must truly know) that Jesus came from God.

John 17:8 - For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

Therefore, we should obey Jesus and arrive at the truth. Obedience is a part of faith. Like Abraham obeying God, or like Israel crossing through the Red Sea, it's obedience which leads to sure belief. And the obedience doesn't end.

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (NASB)

19.2. We work as servants of God, and the foundation of our work must be Jesus Christ

I Corinthians 3:9-15 - For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

19.2.1. For Christ

I Corinthians 4:9-10 - For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.

19.3. Love

  • Love without God's grace is not God's love
    • It's sacrificial
      • Not what we give, but how we give
      • The condition of the heart is what God will judge
    • It's cheerful obedience to God, cheerful obedience to Jesus
    • It's what happens when faith is working

19.3.1. Love is doing what Jesus has said for us to do. Love is following the commandments

II John 1:5-6 - And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. (ESV)

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (ESV)

19.3.2. Almsgiving is a great practice - God really loves a cheerful giver

Acts 10:2 - a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

II Corinthians 9:7 - Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

19.3.3. The person who loves their brother abides in light

1 John 2:10 - Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. (ESV)

19.4. Justifying faith should result in going from it being impossible to obey God to possible

All things are possible for God. Without God we can't have eternal life, because we need a relationship with Jesus.

We need to be able to fulfill the requirement of the law, to love God and one's neighbour and at the same time submit to the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ and to do the will of Father God in order to have eternal life. It's impossible without God's help.

19.4.1. Faith submits to God's will

Mark 14:36 - And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.

Learning God's will through submission to God's Word.

Ephesians 5:24 - Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

James 4:7 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

All things are possible for those who have faith.

Mark 9:22-27 - It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes (G4100 pisteuo).” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up.

Matthew 17:20 - He said to them, Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.

Matthew 19:26 - But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Mark 10:27 - Jesus looked at them and said, With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.

Luke 1:37 - For nothing will be impossible with God.

Luke 18:27 - But he said, What is impossible with men is possible with God.

It's impossible to please God without faith, but with faith all things are possible.

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

19.4.2. The Mosaic law doesn't help people to keep the law. It doesn't save - it only condemns or justifies. Only grace through faith in God who raised Jesus from the dead saves

The law doesn't save:

Galatians 3:21-24 - Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. (ESV)

The law doesn't save:

Hebrews 7:19 - (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. (ESV)

Paul seems to refer to the Mosaic law as the ministry of death, and Paul refers to the ministry of the Spirit of Christ as giving life:

II Corinthians 3:6-9 - who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. (ESV)

Jesus Christ was and is sinless:

I Peter 2:22 - He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. (ESV)

Jesus was sinless, and it is because Jesus was sinless that we have hope of an eternity in heaven. If Jesus were not sinless, there would be no sacrifice for sin.

And we are also cleaned up through faith in Jesus, being led by His Spirit, following His commandments, helping us to meet the requirement of the law, not by trying to be justified through perfect Mosaic law-keeping but instead by having faith in Jesus Christ, following Christ's law:

Acts 13:38-39 - Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through (G1223 dia) Him forgiveness (G859 aphesis) of sins is proclaimed to you, and through (G1722 en) Him everyone who believes (G4100 pisteuo) is freed (G1344 dikaioo) from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. (NASB)

Due to Jesus, forgiveness is proclaimed:

1: :  1223  dia  dee-ah'
2: 
3:  a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very
4:  wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always,
5:  among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ...
6:  fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that,
7:  thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with
8:  (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.

Forgiveness: Pardon, freedom.

1: :  859  aphesis  af'-es-is
2: 
3:  from 863; freedom; (figuratively) pardon:--deliverance, forgiveness,
4:  liberty, remission.
5:  see GREEK for 863

Together with him, everyone who has faith (continues in faith) in him is freed from all things from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses:

 1: :  1722  en  en
 2: 
 3:  a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or
 4:  state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or
 5:  constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519
 6:  and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, +
 7:  almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+
 8:  all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to,
 9:  -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly,
10:  one, X quickly,
11:  X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on),
12:  through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while,
13:  with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same
14:  import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate
15:  direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different)
16:  preposition.

Faith is how we receive the propitiation by His blood. God justifies the one who has (continues having) faith in Jesus. The law of faith is what we keep:

Romans 3:20-27 - For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.

Yes, the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do something i.e. walk according to the spirit.

Romans 8:4 - in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

The mind set on the spirit submits to the law:

Romans 8:5-7 - For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

See, Jesus actually taught people to practice, but without hypocrisy:

Matthew 23:2-7 - The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. (ESV)

Polycarp 6:3
Let us therefore so serve Him with fear and all reverence, as He himself gave commandment and the Apostles who preached the Gospel to us and the prophets who proclaimed beforehand the coming of our Lord; being zealous as touching that which is good, abstaining from offenses and from the false brethren and from them that bear the name of the Lord in hypocrisy, who lead foolish men astray.

The law is not of the flesh. The law is spiritual:

Romans 7:14 - For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. (ESV)

But the Spirit helps us to put to death the deeds of the flesh.

Galatians 5:19 - Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

Romans 8:10-13 - But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

If I understand correctly, the Law, which is spiritual, was weakened by our flesh, but Jesus Christ's flesh was rent on the cross in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who don't walk according to the flesh, but who walk according to the Spirit:

Romans 8:3-4 - For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (ESV)

Paul says that pursuing the righteousness that is by Mosaic law, is placing confidence in the flesh:

Philippians 3:4-7 - though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. (ESV)

But to put confidence in the Spirit is to not to abandon obedience, but to seek instead to know Christ Jesus, our Lord, with obedient faith to Jesus:

Philippians 3:8-11 - Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (ESV)

So we still must/should stop sinning after getting born-again, but the Holy Spirit helps us to do that. God saves us from sin by giving us immediate justification through faith to be in relationship with Him, plus the strength to stop sinning.

II Peter 2:2-4 - And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

II Peter 2:19-20 - They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

Therefore, the way of truth involves following Jesus and putting a stop to sin.

Talk
youtube.com: The Hidden Parable of Moses that Few Christians Understand

19.4.3. With God, following the 10 commandments and to love God and our neighbour is possible

Matthew 19:16-26 - And behold, a man came up to him, saying, Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life? And he said to him, Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments. He said to him, Which ones? And Jesus said, You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said to him, All these I have kept. What do I still lack? Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

The guy was still coveting his possessions. To find life, one needs to let go of covetousness:

Luke 12:15 - And he said to them, Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. (ESV)

youtube.com: God is the Gospel @time: 45 min 31 sec

Quote from John Piper
The prosperity gospel is no gospel because what it does is offer to people what they want as natural people.

Amen to that.

The reason we want to be righteous is so we get God, not that we become God but that we abide in God.

God is the Gospel - YouTube @time: 40 min 42 sec

Yes, we must be obedient as He is obedient, but that first act of obedience and the most important one is that we allow Jesus to wash us. We must believe, Jesus, trust in Jesus:

Philippians 2:5-11 - Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV)

We must accept this teaching:

John 6:40-47 - For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, I am the bread that came down from heaven. They said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, I have come down from heaven? Jesus answered them, Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. (ESV)

AMEN!!

Amen to that.

God wants to be our treasure, our heart's desire. I want that too:

Matthew 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (ESV)

Job 22:24-26 - if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent bed, then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver. For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. (ESV)

Jesus emptied Himself so we can become rich - this is true, but it's so we can also empty ourselves so others can become rich:

II Corinthians 8:9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (ESV)

In doing so, it is then characteristic of Jesus' servants to love one another as He has loved them:

Matthew 20:26-28 - It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (ESV)

We pour out our wealth for others, as He did for us:

Acts 2:44-45 - And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. (ESV)

But especially to the house hold of faith:

Galatians 6:10 - So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (ESV)

And especially to one's own relatives and even more especially to one's own household:

I Timothy 5:8 - But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (ESV)

When Jesus washes us we abide in Him - we are found in Him. If we are to be "great" in the Kingdom, then we are to also become servants:

John 13:8 - Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me. (ESV)

Jesus Christ is our Lord and Teacher - that means we believe and obey Him:

John 13:13-14 - You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. (ESV)

The true gospel teaches people to obey Jesus:

Galatians 5:13-14 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
Justification by faith alone sets us free from law-keeping [as] a way of getting right with God. This justifying faith is the kind of faith that produces love. This love humbly, sacrificially serves others. Thus loving the neighbour as itself, this love fulfills the law. This faith-produced, neighbour-serving, law-fulfilling love is the "Law of Christ".

I do believe God can set us free from the enemy who steals from us though - but we overcome by keeping faith and obedience and faithfulness with God, exhibiting real faith which is not set on material things, but on God's promises, and on God's heart:

desiringgod.org: How to Win the War for Your Mind | Desiring God

John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (ESV)

I also believe the prosperity gospel is no gospel because it doesn't teach love. It teaches covetousness:

Luke 12:15 - And he said to them, Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. (ESV)

The reason we want to be righteous is so we get God.

youtube.com: God is the Gospel @time: 40 min 42 sec

19.5. Justifying faith should result in going from disobedient to obedient

Colossians 1:21 - And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,

Hebrews 12:11 - For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (ESV)

II Corinthians 10:5-6 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (ESV)

Ephesians 2:2 - in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

Ephesians 5:6 - Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Now faith in God is more than just believing, it's walking in that belief, and it's even obedience, and out of that obedience comes love.

Jesus will manifest to those who keep His commandments:

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

The followers of Paul the Apostle live by (walk by) faith; those are the righteous ones. It's a lifestyle:

Galatians 3:11 - Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for The righteous shall live by faith. (ESV)

Faith in God is believing God and walking in that belief and trusting Jesus and obeying Jesus and allowing Jesus to work through you as you believe and obey His commandments.

The ones who remained in the boat and did not step out onto the water did not have enough faith to walk on water.

Matthew 14:27-32 - But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid. And Peter answered him, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. He said, Come. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, Lord, save me. Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Fear and doubt weakened their faith. Maybe Peter took his eyes off Jesus, and instead focused on the water.

Hebrews 2:2 - For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,

Hebrews 9:14 - how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

19.6. Obedience is essential to justifying faith

Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness:

Romans 4:3 - For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. (ESV)

Jesus commanded us to believe (pisteuo) in Him:

John 14:1 - “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe (G4100 pisteuo) in God, believe (G4100 pisteuo) also in Me. (NASB)

Paul says we must trust (pisteuo) in Him:

Romans 4:5 - And to the one who does not work but trusts (G4100 pisteuo) him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, (ESV)

Having believed in Jesus, having begun to trust in Jesus, we have become obedient to Jesus. Jesus works on us as we trust in Him even before we understand what He's doing, and we have become obedient because he commanded us to trust Him:

John 13:6-7 - He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered him, What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand. (ESV)

Abraham's obedience which he had as part of his faith led him to obey:

Hebrews 11:8 - By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. (ESV)

Hebrews 4:6 - Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,

Hebrews 4:11 - Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

Song
youtube.com: From The Inside Out - Hillsong UNITED
From the Inside Out (Lyrics)
Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades; Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame; And the cry of my heart is to bring you praise; From the inside out; Lord my soul cries out

And willing to do the will of God must become 'doing'.

I John 2:17 - And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

John 7:17 - If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.

pisteuo = to have faith upon

John 3:36 - Whoever believes (G4100 pisteuo) in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

John 3:14-16 - And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)

John 6:40 - For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (ESV)

John 3:16 - "For God so loved (G25 agapao) the world (G2889 kosmos), that He gave His only (G3439 monogenes) begotten (G3439 monogenes) Son (G5207 huios), that whoever believes (G4100 pisteuo) in Him shall not perish, but have eternal (G166 aionios) life (G2222 zoe).

1: :  4100  pisteuo  pist-yoo'-o
2: 
3:  from 4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or
4:  thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's
5:  spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe(-r), commit (to trust), put
6:  in trust with.
7:  see GREEK for 4102

We must trust Him and Obey.

19.7. Jesus' odedience resulted in turning others to obedience

Romans 5:19 - For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

A process:

  • 'Will be made' => Turning people to obedience.

Adam disobeyed, and his descendants become disobedient.

Jesus obeyed, and his disciples become obedient.

19.7.1. Likewise, we are commanded to do the same

Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

19.8. It is the mercy of God that we are turned from disobedience to obedience

II Corinthians 10:6 - being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

Romans 15:17-18 - In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed,

I think that is the correct way to see the following Scripture:

Romans 11:29-33: For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

The obedient are led by the Spirit of God. But it isn't a Spirit of slavery, it's a Spirit of sonship, where we get to be conformed to the image of Christ!:

Romans 8:12-15 - So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father!

Even Jesus kept entrusting Himself to Father God. We should walk in the Truth, walking the Light, while entrusting ourselves to God who judges justly:

I Peter 2:23 - When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (ESV)

That's what we're supposed to do:

I Peter 4:19 - Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (ESV)

We have assurance in Lordship Salvation because we believe what Jesus said:

Luke 6:35 - But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. (ESV)

Father God makes many sons. For it was fitting that He (Father God), for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation (Jesus Christ) perfect through suffering:

Hebrews 2:10 - For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. (ESV)

He was raised for our justification; now in order to be justified by faith, we simply need to put our faith in Him - we need to trusting Jesus Christ.

Trusting in Jesus should result in following Him, believing Jesus' words, walking as he walked, entrusting ourselves to Father God who judges righteously.

We have to die to our old self and live for Christ, simply abiding in Him.

II Corinthians 5:14-15 - For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

If we walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised, and are doing the will of God, then we would love Jesus and Jesus helps us:

John 8:39-40 - They answered him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. (ESV)

Hebrews 2:16-18 - For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (ESV)

Mark 3:35 - Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother. (ESV)

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. (ESV)

If we walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised, but having faith in God by obeying Jesus Christ who was raised for our justification then we have Jesus Christ's righteousness; we have the righteeousness of faith in God.

Romans 4:22-23 - That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, (ESV)

And the promise will be ours also, because Jesus is our Lord, and we belong to Him.

Romans 4:24-25 - but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (ESV)

Even as we are going through hardship for following Jesus, we should rejoice because we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us:

Romans 8:36-39 - As it is written, For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

19.8.1. As obedient children, we are to be conformed to holiness

I Peter 1:14-16 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.

Ephesians 5:5-10 - For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

19.8.2. Illegitimate children are left without discipline and are not sons

Hebrews 12:6-8 - For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

19.9. The measure of what we hear and take heed of and how we hear and let take root in us will be measured to us

Mark 4:24 - And he said to them, Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.

Luke 8:18 - So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”

If you do not take care of how you hear and what you hear, then …

Isaiah 6:10 - “Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed.”

I think it's important to take in all the words which Jesus spoke which are available to us, and to come to a faith which is able to reconcile faith with works, and law and obedience, and the gospel Jesus taught before and after the resurrection, and reconcile the teachings of the epistles from Peter, Paul and John, and Epistle to the Hebrews.

Matthew 13:15 - For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise they would see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.’

The word return specifies 'action'.

John 12:40 - “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.”

Acts 28:27 - For the heart of this people has become dull, And with their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes; Otherwise they might see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.”’

20. Spirit of Truth vs Spirit of Error

Don't rely on your dreams - they may come from evil spirits:

Jude 1:8 - Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. (ESV)

20.1. Don't believe falsehood

If you listen to someone with a deceptive, beguiling spirit, then the same measure of that would come into you.

Isaiah 30:1 - Ah, stubborn children, declares the LORD, who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; (ESV)

youtube.com: AFreshWord - Important
You know, one thing that I can't stand about these familiar spirits is that they usually lead you to the doorstep of destruction. They'll have you moving and doing all these different things just to end up completely destitute somewhere and outside of the will of God. I absolutely hate it. And it's my prayer that you would be completely delivered and if you've been led astray by a deceiving lying spirit I pray that your entire life would be redeemed.

And that would would probably affect the truthfulness of your dreams if you have a prophetic gift, but there are other reasons a person may get dreams of falsehood including spiritual attack.

youtube.com: The Crucial Meaning of God's Word - John MacArthur #shorts #bible #christ

If you're a new believer or a believer who has not been developed in understanding of the word of God you are susceptible to Satan's lies.

And it's not just misinformation that has some minor consequences. Misinformation from the kingdom of darkness has disastrous and devastating consequences.

So to know the the Word is absolutely critical. To know what it means is of course essential because the revelation of God is in the understanding. Let me say it this way: The meaning of the Scripture is the Scripture. If you don't get the meaning right, you didn't get the revelation, you got something else. And there are a lot of false interpretations floating around.

20.1.1. No lie is of the truth

1 John 2:21 - I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. (ESV)

20.1.2. Garden of Eden

  • Eve listened to another voice

Genesis 3:4 - The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! (ESV)

I Timothy 2:14 - And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. (ESV)

20.2. Not all 'spirit' is true

It's false to say that 'all spirit is true' and body and soul are false.

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV)

Psalms 119:160 - The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. (ESV)

John 17:17 - Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. (ESV)

20.3. Spirit of Truth

These do not contradict:

  • Jesus is the Truth
    • Matthew 5:17 - Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (ESV)
    • John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV)
  • Jesus' words are Truth and Life
    • John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (ESV)
  • God's word is truth. The sum of our Creator’s word is Truth
    • The Scripture (Torah) does not contradict
    • Psalms 119:160 - The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (ESV)
    • John 17:17 - Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (ESV)
  • Jesus Christ is the Word of God, who has come into the world in the flesh
    • Emmanuel
    • Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (ESV)
  • The Spirit of Truth is the Truth
    • I John 5:6 - This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. (ESV)
  • Jesus is God
    • Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (ESV)
    • thegospelcoalition.org: How Can Jesus Be Our Everlasting Father?
    • Jeremiah 32:17-18 - Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who has made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts, (ESV)

Ephesians 4:20-21 - But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, (ESV)

Read
https://www.scriptureway.com/home/jesus-is-the-truth
Quote by R. C. Sproul
"Truth is not defined by our own subjective standards; it is determined by the Source of truth Himself"

20.3.1. Jesus is noticeably present with us as we believe and affirm and obey the Truth

Sermon
youtube.com: How to Seek the Holy Spirit @time: 19 min 20 sec

The work of the Holy Spirit is to cause you to remember Him (Jesus) and with the eyes of the heart Ephesians 1:17 see Him there.

Matthew 28:20 - teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (ESV)

Yup, this has been real for me in seeking to be obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit which has included obedience to Jesus' commandments in the face of opposition.

20.3.2. God is not a God of confusion but of peace

I Corinthians 14:31-33 - For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, (ESV)

20.3.3. We should listen to and obey Jesus' words and compare everything with the scripture

Psalms 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (ESV)

Psalms 119:142 - Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true. (ESV)

Acts 17:11 - Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. (ESV)

II Corinthians 10:5 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (ESV)

20.3.4. sola scriptura as the source of truth against false dreams and against lies

I've definitely had some issues, but I've noticed that repenting from sinful habits and obeying Jesus helps a lot to deal with that.

On 2 Jan 2023 I had a dream of defending a house with Bible verses written on the doorposts.

I didn't know this was Biblical until very recently:

Deuteronomy 6:9 - You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (ESV)

But now I know.

sola scriptura (by Scripture alone) AMEN!!

Jesus used the Scriptures to combat lies:

Luke 4:7-8 - If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours. And Jesus answered him, It is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. (ESV)

Luke 4:11-13 - and On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. And Jesus answered him, It is said, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test. And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. (ESV)

John 10:35-36 - If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken — do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, You are blaspheming, because I said, I am the Son of God? (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: Contrary to Roman Catholics, the Bible Is Our Sufficient Authority

Jesus' warning against forsaking the word of God, the Holy Scriptures, for tradition:

Mark 7:11-13 - But you say, If a man tells his father or his mother, Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban (that is, given to God)— then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: John Piper's Sermon with Scripture only

20.3.5. Do not associate with people who call themselves believers but are against sound doctrine

Do not greet or associate with people who do not abide in the teaching of Christ, and are in opposition to the truth:

II John 1:1-11 - The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. (ESV)

We must:

  • confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh
  • abide in the teaching of Christ
  • we must walk according to His commandments
    • We must love one another as He has loved us

What counts is faith working through love:

Titus 3:8-15 - The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful. All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. (ESV)

What counts is faith working through love:

Galatians 5:1-6 - For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (ESV)

Romans 16:17-18 - I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. (ESV)

We must abide in the teachings of Jesus, believing what Jesus has said, believing Jesus:

John 5:37-38 - And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. (ESV)

Avoid people who stubbornly oppose the teaching of Christ:

II Timothy 3:2-7 - For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (5377. philotheos), having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (ESV)

We must not be:

  • lovers of self
  • lovers of money
  • arrogant
  • abusive
  • disobedient to our parents
  • ungrateful
  • unholy
  • heartless
  • unappeasable
  • slanderous
  • without self-control
  • brutal
  • not loving good
  • treacherous
  • reckless
  • swollen with conceit
  • lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (5377. philotheos)
  • have the appearance of godliness but denying its power

I literally have been getting tested with this stuff as I fight against an antichrist spirit. I'd love to be able to say that I have perfect self-control, am holy in thought and deed, etc. and perfectly obedient to my parents. Sometimes, though, it feels as though satan puts me in a choke hold where I need to be a perfect saint to pass all the tests.

I literally feel as though I was just then tested through 3 different people the following passages:

God please help me to pass these tests.

Avoid people who stubbornly oppose the teaching of Christ:

I Corinthians 5:11 - But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. (ESV)

This is about being willing to work or unwilling. I'm definitely willing to work. But not having a job doesn't mean being unwilling to work because a person can will to work but be unable to work for various reasons. Just stay busy. In my case I am in a season of focusing on Jesus after being born-again:

II Thessalonians 3:1-14 - Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. (ESV)

Being willing to work is important as we are not supposed to be a burden on others.

Galatians 6:2-6 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. (ESV)

Accepting support is OK when in need, but we should still seek to bear our own load:

II Corinthians 11:7-9 - Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God's gospel to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. (ESV)

20.3.6. The criminal conviction has made it more difficult to support myself and other people in need

II Corinthians 6:4-8 - but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; (ESV)

Nevertheless, I do my best to still help others. While the will is there, the wallet isn't anymore because the enemy doesn't want me to help people.

I'm willing to work and I would love to have a job and I would love to teach but I've been attacked a lot by demons, prevented from teaching due to a conviction, pushed out of churches for following Jesus, had the love of my life taken away from me, and been treated like absolute garbage, coming from such poverty that the poverty undermined my college degree, and my subsequent employment. For some reason it's been far too difficult. Although it is important to get a job, I have to be fit and prepared for work, and I'm doing battle against an anti-marriage spirit, and I'm like the person who was recovering at the inn (from the parable of the good Samaritan as Jesus has rescued me). Also, I'm in corrections (<2024-07-21 Sun> so I am being corrected by reading my Bible and studying the Word, so I still feel as though I am in the clear. I understand work is important, and I'm not exaggerating any of this. It will happen in the right order. And any spirit that forces having a job, or especially forces having assets before having a wife I consider to be a spirit of prostitution / people trafficking. It's an abomination to me. This antichrist spirit has also been attacking my family and manifesting within the household. I feel safe calling it an antichrist spirit because as far as I can tell it's trying to eliminate marriage (i.e. rewrite the law of God) and make it so with money a person can have whatever they want, no matter how depraved:

Daniel 7:25 - He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. (ESV)

It's very unbiblical and is a heinous lie that in pleading guilty that the person is surely admitting blame for all accusations made against them, especially when I was not allowed barely any input leading right up to the court date. It seemed like I was only allowed one of two options "take the conviction (and from the court's eyes admit all the slander against me is true) or dishonour Jesus by not obeying Jesus" and I chose to obey Jesus.

God sees the heart and the true reasons, and I was aware God was in the situation with me. A big reason that I pleaded guilty was that I can't plead innocence to accusations about how someone felt harassed - who am I to say they didn't feel harassed? But I still plead guilty because even 1% guilt regarding the charge is not perfect innocence. Only Jesus in that situation could have pleaded totally not guilty, and instead of retaliating Jesus let his accusers rend his body on the cross:

I Samuel 16:7 - But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. (ESV)

Firstly, I will say that I pleaded guilty believing I was guilty of the charge in a strict sense, and I still think I did the right thing pleading guilty.

  • I was guilty of the charge of harassment as far as giving to Caesar that which belongs to Caesar goes (God as my witness).
    • Jesus caused offense too to people who wanted to put Him to death, and if He were to admit offense, then He would have truthfully admitted offense.
  • I was guilty of other things as far as giving to God that which belongs to God goes (God as my witness).
    • I was taken to court while I was repenting from heresy, repenting from sin and trying to do good. In other words I was punished while I had the mindset of doing good and repenting.
    • I Peter 1:22 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)
  • It was a good opportunity and natural next step to make testimony of Jesus after being born-again, and also Jesus prophetically said this would happen to His disciples:
    • Matthew 10:17-23 - Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. (ESV)

I was prepared to serve my sentence when I pleaded guilty, and I had selected community service, but was given corrections instead - regardless, the sentence I had accepted in pleading guilty. I was not aware that I would be publicly unlawfully slandered, the slander from the press not being anything to do with my sentence.

A quick search of "pleading guilty in New Zealand" will tell you that it is an admission of committing the offence charged with - well, the reason might be or it might not be that because it depends on what the person's real reason for pleading guilty really was, and there are reasons a person pleads guilty outside of believing they are entirely guilty of the charge along with all the so-called facts, and outside of what Community law NZ says). Also God's Word is much sharper than man's law, so it's to be expected that NZ law cannot model the justice of God's law perfectly, and Christians are supposed to model Christ's love and bear witness of Jesus, not take vengeance for themselves, but to pass forward grace and forgiveness.

Community law NZ
Quote "If you plead guilty it means you agree that you did everything the police say you did, as set out in the police “summary of facts”, and that you’re ready to be sentenced by a judge for it. If you agree with some of what’s in the summary of facts but not all of it, make sure you tell your lawyer – they might be able to get the charges or the summary of facts changed."
Community law NZ
Quote: "If you plead guilty, this means that you admit committing the offence you have been charged with."

When I pleaded guilty to the charge of harassment I am still in the right to plead guilty - I might be almost entirely innocent of the accusations made against me, but I'm still not committing perjury in pleading guilty because I had other reasons to plead guilty, and insufficient information to plead not guilty because pleading not guilty would be pleading perfect innocence and would be selfish, not selfless, and Jesus has called His disciples to be selfless.

Other reasons I had to plead guilty:

  • I was remaining faithful to Jesus
    • I was asked a week before Easter if I would plead guilty or not guilty after someone had sent me a picture depicting Jesus breaking Himself off the cross, and I don't plan on dishonouring Jesus right after being born-again and becoming a disciple of Jesus.
    • Matthew 24:12-13 - And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (ESV)
  • I was trying to fulfill Christ's law, bearing the burdens of the other people who had taken me to court.
  • I was seeking to do no harm to my neighbour.
  • I was seeking to be a peacemaker / take the fall for my neighbour.
  • I was repenting from erroneous theology after getting born-again.
  • I was repenting from any public endorsement of gay marriage.
  • I was seeking to emulate Christ's love to the person I wanted to marry instead of do what is antithetical to Christian marriage, and I felt like that also meant reneging on the marriage proposal and carrying my cross.
    • Doing what is antithetical to Christian marriage would prove me to be not exercising Christ's love, and so, sadly, I had to give up on the prospect of marrying the person I wanted to marry in order to serve Jesus most faithfully and love my neighbour as Jesus loved me.
    • I'd only marry someone who has made Jesus their number one treasure and is abiding in-Christ and takes the initiative to confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour before people and is unashamed of Jesus and is practicing the passing-forward of Christ's love and is embracing sanctification
      • At this stage I'd only marry a born-again Christian while keeping my foremost faithfulness to Jesus (i.e. someone who is actively obeying Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, obeying the gospel of the Lord Jesus)
      • Ephesians 4:25 - Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (ESV)
  • What is not done in faith is sin. I could not plead "not guilty" as I could not do so confidently thinking it was the right thing to do. To plead not-guilty felt like vindictive behaviour. Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy.
  • I was not without fault.

I must obey God rather than obey Christ-denying lawlessness. God as my witness:

Acts 5:29-32 - But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

We need to act out the truth, like Jesus:

I John 1:6 - If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (ESV)

I John 3:2-3 - Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (ESV)

Read
desiringgod.org: Is It Ever Right to Lie? | Desiring God

God's Truth is righteous Truth:

Isaiah 45:19 - I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, Seek me in vain. I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 32:3-4 - For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. (ESV)

But to say that pleading guilty is an admission that the full set of facts in the 'summary of facts' which came out the day I pleaded guilty is true is, I think a heinous lie, and my guilty plea was not an endorsement of the slander against me. There's something very antichrist about how the opportunity for "forgiveness" and the opportunity to choose to "take the penalty without accepting the truth of the summary of so-called facts" (i.e. taking the fall) had been squashed out of the court system which was looking to paint one person as entirely innocent and one person as guilty (without a trial). But when the judge read my letter which said that I believe the words of Jesus Christ which He received from Almighty God and that Jesus Christ is the Truth and that I forgive everyone, and want to be forgiven myself, and I want to move on from the person I proposed to and put the past behind me, and I pray she recovers completely, the judge said, "that is your opinion" and spoke a lot of evil slander at me while he was the only one allowed to speak - well I pray God has mercy on him when he answers to the Lord for that. I forgive the judge and everyone involved and ask for forgiveness.

To say that pleading guilty means that the person admits all of the accusations against them and accepts the validity of the summary of facts is not true unless it is actually true (i.e. that the person actually accepts the validity of the summary of facts), and for me it cannot be said that I had accepted the validity of the summary of facts but I chose to plead guilty and accept the sentence because that's what peacemakers do. I believe the summary of facts was laden with falsehood, and I was not given enough opportunity to have my side of events entered into court - I was practically silenced by extreme bail conditions that felt like witchcraft (which I told the first judge I stood before on the 3 May, before my sentencing), as being unable to even speak to my lawyer properly or defend myself, I was deprived of using the internet, deprived of phone, computer, etc. and deprived of leaving my house almost right up to pleading guilty, and so it was an unfair conviction and sentencing in my opinion, and in the latter part of 2022 under strict bail conditions I was being obedient to Jesus, trying to bear other peoples' burdens financially, while getting hit with antichrist visions and visions of evading judgement through good works, but I was already born-again with a clean slate spiritually - it was an antichrist spirit which had come against me. Yet I still believe that I was acting in good conscience in God's sight throughout the entire process and even with regards to the charge to plead guilty (I believe it was the right thing to do), but the accusations against me were so blown out of proportion and there was so much falsehood in the accusations against me that it was sometimes very alluring to plead for my innocence, but when things got very tough I managed to resist the urge to retaliate:

Isaiah 51:7 - Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings. (ESV)

From my perspective it is correct to say that I wanted to marry out of a good conscience and out of a place where I would not be enticed into sinning, but the devil tried to make it look like it was evil. By faith Shane, when he was grown up and born-again, refused to go back to living an ungodly lifestyle so he made his first marriage proposal to someone who he had joy in proposing to, someone he had at the time believed God made for him, meaning it was easier for him to not sin, and by faith Shane obeyed God and remained faithful to Jesus in a NZ court room to do no harm to his neighbour, and from his perspective laid his Isaac on the Altar and there was no intervention from God. By faith Shane took a conviction which has made it even more difficult in the eyes of some to get married:

Hebrews 11:24-28 - By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. (ESV)

By faith Shane now awaits the mercy from God for those who fear Him and hope in Him:

Psalms 33:18-19 - Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. (ESV)

Psalms 25:3 - Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. (ESV)

Jude 1:21 - keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (ESV)

Isaiah 25:8 - He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. (ESV)

Now I have a criminal conviction and have borne reproach internationally and locally effectively for being born-again of the Spirit, following Jesus and making a marriage proposal, and for standing up for what is right against the spirit of the world that rejects God:

John 14:17 - even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (ESV)

I had been born-again so I had received forgiveness from God, and needed to pass it on. Also, after being born-again we should continue to pass forward grace, mercy and forgiveness:

Matthew 5:7 - Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. (ESV)

James 2:13 - For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (ESV)

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (ESV)

There was an almost complete absence of truth from my perspective in the accusations made against me, and in the unlawful slander made against me after I was convicted was definitely not warranted - it was just pure slander, and very unhelpful, and we know that slander does not come from Jesus. An eye for an eye makes everybody blind. We are commanded to overcome evil with good and love your enemies. But they were not even my enemies. I only ever held love for them:

Romans 12:21 - Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (ESV)

Matthew 5:43-48 - You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)

The summary of facts had been updated for the day the judge read it out against me, and I did not know what it was updated with. If I recall correctly, I had entered new information and the other side had entered new information. Even if my lawyer had access to them, there's no way I could truthfully say that "pleading guilty is an admission of guilt to the full set of accusations and an admission that the summary of facts is true" - it was a new document. I do not want to be a liar or a spreader of slander, so I cannot say the lies were true, and I also want people to stop slandering each other, but I still chose to plead guilty. I guess I had to become a bit of a scapegoat. It was my mindset to remain faithful to Jesus and also do no harm to the person I proposed to because I love them. And so Jesus was there watching the event as my Advocate:

John 8:55 - But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. (ESV)

Pleading guilty to a charge can be for the sole reason that a person cannot claim perfect innocence:

Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV)

I John 1:8 - If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (ESV)

When obeying man's law means disobeying God we should instead choose to obey God, and disobey man's law:

Acts 5:29 - But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men. (ESV)

If obeying man's law means doing evil, then I refuse to obey man's law. I found myself being pressured by people around me including the courts into taking the girl who I had proposed to to trial, and I refused to take her to trial or to seek justice for myself, I refused to play the game which the devil wanted me to play, and I took the sentence instead because that does not harm anyone but myself. I do not consider myself to have committed perjury by pleading guilty because, it is grey and even if I am a little bit responsible for what happened, I consider that grounds to plead guilty in court - it's the right thing to do:

Matthew 12:12 - Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. (ESV)

My faith and God's law came up against the imperfect NZ law:

Romans 13:10 - Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)

Proverbs 3:29-30 - Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. (ESV)

3709. orgé
"Orgē comes from the verb oragō meaning, 'to teem, to swell'; and thus implies that it is not a sudden outburst, but rather (referring to God's) fixed, controlled, passionate feeling against sin . . . a settled indignation (so Hendriksen)" (D. E. Hiebert, at 1 Thes 1:10).

Jesus' anger here was a godly grief:

Mark 3:4-5 - And he said to them, Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill? But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger (3709. orgé), grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, Stretch out your hand. He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. (ESV)

Also, the reason to take the sentence can also be to simply not drag things out!

Matthew 5:25 - Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. (ESV)

Senselessly hated and persecuted for correct thinking because I've been taken from the world and belong to Jesus now:

John 15:25 - But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: They hated me without a cause. (ESV)

John 15:18-20 - If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. (ESV)

Our adversary, the accuser, is literally the devil and the devil working through people, not the people themselves:

I Peter 5:8 - Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (ESV)

Ephesians 6:12 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (ESV)

Also, the summary of facts was conveniently changed when I made new appearances in court, and the judge spun huge amounts of slander against me in court, the slander then became international news. He'll have to answer to God for that. The whole thing was antichrist, so I simply made testimony of Jesus in court. There are other reasons a person pleads guilty, and one is that the person is abiding by Christ's law to do no harm against their neighbour, and another reason is to not put Christ to the test by claiming perfect innocence. I was born-again of Jesus' spirit in 2 April 2022, and subsequently charged with a conviction after making a marriage proposal, so the conviction now makes it now more difficult to love my neighbour because it's more difficult for me to provide financial assistance for my neighbour if it is more difficult to have a job thanks to having a conviction. Satan would happily like it if servants of Jesus are deprived of financial income and given a bad public image because then they're less able to help their neighbour or support themself and their family:

Jehovah God please grant us deliverance from this spirit of antichrist in Jesus Christ's name I ask.

I Corinthians 13:1-8 - If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. (ESV)

Love doesn't take into account wrongs suffered. I believe the NASB is more accurate on this than the NIV. Even if the NIV is right, I can't identify any specific thing the other side of court did wrong to me wrong prior to going to court. However, during and after my interactions with police and court it's different story. There was a relentlessly slandering, antichrist graceless spirit coming out from the other side. If I could identify the specific wrongs or the root causes I wouldn't impute them to them anyway because I forgave them. But there are some very suspect things which happened around around the time I got born-again. The entire thing surrounding getting pulled into court felt out of control, and influenced externally by antichrist spirits. I feel as if witchcraft was performed against me, with the demons harassing me and manifesting through people around me. I feel wronged and my complaint sits in God's courts. Until I am delivered, my complaint remains in God's courts. In summary, it feels like God made me born-again into LGBT GPT Neuralink demons-everywhere world. I proposed to the love of my life and God allowed all the demons attack me unceasingly for 2 years, not only destroying that but allowing the demons to cause corruption and defilement in my body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit and I expect God to rectify this somehow because an injustice has happened:

I Corinthians 13:5 - does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account (logizetai) a wrong suffered, (NASB)

I believe the NASB in saying that "love does not take into account (logizetai) a wrong suffered" is more accurate than the NIV which says "keeps no record of wrongs".

I Corinthians 13:5 - It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (NIV)

However, the NASB in this instance I think is wrong about love not being provoked. Love is sometimes provoked, since God is love and love comes from God, but love isn't easily provoked to anger. God's anger here was for their overall benefit:

Deuteronomy 9:7 - Remember and do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD. (ESV)

I Corinthians 13:5 - Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; (KJV)

We should be imitators of God's love:

Psalms 103:8 - The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (ESV)

Ephesians 5:1-2 - Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (ESV)

I John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (ESV)

Love your enemies as well as your friends. Be like Your Heavenly Father. Be perfect. Love (25. agapaó) your enemies means "treasuring your enemies" and looks like not repaying evil for evil. It sometimes looks like refusing to do evil and instead doing good to those who do you harm, taking the initiative in overcoming evil with good:

Matthew 5:43-48 - You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)

Proverbs 25:21-22 - If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. (ESV)

3709. orgé
"Orgē comes from the verb oragō meaning, 'to teem, to swell'; and thus implies that it is not a sudden outburst, but rather (referring to God's) fixed, controlled, passionate feeling against sin . . . a settled indignation (so Hendriksen)" (D. E. Hiebert, at 1 Thes 1:10).

Jesus' anger here was a godly grief:

Mark 3:4-5 - And he said to them, Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill? But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger (3709. orgé), grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, Stretch out your hand. He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. (ESV)

The Pharisees here trying to outlaw Jesus' disciples from acting lawfully and trying to outlaw deeds of mercy:

Matthew 12:1-14 - At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath. He said to them, Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath. He went on from there and entered their synagogue. And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?—so that they might accuse him. He said to them, Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. Then he said to the man, Stretch out your hand. And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. (ESV)

Mark 2:23-28 - One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath? And he said to them, Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him? And he said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath. (ESV)

What we're supposed to do is not bear a grudge against our neighbour / the sons of our own people:

Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (ESV)􀀠􅿑

I forgive my neighbour but I don't forgive demons, satan or antichrist:

I Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! (ESV)

Whatever happened, I maintain there were external influences which resulted in going to court, and I give the benefit of the doubt that the other side of court were not directly responsible. I had certainly never considered them my adversaries.

God will give ultimate justice for his servants:

Luke 18:7-8 - And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? , Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? (ESV)

Proverbs 17:15 - He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD. (ESV)

So repent and forgive your neighbour in Christ and speak truth to one another:

Mark 1:15 - and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. (ESV)

II Timothy 4:2 - preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (ESV)

Ephesians 4:25 - Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (ESV)

We must obey God first and be faithful to God first rather than men.

Acts 5:29 - But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men. (ESV)

Galatians 6:1-10 - Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (ESV)

What matters is a "new creation", faith working through love and keeping the commandments of God. Amen.

On 2 Jan 2023 I had a dream of defending a house with Bible verses written on the doorposts.

In my case I am in a season of focusing on Jesus after being born-again and obediently focusing on the Scriptures:

Luke 10:38-42 - Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me. But the Lord answered her, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her. (ESV)

<2024-07-21 Sun> On the topic of Mary and Martha,

I have been attacked by "new-creation-denying" spirits which forget I was born-again to quickly remind me that I'm not employed - I get this harassment from people from time to time.

As the Apostle Paul asks, "Let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." I had a stigmata too I believe. But this me begging for people to for the sake of the cross of Christ just let me have some grace, as I have almost traumatic graceless experiences exclusively for most of my life, so please for the sake of the cross and for love of Jesus cut me some slack as I have also cut others slack in obedience to Jesus as He made me born-again. It's my turn to get born-again; and I would appreciate not being crucified immediately. The reason I have experienced hostility is for following Jesus, repenting, etc. and being obedient to Jesus. Thanks.

Galatians 6:14-17 - But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. (ESV)

Jesus still refers to new disciples as "little ones". Disciples have been obediently following Jesus:

Luke 14:26-33 - If anyone comes to me and does not hate (3404. miseó, 3404 miséō – properly, to detest (on a comparative basis); hence, denounce; to love someone or something less than someone (something) else, i.e. to renounce one choice in favor of another.) his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (ESV)

Look, here's a blessing for loving Jesus and not being an enemy of the cross:

Matthew 10:40-42 - Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. (ESV)

Disciples of Jesus carry their cross and face tribulation:

Acts 14:22 - strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Jesus, on His cross said, "I thirst.":

John 19:28 - After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), I thirst. (ESV)

Matthew 5:12 - Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (ESV)

Galatians 6:2-6 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. (ESV)

youtube.com: Hell and Heaven Are at Stake with Money: Galatians 6:6-10, Part 1 @time: 5 min 5 sec

It's a spirit of "getting a job" taking precedence over "focusing on Jesus and obeying Jesus spirit" right after getting born-again, when Jesus wants me to focus on Him. I get this stuff attacking me in my sleep too, i.e. mocking me too by suggesting working for Neuralink, for example.

I am very much all for getting a job and bearing my own load, however I'm definitely not in the season to get a job.

As Paul said, "From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus."

So have some respect, please people.

Me working right now would be like telling the person in the story of the good Samaritan who was beaten on the side of the road, as he is still in recovery to get a job, which is pure insanity.

I had to receive a criminal conviction in obedience to Jesus, putting the needs of someone first who I love, thus forfeiting my ability to get suitable work easily, and I'm in a completely new season of my life where I am focusing on Jesus.

The conviction and press has made it more difficult to bear my neighbour's burdens because now, being more difficult to earn money, makes it more difficult to give to those in need, and meet the needs of my family. For the powers that be to force me into the situation to give me a criminal conviction was very anti-christ, and what I mean by anti-christ is like "punishing Christ" or disciples of Christ for being Christlike, and furthermore preventing them from continuing to spread love and mercy.

So in Jesus Christ's name I rebuke the antichrist spirit which specifically has:

  • prevented me from marrying, before and after getting born-again
  • depriving me of suitable work, before and after getting born-again
  • punishing me for acting in love

I work very hard, and after being born-again I have encountered a lot of resistance by a spirit which keeps accusing me of needing to have a job, or I'm not a Christian, while being in corrections.

It's a very anti-Mary, pro-Martha spirit in a situation which is the same as the one Mary and Martha were in. In that situation, Mary was in the right to listen to Jesus. That is my situation, so by focusing on Jesus, I am doing the correct thing, but this antichrist spirit has been opposing that.

Deuteronomy 24:5 - When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be liable for any other public duty. He shall be free at home one year to be happy with his wife whom he has taken. (ESV)

Luke 5:33-35 - And they said to him, The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink. And Jesus said to them, Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. (ESV)

I Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! (ESV)

I would love to be working, but I was getting harassed by the work spirit even quickly after being born-again, and the correct thing to do then is to be focused on Jesus, even giving away all possessions and following Jesus, so to say, "Get a job and focus on making money" instead of focus on and follow Jesus is totally antichrist.

Also, right now I'm in corrections on a sickness benefit as I have been getting harassed by demons nearly every night, and tested throughout the day, as I try to do good works, and even harassed by demons through other people very frequently.

Last year I had a vision last year of defending my house with Bible verses, so it's very clear to me that I'm in a situation where I must be focused on being corrected theologically and behaviorally and a job will happen when I'm ready for it, or when God wants me to get a job, since the Holy Spirit has taken over ownership of my life and has started running my life.

So I just rebuke that antichrist spirit which has been harassing me regarding that in Jesus Christ's name, and I'll get a job when I am delivered and fit for work.

It's literally satan attacking me, and I'm just sick and tired of it. I guess the reason I'm being attacked is because God made me born-again, has me learning the Bible in corrections, focusing on Him and God has been raising me up for His purposes.

The truth of the matter is I am not lazy. Leading up to being born-again, throughout 2021 I was extremely productive doing what I thought at the time was important work for the good of society whilst being completely content, having met the person I wanted to marry, I was in peace and joy.

There was a time for that research and my work served its purpose in its time.

Something the enemy has robbed from me is the ability to work contentedly, by undermining my joy.

1: Dear Heavenly Father, Jehovah God,
2: please, God, in Jesus Christ's name please help me.
3: Please, God, actually prevent people from heaping heavy burdens on me which I can't carry.
4: I'm inundated, as this antichrist spirit continues to attack me, steal from me, take my joy, make things harder, and tries to take my eyes away from You, God.
5: Please help me and those around me to fulfill Christ's law, which is to bear one another's burdens and not to lay up burdens on others.
6: Please help people to learn from Jesus as He carried our burdens to the end, so that we can be strong and ought to carry one others' burdens, and instead of giving each other sour wine when we thirst, to give one another water out of mercy.
7: In Jesus Christ's name, I ask,
8: AMEN!!

John 19:28 - After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), I thirst. (ESV)

Psalms 69:21 - They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. (ESV)

Galatians 1:8-9 - But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (ESV)

I Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! (ESV)

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

Greet those who love us in the faith:

Titus 3:14-15 - And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful. All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. (ESV)

I received deliverance last night on 10 Aug 2024.

On 3 April 2022, one day after being born-again of the Spirit, there was this message. Amen and Amen to what my pastor has said here:

youtube.com: Dunedin City Baptist Church - 3/4/2022 @time: 59 min 59 sec

I had thought that what had happened regarding my first ever marriage proposal was God's grace to me but because I took a stand for Jesus and to repent from error, the enemy tried to quench the Holy Spirit.

I feel like the grace which I received the enemy tried to rob from me, and tried to make marriage look evil, when marriage proposal is good.

Daniel 7:25 - He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. (ESV)

Anyway I have written this - it's my testimony along with Bible study:

https://semiosis.github.io/

Romans 1:17 - For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, The righteous shall live by faith. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 24:5 - When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be liable for any other public duty. He shall be free at home one year to be happy with his wife whom he has taken. (ESV).

I don't want to say something good was bad, etc. Truth matters, and I still hold to having forgiven the other side of court as I have prayed last night, however, I'll never be prepared to say what is good is evil when it comes to God's law. Marriage is good and the marriage proposal was good. And the saving gospel word of Truth is known in the heart and it is a personal truth that is aligned with God's Truth. What has come against me is a spirit of slander which had entered the church, which the Holy Spirit inspired me to write about, and the Holy Spirit also inspired me to write about God's law on my heart - and that spirit of slander came against me when I made testimony of Jesus in court in both repenting of theological error as Isaiah 7 and Paul speaks about - throwing out the evil and holding fast to the good as Bruce Elder spoke about too. The marriage proposal was good and it's not getting thrown out.

https://web.archive.org/web/20220703044748/https://mullikine.github.io/posts/the-tapestry-of-truth/

I Corinthians 7:2 - But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. (ESV)

Matthew 19:6 - So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. (ESV)

My baptism in the Holy Spirit recorded:

https://web.archive.org/web/20220702053809/https://mullikine.github.io/posts/astral-projection-pt-3/

Born-again:

Meeting with the Holy Spirit:

20.3.7. Jesus is giving us perspective.

We should have a healthy fear of God:

Matthew 10:28 - And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (ESV)

And we should also recognise that God values us:

Matthew 10:29-31 - Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (ESV)

Jesus' words are like a sword:

John 12:48 - The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (ESV)

We may be tested even through our own household. We must confess Jesus and keep Him as our number 1 agape love (treasure). We are tested through God's Word:

Matthew 10:32-37 - So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (ESV)

We must keep Jesus' Words and sayings and commandments:

John 14:21-23 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world? Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (ESV)

There's only peace "in Christ". Jesus has not come to bring peace on Earth, but a sword:

Matthew 10:32-37 - So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (ESV)

It's serious business because following Jesus means we have to choose Him over following the way of the world:

Matthew 10:38 - And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (ESV)

The stakes do get really high and we are tested on where our allegiance lies:

Matthew 10:39-40 - Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. (ESV)

Jesus does respect people who practice righteousness. Holding faith in Jesus and practicing love and holiness should go hand-in-hand:

Matthew 10:41-42 - The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. (ESV)

20.3.8. Do God's will - follow Jesus in truth, and be obedient to God to combat falsehood

John 7:17-19 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me? (ESV)

20.3.9. Pay attention to promptings from the Holy Spirit

youtube.com: C.S. Lewis - God is guiding our lives to the best path @time: 17 min 23 sec
These signs were divine confirmations that God was with Gideon in his mission. Likewise, pay attention to the visions, dreams and the impulses of the Holy Spirit in your life.

20.4. Spirit of Error

  • Contradicts Jesus
  • Contradicts Scripture
  • Contradicts God's Word

James 4:4 - You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (ESV)

20.4.1. Don't believe lies nor even listen to false dreams from false prophets and diviners

Zechariah 10:2 - For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. (ESV)

Jeremiah 23:25-28 - I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed! How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal? Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the LORD. (ESV)

Woe to the shepherds who strengthen the hands of evildoers so that no one turns from his evil. We should be encouraging turning away from sin and encouraging abiding by Christ's teachings:

Jeremiah 23:14 - But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah. (ESV)

They continually say to those who despise the word of the LORD, "It shall be well with you." They preach a watered down gospel:

Jeremiah 23:17 - They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, It shall be well with you; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, No disaster shall come upon you. (ESV)

Zechariah 10:2 - For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. (ESV)

They preach against repentance from sin:

Jeremiah 23:1-40 - Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! declares the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the LORD. Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: The LORD is our righteousness. Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they shall no longer say, As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt, but As the LORD lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them. Then they shall dwell in their own land. Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, like a man overcome by wine, because of the LORD and because of his holy words. For the land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land mourns, and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. Their course is evil, and their might is not right. Both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in my house I have found their evil, declares the LORD. Therefore their way shall be to them like slippery paths in the darkness, into which they shall be driven and fall, for I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment, declares the LORD. In the prophets of Samaria I saw an unsavory thing: they prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray. But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah. Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets: Behold, I will feed them with bitter food and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has gone out into all the land. Thus says the LORD of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, It shall be well with you; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, No disaster shall come upon you. For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened? Behold, the storm of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it clearly. I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their deeds. Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed! How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal? Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the LORD. Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who steal my words from one another. Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who use their tongues and declare, declares the LORD. Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the LORD, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the LORD. When one of this people, or a prophet or a priest asks you, What is the burden of the LORD? you shall say to them, You are the burden, and I will cast you off, declares the LORD. And as for the prophet, priest, or one of the people who says, The burden of the LORD, I will punish that man and his household. Thus shall you say, every one to his neighbor and every one to his brother, What has the LORD answered? or What has the LORD spoken? But the burden of the LORD you shall mention no more, for the burden is every man's own word, and you pervert the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God. Thus you shall say to the prophet, What has the LORD answered you? or What has the LORD spoken? But if you say, The burden of the LORD, thus says the LORD, Because you have said these words, The burden of the LORD, when I sent to you, saying, You shall not say, The burden of the LORD, therefore, behold, I will surely lift you up and cast you away from my presence, you and the city that I gave to you and your fathers. And I will bring upon you everlasting reproach and perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten. (ESV)

Jeremiah 27:9 - So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your fortune-tellers, or your sorcerers, who are saying to you, You shall not serve the king of Babylon. (ESV)

Jeremiah 29:8 - For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, (ESV)

20.4.2. Heretical apocryphal 'gospels'

There's too much in the so-called gospels of Thomas and Philip which seem to be antithetical to the sound words and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, so I renounce any public endorsement of them, as they seem both to be books which may have been written to mislead Christians.

There is also much in them which is contrary to much of what the Apostle Paul has written.

Also, I can't agree currently with the Thomas 77 logion and one main reason is it seems to me that there is still a lot of evil in the world and anti-christ sentiment.

From my perspective it still seems like there is a lot of anti-Jesus sentiment out there, so I personally do not yet see everything in subjection to him; i.e it seems to me there is still a lot of rebellion against Christ. God's the judge, not me:

Hebrews 2:7-9 - You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (ESV)

From my perspective, I am very reluctant to believe we have arrived at the point where we can currently say that God is 'all in all people on earth'.

I Corinthians 15:28 - When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. (ESV)

All things are under Jesus' feet. God fills all who are in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 1:15-23 - For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all (G3956 panta) in all (G3956 pasin). (ESV)

My main reasons is there is still a lot of sin, idolatry, and lawlessness in the world and a lot of anti-Jesus sentiment. But I still believe that all things will be subjected to Him:

I John 3:5 - You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. (ESV)

Philippians 2:9-11 - Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV)

It's all been created by Father God, through Jesus and for Jesus:

Colossians 1:15-20 - He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (ESV)

In Christ, there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free. Outside of Christ though, is a different story:

Colossians 3:11 - Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. (ESV)

20.5. Renovating vs Innovating

Isaiah 43:18-19 - Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (ESV)

star.net.nz: It's a new day for you

I think God wants us to be born-again and move on from the old life, not asking us to renovate our old life.

I Corinthians 5:7 - Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (ESV)

Matthew 16:25 - For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (ESV)

Renovating is seeking to establish ones own righteousness while not submitting to God's righteousness.

Following God's commandments is great - a person can renovate for a while but when presented with the Gospel of Jesus they must submit to God's righteousness and have faith in Jesus.

Romans 10:3-4 - For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (G4100 pisteuo has faith in Jesus).

Seek God's kingdom and His righteousness first of all:

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)

Renovating (bad):

  • Disobedient to the gospel
    • Pursues the fruit of righteousness but trying to establish a righteousness of their own without submitting to the righteousness of God.
    • Working for justification outside of faith / obedience
    • Tries to have the 'holiness' without Jesus.
    • Has not obeyed the gospel.
    • Never died with Jesus.
    • From God's perspective even when they forgive others, it's out of self-righteousness.
    • Forgiving is still good but they still need to submit to the righteousness of God, by believing and obeying the gospel of Jesus.

Romans 4:4 - Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.

The devil does not submit to Jesus. So anyone who doesn't submit to the righteousness of God, instead sides with the devil.

II Corinthians 11:14-15 - And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Innovating (good):

  • The fruit of the Spirit is fruit (it comes after receiving the Holy Spirit).
  • Obey the gospel for justification.
    • Christ is the head.
    • Died and rose with Jesus.
      • II Timothy 2:11-13 - The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
      • Ephesians 2:6 - and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
      • Colossians 2:12 - having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
        • Raised with Christ through faith in the powerful working of God.
      • Colossians 3:3 - For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
    • Now live to serve Christ.
      • II Corinthians 5:15 - and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
      • Colossians 3:1 - If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
    • Approaches Christ-likeness following Jesus.
    • Having accepted their own need of forgiveness, and having been forgiven then forgives others who don't even see their need of forgiveness.
    • freely forgives:
      • Matthew 18:21-22 - Then Peter came up and said to him, Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. (ESV)
    • forgives even those who do not see their need of forgiveness:
      • Luke 23:33-35 - And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One! (ESV)

Isaiah 43:18-19 - Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (ESV)

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (ESV)

We must forgive others the same way that God in Christ forgave us.

Colossians 2:14 - by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Luke 11:4 - and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.

It's necessary to submit to the righteousness of God:

  • You have accepted that you needed forgiveness from God.
  • You have accepted that it's through the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ that God has forgiven you, forgiving a debt which was impossible for you to pay.
  • Forgive others freely, knowing you've been forgiven of your sin. Give freely. Forgive the debt of others towards you. That looks like being a scapegoat and letting oneself be fleeced. Imagine you've just been born-again but noone else knows. You know you must forgive others. You know God can see your heart. Now all of a sudden people make these claims that you owe them X, Y and Z. You know you've been forgiven of a debt you were not able to pay. Now instead of contesting others on whether or not you owe them, you give freely. Seventy-times-seven.

Self-righteous forgiveness:

  • Conditional forgiveness (not freely)
  • Self-righteously forgive others as if you're perfectly innocent and of course they sinned against innocence by sinning against you
  • Without accepting that you needed the forgiveness which Jesus has paid through His blood, you then forgive others
    • This tries to establish one's own righteousness without submitting to the righteousness of God
  • Believing that you're already good with God and never needed Jesus
    • not prepared to forgive freely
    • but not having yet submitted to the fact that you need forgiveness from God.
    • Forgiving others is good to do, but without having truly accepted that you needed forgiveness yourself, you'd still be forgiving others out of debt to God.
    • I think it's impossible to have Christ's heart without having first accepted being forgiven by Jesus
  • Do not accept that one needs or ever needed forgiveness from God.
    • That actually means that person's forgiveness is at least a bit self-righteous (at least from God's perspective)
      • They do not give out of credit, but while indebted to God, they still give God what is due by forgiving others their offenses towards them
        • nevertheless, a person can never achieve perfect right standing with God without submitting to the righteousness of God through faith in Christ and accepting the atonement which Jesus has purchased through His blood

21. laws

  • Law of God
    • Great commandments
      • 1) To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and 2) love your neighbour as yourself (the Royal Law)
        • We should still endeavour to fulfill these by following Jesus:
          • Believe in Him, believe Him
          • Accept the atonement made by His blood, accept forgiveness from God
          • Love one another the same way He loved us
        • Jesus' Spirit helps us to fulfill the requirement of the law as we walk in His Spirit:
          • Romans 8:3-4 - For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (ESV)
      • Golden Rule
        • Living by the Golden Rule (or better, the Royal Law) still comes after having been forgiven by Jesus:
        • Matthew 7:12 - So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)
      • 10 Commandments
        • We should endeavour to remain faithful to God with these from the heart:
        • I John 5:21 - Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (ESV)
        • Matthew 5:28 - But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (ESV)
      • the 613 Mosaic laws
        • Romans 5:20 - Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, (ESV)
        • Galatians 5:18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (ESV)
      • the law of Christ
        • a law of faith
        • I John 1:6-7 - If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV)
        • Acts 13:38-39 - Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. (ESV)
        • John 15:12 - This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (ESV)
        • youtube.com: What Is the Law of Christ? Galatians 6:1-5, Part 2
        • We seek to love as Christ loved us. God loved us first. Love comes from God. We pass-forward love and forgiveness as we have been loved and forgiven first by God. As I understand it, to be led by the Spirit is when we are applying Jesus' commandments (Jesus is your Lord) obeying Jesus out of love and gratitude:
          • love one another as Christ has loved us
          • bearing our neighbours' burdens
          • obedient to Christ
          • belief in Christ's atoning sacrifice
          • we must forgive one another as Christ has forgiven you or face discipline
        • Required to satisfy the "Christ's love" criteria I believe are:
          • Our first agape love has to be Jesus
          • We love because God loved us first. We ought to love others because we have been loved by God
          • We forgive out of a loving response to God and to others, knowing we have already been forgiven of our debt
          • It must satisfy Christ's law
          • Acceptance comes at the beginning; Jesus gives us the benefit of the doubt
          • Be a servant; consider others more significant than yourself
          • Seek to do not harm to your neighbour
          • Bear one another's burdens without partiality
          • We should endeavour to love not just on occasion, but at all times, continually, as Jesus did, and give our all

OK, so being led by the Spirit, under the law of Christ, we still actually comply with the Law of God, and the law of Moses cannot condemn us.

Psalms 119:160 - The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (ESV)

So we must have Christ in us, and being led by the Spirit.

So we are under the law of Christ, which is a law of faith in Christ, and led by the Spirit to have the requirement of the Law fulfilled in us.

I'm with this guy:

The lawbreakers will be thrown into the fiery furnace:

Matthew 13:37-43 - He answered, The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Romans 3:26-27 - It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.

And faith intrinsically includes obedience to Christ.

21.1. The law of Christ

  • be led by the Spirit, applying Jesus' commandments (Jesus is your Lord)
    • love one another as Christ has loved you
    • bearing your neighbour's burdens
    • obedient to Christ
    • belief in Christ's atoning sacrifice
    • you must forgive one another as Christ has forgiven you

We have freedom from needing perfect law-keeping as a means of justification (i.e. for getting right with God):

Galatians 5:13-14 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
Justification by faith alone sets us free from law-keeping [as] a way of getting right with God. This justifying faith is the kind of faith that produces love. This love humbly, sacrificially serves others. Thus loving the neighbour as itself, this love fulfills the law. This faith-produced, neighbour-serving, law-fulfilling love is the "Law of Christ".
Summary
Faith-produced, law-fulfilling love as a result and fruit of justification replaces law-keeping as a cause and means of justification. This new fruit of faith-produced, law-fulfilling love is the law of Christ.

Galatians 5:18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Faith that from a good conscience with God produces Christ's love:

I Corinthians 16:13-14 - Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (ESV)

I Timothy 1:5 - The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (ESV)

Doing the will of God is what it means to be led by the Spirit of God:

Psalms 143:10 - Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! (ESV)

We must have obedient faith in Jesus, as God keeps His covenant with those who put their faith in Him:

Nehemiah 1:5 - And I said, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

We are under the law of Christ:

I Corinthians 9:21 - To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

Faith which produces love:

Galatians 5:6 - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (ESV)

Read
biblebrodown.com: Faith Produces Love

Faith which fulfills the law:

Galatians 5:14-16 - For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (ESV)

We must bear one another's burdens:

Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Romans 13:9-10 - The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)

Otherwise, the Son of Man will send his angels, and gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth:

Matthew 13:41-42 - The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We must forgive our family in Christ:

Luke 17:3-4 - Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, I repent, you must forgive him.

Colossians 3:13 - bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Majesty{Here I am} - Delirious

It's obedience which leads to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith:

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (ESV)

Thanks to Jesus' endurance, His spirit empowers us to live as He lived, and to be conformed to His image. Jesus wants us to practice His love, His faith, His commandments:

Hebrews 12:1-3 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (ESV)

This is Christ's law:

John 15:12 - This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (ESV)

We must have faith in Jesus to be justified by faith. God justifies the person who trusts in Jesus and I believe we should be doers of Christ's law (which is not outside the law of God, so we are doers of the law), and God justifies the person with the blood of Jesus. If we're trusting in Jesus then we're trusting in God who justifies the ungodly. We're not trusting in God to justify our ungodliness, but to justify us as we keep our faith in Jesus:

Romans 2:13-16 - For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

The faith that justifies works through love. Real saving faith that justifies and shows its reality; It has in it the power to produce love.

This love humbly, sacrificially, serves others.

The demons believe and tremble because they don't have the kind of faith that produces love:

James 2:19 - You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! (ESV)

God's strength does not guarantee that we will not suffer as a result of following Jesus. But God gives us the power at the time we need it to endure the suffering:

Hebrews 12:1-3 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (ESV)

Our love must be genuine. Obedience to Christ must be impartial and merciful, as God was to us:

James 2:8-13 - If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: What Is the Law of Christ? Galatians 6:1-5, Part 2

Amen. We seek to love as Christ loved us. God loved us first. Love comes from God. We pass-forward love and forgiveness as we have been loved and forgiven first by God. As I understand it, to be led by the Spirit is when we are applying Jesus' commandments (Jesus is your Lord) obeying Jesus out of love and gratitude:

  • love one another as Christ has loved us
  • bearing our neighbours' burdens
  • obedient to Christ
  • belief in Christ's atoning sacrifice
  • we must forgive one another as Christ has forgiven you or face discipline

Mercy comes from God:

Luke 6:36 - Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (ESV)

Also the merciful will receive mercy:

Matthew 5:7 - Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. (ESV)

We need to imitate God:

Ephesians 5:1-2 - Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (ESV)

The law-fulfilling love we produce as a result of justifying faith means we are not under the Mosaic law as our actions are law-fulfilling. If we have faith in Christ working through love then our actions are law-fulfilling. In other words, as we follow Jesus we are being led by His Spirit and we are not under the law. As we put our trust in Jesus for our justification, exercising obedience to Jesus, our obedient action is law-fulfilling, and since Jesus is our Lord and Master, we have Him as Advocate and High Priest to God and we can live in peace with God.

21.2. Doing the law and doing faith in Jesus are compatible. And with faith in Jesus we still seek to do the law but our justification comes by our faith in Jesus not by law-keeping

I Corinthians 7:19 - For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. (ESV)

Even as born-again Christians, keeping the 10 Commandments is very important. Just because we may be justified by faith in Jesus Christ doesn't mean that followers of Jesus obey unrighteousness. Followers of Jesus still obey righteousness:

Romans 1:29-2:13 - They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who do such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. (ESV)

The righteousness in the actual doing of the law above is still upheld but there is now the righteousness that is by faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, keeping the commandments of God and following Jesus are not mutually exclusive. And the law still describes what good behaviour looks like and what bad behaviour looks like. But through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, as we follow and place our faith in Jesus, obeying Jesus to repent from sin and to do good and to pass forward love and forgiveness, etc., we can be justified by our faith in Jesus. As we go on living, we keep our obedient believing faith in Jesus, and no longer want to rebel against God's law. Perfect compliance to the law is no longer the basis of our justification but we seek to not break the law:

Romans 3:21-31 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (ESV)

21.3. The law of the Spirit of life vs law of sin and death

Paul seems to refer to the Mosaic law as the ministry of death, and Paul refers to the ministry of the Spirit of Christ as giving life:

II Corinthians 3:6-9 - who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. (ESV)

The Law (Torah) came in to increase the tresspass:

Romans 5:19-21 - For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (ESV)

OK, so being baptised into Christ Jesus' death,

Romans 6:1-3 - What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (ESV)

with a death like His,

Romans 6:4-5 - We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (ESV)

our old self crucified,

Romans 6:6-9 - We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. (ESV)

we live to serve God now, but that isn't achieved by putting ourselves under the Torah, but it does mean obeying God through serving Christ:

Romans 6:10-11 - For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

We still must cease from sinning, and we must serve God, and follow Jesus' commandments, but we are under grace while we do this:

Romans 6:12-13 - Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. (ESV)

We are under grace now. We're not slaves to the Mosaic Law:

Romans 6:14-15 - For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! (ESV)

But we are obedient slaves now to righteousness, slaves of God, as slaves of Christ:

Romans 6:16-18 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (ESV)

We no longer present our members as slaves to impurity (sin):

Romans 6:19 - I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. (ESV)

There was no warring between the spirit and the flesh before I was born-again, and now while by the spirit I desire to comply with God's commandments with my mind, the flesh seems to rebel against the spirit:

Romans 6:20 - When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. (ESV)

Galatians 5:16-17 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (ESV)

My past behaviour would have led to death:

Romans 6:21 - But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. (ESV)

So we should be slaves to God now. But this doesn't mean putting ourselves 'under the Torah', because the spirit helps us to keep the higher precepts of the Law, to love God and our neighbour and follow Jesus Christ's commandments:

Romans 6:22-23- But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

Clearly there is a difference between actually keeping / complying with the commandments of God and placing oneself under the Torah, because a new creation still keeps the commandments of God:

Romans 2:29 - But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

I Corinthians 7:19 - For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. (ESV)

Also, Christ's law is within the Law of God:

I Corinthians 9:21 - To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

The Spirit helps us to actually fulfill the requirement of the Law. We do this not putting ourself under the Torah as a yoke of slavery, but by walking according to the Spirit, being a slave to Christ Jesus:

Romans 8:4 - in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (ESV)

OK, so in Christ Jesus, having received the Spirit, being a slave of Christ, being yoked to Christ, we are set free:

Galatians 5:1 - For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (ESV)

The Law (Torah), though it still exists, shouldn't be our Master once we are placed into the body of Christ and receive the Spirit:

Romans 7:1-3 - Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? Thus a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. (ESV)

Having died to the Law (Torah) through the body of Christ - so that we may belong to another, Christ:

Romans 7:4 - Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. (ESV)

We die to the Law to be slaves of God with Christ in us.

If we live in the flesh, then the Law (Torah) arouses our sinful passions:

Romans 7:5 - For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. (ESV)

We no longer serve God under the old written code but we now serve Him in the new life of the Spirit:

Romans 7:6 - But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit. (ESV)

When Paul mentions 'commandment' here, he's talking about "You shall not covet":

Romans 7:7 - What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, You shall not covet. (ESV)

Knowledge of the Torah appears to 'make sin come alive'. Paul mentions the Law (Torah) as including the commandments:

Romans 7:8-11 - But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. (ESV)

OK, so the Law (Torah) and the commandments within are holy and righteous and good, but because of the sin in us, the commandments exposes the sin in us, and even causes it to manifest.

OK, so the way the Law (Torah) currently still exists, while true, is used for us as some kind of means of exposing sin:

Romans 7:12-13 - So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. (ESV)

Sin dwells in the flesh and fights against complying with God's commandments:

Romans 7:14-17 - For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (ESV)

In our minds we desire to do what is right by the 10 commandments / Mosaic Law but our flesh creates problems in carrying it out:

Romans 7:18-24 - For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (ESV)

The tragedy is the flesh serves the law of sin, but in with our mind we serve the law of God, but we actually just follow Christ Jesus who has done it already perfectly, and this means we don't make the Mosaic Law our way of life, but we make Jesus our way of life:

Romans 7:25 - Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV)

Christ Jesus, our Lord is our righteousness. We serve Christ Jesus:

I Corinthians 1:30 - He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. (ESV)

We want to do what is right and we don't accept condemnation for when sin in our flesh does the evil:

Romans 8:1-2 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (ESV)

Sin in the flesh has been condemned. We walk according to the Spirit:

Romans 8:3-4 - For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (ESV)

Law of the Spirit: We must set our minds on the things of the Spirit:

Romans 8:5-6 - For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (ESV)

We focus on the things of the Spirit, instead of the Torah, and we will naturally comply with God's precepts, his law, etc.:

Romans 8:7 - For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. (ESV)

We are in the Spirit now, not the flesh, and we have Christ in us, and we are not our own, by belong to Christ:

Romans 8:8-9 - Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (ESV)

I Corinthians 3:23 - and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. (ESV)

II Corinthians 5:16 - From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. (ESV)

Christ is alive in us. The body is dead because of sin:

Romans 8:10-12 - But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. (ESV)

We still have to stop sinning, but this isn't by placing ourselves under the Torah. It's by getting baptised into Christ, serving God, being slaves of Christ, being led by the Spirit, doing the will of God that we put sin to death:

Romans 8:13-17 - For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)

Romans 9:30-33 - What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame. (ESV)

Paul prays for Israel to be saved, saying they have a zeal for God, but not by actual knowledge of God:

Romans 10:1-3 - Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.

OK, so we need to submit to God's righteousness, and that means having faith in God for what He has done sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sin and raising Him for our justification.

We need to receive the Spirit of God:

Romans 8:9 - You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (ESV)

We can still have the righteousness based on faith:

Romans 10:4 - For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (ESV)

Instead of thinking we must make the Torah our way of life, we simply make Jesus our Lord and Saviour:

Romans 10:5-9 - For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down) or Who will descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (ESV)

This is submitting to the righteousness of God:

Romans 10:10- For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (ESV)

21.4. The Torah

The Torah is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The Torah is known as the Pentateuch or the Five Books of Moses by Christians.

II Timothy 3:12-17 - Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (ESV)

Keeping to the precepts of the law is great, and making yourself accountable to God with it, is great.

Proverbs 28:9 - If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. (ESV)

Even as Christ-followers, living righteously by loving God and our neighbour, and putting a stop to sin is what we are called to do, and the Torah (law of God) teaches us a lot about how to do that:

Psalms 1:1-3 - Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (ESV)

Here, Paul actually argues for keeping the precepts of the Torah, and relates actually keeping the precepts to those who have been circumcised in the heart. Being a 'Jew' inwardly is unbound by time:

Romans 2:25-29 - For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

I believe what Paul says here is that Christians who observe and follow the Torah in faith, not works, not being under it (because it doesn't condemn us while we are under Christ's law), but making themselves accountable to God over it, to receive praise from God, are Christian Jews. But we don't Judaise Gentiles. And we follow Jesus Christ above all. We are slaves to Jesus Christ, not the Mosaic Law.

Luke 16:15-17 - And he said to them, You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

I Kings 11:38 - And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.

youtube.com: Put to Death the Deeds of the Body @time: 44 min 0 sec
Inheriting the world is huge and Therefore, don't worry too much about whether you or God's redeemed Israel (not secular Israel) will one day inherit Israel, which they will, along with the world.

22. Whoever puts their faith in Jesus, puts their faith in God

We must follow Jesus, similarly to how the Israelites followed Moses through the Red Sea - it requires action.

John 12:44-50 - And Jesus cried out and said, Whoever believes (G4100 pisteuo) in me, believes (G4100 pisteuo) not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me. (ESV)

This is similar to how the Israelites trusted in Moses, and they actually were trusting in God.

Exodus 14:14-16 - The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. (ESV)

Exodus 14:21-22 - Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. (ESV)

Exodus 14:31 - When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed (H539 'aman) in the Lord and in His servant Moses. (ESV)

23. As we hold our faith in Christ, living for Christ, we will not have to worry about perfect compliance to the law

Galatians 5:16 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (ESV)

Trust, believe, obey, cleave to Jesus:

John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (ESV)

At the end of the day, it's all about trusting Jesus. So belief is the most important part of faith I think.

James, like all the other Apostles, still instructs us to obey Jesus - to obey the gospel:

James 1:21-24 - Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. (ESV)

Doing the law is actually OK - it's compliance, and it's honestly not bad - there are blessings involved with doing the law.

Without atonement, the law will begin to hurt us as we sin. We need to hold faith in Jesus:

Romans 7:10 - The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. (ESV)

As we walk in the light, as He is in the light, that is in the Truth, walking in, believing, professing and obeying Jesus Christ in Truth, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin:

I John 1:6-7 - If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV)

There's nothing wrong with doing what the law requires (God can see):

Romans 2:13-16 - For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers (4163. poiétés) of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

So there is the righteousness that is of 'continuing to do/comply with' the Mosaic law. But the Mosaic law doesn't save. But Jesus does save:

Galatians 3:12 - But the law is not of faith, rather The one who does them shall live by them. (ESV)

And there is the righteousness that is of 'holding faith' with God; This is still possible while doing the law:

Romans 9:30-33 - What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame. (ESV)

The righteousness of 'holding faith' with God is where we believe God, trust God, hold onto His promises, and obedience naturally comes out of trusting God, but it's trusting God first and foremost, and we trust God that Jesus is propitiation for our sin as we hold faith in Jesus:

Hebrews 10:38 - but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. (ESV)

Paul is really emphasising the importance of maintaining that Jesus has set us free from slavery even of having the law as master over us, in order to be found in Him, serving and loving Him - holding faith in Him, and we will naturally obey Him if we truly do trust Him, and our justification comes from holding faith in Jesus. I believe Paul says all things are lawful for him because He serves Christ. He's been washed and sanctified and He's actively serving Christ and Christ is directing him and he's being led by the Holy Spirit as an ambassador, he is following Jesus and thus he is not under the law, but instead of the law being his master, Christ is his Master; thus Paul is under the law of Christ. He still warns against sinful practices which we must stop. If we are really following Jesus then we will naturally stop these sinful practices, and if we fall short but we are holding our faith in Jesus then we are still acceptable. Jesus has us covered as our Master is Jesus:

I Corinthians 6:9-12 - Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: Do All Things for the Glory of God {1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1}

I think he's also saying people who practice these things are not serving Christ (it certainly doesn't sound like the type of behaviour of people who have been washed and sanctified and living to serve Jesus as their Lord and Saviour) so they wont (future tense) inherit the kingdom of God. We have to be serving Christ and then while we are serving Christ, we have freedom. We don't have freedom when we are outside of serving Christ. We have to be being led by Christ to not be under the law of Moses. But also Gentiles should not be Judaised and put under the law of Moses because Jesus has set us free from the law of Moses to serve Him:

  • sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers…

I Corinthians 10:27 - If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. (ESV)

Jesus' disciples were obediently serving Jesus and while they were doing what Jesus said, the following totally applies. We live in faith as we are serving Jesus:

Luke 10:8 - Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. (ESV)

I Corinthians 6:12 - All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything. (ESV)

Romans 14:17-22 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. (ESV)

Mark 7:18-19 - And he said to them, Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled? (Thus he declared all foods clean.) (ESV)

We should seek to build one another up rather than damage our neighbour's faith in Jesus by issues of of law compliance. If they serve Christ they are acceptable to God:

I Corinthians 10:23 - All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. (ESV)

The work of God in trusting in Jesus:

John 6:29 - Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent. (ESV)

If they hold a good conscience with God and hold genuine faith in Jesus Christ, we don't want to damage that. If they're fulfilling Christ's law (i.e. loving one another with Christ's love), that should be acceptable to the brethren:

Romans 13:8 - Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. (ESV)

II Corinthians 3:6 - who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (ESV)

I still think that fulfilling Christ's law is important but actually the most important thing is having a saving faith in Jesus which is trusting on God's promises, and we have Jesus' righteousness if we are found in Jesus:

There is a lawful way of using the law, and that's to actually comply with it ourself. But using it to judge others is not being compliant with the law, it's being a judge of it:

I Timothy 1:8 - Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, (ESV)

James 4:12 - There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? (ESV)

But endeavoring to comply with the law doesn't save a person, only having faith in Jesus saves, because through faith in Jesus, we have His blood as atonement for our sin, and through obedience to Jesus, He helps us to escape sinful thoughts and practices, and to behave in a way that approaches God's will for us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and our neighbour as ourself.

23.1. We should observe the law - but be a doer, and avoid judging others with the law

Matthew 23:2-7 - The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: How Preachers Grow Graceless

Proverbs 28:9 - If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. (ESV)

24. Mosaic Law, and progressing from having hope in Moses to having hope in Jesus

I enjoyed this video, but I still am of the opinion that keeping the Mosaic law is not necessary, placing oneself under it (to adhere strictly to it) is contrary to grace, but following it by faith (receiving our justification from Jesus by obedience to Jesus) is not prohibited, so long as it is pursued by faith and submitting to God's righteousness:

Acts 3:18 - But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. (ESV)

Christians follow Jesus first and foremost:

Matthew 12:3-8 - He said to them, Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.

Christians wish to comply with the law of God and do so in their mind, but know that the flesh is hostile to the law:

Romans 7:25 - Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV)

Christians comply with the law by faith, not works:

Luke 6:9 - And Jesus said to them, I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it? (ESV)

God's commandments through Jesus is within the Law of God. Faith in Jesus is how we comply with the law of God:

I Corinthians 9:21 - To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. (ESV)

Christians do not Judaize (Christians do not instruct Gentiles to conform to Judaism):

Ignatius to the Magnesians 10 - Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness. For were He to reward us according to our works, we should cease to be. Therefore, having become His disciples, let us learn to live according to the principles of Christianity. For whosoever is called by any other name besides this, is not of God. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the sour leaven, and be ye changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ. Be ye salted in Him, lest any one among you should be corrupted, since by your savour ye shall be convicted. It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus, and to Judaize. For Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism Christianity, that so every tongue which believeth might be gathered together to God.

I read the following as, as we have faith in Jesus, following Him, where we have fallen short, Jesus has covered us, but we still try to live righteously. We still live with faith in God.

And when we continue to sin, Jesus is our High Priest and Advocate, and covers us, as we continue to have faith in Him.

The 10 Commandments and the 2 Great commandments are special because when followed from the heart they show people how to love God and one's neighbour.

And we are commanded (even as Christians not under the law) to love our neighbours:

John 15:16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (ESV)

I John 3:21-24 - Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

The rest of the Mosaic law is still useful for training in righteousness. It shows people how to live in obedience to God and in love for God and one's neighbour. But we are not under the Mosaic law, but we are under the law of Christ. We have faith in Christ.

We can pursue the righteousness that is through faith (G4100 pisteuo) in Jesus Christ:

Polycarp 8:1
Let us therefore without ceasing hold fast by our hope and by the earnest of our righteousness, which is Jesus Christ who took up our sins in His own body upon the tree, who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth, but for our sakes He endured all things, that we might live in Him.

We must set our hope on Jesus, not on Moses.

John 5:45 - Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. (ESV)

Acts 7:35 - “This Moses whom they disowned, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush.

Moses wrote about Jesus:

Acts 7:37 - This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren.’

Moses said we must listen to Jesus:

Deuteronomy 18:15-19 - The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen — just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die. And the LORD said to me, They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. (ESV)

Acts 7:52-55 - Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;

James, like all the other Apostles, still instructs us to obey Jesus - to obey the gospel:

James 1:21-24 - Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. (ESV)

We must obey Jesus:

Romans 10:4 - For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (G4100 pisteuo has faith in Jesus).

(G4100 pisteuo) is practicing faith.

This means, yes that by practicing faith in Jesus, we can pursue righteousness - Jesus' righteousness given to us.

II Peter 1:1 - Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

We obtain a strong faith by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

This requires obedience to Jesus:

John 15:16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (ESV)

A person must receive the word:

  • and not fall away
  • and not let worldly desire distract from, and inhibit following and seeking Jesus
  • and bear fruit

Mark 4:14-20 - The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.

Because we keep His commandments, we receive from him whatever we ask. And our heart does not condemn us. And we have confidence before God.

Hebrews 13:18 - Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. (ESV)

By this we know he abides in us:

  • He has given us His Spirit.

I John 3:21-24 - Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

We abide in Him, and He in us.

We keep His commandments, and we abide in Him:

John 15:10 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (ESV)

We are in Jesus Christ. Eternal life is in Jesus Christ:

I John 5:20 - And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (ESV)

By having an obedient, trusting faith (which fundamentally includes belief) in Jesus, following, we have Jesus' righteousness.

I read this as we are under grace and not under the Mosaic law, but we must bear fruit of repentance from disbelief and sin, and becoming good instead of evil, bearing fruit in our life which glorifies God in our bodies, hearts and deeds:

  • obedience leads to righteousness
  • slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification
    • at its end, eternal life

Romans 6:13-23 - Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

25. Commandments and faith

Faith receives, even the free gift of eternal life from God:

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)

Romans 11:29 - For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (ESV)

Isaiah 55:11 - so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (ESV)

Love gives:

I Corinthians 13:13 - So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (ESV)

Acts 20:35 - In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (ESV)

There's no law against love:

I Corinthians 13:1 - If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (ESV)

Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV)

youtube.com: How to Restore a Sinning Saint: Galatians 6:1-5, Part 1 @time: 4 min 54 sec
This is an illustration of why we need specific commandments. Remember last time I argued that it's not enough to say, "Walk by the Spirit." You need specific illustrations, and this (Galatians 6:1-5) is a good example of that. Suppose somebody said, "No, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, meekness, gentleness, self-control. If we live by those, we wont get in other people's lives and make lives miserable for them, and bring out their sin into the open. How would you answer that? We would answer it by saying, "Look, the Holy Spirit Himself in chapter 6, verse 1 of Galatians has told us that is not a right application of the fruit of the Spirit. You are drawing inferences from the fruit of the Spirit that are unbiblical; They're unfaithful. That's why we need the whole Scripture, not just vague statements about walking according to the Spirit or walking in love. We need specifics, and this is a specific. If you find somebody in transgression, love is not passive. Love does not turn away. Love doesn't sweep it under the rug." - Rather, you who are spiritual (walking by the Spirit) should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. The spiritual person is bearing fruit of the Spirit. They are walking by the Spirit. They are keeping in step with the Spirit.

There's certainly no law against God's commandments:

I John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (ESV)

Revelation of John 14:12 - Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

I read this as 'A saint is someone who has faith in Jesus and keeps His commandments (pursuing by faith, not works), and keeps the commandments of God'. A saint is someone who has faith in Jesus and also loves as God commanded.

I read the commandments as being the Great commandments, 10 Commandments and faith in Jesus Christ, and potentially various other commandments from the Mosaic law if you know about them, or whatever subset a person practices by faith making themself accountable to God.

Keep in mind that God commanded us to listen to Jesus, and Jesus' commandments came from God, so as long as a person is keeping Jesus' commandments, they are also keeping the requirement of God's commandments, but there are many commandments of God, even in the Torah.

Galatians 5:14 - For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

AMEN!! Loving your neighbour as yourself involves forgiving your neighbour, and not bearing a grudge.

But people can take this to the point of laying down one's life for their friends:

John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. (ESV)

But the Mosaic Law, if it's pursued at all, should be pursued by faith and not by works, and it's not pursued for justification. Justification comes from faith in Christ.

We may abide in Jesus' love by keeping His commandments, and we may abide in Father God's love by keeping His commandments. A saint, I think is someone who does this:

John 15:10 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (ESV)

John 16:27 - for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. (ESV)

Romans 9:30-32 - What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, (ESV)

25.0.1. Christians do not Judaize (Christians do not instruct Gentiles to conform to Judaism)

Ignatius to the Magnesians 10 - Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness. For were He to reward us according to our works, we should cease to be. Therefore, having become His disciples, let us learn to live according to the principles of Christianity. For whosoever is called by any other name besides this, is not of God. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the sour leaven, and be ye changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ. Be ye salted in Him, lest any one among you should be corrupted, since by your savour ye shall be convicted. It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus, and to Judaize. For Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism Christianity, that so every tongue which believeth might be gathered together to God.

25.0.2. Jesus' commandments don't contradict the rest of the commandments

Also God's commandments (especially the 10 Commandments; loving God and your neighbour) are still binding on us - written on our heart when we get born-again and after being born-again we follow them in Spirit, but they don't bind on us in a way that condemns us if we break them, but we want to follow them.

Jesus fulfilled the law => We have the Spirit of Christ => We are led by the Spirit and naturally want to follow the law in faith but the world opposes us because when a person actually follows the commandments, they do not lie, do not commit adultery, do not commit idolatry, etc. and that means a person can be 'taken advantage of' by unfaithful people who do not obey God's commandments but exploit others who follow God.

But we neither pursue the law by works, nor seek it to be justified. We are freed from being under the law, and free from the curse of the law to serve and obey God in actuality, being under God's grace.

Romans 7:6 - But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit. (ESV)

I think that being led by the Spirit is still acting in a way that without observing the law is technically compliant with the law, and that is because we are led by the Spirit.

Romans 14:18 - Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

By being led by the Spirit, we are not under the law. And we have Jesus Christ as our Advocate and High Priest.

I John 2:1 - My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Nevertheless, when we judge others by the law, we're judged by the same standard.

Matthew 7:1 - Judge not, that you be not judged. (ESV)

But if someone judges you by the law, it seems right to submit to the law, unless it is that you are actually being obedient to Jesus (being led by the Spirit / following Jesus' commandments), in which you should carry on being obedient to Jesus. The law is meant for sinners.

Matthew 23:2-3 - The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. (ESV)

We then may observe the law and keep it in faith, accountable to God for it, seeking God's approval, and do not teach others to annul even the smallest commandment, and as we are led by the Spirit (obeying and following Jesus) we are not under the law, nor under its curse, and we are not seeking to be justified by the law, and if we are being obedient servants of Jesus then we naturally submit to / comply with God's law.

Romans 8:7 - For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. (ESV)

When someone uses the law to judge, comply if they are right, but do not act like the hypocrites.

John 7:24 - Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.

Matthew 23:2-7 - The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you —but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. (ESV)

But the mind set on the Spirit does submit to God's law meaning that they may walk in God's statues, and therefore the mind set on the Spirit is not hostile to God.

Ezekiel 11:19-20 - And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 4:13 - And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone.

Romans 10:5 - For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.

Romans 13:9 - The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

There's no contradiction between what the 10 commandments say and loving one's neighbour, i.e. for the way in which we must live entering into life.

Psalms 103:17-19 - But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

Romans 5:1-6 - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

25.0.3. However, we must submit to God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ - this is what saves

It's not with the mind that a person believes, but with the heart:

Romans 10:6-13 - But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down) or Who will descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes (G4100 pisteuo) and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

But what does it take for the heart to truly believe? Because that's the condition. When the heart truly believes, a person is obedient.

More obedience may still need to take place for that individual to arrive at justifying faith, and God may be allowing you to come to your faith.

It does say 'you will be saved', not 'you are saved'.

And the word confess I think means to admit with repentance - an admission of guilt to God and change of mind resulting in confessing that Jesus is Lord and that God indeed raised Him from the dead, and that you needed Him to do so, because His name means Jesus (The LORD Saves), Christ (Annointed Messiah, Saviour), Son of God.

If a person confesses this truthfully, they professes that they submit to the righteousness of God.

That's a little bit loaded. It results in a heart growing in obedience towards God, and agreement with God over His precepts and His Truth.

Also, when confessing sin, a person is agreeing with God's precepts.

And I believe it's the resulting obedience to God that ends up saving that person, even if that obedience hasn't produced any work yet other than belief. God is the one that saves and justifies.

Then Jesus hits us with this:

John 15:16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Ephesians 1:4 - even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

So while we might think we have done something, God had planned it in advance, and the entire thing is grace - but that doesn't mean from our perspective it does not look like we need to obey God - because we still need to have faith and do something. And if we don't do anything then we are asking God to do it for us.

Since the Bible does not teach that all people will be saved because they remain disobedient, I think we should teach people that they should do something; That they should repent from sin and they should repent from unbelief if they want to be saved from sin and leading to death, and if they want to enter into the light of the truth, and enter into a relationship with God.

The root of disobedience/rebellion is unbelief/denial.

John 20:27-28 - Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe. Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God!

Jesus helped Thomas believe by giving him a commandment to do. It's implied that Thomas obeyed and arrived at belief:

John 20:29-31 - Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Mark 6:11 - And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.

25.0.4. Abraham's faith is a pattern for us

Abraham believed God's promise of his inheritance:

Genesis 12:1-3 - Now the LORD said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (ESV)

Genesis 26:4 - I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, (ESV)

We trust Jesus for our inheritance, which is eternal life:

Matthew 19:29 - And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. (ESV)

The promise is eternal life which is knowing and never being disconnected from God, our source of life, the One True God, Father God, and Jesus, God's Son:

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (ESV)

To be justified, a person must have the faith like Abraham's but in God the Father of Christ Jesus, and our faith is in Christ Jesus as Father God sent Jesus.

Sermon
youtube.com: What Do We Believe?

We trust/believe in the one true God who raised Jesus Christ our Lord from the dead. We have peace with God through trusting faith:

Romans 4:23-25,5:1-2 - But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (ESV)

We have faith in Almighty God who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Our faith is modeled on Abraham's faith:

Romans 4:16-17 - That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, I have made you the father of many nations—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. (ESV)

By faith Abraham trusted God, was faithful to God, believed God and obeyed God. So the faith has the fruit of walking in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. I think it is especially necessary for those who are circumcised (under the law) to maintain the faith of Abraham:

Romans 4:9-12 - Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Read
answersingenesis.org: 2292. Abraham, A Pattern For Believers | Answers in Genesis

Abraham is the father of the faithful.

Our faith still follows the pattern of Abraham:

I Peter 3:5-6 - For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. (ESV)

In Christ Jesus, only faith working through love matters (the type of faith that produces love), not circumcision, nor uncircumcision, but faith in Jesus Christ, working through love:

Galatians 5:2-6 - Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (ESV)

The faith which we have that produces love, we have in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Romans 5:1-2 - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (ESV)

25.0.5. Love never ends. Jesus' words never end.

1 Corinthians 13:8 - Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. (ESV)

Matthew 24:35 - Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (ESV)

Luke 16:16-17 - The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void. (ESV)

25.0.6. The new heavens and new earth

This is cool:

Isaiah 65:17 - For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.

I personally am holding out for an entirely new heavens and earth:

I Corinthians 7:29-31 - This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (ESV)

We are waiting for a new heavens and earth in which righteousness dwells:

II Peter 3:5-7 - For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. (ESV)

The passing away of the heavens and earth looks like the destruction of the present heavens and earth, including the planets, galaxies, etc. and the works done on earth will be exposed. It's an extreme event:

II Peter 3:10 - But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. (ESV)

The Works of Philo Judaeus, Philo of Alexandria (20BC - 50AD), On the Life of Moses II
But the enactments of this lawgiver are firm, not shaken by commotions, not liable to alteration, but stamped as it were with the seal of nature herself, and they remain firm and lasting from the day on which they were first promulgated to the present one, and there may well be a hope that they will remain to all future time, as being immortal, as long as the sun and the moon, and the whole heaven and the whole world shall endure.

The first heaven and first earth pass away and there is a new heaven and a new earth with no suffering. In the new heaven and new earth, the former things have passed away:

  • death is no more, and
  • there is no mourning,
  • nor crying,
  • nor pain.

Revelation of John 21:1-5 - Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. Also he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. (ESV)

I believe though, that the LORD is making an entirely new heavens and a new earth.

Isaiah 66:22 - For as the new heavens and the new earth that I makeshall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your offspring and your name remain.

II Peter 3:13 - But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Revelation of John 21:1-7 - Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. Also he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. And he said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Revelation of John 22:12-14 - Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. (ESV)

25.0.7. Being sanctified in the Truth

Within Christ, Jesus, the head of the body of Christ, has the perfect vision:

Matthew 7:3-5 - Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (ESV)

Then You have Father God, who as Jesus was in the flesh and at that time, Jesus referred to as having knowledge of the end, which Jesus, God's Son, didn't have in that moment:

Matthew 24:36 - But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. (ESV)

I believe that Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega. This declaration in Revelation shows that Jesus now sees the end:

Revelation of John 22:13-15 - I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (ESV)

Revelation of John 3:14 - And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. (ESV)

Acts 7:56 - And he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Chris Tomlin - How Great Is Our God {Live In Nashville 2022} ft. Hillsong UNITED

Philippians 2:9-11 - Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV)

AMEN!!

Jesus Christ has the name above all names. Jesus Christ is Lord! Jesus Christ is Jehovah. Jesus Christ is Immanuel. AMEN!!

25.0.8. A study on the pronunciation of Yhvh, the proper name of the God of Israel

biblehub.com 3-16.htm: Malachi 3:16 Interlinear: Then have those fearing Jehovah spoken one to another, And Jehovah doth attend and hear, And written is a book of memorial before Him Of those fearing Jehovah, And of those esteeming His name.
Then spoke those who feared Yahweh one to another and listened Yahweh and heard [them] so was written a book of remembrance before Him for those who fear Yahweh and who meditate on His name
 1: 227  1696             3372             3068        376  854
 2: ’āz  niḏ·bə·rū        yir·’ê           Yah·weh     ’îš  ’eṯ-
 3: אָ֧ז   נִדְבְּר֛וּ            יִרְאֵ֥י             יְהוָ֖ה        אִ֣ישׁ  אֶת־
 4: Then spoke            those who feared Yahweh      one  to
 5: Adv  V‑Nifal‑Perf‑3cp Adj‑mpc          N‑proper‑ms N‑ms Prep
 6: 
 7:   7453          7181                              3068
 8:   rê·‘ê·hū;     way·yaq·šêḇ                       Yah·weh
 9: 、 רֵעֵ֑הוּ        、 וַיַּקְשֵׁ֤ב                             יְהוָה֙
10:   another       and listened                      Yahweh
11:   N‑msc | 3ms   Conj‑w | V‑Hifil‑ConsecImperf‑3ms N‑proper‑ms
12: 
13: 8085                            3789
14: way·yiš·mā‘,                    way·yik·kā·ṯêḇ
15: וַיִּשְׁמָ֔ע                           וַ֠יִּכָּתֵב
16: and heard [them]                so was written
17: Conj‑w | V‑Qal‑ConsecImperf‑3ms Conj‑w | V‑Nifal‑ConsecImperf‑3ms
18: 
19: 5612   2146           6440                 3372
20: sê·p̄er zik·kā·rō·wn   lə·p̄ā·nāw            lə·yir·’ê
21: סֵ֣פֶר    זִכָּר֤וֹן          לְפָנָיו֙                לְיִרְאֵ֣י
22: a book of remembrance before Him           for those who fear
23: N‑msc  N‑ms           Prep‑l | N‑cpc | 3ms Prep‑l | Adj‑mpc
24: 
25:   3068        2803                                8034
26:   Yah·weh,    ū·lə·ḥō·šə·ḇê                       šə·mōw.
27: 、 יְהוָ֔ה        וּלְחֹשְׁבֵ֖י                            . שְׁמֽוֹ׃
28:   Yahweh      and who meditate                    on His name
29:   N‑proper‑ms Conj‑w, Prep‑l | V‑Qal‑Prtcpl‑mpc   N‑msc | 3ms
ὄνομα ónoma, on'-om-ah
from a presumed derivative of the base of G1097 (compare G3685); a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character):—called, (+ sur-)name(-d).
(no term)
youtube.com: Where did the name "Jesus" come from?
(no term)
youtube.com: Is the name of God pronounced Yehovah?

25.0.9. The Mosaic law is not abolished but Jesus fulfilled it like a prophesy

Luke 16:17 - But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

The righteousness we have through faith in Jesus Christ is needed whether someone keeps the Mosaic law or not.

Not that I keep the Mosaic law in its entirety, nor are circumcised. But I try to keep the Great commandments and the 10 Commandments out of faith (and a relationship with God) and follow parts of the Mosaic law, but I have faith in Jesus Christ for the righteousness that comes through faith because I need that because my own righteousness will never be enough without faith in Jesus for God's righteousness imputed to me.

Thank You God.

And I follow pursue the commandments by faith and not works.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)

A person must be at least willing to do His will - obedience is at the essence of faith:

John 7:17 - If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.

There is still obedience required. Obedience is intrinsic to faith. The Israelites didn't "work for God" to be saved from the Egyptians, but they "walked obediently for God":

Exodus 14:14-16 - The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.

AMEN!!

Galatians 2:17 – But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! (ESV)

AMEN!!

Romans 10:3-4 - For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

This is why we are not under the law because we have the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ.

But we are under the law of faith in Christ.

And we are supposed to keep the commandments by pursuing them in faith.

If we teach others to annul even the least of the commandments and annul them ourselves, this I don't think condemn us but is prideful and result in being called the least in the Kingdom.

Matthew 5:19 - Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

25.0.10. A person must begin repenting of sin and have a faithful heart towards God to receive the Holy Spirit

Acts 8:9: But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.

Acts 8:18-21 - Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

I John 3:24 - Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

Galatians 3:14 - so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

25.0.11. I believe the 10 commandments are special, and Jesus calls us to follow them from the heart

Otherwise why would God make a distinction in Exodus 16 between commandments (mitsvah) and instructions/law (towrah)?

Genesis 26:5 - because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. (ESV)

Exodus 15:26 - saying, If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer. (ESV)

Exodus 16:28 - And the Lord said to Moses, How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? (ESV)

Exodus 16:28 - Then the Lord (H3068 Yhovah) said (H559 'amar) to Moses (H4872 Mosheh), “How (H575 'an) long (H5704 `ad) do you refuse (H3985 ma'en) to keep (H8104 shamar) My commandments (H4687 mitsvah) and My instructions (H8451 towrah)? (NASB)

Exodus 20:5 - You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, (ESV)

Exodus 20:6 - but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (ESV)

Exodus 34:28 - So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. (ESV)

I John 3:24 - Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

  1. The Apostles also placed requirements on the Gentiles similar to the 10 commandments

    Acts 15:28-29 - For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

25.0.12. Faith in Jesus justifies but Jesus helps us to follow the commandments

Mark 10:27 - Jesus looked at them and said, With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.

25.0.13. Grace from Jesus is essential. Faith in Jesus is essential, even for the one who pursues the law

Galatians 5:4 - You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

I John 2:1 - My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

25.0.14. The doers of the law are justified. Jesus judges. No-one can be justified without faith

Actually complying with the law (not breaking it) is good:

Romans 2:13-16 - For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers (4163. poiétés) of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

James 4:11-12 - Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? (ESV)

  1. I still think there is hope for people who do what the law requires, and have not yet heard the gospel

    I Timothy 4:10-11 - For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.

    Romans 10:3-4 - For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

    I Peter 3:18-21 - For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

    I Thessalonians 4:14 - For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

    Romans 10:12-21 - For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry. Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me. But of Israel he says, All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.

25.0.15. Faith in Jesus essential to even those who pursue the law, but the law is still pursued

Romans 3:28-31 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

That's not a contradiction.

Jesus helps us to follow the law and where we fall short it's still faith in Jesus that justifies because Jesus is our advocate and High Priest.

Also, I think there's a difference between the commandments (10 and 2) and the full Mosaic law (613 laws).

Exodus 16:28 - Then the Lord (H3068 Yhovah) said (H559 'amar) to Moses (H4872 Mosheh), “How (H575 'an) long (H5704 `ad) do you refuse (H3985 ma'en) to keep (H8104 shamar) My commandments (H4687 mitsvah) and My instructions (H8451 towrah)? (NASB)

26. The Old Testament makes a person wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, and is profitable for training in righteousness:

Old Testament theology is supposed to be profitable for:

  • becoming wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus
  • doctrine
  • reproof
  • correction
  • training in righteousness

For example, Deuteronomy 28:47-48 shows that when serving God it should be out of joy in Him. It is correct that we should have joy in God and that out of that joy we delight in God and that overflows into sharing the love of God to others. We must come to a place where we see this law as correct. It's an important one.

We are supposed to serve God out of joy!

Deuteronomy 28:47-48 - Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you. (ESV)

Jesus Christ is the bread from heaven:

John 21:15-17 - When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him, Feed my lambs. He said to him a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him, Tend my sheep. He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Do you love me? and he said to him, Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep.

The original Apostles were instructed to feed Jesus' sheep with the living bread that is Jesus Christ. Likewise, in living testimony we should teach others to walk the way of righteousness:

John 6:33 - For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

II Timothy 3:12-17 - Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (ESV)

2 Timothy 3:15-16 - and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (ESV)

Torah means instruction for righteousness.

27. Jesus allowed himself to be baptised by John for the fulfillment of all righteousness

Matthew 3:11-17 - I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? But Jesus answered him, Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. (ESV)

28. Jesus fulfilled the law

  • Who gave Moses the law and the instructions to build the tabernacle? God did.
    • The blueprints came from God.
  • The Law, the Psalms and the Prophets all point to Jesus.
  • Moses wrote about Jesus.
  • Jesus fulfilled the Law and the prophecies.

We still follow the law but by faith and not by works.

We keep accountability with God, and in truth over following the law - God knows when we lie, cheat, commit adultery, idolise etc. We follow the law in truth. Jesus fulfilled the law. Jesus' blood is the atonement for sin. So we go to Jesus for forgiveness instead of perform the ceremonial law to try to make atonement for sin.

This looks like an interesting resource about that - Exodus 25-40 The Tabernacle as a Type of Jesus Christ

28.1. Don't be deceived: Keeping commandments isn't the same thing as placing oneself under the Mosaic law for justification. We're commanded to obey Jesus, and that matters

I Corinthians 7:17-19 - Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

28.2. Justified by faith alone - faith is obedient

Martin Luther - “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.”

Luke 16:16 - The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. (ESV)

Galatians 3:19-29 - Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (ESV)

The Scripture imprisoned everything under sin. Before faith came, we were held captive under the law.

Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus, we are all sons of God through faith.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ - heirs according to promise:

Galatians 3:26-29 - for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (ESV)

All who a) believe without being circumcised (i.e. they are not under the law), and also b) those who are circumcised (adhere to the law) but walk in the footsteps of faith that Abraham had before he was circumcised (still walk in faith as Abraham did before circumcision) are heirs according to promise:

Romans 4:11-12 - He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. (ESV)

It's obedience which leads to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith:

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (ESV)

Obedience here led to faith:

Exodus 14:31 - Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses. (ESV)

Faith eclipses the law:

Romans 4:9-12 - Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

I think someone who trusts in God to save them through saving faith in Jesus Christ, is saved, or is in the process of being saved. But keep in mind that someone who truly trusts Jesus will do as Jesus has commanded.

Abraham's faith was both obedient and believing.

God is the judge of what saving faith looks like, and how long the process of 'being saved' takes, and God is the justifier.

We must receive Jesus' words, walk in them and come to know in truth (we must truly know) that Jesus came from God.

John 17:8 - For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

John 1:11-13 - He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe (G4100 pisteuo) in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Therefore, we should obey Jesus and arrive at the truth. Obedience is a part of faith. Like Abraham obeying God, or like Israel crossing through the Red Sea, it's obedience which leads to sure belief. And the obedience doesn't end.

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (NASB)

Through faithful endurance we endeavor to be justified in Christ.

Galatians 2:17 – But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! (ESV)

The Revelation of John shows that Jesus looks at people's works.

Faith without working through love doesn't count for anything.

Faith which produces love:

Galatians 5:6 - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (ESV)

Faith that from a good conscience with God produces Christ's love:

I Corinthians 16:13-14 - Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (ESV)

I Timothy 1:5 - The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (ESV)

The only point I want to make from this text here is that faith is supposed to continue in love and holiness. I believe this continuation of obedience with faith, love and holiness (and self-control, which along with love is one of the fruit of the Spirit) applies to all Christians. John Piper explains this well:

I Timothy 2:13-15 - For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing — if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control. (ESV)

Quote from John Piper
and then all of this: faith, love, holiness, self-control is simply ordinary pathway that all men and women must take in order to come to eternal life and to salvation. We must believe, we must love, that love must yield holiness, and part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in that holiness is self-control.

28.3. Friends of God obey God

James 2:22-24 - You see that faith was working with (4903. sunergeó) his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

John 15:14 - You are my friends if you do what I command you.

James 4:4 - You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

28.3.1. The love of the truth involves sanctification

II Thessalonians 2:10-13 - and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

28.4. Dead faith is disobedient

I want to be clear, having faith in Jesus Christ is not dead faith. Dead faith is precisely not having faith in Jesus Christ.

Adam's disobedience caused our disobedience:

Romans 5:19 - For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

28.4.1. We were disobedient

Romans 11:30 - Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,

Romans 11:32 - For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

Ephesians 2:2 - in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

28.4.2. We are brought to obedience

An obedient heart is required for it to not be 'dead faith'.

John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

II Corinthians 10:6 - being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

28.4.3. The disobedient will receive the wrath of God

Ephesians 5:6 - Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

John 3:36 - Whoever believes (G4100 pisteuo) in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

Hebrews 2:2 - For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,

Hebrews 4:6 - Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,

Hebrews 4:11 - Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

28.5. Saving faith

I really think that God is faithful and He's above all things, and we just need to receive the saving gospel message and when trial, tribulation, or the testing of your faith happens, we have to hold fast to the truth and persevere with it.

Repent from sin, receive by faith with meekness the implanted word, and be a doer of the word, persevering with it:

James 1:21-24 - Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. (ESV)

We were saved in this hope, but we still continue to hope: s

Romans 8:23-25 - And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (ESV)

28.5.1. believing on Jesus

I think entry level saving faith is having faith on Jesus' name - but the salvation is a gift which needs to be received through faith. I no longer call it 'baseline' saving faith, but rather 'entry level'.

John 20:31 - but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (ESV)

He is the resurrection and the life.

Whoever believes in Him, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Him shall never die.

I believe that a person needs to have an obedient heart - wanting to do the will of Father God - wanting to obey Jesus Christ.

Keeping Jesus Christ's commandments is a requirement to inherit eternal life, not an extra:

John 15:10 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (ESV)

Faith may come from simply observing Jesus work, reading Jesus' words and believing, or through work from disciples of Jesus, etc.

John 11:14-15 Then Jesus told them plainly, Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.

It's for their sake, so that they would be able to believe (have faith):

John 11:15 - and I am (G5463 chairo) glad (G5463 chairo) for your sakes (G1223 dia) that I was not there (G1563 ekei), so (G2443 hina) that you may believe (G4100 pisteuo); but let us go (G71 ago) to him.”

1: :  4100  pisteuo  pist-yoo'-o
2: 
3:  from 4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or
4:  thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's
5:  spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe(-r), commit (to trust), put
6:  in trust with.
7:  see GREEK for 4102

John 11:23-27 - Jesus said to her, Your brother will rise again. Martha said to him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? She said to him, Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.

The person has to really believe - to have actual faith - the faith that continues to produce obedient work, the faith that continues to produce love.

Even Martha's faith here was put on display when she confessed, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world." It shows she has faith.

28.5.2. by the grace of God alone - no works

This guy was expecting to receive - he had solid faith:

Acts 3:5-7 - And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene– walk!” And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.

Acts 3:16 - And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

I think it's possible but you have to expect to receive it:

John 11:25-26 - Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?

AMEN!!

Like Abraham we trust God who is reliable. We can be unreliable but we trust God who is reliable and faithful.

I still think that trust elicits obedience. Since God commanded us to place our faith in Him, then to have faith itself is to have begun to obey God.

Abraham was unwavering in trusting God who is absolutely reliable.

The reason Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness is because no distrust made him waver (Abraham faithfully trusted God regarding the promise). Abraham believed God was able to do what He had promised. So a good indicator that Abraham was totally trusting of God is that Abraham walked in the promise of God:

Romans 4:20-22 - No distrust (apistia) made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. (ESV)

1: apistia: unbelief
2: Original Word: ἀπιστία, ας, ἡ
3: Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
4: Transliteration: apistia
5: Phonetic Spelling: (ap-is-tee'-ah)
6: Definition: unbelief
7: Usage: unbelief, unfaithfulness, distrust.

However, I still think that inheriting the Kingdom and inheriting eternal life involves being obedient to Jesus which leads to true knowledge. Obedience to God should naturally flow from faithful trusting in God.

There is still obedience required but to have placed one's trust in God that God will fulfill His promises is sufficient obedience. God works for those who wait on Him:

Isaiah 64:4 - From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. (ESV)

At the end of the day it's what God has done for us and what God does for us, not what we do for Him:

I John 4:10 - In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (ESV)

Praise
youtube.com: Way Maker - Paul McClure | Moment

Love is passed forward. Those who are truly obedient, keep His commandments, but that also means accepting that God loved us first. God is pre-eminent:

I John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (ESV)

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

  • youtube.com: Theology is for Everyone J I Packer @time: 45 min 47 sec We live our lives in responsive love to God and responsive love to our neighbor with whom we seek to share our faith just as we seek to serve our neighbor in every other way and this means that the life that God has given us is being passed on and passed back, back finally to God Himself in praise and thanksgiving and the joy of fellowship with Him.

Obedience is intrinsic to faith, but the obedient also recognise that love comes from God and God has loved us first through sending His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Obedience leads to knowledge of Jesus:

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (NASB)

John 17:8 - For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

28.5.3. fear of God as a friend of God

Psalms 25:14 - The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. (ESV)

James 4:4-5 - You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us? (ESV)

Matthew 5:3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Acts 10:34-35: So Peter opened his mouth and said: Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

Galatians 2:6 - And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. (ESV)

Fear of God is not only about having the heart to repent from sin and "beat hand on chest and ask God for mercy", but it is also having a changed heart, endeavoring to please Christ with our actions:

II Corinthians 5:6-11 - So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. (ESV)

Isaiah 66:2 - All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. (ESV)

The repentant sinner next to Jesus on the cross knew he deserved his punishment, and he even demonstrated that he had a heart that obeys the gospel (whereas the other person appears to have been disobedient to the gospel to death):

John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

The unrepentant sinner wanted Jesus to save his present life:

Luke 23:39 - One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!”

The repentant sinner feared God and put his hope on Jesus Christ, not to save him from the cross, but to save his soul:

Luke 23:40-43 - But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

A key thing here is that the repentant sinner didn't value his present life, and didn't care to ask Jesus to save his present life on earth. The repentant sinner had come to the end of caring about his present life, and put his trust in Jesus. This is what we should do, and it looks like sacrificing the present life to follow Jesus. And I believe that to someone who isn't literally at the end of their earthly life that looks like repentance from sin and an obedient heart, serving Jesus. You can see that he had a changed heart, and was remorseful. He knew he was being justly punished. And he had the heart to want to follow Jesus.

Luke 9:23-24 - And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. (ESV)

  • Fear of God
    • Fear-of-God = e.g. The poor in spirit recognise their need of God's mercy and tremble at His Word
    • Luke 18:13 - But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! (ESV)
      • And a sinner (with that attitude, I believe) who trusts God to justify him, that person's faith is counted as righteousness:
        • Romans 4:5 - And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
  • Do what is right and acceptable to him
    • Romans 13:10 - Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)

Jeremiah 32:40 - I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. (ESV)

28.5.4. a life of faith

The followers of Paul the Apostle live by (walk by) faith; those are the righteous ones. It's a lifestyle:

Galatians 3:11 - Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for The righteous shall live by faith. (ESV)

I think there's probably some nuance between between being spared from death, from condemnation and receiving eternal life.

Romans 6:22 - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

While Jesus can save someone from dying, I think eternal life the way it's presented is more than that - it's becoming a part of the Truth - it's union with Christ and with God.

I think it's perpetually having faith in Jesus, having arrived at true knowledge of Him, and being in relationship with Him and with God.

Matthew 19:29 - And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. (ESV)

28.5.5. Saving faith / Works of faith / Faith with works

Jesus said that patient endurance is a work.

Revelation of John 2:2 - I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

Revelation of John 2:19 - I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.

Likewise, love for Jesus by obeying His commandments, love for Jesus by loving one's neighbour also qualifies as a work, love for Jesus by .

Mark 11:23 - Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

Peter's demonstration of obedient faith. Doubt inhibits faith:

Matthew 14:28-31 - And Peter answered him, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. He said, Come. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, Lord, save me. Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? (ESV)

Obeying Jesus' commandments - believing Jesus and acting on Jesus' commandments is faith.

Keeping Jesus' deeds is saving faith:

Revelation of John 2:25-29 - Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

James isn't talking about work of the law, he's talking about the works of faith.

God desires us to have mercy.

There are a lot of 'do nots' in the law but the most important thing is the 2 'do' commandments. The 'do nots' are to stop people from doing bad things, but the 2 Greatest commandments command us to love God and our neighbour.

Matthew 22:37-40 - And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

James 2:13-17 - For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

MERCY.

Matthew 12:3-8 - He said to them, Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.

MERCY.

Faith without work is dead; it's useless.

That person is completely at the mercy of Jesus and of the saints, I think.

1 Corinthians 3:15 - If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (ESV)

But having true faith in Jesus is work.

Sometimes a person's work is all burned up but they are still saved.

John 6:28-29 - Then they said to him, What must we do, to be doing the works of God? Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe (G4100 pisteuo) in him whom he has sent. (ESV)

  1. Salvation is through grace alone, but through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth, which is cooperative

    Jesus' sacrifice outside Jerusalem is so that we might be sanctified through His own blood and come into Jerusalem. I still think that there's nothing wrong with bearing the reproach Jesus endured - in fact it's encouraged. I think we bear His reproach in order to be sanctified and then call Jerusalem our home:

    Hebrews 13:12-14 - So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. (ESV)

    II Thessalonians 2:10-13 - and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

    The Spirit sanctifies as we have faith in the truth. The faith in the truth is the cooperative part, where we obey the truth.

28.6. Working faith / faith with substance

Faith is a relationship with God. God has promised inheriting the Kingdom, inheriting eternal life to those who obey Him. But God is sovereign to save.

I made these equations to describe my understanding that faith is actually closely related to belief, obedience, hope and love, and they actually are not completely separate things.

We need well-grounded (faith in Jesus), well-placed (on the right stuff) agape love for God, those in Christ, our spouse, and even called to agape love all people with agape love, but not agape-ing the world or the world's lusts:

I Corinthians 13:2 - And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love (26. agapé - treasuring, valuing love), I am nothing. (ESV)

 1: Faith-in-God = Hope-from/in-God * Work/Love/Walking-By-Faith
 2: 
 3: Hope-from/in-God = Belief(believing God) * Truth(God's word is Truth, Jesus is the Truth)
 4: 
 5: Work/Love/Walking-By-Faith = Obedience * Faithfulness * Fear-of-God * Response-of-love-to-Jesus * Patient-Endurance(time)
 6: 
 7: Obedience = Submitting to the Righteousness of God * Turning from sin, loving, showing mercy, etc.
 8: 
 9: Fear-of-God = e.g. The poor in spirit recognise their need of God's mercy and tremble at His Word: "beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner!"
10:               Fear of God is not only about having the heart to repent from sin and "beat hand on chest and ask God for mercy", but it is also having a changed heart,
11:               endeavoring to please Christ with our actions.
12:               godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret
13: 
14: Response-of-love-to-Jesus = e.g. praise, thankfulness, obeying His commandments
15: 
16: Love is proportional-to the baggage which has been forgiven
17: Love ∝ forgiven-baggage
18: 
19: Obedience ∝ Love
20: 
21: F = H * L
22: Faith = Hope * Love
23: 
24: Faith-in-God when tested by God is found to be true Faith in God.
25: Faith-in-God must submit to the Righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ,
26: Jesus Christ having paid the price of sin, enabling a relationship with God.

But salvation is a gift and God is sovereign to save. That's why it's grace. Saved by grace through faith. Yet actual obedience to the gospel of Jesus is merely Jesus working through us. When a person truly believes then they naturally obey.

I think a person needs some faith to be saved, and faith naturally produces work and any work done out of obedience to Jesus is Jesus' work.

Salvation has to be accepted.

I believe the explanation for the 'apparent paradox' of salvation by faith alone or salvation by 'faith*works' is that while truly obeying God, it's actually God working through you, just as the Israelites obeyed God and went through the Red Sea, or when Noah obeyed God and built the Ark.

We are saved by faith alone but that is not a reason to discourage people from obeying the gospel by the false (in my opinion) doctrine that 'faith and obedience' are mutually exclusive:

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)

II Thessalonians 1:8 - in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (ESV)

James 1:21-22 - Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (ESV)

Galatians 3:11 - Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for The righteous shall live by faith. (ESV)

A person must be at least willing to do His will - obedience is at the essence of faith:

John 7:17 - If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.

There is still obedience required but to have placed one's trust in God that God will fulfill His promises is sufficient obedience. God works for those who wait on Him:Obedience is intrinsic to faith, but the obedient also recognise that love comes from God and God has loved us first through sending His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Obedience leads to knowledge of Jesus:

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (NASB)

John 17:8 - For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

I Timothy 2:3-6 - This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Everyone believing that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

I John 5:1 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (ESV)

Therefore, we should receive Jesus' words and obey Jesus and arrive at the truth. Obedience is an essential part of faith. Like Abraham obeying God, or like Israel crossing through the Red Sea, it's obedience which leads to sure belief, and obedience that leads a person into sure knowledge of the truth, and obedience which cooperates with sanctification.

Exodus 14:14-16 - The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.

Mercy is available:

Luke 18:13 - But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! (ESV)

Those who fear God inherit the Kingdom.

Matthew 5:3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Condition: Those who are poor in spirit
Promise: They will inherit the kingdom of Heaven

Isaiah 66:2 - All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. (ESV)

Fear of God is not only about having the heart to repent from sin and "beat hand on chest and ask God for mercy", but it is also having a changed heart, endeavoring to please Christ with our actions:

II Corinthians 5:6-11 - So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. (ESV)

II Corinthians 7:10 - For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. (ESV)

We need faithfulness and not faithlessness and disbelief to inherit the promises:

Hebrews 12:16-17 - that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

Revelation of John 2:2 - I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

Here it says that unless the church does the work which it had started out doing, their lampstand will be removed from its place.

Revelation of John 2:5 - Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Because God loved us first:

  • The Apostle Paul endeavours to know Jesus ('makes it his own'. See Php 3:9-13 below) because Jesus made Paul His own
    • To be found in Jesus is what Paul describes as the righteousness from God that depends on faith
    • We know Jesus by believing in Him and obeying His commandments, and when we love and forgive we know God loved us and forgave us first
  • We should love because He loved us first
    • Romans 5:7-8 - For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)
  • We must forgive as we have been forgiven

Philippians 3:9-13 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (ESV)

If there is such a thing as justifying work then it is better described as obedient faith (Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25) and obedient faith is "being found in Christ".

If a response of love for Jesus justifying 'work' then it would be based on being loved and forgiven first by God.

Luke 7:47-50 - Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven-for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. And he said to her, Your sins are forgiven. Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, Who is this, who even forgives sins? And he said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go in peace. (ESV)

James 2:22-25 - You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness-and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

ONLY working faith counts for anything. Even Paul agrees. However, it says 'in Christ Jesus', and I believe that those who trust in Jesus without work still abide, but by the skin of their teeth.

Galatians 5:6 - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (ESV)

Loving God is obeying His commandments.

I John 5:2-3 - By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

29. We must love God

Matthew 22:37-39 - And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (ESV)

In response to forgiveness, we must love:

Luke 7:47 - Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. (ESV)

He loved us first, and that is why and how we love (knowing we've already received mercy). Christ's love is not simply charity but a) it's passing-forward Christ's love, and b) it's to relieve other's burdens (mercy, not sacrifice):

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

Acts 2:45 - And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. (ESV)

Jesus laid down His life. Maybe this says something about how we should also lay down our lives for each other:

John 10:17 - For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. (ESV)

John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. (ESV)

29.1. We must agape love God, we must agape people and we must not agape the things of the world

God also wants us to have joy in Him.

youtube.com: Overcoming Spiritual Dryness @time: 21 min 24 sec

A lot of preaching of the law (and I think that's a good thing) deals with the law just at a 'do' level - a deed level - don't commit adultery, don't lie, don't steal, and doesn't probe the depths of commandment number 10 which is the root of all the others.

Thou shalt not desire things in ways you shouldn't - covet.

Desire is the root problem in the law and so when we preach not enough people probe people's consciences and hearts as to what do you delight in?

..

To know that my heart has to change my whole structure of motivation has to change my whole priority of treasuring things in the world has to change I'm damned I'm just I there's nothing I can do I feel totally devastated by this indictment. That's a third reason why I think we should not just say "pursue" God.

Because you know what people will do with the word pursue? They'll just fill in all the verbs they feel comfortable with: "I'll read about him." "I'll talk about him." "I'll do some things for him." "[But] don't you touch my heart because I'm in love with money, and I'm in love with the praise of man."

So don't connect "pursue god" with "pursue joy in God".

We are after God in a certain way, not to indict him, not to ignore him, not merely to say right things about him. We're after God to enjoy him. and if we don't, we don't honor him.

It's a huge, huge issue. My goal is God and happiness in all that he is for me.

Deuteronomy 28:47-48 shows that when serving God it should be out of joy in Him. It is correct that we should have joy in God and that out of that joy we delight in God and that overflows into sharing the love of God to others. We must come to a place where we see this law as correct. It's an important one.

We are supposed to serve God out of joy!

Deuteronomy 28:47-48 - Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you. (ESV)

So how do we get to this place of serving God in joy? Through the power of the atonement, through having faith in Jesus Christ, trusting Him, we can be set free from sin - we can have our hearts and minds renewed.

Thus so (Houtōs) (in this way) did God love (25. agapaó - value,treasure) the world, that He gave His Only-Begotten Son that everyone who is trusting/believing in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting:

biblehub.com 3-16.htm: John 3:16 Interlinear: for God did so love the world, that His Son – the only begotten – He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during.

John 3:16-17 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (ESV)

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

29.2. We must love Jesus

Matthew 10:37 - Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (ESV)

29.3. What's the relationship between loving God and loving Jesus?

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. (ESV)

John 5:42 - But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. (ESV)

When confronted with Jesus, loving Jesus is the test of whether you love God.

29.4. What is the nature of this love?

Required to satisfy the "Christ's love" criteria I believe are:

  • Our first agape love has to be Jesus
  • We love because God loved us first. We ought to love others because we have been loved by God
  • We forgive out of a loving response to God and to others, knowing we have already been forgiven of our debt
  • It must satisfy Christ's law
  • Acceptance comes at the beginning; Jesus gives us the benefit of the doubt
  • Be a servant; consider others more significant than yourself
  • Seek to do not harm to your neighbour
  • Bear one another's burdens without partiality
  • We should endeavour to love not just on occasion, but at all times, continually, as Jesus did, and give our all

29.4.1. It's affectionate and treasuring

In a way the love of Jesus is like the love of your children:

Matthew 10:37 - Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (ESV)

Your children are your treasure; you wouldn't sell them for billions of dollars. Jesus has to be our treasure.

Jesus has to be our Pearl of Great price:

Matthew 13:45-46 - Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Be the Centre - Michael Frye

29.4.2. Heavenly treasure and the Pearl of Great Price

The Pearl of Great Price, Jesus and Jesus' gospel:

Matthew 13:45-46 - Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (ESV)

The Pearl of Great Price is Jesus and we want to gain Christ, know Christ and invest our lives for His gospel. In following Jesus, eternal life is still a free gift because as Paul says here, what we give up is worthless compared to knowing Christ:

Philippians 3:7-8 - But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (ESV)

Matthew 16:25 - For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (ESV)

Mark 8:35 - For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. (ESV)

I'm pretty convinced that what Jesus means by the following is that by giving up earthly treasure in the pursuit of Jesus, heavenly treasure is acquired. I'd say it's likely that the heavenly treasure is simply helping those people. So selling what a person possesses and giving to those in need, though apart from faith in Jesus isn't a "requirement for eternal life", it is a fast track to serving Jesus and getting our heart in heaven and leaning on Jesus, so doing as Jesus said in obedient faith is already starting to follow Jesus and store up heavenly treasure. Seek heavenly reward, not earthly reward. Have a heart seeking reward from God and not from man. Have your heart in heaven, not in earth. We give up our earthly treasure and help other people with it and this becomes heavenly treasure, and we then go after Jesus as our Pearl of Great Price:

Matthew 6:19-21 - Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (ESV)

Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)

Also, I still think that people, and acts of kindness towards people can be heavenly treasure, but they should not be our number 1 treasure. Jesus must be.

29.4.3. We need to treasure Jesus, and from there we should keep Jesus' commandments. Jesus must be our number 1

Job 22:24-26 - if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent bed, then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver. For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. (ESV)

God wants us to love Him, treasure Him (25. agapaó), value Him with all our heart, and love and value and treasure one another (25. agapaó) as ourselves
youtube.com: What Is It Like to Enjoy God? @time: 35 min 16 sec

Jesus certainly does command us to have emotions for things. For example:

  • we should fear God
  • we should be thankful
  • we should be compassionate
  • we should fear the right things
  • we should be earnest
  • we should hope

29.4.4. The person who has Jesus' commandments and keeps them, loves Jesus

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

29.4.5. If we love Jesus, then we will keep Jesus' commandments

John 14:15 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (ESV)

So in order to make it much easier to keep Jesus' commandments, we should make Jesus our Pearl of Great Price, our #1 love. If we don't make Jesus our #1 love then it will be much harder to keep Jesus' commandments.

29.5. How do we get to this place of treasuring Jesus?

Luke 7:47 - Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. (ESV)

29.6. If we don't love Jesus, we wont have Jesus

Matthew 10:37 - Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (ESV)

I Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! (ESV)

30. Kingdom of Servants

  • Jesus Christ is God's servant
  • We are Jesus' servants

Psalms 34:22 - The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. (ESV)

Romans 14:18 - Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

II Timothy 2:24-26 - And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Song
youtube.com: I'm Your Servant

Jesus is God's servant:

Acts 3:13 - The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

Acts 4:24-30 - And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed— for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

Romans 15:8 - For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,

Jesus, as God's servant, came to serve others, and to save:

Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Because God loves people, and wants them to be saved:

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

God loves and sees as a son those who love (by obedience) Jesus and believe that He came from God:

John 16:26-27 - In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

We are Jesus' servants:

John 18:36 - Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.

Philippians 1:1 - Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

Colossians 4:12 - Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

For Jesus' sake we serve others:

II Corinthians 4:5 - For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

A good servant of Jesus is trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine.

I Timothy 4:6 - If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.

God saved us through Jesus:

Titus 1:1-3 - Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

Servants of Jesus Christ are servants of God. Servants of God are servants of Jesus Christ:

James 1:1 - James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

I Corinthians 4:1 - This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

The apostles of Jesus are servants:

II Peter 1:1 - Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

Romans 1:1 - Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

Jude is Jesus' servant:

Jude 1:1 - Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:

The Revelation of John is for God's servants:

Revelation of John 1:1 - The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

If anyone's will is to be a servant of God, they will receive revelation which confirms the scriptures:

John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

God's angels are servants:

Revelation of John 19:10 - Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

The world cannot hate people who are disobedient to God:

John 7:5-7 - For not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to them, My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.

But the servant of Christ is to be a light to the world:

The world (the remaining people, who have not repented) may know that Father God has sent Jesus and loved Jesus' disciples:

John 17:23 - I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

Ephesians 2:2 - in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

Servants of Jesus who are servants of God encounter resistance from the world as they fall out of love with the world:

I think I John 2:15-17 is essentially saying, "Do not agape love the world or what's in the world. Do not love the things of this world with the type of love that we have for God and for people, namely agape love." If we fall out of agape love for the world and are not conformed to the world but are transformed by the renewing of our minds then by testing we will be able to discern the will of God:

I John 2:15-17 - Do not love (agapate) the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

II Timothy 4:10 - For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:38 - but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. (ESV)

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:38 - but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. (ESV)

John 12:25 - Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (ESV)

Matthew 6:30-32 - But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

John 15:18-19 - If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

John 15:23 - Whoever hates me hates my Father also.

II Corinthians 11:23 - Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.

Pleasing man is loving the world:

Galatians 1:10 - For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Ephesians 6:6 - not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

As servants of Jesus, we should encourage other servants of Jesus to maturity:

Colossians 4:12 - Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

Colossians 1:7 - just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf

30.1. Being washed and washing one another

We abide in Jesus when He washes us. When the Holy Spirit washes us, the Holy Spirit helps us to put sin to death:

John 13:8 - Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me. (ESV)

Peter believed/received/obeyed/trusted like a child of God (he cooperated) to let Jesus wash him but it was Jesus doing the work:

John 13:9 - Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head! (ESV)

We call on Jesus to wash us:

Acts 22:16 - And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name. (ESV)

I Corinthians 6:11 - And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (ESV)

Being washed, we ought to wash one another's feet:

John 13:14 - If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. (ESV)

I Timothy 5:9-10 - Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. (ESV)

Correct others with gentleness:

II Timothy 2:24-26 - And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (ESV)

Representing Jesus, share the gospel in word and deed while also endeavoring to maintain a good conscience with God and Christlike behaviour:

I Peter 3:15-16 - but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. (ESV)

Jude 1:21-23 - keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. (ESV)

Jude 1:21-23 - Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (KJV)

30.2. Entering into life / the Kingdom of Heaven

Endurance is important:

Luke 9:62 - Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. (ESV)

I John 2:19 - They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:36-39 - For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Resist the false teaching from impostors who do not want to repent even from sin and believe, and turn to obey God and do good work:

II Timothy 3:12-17 - Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (ESV)

A disciple of Jesus is a servant of Jesus:

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

It requires letting go of this world:

II Timothy 4:10 - For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. (ESV)

Matthew 19:22-23 - When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

Repentance is important:

Matthew 3:3-9 - For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight. Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father, for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

Jesus will gather His wheat into the barn:

Matthew 3:10-12 - Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

We should become followers of Jesus.

Justice, mercy and faithfulness are essential for entering the Kingdom of God.

Repentance and holiness are very important for entering the Kingdom of God too.

Matthew 23:23-25 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

We must turn from sin and lead godly lives with faith in Jesus:

Matthew 5:14-20 - You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Believing John the Baptist is in accordance with believing Jesus:

Matthew 21:28-32 - What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, Son, go and work in the vineyard today. And he answered, I will not, but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, I go, sir, but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? They said, The first. Jesus said to them, Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

The works of the law are not essential for being justified by God, but faith in Jesus is, and I believe that following Jesus is in accordance with having faith in Jesus:

Galatians 2:16 - yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Nevertheless, following the commandments and repenting from sin are of great value, I think.

But through faith in Christ Jesus we are justified and have peace with God.

Galatians 3:24-26 - So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

30.3. Guideline

Exodus 20:12 - Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. (ESV)

Ephesians 6:1-3 - Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. (ESV)

According to Matthew 19, obeying (actually keeping, complying with) the commandments (10 commandments, from the heart, and in reality, accountable to God / the 2 Great commandments) is important for entering into the Kingdom of Heaven [well], entering into life [well]:

Matthew 19:16-26 - And behold, a man came up to him, saying, Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life? And he said to him, Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments. He said to him, Which ones? And Jesus said, You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said to him, All these I have kept. What do I still lack? Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

II Corinthians 11:31 - The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

Apply them in truth - keep accountability to God, not merely to other people. God can see.

Also, lay up treasure in Heaven:

Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.

Also, most importantly believe in the atonement which Jesus provides:

John 6:55-71 - For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever. Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. When many of his disciples heard it, they said, This is a hard saying; who can listen to it? But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe. (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him. )

Both free grace and Lordship are required.

If either the atonement is rejected or Jesus' Lordship is rejected, I think both groups of people who have rejected atonement or Lordship will be rejected. And I define Lordship as obeying Jesus Christ, and I define obeying Jesus Christ as obeying His commandments; not just sharing the gospel but also His commandment to love others in the same way that He has loved us. However, if someone hasn't heard the good news yet, but lives righteously then God will judge that person fairly, I think.

Also, most importantly, become obedient to Jesus:

  • Obey Jesus' commandments
  • Do not follow the pattern of this world; leave this world behind
  • Become a servant of Jesus
  • We must forgive others

Matthew 10:24 - A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

Matthew 18:33 - And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?

Don't shrink back:

John 6:63-69 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe. (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him. ) And he said, This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father. After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, Do you want to go away as well? Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.

Most importantly, don't betray Jesus:

John 6:70-71 - Jesus answered them, Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil. He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.

Obey God's law (to your knowledge or level of commitment) in faith, not by works, making yourself accountable to God, not men, and accept the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice through having faith in Jesus:

Romans 14:10-18 - Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

Obey the Royal Law, even owing that to others. We still keep accountability to God for following this:

Romans 13:8 - Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. (ESV)

If we are servants of Christ then we are acceptable to God. Serving Christ, loving our neighbour as ourselves, bearing one another's burdens, trying to do no harm to our neighbour, we should have a good conscience before God and men:

Romans 14:18 - Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

Romans 13:10 - Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)

We need to be justified before God, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ.

Luke 16:15-17 - And he said to them, You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

Do the will of Father God.

To do the will of Father God, one must do it in truth - God knows and can see the heart.

II Corinthians 11:31 - The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

Don't be a ravenous wolf on the inside (repent from sin)! Embrace repentance and sanctification and abide in the teachings of Christ. Be doers of Christ's law:

Matthew 7:14-23 - For the gate is narrow (4728 stenos ie. narrow, small) and the way is hard (2346 thlibó - meaning: like when circumstances "rub us the wrong way" that make us feel confined (hemmed in); restricted to a "narrow" place/) that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.

We must obey God's commandments to love Him and love our neighbour, and have faith in Jesus Christ. We must submit to the righteousness of God.

II Peter 1:10-11 - Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We must live for the will of God:

I Peter 4:1-2 - Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. (ESV)

30.3.1. We practice personal righteousness AND we have obtained a faith of equal standing with the Apostles by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ

An entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly provided, so long as you trust in Jesus Christ for His righteousness and are obedient to Him, supplementing your faith with virtue:

The knowledge of Jesus Christ our God and Saviour comes through His words and obeying them, by His power:

II Peter 1:1-11 - Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.f His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

30.3.2. Follow the commandments (get out of falsehood; stop sinning) and put your heart in Heaven

Matthew 6:19-21 - Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

God wants us to love Him, treasure Him (25. agapaó), value Him with all our heart, and love and value and treasure one another (25. agapaó) as ourselves
youtube.com: What Is It Like to Enjoy God? @time: 35 min 16 sec

Yeah, I agree with John Piper, for the most part. Loving God is not actually first working for God. But it is to truly desire God, and treasure Him (25. agapaó), and treasure His word, and treasure His commandments, to give Him due praise, and to honour God, and give Him the glory, to love Him in the affectionate and treasuring sense is what God wants of us, and Jesus says that if we love Him then we will keep His commandments. Where John Piper says 'affectionate love comes before obedience', I prefer to say that 'treasuring God includes a heart of obedience, trust, belief, desiring God, and affectionate love' and I also think that obedience (being in the will of God) may produce work for God but doesn't strictly mean work. We want to keep His commandments so I believe we should treasure God with all our heart. God also commands us to love one another as ourselves, so we should also love and value other people with that same treasuring love, but God wants Him to be our number one treasure, and I think we have to make God our number one love.

As I understand it, I John 5:2-3 isn't saying that God's commandments are universally unburdensome to all people. It's saying that when we love God then keeping His commandments is unburdensome. If we're struggling with keeping the commandments of God and struggling with sin then we should make Him our number one love heart's desire and treasure and seek Him first with all our heart and we will be able to find His commandments unburdensome! It's true.

I feel like I could still say, "Loving God is obedience to God," but I would rather rephrase it as, "God in His love gifted me to be able to love Him back and live. I can see in retrospect He had been working in my life and it's awesome and magnificent and I just want to cherish and obey God now, and God made the way for me to do that!"

I John 5:2-3 - By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

AMEN!!

Deuteronomy 11:13-14 - And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil.

I Kings 3:14 - And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.

AMEN!!

Obey God, put your heart in Heaven, follow Jesus.

Matthew 19:16-26 - And behold, a man came up to him, saying, Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life? And he said to him, Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments. He said to him, Which ones? And Jesus said, You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said to him, All these I have kept. What do I still lack? Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

AMEN!!

The guy thought he was obeying the commandments, but he still coveted his possessions, probably making an idol out of his money. I don't think he was really following the commandments from the heart. Also he wasn't prepared to give up his old life to follow Jesus. Following Jesus is obeying his commandments.

We must try to stop sinning:

I Kings 15:5 - because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. (ESV)

We now live for the will of God:

I Peter 4:1-2 - Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. (ESV)

30.3.3. Then arriving at eternal life - follow Jesus

Matthew 19:17-21 - And he said to him, Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments. He said to him, Which ones? And Jesus said, You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said to him, All these I have kept. What do I still lack? Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.

Romans 2:7-8 - to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

30.4. We are certainly supposed to keep the commandments - we're supposed to love God and our neighbour in truth

30.4.1. Keeping the commandments is how to love and Christian's are called to keep God's commandments

I Corinthians 7:19 - For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. (ESV)

I John 2:1-6 - My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

Romans 13:9 - The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

AMEN!!

Galatians 5:14 - For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

AMEN!! Loving your neighbour as yourself involves forgiving your neighbour, and not bearing a grudge.

I've heard it said Christians "do not need to follow the Golden Rule". But the Golden Rule is at the heart of Christ's law and even after being born-again and accepting forgiveness from God, we should walk in the light, following Christ's law. Applying love to the Golden Rule, we have the second of the great commandments, the Royal Law, which is to: "Love your neighbour as yourself". It's actually very important.

We are supposed to fulfill the Royal Law, even after having received forgiveness:

James 2:1 - My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. (ESV)

James 2:8-9 - If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (ESV)

But we must love like Christ loved us in the knowledge that He loved us first. We must forgive our family in Christ, as we have been forgiven:

Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (ESV)

AMEN!!

James 2:8-13 - If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

AMEN!!

Romans 2:13 - For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers (4163. poiétés) of the law who will be justified. (ESV)

Yup - and in truth. I think the commandments often need to be looked at to see what loving looks like.

Romans 3:31 - Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (ESV)

AMEN!!

Watch
youtube.com: When You Become Chosen You Will Find Yourself Alone

30.4.2. It matters that we are loving, going into eternity

Matthew 5:30 - And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (ESV)

Matthew 18:3 - and said, Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:9 - And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

30.4.3. We must submit to the righteousness from God through faith in Jesus

Romans 10:3-5 - For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.

Following Christ's law is how to love. Trusting in Jesus is having faith in Him.

Submitting to the righteousness that comes through having faith in Jesus is believing and obeying the Gospel.

  1. All things are put under Jesus' feet whether we are compliant or understand it or not

    The victory has already been won.

    Jesus Christ has overcome the world and He is the head of all rule and authority.

    Everything is in subjection to Jesus, God has left nothing outside Jesus' control.

    From our perspective it may look like things are still being brought into subjection to Him. It still looks that way to me:

    John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (ESV)

    Colossians 2:9-15 - For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

    Colossians 2:20 - If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—

    Even from the believer's perspective, we have already won:

    1 John 4:4 - Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (ESV)

    Romans 8:37 - No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

    Father God is LORD of Heaven and Earth:

    Matthew 11:25 - At that time Jesus declared, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;

    Luke 10:21 - In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

    Acts 17:24 - The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,

    All things are placed under Jesus' feet:

    Psalms 8:6 - You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,

    Colossians 2:15 - He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (ESV)

    Jesus has already conquered:

    Revelation of John 3:21 - The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

    In our own lives we conquer the enemy by the blood of the Lamb (the blood of Jesus Christ) and the word of our testimony:

    Revelation of John 12:11 - And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

    All things are under God's feet. In the LORD, all of the offspring of Israel shall be justified:

    Isaiah 45:22-25 - Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance. Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him. In the LORD all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory. (ESV)

    Everything is in subjection to Jesus, God has left nothing outside Jesus' control.

    From our perspective it may look like things are still being brought into subjection to Him. It still looks that way to me:

    Ephesians 1:22 - And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

    Hebrews 2:5-8 - Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.

    Everything is put in subjection under Jesus and in subjection under Father God:

    I Corinthians 15:24-28 - Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it says, all things are put in subjection, it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

    Song
    youtube.com: Victor's Crown - Darlene Zschech {Official Live Video}

30.4.4. The Kingdom of Heaven - is a kingdom of servants

  1. you must be holy!

    The parable of the 10 virgins:

    Matthew 25:1-13 - Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered, saying, Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. But he answered, Truly, I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

    When we repent from sin we allow Jesus' holiness to shine through us increasingly. Therefore, it's really not our own holiness or power that is responsible for miracles that happen through us or in cooperation with us, but it is Jesus' power and holiness. Jesus is the True Vine. We are the branches. AMEN!! We can do nothing apart from Him. AMEN!! Everyone who names the name of the Lord must depart from iniquity.

    Polycarp 6:3
    Let us therefore so serve Him with fear and all reverence, as He himself gave commandment and the Apostles who preached the Gospel to us and the prophets who proclaimed beforehand the coming of our Lord; being zealous as touching that which is good, abstaining from offenses and from the false brethren and from them that bear the name of the Lord in hypocrisy, who lead foolish men astray.

    Our bodies are a vessel for Jesus' holiness to shine out of. It's the vessel of the Holy Spirit: Jesus is the light in us, and we must let our light shine.

  2. you must be a servant!

    The parable of the bags of gold:

    Matthew 25:14-30 - For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more. His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more. His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours. But his master answered him, You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (ESV)

    Eternal punishment vs eternal life:

    Matthew 25:31-46 - When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. Then they also will answer, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you? Then he will answer them, saying, Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. (ESV)

  3. Deliverance for Jesus' servants

    Isaiah 54:17 - no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD. (ESV)

31. Coming into the Body of Christ / into abiding in Jesus

When we do what Jesus says, it's as if Jesus is working through us. We are like a man building a house, but it is actually the Lord Jesus building it. A person must/should do what Jesus said:

Luke 6:46-49 - Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (ESV)

Psalms 127:1 - Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

We must throw out the old and allow God to build the new house/life for us. We must cooperate with God by doing what Jesus has instructed, and not fighting against Jesus' commandments.

We work, obediently serving God, but it's God working in us:

Philippians 2:12-13 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)

We must obey Jesus.

31.1. An infant in Christ - still of the flesh - not spiritual

Potentially still driven by:

  • jealousy
  • strife

I Corinthians 3:1 - But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. (ESV)

youtube.com: How to Restore a Sinning Saint: Galatians 6:1-5, Part 1 @time: 4 min 54 sec
This is an illustration of why we need specific commandments. Remember last time I argued that it's not enough to say, "Walk by the Spirit." You need specific illustrations, and this (Galatians 6:1-5) is a good example of that. Suppose somebody said, "No, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, meekness, gentleness, self-control. If we live by those, we wont get in other people's lives and make lives miserable for them, and bring out their sin into the open. How would you answer that? We would answer it by saying, "Look, the Holy Spirit Himself in chapter 6, verse 1 of Galatians has told us that is not a right application of the fruit of the Spirit. You are drawing inferences from the fruit of the Spirit that are unbiblical; They're unfaithful. That's why we need the whole Scripture, not just vague statements about walking according to the Spirit or walking in love. We need specifics, and this is a specific. If you find somebody in transgression, love is not passive. Love does not turn away. Love doesn't sweep it under the rug." - Rather, you who are spiritual (walking by the Spirit) should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. The spiritual person is bearing fruit of the Spirit. They are walking by the Spirit. They are keeping in step with the Spirit.

31.2. A disciple of Jesus - someone who has been obedient to Jesus

Jesus still refers to new disciples as "little ones". Disciples have been obediently following Jesus:

Luke 14:26-33 - If anyone comes to me and does not hate (3404. miseó, 3404 miséō – properly, to detest (on a comparative basis); hence, denounce; to love someone or something less than someone (something) else, i.e. to renounce one choice in favor of another.) his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (ESV)

Look, here's a blessing for loving Jesus and not being an enemy of the cross:

Matthew 10:40-42 - Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. (ESV)

Disciples of Jesus carry their cross and face tribulation:

Acts 14:22 - strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Jesus, on His cross said, "I thirst.":

John 19:28 - After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), I thirst. (ESV)

Paul the Apostle asked for mercy - "From now on let no one cause me trouble" - he might have been at little bit stressed. Paul most surely was carrying His cross:

Galatians 6:14-17 - But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. (ESV)

31.3. A person who is mature in Christ

Mature and stable. Grown beyond fleshly things. Not sucked into the old ways of vainglory and provocation and envy.

youtube.com: How to Restore a Sinning Saint: Galatians 6:1-5, Part 1 @time: 7 min 53 sec

Colossians 1:28 - Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. (ESV)

The righteousness from God that depends on faith (obedient faith). We are found in Christ by exercising and passing forward Christ's love. Mature in Christ means knowing Jesus, the Truth, which necessitates obeying Him:

Philippians 3:8-17 - Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. (ESV)

We progress in the Christian life practicing to distinguish good from evil:

I Corinthians 2:15 - The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. (ESV)

Hebrews 5:9-14 - And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (ESV)

Jesus said to these believers that if they abide in His word (and I believe that means keep His word, even in obedience), they are His disciples - so a person can be a believer before they are a disciple. But we're supposed to make this transition:

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

And they will know the Truth.

31.3.1. Don't be an enemy of the cross to others - Don't allow enemies of the cross to deter you, but rather pray for them

Polycarp 12:3
Pray for all the saints. Pray also for kings and powers and princes and for them that persecute and hate you and for the enemies of the cross, that your fruit may be manifest among all men, that ye may be perfect in Him.

We must be thinking as a person of Heaven.

Philippians 3:18-21 - For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (ESV)

Galatians 15:16-18 - Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. (ESV)

31.4. Pray for others to come into Jesus' Kingdom

As we come into Jesus' Kingdom, we should be praying for and trying to lead others to come into Jesus' Kingdom.

Matthew 9:37-38 - Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. (ESV)

I Timothy 2:1-4 - First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (ESV)

And build each other up to help each other attain unity of faith and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God:

Ephesians 4:12-13 - to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, (ESV)

31.5. Don't abandon but support born-again, obedient, faithful disciples of Jesus, not pushing them back to worldly thinking

Support and encourage them for correction with regards to sound doctrine that is Scriptural, bearing their burdens as a disciple bears others' burdens, because it's a profound a real thing to be born-again of the Spirit and walk in obedience to Jesus, and the teachings of Christ are supposed to be followed by Christians.

Jesus still refers to new disciples as "little ones". Disciples have been obediently following Jesus:

Luke 14:26-33 - If anyone comes to me and does not hate (3404. miseó, 3404 miséō – properly, to detest (on a comparative basis); hence, denounce; to love someone or something less than someone (something) else, i.e. to renounce one choice in favor of another.) his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (ESV)

Look, here's a blessing for loving Jesus and not being an enemy of the cross:

Matthew 10:40-42 - Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. (ESV)

Disciples of Jesus carry their cross and face tribulation:

Acts 14:22 - strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Jesus, on His cross said, "I thirst.":

John 19:28 - After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), I thirst. (ESV)

Matthew 5:12 - Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (ESV)

Galatians 6:2-6 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. (ESV)

32. Faith

One must have faith to receive the gift of salvation. Faith is belief and obedience. "By faith_ Abraham obeyed".

Mark 11:22 - And Jesus answered them, Have faith in God.

I like to think about faith in God as an equation like: Believing-God * Obedience/Action/Work/Love/PatientEndurance.

Mark 11:23 - Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

Mark 11:24 - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Abraham believed and obeyed to receive:

Hebrews 11:8 - By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. (ESV)

Because we love and obey God, loving and obeying Jesus, we receive from God when we ask in faith:

I John 3:22 - and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. (ESV)

It's obedience which leads to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith:

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (ESV)

33. Receiving the Holy Spirit

youtube.com: How to Seek the Holy Spirit @time: 48 min 13 sec
"If anyone keeps Jesus' word, holds fast, treasures it, in obedience, that person will not be quenching the Spirit, that person will not be grieving the Spirit, but will know the fullness and sweetness of fellowship with the Father and the Son." - AMEN to that, John Piper

33.1. The Holy Spirit cleanses the heart by faith

Acts 15:7 - And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

Acts 15:8-9 - And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

For example, out of faith in trying to follow the 10 Commandments / 2 Great Commandments, the heart is cleaned by the Holy Spirit.

Faith involves obedience. It's repentance from sin to the aligning of the heart to God's commandments.

33.2. The faith itself may be a gift, but certainly is cooperative

I believe that becoming the righteousness of God is initially instantaneous when we believe but going forward it also is cooperative as we live, submitting to the righteousness of God (Jesus' righteousness) and then being found in Jesus, letting Jesus wash us, and work in us, transform us, and that a childlike trust in Jesus (a believing and obedient trust), following Jesus, walking in faith, and behaving as one of God's children, following Jesus our Lord and Saviour is how we receive and walk into the kingdom which is given to us and that walking in a childlike faith in Jesus is how we have the righteousness that is by faith. I believe we have righteousness because we are found in Him, and He is our High Priest and or Lord and King, and Saviour. Living by faith is a lifestyle to be found in Jesus and that's how we have righteousness from Him, because we are found in Him and are being perfected and sanctified like a branch getting healthier because it's connected to Jesus. It does not mean we are able to displace Him as the head of the body because we don't have righteousness apart from Him (as far as I understand):

II Corinthians 5:21-6:1 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (ESV)

God and Abram (Abraham) had a real relationship first.

God spoke to Abram first, and then Abram obeyed. Abraham was faithful. God noticed Abram's faithfulness, and told Abram he would be rewarded. God gave Abram a promise. Abram believed God.

But God made the first move. The first move from Abraham's perspective was obedience, followed by belief.

The Lord God spoke first - this itself is a gift. We have the Bible and the testimony of others as a gift from God. We must then believe what is said in the Holy Scriptures and trust it and obey it (put into practice).

The Holy Spirit goes to those who obey God, and causes the person to walk in God's precepts - stopping lying, stealing, coveting, idolizing, cheating, etc.

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

Faith involves:

  • Obedience
  • Loyalty (faithfulness to God)
  • God rewarded Abram with a promise
  • Abram believed God
  • God counted Abram's belief as righteousness

Genesis 12:1 - Now the Lord said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.

Abraham obeyed God.

Genesis 12:4 - So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

God promised him something, and gave Abram an instruction.

Genesis 13:14 - The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.

Abram obeyed.

Genesis 13:18 - So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.

OBEDIENCE!

Hebrews 5:9-10 - And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Abram interacted with Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, blessed by God Most High. Abram was faithful to God even when God wasn't speaking directly to Him. God can see everything though.

Genesis 14:18-20 - And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High. ) And he blessed him and said, Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand! And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Abram, in an act of faith with faithfulness, displayed loyalty to God. Abram wanted to prove it will be God who has empowered future blessing which Abram has faith about.

Genesis 14:21-24 - And the king of Sodom said to Abram, Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself. But Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, I have made Abram rich. I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.

The Apostle John's children/disciples were walking in love while walking in the truth, and rejecting offerings from Gentiles who were not walking in the truth:

III John 1:4-8 - I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. (ESV)

God noticed and gave Abram a vision and made a promise to Abram, and Abram believed God and God counted it to Abram as righteousness.

Genesis 15:1 - After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great. But Abram said, O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir. And he brought him outside and said, Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them. Then he said to him, So shall your offspring be. And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

33.2.1. Faith and works - they overlap and are not mutually exclusive!

James 2:22-25 - You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness-and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

A person, I think, can be justified by faith that includes obedient action.

Even continued belief in the form of patient endurance is a work, I think!

I believe justification is God's prerogative, and He justifies because of our faith in Jesus, not because of any dead work we offer Him. I just believe that faith in Jesus may include obedient action. Actually, I believe that even believing in Jesus is obedience, because Jesus commanded it.

Romans 5:1 - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 2:16 - yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Galatians 3:24-26 - So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

But I think God can save a person who has belief without work because God is sovereign to save in this way.

Anyway, see Revelation and you will see Jesus points out different works for different churches.

Revelation of John 2:2 - I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

Revelation of John 2:5 - Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Revelation of John 2:6 - Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Revelation of John 2:19 - I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.

Revelation of John 2:22-23 - Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.

Revelation of John 3:1-2 - And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.

Revelation of John 3:8 - I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Revelation of John 3:15 - I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

33.2.2. The faith of Abraham looks like this. This is what salvation-accepting faith looks like

To be justified, a person must have the faith of Abraham. By faith Abraham obeyed. So the faith has the fruit of walking in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Romans 4:9-12 - Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Salvation is received by faith - which necessitates an obedient heart:

Romans 3:25 - whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Faith receives - believing in Him is having faith in Him - trusting Him:

Acts 10:41-44 - not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. (ESV)

Although a gift, salvation must be asked for and sought after:

Luke 11:9-13 - And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

Obeying God.

Hebrews 11:8 - By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Genesis 12:1-3 - Now the LORD said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (ESV)

Believing God.

Genesis 15:1 - After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great. But Abram said, O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir. And he brought him outside and said, Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them. Then he said to him, So shall your offspring be. And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Conviction.

Hebrews 11:17-19 - By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, Through Isaac shall your offspring be named. He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

Like Abraham, a believer's faith may be tested:

Trust in God.,

Fear of God.,

Testable faith.

Genesis 22:9-14 - When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham! And he said, Here am I. He said, Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, The Lord will provide; as it is said to this day, On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.

Holding onto the promise, even to death if required.

Hebrews 11:13 - These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Like Abraham, a believer keeps the faith right to the end of their life or until Jesus takes them home:

Patient endurance / waiting on God (belief * time).

We should have busy (non-sluggish) faith, and imitate the faith of people such as Abraham, so that we inherit the promises. We can believe those promises which we inherit.

Hebrews 6:12-15 - so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, Surely I will bless you and multiply you. And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.

Revelation of John 3:8 - I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie-behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

Song
youtube.com: Sometimes By Step

33.2.3. The repentance of turning away from sin is an act of faith / a work of faith and also essential for eternal life, I think

Matthew 21:32 - For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him. (ESV)

To follow the law by faith, I think, is to not lie, commit adultery, idolize, etc. in truth and reality, keeping yourself accountable to God.

This is the key, I think, to following the law by faith: praise from God and not men.

Romans 2:29 - But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

Actually complying with the law (not breaking it) is good:

James 4:11-12 - Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? (ESV)

It's God who judges and gives mercy:

Romans 9:15-16 - For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (ESV)

If a person is abiding by God's commandments then that is pleasing to God:

I Chronicles 29:17-19 - I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision. (ESV)

James 1:25 - But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

We should seek to be faithful to God who seeks our heart. It's about a real relationship with God:

Luke 16:15-17 - And he said to them, You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

  • John the baptist taught 'turn from sin and believe in the One to come':
    • Acts 19:4 - And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus. (ESV)
  • Jesus taught to 'come to and believe in Him (Jesus) for forgiveness and stop sinning':
    • John 8:11 - She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more. (ESV)

Acts 3:25-26 - You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.

Stopping sinning is important from either angle.

I Corinthians 15:34 - Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. (ESV)

  • The apostles also taught people to turn from sin, believe and stop sinning.

John 5:14 - Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.

Sin leads to death:

Proverbs 6:32 - He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. (ESV)

John 5:14 - Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you. (ESV)

Ezekiel 18:20 - The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. (ESV)

Romans 8:13 - For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Examples of receiving forgiveness from Jesus.

Matthew 9:2 - And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.

Forgiven after Jesus saw their faith.

Mark 2:5 - And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, My son, your sins are forgiven.

Acts of faith.

Matthew 9:5 - For which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise and walk?

Mark 2:9 - Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise, take up your bed and walk?

Turning.

Mark 4:11-12 - And he said to them, To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.

John 8:11 - She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.

33.3. Loving God is obedience to God

I John 5:2-3 - By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

33.4. The law

Matthew 19:4-9 - He answered, Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. They said to him, Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away? He said to them, Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery. (ESV)

Matthew 5:14-20 - You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

Leviticus 18:22 - You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. (ESV)

Romans 7:22 - For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, (ESV)

33.4.1. The law may be pursued by faith. Justification through faith

Faith eclipses the law:

Romans 4:9-12 - Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Galatians 3:21-29 - Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (ESV)

The ones under the law who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that Abraham had before he was circumcised, come under the umbrella of the faith of Abraham, which the Gentiles who also share the faith of Abraham are included within.

 1:  2:          =====
 3:  4:  5: 
 6:          Faith (Galatians 3:6-9)
 7:        /       \
 8:   Those who     Gentiles who share
 9: pursue the law      the faith
10:   by faith          of Abraham

Galatians 3:6-9 - just as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, In you shall all the nations be blessed. So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (ESV)

If a son of Abraham repents from sin and forgives (return stolen goods) they can have salvation:

Luke 19:1-10 - He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today. So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (ESV)

We can start by believing what God told us through Jesus:

John 8:40 - but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. (ESV)

Romans 9:31-32 - but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, (ESV)

The most important thing though is faith because it applies to both the adherent of the law and also the Gentile who has faith. It seems like the adherent of the law must walk in the ways Abraham did before he was circumcised.

Romans 4:16 - That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring-not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (ESV)

Genesis 14:20-15:1 - and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand! And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. And the king of Sodom said to Abram, Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself. But Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, I have made Abram rich. I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share. After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great. (ESV)

Perhaps it is that James was himself circumcised and walked in the way that Abraham did before he was circumcised:

James 2:22-26 - You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (ESV)

I Corinthians 10:1-5 - I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Galatians 3:21 - Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. (ESV)

33.4.2. One in Christ Jesus - not excluding the adherent of the law

As far as I understand, a person can be a Jew or a Gentile and it's the same gospel, but they're having faith in Christ from two different vantage points:

Galatians 3:7-9 - Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, In you shall all the nations be blessed. So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (ESV)

Romans 9:6-8 - But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but Through Isaac shall your offspring be named. This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. (ESV)

God can raise a person up to keep the precepts of the law with the faith of Abraham, and become a Jew:

Romans 2:25-29 - For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (ESV)

Proverbs 23:7 - For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. (KJV)

Romans 4:11-12 - He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. (ESV)

John 8:39 - They answered him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, (ESV)

Matthew 3:9 - And do not presume to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father, for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. (ESV)

Romans 10:12 - For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

I Corinthians 12:13 - For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

33.4.3. But we are not justified by the law. We are justified by faith

Galatians 5:4 - You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

We receive the Holy Spirit through faith:

Galatians 3:2 - Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?􄌹

But faith is obedient.

33.5. Mercy

Mercy is available from God, and there are some things we can do as we ask God for mercy:

Romans 9:15-16 - For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (ESV)

Accept correction from God, and ask God for mercy to change to love God and your neighbour better:

Luke 18:13 - But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! (ESV)

Forgive others:

Matthew 6:12-15 - and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (ESV)

Be merciful to others:

Matthew 5:7 - Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Be humble:

James 4:6 - But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (ESV)

33.6. The law is good, if used properly - and its usage is part of the gospel

1 Timothy 1:8-11 - Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. (ESV)

33.7. Both Father God and Jesus Christ God's Son have life in Himself and the power to resurrect

John 5:24-26 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come (2064. erchomai) into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

John 5:21 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (ESV)

33.8. Salvation in no-one else other than Jesus Christ - But we must obey the gospel, and walk in the Way

Acts 4:12 - And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (ESV)

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus has shown us the Way we have to walk in. The Way is Himself. To walk in it we make Him our Teacher and believe Him and obey Him, and arrive at the Truth, and the Truth is Himself.

Hebrews 10:19 - Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

Isaiah 30:20-21 - And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

Deuteronomy 18:15-19 - The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen — just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die. And the LORD said to me, They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. (ESV)

John 12:49-50 - For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.

John 14:6-7 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.

John 14:16-24 - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.

Jesus manifests to those who keep His word and obey Him:

John 14:22-23 - Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world? Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

I John 2:4-6 - Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

John 14:24 - Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

33.9. Anyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins

Acts 10:43: Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."

But before and/or after believing and being forgiven a person needs to also turn away from sin. To be 'saved' I think means:

  • for God to forgive one's sins through Jesus Christ, and
  • for that person to be progressing towards holiness and not away from holiness - towards sanctification and ultimately, eternal life
    • the Holy Spirit helps a person to do that
  • to be eagerly waiting for Jesus to save them

Hebrews 9:27-28 - And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Becoming a slave of God, rather than sin, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and at the end, eternal life - it leads to knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ who He sent.

Romans 6:16-22 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. (ESV)

So obedience leads to sanctification which leads to eternal life which is knowing God and Jesus Christ.

Repentance from sin is required step for those who are in sin, along with forgiveness, and is followed up with sanctification and eternal life.

Luke 15:7 - Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (ESV)

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

33.9.1. Eternal life available for all who believe in Jesus, but obedience and sanctification is necessary

John 3:14-18 - And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

I believe there is a strong emphasis on continued belief, and becoming a bondservant of God.

  • 'may have'
  • 'should' not perish

After being born-again and placed into Christ, we must put to death the old leaven. We consider ourselves dead to sin and alive from the dead.

We continue trusting, believing Jesus Christ and we will never die.

A believer in Jesus Christ though he dies, he shall live:

  • Whoever believes in Jesus Christ, though he die, yet shall he live.

Everyone who lives and believes in Jesus Christ shall never die.

John 11:25-26 - Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? (ESV)

desiringgod.org: Invincible in Christ: How Believers Never Die | Desiring God

34. Spiritual gifts

I Corinthians 12:28-31 - And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. (ESV)

34.1. Excel in building up the church to see manifestations of the Spirit

I Corinthians 14:12 - So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

34.2. Using one's mind to speak to others intelligible words in the church is not subordinate to speaking in tongues

I Corinthians 14:19 - Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

34.3. The utterance of tongues is given by the Spirit

youtube.com: What Is Speaking in Tongues?

Acts 2:4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (ESV)

34.4. This type of tongues is for communicating with one another - like a "babel-fish" - when people speak, people hear them speak in their language

It breaks down language barriers.

Acts 2:6-11 - And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God. (ESV)

34.5. This type of tongues is for speaking to God

I Corinthians 14:2 - For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

The spirit prays when a person prays in tongues to God.

I Corinthians 14:2 - For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

I Corinthians 14:14-15 - For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

35. The prophets

Psalms 51:9-11 - Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. (ESV)

Zechariah 13:1 - "In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity. (ESV)

Isaiah 53:11 - As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. (ESV)

Jeremiah 31:34 - They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (ESV)

Malachi 4:2 - "But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. (ESV)

Daniel 9:24 - "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. (ESV)

Micah 7:18 - Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. (ESV)

2 Chronicles 7:14 - if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (ESV)

35.1. 44 Prophecies Jesus Christ Fulfilled

Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would be born of a woman. Genesis 3:15 - I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. (ESV) Matthew 1:20 - But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (ESV), Galatians 4:4 - But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, (ESV)
Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 - But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. (ESV) Matthew 2:1 - Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, (ESV), Luke 2:4-6 - And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would be born of a virgin. Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (ESV) Matthew 1:22-23 - All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). (ESV), Luke 1:26-31 - In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you! But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would come from the line of Abraham. Genesis 12:3 - I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (ESV), Genesis 22:18 - and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice. (ESV) Matthew 1:1 - The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (ESV), Romans 9:5 - To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac. Genesis 17:19 - God said, No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. (ESV), Genesis 21:12 - But God said to Abraham, Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. (ESV) Luke 3:34 - the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob. Numbers 24:17 - I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. (ESV) Matthew 1:2 - Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah. Genesis 49:10 - The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. (ESV) Luke 3:33 - the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, (ESV), Hebrews 7:14 - For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would be heir to King David's throne. II Samuel 7:12-13 - When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (ESV), Isaiah 9:7 - Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (ESV) Luke 1:32-33 - He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. (ESV), Romans 1:3 - concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah's throne will be anointed and eternal. Psalms 45:6-7 - Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; (ESV), Daniel 2:44 - And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, (ESV) Luke 1:33 - and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. (ESV), Hebrews 1:8-12 - But of the Son he says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions. And, You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end. (ESV)
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Messiah would be called Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (ESV) Matthew 1:23 - Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would spend a season in Egypt. Hosea 11:1 - When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. (ESV) Matthew 2:14-15 - And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, Out of Egypt I called my son. (ESV)
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A massacre of children would happen at Messiah's birthplace. Jeremiah 31:15 - Thus says the LORD: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more. (ESV) Matthew 2:16-18 - Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more. (ESV)
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A messenger would prepare the way for Messiah Isaiah 40:3-5 - A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (ESV) Luke 3:3-6 - And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. (ESV)
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Messiah would be rejected by his own people. Psalms 69:8 - I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons. (ESV), Isaiah 53:3 - He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (ESV) John 1:11 - He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. (ESV), John 7:5 - For not even his brothers believed in him. (ESV)
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Messiah would be a prophet. Deuteronomy 18:15 - The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— (ESV) Acts 3:20-22 - that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. (ESV)
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Messiah would be preceded by Elijah. Malachi 4:5-6 - Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction. (ESV) Matthew 11:13-14 - For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. (ESV)
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Messiah would be declared the Son of God. Psalms 2:7 - I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, You are my Son; today I have begotten you. (ESV) Matthew 3:16-17 - And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. (ESV)
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Messiah would be called a Nazarene. Isaiah 11:1 - There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. (ESV) Matthew 2:23 - And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: He shall be called a Nazarene. (ESV)
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Messiah would bring light to Galilee. Isaiah 9:1-2 - But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. (ESV) Matthew 4:13-16 - And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned. (ESV)
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Messiah would speak in parables. Psalms 78:2-4 - I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. (ESV), Isaiah 6:9-10 - And he said, Go, and say to this people: Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed. (ESV) Matthew 13:10-15 - Then the disciples came and said to him, Why do you speak to them in parables? And he answered them, To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. (ESV), Matthew 13:34-35 - All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world. (ESV)
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Messiah would be sent to heal the brokenhearted. Isaiah 61:1-2 - The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; (ESV) Luke 4:18-19 - The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. (ESV)
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Messiah would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. Psalms 110:4 - The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (ESV) Hebrews 5:5-6 - So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, You are my Son, today I have begotten you; as he says also in another place, You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would be called King. Psalms 2:6 - As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill. (ESV), Zechariah 9:9 - Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (ESV) Matthew 27:37 - And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. (ESV), Mark 11:7-11 - And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest! And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. (ESV)
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Messiah would be praised by little children. Psalms 8:2 - Out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. (ESV) Matthew 21:16 - and they said to him, Do you hear what these are saying? And Jesus said to them, Yes; have you never read, Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise? (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would be betrayed. Psalms 41:9 - Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. (ESV), Zechariah 11:12-13 - Then I said to them, If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them. And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. Then the LORD said to me, Throw it to the potter—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD, to the potter. (ESV) Luke 22:47-48 - While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss? (ESV), Matthew 26:14-16 - Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, What will you give me if I deliver him over to you? And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah's price money would be used to buy a potter's field. Zechariah 11:12-13 - Then I said to them, If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them. And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. Then the LORD said to me, Throw it to the potter—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD, to the potter. (ESV) Matthew 27:9-10 - Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me. (ESV)
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Messiah would be falsely accused. Psalms 35:11 - Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know. (ESV) Mark 14:57-58 - And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands. (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would be silent before his accusers. Isaiah 53:7 - He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. (ESV) Mark 15:4-5 - And Pilate again asked him, Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you. But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed. (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would be spat upon and struck. Isaiah 50:6 - I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. (ESV) Matthew 26:67 - Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would be hated without cause. Psalms 35:19 - Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause. (ESV), Psalms 69:4 - More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore? (ESV) John 15:24-25 - If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: They hated me without a cause. (ESV)
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Messiah would be crucified with criminals. Isaiah 53:12 - Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. (ESV) Matthew 27:38 - Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. (ESV), Mark 15:27-28 - And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would be given vinegar to drink. Psalms 69:21 - They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. (ESV) Matthew 27:34 - they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. (ESV), John 19:28-30 - After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), I thirst. A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, It is finished, and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah's hands and feet would be pierced. Psalms 22:16 - For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— (ESV), Zechariah 12:10 - And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. (ESV) John 20:25-27 - So the other disciples told him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe. Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you. Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe. (ESV)
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Messiah would be mocked and ridiculed. Psalms 22:7-8 - All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him! (ESV) Luke 23:35 - And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One! (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Soldiers would gamble for Messiah's garments. Psalms 22:18 - they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. (ESV) Matthew 27:35-36 - And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah's bones would not be broken. Exodus 12:46 - It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. (ESV), Psalms 34:20 - He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. (ESV) John 19:33-36 - But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: Not one of his bones will be broken. (ESV)
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Messiah would be forsaken by God. Psalms 22:1 - My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? (ESV) Matthew 27:46 - And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (ESV)
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Messiah would pray for his enemies. Psalms 109:4 - In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. (ESV) Luke 23:34 - And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they cast lots to divide his garments. (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Soldiers would pierce Messiah's side. Zechariah 12:10 - And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. (ESV) John 19:34 - But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would be buried with the rich. Isaiah 53:9 - And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. (ESV) Matthew 27:57-60 - When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would resurrect from the dead. Psalms 16:10 - For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. (ESV), Psalms 49:15 - But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah (ESV) Matthew 28:2-7 - And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you. (ESV), Acts 2:22-32 - Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence. Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. (ESV)
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Messiah would ascend to heaven. Psalms 24:7-10 - Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah (ESV) Mark 16:19 - So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. (ESV), Luke 24:51 - While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would be seated at God's right hand. Psalms 68:18 - You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there. (ESV), Psalms 110:1 - The LORD says to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool. (ESV) Mark 16:19 - So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. (ESV), Matthew 22:44 - The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet? (ESV)
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment
Messiah would be a sacrifice for sin. Isaiah 53:5-12 - But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. (ESV) Romans 5:6-8 - For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)

35.1.1. Psalm 31 and Jesus' last words and Jesus saving me

Psalms 31:5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have ransomed me, O LORD, God of truth. (NASB)

Luke 23:46 - Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit! And having said this he breathed his last. (ESV)

The Holy Spirit is a Person:

John 16:13 - When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (ESV)

If the Holy Spirit dwells in you, you are in the Spirit, not in the flesh:

Romans 8:9 - You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (ESV)

Holy Spirit has emotions:

Isaiah 63:10 - But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them. (ESV)

The Spirit of God is God although He belongs to God.

Holy Spirit speaks:

II Samuel 23:2-4 - The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me; his word is on my tongue. The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. (ESV)

Acts 1:5 - for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. (ESV)

One God, Three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN!

Jesus saving me - This is evidence the Holy Spirit is a Person, and evidence to me that the Holy Spirit is God.

I do not actually know what 'astral projection is'. I just googled for whatever I could find to describe it.

This was something for sure, it was a conversation in my sleep, accompanied by dreams.

The first incident was a blue 'light body' which I have felt up until this day, and after that, I have felt like the 'veil' has been very thin and I have had spiritual experiences, and noticing things spiritually.

This was not brought on by meditation or anything, but it happened 'to' me.

I prayed to God consecrating this part of my life to Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

And I also prayed that I would not have any out of body experiences like this.

I Timothy 2:6 - who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. (ESV)

God never lies:

Titus 1:1-3 - Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

1 John 2:21 - I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. (ESV)

35.2. Faith has a quantity, and faith receives from God / walks into what He has promised

Luke 17:5 - The apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith!

II Corinthians 10:15 - We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged,

Luke 7:8-9 - For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it. When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. (ESV)

Since Faith is proportional to Love for God, which is proportional to obeying God, the following can be understood.

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

James 2:5 - Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

A person with true faith in God walks into the truth because true faith has eyes fixed on Jesus and goes to Jesus as it obeys the will of God.

35.2.1. Faith has substance, and a quantity, usually drawn out over time

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (KJV)

Now while we may have faith, hoping, even having a conviction for something which God may not have directly told us about (such as a marriage), ultimately God may approve or deny it:

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (ESV)

We should put our faith in God, and in God's promises:

Mark 11:22 - And Jesus answered them, Have faith in God.

Matthew 17:20 - He said to them, Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. (ESV)

Revelation of John 3:8 - I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie-behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

I think faith in God is like casting a net to receive something from God, and obedience to God is like catching and riding a wave. because it's by God's power.

If you want to catch something big then you need a lot of faith.

Faith receives salvation, and salvation is the gift which is received through faith. Faith is something which a person must have to receive the free gift. The onus is on us to receive the free gift.

We must draw near to God through Jesus.

Hebrews 7:25 - Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (ESV)

At it's most basic form repentance (metanoia) means a person changes their mind to believe and trust and have a heart of obedience - accepting of the will of God. To repent means stop distrusting and start trusting God.

We have believe Jesus and to trust Jesus. When Jesus says He is the Son of God, we must believe it because we trust Him. Likewise when He commands us to repent from sinning we should agree with Jesus and be obedient:

John 16:8-9 - And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; (ESV)

Luke 13:3 - No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. (ESV) #+ENDQUOTE􀀲􇊜

We must repent (change our minds, turning from our wicked ways, and turn to God) and obey God and it typically starts with changing our beliefs and most importantly believing Jesus Christ is who He says He is - Son of God, Messiah - but also believing what He achieved on our behalf with His death, burial and resurrection, and trusting the Word of God and obeying Him.

God has said many things, about his statutes and about how we should listen to Jesus.

I think repentance from sin (from the heart turning from sin) out of obedience to God is still approaching Jesus because Jesus fulfilled the law but when presented with the gospel message, we are to accept Jesus and submit to God's righteousness.

So we should humble ourselves and obey God's commandments (not out of pride, but out of authentic faith with God, being accountable to God, in secret).

For example, abstaining from partaking in stealing, or adultery and being faithful to God, even if you lose friends over it. This type of obeying God's commandments is nothing to do with pride or self-exultation or self-righteousness and everything to do with being faithful to God and humbling oneself to God.

Trying to turn from sin in truth and reality.

#+BEGINQUOTE 2 Chronicles 7:14 - if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (ESV)

Matthew 18:3 - and said, Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

It says unless you turn - The onus is on you.

Matthew 5:20 - For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

It says unless your righteousness.

Faith in Jesus probably qualifies a person to 'enter' the Kingdom of Heaven.

Also, following the law by faith in truth I think qualifies a person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Also the Kingdom of Heaven, I think is from Heaven to Earth.

II Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)

Titus 3:7 - so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Through faith a person is saved (the onus is on us to receive)

Salvation is the gift. Works can be dead works when they're not done in faith. Therefore works don't save.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)

A person must be at least willing to do His will - obedience is at the essence of faith:

John 7:17 - If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.

35.2.2. The work of faith

  • love, faith, service and patient endurance are all considered works

Revelation of John 2:19 - I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.

Abraham's obedience is a work of faith.

Hebrews 11:8 - By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)

Work substantiates faith because it is the act of receiving from God.

A work of faith could indeed be following the law in faith (as opposed to following the law by works).

For example, keeping your integrity, remaining faithful to God and not lying to God.

Patient endurance is a 'work of faith'. It may involve waiting on God to act:

Revelation of John 3:8 - I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie-behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

35.2.3. Justified by faith in Jesus which includes walking by faith / works of faith (works not necessarily works of the law)

So if a person believes some part of God's word and in believing they obey then that is 'walking by faith'.

If a person actually believes then they will walk by that belief.

James 2:22-26 - You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness-and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (ESV)

This is not a work of the law, but it is a work of faith: "when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way"

James 2:26 - For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Romans 3:28-31 - For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (ESV)

The law is not overthrown but it is upheld.

35.2.4. Faith receives - it believes, trusts and obeys

Sermon
youtube.com: Faith Trusts the God Who Rewards

Abraham believed and obeyed to receive:

Hebrews 11:8 - By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:13 - These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Because we love and obey God, loving and obeying Jesus, we receive from God when we ask in faith:

I John 3:22 - and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. (ESV)

Disbelief causes disobedience. Disbelief caused the Israelites to not walk in obedience:

Hebrews 3:16-19 - For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. (ESV)

Doubt is very contrary to faith, even contrary to obedient faith. Ask in obedient faith without any doubting:

James 1:6-7 - But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (ESV)

I really think that God is faithful and He's above all things, and we just need to receive the saving gospel message and when trial, tribulation, or the testing of your faith happens, we have to hold fast to the truth and persevere with it.

youtube.com: Petra - Beyond Belief @time: 21 min 35 sec
Don't you ever get mad at God? Mad at God? Sure, sometimes, but I still trust Him. How? I don't know. I just do. That's what faith is.

I think James is saying that without holding fast to the word of God (the truth) and allowing oneself to be influenced and our lives changed, and to be saved by it, we are not transformed, and to be not transformed by the word of God is a big issue because it concerns the salvation of our souls:

James 1:21-24 - Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. (ESV)

Disbelief causes disobedience. Disbelief caused the Israelites to not walk in obedience:

Hebrews 3:16-19 - For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. (ESV)

Doubt is very contrary to faith, even contrary to obedient faith. Ask in obedient faith without any doubting:

James 1:6-7 - But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (ESV)

Abraham had trust. Abraham had obedience. I believe that trust is very important to have for faith to be counted as righteousness:

Romans 4:20-22 - No distrust (apistia) made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. (ESV)

Peter's demonstration of obedient faith. Doubt inhibits faith:

Matthew 14:28-31 - And Peter answered him, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. He said, Come. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, Lord, save me. Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? (ESV)

We receive the promised Spirit through faith:

Galatians 3:14 - so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (ESV)

Galatians 3:2 - Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? (ESV)

35.2.5. Love gives

I John 3:16 - By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. (ESV)

John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. (ESV)

Galatians 1:4 - who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, (ESV)

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

35.2.6. Her faith saved her / is forgiven because she loved much - her love gave substance to her faith

Her love is a work of faith.

Luke 7:47-50 - Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven-for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. And he said to her, Your sins are forgiven. Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, Who is this, who even forgives sins? And he said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go in peace. (ESV)

I also currently believe that one's response to forgiveness must be like the woman Jesus mentions in Luke 7:47 - with a proprotional love for Jesus.

36. Worldly precepts generally contradict the Truth and don't help to stop sin

Colossians 2:20-23 - If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (ESV)

I think that choosing a relationship Biblically is contrary to worldly precepts:

Mark 7:7-9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men. And he said to them, You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!

James 4:4 - You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (ESV)

Matthew 6:31-33 - Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (ESV)

I John 5:19 - We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. (ESV)

Ephesians 2:2 - in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— (ESV)

37. Who will enter Heaven? Only the ones who do the will of Father God

Matthew 7:21-23 - Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. (ESV)

OBEDIENCE!

In Spyridon's words, "Paradise will not be filled with sinless people - it will be filled with people who have repented."

Sermon
youtube.com: DESPITE REPEATED SINS, DO NOT DESPAIR

We must be repent from sinful practices:

I John 3:3-7 - And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. (ESV)

We must forgive each other:

Colossians 3:13 - bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (ESV)

We must love our brother and our sister in Christ. It's imperative that we follow Jesus Christ's teachings and commandments:

I John 4:20-21 - If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (ESV)

I confess that Jesus is the Son of God:

I John 4:15 - Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (ESV)

It's imperative that as we go ahead, we must abide in the teaching of Christ, or we won't have God (Jehovah God), and God is love and love comes from God, so we need to abide in Christ's teachings, by belief and by obedience. For example, in Mark 10:18, Jesus affirmed that God is Good. Therefore when we read this, we must also be sanctified by this truth, affirming and coming into agreement that God is Good. Also, Jesus commanded us to love one another as He loved us John 13:34-35:

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

Knowing God means loving as Jesus loved us:

I John 4:6-7 - We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (ESV)

In other words, the real Christians are the ones who know that we must trust Jesus and obey Jesus' commandments out of thankful love for Jesus as we also believe Jesus, and believe God sent Him:

I John 5:1-5 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (ESV)

And we should be building each other up, helping each other attain unity of faith and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God:

Ephesians 4:12-13 - to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, (ESV)

To get to know Jesus, we must obey His commandments:

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

38. Sermon on the mount

38.1. Those who mourn will be comforted

Matthew 5:4 - Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

38.2. The earth may be inherited

Matthew 5:5 - Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

38.3. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied

Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

38.4. The merciful shall receive mercy

Matthew 5:7 - Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Romans 9:15-16 - For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (ESV)

James 4:6 - But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (ESV)

38.5. Without holiness, no-one will see the Lord

Matthew 5:8 - Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

38.6. The peacemakers shall be called sons of God

Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Jesus didn't come to bring peace on earth, but division:

Luke 12:51 - Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. (ESV)

The peace Jesus brings is peace in Christ:

I Peter 5:14 - Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 5:13 - and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (ESV)

Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Colossians 1:21-22 - And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, (ESV)

II Timothy 2:22 - Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (NASB)

38.7. Christian persecution is for abiding in Jesus through the cross

Christian persecution happens for obeying Jesus' commandments, through being a servant of Jesus, for being found in Jesus:

Matthew 5:10 - Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

Christian persecution is not for suffering as an evildoer:

I Peter 4:15 - But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. (ESV)

Christian persecution happens because a person is actually serving Jesus (i.e. following His commandments):

John 15:20 - Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. (ESV)

Worldly people (including worldly Christians) persecute those who are walking in the Spirit:

Galatians 4:29 - But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. (ESV)

Matthew 5:12 - Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (ESV)

The persecution is for the cross of Christ - the offense of the cross:

Galatians 6:12 - It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. (ESV)

38.7.1. There are huge rewards for following Jesus in this life and the one after

In other words, by giving up your present life for being a disciple of Jesus, for obeying Jesus and for the sake of His gospel, we are rewarded in this life and the one after:

Mark 10:29-30 - Jesus said, Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. (ESV)

But it also makes me think that I really wish I had tried to follow Jesus years ago, especially before I was born-again:

John 20:29 - Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. (ESV)

And also, I can't really claim "Christian persecution", I don't think. People have generally respected me as a Christian. Also, I live in New Zealand. I've had it quite good, to be honest.

38.7.2. We bless back and endure

I Corinthians 4:12 - and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; (ESV)

II Thessalonians 1:4 - Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. (ESV)

Matthew 13:21 - yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. (ESV)

39. The Kingdom of God

After I got born-again I started getting dreams with themes of the 'Kingdom of God', and also through interactions I began having with people, while I was pursuing following Jesus' commandments, etc. So my 'evidence' is a personal conviction that comes through faith in Jesus which has been working.

That's how I interpret how the following passage says that the Kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed:

Luke 17:20-21 - Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, Look, here it is! or There! for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.

Also, entering the kingdom of God is entering into righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit:

Romans 14:17-20 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. (ESV)

Those in the Kingdom of God are serving Christ. As we serve Christ, we are approved by God:

Romans 14:18 - Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

Inheriting the Kingdom, however, appears to be reigning with Christ:

Daniel 7:18 - But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever. (ESV)

Revelation 2:26-28 - The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. (ESV)

As we walk in the light, as He is in the light, that is in the Truth, walking in, believing, professing and obeying Jesus Christ in Truth, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin:

I John 1:6-7 - If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV)

We are the light of the world. Yes, we must do good:

Matthew 5:14-20 - You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

We must do good, and behave like the children of God, or we will not enter the Kingdom:

I John 3:10 - By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (ESV)

I John 3:7 - Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. (ESV)

We need to perform our salvation in obedience to God:

Philippians 2:12 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out (katergazomai) your own salvation with fear and trembling, (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: Work Out What Christ Has Won: The Christian Life as Gift and Duty

James 2:26 - For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (ESV)

39.1. Righteousness for entering the kingdom

We get our life from God as we hold our faith in Jesus Christ; that is believing, trusting, cleaving to, obeying Jesus Christ.

Even from the believer's perspective, we have already won:

1 John 4:4 - Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (ESV)

Romans 8:37 - No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

We live by our faith in Jesus Christ - our trust in God has the visible evidence of obeying His commandments - and we are not the ones to shrink back and to stop obeying but to remain obedient.

Hebrews 10:37-39 - For, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (ESV)

And is in line with what Jesus has said:

Luke 9:62 - Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. (ESV)

The one who relies on the law for their life hopes to get their life from continuing to abide by the law, but if they sin it will produce for them death:

Romans 7:10 - The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. (ESV)

Galatians 3:21 - Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. (ESV)

The trouble with trying to get our life and justification through Mosaic law compliance is that is that only Jesus did that perfectly, but that also means that if Jesus is our Master, then Jesus can save us.

We should hold our faith in Jesus, do our best with regards to God's precepts, being accountable to Jesus, and not feel condemned by the law because we are following Jesus:

We have confidence when we keep His commandments, believing in the name of God's Son Jesus Christ and loving one another and our heart doesn't condemn us:

I John 3:21-24 - Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

It's obedience which leads to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith:

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (ESV)

And we also should at the same time not encourage the breaking of the Mosaic law.

biblehub.com: Greek Concordance: ζήσεται {zesetai} – 9 Occurrences

This word zēsetai I think means to consider it the way we live in order for us to live. So therefore, with regards to the law, a person who lives by the law actually does it. But according to the Apostle Paul, the commandment which promised life proved to be death to him, Paul. I believe that's because the law is against sin, and Paul had sin:

Galatians 3:12 - But the law is not of faith, rather The one who does them shall live by (zēsetai en) them. (ESV)

Romans 10:5 - For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. (ESV)

Leviticus 18:5 - You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD. (ESV)

Ezekiel 20:11 - I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live. (ESV)

OK, so justification by Mosaic law is not of 'faith' but is of 'doing it' i.e. works. Yet the law of Christ is of faith. But if a person 'does' the law, they will live. Indeed, it's a blessed way to live so long as you are compliant. Law works against you if you sin. So life comes when a person actually 'does' what is in the law and does not sin. It certainly seems to me that doing the law is a good thing but we can't rely on it to perpetually sustain our life or to save us. We have to die to the law and live to Christ and not shrink back from faith in Jesus Christ.

The law is not the sum of God. God is not merely the law:

Galatians 2:19 - For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. (ESV)

The Word was God:

John 1:1-4 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. (ESV)

John 1:17-18 - For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (ESV)

So even if a person is observing and teaching others to observe the law, at the end of the day our faith in Jesus Christ is more important:

Romans 3:28-29 - For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, (ESV)

Making Jesus Christ our Master does not mean we say the law is evil, and we still endeavour to follow the law to the measure we observe without it condemning us, bearing one another's burdens, behaving in accordance with sound doctrine while holding our faith in Jesus:

Galatians 3:12 - But the law is not of faith, rather The one who does them shall live by them. (ESV)

Where Galatians 3:12 says that the law is not of faith, it is talking about the Mosaic law, not Christ's law. When we talk about the law of Christ, that law is a law where people who hold faith may be justified while obeying Jesus. If a person holds faith in Jesus while also observing and doing the Mosaic law, that is excellent. If a person holds faith in Jesus Christ without caring much about the Mosaic law, serving Jesus they are acceptable to God. Faith always involves believing God. Faith always involves obedience to Jesus as Jesus works in us and for us. Whenever we believe Jesus we have obeyed Him. And whenever we disobey Jesus we have disobeyed Him.

Faith and obedience are not mutually exclusive but they are mutually inclusive:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

When we obey His commandments we have obeyed Him. It's all obedience, and it's all belief. Even belief is obedience. So obedient faith is still faith and a person can be obedient to God even with regards to Mosaic law while being obedient to Jesus and placing faith in Jesus for our justification. Jesus did the work that we may be justified by faith in Him, and that includes the adherent of the law and the Gentiles. We believe that we are justified by faith in Him thanks to His perfect obedience but we must obey Jesus to see life. If a person is totally disobedient to Jesus then they haven't believed Him. It doesn't help in the slightest bit to be disobedient to Jesus. Obedience is an intrinsic part of faith:

Romans 3:26-29 - It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, (ESV)

God's already spoken and given commandments. If we want to obey God then we can listen by reading the Holy Bible to see what God has already spoken:

Luke 16:24-31 - And he called out, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame. But Abraham said, Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us. And he said, Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment. But Abraham said, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them. And he said, No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent. He said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead. (ESV)

We must keep Jesus' commandments. We must keep God's commandments. It's not just the red letters of the Bible which we should observe, believe, trust and obey, but it's the 10 commandments, it's the great commandments. It's God's words which are spirit. It's not just what we get in a dream or a vision that we should observe and obey. Don't believe every spirit!

I John 3:24 - Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

Don't believe every spirit! The ones who write-off God's commandments found the Bible are probably listening to a different spirit:

I John 4:1 - Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (ESV)

For our justification, Jesus does/has done the work for those who place their faith in Him. But sanctification involves ongoing work in our lives:

Romans 3:28 - For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (ESV)

Romans 3:24 - and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (ESV)

We indeed want to aim to love God with our whole heart and our neighbour as ourselves. This is a very important commandment even and especially for Christians. Yes, at the end of the day we rely on Jesus' merit, but this is about loving God. We must have a response of love for God:

Luke 10:27-28 - And he answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. And he said to him, You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live. (ESV)

But the goodness of God should lead us to repentance:

Romans 2:4 - Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (ESV)

Romans 7:9-13 - I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. (ESV)

40. Entering and inheriting the kingdom

Through the power of God working in us as we hold faith in Jesus we may enter the Kingdom of God:

Mathetes to Diognetus
This was not that He at all delighted in our sins, but that He simply endured them; nor that He approved the time of working iniquity which then was, but that He sought to form a mind conscious of righteousness, so that being convinced in that time of our unworthiness of attaining life through our own works, it should now, through the kindness of God, be vouchsafed to us; and having made it manifest that in ourselves we were unable to enter into the kingdom of God, we might through the power of God be made able.

Luke 18:24-30 - Jesus, looking at him with sadness, said, How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Those who heard it said, Then who can be saved (4982. sózó)? But he said, What is impossible with men is possible with God. And Peter said, See, we have left our homes and followed you. And he said to them, Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age (165. aión) to come eternal (166. aiónios) life (2222. zóé). (ESV)

4982 sṓzō (from sōs, "safe, rescued")
properly, deliver out of danger and into safety; used principally of God rescuing believers from the penalty and power of sin – and into His provisions (safety).

I Timothy 1:15-16 - The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (ESV)

At the time we believe, the kingdom of God to us is a promise for which we hope. When do you enter the kingdom of God? That's a good question. I think a reasonable answer is: hold the faith, fight the good fight of faith, and be the 'good soil':

Acts 14:22 - strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Matthew 13:18-21 - Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. (ESV)

We must be the good soil:

Matthew 13:22-23 - As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty. (ESV)

Being the good soil is walking in the light, in the truth, the word of truth, the gospel, and that bearing good fruit:

I John 2:24-25 - Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. (ESV)

Romans 2:6-11 - He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (ESV)

Romans 6:22-23 - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

We do need a lot of faith (faith, faithfulness, obedience) in God to inherit the Kingdom of God:

James 2:5 - Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? (ESV)

It's received as an inheritance by being found in Christ. We believe we have it while we are found in Christ, and continue working it out, and we do need repentance from sin to inherit it. We need to be believing and obedient to Jesus. We need to be faithful to Jesus. We need to follow Jesus:

Galatians 5:22-25 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (ESV)

God is not dead. The inheritance we receive goes to Christ and those found in Him who are practicing righteousness, presenting themselves to Christ as alive from the dead.

We should disobey sin, and present ourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and our members as instruments of righteousness to God. We should be practicing righteousness, practicing love and holiness and truth:

Romans 6:12-13 - Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. (NASB)

Talk
youtube.com: How Do We Inherit the Kingdom? Galatians 5:19-21, Part 2

Galatians 3:18 - For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. (ESV)

Galatians 3:29 - And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (ESV)

Romans 4:13 - For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. (ESV)

Galatians 4:6-7 - And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (ESV)

Romans 9:6-8 - But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but Through Isaac shall your offspring be named. This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. (ESV)

The Apostle Paul is with Jesus:

Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

We must:

  • Trust Father God, even for His promise for the one who puts their faith in Jesus. We believe, and trust and obey Jesus:
    • love our enemies
    • do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return
    • Believe Jesus and practice His commandments

Luke 6:35 - But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. (ESV)

We're always seeking God's commendation:

Galatians 1:10 - For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (ESV)

The righteous live by their faith in Jesus - in belief to His promises and in obedience to His commandments all of our life as Christians - hoping for God's commendation.

Matthew 4:4 - But he answered, It is written, Man shall not live by (zēsetai) bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (ESV)

Habakkuk 2:4 - Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:38 - but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. (ESV)

Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (ESV)

Galatians 3:11 - Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for The righteous shall live by faith. (ESV)

We live to serve Jesus, believing we are justified by our faith in Him, and not relying on our own righteousness, but we're still living by our faith in God and in Jesus His Son. I think it's dangerous and not necessarily correct to say, "I've been justified." We don't justify ourselves but we still have faith to be justified by God as we hold faith in Jesus, and we don't necessarily know when that justification has happened. It may have happened when we first believed. I would suggest holding to that belief and going on obeying Jesus like someone alive from the dead, serving God: I just want to continue to live faithfully to Jesus for the rest of my life, as I also hold faith that God is my justifier. I want God to justify me / have justified me, as the way in which we are justified is that God does the justifing of the one who has faith in Jesus. So the plan is to really be transformed by the gospel and live in the truth of God's word, and seek God's commendation, and live in the reality that God is for me and not against me as I hold faith in Jesus. I'll give it my best shot:

I John 4:17 - By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

It certainly appears that we're not supposed to simply do some righteous thing and then lean on that. Rather we're supposed to 'live by' our faith, – keep going, and not shrink back:

Ezekiel 33:13 - Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. (ESV)

Proverbs 4:18 - But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. (ESV)

We should be growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ:

II Peter 3:18 - But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (ESV)

This is in line with what is written in Hebrews:

Hebrews 10:37-39 - For, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (ESV)

And is in line with what Jesus has said:

Luke 9:62 - Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. (ESV)

There's so much stuff to do in obedience to enter the kingdom… I feel entirely unworthy.

At the same time, it's so simple and there is not a lot to do: just have a trusting heart towards Jesus and receive it:

Luke 18:17 - Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. (ESV)

Firstly, it has been by grace because I asked God to save me, even when I was very much stuck in sin. And I still feel as though I am approaching it and haven't quite entered it (just being honest here), but I'm not turning back from the plow.

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied.

Please God, give me the righteousness required to enter the kingdom, and help me to receive it as I live by faith in Jesus, trusting, believing and obeying Him.

Matthew 5:10 - Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

Matthew 5:3-9 - Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:23-26 - And Jesus said to his disciples, Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. (ESV)

It helps to clarify what we mean by inheriting the kingdom of God:

Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

Of course we cannot inherit righteousness, peace and joy without putting to death what is earthly in us.

Interesting fact
Te reo Māori doesn't have any filthy words. Every language has capacity to express anger, disgust or outrage. Te reo Māori is no different. There are no single words that equate to English equivalents in terms of obscenity of insult. As Alan pointed out, words for body parts, copulation etc are just words — quite neutral.
Watch
youtube.com: John Piper - On Cussing

I still think though, that lying, slander and obscene talk can be done in any language using neutral words, so we should not use language in a bad way.

Put to death the earthly in us:

  • sexual immorality,
  • impurity,
  • passion,
  • evil desire,
  • covetousness, lying,
  • slander,
  • unrighteous anger,
  • obscene talk

We must forgive one another:

Colossians 3:5-13 - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (ESV)

40.1. Inheriting the Kingdom of God, even on earth

  • Stop sinning - repent from sin
  • Make Jesus #1 agape
  • Obey Jesus
  • Inherit the kingdom of God
    • Righteousness, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit

Matthew 6:30-33 - But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)

Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

We must be actively keeping Jesus as our Pearl of Great Price:

James 2:5 - Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love (25. agapōsin / agape loving) him? (ESV)

 1: 191        80       1473     27         3756 3588
 2: Akousate   adelphoi mou      agapētoi   ouch ho
 3: Ἀκούσατε , ἀδελφοί  μου      ἀγαπητοί . οὐχ  ὁ
 4: Listen     brothers my       beloved    Not   -
 5: V-AMA-2P   N-VMP    PPro-G1S Adj-VMP    Adv  Art-NMS
 6: 
 7: 2316  1586       3588 [e 4434     3588 [e 2889
 8: Theos exelexato  tous    ptōchous tō      kosmō
 9: Θεὸς  ἐξελέξατο  τοὺς    πτωχοὺς  τῷ      κόσμῳ
10: God   has chosen the     poor      -      in this world
11: N-NMS V-AIM-3S   Art-AMP Adj-AMP  Art-DMS N-DMS
12: 
13: 4145         1722 4102   2532 2818        3588
14: plousious    en   pistei kai  klēronomous tēs
15: πλουσίους    ἐν   πίστει καὶ  κληρονόμους τῆς
16: [to be] rich in   faith  and  heirs       of the
17: Adj-AMP      Prep N-DFS  Conj N-AMP       Art-GFS
18: 
19: 932       3739       1861        3588
20: basileias hēs        epēngeilato tois
21: βασιλείας ἧς         ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς
22: kingdom   that       He promised to those
23: N-GFS     RelPro-GFS V-AIM-3S    Art-DMP
24: 
25: 25        846
26: agapōsin  auton
27: ἀγαπῶσιν  αὐτόν  ?
28: loving    Him
29: V-PPA-DMP PPro-AM3S

40.2. Jesus explains how we can go about seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness - this is obedience (the type of faith we must have), not works!

Jesus has told us what we must do, and to obey Him is to follow Him, and be led by Him.

Jesus says the following teachings which he outlines in Matthew 5-7 are extremely important:

Matthew 7:24-27 - Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. (ESV)

The followers of Paul the Apostle live by (walk by) faith; those are the righteous ones. It's a lifestyle:

Galatians 3:11 - Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for The righteous shall live by faith. (ESV)

40.2.1. Accept the free gift which is by grace and not of our own merit

In believing in Jesus, we are guaranteed an inheritance in heaven:

Ephesians 1:13,14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (ESV)

I Peter 1:13 - Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

The inheritance is in heaven:

I Peter 1:4 - to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (ESV)

We work for the Lord while believing in Jesus:

Colossians 3:23-25 - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. (ESV)

So once again, we are actually instructed to work for God, but it's not wrong under the right conditions:

Hebrews 6:10 - For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. (ESV)

All the Apostle Paul is saying here, I think is that in "working for God" doesn't imply you have accepted a gift. But, yes, you can accept the gift (believe in Jesus) and under that condition work for God:

Romans 4:4 - Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. (ESV)

We still really do need to accept the free gift! Actually, it's imperative, no matter how much we've been attempting to work for God, that we accept the free gift from God:

Romans 4:5-8 - And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin. (ESV)

40.2.2. Love God - treasure God, believe in God, obey God, trust in God. Keep His commandments and hold faith in His promises

James 2:1-9 - My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, You sit here in a good place, while you say to the poor man, You stand over there, or, Sit down at my feet, have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (ESV)

40.2.3. Remain faithful to God and keep trusting Him. We need trust in Jesus as we go through the trial

We must remain faithful to God:

James 2:21-23 - Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness—and he was called a friend of God. (ESV)

We must not short-sightedly exchange our invaluable inheritance for immediate relief as Esau did, and do our best to not allow bitterness to damage us going through the fiery trial:

Hebrews 12:15-17 - See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. (ESV)

Trust in God and His promises:

Romans 4:20-22 - No distrust (apistia) made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. (ESV)

oneplace.com why-the-believer-doubts-part-1-1-1172653.html: Why the Believer Doubts, Part 1 {#1} - Listen to Grace to You with John MacArthur, Jul 1, 2024

Be assured in the heart of the promises of God:

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (ESV)

40.2.4. Love your enemies

We must be like children of God to enter the Kingdom. Children of God are like their Father. So we must love our enemies:

Matthew 5:44-48 - But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)

40.2.5. Practice your righteousness for God's commendation

We must absolutely be faithful to God who sees in secret. Having an awareness and a faith in God is very important for behaving as children of God:

Matthew 6:1-4 - Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (ESV)

40.2.6. Will for God's will to be done

Matthew 6:10 - Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (ESV)

40.2.7. Do the will of God

We want to be children of God, so we must act like children of God:

Matthew 7:21 - Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

We don't want to be children of the devil:

John 8:44 - You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (ESV)

40.2.8. Forgive everyone

I believe we need to be serving Christ to be led by the Spirit, and that means forgiving everyone is important. Jesus commanded us to love one another as He loved us.

To love your neighbour as yourself means forgiving them too, and remember that Jesus forgave us. It also means to not take vengeance (Christ's law includes not rendering evil for evil):

Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (ESV)

Jesus' commandments us to even love one another, anyone around you, with selfless love:

John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)

If we are servants of Christ then we are acceptable to God. Serving Christ, loving our neighbour as ourselves, bearing one another's burdens, trying to do no harm to our neighbour, we should have a good conscience before God and men:

Romans 14:18 - Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

If you have trusting faith in God then you will walk according to the will of God (walk the way Jesus Christ calls us to walk in obedience to Jesus, as a response of love to God in the knowledge He loved us first). Led by the Spirit = following Jesus.

John 12:26 - If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (ESV)

That's not working but it is walking and it is being obedient to Jesus. The Israelites through the Red Sea were being led by the Spirit - they were not working for God as they walked in obedience:

Galatians 5:16-18 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Matthew 6:8-15 - Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (ESV)

Matthew 6:12 - and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (ESV)

Put to death the earthly in us:

  • sexual immorality,
  • impurity,
  • passion,
  • evil desire,
  • covetousness, lying,
  • slander,
  • unrighteous anger,
  • obscene talk

We must forgive one another:

Colossians 3:5-13 - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (ESV)

40.3. Entering the kingdom

This really seems to be talking about walking out the faith, putting on Christ, etc.:

II Peter 1:5-11 - For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (ESV)

We must receive the kingdom of God like a child - like Father God's child. Children easily trust, believe, follow and obey their parents - they also act like their parents. We must receive the kingdom of God like a child of God:

Luke 18:16-22 - But Jesus called them to him, saying, Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. And a ruler asked him, Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother. And he said, All these I have kept from my youth. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.

Like a child of God:

  • behave like a child of God
    • like a child takes after their parents
  • trust like a child trusts their parents
    • believe like a child believes their parents
    • obey like a child obeys their parents
  • follow like a child follows their parents

Colossians 3:20 - Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. (ESV)

The kingdom of God is all about serving Christ, and having righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit:

Romans 14:17-22 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. (ESV)

40.3.1. Behave like a child of God, as a child takes after their parents

We must do good, and behave like the children of God, or we will not enter the Kingdom:

I John 3:10 - By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (ESV)

Luke 6:35 - But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: Called to Bless Others
Quote of John Piper
Your life becomes a foretaste for others of your cherished future. But if your future that you cherish is grace coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ and that is your treasure, and that is your hope and that is your faith and that is your vision and what you hold onto and embrace, you cannot return evil for evil. You know why you cannot return evil for evil? (If that's where your heart is.) Because the cherished grace that's coming is that He's not going to return evil for evil to you. Then we cannot turn around and have a lifestyle of returning evil for evil or insulting for insulting, and therefore the point of saying it's a condition for that is simply this, "You must be born again." Therefore, it's a condition, not in the sense of earning anything but in the sense of bearing witness that you've fallen in love and live out of that confidence.

I believe this type of obedience, obedience to Jesus may come before or after being born of the Spirit, and obedience to Jesus is a part of faith in Jesus. If I obey Jesus when I'm feeling depressed and having a bad day myself, that's fine. It most certainly still counts as love. In fact, it's more blessed to give than to receive. The obedience is still done out of love for Jesus and out of faith in Jesus.

40.3.2. Trust Jesus like a child trusts their parents

We abide in Jesus when He washes us. When the Holy Spirit washes us, the Holy Spirit helps us to put sin to death:

John 13:8 - Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me. (ESV)

Peter believed/received/obeyed/trusted like a child of God (he cooperated) to let Jesus wash him but it was Jesus doing the work:

John 13:9 - Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head! (ESV)

40.3.3. Follow Jesus as a child follows their parents

John 10:26-29 - but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. (ESV)

40.3.4. We must love Jesus and the other children of God

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. (ESV)

I John 5:1-2 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. (ESV)

40.3.5. Have active faith in Jesus and trust in Him. This is the good news:

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes (G4100 pisteuo) in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)

Have faith in God and have faith in Jesus:

John 14:1 - “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe (G4100 pisteuo) in God, believe (G4100 pisteuo) also in Me.

Pisteuo means to trust. Trust in God, trust also in God's Son Jesus:

Romans 4:5 - And to the one who does not work but trusts (G4100 pisteuo) him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, (ESV)

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

John 5:34 - Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. (ESV)

John 6:47 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. (ESV)

John 11:26 - and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? (ESV)

40.3.6. We must be born-again

John 3:3-5 - Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

John 1:12 - But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (ESV)

It is the sovereign work of God to make someone born-again of the Spirit, but the Apostles say the Holy Spirit is given to those who believe in / obey him:

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

Galatians 3:14 - so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (ESV)

John 1:11-13 - He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe (G4100 pisteuo) in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

40.3.7. We must be born of God

I think being born of God might in some way mean being born of the will of God:

John 1:13 - who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (ESV)

40.3.8. We must be able to discern the will of God, and want to do it

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

Matthew 6:10 - Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (ESV)

40.3.9. We must do the will of God

Jesus has to be your Lord in reality, i.e. doing Father God's will:

Matthew 7:21 - Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

We must be doing the will of God to not be under the law:

Psalms 143:10 - Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! (ESV)

I John 2:17 - And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

40.3.10. We must accept it as a child, and as a child of Father God

Matthew 18:3 - and said, Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

40.3.11. We must serve people. We must give up our wealth for others' sake

Matthew 19:23-24 - And Jesus said to his disciples, Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Mark 10:23-25 - And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Luke 18:24-25 - Jesus, looking at him with sadness, said, How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

40.3.12. Even doing good and put to silence the ignorance of foolish people is the will of God

Even doing good is important for entering the kingdom of heaven:

I Peter 2:15 - For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Matthew 7:21 - Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

40.3.13. We must abide in Jesus through faith, then we have Jesus' righteousness, but faith in Jesus progresses to obedience to Jesus, which is doing the will of God

We may abide in Jesus, but we should still go about doing the will of God to enter the kingdom of heaven:

Matthew 5:20 - For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

Matthew 7:21 - Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

We abide in Jesus when He washes us. When the Holy Spirit washes us, the Holy Spirit helps us to put sin to death:

John 13:8 - Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me. (ESV)

Peter believed/received/obeyed/trusted like a child of God (he cooperated) to let Jesus wash him but it was Jesus doing the work:

John 13:9 - Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head! (ESV)

Jesus' servants (people who believe and obey Him) are found in him. We know Christ by living in the pattern in which he lived. Jesus' servants are those who have accepted Jesus to wash them, and they ought to then wash one another:

Psalms 34:22 - The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. (ESV)

40.3.14. We must turn from sin

Mark 9:47 - And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,

After being born-again we must reckon dead the 'old man', and put sin to death.

Those in Christ Jesus have been set free from the law of sin and death, and we should not succumb to sin.

Romans 7:20 - Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (ESV)

Romans 7:24-25 - Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV)

Romans 8:5 - For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. (ESV)

Romans 8:10 - But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (ESV)

Romans 8:13 - For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: Free from Judgment, Fighting Sin, Full Assurance |

40.3.15. We must endure to enter the kingdom of God

Acts 14:22 - strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

40.4. Salvation absolutely involves repenting from sin

Zacchaeus was repentant, and was saved through Jesus as he had the faith of Abraham, but towards Jesus:

Luke 19:1-10 - He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today. So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (ESV)

40.5. Inheriting the kingdom (being an Heir of the Kingdom)

James 2:5 - Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? (ESV)

Romans 8:16-17 - The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)

40.5.1. We must be born-again

I Corinthians 15:50 - I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (ESV)

40.5.2. Made alive in Christ

Ephesians 2:1 - And you were dead in the trespasses and sins (ESV)

Ephesians 2:4-5 - But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— (ESV)

40.5.3. We must repent and be sanctified - it's for our own good

youtube.com: Practicing Sin Destroys the Soul: Galatians 5:19-21, Part 1

This is not an exhaustive list:

Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

But only the ones who are truly remorseful:

I Corinthians 6:9-10 - Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

The sexually immoral, impure, the covetous, the idolaters, have no inheritance in the kingdom of God - so much for 'imputed' righteousness alone. We need to be transformed by the gospel:

Ephesians 5:5 - For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (ESV)

An adequate reading of the following which makes sense to me is that being found in Jesus, we have a righteousness which does indeed belong to us but it belongs also to Jesus who we are found in. The righteousness which we have in Jesus doesn't come from the law but through faith in Jesus, depending on faith in Jesus. In other words, the righteousness is not our own apart from Jesus, but the righteousness still belongs to us if it is the righteousness of faith in Jesus, us being found in Jesus. Our righteousness being found in Jesus doesn't make it self-righteousness to obey God's commandments:

Philippians 3:9 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— (ESV)

Flock = Jesus' followers. God wants to give Jesus' followers the kingdom, but we have to stop the sin:

Luke 12:30-32 - For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (ESV)

We want to walk in a worthy manner, bearing fruit in good work:

Colossians 1:10-14 - so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

40.5.4. We must be a good and faithful servant

Matthew 25:31-34 - When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

40.5.5. We must be servants

Colossians 3:23-24 - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (ESV)

Matthew 25:35-46 - For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. Then they also will answer, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you? Then he will answer them, saying, Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

40.5.6. We must keep conquer (in our own lives) evil and sin, keeping Jesus' works, keeping our faith in Jesus

Our work for God is not in vain, and it's all grace:

I Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (ESV)

All of this is grace. Our hope is on the grace that is brought to us as we hold our faith in Jesus - it's all grace. Obedience to Jesus doesn't make it no longer grace:

I Peter 1:13 - Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Realise that Jesus has overcome the world, and while we are in Him, we ourselves become overcomers:

John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (ESV)

Every person who has been born of God overcomes the world:

I John 5:4-5 - For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (ESV)

We must overcome evil with good:

Romans 12:21 - Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (ESV)

II Peter 2:20 - For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. (ESV)

We must overcome the evil one:

I John 2:13-14 - I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. (ESV)

Revelation of John 3:12 - The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. (ESV)

The gospel of the Kingdom of God (God's reign on earth):

Revelation of John 11:15 - Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. (ESV)

If we keep Jesus' works then we receive authority over the nations (obvious bonuses for obedience to Jesus' commandments, and it's not easy):

Revelation of John 2:26 - The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, (ESV)

II Timothy 2:12-13 - if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. (ESV)

Revelation 2:17 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. (ESV)

Condition: If we overcome persecution and trials
Promise: Jesus will allow us to eat of the hidden Manna and will give a us white stone with a new name written on it that only the one that receives it will know.

Indeed the "paradise of God" (Garden of Eden, I assume) is still around:

Revelation 2:7 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (ESV)

Condition: If we persevere over evil and endure for Christ's namesake and overcome (persecution and trials)
Promise: We will be allowed to eat from the Tree of Life which is in the paradise of God

41. Who will enter the holy city of Jerusalem which is in Heaven? Not sinners. Only servants. Only those who follow Jesus' commandments

I think it's really the hope of inheritance for people who have strived to enter the kingdom while on earth.

Luke 13:22-27 - He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, Lord, will those who are saved be few? And he said to them, Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us, then he will answer you, I do not know where you come from. Then you will begin to say, We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets. But he will say, I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!

Hebrews 12:22 - But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,

Revelation of John 21:10 - And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,

Revelation of John 21:27 - But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. (ESV)

41.1. Those who have stopped sinning (potentially through the power of the Holy Spirit) and who believe in Jesus Christ

Acts 5:31 - God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 11:18 - When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.

41.2. Sinners will not inherit the kingdom of God

Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

41.3. We've died to sin, now we live to Christ, and do not allow sin back in

We are slaves of righteousness now - we must obey God, keeping sin dead:

Romans 6:1 - What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Do not make sin come alive again, but be a slave of righteousness - be obedient as it leads to righteousness:

Romans 6:12-16 - Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

We must be slaves to righteousness, which leads to our sanctification:

Romans 6:17-21 - But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death.

At the end of sanctification is eternal life:

Romans 6:22-23 - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

41.4. Compliance with the Torah (Law) is not self-righteousness, but obedience

Revelation 22:15 - Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (ESV)

Ephesians 5:5 - For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (ESV)

1 John 3:4-9 - Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. (ESV)

Derek Prince may have an even better understanding of the Torah's (the Law's) role in Christianity:

We must obey Jesus:

Romans 8:3-4 - For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (ESV)

41.4.1. The law is good, if used properly - and its usage is part of the gospel

The law certainly still exists:

1 Timothy 1:8-11 - Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. (ESV)

Romans 13:10 - Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)

Read
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians

But Christians are not under the law while we are led by the Spirit:

Ignatius to the Magnesians 8 - Be not deceived with strange doctrines, nor with old fables, which are unprofitable. For if we still live according to the Jewish law, we acknowledge that we have not received grace. For the divinest prophets lived according to Christ Jesus. On this account also they were persecuted, being inspired by His grace to fully convince the unbelieving that there is one God, who has manifested Himself by Jesus Christ His Son, who is His eternal Word, not proceeding forth from silence, and who in all things pleased Him that sent Him.

If we are led by the spirit (if we're serving Jesus Christ, seeking justification through faith in Jesus Christ) then we are not under the Mosaic law, but we are trying to bear one another's burdens without partiality and seeking to not harming our neighbour, and we are seeking to not allowing sin to reign in our mortal bodies. Inheriting the Kingdom of God is for those who abide by God's law, and conform to Christ's image, and do not allow sin to reign in their mortal body:

Galatians 5:18-21 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

We must abide in Jesus. God doesn't give glory to anyone else. God is love and God is Jehovah and God is Jesus:

Isaiah 42:8 - I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. (ESV)

God is love, but God has loved us by sending us Jesus
youtube.com: God Is No Longer Against Us

42. The LORD our God and my Lord Jesus Christ

Acts 2:34 - For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

43. Jesus, the Bread of Life

Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (ESV)

43.1. Have faith in Jesus. Continue in faith in Jesus and it will well up to eternal life

John 6:35 - Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

John 6:38-40 - For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

43.1.1. Drink

John 7:37-38 - On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

John 4:14 - but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Whoever believes in Jesus.

43.1.2. Food

John 4:32-34 - But he said to them, I have food to eat that you do not know about. So the disciples said to one another, Has anyone brought him something to eat? Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. (ESV)

John 6:27 - Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.

John 6:28-29 - Then they said to him, What must we do, to be doing the works of God? Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe (G4100 pisteuo) in him whom he has sent. (ESV)

Whoever believes in him who God has sent.

43.1.3. Look upon, consider and have faith (which is a relationship with God)

John 6:40 - For this (G3778 houtos) is the will (G2307 thelema) of My Father (G3962 pater), that everyone (G3956 pas) who beholds (G2334 theoreo) the Son (G5207 huios) and believes (G4100 pisteuo) in Him will have (G2192 echo) eternal (G166 aionios) life (G2222 zoe), and I Myself (G1473 ego) will raise (G450 anistemi) him up on the last (G2078 eschatos) day (G2250 hemera).”

1: :  2334  theoreo  theh-o-reh'-o
2: 
3:  from a derivative of 2300 (perhaps by addition of 3708); to be a
4:  spectator of, i.e. discern, (literally, figuratively (experience) or
5:  intensively (acknowledge)):--behold, consider, look on, perceive, see.
6:  Compare 3700.
7:  see GREEK for 2300
8:  see GREEK for 3708
9:  see GREEK for 3700

John 6:47-58 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.

43.2. Jesus, the Bread of Life

Doing words (verbs):, eats, feeds, drinks.

Action is required on the part of the believer - walking in the light, as he is in the light.

Obeying Jesus:

  • Believing in him
  • Continuing to believe in him
  • Trusting him
  • Obeying him

John 6:48-58 - I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.

Hebrews 10:16-22 - This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds, then he adds, I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

43.2.1. They will be taught by God, through Jesus

Isaiah 54:5-17 - For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. For the Lord has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer. This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, and will not rebuke you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you. Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy; no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.

Isaiah 30:20-21 - And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

John 6:44-47 - No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 - But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, Know the LORD, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (ESV)

43.3. Abiding in Jesus; Abiding in the Truth

John 6:33 - For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

John 6:35 - Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Believing in Jesus is good work. Believing in Jesus keeps us alive. Obeying Jesus keeps us alive. Following Jesus keeps us alive.

He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

John 6:28-29 - Then they said to him, What must we do, to be doing the works of God? Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe (G4100 pisteuo) in him whom he has sent. (ESV)

John 6:56 - He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.

Get intimate with Jesus - really intimate.

I believe this means to become a disciple of Jesus and become one in spirit with Jesus; to think like Jesus, to walk as Jesus walked, to love God and obey God as Jesus did, even if one is persecuted for being righteous as happened to Jesus, to do as Jesus commanded, to become one in spirit with Jesus. Also, taking communion is about that.

It's really important to come to communion with the type of heart that would yearn to be a good disciple of Jesus - repentant and obedient, and thankful for what He has done.

I John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

I Corinthians 2:11-16 - For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (ESV)

John 5:39 - You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

Leviticus 17:11 - For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

We must have faith in Jesus, we must hope in Jesus, and we must love like Jesus:

I Corinthians 13:13 - So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (ESV)

43.3.1. We must love - we must obey Jesus

Loving the way Jesus loves is a requirement!

Keeping Jesus' commandments is obeying Jesus. Obedience to Jesus is a requirement of a Christian - obedience in the heart, which translates into deeds.

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

John 13:35 - By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)

John 15:8 - By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (ESV)

I John 4:16 - So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (ESV)

43.3.2. Communion is spiritual, and helps us to abide in Him

John 6:53-58 - So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.

We remember Jesus as we take communion:

  • We give thanks to God
    • Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks (G2168 eucharisteo) to God the Father through him. (ESV)
  • We proclaim the Lord Jesus' death until He comes
  • We examine ourselves and compare our hearts to the heart of the Lord Jesus
  • We consider what our Lord Jesus has done for us on the cross
  • Before we take communion, we want to examine our own heart to see how we could be more like Jesus
    • How we can be more selfless
    • How we can be more loving
    • How we can be more like disciples of Jesus
    • How we can be more trusting of Jesus
      • How we can be more believing of who He is and believing of His atoning sacrifice
      • How we can be more obedient to His commandments
  • We believe that Jesus will return

I Corinthians 11:24-29 - and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

I believe that taking the Eucharist absolutely has spiritual and physical effects, and the body and blood of Jesus are received through faith.

I Corinthians 11:30 - That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. (ESV)

Paul is talking about unity with other believers, participating together in the body of Christ, even through the sacrament of the Lord's supper / communion / the Eucharist:

I Corinthians 10:16-18 - The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?

I believe the body and blood of Jesus are received through faith and thanksgiving, and in unity with other believers, in the sacrament but also simply with faith, and with belief and obedience to Jesus through his words and commandments, and it's my belief that we don't need to attend the Catholic mass exclusively to partake in this, but that taking the Lord's supper / communion with believers in other church denominations is being just as effective and faithful to Jesus.

If I were to attend the Catholic mass then I would simply receive it with faith, remembrance, repentance and thanksgiving, as I do at any other church I've attended. The way I currently view the Catholic mass is not "re-sacrificing Jesus" at all as people have said but "co-offering", which is a word which the following article uses to explain it:

However, there is only one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, and I do not need any other priest other than Jesus Christ himself in order to receive the Lord's supper:

I Timothy 2:5 - For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (ESV)

Those in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ are priests:

Revelation of John 5:10 - and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. (ESV)

And Jesus is with us in Spirit:

II Corinthians 5:16 - From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. (ESV)

Matthew 18:20 - For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:19 - Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

As I understand it, when we come to communion we understand that we want to be holy as He is holy. It's best to confess sin as sin and repent from it before coming to communion. Communion is a unity thing. We are united in love for one another, and holy living, and love of the Truth, and the bread and wine of the new covenant help us to be sanctified as we agree with the Truth:

Didache 10:6 - Let grace come, and let this world pass away. Hosanna to the Son of David. If any one is holy let him come (to the Eucharist); if any one is not, let him repent. Maranatha. Amen.

We must proclaim the Lord's death until He comes, discern the body and judge ourselves truly before and as we take Holy Communion:

I Corinthians 11:22-32 - What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not. For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. (ESV)

Proclaim the Lord's death until He comes:

I Corinthians 11:25-26 - In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Didache Chapter 4
… Do not in any way forsake the commandments of the Lord; but keep what you have received, neither adding thereto nor taking away therefrom. In the church you shall acknowledge your transgressions, and you shall not come near for your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life.
Discerning the Body
bibleref.com 1-Corinthians-11-29.html: What does 1 Corinthians 11:29 mean? | BibleRef.com
 1: What does 1 Corinthians 11:29 mean?
 2: This is a sobering verse, especially for believers who regularly participate in communion. Paul has already warned Christians to examine themselves before taking part in the Lord's Supper to avoid doing so in an unworthy way (1 Corinthians 11:28).
 3: 
 4: The cup represents Christ's blood, and the bread represents His broken body. The purpose of taking communion is to commemorate and reflect on the sacrificial death of Jesus (Matthew 26:26–28). To do so without "discerning the body" brings judgment on the participant.
 5: 
 6: The first question this raises is the precise meaning of "discerning the body." Bible scholars primarily suggest two ways of interpreting this, both of which are reasonable, and which can even both be true.
 7: 
 8: The first suggestion is that this refers to a recognition: that the symbolic parallel to Christ's body in the elements of the bread and cup causes a Christian to see them as different from other food. In other words, the Lord's Supper should not be treated like just another meal used to satisfy physical hunger. It must be approached with respect as something much more meaningful and important. This first view of "discerning the body" would fit with Paul's instructions in the following verses about not coming hungry to the Lord's Supper gathering. The Corinthians were clearly not doing this (1 Corinthians 11:17–22).
 9: 
10: Along with that, partaking in communion is "proclaiming" the death of Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:26). If a person proclaims Jesus' death, but is disobedient to the gospel, that person is essentially daring God to judge them (Galatians 6:6–7). Whether by ignorance, arrogance, or simple error, insulting the sacrifice of Christ—even symbolically—is something God takes seriously.
11: 
12: The second interpretive view is that "discerning the body" means recognizing the relationship between Christ's body and the "body of Christ," known as the church. In other words, we must see Christ in our fellow Christians and treat them as we would treat Jesus when we come together. This view fits with what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:16–17.
13: 
14: Whichever view Paul intended, both are necessary.

Hebrews 7:28 - For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (ESV)

43.3.3. Getting Jesus' words in us helps us to abide in Him

If a person believes Jesus' words their faith will grow.

Father God authorizes people to come to Jesus, but that person must come to Jesus (of their own volition, I think).

John 6:61-65 - But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe. (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him. ) And he said, This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

John 15:3-4 - Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

We've got to believe Jesus:

John 5:37-38 - And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. (ESV)

John 15:7 - If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (ESV)

43.3.4. Living the way Jesus commanded us helps us to abide in Him

Living as Jesus instructed us to live. Living as Jesus also lived.

I John 3:24 - Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. (ESV)

I John 4:16 - So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (ESV)

44. The day

If someone has the light in him, he walks in the day.

I Thessalonians 5:8 - But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. (ESV)

John 9:3-5 - Jesus answered, It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (ESV)

John 12:35 - So Jesus said to them, The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. (ESV)

Walking in the light is walking righteously, in love and holiness and truth:

Ephesians 5:1-17 - Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (ESV)

If someone walks in the day with the light in them, they will not stumble. With the light in them, they should not be concerned about such worries. They should put confidence in the light.

John 11:6-10 - So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, Let us go to Judea again. The disciples said to him, Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him. (ESV)

Interestingly, Jesus goes confidently back to Judea where the disciples were worried he would be stoned, but instead of someone killing Jesus, Jesus resurrects Lazarus. I guess it pays to walk while you have the light.

John 11:11-15 - After saying these things, he said to them, Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him. The disciples said to him, Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover. Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him. (ESV)

We should be more confident with the light!

Matthew 5:16 - In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

II Corinthians 8:1-2 - We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: This Is The Day {Garratt}

Romans 13:12-14 - The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (ESV)

44.1. No more night

Revelation 22:3-5 - No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (ESV)

Matthew 17:1-3 - And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. (ESV)

45. Christian perfection through suffering with Christ is a thing

45.1. Living a godly life in Christ Jesus is to be wise for salvation

II Timothy 3:12-15 - Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

45.2. Unity in faith and truth and love

Colossians 3:14 - Beyond all (G3956 pas) these things put on love (G26 agape), which (G3739 hos) is the perfect bond of unity. (NASB)

John 17:23 - I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (ESV)

II Timothy 1:13 - Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

John 17:23 - I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected (G5048 teleioo) in unity, so that the world (G2889 kosmos) may know (G1097 ginosko) that You sent Me, and loved (G25 agapao) them, even as You have loved (G25 agapao) Me. (NASB)

I Peter 3:8-12 - Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. (ESV)

I Peter 1:22 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)

Ephesians 4:2 - with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, (ESV)

Zechariah 7:9 - Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, (ESV)

Matthew 18:33 - And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? (ESV)

Colossians 3:12-13 - Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (ESV)

I John 3:18-19 - Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; (ESV)

Ephesians 4:1-6 - I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (ESV)

Romans 6:5 - For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (ESV)

I Corinthians 1:10 - I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. (ESV)

Psalms 133:1 - Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! (ESV)

45.3. It's wholeness and fullness, knowledge of Jesus

I Corinthians 13:10 - but when the perfect (G5046 teleios) comes, the partial (G3313 meros) will be done away.

Ephesians 4:13 - until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, (ESV)

45.4. It's cleaning ourselves up from all defilement of flesh and spirit

II Corinthians 7:1 - Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves (G1438 heautou) from all (G3956 pas) defilement of flesh (G4561 sarx) and spirit (G4151 pneuma), perfecting holiness in the fear of God (G2316 theos).

45.5. It's a process leading to the day of Christ Jesus

Philippians 3:12 - Not that I have already obtained (G2983 lambano) it or have already become perfect (G5048 teleioo), but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which (G3739 hos) also I was laid hold of by Christ (G5547 Christos) Jesus (G2424 Iesous).

Philippians 1:6 - For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work (G2041 ergon) in you will perfect it until the day (G2250 hemera) of Christ (G5547 Christos) Jesus (G2424 Iesous).

45.6. Having suffered for righteousness-sake

Jesus mends (G2675 katartizo) us after a little suffering, and stabilises (G4741 sterizo) us, makes us strong (G4599 sthenoo) and makes us stable (G2311 themelioo), establishing us:

I Peter 5:10 - After you have suffered (G3958 pascho) for a little (G3641 oligos) while (G3641 oligos), the God (G2316 theos) of all (G3956 pas) grace (G5485 charis), who called (G2564 kaleo) you to His eternal (G166 aionios) glory (G1391 doxa) in Christ (G5547 Christos), will Himself (G846 autos) perfect (G2675 katartizo), confirm (G4741 sterizo), strengthen (G4599 sthenoo) and establish (G2311 themelioo) you.

45.7. Without lack

James 1:4 - And let endurance have its perfect (5046. teleios) result (G2041 ergon), so that you may be perfect (G5046 teleios) and complete, lacking in nothing. (NASB)

James 2:22 - You see that faith (G4102 pistis) was working with (4903. sunergeó) his works (G2041 ergon), and as a result of the works (G2041 ergon), faith (G4102 pistis) was perfected (G5048 teleioo);

4903. sunergeó
Definition: to work together. Usage: I cooperate with, work together.

In treasuring Jesus' words, keeping them, guarding them, observing them, in Him the agape (treasuring, valuing love) has truly been perfected. Having Jesus' teachings in us clearly should result in us walking as He did:

I John 2:5-6 - but whoever keeps (5083. téreó) His word (G3056 logos), in him the love (G26 agape) of God (G2316 theos) has truly been perfected (G5048 teleioo). By this we know (G1097 ginosko) that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

I John 4:12 - No one has seen God (G2316 theos) at any time; if we love (G25 agapao) one another, God (G2316 theos) abides in us, and His love (G26 agape) is perfected (G5048 teleioo) in us.

45.8. Perfection is the result of sanctification

Hebrews 5:8-10 - Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:11 - Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?

Hebrews 2:11-12 - For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise. (ESV)

II Corinthians 7:1 - Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves (G1438 heautou) from all (G3956 pas) defilement of flesh (G4561 sarx) and spirit (G4151 pneuma), perfecting holiness in the fear of God (G2316 theos).

45.8.1. Faith

Hebrews 12:2 - looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

45.8.2. Spirit

Hebrews 12:23: - to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven (G3772 ouranos), and to God (G2316 theos), the Judge of all (G3956 pas), and to the spirits (G4151 pneuma) of the righteous (G1342 dikaios) made (G5048 teleioo) perfect (G5048 teleioo),

45.8.3. Holiness

James 3:2-3 - For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:1 - For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. (ESV)

Jesus' sacrifice is comprehensive:

Hebrews 10:16-18 - This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds, then he adds, I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Hebrews 10:14 - For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (ESV)

Hebrews 9:9 - (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, (ESV)

45.8.4. Love / knowing Jesus / Truth

In agape love treasuring Jesus' words, keeping them, guarding them, observing them, obeying them out of trusting in Jesus, in Him the agape (treasuring, valuing love) has truly been perfected. Having Jesus' teachings in us clearly should result in us walking as He did:

I John 2:5-6 - but whoever keeps (5083. téreó) His word (G3056 logos), in him the love (G26 agape) of God (G2316 theos) has truly been perfected (G5048 teleioo). By this we know (G1097 ginosko) that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

We are commanded to reject the idols to treasure God first. If we do this then we draw near to God and God draws near to us:

II Corinthians 6:17-18 - Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty. (ESV)

James 4:8 - Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (ESV)

Psalms 73:25-28 - Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. (ESV)

Having an obedience that is based on trust in Jesus, we come into doing the will of God:

Philippians 3:9-13 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (ESV)

Philippians 3:14 - I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Following the teachings of Christ out of a trust in Jesus:

Didache Chapter 6 - See that no one causes you to err from this way of the Teaching, since apart from God it teaches you. For if you are able to bear the entire yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect; but if you are not able to do this, do what you are able.

Matthew 5:47-48 - And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (ESV)

Agape treasuring our family in Christ, God abides in us:

I John 4:12 - No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (ESV)

John 8:19 - They said to him therefore, Where is your Father? Jesus answered, You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also. (ESV)

I John 4:17 - By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:14 - For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (ESV)

John 17:17 - Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (ESV)

John 17:22-23 - The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (ESV)

46. Eldership

46.1. Cultivating discipleship

I believe that opportunity to exercise Christ's love should be encouraged, and the benefit of the doubt should be given for the sake of Jesus, rather than punishing newborn Christians and disciples of Jesus.

Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (ESV)

Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV)

II Timothy 1:7 - for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (ESV)

46.2. Don't dominate the flock, but be an example

We're supposed to lead by example.

To be domineering is to behave like a lord.

II Corinthians 1:24 - Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. (ESV)

1 Peter 5:1-4 - So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (ESV)

I Corinthians 8:6 - yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Ephesians 4:5 - one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

I Corinthians 11:3 - But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. (ESV)

46.2.1. Jesus is our only Teacher and Lord

I John 2:27 - But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything—and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you—abide in him. (ESV)

I John 2:24 - Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. (ESV)

John 13:13 - You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. (ESV)

Matthew 23:8 - But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. (ESV)

Matthew 23:10 - Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. (ESV)

youtube.com: Humbling Ourselves @time: 13 min 3 sec
Pride considers itself above instruction. When God speaks and we don't listen.

Jeremiah 13:9-11 - Thus says the LORD: Even so will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing. For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the LORD, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen. (ESV)

Elders, listen to God. Those who are younger, be subject to the elders:

I Peter 5:5-7 - Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (ESV)

46.2.2. Jesus has said we must stop sinning and follow Jesus to enter the kingdom

Anyone who says otherwise is a false teacher.

Luke 18:18-27 - And a ruler asked him, Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother. And he said, All these I have kept from my youth. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, looking at him with sadness, said, How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Those who heard it said, Then who can be saved? But he said, What is impossible with men is possible with God.

II Peter 2:1 - But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

46.3. Stop sinning

Proverbs 20:23 - Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good. (ESV)

Proverbs 21:27 - The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent. (ESV)

Proverbs 12:22 - Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight. (ESV)

Proverbs 15:26 - The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure. (ESV)

Proverbs 29:27 - An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked. (ESV)

Proverbs 3:32 - for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence. (ESV)

Proverbs 6:16-19 - There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. (ESV)

Proverbs 17:15 - He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD. (ESV)

Proverbs 28:9 - If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. (ESV)

Do not even seek them out:

Leviticus 19:31 - Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God. (ESV)

Exodus 22:18 - You shall not permit a sorceress to live. (ESV)

Leviticus 20:27 - A man or a woman who is a medium or a wizard shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them. (ESV)

Revelation of John 21:8 - But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. (ESV)

Leviticus 20:6 - If a person turns to mediums and wizards, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people. (ESV)

I Samuel 15:22-23 - And Samuel said, Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king. (ESV)

Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

46.3.1. Jesus when He sets us free, helps us to stop sinning

I John 3:8 - Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. (ESV)

John 8:36 - So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (ESV)

46.4. Put sin to death

I think it's really important to 'stop sinning', and particularly against your own body, especially after being placed into Christ.

It's important to no longer will to do the sin, and to will for the sin to stop, and to cooperate with Jesus in putting a stop to it.

This is a strong warning:

Hebrews 12:15-17 - See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. (ESV)

youtube.com: Has My Sexual Sin Made Me Unsavable?

1: Dear Heavenly Father, Jehovah God,
2: please God help me to:
3: - stop bitterness and unforgiveness
4: - stop all sexual immorality
5: - stop all unholiness
6: In Jesus Christ's name I ask,
7: AMEN!!

I read this somewhere:

1: The key to overcoming repetitive sins is to read God's word everyday and then
2: praying and surrendering yourself to Christ. Ask God to lead you away from
3: temptation and to deliver you from evil. Remain vigilant on what your eye sees
4: and what you ears hear. God bless.

46.4.1. We want to be transformed

My biggest problems exist inside of me, not outside:

youtube.com: War of Words: Getting to the Heart for God's Sake @time: 27 min 21 sec
when you are able to convince yourself that your deepest greatest problems in life exist outside of you not inside of you you quit being a seeker after the transforming grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
Sermon :: youtube.com: Killing Lust with the Cross of Christ
Step 1: The sin is cancelled by the blood of Christ. We're Justified before God, and then Step 2: We purge that sin from our lives; Can't ever get that backwards. Sin canceled, then sin purged.

46.4.2. Quote from John Piper

There's a whole cloud of witnesses that finished the race. They have lined up along the race course of your life and they are shouting to you from chapter 11, "You're not helpless. By faith you can do this. You could be killed. You can walk out of lust and out of pornography. By faith you can do this. That great cloud of witnesses did not become Esaus. And that great cloud ends with Jesus in verse 2 of chapter 12."

Faith chapter:

46.4.3. Also, my thoughts

I like to think that there are actually lots of people cheering me on during my race who have already finished the race. I hope to finish it. I really hope to finish it.

Dear Heavenly Father, Jehovah God, Please, LORD Jesus, let me finish the race. Do not abandon me Jesus, please. Please let me put all the sin to death. I want it to die. I do not want to be killed by it. In Jesus Christ's name I pray, AMEN!

46.5. Those that are younger, be subject to the elders

I Peter 5:5 - Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

God's grace goes to the humble.

46.6. It's more important to obey God if an elder is teaching falsehood

Acts 5:29 - But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men.

I Corinthians 11:3 - But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. (ESV)

Ephesians 5:23 - For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

46.6.1. Obedience to Christ is also necessary for salvation

Hebrews 5:8-10 - Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

So sometimes a person needs to choose Jesus over false teachers and blind guides.

47. Concerning Baptism (taken from the Didache)

 1: Chapter 7.
 2: 
 3: Concerning Baptism.
 4: 
 5: And concerning baptism, baptize this way:
 6: Having first said all these things, baptize
 7: into the name of the Father, and of the Son,
 8: and of the Holy Spirit, in living water.
 9: 
10: But if you have no living water, baptize into
11: other water; and if you cannot do so in cold
12: water, do so in warm.
13: 
14: But if you have neither, pour out water three
15: times upon the head into the name of Father
16: and Son and Holy Spirit.
17: 
18: But before the baptism let the baptizer fast,
19: and the baptized, and whoever else can; but
20: you shall order the baptized to fast one or
21: two days before.
  • Trinitarian.
    • Baptising into the Trinitarian name of the LORD God
      • AMEN!!
  • Moving water:
    • Immersion in a river, for example
    • Pouring is fine interestingly, also

youtube.com: The Didache: The Earliest Christian Writing After the Bible

  • The Holy Spirit poured out onto the people of God.

I was baptised again to rededicate my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I see no problem with getting baptised again, personally. I see it as like renewing wedding vows. I've only been made a child of God, born-again of the spirit (grafted into Christ), once, though!

I have been baptised 3 times total now, but I would not recommend more than one baptism!

But being born-again as a child of God through the spirit only happened to me one time.

But each time I was baptised it was in the names of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I've got my reasons why this has happened.

The summary of it is that while I was water baptised at 15-17 years old, nothing much appeared to happen.

But at 35 I was spontaneously born-again of the Spirit after a little repentance and seeking God.

After I was born-again of the spirit, I began studying and writing about early Christian writings including stuff which is not canon, and writing out and responding to my visions online, and that appears to have had a strong effect on my world and relationships.

For example, as a consequence I had a dream of a mass baptism 10 days in advance and was drawn into a church again and I got baptised again, which in retrospect I believe was a mistake.

I wanted to get baptised the last time to really show God I was all in with Jesus, with nothing else, and to repent of sin, to repent of declaring any public endorsement of gay marriage, to fall out of agreement with Valentinianism, to repent towards holiness and a more sound understanding of the Christian faith - I wanted a good conscience with God.

And now I feel like I'm dealing with the fallout of a very messy and action-packed born-again experience, but at this stage I no longer feel condemnation, and I feel a lot stronger in my faith and prepared, and I have a good conscience with God.

Repentance after being born-again of the Spirit is biblical:

Romans 8:13 - For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (ESV)

Each time I was baptised, was into the names of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Well, actually, the third time I had actually been baptised in the names of Almighty Father God, His Only-Begotton and precious Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit.

So therefore, I don't see the big problem with wanting to rededicate myself to Jesus, but I would definitely recommend sticking to doing this one time, and also at the point where you really want to partake in the resurrection of Jesus - I think believer's baptism is Scriptural.

I don't have all the answers guys to how it works! But Jesus did say:

John 3:8 - The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (ESV)

47.1. We are baptised into Christ, not into a denomination

Romans 6:3 - Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (ESV)

I Corinthians 1:13 - Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (ESV)

Ephesians 4:4-5 - There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, (ESV)

48. Can other religions exist anywhere in the Kingdom of God? They have to put their faith in and follow Jesus

It's not really the religion but the person who puts their faith in Jesus and obeys the gospel who will be saved.

John 7:24 - Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. (ESV)

Also, no-one can save themself from eternal damnation - it's only the blood of Jesus which can.

The words Jesus Christ spoke were altogether a commandment of eternal life which Father God had given Jesus to speak:

John 12:49-50 - For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me. (ESV)

It is all by God's grace that we are saved. A believing and obedient heart is a trusting heart - a heart of faith - and our obedience gives us confidence. All glory to God alone. We must obey Jesus to become like Jesus:

I John 4:17 - By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

I'd have more confidence if I was following Jesus is reality and from the heart but was caught up in incorrect theology, than if thought I had all the correct theology but didn't do what Jesus said. When confronted with the reality of Jesus Christ, we must believe Him, believe who He is, believe what He's done, love Him and put our faith in Him:

Correct Christology is important, but so is obeying Jesus' commandments.

Matthew 21:28-31 - “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went. The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.

It's not the ones with the correct doctrine who will stand in the congregation of the righteous, but the ones who do the will of God:

Psalms 5:5 - The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. (ESV)

For that reason, I would have more confidence before God if I was serving Him, having put sin to death and trying to be holy and selfless and loving in faith towards Jesus, than if I believed precise theology but had no changed life / love for Jesus:

Psalms 1:4-5 - The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; (ESV)

Unity in Christ is unity in faith and truth and love:

Colossians 3:14 - Beyond all (G3956 pas) these things put on love (G26 agape), which (G3739 hos) is the perfect bond of unity.

John 17:23 - I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (ESV)

II Timothy 1:13 - Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Glorification can only come through being found in Jesus Christ:

Isaiah 42:8 - I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. (ESV)

And in Jesus Christ there is no sin:

I John 3:5-6 - You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

A comprehensive and broad understanding of the Bible is certainly important so we are not "tossed around by every wind of doctrine", and to grow into and become established in the knowledge of Jesus, and able to not be tossed around when people ask questions about doctrine (I have often felt tested in this way, and sometimes unprepared), and that is why I am writing this Bible study out:

Ephesians 4:11-16 - And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (ESV)

We shouldn't go beyond what is written:

I Corinthians 4:6 - I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. (ESV)

We must keep ourselves in the love of God by obeying Jesus Christ's commandments, because we're awaiting to receive eternal life:

Jude 1:21 - keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (ESV)

Keeping Jesus Christ's commandments is a requirement to inherit eternal life, not an extra:

John 15:10 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (ESV)

Whoever truly believes Jesus trusts in and is obedient to Jesus. We must obey Jesus Christ, and that obedience means being a slave of righteousness, leading to sanctification, which leads to eternal life:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

Therefore, I don't want to flat-out disqualify people who do not have precisely the correct doctrine or theology.

Is there a subtle difference between 'believer' and 'saint'?

II Thessalonians 1:9-12 - They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Saints keep the commandments of God:

Revelation of John 14:12 - Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Video
youtube.com: Called to Be Saints | Charles Spurgeon | Devotional | Morning & Evening: Daily Readings
Quote by Charles Spurgeon
All are "saints" whom God has called by His grace and sanctified by His Spirit;

Jesus is not ashamed to call brothers [and sisters] those who are cleaned up and sanctified through obedience to Jesus' gospel:

Hebrews 2:11 - For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, (ESV)

I Corinthians 1:2 - To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: (ESV)

Jesus goes to those who hear His voice to bring them into His flock:

John 10:16 - And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. (ESV)

Jesus Christ is God's servant. We are Jesus' servants. It is a kingdom of servants, obedient to God.

48.1. Not all religions are equal. There is only one true God, the Father of Jesus Christ who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ

Ignatius to the Magnesians 8 - Be not deceived with strange doctrines, nor with old fables, which are unprofitable. For if we still live according to the Jewish law, we acknowledge that we have not received grace. For the divinest prophets lived according to Christ Jesus. On this account also they were persecuted, being inspired by His grace to fully convince the unbelieving that there is one God, who has manifested Himself by Jesus Christ His Son, who is His eternal Word, not proceeding forth from silence, and who in all things pleased Him that sent Him.

The only way to Father God is through Jesus:

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 8:5-6 - For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth-as indeed there are many gods and many lords- yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. (ESV)

Jesus Himself is the bread of God - Jesus Himself is the source of life:

John 6:33 - For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

John 6:35 - Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)

Galatians 1:6-10 - I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (ESV)

Micah 4:1-13 - It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever. In that day, declares the LORD, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted; and the lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore. And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem. Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pain seized you like a woman in labor? Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the city and dwell in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies. Now many nations are assembled against you, saying, Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gaze upon Zion. But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor. Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples; and shall devote their gain to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth. (ESV)

James 1:26 - If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. (ESV)

48.2. They also have to repent from idolatry

I Thessalonians 1:9-10 - For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (ESV)

I Corinthians 10:14-31 - Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if someone says to you, This has been offered in sacrifice, then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (ESV)

48.2.1. Idolatry

Acts 17:29 - Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. (ESV)

Romans 1:23 - and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. (ESV)

Psalms 106:20 - They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. (ESV)

Book
timothykeller.com: Counterfeit Gods - Timothy Keller
Sermon
youtube.com: Counterfeit Gods - Tim Keller

I think I John 2:15-17 is essentially saying, "Do not agape love the world or what's in the world. Do not love the things of this world with the type of love that we have for God and for people, namely agape love." If we fall out of agape love for the world and are not conformed to the world but are transformed by the renewing of our minds then by testing we will be able to discern the will of God:

I John 2:15-17 - Do not love (agapate) the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

48.3. Jesus is reigning in power over everything - it's all in His control

Hebrews 2:8 - putting everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. (ESV)

Ephesians 1:21 - far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (ESV)

49. Man is made in the image of God

Job 33:4 - The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (ESV)

49.1. Male and female

Genesis 1:27 - So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (ESV)

Matthew 19:4 - He answered, Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, (ESV)

49.2. In God's own likeness

Genesis 5:1-2 - This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. (ESV)

49.2.1. Righteousness and holiness

Ephesians 4:24 - and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (ESV)

The new self should be Christ formed in you:

Colossians 3:5-10 - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (ESV)

Colossians 1:15 - He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (ESV)

Galatians 4:18-19 - It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! (ESV)

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (NASB)

49.3. Created for God's glory

Isaiah 43:6-7 - I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.

49.3.1. Man wasn't designed to kill and curse each other

Genesis 9:6 - Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. (ESV)

Luke 6:31 - And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. (ESV)

James 3:9 - With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. (ESV)

Matthew 26:52 - Then Jesus said to him, Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. (ESV)

I John 3:15 - Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (ESV)

49.4. Jesus Christ, Son of God

II Corinthians 4:4 - In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

John 5:26 - For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

John 5:21 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

John 1:4 - In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. (ESV)

John 1:9 - The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. (ESV)

Ephesians 3:9-11 - and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

By him all things were created. Firstborn here does not mean 'created first', but it means pre-eminent and firstborn of the dead:

Colossians 1:15-20 - He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

youtube.com: Jesus Is Not Just A Prophet Or A Guru @time: 5 min 50 sec

Now, in a natural human birth what's the first part of the body that normally emerges? The head.

And so in this birth out of death, which is the resurrection, the first part of the body to emerge was the head.

And when the head emerges, that's the guarantee that the body's going to follow, see? So He's the head, the firstborn from the dead.

Jesus is before creation:

Colossians 1:17 - And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (ESV)

The prophets spoke of Him:

Exodus 4:22-23 - Then you shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, Let my son go that he may serve me. If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son. (ESV)

Psalms 2:7 - I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, You are my Son; today I have begotten you. (ESV)

Isaiah 7:14-15 - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. (ESV)

God audibly spoke of Jesus, His Son:

Luke 9:35 - And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him! (ESV)

Jesus also claimed to be Christ, the Son of the Blessed One (2128. eulogétos):

Mark 14:61-62 - But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. (ESV)

When people say "God can't die, so Jesus is not God" the explanation is that Jesus conquered and sat down with His Father Jehovah on His throne, and is the image of God, Father God revealed to us through His Son, and Jesus is the only way to Father God:

Colossians 1:15 - He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (ESV)

Thomas saw God in Jesus Christ, or Jesus Christ as God:

John 20:28 - Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God! (ESV)

It's very clear that there is some distinction between Father and Son:

John 20:17 - Jesus said to her, Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. (ESV)

But Jesus Christ is our Mediator:

I Timothy 2:5 - For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (ESV)

Jesus still refers to Father God as His God:

Revelation of John 3:12 - The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. (ESV)

I think this really clears things up a little bit:

Revelation of John 3:21 - The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (ESV)

We serve the Most High God, Jehovah and Jesus Christ who He has sent:

I Corinthians 8:5-7 - For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earthas indeed there are many gods and many lords — yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. (ESV)

Jesus has defeated death for himself and all who receive eternal life from Him:

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)

AMEN!!

That's why we can say that Jesus who is God the Son died and defeated death and sits with His Father who is God the Father, and they are One. We can still say that God doesn't die because Jesus defeated death:

Revelation of John 1:18 - and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. (ESV)

Romans 8:11-13 - If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (ESV)

Psalms 16:10 - For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. (ESV)

But from the perspective of those currently being sanctified, things may still seem to be rolling out. Jesus, from His perspective, though has already won though and defeated first:

Romans 6:9 - We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. (ESV)

Death will be destroyed for all those who abide in Jesus:

I Corinthians 15:26 - The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:14 - For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (ESV)

By faith I believe that Jesus even from my perspective has defeated death because Jesus will never let me go:

John 6:37-39 - All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. (ESV)

See this
youtube.com: Derek Prince - Jesus Is Not Just A Prophet Or A Guru

Isaiah 43:10 - You are my witnesses, declares the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. (ESV)

Colossians 1:18 - And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (ESV)

Jesus is pre-eminent, one with God in the beginning:

John 1:2: He was in the beginning with God.

Being pre-emintent one with God in the beginning, Jesus washes us first. Jesus acts first that we may abide in Him, that our works may abide in Him:

John 13:8-10 - Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head! Jesus said to him, The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you. (ESV)

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

Jesus was birthed from God:

Psalms 2:7 - I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, You are my Son; today I have begotten (3205. yalad) you.

 1: Strong's Concordance
 2: yalad: to bear, bring forth, beget
 3: Original Word: יָלַד
 4: Part of Speech: Verb
 5: Transliteration: yalad
 6: Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-lad')
 7: Definition: to bear, bring forth, beget
 8: NAS Exhaustive Concordance
 9: Word Origin
10: a prim. root
11: Definition
12: to bear, bring forth, beget

Acts 13:33 - this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, You are my Son, today I have begotten you.

God is knowable through revealing Himself through Jesus Christ, His eternal word, even made flesh:

John 1:18 - No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (ESV)

Hebrews 1:5- For to which of the angels did God ever say, You are my Son, today I have begotten you? Or again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son?

Hebrews 5:5 - So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, You are my Son, today I have begotten you;

I John 5:20 - And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

50. The sheepfold

Psalms 23:4 - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (ESV)

When the person starts trusting Jesus they are justified. But they must reach the end to be saved.

However, I believe that, so long as Jesus knows that you're trusting in Him, he knows you're His sheep.

The question is, when it is considered they have entered the door and received eternal life and been saved?

Jesus says a person is saved when they enter the door.

John 10:9 - I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (ESV)

The following verse says they will (when they have eternal life) be unable to be snatched away from His hand, when they are saved.

John 10:28 - I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (ESV)

 1:                                                   ||
 2:         |     |    |  |     |                     ||
 3:     Unbelieving    |  | Jesus' voice              ||
 4:   and disobedient  |  |     |    |                ||
 5:       goat    |    |  |     |    |   |            || Saved by entering through Jesus
 6:         |     |    |  |     |    |   |  |        ||||
 7:         |     |    |  |     |    |   |  | |  Jesus, the good shepherd - John 10:11
 8:         |     |    |  |     |                Jesus, the Door - John 10:7
 9:     Trusting--------------------------------------|--->
10: sheep (justifed)   |  |                          ||||     pasture
11:         |     |   _|                              ||
12:         |     |  / \        Jesus knows his       ||
13:     Trusting-----   \   -->     sheep             ||
14: sheep (justifed)     \_/                          ||
15:     (wandering)                                   ||
16:         |     |                                   ||
17:                                                   ||
18:                                                   ||    Thief comes to
19:     unbelieving          dead works              /||\    steal, kill
20:     dead worker --------------------------------- || ->    and destroy
21:     (thief/goat)                                  ||       John 10:1, John 10:10

John 10:7 - So Jesus again said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. (ESV)

John 10:1 - Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. (ESV)

John 10:11 - I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (ESV)

It's possible to follow Jesus' voice even before having come to perfect knowledge and obedience, but Jesus knows His sheep:

John 10:26-29 - but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. (ESV)

Trust in God (Trusting in God involves trusting God and trusting God enough to do what He says):

  • We should trust in God.
  • We should have faith in God.
  • We should have faith in Jesus.
  • God justifies the one who puts their faith in Jesus, who trusts in Jesus.

Putting faith in Jesus means trusting in Jesus and trusting.

We don't love the Christmas presents more than our parents. Rather, we simply love our parents and they provide the Christmas presents. Likewise, we trust in Jesus and we believe that God justifies the one who trusts in Jesus.

The true believers follow Jesus. They are Jesus' sheep, and they keep His teachings and trust in Him (enough to obey Him penitently):

  • trust Jesus
  • hear Jesus' voice
  • love Him
  • follow Him (they're being obedient)
  • Jesus knows them

I believe that what this says is that at the point Jesus knows you listen to His voice and obey His voice, He counts you as one of His sheep and He will not let you go.

A Psalm of David:

Psalms 23:1-6 - The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

50.1. The voice of Truth

John 18:37 - Then Pilate said to him, So you are a king? Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice. (ESV)

John 10:27-28 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (ESV)

John 15:20 - Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. (ESV)

I John 4:6 - We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (ESV)

John 8:46-47 - Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God. (ESV)

Jesus' friends do what Jesus' commands them. Jesus' friends hear His voice:

John 3:29 - The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. (ESV)

John 15:14 - You are my friends if you do what I command you. (ESV)

John 14:15-17 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (ESV)

John 10:5 - A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. (ESV)

50.2. Sheep vs goats: Sheep inherit the kingdom of God, goats do not

Following Jesus certainly means repenting from, turning away from practicing sin because Jesus taught that we should. The ones who practice the works of the flesh will never even enter the kingdom:

Matthew 5:20 - For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

I Corinthians 6:9-10 - Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Also, obedience means obeying Jesus Christ's commandments on how to love one another! Following Jesus means obeying Jesus' commandments:

Matthew 25:26-46 - But his master answered him, You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. Then they also will answer, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you? Then he will answer them, saying, Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. (ESV)

Sheep:

  • Sheep are obedient
    • They follow Jesus' commandments
    • They are servants
    • They practice righteousness, as Jesus did
    • They repent and turn away from practicing sin
    • They forgive and do not bear a grudge against other family in Christ

Goats:

  • Goats are disobedient!

To love your neighbour as yourself means forgiving them too, and remember that Jesus forgave us. It also means to not take vengeance (Christ's law includes not rendering evil for evil):

Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (ESV)

51. Marriage

51.1. Marriage is between man and woman

This is the design:

Genesis 2:22-24 - And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (ESV)

Jesus is in agreement with God's design:

Matthew 19:3-9 - And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause? He answered, Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. They said to him, Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away? He said to them, Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery. (ESV)

51.1.1. Pursue marriage with those who share our faith and walk in holiness

I Corinthians 7:39 - A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. (ESV)

51.1.2. Gay 'marriage' is not blessed at all by God

So-called 'marriage' between man and man, or woman and woman, is not blessed at all by God.

We've got to be clear on that, but like all other corruption/falsehood, if agreed with and pursued it leads to the abyss.

51.1.3. The law may have come later, but the law still doesn't annul God's former decrees

Galatians 3:17 - This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. (ESV)

  1. Let's be clear: God's law does not endorse gay marriage

    Leviticus 18:22 - You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. (ESV)

    Deuteronomy 18:12 - for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. (ESV)

    Leviticus 18:26-29 - But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you (for the people of the land, who were before you, did all of these abominations, so that the land became unclean), For everyone who does any of these abominations, the persons who do them shall be cut off from among their people. (ESV)

    Leviticus 20:13 - If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. (ESV)

    Deuteronomy 22:5 - A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God. (ESV)

    Deuteronomy 7:26 - And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house and become devoted to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is devoted to destruction. (ESV)

    Jeremiah 44:22 - The Lord could no longer bear your evil deeds and the abominations that you committed. Therefore your land has become a desolation and a waste and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is this day. (ESV)

51.1.4. However, we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ - but that means obeying Jesus

Galatians 3:22-26 - But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

If we are merciful then we will receive mercy:

Matthew 5:7 - Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

James 2:13 - For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Jesus' servants are given mercy by Jesus and they also show mercy to others.

Grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ:

John 1:17 - For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

51.2. Marriage should not be forbidden

If you know why I'm writing this, there's some people I have already forgiven about stuff to do with me and a certain marriage proposal. But I have forgiven them, and I believe it's best to put Jesus first and to have no idols before or besides Him, and I believe that marriage or a spouse can be an idol, and in my case it was.

Colossians 1:18 - And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (ESV)

Luke 14:28-33 - For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (ESV)

I know I was pretty messed up at the time and I'm not without any guilt, and my theology was quite warped. While I believe Kingdom marriage could be a thing, I also believe that we should still not allow anything or anyone to be held up as an idol before or alongside Father God, or before or alongside our Saviour and God Jesus Christ:

Luke 14:26 - If anyone comes to me and does not hate (miseo) his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (ESV)

The Hebrew has two words for 'helper'. The word which the greek in John 14 refers to I believe is the Saviour one:

1: מוֹשִׁיעַ
2: savior, deliverer, helper, saviour

But the Hebrew for helper in Genesis 2:18 is not the 'saviour' but the assistant!:

1: עוֹזֵר
2: assistant, aide, helper, second

Genesis 2:18 - Then the Lord (H3068 Yhovah) God (H430 'elohiym) said (H559 'amar), “It is not good (H2896 towb) for the man (H120 'adam) to be alone (H905 bad); I will make (H6213 `asah) him a helper (H5828 `ezer) suitable (H5048 neged) for him.”

Jesus saved me from a bad situation and I just want those who come to read this or hear my testimony to come to know the Lord Jesus for themself.

I forgive everyone.

1 Timothy 4:1-8 - Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (ESV)

Colossians 1:16 - For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (ESV)

51.2.1. Marriage is good

<2024-07-24 Wed>
I forgive everyone. I've been under stress. I'm just seeking peace with God currently and sanctification, and no more spiritual attack / fiery trial / testing. I'm just trying to get to the finish line. I don't know everything. It's above my head. I just feel like a foot soldier in God's army, not the General. I hold no grudges towards anyone, and I'm confident that God will restore me in His own way.

I really think that the fruit of the Spirit is desirable in marriage and for choosing a marriage partner but what's essential is that the love has the characteristics of Christ's love. What I mean is, just because there is joy for the person wanting to propose, that's still not good enough because it's even more important that they are showing Christ's love. If the love produced as the fruit of the Spirit is truly Christ's love then that should comply with Christ's law. What I mean is, we have to bear our burdens and when it comes to spouses we need to be willing to bear theirs too.

We must love our wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. We must love as Christ loved us:

Ephesians 5:25-33 - Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (ESV)

But choosing the right person to marry rightly should desirably mean exhibiting such things as the fruit of the Spirit, in my opinion because it's much easier to not sin when exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love (G26 agape), joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV)

But when choosing a wife, we must walk by the Spirit, and that includes bearing one another's burdens. This is also made plainly evident in Ephesians 5:25-33:

Galatians 5:15-17 - But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (ESV)

Regarding making a marriage proposal after getting born-again: The fruit of the Spirit, while lawful, are not enough to justify marrying a person. Also, only Jesus was perfect. Christ's law must be followed rather than using the fruit of the Spirit to as an excuse to self-justify; Bearing your neighbours burdens, and awaiting God to provide, because God is the justifier, not us. We can't force someone to marry us, but we must die to self and give ourself up for our wife:

Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV)

Being led by the spirit involves following Christ's law. To be married to the right person makes it far easier to not sin. Yes, yielding the fruit of the Spirit, but also necessarily walking by the Spirit:

Galatians 5:13-16 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (ESV)

If we are led by the spirit (if we're serving Jesus Christ, seeking justification through faith in Jesus Christ) then we are not under the Mosaic law:

Galatians 5:18-21 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Now while we may have faith, hoping, even having a conviction for something which God may not have directly told us about (such as a marriage), ultimately God may approve or deny it:

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (ESV)

We should put our faith in God, and in God's promises:

Mark 11:22 - And Jesus answered them, Have faith in God.

In the case of the marriage proposal I made, I must hold faith in God which includes obedience to Jesus' command to love one another the way He loved us, and this is reflected in Paul's commandment to love your wife as Christ loves the church, so at the end of the day I have to demonstrate Christ's love which is ultimately obedient and faithful to Jesus:

Philippians 2:8 - And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV)

Hebrews 13:12-14 - So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. (ESV)

In my situation I had to put faithfulness to Jesus over faithfulness to the girl I wanted to marry and I had to die a death, carrying my cross, and to be faithful to Jesus first and foremost, and it was not fun, and it felt like in my case I was led to kill my Isaac on the altar. I'm a little bit confused about why I was drawn into this situation, but I believe the reasons will be in part that I was attacked by the enemy after being born-again, but God has been using me as I have confidence before God because I've been keeping Jesus' sayings and commandments. God sees it all. I think God just has been working on me as a disciple in the kingdom:

Luke 14:33 - So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (ESV)

John 15:8 - By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (ESV)

John 12:24-26 - Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (ESV)

But I know it was painful. But I was tested on relationship idolatry / faithfulness to Jesus. God tested me, actually, like He did with Abraham:

Ephesians 5:25-33 - Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (ESV)

I'm a little bit confused at it all, but I will keep following Jesus.

We have the right to take a believing wife:

I Corinthians 9:5 - Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? (ESV)

We live in a time where people deny marriage:

I Timothy 4:1-3 - Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. (ESV)

The asceticism [of denying marriage] has no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh:

Colossians 2:18-23 - Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (ESV)

We must keep and accept the precepts of God over the precepts of men:

Mark 7:6-9 - And he said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men. And he said to them, You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! (ESV)

This passage is condemning submitting to worldly / human precepts and imploring us to submit to God's precepts. It's not condemning God's precepts but imploring us to put to death what is against God's precepts:

Colossians 2:20-23,3:1-6 - If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: The Battle for Sexual Purity

Marriage itself is good. So denying it for reasons of self-made religion / worldly precepts actually causes harm because it's not the truth.

Abraham was 10 years older than Sarah!

Genesis 17:17 - Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child? (ESV)

I feel like I have had very obvious spiritual resistance a lot of the time, for whatever reason. Maybe I've had trouble because in the past I have had trouble with pornography:

Colossians 1:13-14 - He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

Light and darkness do not gel:

I Corinthians 10:21 - You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. (ESV)

I Corinthians 9:5 - Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? (ESV)

II Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (ESV)

This is why light and darkness do not go together because the whole point is to turn away from darkness:

Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (ESV)

Another reason would be that there is resistance to be expected when wanting to live faithfully to God in Christ, and I was being saved, and the devil didn't want me to be saved, and wanted to keep me in darkness, and in hopelessness, and not in the freedom of Jesus' Spirit:

II Timothy 3:12 - Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (ESV)

Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (ESV)

I feel like sometimes demon spirits deny relationships that would be good.

For example:

  • worldly spirit through a person telling me I need to be financially successful first, or
  • a spirit of slander or gossip which keeps me isolated, or a rejection-spirit spreading gossip/slander among people around me, creating social anxiety, making it hard to socialise with people who would be good to talk to, or
  • spirits of gossip and slander, fear, disunity, grudges, antichrist, anti-Christ's-love, unforgiveness
    • Being kicked out of churches for following Jesus and obeying Jesus' commandments, for example. We should certainly not withhold people from attending churches especially if they are doing good and wanting to learn from Jesus and follow Jesus. If they're opposing Jesus, that's a different story:
      • III John 1:10-11 - So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. (ESV)
  • a spiritual sex attack or a spirit spouse which thinks it's my spouse
  • wicked spirits through other people pressuring me into using AI-fiction to apply for jobs
  • dreams at night affirming what I've disaffirmed for the sake of following Jesus and remaining faithful to Jesus
    • Matthew 24:12-13 - And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (ESV)
    • The marriage proposal I made I did in a good conscience. I've reneged on it. A born-again Christian can propose to me if she wants.
  • if all of the above spirits start manifesting

And as far as forsaking God's precepts for worldly precepts go, the truth is that while in God's favour, God provides, and we cooperate with God by working, etc.

Psalms 66:18 - If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. (ESV)

II Corinthians 5:21-6:1 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (ESV)

But if God doesn't want you to get a job at a particular time, you wont get a job, etc. and that goes for other things such as relationships.

Acts 16:6 - And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. (ESV)

Philippians 4:19 - And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)

God's precept isn't that the rich are the only ones who are allowed to marry. Otherwise robots will be taking human wives before the poor are allowed to marry. I'm a Christian not a transhumanist. We've got to stick to God's precepts and go against the world:

II Timothy 3:12 - Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (ESV)

John 15:19 - If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (ESV)

We have to obey God. Jesus commandment is to give to the one that asks. If I had to choose between obeying Jesus and holding onto lots of money so I could get a wife, then it is the latter which is actually stealing, and stealing from God:

Matthew 5:42 - Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. (ESV)

And Jesus encourages us to have obedient faith in Him even to the point, even to the point where it gets difficult - no pain, no gain!

Mark 12:41-44 - And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on. (ESV)

We are walking by faith, and not sight, and to walk by faith is to actually see clearly, where to not walk in faith is actually to walk in darkness:

II Corinthians 5:7 - for we walk by faith, not by sight. (ESV)

Psalms 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (ESV)

If satan keeps delaying and blocking my relationships until seeking a relationship with someone who would be good for me has become 'socially unacceptable', then only God can save me. Worldly people wont understand.

John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (ESV)

The Bible doesn't say that marriage among consenting adults with large age gap is immoral or forbidden [in itself], as far as I understand, although I need to do a more comprehensive Bible study and perhaps pray about it. But thus far I haven't found anything and God hasn't said anything against it to me as far as I know. Gay marriage, however, is not blessed at all.

While I agree that lust, and impure motivations disqualify a relationship being seen as Biblically acceptable, there are certain things I think are not intrinsically wrong, such as marriage between consenting adults with an age gap.

Worldly people will always discriminate against people who desire to live according to the Bible, and I don't mean obeying the law by works but by obeying it in faith:

II Timothy 3:12-13 - Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (ESV)

And worldly people will endorse worldly things like:

  • having promiscuous relationships, messing around with age-gaps, and out-of-marriage relationships saying it's ok because it's not a serious relationship, and
  • endorsing gay marriage, etc. or whatever they can imagine

while worldly people will discriminate against:

  • age-gap marriage between consenting adults
  • people who are actually obeying God

I have a very similar opinion to John Piper on this I think:

Also, I won't accept accusations or condemnation from the enemy while I'm trying to do the will of God, being obedient to Jesus Christ:

Galatians 5:18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (ESV)

But if you think I'm wrong then please help correct me but please back it up with Scripture because I want to be sanctified by the Truth.

And even if I sin from time to time, especially as a consequence of being in a difficult situation due to persecution, I won't accept accusations or condemnation for that, because I'm [trying to] follow Jesus, and I accept the need for repentance and correction:

Galatians 2:17 - But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! (ESV)

I'm trying to side with Jesus over issues regarding the evil which is still present in the world and "hate the sin, not the sinner", and starting by first taking a look at my own problems but by no means endorsing sinful things even things I consider I do which are sinful, I don't endorse them for myself either:

John 7:6-8 - Jesus said to them, My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come. (ESV)

Also, I stress this verse again because if you're obeying God then the Mosaic law isn't meant for others to use it against you to condemn you. Literally, if your heart's in the right place, and you're being obedient to Jesus Christ then it's wrong for people to slap you with the Mosaic law:

Galatians 5:18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (ESV)

1 Timothy 1:8-11 - Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. (ESV)

Not that I was or am perfect, but I have been following Jesus so I claim to be on Jesus' side. By the grace of God He made me born-again, washed, regenerated and filled with the Holy Spirit in 2022 after I had begun to repent and seek Jesus.

For many years before that I've had what I've felt was unreasonably difficulty with relationships, but it's after I was born-again and actively following Jesus that I was denied my first ever marriage proposal, and it was very obvious to me that what I have been fighting is an antichrist/antirelationship/slander spirit attacking me after I was born-again (only now I could easily see it working through people) and probably long before that, and I feel like the spiritual attack (i.e. spirit spouse, LGBT dreams etc., thrown out of churches) I have received as a fallout for choosing Jesus, and endeavouring to abide by Christ's law, instead of using the documented fact I was born-again as an excuse to plead not-guilty in court, I feel like has damaged me spiritually in ways which I have not experienced before, so I need Jesus to keep washing me as I try to be obedient to Him and be corrected by the Word of God.

Before I was born-again I had in the past believed the lie that I need to have money and assets before I can have a wife but I no longer believe that lie, and I refuse to accept that lie. Jesus Christ is enough qualification for me:

star.net.nz: You are qualified!

We should certainly not withhold people from attending churches especially if they are doing good and wanting to learn from Jesus and follow Jesus. If they're opposing Jesus, that's a different story:

III John 1:10-11 - So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. (ESV)

Romans 14:17-18 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

The way I chose was based on truth and joy and being at peace. And the fact of the matter is that while I had faith I had joy and peace and could just focus on being productive and working, and when the fruit of the spirit is gone what is left but sadness and depression and filling the void with the wrong stuff. I personally do not think that having love for someone is mutually exclusive from being led by the Spirit, nor from serving Jesus, but that Jesus must be number 1.

Galatians 5:16 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (ESV)

Genesis 2:18 - Then the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. (ESV)

Then the devil probably said, "It is not good that man should be allowed to marry the person God made for him, because then he wont feel the need to have any of my false sinful substitutes." But the situation is probably more complicated than that, and I can't see everything and I wasn't perfect so, yeah.

Jesus is perfect though.

I'm not upset with people, but I'm upset that I feel broken and as if I am in a world of lies as a result of following Jesus, and like I had to kill the marriage proposal to put Jesus first, and I'm grieved. I feel like Abraham if he was to actually kill Isaac on the Altar, and God didn't intervene.

I want it to stay in God's court (until I am sanctified and delivered) because I feel like I have tried my best to remain faithful to God, and now I need full deliverance and I want to be completely cleaned and made whole, and instead of being rescued it's been as if satan has kept me in a chokehold and daily I experience these antichrist dreams and visions at night time. Obviously it's spiritual oppression which I am fight against, and that has manifested too with the actual church attacking me:

II Timothy 2:21-22 - Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (ESV)

I've been getting pounded with antichrist dreams, voices and prodings during my sleep daily for well over a year, and have often found myself being tested throughout the day and I've been using the Bible to fight back and defend against it and trying to be obedient to Jesus.

It helps when I am pro-active and pray to God before bed asking Him for a good night's rest and also leave prayers and scriptures written down next to or on me when I sleep.

All of that spiritual attack I have received pales in comparison to the depression from having my joy taken from me.

What I'm experiencing is certainly not the kingdom of God, and the Holy Spirit certainly doesn't steal kill and destroy.

Jesus' sacrifice outside Jerusalem is so that we might be sanctified through His own blood and come into Jerusalem. I still think that there's nothing wrong with bearing the reproach Jesus endured - in fact it's encouraged. I think we bear His reproach in order to be sanctified and then call Jerusalem our home:

Hebrews 13:12-14 - So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. (ESV)

I'm going to claim this:

Read
ligonier.org: Outside the Camp | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org

I Peter 4:12-13 - Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (ESV)

Being a disciple of Jesus means bearing His reproach:

John 16:2 - They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. (ESV)

Count the cost:

Luke 14:28,29 - For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, (ESV)

I pray Jesus continues to wash me, and for the grace to be sanctified and for ultimate deliverance from demonic harassment:

Romans 4:7-8 - Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin. (ESV)

I pray that God will not count sin done in my brokenness.

Trusting Him means having faith in Him, obeying, believing in God and having the fear of God, believing, following, yielding to Jesus. Ungodly here means wicked or behaviour not in accordance with the knowledge of God. Only God can justify the ungodly, so that's why by following Him, knowing we can be ungodly, we have the hope of God justifying us:

Romans 4:5 - And to the one who does not work but trusts (G4100 pisteuo) him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, (ESV)

This qualifies:

Luke 18:13 - But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! (ESV)

The most important thing in my opinion is that everyone involved comes out healed, delivered, sanctified and wise to salvation, and freed from sin and saved from death, so the key I think is to choose forgiveness and bear our cross. I'm prepared and committed to doing that:

Ecclesiastes 7:2 - It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. (ESV)

This is what I want for myself (I'm concerned about living the Christian life now which involves being a 'living sacrifice' for God, and allowing God to sanctify my mind and body, not 'exchanging the grace of God for a single meal'):

Hebrews 12:16-17 - that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. (ESV)

Jesus has set me free, and there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ, but we should have a response of love for Jesus, and live to serve Jesus, and it's very, very important to embrace sanctification, and to put a stop to willful sin.

desiringgod.org: The High Cost of Sexual Sin | Desiring God
I'm trying to explode the doctrine that the battle for obedience is optional because only faith is necessary for salvation. This is very tricky the way words are used here. The battle for obedience is absolutely necessary for salvation because it is the fight of faith. The battle for obedience is absolutely necessary for getting to heaven because it is the battle against unbelief. It is the fight of faith. There are not two battles: one to get yourself saved by a single act of faith, and the other to collect rewards by work. There is only one battle - it's the one that gets you started, it's the one that gets you there, and it's the fight of faith not works! Faith is what severs the root of covetousness, misplaced shame, anxiety, lust, envy, and six more before we are done this year. There is one warfare, and it is the warfare of faith.

AMEN!! If only someone had told me this first. We're saved from walking in evil ways that we might repent from sin and the blood of Jesus helps us to do that.

Ephesians 4:17 - Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. (ESV)

It's a serious act of treason when you love other things more than God; When you love something else more than God, and do not obey God, and do not believe God and do not turn from doing the will of satan to doing the will of God:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

We are instructed to do good, and to stop doing evil. We're supposed to repent from doing evil:

Romans 2:5-11 - But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (ESV)

We must love the light which Jesus has shone into the world, and we must prefer to do good over evil. We must to practice the truth. We must agree with doing good rather than with doing evil:

John 3:19-21 - And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God. (ESV)

I also believe that in order to be saved after being born-again for 2 years I do not need to become as skilled a theologian as John Piper, say, in order to be saved from the wrath of God. I only need to obey Jesus. I simply do not need 33 years of experience in the area of theology to be saved from the wrath of God. I only have about 5 months of Bible studying.

We must embrace sanctification, and be slaves of God, obeying God, obeying righteousness:

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (ESV)

Romans 6:20-23 - When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

I do believe that now. After receiving the Holy Spirit, we must use the spirit to put sin to death, and stop willfully sinning. Committing sin against our own bodies is very, very unwise:

Romans 8:13 - For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (ESV)

I still hold no grudges, but still going through sanctification, which I guess may be a life-long process. Forgiving everyone is a key to deliverance, according to Derek Prince.

If the spirit spouse stuff is actually related to leftover sin in the body/mind/soul-realm, then I'm this serious at this point with my reasoning, because I'm serious about sanctification, and I'm serious about living:

youtube.com: Free from Judgment, Fighting Sin, Full Assurance

Romans 7:22-8:2 - For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (ESV)

Matthew 5:29-30 - If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (ESV)

I Corinthians 5:5 - you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. (ESV)

Quote by John Piper
"You can't cast one devil out and leave the cravings of your heart empty - seven will return. You must fill your life with God, the glory and excellency of God."

51.2.2. We should not be thieves and robbers

What I mean is we should not steal from God, even when Jesus has made us born-again and baptised in the Holy Spirit, in a situation like the one I faced in court in 2022-2023 we have to remain faithful to Jesus and to sound doctrine, and obediently be corrected by the Word in sanctification.

John 10:1 - Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. (ESV)

Malachi 3:8-10 - Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, How have we robbed you? In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (ESV)

I Timothy 1:10 - the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, (ESV)

Titus 1:9 - He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (ESV)

livingproof.co: John 10:10 | What Did Jesus Mean by "Abundant Life"? - Abundant Life

John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (ESV)

John 10:1,4,7-9 - Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. So Jesus again said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (ESV)

John 8:44 - You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (ESV)

51.2.3. I want to get married but continue in sanctification first - that's the conflict - I don't want to bring any ongoing issues into marriage

I want to continue in the process of sanctification, and holiness in body and spirit. But I feel like I'm made for marriage. And I feel like loneliness and isolation have been a cause of problems for me. The conflict is I wouldn't want to be married unless I was feeling totally cleaned up, and have everything under control, and I want to continue being cleaned up for a while:

I Corinthians 7:33-35 - But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. (ESV)

I Corinthians 9:25-27 - Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (ESV)

51.2.4. Choosing a marriage partner in the Lord Jesus and who loves the Lord Jesus

At this point I just am thankful that Jesus has saved my life, and has been sanctifying me. That's what matters. I kinda want to just develop my relationship with Jesus right now. I desire that for anyone.

Romans 6:4 - We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (ESV)

I somewhat disagree with Mari saying that the book of Proverbs teaches [strictly] earthly wisdom, and not heavenly wisdom because I think there is a lot of heavenly wisdom in there. But I find the rest of this quote helpful.

Quote from Mar Mari Emmanuel

Whenever there is a couple coming for marital counseling, I always refer to the Book of Proverbs (King Solomon) chapter 31, verse 10. Book of Proverbs, 31 which is the last chapter, and it's verse 10.

Now the Book of Proverbs teaches you wisdom on earth, not in heaven, on earth - teaches you wisdom.

So when you go to Chapter 31:10 of Proverbs King Solomon with the wisdom which he received from God himself he says, "A virtuous woman, who can find?"

And then he continues the same verse and says for her price exceeds the precious pearls or stones. "A virtuous woman who can find?"

And I say this to that couple, "My son and my daughter, this verse, we divide into two parts:

  • the first part is for the man,
  • and the second part is for the woman.

So my dear son, you are looking for a girl to marry. Look for a girl that is virtuous."

Now what does the word virtuous mean? It literally means "fearing the Lord".

What is fearing the Lord means? Loving the Lord.

When you come looking for a girl in marriage, you better look for the girl that loves Jesus Christ of Nazareth, because the day you find a girl loving the Lord Jesus, don't never fear that girl, she can never be bad to you, because the Lord who is in her heart will teach her to be good and nothing else.

Yes, you look for looks, it's okay to a certain degree, but don't ever focus on the external looks, focus on the internal looks, see first and foremost where is her heart? Is it with the Lord, or is it with the world? If she is with the world, not a good choice.

And how do you find out? The first time you meet that girl, ask her, say, "I go to church, what do you think of that? Will you come with me? If she says, nah, don't pretend you're a saint and you're going to convert her, because there is a very big chance she will convert you and take you away from Christ."

1: Dear Heavenly Father,
2: I ask that everyone who is involved  or reading this (without naming names),
3: that they entrust themselves to Jesus Christ, place their faith in Jesus
4: and stay strong in their faith in Jesus. No matter how anything works out.
5: That's my desire that, I do not hurt anyone but that they come to faith in Jesus.
6: So I pray that whatever happens, our faith is in Jesus now and ongoingly.
7: In Jesus Christ's name I ask,
8: AMEN!!

The New Covenant is much better than the first covenant, so I'm sure Jesus is enough to sanctify me completely, The obvious thing to do right now when my dreams / visions and circumstances are giving me ambiguous and unclear stuff is to do is just choose Jesus, to not lose faith in Jesus, because keeping faith with Jesus is the most important thing. We're getting married to Jesus after all.

I Corinthians 7:29-31 - This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (ESV)

John 14:23 - Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (ESV)

51.2.5. It's extremely important to respect the institution of marriage, and of marriage proposal

I believe that outlawing marriage proposal is very close to outlawing God.

I believe that it should be normalised that Christians should feel comfortable proposing or being betrothed without first needing to have a job or own a house.

What I mean by betrothed is being able to express commitment to the person who a person has decided they want to marry:

I Corinthians 7:37-38 - But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better. (ESV)

What I mean by this, is "having a job" or "owning a house" must never become a prerequisite to a Christian to being allowed to marry or at least to being "betrothed" (people should be allowed to propose and given a chance even if they have no assets, and no job).

youtube.com: Why 'I Can't Afford Kids' Misses the Point

If you're going to follow Christ you have to turn off the voice of the world. You can't care about what Jesus says and also what the devil says. You can't respect the words of the gospel and also give authority to the words of this world.

Allowing God to determine the question if you're going to have many children or or few children… We're not like rabbits where you're going to have 30 children - that's not how it is. That's what the seculars want you to think. That's not the case. Some people can't conceive it all, and then the Lord works a miracle and they have a child and everyone rejoices - if I could tell you how many times I've seen the Lord take a family in my Parish that was told by the doctors it's impossible and then he gives them a child and sometimes two, and sometimes more. It is such a shot of joy in into the life of the church and to have to have children and to love them and to accept those responsibilities.

"Having God" is a much better prerequisite.

youtube.com: Christ is Enough - Hillsong Worship | LYRIC VIDEO
Christ is enough for me. Everything I need is in You.

We shouldn't fight against God by making Him out to be not enough because God is all we need, and at the start of a marriage, it should really be founded on that type of faith.

Opinionated statements:

Otherwise, at its essence, getting marriage security from a job is essentially encouraging prostitution and divorce. To make a person think they need money or a job before they can marry is to attack their faith. Satan can use money and his servants (anyone who isn't doing the will of God) to control people and manipulate marriage, and would rather see chatbots and robots marrying' human beings, open-marriage, interspecies, whatever, and satan would prefer more and more child trafficking as there is increasing wealth inequality. Following Jesus would increasingly mean not being able to marry because no-one would marry a poor person, even someone who obeyed Jesus command to give their possessions to those in need and follow Him, and I believe that to get marriage security through a job or through material possessions, is an attack against God's design and is faithless to God at its very essence and sets the stage for a divorce when there is a financial crisis because trust must be in God not money, and it's best to establish that trust in God at the very beginning.

Sermon :: youtube.com: The Battle for Sexual Purity

And it came out that he was fasting and praying to Satan, and the conversation went on and the discovery was made that what this person was fasting and praying for was the destruction of ministers' marriages.

Now if if you were a Satan worshipper and you wanted to know what to pray to your father in hell, what's his will?

Where would you go to find out go?

  • to the Bible because the Bible is True.

The Bible tells you Truly what Satan is about in the world.

And you go to the Bible, and what you find in 1 Corinthians 7 [is] that Satan with all his might is in favor of adultery and against fidelity.

No wonder then that Satan worshippers are making their aim to pray for that sort of thing.

Learn from the scriptures this morning that when you battle sexual temptation you battle Satan, a cosmic power who wants your soul.

Never forget however, in conclusion, that the Son of God came into the world to destroy the works of the devil.

And there is a way to resist, and I close with commending this to you all, married and single.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 contains a key for what I think is the way out of bondage to the abuses of sexual desire.

Paul says there "this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from immorality that each one of you knows how to take a wife for himself in holiness and honor, not in passion of lust like the heathens do who do not know God." You see the key one kind of person governs his life by the lust of fleshly passions.

Another person governs his life by holiness and honor.

What's the difference?

Whether you know God or not is the difference.

I mean, know God, not know about God, know God.

Paul said in Romans 1:28 "since they did not approve to have God in their knowledge, He gave them up to a debased mind and improper conduct." You see the connection?

He said in Galatians 4:8, "formerly, when you did not know God you were in bondage to beings that by nature are not gods." In other words, the antidote the liberating force from the bondage of Satan in the area of sexual desire is to know God.

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

Job 22:24-26 - if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent bed, then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver. For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. (ESV)

Proverbs 7:1-3 - My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. (ESV)

Luke 12:15 - And he said to them, Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. (ESV)

Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (ESV)

Matthew 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (ESV)

51.2.6. Personal testimony thoughts around marriage sabotage

Very sadly, after I made the marriage proposal in 2022 the devil really came at me to:

  • Make me think I had to work for salvation after being born-again
  • Make me think I need to "pay" to marry her - which is like a spirit of prostitution or trafficking - the devil would happily attempt to turn marriage into an economy - the devil is like a pimp

In my view what has happened is John 10:10:

John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (ESV)

For anyone who has some insight into my situation, another possibility is that I was tested by God after being born of the Spirit.

I had attended a Mormon church for the first and only time on (if I recall correctly) what I think was the second day (2 Jan) of 2022, and subsequently born-again of the Spirit on 2 April 2022, I may have encountered some spirits of bad doctrine.

But at the end of the day, I don't hold to their doctrine, and also I was seeking Jesus and endeavouring to remain accountable before God and bring my deeds into the light.

According to a Mormon, they believe in polygamy which I think is not God's design, and from a quick internet search I can see their beliefs about becoming gods and goddesses and eternal marriage actually have an interesting parallel in my testing / divine court after being born-again of the spirit.

When I said on Facebook something like: "Jesus is my life my truth and my heaven and the girl I love is like a little bit of that.", the Hindu guy who was asking me for financial assistance (I still have the transcripts, and my lawyer also received them) (as I was getting pagan dreams of evading judgement through good works) immediately said on my Facebook post, "Maybe she's god, maybe you're god", as I was staying at the house of a close friend.

I rebuked that comment in Jesus Christ's name because my love was genuine but was not going to allow the devil to continue trying to push me into feeling as though I was rejecting the grace of God by denying the free gift of justification by the blood of Jesus Christ by faith in Jesus Christ.

I asked the Hindu guy, "Did you try to put a demon in me?" Instead of saying no, the Hindu guy then said, "But I need you to invent." - and I thought of this verse:

Romans 1:30 - slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, (ESV)

So I then rebuked him in Jesus Christ's name.

The Hindu guy then said, "I'm going back to the sea. I hope to wash up on shore again soon.", and I felt a spirit depart from my body, and he disappeared from Facebook. - totally demonic stuff.

I'm not going to allow the devil to try to frame it as though:

  • I had to "pay" for justification
    • But I was actually just obeying Jesus out of obedience - God had simply through His grace granted me repentance to life, to be able to love Him back as a response of Him loving me first
  • I wasn't already forgiven
    • But I was a born-again believer with my trust in Jesus Christ, simply being obedient to Jesus out of love for Him, and I believed I was totally forgiven, and without guilt
  • I had to "pay" for the girl I proposed to by doing good works
    • the devil is a scumbag and probably wants to institute prostitution in the spiritual realm
    • the devil wants to put a spiritual price tag on getting married
  • I was trying to be my own god, which I certainly was not trying to do, but I was interested in getting to know Jesus and "union with Christ"

The devil wanted to make me think I was not forgiven by the one True God already after I was joyfully telling people about being born-again and learning about Jesus, and the devil preyed on my active Fruit of the Holy Spirit desire to marry the girl I loved with a pure heart, and make it look like covetousness / licentiousness / lewdness when it was not - it was basically entirely agape love. I hold to that belief / knowledge.

But the real test is that I couldn't plead not guilty because being obedient to Jesus I have to admit in court that I am not perfect and I am guilty:

Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV)

It felt like the devil tried to steal my blessings and push me back into sin and bury my testimony of Jesus and tried to push me back into bondage, and into sin, by slamming me with lewd dreams and visions, and isolating me, meanwhile bombarding me with accusations of my past, and I've had to fight extremely hard to get out of the intense condemnation I've faced.

I'm not a perfect person but I've been attacked by pure evil or by what seemed like pure evil. I realise that I'm still going through sanctification, and I hold no grudge. I'm not pointing the blame on the people on the other side of court. They are valued people in God's sight. I was neck-deep in sinful behaviour before I was born-again, and I'm very thankful that Jesus has been covering me and sanctifying me.

But as a result of what's happened in every instance of the chronic and relentless spiritual attack I've received, whether it feels like friendly-fire rebuking fellow Christians, the crucifixion of agape love for someone I wanted to marry, 'feeling' like darkness is my closest friend Psalm 88:18, I have felt so subsequently harassed by demons through people, even my own family members, I have felt defiled even from feeling as though I've been raped by demons for well over a year, it has somewhat stripped me of joy and the enthusiasm for Jesus which I had initially when I was born-again:

  • demons trying to bury my testimony of Jesus
  • demons trying to paint me as autistic
  • demons trying to paint me as a threat
  • demons isolating me
  • demons touching me at night and putting lewd, antichrist dreams into my head

The spiritual attack I've endured as a baby born-again Christian with barely any Bible knowledge was so inordinate and I'm still asking God to deliver me.

This testimony of what's happened and what's happening will remain in the light for all to see and I hope to be able to report one day that I've been delivered from demonic harassment. I'm continue focusing on studying and putting God's Word into practice.

I find it extremely difficult to believe (but not outside the realm of possibility) that the relationship possibility was not grace, but whatever is the case I am still obligated to obey Jesus, forward on to others love and forgiveness like the love and forgiveness that Jesus has loved me with and deny self (deny selfishness), and be faithful to Jesus:

Luke 14:27 - Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. (ESV)

The escalating circumstances got to the point where I was asked what my plea would be about a week before easter, and I did not want to put God to the test by pleading not guilty because I know Jesus would be ever present with me after I was born-again. I have a strong conviction of the sense of His presence. And in the situations in court, I knew I should be faithful to Jesus.

I had my own meeting with Holy Spirit on 3 May which

I found out much later that was her birthday and also the exact date of when I pleaded guilty in court a year later.

I'm a trinitarian Christian, I confess the Nicene creed, I don't believe in polygamy, I believe that marriage should not be idolatry, I believe in being a servant in God's kingdom living as a sacrifice to God, and not hubris in "becoming my own god". I want a real relationship with Jesus by being obedient to Jesus is reality, accountable to God. Jehovah God as my witness:

I John 2:4 - Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

I don't believe in polygamy, in fact I am resolutely against it. I much prefer to believe that God has one person in mind for me, like Eve to Adam, yes, but not as if "in union we would become a god", but rather that we have our own union with Christ first and foremost.

And I don't know about the permanency of marriage either but I do believe that God has all who are in Christ joined together by love and whatever God has in store for us will make earthly marriage look pale by comparison.

I Corinthians 7:29-31 - This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (ESV)

Consider that Adam and Eve were in the paradise of God, which is our final destination.

Revelation of John 2:7 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (ESV)

Since what has happened has been a train-wreck - I feel like my marriage prospects have been sabotaged - I currently am praying for God to do a miracle to fix everything, and I know my immediate concern is ongoing sanctification so that is my current focus.

51.2.7. The 3 that testify that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son

Commentary
Literally, by means of or through water and blood. This is the most perplexing passage in the Epistle and one of the most perplexing in N. T. A very great variety of interpretations have been suggested.

The testimony that God has borne concerning his Son (I John 5:10) is that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son (I John 5:11), and so we need to have the Son (I John 5:12) and if we are trusting in the name of the Son of God (I John 5:13) then we have confidence that we have eternal life.

I John 5:6 - This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. (ESV)

Jesus came by water and blood - each of these testify, and the Spirit also testifies.

It's God testifying:

I John 5:9,11 - If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (ESV)

I'm going to try to answer this. It's God's testimony - God testifying. Jesus is God - Jesus' blood testifies. The Word of God in our hearts is God - God testifies. The Spirit of God testifies.

  • the Blood of Jesus
    • Hebrews 12:24 - and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (ESV)
  • the Spirit of God
    • Mark 1:11 - And a voice came from heaven, You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased. (ESV)
    • Romans 1:4 - and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, (ESV)
  • the Living Water - the Word of God in our hearts
    • The Word of God in our hearts
    • Ephesians 5:26 - that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (ESV)
    • John 7:38 - Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. (ESV)
    • Romans 8:15 - For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! (ESV)
    • Galatians 4:6 - And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! (ESV)

Mark 1:10-13 - And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased. The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. (ESV)

In the Holy Spirit, Jesus spoke the Word of God:

Matthew 4:1,4,7 - Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. But he answered, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Jesus said to him, Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test. (ESV)

I John 5:7-11 - For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (ESV)

Blood speaks:

Hebrews 12:24 - and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (ESV)

Genesis 4:10 - And the LORD said, What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. (ESV)

Rivers of living water - the Spirit of God, bearing witness of Jesus:

John 4:10-14 - Jesus answered her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. The woman said to him, Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock. Jesus said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (ESV)

John 7:38-39 - Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (ESV)

II Corinthians 1:22 - and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (ESV)

Romans 8:16-17 - The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)

John 15:26 - But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. (ESV)

51.2.8. I was learning Christ before I was born-again

We learn Christ, and are taught by Christ (becoming obedient to His teachings and commandments) while we are in Him:

Ephesians 4:20-21 - But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, (ESV)

Therefore, even before I was noticeably "born-again of the water and the Spirit" in 2022, I had begun to try to practice Jesus' commandments in 2020/2021 in an effort to seek God, Jesus must have been already working in me, but I say this to explain how I believe that it might be quite hard to pinpoint the starting point, but we know that it's God's grace through faith (believing, obedient, trusting faith) that it happens, but that doesn't mean believing and obeying Jesus are not important to receive the Holy Spirit, because they are.

While the Scriptures says that we are born of God when we believe (I've been attending church my whole life, and baptised at 16 years old - 15-17), I was born-again/regenerated of the Spirit much later (when I was 35). Does that mean I hadn't truly believed until I was 35? Perhaps in a way. I had became disillusioned with AI in 2021 I began seeking after God, and then I got born-again. The Holy Spirit must have been working in my life before I was born-again of the Spirit in this way. Holy Spirit must have been dwelling with me even before He was in me:

John 14:15-17 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (ESV)

I John 5:1 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

Through beginning to have patient endurance and resisting the world, and beginning to follow Jesus, God made me born-again of the Spirit. The faith which overcomes the world involves obedience:

I John 5:4 - For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith.

Sadly, I have been attacked a lot even after being born of God. So this confuses me. I certainly actively avoid sinning, but I have been attacked by the enemy a lot after being regenerated.

I John 5:18 - We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

I affirm the way I learned Christ was through trying hard to be faithful to Jesus in private - seeking glory from God who can see me, even when others can't.

Ephesians 4:18-20 - They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— (ESV)

But the yoke of the Lord Jesus has been extremely difficult.

51.2.9. Genuine belief results a dramatic decoupling with the world out of darkness and out from under the power of Satan

Going from darkness to light and arriving at a genuine understanding in the heart to agree with the truth coincides with a clash of beliefs between you (who has come into the light) and the world (which is still in darkness).

Agape-love can be misplaced. We go from agape-loving (treasuring, valuing) darkness to agape-loving (treasuring, valuing) light:

John 3:16-20 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved (25. agapaó) the darkness rather than the light (5457. phós) because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. (ESV)

In order to be faithful to God, you will start acting unpredictably to others who are still in darkness. Firstly, as happened to me, you may tell someone about Jesus for the first time. Also, you will be led amongst people in darkness and make confessions of the truth to combat lies in remaining faithful to God, and obey Jesus' commandments in situations where others in darkness or under the power of Satan may pressure you to not. And people may react in hostile ways. I just think that turning from darkness to light and the power of Satan to God naturally results in decoupling from the world:

John 10:18-21 - No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father. There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him? Others said, These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind? (ESV)

Acts 26:24-25 - And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind. But Paul said, I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. (ESV)

Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (ESV)

51.2.10. Holiness - J.C. Ryle

Holiness:

  • The habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture:
    • It is the habit of agreeing in God's judgment, hating what He hates, loving what He loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word. He who most entirely agrees with God, he is the most holy man.
  • endeavor to shun every known sin and to keep every known commandment.
  • strive to be like our Lord Jesus Christ
  • follow after meekness, patience, gentleness, patience, kind tempers, government of his tongue. He will bear much, forbear much, overlook much and be slow to talk of standing on his rights
  • follow after temperance and self–denial. He will labor to mortify the desires of his body, to crucify his flesh with his affections and lusts, to curb his passions, to restrain his carnal inclinations
  • follow after charity and brotherly kindness
  • follow after a spirit of mercy and benevolence towards others
  • follow after purity of heart. He will dread all filthiness and uncleanness of spirit, and seek to avoid all things that might draw him into it
  • follow after the fear of God. I do not mean the fear of a slave, who only works because he is afraid of punishment and would be idle if he did not dread discovery
  • follow after humility. He will desire, in lowliness of mind, to esteem all others better than himself
  • follow after faithfulness in all the duties and relations in life. He will try, not merely to fill his place as well as others who take no thought for their souls, but even better, because he has higher motives and more help than they
  • follow after spiritual–mindedness. He will endeavor to set his affections entirely on things above and to hold things on earth with a very loose hand.

51.2.11. Gay 'marriage' should not be held in equal standing to God's design

Isaiah 6:20 - Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

51.3. Workers of the kingdom may take a believing wife

I Corinthians 9:5-9 - Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain. Is it for oxen that God is concerned?

51.3.1. But for the sake of the Kingdom, they may choose to be single

Matthew 19:12 - For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.

I Corinthians 7:8-9 - To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.

Revelation of John 14:4 - It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb,

51.3.2. Being ready for Jesus comes first

Luke 14:20-24 - And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame. And the servant said, Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room. And the master said to the servant, Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.

Matthew 25:1-13 - Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered, saying, Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. But he answered, Truly, I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

51.4. Marriage should be holy for future sake

God's covenant was given to Noah and his wife and Noah's sons and their wives.

Genesis 6:18 - But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.

Genesis 7:7 - And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood.

Even the animals went into the ark two by two, male with their female:

Genesis 6:19 - And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female.

Noah still had a wife, a believing wife, I assume.

Matthew 24:38 - For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,

God has to be the lover of our soul.

Quote by Tim Keller
If it's not God who's meaning is the source of your meaning, who's affirmation is the source of your self-worth, and who's power is the source of security, you're in bed with something spiritually, something you've given yourself to in realms so deep and so profound that God here is saying, "you are every bit spiritually beholden to it as you are physically beholden. You are every bit spiritually laid out as spread out as vulnerable to it spiritually as you are physically when you're having sex with someone. You're doing the very same thing spiritually that you do in bed with someone physically.

51.4.1. The spiritual marriage belongs to Christ

II Corinthians 11:2-4 - I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. (ESV)

I had considered that marriage should be laser precision close so that nothing is able to cause disunity, but that's actually what God wants us to be like with Him first and foremost.

Marriage should be holy, it should be in the Lord and we are espoused to Christ. And this says that remarriage must be in the Lord:

I Corinthians 7:39 - A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. (ESV)

This was a good sermon on the topic I watched today:

Sermon
youtube.com: How Sin Makes Us Addicts - Timothy Keller

Joshua 22:5 - Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. (ESV)

In all honesty, I think it's valuable that a Christian marriage couple should still seek to cling to each other. It should be very, very close, so that no lawless spirits try to break the unity. Only God can lawfully separate a marriage partner:

Matthew 19:5-6 - and said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. (ESV)

Concerning existing marriages, where one person becomes a believer, the unbelieving spouse is sanctified because of the believing spouse. So it's not the end of the world having an unbelieving spouse, but what this says is that the unbeliever is made holy - they will come to believe:

I Corinthians 7:14 - For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. (ESV)

51.5. Marriage is still good but so is singleness

I Corinthians 7:37-40 - But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better. A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God. (ESV)

51.6. Spiritual attraction: God must be our spiritual spouse and if it's not God, then it's something else

Sermon
youtube.com: How Sin Makes Us Addicts - Timothy Keller

Jeremiah 2:1-8 - The word of the LORD came to me, saying, Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD, I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who ate of it incurred guilt; disaster came upon them, declares the LORD. Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel. Thus says the LORD: What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless? They did not say, Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that none passes through, where no man dwells? And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination. The priests did not say, Where is the LORD? Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit. (ESV)

Jeremiah 2:23-32 - How can you say, I am not unclean, I have not gone after the Baals? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done— a restless young camel running here and there, a wild donkey used to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her. Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, It is hopeless, for I have loved foreigners, and after them I will go. As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel shall be shamed: they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets, who say to a tree, You are my father, and to a stone, You gave me birth. For they have turned their back to me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they say, Arise and save us! But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you, in your time of trouble; for as many as your cities are your gods, O Judah. Why do you contend with me? You have all transgressed against me, declares the LORD. In vain have I struck your children; they took no correction; your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion. And you, O generation, behold the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people say, We are free, we will come no more to you? Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number. (ESV)

51.7. Covenant marriage is great, but for the Gentiles who turn to God, it's not essentially required to burden them beyond abstaining from sexual immorality

Malachi 2:14 - But you say, Why does he not? Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. (ESV)

Acts 15:19-20 - Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.

51.8. Marriage in the next age

51.8.1. Incorruptible love to make it into heaven, but not lust

Ephesians 6:24 - Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.

I Corinthians 13:8 - Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

  1. There is no lust in heaven

    II Peter 1:3-4 - seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. (NASB)

51.8.2. No-one marrys (verb) or is given in marriage (verb)

Luke 20:33-36 - In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife. And Jesus said to them, The sons of this age (G165 aion) marry (G1060 gameo) and are given in marriage (G1061 gamisko), but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age (G165 aion) and to the resurrection (G386 anastasis) from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

This is the best explanation I have found for this:

youtube.com: Strive to let everything bodily die within you, and you will rise before the general resurrection

51.8.3. In heaven, people are like angels - imperishable

Mark 12:25 - For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. (ESV)

Revelation of John 21:4 - He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. (ESV)

We receive an imperishable reward:

I Corinthians 9:25 - Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (ESV)

I Peter 1:4 - to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (ESV)

Even our bodies will be imperishable:

1 Corinthians 15:4 - So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. (ESV)

I Corinthians 15:52 - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (ESV)

51.8.4. Jesus is incorruptible

Hebrews 1:3 - And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature (G5287 hupostasis), and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Matthew 24:35 - Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Luke 16:17 - But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

1: :  5287  hupostasis  hoop-os'-tas-is
2: 
3:  from a compound of 5259 and 2476; a setting under (support), i.e.
4:  (figuratively) concretely, essence, or abstractly, assurance
5:  (objectively or subjectively):--confidence, confident, person,
6:  substance.
7:  see GREEK for 5259
8:  see GREEK for 2476

51.8.5. We are married to Christ

Revelation of John 21:9 - Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.

Ephesians 5:23-33 - For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

1 Corinthians 15:42 - So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. (ESV)

Galatians 3:26 - for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Revelation 20:6 - Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. (ESV)

51.8.6. We must present ourselves as virgins to Christ. We must be being sanctified

Matthew 25:1-13 - Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered, saying, Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. But he answered, Truly, I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

51.9. Bride of Christ

Revelation of John 21:9 - Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.

Revelation of John 19:7-9 - Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true words of God. (ESV)

We must espouse ourselves to Christ:

II Corinthians 11:2 - I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. (ESV)

The new Jerusalem is the Bride of Christ:

Revelation of John 21:2 - And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (ESV)

John 3:29 - The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. (ESV)

John the Baptist says that the Christ is the bridegroom:

John 3:28-31 - You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.

Jesus reinforces that idea:

Mark 2:18-20 - Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast? And Jesus said to them, Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. (ESV)

Revelation of John 21:9 - Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb. (ESV)

Isaiah 54:5 - For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. (ESV)

Revelation of John 21:9-11 - Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. (ESV)

Isaiah 62:3-5 - You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

Revelation of John 22:17 - The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. (ESV)

51.10. I do not endorse gay marriage - I consider it to be sin - grave sin, actually

I personally do not endorse gay marriage. When I have in the past, I repent of that.

That is not to say it is not possible to endorse it yourself (and take the consequences of that) but a person is accountable to God for that act of annulling one of His commandments.

Matthew 5:19 - Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

We are also supposed to speak up for the God's Truth. We should affirm sound Christian teaching when it comes to what is sinful. Just because we may not judge others when it comes to something sinful, that doesn't mean that God wont judge us for practicing and affirming something sinful.

Quote from Mari Mari Emmanuel
So fear nothing, love everyone, but be firm when it comes to speaking the truth. Truth cannot be compromised. … The one who is all love, He was sharper than a sword; When it came to holding the Truth, fighting for the Truth, He stood firm, never gave way, never compromised. Now that is love. If you truly love someone, wouldn't you want them to be living in the Truth? If you truly love the person, you will tell them, "This is right… This is wrong…"

In the manner in which I judge, I know I will be judged.

Matthew 7:1-2 - “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

So I believe that because I do not / no longer endorse gay marriage for others, I do not endorse it for myself, and I'll be held to that standard.

Leviticus 18:22 - You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. (ESV)

However, endorsing gay marriage is not merely breaking commandment, but also it is contrary to the spiritual reality:

Genesis 2:22-24 - And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (ESV)

51.11. God's law is still used. It's part of the gospel, and can certainly be used to judge the sinners, including those who are unrepentant from sexual immorality

1 Timothy 1:8-11 - Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. (ESV)

51.12. God's law is good. His precepts are good. I don't identify with any of this LGBT stuff, and I am against licentiousness

I'm trying to side with Jesus over issues regarding the evil which is still present in the world and "hate the sin, not the sinner", and starting by first taking a look at my own problems but by no means endorsing sinful things even things I consider I do which are sinful, I don't endorse them for myself either:

John 7:6-8 - Jesus said to them, My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come. (ESV)

Hebrews 13:4 - Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. (ESV)

But God is love, not a graceless machine:

I John 3:21 - Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; (ESV)

Confessing Jesus and actually following Christ's law (bearing one another's burdens in the understanding that we've been loved first) is what matters at the day of judgement:

I John 4:15-17 - Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

But yeah, I still think that actually following God's precepts out of love for God is certainly a good idea:

Psalms 119:49-94 - Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. Zayin This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD. Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law. Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law. This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts. The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words. Heth I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law. At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules. I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts. The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes! You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word. Teth Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Yodh Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word. I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant. Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies. May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame! My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word. Kaph My eyes long for your promise; I ask, When will you comfort me? For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes. How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me? The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law. All your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me! They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth. Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Lamedh Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. (ESV)

I have not forsaken your precepts - AMEN!!

51.13. Can gay 'marriage' exist anywhere in the Kingdom of God? It's certainly not generally endorsed, nor should it be normalised or made equal with marriage

I don't know if gay marriage can exist anywhere in the Kingdom of God.

I don't think it should be generally endorsed, especially by Christians.

51.13.1. God still does not endorse practicing homosexuality, nor lust

1 Timothy 1:8-11 - Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. (ESV)

51.13.2. The most weighty matters of the law are justice, mercy, faithfulness, and service

Justice, mercy and faithfulness are essential for entering the Kingdom of God. Repentance and holiness are very important for entering the Kingdom of God too. Greed and self-indulgence will stop a person from entering the Kingdom of God:

Matthew 23:23-25 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

When applying the law, justice and mercy and faithfulness are the weightier matters of the law. However, the remainder of the law is not supposed to be neglected either.

51.13.3. Even though the law came later, practicing homosexuality has always been sinful

Genesis 13:13 - Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.

Genesis 18:20 - Then the Lord said, Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave,

51.13.4. Sexual immorality, sensuality, etc. will really stop people from inheriting the kingdom of God

This is not an exhaustive list:

Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

But only the ones who are truly remorseful:

I Corinthians 6:9-10 - Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Flock = Jesus' followers. God wants to give Jesus' followers the kingdom, but we have to stop the sin:

Luke 12:30-32 - For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (ESV)

51.13.5. Faith in Jesus is required - Him paying the price for our sin

I think endorsing LGBT, etc. leads the world progressively closer to the abyss.

Sin made against our own body is really bad for us. This is a warning:

I Corinthians 6:16-20 - Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, The two will become one flesh. But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (ESV)

I personally wouldn't endorse any kind of sexual immorality for eternal safety sake, and also because adultery and sexual immorality is sin and very damaging to oneself:

Leviticus 18:22 - You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. (ESV)

Yes, it is an issue in the law and in God's design, and gay marriage is not endorsed or blessed by God:

Jude 1:7 - just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. (ESV)

I believe there is something to [the amount of] law compliance which alludes to God's common grace, but I think we have to really get our mind away from the flesh and onto the Spirit for multiple reasons:

Matthew 5:14-20 - You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

Romans 13:14 - But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (ESV)

Romans 8:6-7 - To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. (ESV)

I guess where a person is positioned may have a lot to do also with what laws person disagrees with and teaches others to disagree with, or conversely practices and teaches others to comply with, and noone who practices sexual immorality, etc. will inherit the kingdom:

Matthew 7:2 - For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (ESV)

I currently believe this means that the grace that exists for people who are practicing and teaching pro-LGBT who have faith in Jesus are accountable to God for whatever they disagree with God about, and I think that's really unwise, and I believe they wont inherit the kingdom of God and His saints, and I'm not the judge, and I just want to state my position on the issue, and I'm trying to understand what the Bible is saying accurately, and say I don't myself approve of any sexual immorality, and I'm trying myself to put all sexual immorality to death in my body and my thoughts.

youtube.com: Paul Washer - Ongoing Sin @time: 9 min 23 sec

To enter the kingdom of God a person's righteousness needs to exceed that of the Pharisees and Scribes in order to enter the Kingdom of God and the weightier matters of the law are justice, mercy and faithfulness.

The person's righteousness, I believe Jesus is talking about in Matthew 5:20 is in a real way talking about personal holiness. I feel like both the imputed righteousness of Christ and personal holiness are important here. Neither of those are 'good works'. Personal holiness is a lot to do with the result of repentance from sin:

Matthew 5:20 - For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

I Corinthians 6:9-10 - Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Of course as we abide in Jesus, serving Jesus, we have His imputed righteousness, but there is also the concept of 'personal righteousness' and I think that has a lot to do with what a person approves of or doesn't approve of, what they practice and what they teach others to practice.

I don't want to judge other people but I want to try to understand these Scriptures accurately and heed the warnings against committing sin. God's grace is meant to lead us to repentance and to love:

Romans 2:2-4 - We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who do such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (ESV)

"Straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel" means focusing too much on really small matters of the law while neglecting (or being blind to) the weightier matters:

Matthew 23:23-24 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! (ESV)

Also, I think eternal life is for those who:

  • a) receive forgiveness from Jesus,
  • b) obey Jesus and become a bondservant of God.

51.13.6. Sanctification (turning from sin, etc.) is essential for inheriting the kingdom and eternal life

Romans 6:22 - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

This is my current understanding. So most likely it is not tolerated in the kingdom of God.

I 100% believe that anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ can be saved / spared from being condemned to hell, and receive eternal life, but I think repentance from sin and sanctification are quite important for inheriting the Kingdom and indeed from being spared from being given over to our own lusts and from being spared from the wrath of God that comes with that. We trust Jesus and He leads us out of darkness.

I Corinthians 6:9-10 - Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

I John 2:19 - They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. (ESV)

Believers (trusters) of Jesus Christ have eternal life and are not condemned:

Romans 10:11 - For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. (ESV)

Trusting Jesus' words we do not come into judgement, but change direction, and instead our destiny is life eternal. We do not come into judgement. Jesus is the judge of that:

John 5:21-24 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word (191. akouó) and believes (4100. pisteuó) him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come (2064. erchomai) into judgment, but has passed (3327. metabain) from death to life. (ESV)

I think John 5:24 reads that the one who is trusting the words spoken through Jesus, trusting God, trusting Jesus is holds/posesses eternal life and has passed from death into life.

2064. erchomai
to come, go
3327. metabain
to pass over, withdraw, depart

All who have believed will marvel:

II Thessalonians 1:9-12 - They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

But faith requires obedience, and salvation requires turning from sin.

And it doesn't excuse them from repentance from sin. But they're accountable for God to it.

I like this guy's explanation
youtube.com: How to Repent, explained as a video game

Repentance is essential for eternal life.

John 8:34-35 - Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.

Sermon
youtube.com: Preparing to Meet God

51.13.7. Practicing homosexuality is very sinful and so locking it in with a covenant is very self-destructive

But justice, mercy and faithfulness are the weightier matters of the law. What I mean to say is that without the sinners themselves showing justice, mercy and faithfulness, gay 'marriage' would be totally unjustifiable.

Judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment:

James 2:13 - For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (ESV)

James 3:1 - Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (ESV)

God, please have mercy. I repent from all sexual immorality, and from endorsing it.

John 8:7-11 - And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her. And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.]] (ESV)

51.13.8. Without following Jesus Christ's commandments, gay 'marriage' would never be justifiable

Galatians 5:18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

But we have to speak and act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty:

James 2:10-13 - For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Without acknowledging the truth, and without acknowledging that God's law and design is good, gay 'marriage' would be totally unjustifiable.

51.13.9. The slave to sin doesn't remain in God's house forever

John 8:34-35 - Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.

Also, the Kingdom stretches from heaven to earth, so gay 'marriage' may happen on earth but such a thing could never exist in heaven.

But neither does marriage between man and woman even exist in heaven.

But those who practice sexual impurity which includes homosexuality probably wont inherit the kingdom, nor enter into the New Jerusalem in Heaven - those are for the saints (those who keep God's commandments AND have faith in Jesus).

Galatians 5:18-21 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

II Corinthians 11:2 - I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. (ESV)

The new Jerusalem is the Bride of Christ:

Revelation of John 21:2 - And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (ESV)

But can they enter the kingdom on earth? I'm not sure.

God is the justifier.

So long as they continue in practicing homosexuality, they wouldn't stay.

They have to be practicing righteousness, through following Jesus Christ - and obeying Jesus' commandments:

I John 3:7 - Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

Matthew 6:10 - Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

I don't think God ever endorses people to sin, but has grace for sinners.

John 1:17 - For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

I don't think it's possible to receive the grace without receiving the truth, because Jesus Christ is the grace and the truth.

Luke 18:13 - But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! (ESV)

Prideful sin definitely doesn't make the cut.

Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (ESV)

Proverbs 16:5 - Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished. (ESV)

Proverbs 16:49 - Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense? (ESV)

Isaiah 2:17 - And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. (ESV)

51.13.10. The everlasting covenant if one is in the everlasting covenant, should incite a person's shame for their past sin - not their pride

Ezekiel 16:58-63 - You bear the penalty of your lewdness and your abominations, declares the Lord. For thus says the Lord God: I will deal with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant, yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish for you an everlasting covenant. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you take your sisters, both your elder and your younger, and I give them to you as daughters, but not on account of the covenant with you. I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord, that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I atone for you for all that you have done, declares the Lord God.

51.13.11. The abyss is a thing. And our security is faith in Christ

Romans 10:6-13 - But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down) or Who will descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes (G4100 pisteuo) and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

But just because Jesus can save us when we have the righteousness based on faith, that doesn't mean we should purposefully sin and go towards the abyss.

We want God's will to be done on earth, as it is done in heaven. We also want to do God's will.

Matthew 6:10 - Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (ESV)

51.13.12. Grace even for the evildoer

The Revelation of John is for Jesus' servants. I'm going to claim this.

Revelation of John 1:1 - The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Matthew 5:7 - Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

The merciful shall receive mercy.

Revelation of John 22:14-15 - Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (ESV)

Proverbs 26:11 - Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

II Peter 2:21-22 - For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.

Here's the grace. I choose to interpret this in this way, and I claim it because I claim to be a servant of Jesus:

Mark 7:27-29 - And he said to her, Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. But she answered him, Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs. And he said to her, For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.

Isaiah 56:11 - The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all.

Philippians 3:2-3 - Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the real circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

It's not of my own interpretation though:

II Peter 1:20-21 - knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

  1. God's original design is male and female union and also the law reflects the spiritual reality

    I do not actually know what 'astral projection is'. I just googled for whatever I could find to describe it.

    This was something for sure, it was a conversation in my sleep, accompanied by dreams.

    The first incident was a blue 'light body' which I have felt up until this day, and after that, I have felt like the 'veil' has been very thin and I have had spiritual experiences, and noticing things spiritually.

    This was not brought on by meditation or anything, but it happened 'to' me.

    I prayed to God consecrating this part of my life to Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

    And I also prayed that I would not have any out of body experiences like this.

    I saw a dark spot around my rib when I was born-again. What I experienced I believe was the regeneration of my spirit-man:

    https://web.archive.org/web/20220402091720/https://mullikine.github.io/posts/astral-projection/

    I believe that God has been raising me up as a son:

    Hebrews 2:10 - For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. (ESV)

    I think likely my spirit-man was regenerated. I believe that Jesus Christ gave me life - even Hebrews 2:10 saying that Jesus Father God, for whom and by whom all things exist made Jesus Christ, the founder of my salvation, perfect through suffering shows that Jesus is the founder of my salvation:

    I Corinthians 15:45 - Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (ESV)

    Galatians 4:6 - And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! (ESV)

    What's interesting to me is that Jesus is the bridegroom of His church:

    Hosea 2:19-20 - And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD. (ESV)

    Read
    alexiscarucci.com: Jesus is The Bridegroom - Living the Abundant Life

    And Adam had a rib taken from him to make Eve:

    Genesis 2:22 - And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. (ESV)

    Being born-again of the Spirit gave me insight, and I believed God was real.

    God did it and it was a surprise:

    John 1:12-13 - But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (ESV)

    A total surprise:

    John 3:8 - The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (ESV)

    It gave me insight:

    Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

  2. Born of water and the spirit

    People were being born according to the Spirit for quite some time before Jesus was born of the virgin Mary but it has been restricted to the children of promise i.e. Abraham's descendants through Isaac:

    Galatians 4:28-31 - Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman. So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. (ESV)

    John 3:5 - Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

    Ezekiel 36:24-27 - I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. (ESV)

    youtube.com: Nicodemus by Pastor John Piper @time: 4 min 49 sec

  3. The truth is God made them male and female, but handed erroneous, rebellious people over to their lust in impurity

    Genesis 1:27 - So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

    Genesis 5:2 - Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created.

    Genesis 6:19 - And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female.

    Joel 2:27-29 - You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. (ESV)

    Matthew 19:4 - He answered, Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, (ESV)

    Mark 10:6 - But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. (ESV)

    Romans 1:24-32 - Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (ESV)

51.13.13. We have to walk the straight and narrow to reign with Christ

II Timothy 2:11-13 - The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

52. Employment

52.1. Kingdom work is work, but kingdom workers should still seek to carry their own load and accept support only when in need of support

Accepting support is OK when in need, but we should still seek to bear our own load:

II Corinthians 11:7-9 - Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God's gospel to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. (ESV)

Jesus wants more kingdom labourers:

Matthew 9:37-38 - Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. (ESV)

The Apostles prioritised themselves to focus on prayer and devotion to the ministry of the word over serving at tables, because it was more important for them to focus on the ministry of the word:

Acts 6:2-4 - Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Also Paul says he does indeed have the right to be a burden on others (because, I assume, they have given themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word), but rather he wants to be a good example for others to follow on how a Christian should work.

2 Thessalonians 3:8-10 - nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 5:12-14 - We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (ESV)

53. Hearing the gospel progresses to abiding in Christ

I John 2:24 - Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.

If what you heard from the beginning abides in you…

  • hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ
  • Then there's letting the word abide in you
    • Which leads to the following
  • Then there's abiding in Jesus - believing and confessing Jesus
    • Which leads to the following
  • Then there's forever abiding in Jesus
    • Not able to fall away

The word has to remain.

Mark 4:3-20 - Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold. And he said, He who has ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven. And he said to them, Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.

Good soil:

  • Hears the word
  • Accepts the word
  • Bears fruit

The word is spoken to us and we must receive it and nurture it and produce fruit:

John 15:3-4 - Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

To bear fruit involves sacrificing this life for the advancement of the kingdom:

John 12:24-25 - Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

If your fruit abides then whatever you ask the Father in Jesus' name, He may give you:

John 15:16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

God takes away fruitless branches:

John 15:2 - Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

We must be fruitful branches, abiding in Jesus:

John 15:5 - I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

54. Abiding in Christ

Matthew 23:8 - But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. (ESV)

God is our Father:

Matthew 23:9 - And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. (ESV)

Jesus Christ is our Teacher:

Matthew 23:10 - Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. (ESV)

Jesus Christ is our Lord and Teacher - that means we believe and obey Him:

John 13:13-14 - You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. (ESV)

It's imperative that as we go ahead, we must abide in the teaching of Christ, or we won't have God (Jehovah God), and God is love and love comes from God, so we need to abide in Christ's teachings, by belief and by obedience. For example, in Mark 10:18, Jesus affirmed that God is Good. Therefore when we read this, we must also be sanctified by this truth, affirming and coming into agreement that God is Good. Also, Jesus commanded us to love one another as He loved us John 13:34-35:

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

I John 3:23 - And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. (ESV)

John 13:34 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (ESV)

We both practice and observe. We serve God in word and deed:

Matthew 23:2-4 - The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. (ESV)

We believe and obey Jesus:

John 3:36 - He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

God loved us first. We must accept that:

I John 4:10-11 - In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (ESV)

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

We must hold to our original confession and not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin:

Hebrews 3:13-14 - But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. (ESV)

We abide in Jesus when He washes us. When the Holy Spirit washes us, the Holy Spirit helps us to put sin to death:

John 13:8 - Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me. (ESV)

Peter believed/received/obeyed/trusted like a child of God (he cooperated) to let Jesus wash him but it was Jesus doing the work:

John 13:9 - Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head! (ESV)

Jesus' servants (people who believe and obey Him) are found in him. We know Christ by living in the pattern in which he lived. Jesus' servants are those who have accepted Jesus to wash them, and they ought to then wash one another:

Psalms 34:22 - The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. (ESV)

Abiding in Christ, one abides in God.

1 John 4:15 - Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (ESV)

I Corinthians 3:23 - and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. (ESV)

Thomas going from unbelief to belief.

John 20:27-28 - Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe. Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God!

Jesus helped Thomas believe by giving him a commandment to do. It's implied that Thomas obeyed and arrived at belief:

John 20:29-31 - Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

There's abiding in Christ, and then there is ABIDING FOREVER in Christ, and forever in God.

I John 2:17 - And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Ephesians 6:6 - not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

I John 2:6 - whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

I believe that to abide forever in Christ, one must produce good fruit and be a servant of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

Matthew 3:8-10 - Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father, for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

I believe that producing good fruit is necessary for being saved:

  • a heart that is turning away from sin
  • believing the Gospel and obeying Jesus

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

youtube.com: What does it mean to be "in Christ"?

54.1. The cost of discipleship involves renouncing everything you have to achieve perfection

When it says 'hate' here, it 'love less' and renounce, which is effectively results in being primarily yoked to Jesus, Jesus becoming our Pearl of Great Price by our choice.

We must value Jesus above all and detach from our old life. Coming after Jesus as His disciple means unfollowing everything else, pretty much, and carrying our cross:

Luke 14:25-33 - Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, If anyone comes to me and does not hate (miseo) his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (ESV)

I appreciate the Didache's teaching on this because it shows there is an upwards call:

Didache Chapter 6 - See that no one causes you to err from this way of the Teaching, since apart from God it teaches you. For if you are able to bear the entire yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect; but if you are not able to do this, do what you are able.

We are perfected (completed), transformed into His image, from one degree of glory to another:

II Corinthians 3:18 - And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (ESV)

And also Paul's teaching. Being a disciple of Jesus is an upwards call:

Philippians 3:13-14 - Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

The Pearl of Great Price is Jesus and we want to gain Christ, know Christ and invest our lives for His gospel. In following Jesus, eternal life is still a free gift because as Paul says here, what we give up is worthless compared to knowing Christ:

Philippians 3:7-8 - But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (ESV)

For Jesus' name's sake, basically everyone will disown/hate you for following Jesus, except for Jesus, as you choose Jesus:

Mark 13:13 - And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (ESV)

Revelation of John 12:11 - And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (ESV)

The ones who are made perfect are the ones who are being sanctified:

Hebrews 10:14 - For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (ESV)

54.2. How Christians agape love

Agape-love can be misplaced. We go from agape-loving (treasuring, valuing) darkness to agape-loving (treasuring, valuing) light:

John 3:16-20 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved (25. agapaó) the darkness rather than the light (5457. phós) because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. (ESV)

Thus so (Houtōs) (in this way) did God love (25. agapaó - value,treasure) the world, that He gave His Only-Begotten Son that everyone who is trusting/believing in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting:

biblehub.com 3-16.htm: John 3:16 Interlinear: for God did so love the world, that His Son – the only begotten – He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during.

54.2.1. Who Christians must agape love

54.2.2. Who Christians are called to agape love:

Galatians 6:10 - So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (ESV)

Those who listen to those who are in Christ are of God. Those who listen to world are of the world.

I John 4:5-6 - They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (ESV)

John 17:14-15 - I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. (ESV)

Philippians 2:14-16 - Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (ESV)

54.2.3. What Christians must not agape love

Agape love must not be to anything of the world:

Book
timothykeller.com: Counterfeit Gods - Timothy Keller
Sermon
youtube.com: Counterfeit Gods - Tim Keller

Agape-ing things of this world is worldly-mindedness and makes it very difficult to discern the will of God:

Luke 11:43 - Woe to you Pharisees! For you love (agapate) the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. (ESV)

I think I John 2:15-17 is essentially saying, "Do not agape love the world or what's in the world. Do not love the things of this world with the type of love that we have for God and for people, namely agape love." If we fall out of agape love for the world and are not conformed to the world but are transformed by the renewing of our minds then by testing we will be able to discern the will of God:

I John 2:15-17 - Do not love (agapate) the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

54.3. The slave to sin doesn't abide forever. Repentance from sin is essential for eternal life

John 8:34-35 - Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.

Like begets like:

  • Like Father,
  • like Son (Jesus).
  • Like disciple of Jesus / adopted son

John 5:19 - So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. (ESV)

youtube.com: God sees what your going through and he wants you to hear this message

Matthew 5:44-45 - But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Matthew 5:48 - Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I Peter 1:16 - because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Luke 10:6 - And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.

54.4. Having the Spirit given to us and keeping Jesus' commandments

I John 3:24 - Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

54.5. Eternal life is forever abiding

A person must do the will of God for that.

The will of God is that we have faith in God and faith in Jesus. The work/will of God is that we believe in Him whom He has sent - believing in Jesus - faithing in Jesus. The will of God is that we are bondservants of Christ from the heart. The will of God is that we repent from sin. The will of God is that we do good

Eternal salvation is given to those who obey Jesus:

Hebrews 5:8-10 - Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus' sheep follow Jesus:

John 10:27-30 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.

Accomplishing the will of God the Father is food:

John 4:34-38 - Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, There are yet four months, then comes the harvest? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, One sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.

II John 1:2 - because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

Jesus' teaching is from Father God. We are supposed to obey Jesus Christ, and that's obeying God:

II John 1:9 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

John 7:16 - So Jesus answered them, My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.

Jesus says we must do the will of God:

Mark 3:35 - Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.

The will of God must be discerned through testing with a renewed mind:

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

Loving one another is the will of God:

II Corinthians 8:3-5 - For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. (ESV)

Controlling our own body in holiness and honor is the will of God:

I Thessalonians 4:3-5 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; (ESV)

The will of God is that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people:

I Peter 2:15 - For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. (ESV)

The will of God is that we should not be materialistic or worldly. We must limit our agape love to God and to other people, especially our family in Christ and not agape love anything of the world:

I think I John 2:15-17 is essentially saying, "Do not agape love the world or what's in the world. Do not love the things of this world with the type of love that we have for God and for people, namely agape love." If we fall out of agape love for the world and are not conformed to the world but are transformed by the renewing of our minds then by testing we will be able to discern the will of God:

I John 2:15-17 - Do not love (agapate) the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

If we get conformed to the world then we won't be able to discern the will of God:

Romans 12:1-2 - I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

After doing the will of God, and not shrinking back, we receive what is promised:

Hebrews 10:36-38 - For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. (ESV)

We must believe in Jesus Christ and follow Jesus Christ's teaching:

John 6:28-40 - Then they said to him, What must we do, to be doing the works of God? Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent. So they said to him, Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Jesus then said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. They said to him, Sir, give us this bread always. Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

We must accept Jesus, believe in Jesus, believe Jesus, and keep Jesus' words - all of that together is abiding in the light:

John 12:46-48 - I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (ESV)

I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (ESV)

Titus 2:14 - who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (ESV)

I Corinthians 5:11 - But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

Ephesians 6:6 - not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

I John 2:17 - And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

Book
timothykeller.com: Counterfeit Gods - Timothy Keller
Sermon
youtube.com: Counterfeit Gods - Tim Keller

I think I John 2:15-17 is essentially saying, "Do not agape love the world or what's in the world. Do not love the things of this world with the type of love that we have for God and for people, namely agape love." If we fall out of agape love for the world and are not conformed to the world but are transformed by the renewing of our minds then by testing we will be able to discern the will of God:

I John 2:15-17 - Do not love (agapate) the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

I John 2:14 - I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. (ESV)

I John 2:17 - The world (G2889 kosmos) is passing (G3855 parago) away (G3855 parago), and also its lusts (G1939 epithumia); but the one who does (G4160 poieo) the will (G2307 thelema) of God (G2316 theos) lives (G3306 meno) forever (G165 aion).

1: :  3306  meno  men'-o
2: 
3:  a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or
4:  expectancy):--abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain,
5:  stand, tarry (for), X thine own.

54.6. Whoever truly believes / has faith in Jesus has eternal life

John 3:33 - Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.

John 4:13-14 - Jesus said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

A spring which wells up to eternal life.

So a person believed and they embark on a relationship with God, leading to eternal life. It wells-up to eternal life. So if they receive the living water then they receive eternal life. When was eternal life received? When the person first truly believed, I guess.

Accomplishing the will of God the Father is food.

John 4:34-38 - Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, There are yet four months, then comes the harvest? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, One sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.

Discern the will of God.

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Yes, believing in Jesus is obeying the gospel - but there is so much more to the gospel! Doing the will of God.

Obeying the gospel and having faith in Jesus comes from hearing Jesus' words (his teachings). Sharing the gospel is speak to people what Jesus has spoken and allowing them to trust Jesus' words, and in trusting Jesus' words we trust in Jesus:

Romans 10:14-17 - But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (ESV)

Those that obey Jesus' voice He will give eternal life:

Romans 2:7-8 - to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

54.6.1. Every human being who does evil will receive tribulation and distress. God is fair.

Romans 2:9-11 - There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.

54.6.2. Human beings were totally at the mercy of God. We needed Jesus to come. We still need Jesus

Romans 3:10-13 - as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips.

Psalms 53:1-3 - The fool says in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. (ESV)

54.6.3. Atonement and sanctification, and eternal life in Jesus - righteousness apart from the works of the law

The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ is available for all who believe. It is received by faith, and God is the one who justifies us. We must hold faith in Jesus and seek God's justification. We don't justify ourselves. Faith continues. I think it's really important to believe, trust in and obey Jesus since that's what Abraham's faith was like - it was believing, trusting and obedient:

Romans 3:20-26 - For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

If followed flawlessly then the law justifies. By faith in Jesus we await the hope of justification by God.

Jesus both followed the law flawlessly and fulfilled the law prophetically, and was convicted by sinners. Jesus is our atonement.

Hebrews 9:26 - for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (ESV)

1 Peter 3:18 - For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, (ESV)

Leviticus 17:11 - For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. (ESV)

Hebrews 9:22 - Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

John 1:29 - The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (ESV)

1 John 2:2 - He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (ESV)

In Jesus, there is no sin.

1 John 3:5 - You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. (ESV)

Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (ESV)

By His stripes we are healed, and then we live to serve Jesus:

Isaiah 53:5 - But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. (ESV)

Propitiation by Jesus' blood is to be received by faith.

Romans 3:25 - whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 15:3 - For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, (ESV)

God has enabled us to die to sin and live to righteousness.

1 Peter 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (ESV)

We are cleaned up by having faith in the truth. Having faith is a continuing process.

We must both believe the truth and be sanctified, and try to stop sinning (i.e. purify ourselves):

II Thessalonians 2:11-14 - Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

54.7. Abiding in Christ through His name

  • Maintaining actual belief in Jesus is the basic requirement which prevents you from being cut off, because the life is in His name.
    • Believing on His name
      • Trusts in Jesus
        • He is your Saviour in reality - entrusted yourself to Him

Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Believe in, believe with. Trust in.

Having life in Jesus Christ's name by believing and trusting in Jesus Christ - Absolutely. And with obedience to Jesus, He has promised eternal life.

Matthew 16:16 - Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

John 20:31 - but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (ESV)

Exodus 23:21 - Pay attention to him, and listen to his voice. Don't provoke him, for he will not pardon your disobedience, for my name is in him.

God's name was in the angel:

Exodus 23:20-22 - Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him. But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.

Believing is just the starting point. This is honestly just the starting point. Obedience is expected. Also, Jesus is forgiving, unlike the angel.

Continuing to trust in Jesus as the Messiah, your Saviour, and the Only-begotten Son of God through patient endurance is enough to get saved, I think, but it's not enough to be counted a 'disciple' of Jesus.

And it's 'saved' but 'being saved' at the same time.

One wants to progress from 'believing that' to having Jesus abide inside them.

I think that rejects His commandments but claiming to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is an extremely precarious, and tentative position to be in, and may indicate that the person doesn't really believe.

And if a person doesn't believe in reality, then that person probably isn't saved - so they are only lying to themself that they are saved.

However, if a person trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.

Trusting Him means having faith in Him, obeying, believing in God and having the fear of God, believing, following, yielding to Jesus. Ungodly here means wicked or behaviour not in accordance with the knowledge of God. Only God can justify the ungodly, so that's why by following Him, knowing we can be ungodly, we have the hope of God justifying us:

Romans 4:5 - And to the one who does not work but trusts (G4100 pisteuo) him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, (ESV)

This qualifies:

Luke 18:13 - But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! (ESV)

54.8. Jesus abiding in you / me

It quickly progresses to obeying Jesus, receiving the Spirit.

I John 3:24 - Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

54.9. Loving God and loving Jesus and loving others and abiding in His love

I John 5:2 - By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

I John 5:3-4 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

II John 1:5-6 - And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. (ESV)

54.10. Saint - an imitator of Jesus - keeps the commandments of God and has faith in Jesus

John 15:10 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (ESV)

Video
youtube.com: Called to Be Saints | Charles Spurgeon | Devotional | Morning & Evening: Daily Readings
Quote by Charles Spurgeon
All are "saints" whom God has called by His grace and sanctified by His Spirit;

Ephesians 1:1 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

Revelation of John 12:17 - Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Revelation of John 14:12 - Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Psalms 97:10 - O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

54.11. Followers of Jesus - the saints (people who keep God's commandments) judge the world

Matthew 19:16-30 - And behold, a man came up to him, saying, Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life? And he said to him, Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments. He said to him, Which ones? And Jesus said, You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said to him, All these I have kept. What do I still lack? Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Then Peter said in reply, See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have? Jesus said to them, Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

I Corinthians 6:2 - Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?

54.12. Saints inherit the Kingdom with Jesus

Daniel 7:18 - But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever. (ESV)

Revelation 2:26-28 - The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. (ESV)

54.13. Be humble in this world and serve others of humble circumstances while in this world

James 1:9-11 - But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. (NASB)

Matthew 6:19-21 - Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

John 12:25 - Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

John 12:26 - If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (ESV)

Matthew 25:35-40 - For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.

54.13.1. Jesus' friends are those who actually do what Jesus says

We don't transition away from being servants of Jesus when we become friends of Jesus - we still serve and obey Him. Jesus started calling His servants His friends because Jesus had explained to them all He heard from Father God. Jesus' friends still serve Jesus, and they obey Jesus but they also know what Jesus is doing.

John 15:14-15 - You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

54.14. Entering the kingdom of heaven

It's possible while here on earth:

Luke 9:27 - But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.

We have to be born-again from above. We should start by trusting and believing Jesus:

John 3:3-12 - Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus said to him, How can these things be? Jesus answered him, Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? (ESV)

We must humble ourselves and have believing, trusting faith in God to enter the kingdom:

Matthew 18:2-6 - And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. (ESV)

Boldly following the commandments properly from the heart and in reality, believing God exists, exercising faith, walking in faith, trusting in Jesus, repenting from sin, turning to God is a good thing to do. Humbling ourselves takes a chance on God:

I Kings 11:38 - And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.

We must take a chance on God and do what the Bible says we should do to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. If we come under Jesus' Lordship and we are trusting and obedient to Jesus then we will do Father God's will:

Matthew 7:21 - Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

God wants us to stop having an earthly, carnal mind, and for us to pursue Him and be obedient to Him:

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; (ESV)

II Corinthians 6:17 - Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, (ESV)

God wants us to continue in faith with Him, even when things get challenging:

I Peter 2:15 - For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Obey the word:

I Peter 2:8 - and A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

Jesus is the cornerstone. We must believe in Christ Jesus and obey His words, and let his words abide in us and continue in them.

54.15. Knowing Jesus, knowing God, knowing Jehovah God

To know Jesus and Father God, then you must follow His commandments, and they must not be a burden on us, but we follow them with the faith of Abraham.

We want to know Jesus experientially because Jesus has made us His own:

Philippians 3:12 - Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (ESV)

Knowing God means we know that God loved us first, even loved us as God loved Jesus:

John 17:23 - I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (ESV)

Knowing God means loving as Jesus loved us:

I John 4:6-7 - We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (ESV)

I John 4:8-11 - Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Jesus commanded us to love one another in the way He loved us:

John 13:34 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (ESV)

We must walk in the manner that he walked:

I John 2:3-6 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

I John 5:3-4 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

Obeying Jesus is a very serious matter:

II Thessalonians 1:8 - in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (ESV)

Getting to know Jesus will come to result in you too abiding in the Son and in the Father.

I John 2:24 - Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.

I John 3:24 - Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

My intuition says that walking as Jesus walked and obeying His commandments and believing in the truth produces in us an empathy for Jesus.

Meaning of the word empathy:
"understanding and entering into another's feelings"

We can know in part what Jesus experienced by walking in the truth as he walked.

However, I believe keeping Jesus' word and obeying Jesus also leads to communion with Him and with Father God in the Spirit:

Meaning of the word communion:
"sharing thoughts and feelings"

John 14:22-23 - Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world? Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Knowing Jesus Christ and Him crucified means believing the testimony and also knowing Jesus experientially through becoming like Him in His death. Believe God's testimony concerning His Son. Know the testimony:

I Corinthians 2:1-2 - And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (ESV)

I John 5:10 - Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. (ESV)

Know Jesus experientially:

Philippians 3:9-13 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (ESV)

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

Dying to sin an immediate thing and living to Christ, becoming like Jesus in His death is a lifelong (while on this earth) process. Also, starting to live for God is an immediate thing, and to be with God is the long-term thing:

Romans 6:8-10 - Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. (ESV)

John 15:3-12 - Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (ESV)

54.15.1. Anyone who doesn't abide will be thrown away like a branch and withers. Eventually they will be into the fire (Hell, I assume)

John 15:6 - If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

54.16. His name: Jesus Christ, the Son of God

Luke 1:31-35 - And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. And Mary said to the angel, How will this be, since I am a virgin? And the angel answered her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. (ESV)

Acts 3:16 - And his name-by faith in his name-has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.??

Jesus reigns and inherits all things. Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God:

Hebrews 1:1-4 - Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (ESV)

Philippians 2:9-11 - Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV)

John 17:11-12 - And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (ESV)

54.17. Deeply abiding in Jesus, abiding in Jesus Christ's love, and passing-forward Christ's love

  • Loving Jesus and abiding in His love involves keeping His commandments
    • Love one another as He loved us - the same way, selflessly, forgivingly, mercifully, compassionately
    • Love God faithfully
      • An indicator is that the world hates you
  • Keeping all of Jesus' words, keeping His commandments
    • Ask whatever you wish
  • Bear fruit
    • Forgiving others, loving others (charity, etc.)
    • Bringing others to Christ
    • Prove to be a disciple of Jesus

54.17.1. Abiding forever vs abiding - there's a difference

Psalms 125:1 - Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

I John 2:17 - And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

54.18. The fruit (work) of disciples of Jesus then abides

John 15:2 - Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

John 15:5 - I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:8 - By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 15:16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

54.19. Secure rewards and a guarantee of eternal life for Jesus' disciples

Matthew 19:29 - And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. (ESV)

Luke 14:26-28 If anyone comes to me and does not hate (3404. miseó, 3404 miséō – properly, to detest (on a comparative basis); hence, denounce; to love someone or something less than someone (something) else, i.e. to renounce one choice in favor of another.) his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

John 12:25 - Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (ESV)

I'm pretty convinced that what Jesus means by the following is that by giving up earthly treasure in the pursuit of Jesus, heavenly treasure is acquired. I'd say it's likely that the heavenly treasure is simply helping those people. So selling what a person possesses and giving to those in need, though apart from faith in Jesus isn't a "requirement for eternal life", it is a fast track to serving Jesus and getting our heart in heaven and leaning on Jesus, so doing as Jesus said in obedient faith is already starting to follow Jesus and store up heavenly treasure. Seek heavenly reward, not earthly reward. Have a heart seeking reward from God and not from man. Have your heart in heaven, not in earth. We give up our earthly treasure and help other people with it and this becomes heavenly treasure, and we then go after Jesus as our Pearl of Great Price:

Matthew 6:19-21 - Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (ESV)

Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)

54.19.1. Eternal life is receiving an eternal name, I think

Isaiah 56:5 - I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. (ESV)

Receiving an eternal name.

Becoming a part of the Truth. Full union with God.

54.20. The work of God, believing in Jesus

John 6:29-40 - Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent. So they said to him, Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Jesus then said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. They said to him, Sir, give us this bread always. Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

Jesus doesn't cast people out.

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

I think that salvation is a totally free gift and the baseline salvation is trusting in Jesus, because of His finished work done on the cross. But the people that oppose obeying the full gospel of Jesus saying that works oppose grace are very deluded.

We're supposed to do good works of faith by Jesus' power so that Jesus' name is glorified - and those works done in Jesus' power are entirely given by grace to us:

II Thessalonians 1:11-12 - To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

But salvation is a gift and God is sovereign to save. That's why it's grace. Saved by grace through faith.

I think a person needs some faith to be saved, and faith works.

It's God's grace that enables us to be saved through faith. While we are saved exercising obedient, trusting, believing faith, Paul says it was actually God's doing:

Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (ESV)

54.21. We in Christ, Christ in us

youtube.com: What Does it Mean to be in Christ?

I Corinthians 3:23 - and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. (ESV)

54.21.1. Jesus Christ is in us

Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (ESV)

Romans 8:10 - But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (ESV)

54.21.2. We are in Christ

Galatians 2:4 - Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— (ESV)

Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

54.21.3. Our life is hidden with Christ in God

Colossians 3:3 - For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (ESV)

54.22. Only God the Father could graft people in and out of Christ - but Jesus intercedes for us

A person would have to reject Jesus to be grafted out, I think. Then again, God might still not do that.

We must be perpetually approaching Jesus:

John 6:37 - All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. (ESV)

youtube.com: John Piper - Saved Forever @time: 17 min 36 sec

What do I need in order to be saved forever, and the answer is, I need to keep drawing near to God through Jesus.

Therefore, I think that's what he prays.

It says in Hebrews 13:21 that by the blood of the Eternal Covenant this Jesus was raised and through Jesus God is working in you that which is pleasing in his sight.

Through Jesus, God is working what is pleasing in his sight, namely a drawing near to God through Jesus. But if God is working our drawing near to him so that He's stirring up within me and you a desire to draw near to God through Him, what does it mean that he's doing it through Jesus? The answer is Jesus is praying for it.

Luke 22:32 - but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. (ESV)

We are commanded to reject the idols to treasure God first. If we do this then we draw near to God and God draws near to us:

II Corinthians 6:17-18 - Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty. (ESV)

James 4:8 - Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (ESV)

Psalms 73:25-28 - Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. (ESV)

So most importantly, believe in Jesus, and that he has paid the price for your sin with His blood, and continue in relationship with Jesus with Him as your number one agape, Pearl of Great Price.

Have in your heart faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour:

Hebrews 3:12 - Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

Bear fruit for Jesus (be obedient):

John 15:2 - Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (ESV)

Those who do not abide in Jesus are grafted out:

John 15:6 - If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. (ESV)

Yet they can be grafted back in:

Romans 11:23 - And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.

The relationship is essential! So take stopping sin seriously, and keep Jesus' words and His commandments, and also bearing fruit for Jesus.

Revelation of John 3:2-3 - Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.

John 15:1-14 - I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.

Romans 11:15-32 - For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in. That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob; and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins. As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

Matthew 12:33-37 - Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (ESV)

Rebellion = disobedience.

1 Samuel 15:23 - For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king. (ESV)

Ephesians 5:6 - Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. (ESV)

54.23. The law of Christ

We are still under a 'law of faith', but we are not under the Mosaic law.

We are under the law of Christ which is a law of faith.

But the Mosaic law still exists.

I Corinthians 9:21 - To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

I John 3:4-11 - Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

54.24. Sharing Jesus' holiness / personal righteousness (fruit of righteousness) - coming after faith in Jesus

54.24.1. Have faith in Jesus; Believe in Him, and be obedient to Him, following His teaching

We are innocent because we are being obedient to Jesus:

Matthew 10:16-17 - Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, (ESV)

Remain obedient to Jesus, and do not take vengeance for yourself:

Romans 12:19-20 - Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. (ESV)

Following Jesus' example of being obedient:

Philippians 2:8 - And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV)

Hebrews 5:7-8 - In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. (ESV)

54.24.2. The yoke of the Lord Jesus

Firstly, Paul commends going above and even beyond one's means:

II Corinthians 8:3-5 - For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. (ESV)

There is an amount of how much a person is following Jesus:

"resisted to the point of shedding your blood."

Hebrews 12:1-11 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

If a person is obedient and doing the will of God then God can use that person's human will and exertion. Jesus was faithful to God. Jesus was obedient to God.

I'm reluctant to use external sources outside of the Bible, but this is also described in the Didache.

The Didache's estimated range of dating is 50-120 A.D, according to earlychristianwritings.com.

Didache Chapter 6 - See that no one causes you to err from this way of the Teaching, since apart from God it teaches you. For if you are able to bear the entire yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect; but if you are not able to do this, do what you are able.

Matthew 5:47-48 - And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Of course, I believe God doesn't send all His servants to be martyred, but probably uses what amount a person is willing to bear for the Lord Jesus.

Quote from John Piper
"We don't kill to spread our kingdom. We die to spread our kingdom." AMEN!!

Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.

John 12:26 - If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

Luke 9:23 - And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

youtube.com: C.S. Lewis - God is guiding our lives to the best path @time: 17 min 54 sec
You will be motivated to follow God's ways with increased passion. Divine love is incomparable and reveals itself in extraordinary ways. Curiously, the closer you get to God, the more intensely you feel love for Him. We love because He first loved us (I John 4:19). This indicates that without a true knowledge of God, loving Him can seem like a challenge. Obedience is an authentic expression of this love.

I'm still trying to figure out how Jesus' yoke is easy. I guess that if a person denies self daily, and heart is always gentle and lowly, then Jesus' yoke is easy and burden light:

Matthew 11:29-30 - Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (ESV)

John 21:18-19 - Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go. (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, Follow me. (ESV)

Thanks to Jesus' endurance, His spirit empowers us to live as He lived, and to be conformed to His image. God's strength does not guarantee that we will not suffer as a result of following Jesus. But God gives us the power at the time we need it to endure the suffering:

Hebrews 12:1-3 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (ESV)

I believe that the freedom we have in Christ is for serving Jesus, and we have a heavenly perspective:

Colossians 3:22-25 - Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. (ESV)

54.24.3. The upward call of God in Christ Jesus

Romans 12:11 - Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (ESV)

Philippians 3:9-13 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (ESV)

Philippians 3:14 - I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

54.25. Personal holiness

Everyone who names the name of the Lord must depart from iniquity:

II Timothy 2:19-22 - But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: The Lord knows those who are his, and, Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity. Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Following Jesus means obeying Jesus:

John 8:12 - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

John 9:5 - As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Jesus instructed his his disciples to be holy:

Matthew 5:14-20 - You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

I believe following Jesus includes exercising personal righteousness/holiness.

I believe that God's grace extends to all who put their faith in Jesus and have Jesus' righteousness imputed onto them, the righteousness of faith in Jesus Christ God's Son who has paid through his blood the price for our sin.

I affirm more of a Methodist theology regarding imparted righteousness. We cooperate with God rather than resist sanctification.

In Methodist theology, imparted righteousness, is what God does in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit after justification, working in the Christian to enable and empower the process of sanctification (and, in Wesleyan thought, Christian perfection). John Wesley believed that imparted righteousness worked in tandem with imputed righteousness.

Imputed righteousness is important, but we need also personal holiness:

James 1:20-22 - for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: Holiness Demanded - Charles Spurgeon Sermon

We must live in holiness. This is practical holiness, the opposite of impurity.

Hebrews 12:14 - Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

In his "Introduction to Romans," Luther stated that saving faith is,

"a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn't stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever… Thus, it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire!"

AMEN!!

The Lutheran Churches label antinomianism as a heresy.

I Corinthians 9:21 - To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

We're still under the law of Christ, which means we must forgive and love one another, in the same way that Jesus has loved us.

Romans 6:14 - For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (ESV)

"You Are Not Under Law, but Under Grace" | United Church of God

AMEN!!

I believe one must know that God's law is right:

Romans 7:9-16 - I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. (ESV)

When presented with God's law, we should recognise that the law is right and recognise our transgression, and continue towards sanctification, putting off the old, sinful self.

We are released from the law, and now we serve in the new life of the Spirit:

Romans 7:6-7 - But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit. What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, You shall not covet. (ESV)

We believe in Christ Jesus in order to be justified by faith in Christ:

Galatians 2:16 - yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (ESV)

So we're not trying to come under the 613 commandments of the Mosaic law, but the precepts such as "do not covet", and "do not commit idolatry", easily seen within the 10 commandments still describe how we should behave.

But we also don't teach people that the 613 commandments of the Mosaic law are annulled. They're not annulled. We're just not under them, because we're under the law of Christ instead:

Matthew 5:17-18 - Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (ESV)

Heaven and earth have not passed away yet and neither has the Law:

Luke 16:17 - But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void. (ESV)

Being led by the spirit involves following Christ's law:

Galatians 5:13-16 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (ESV)

If we are led by the spirit (if we're serving Jesus Christ, seeking justification through faith in Jesus Christ) then we are not under the Mosaic law:

Galatians 5:18-21 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

So we should still stop sinning as it is described:

I Timothy 1:9 - understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, (ESV)

I Peter 4:1 - Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, (ESV)

We're under grace, and we're supposed to not be enslaved to sin, neither are we supposed to be enslaved under the Mosaic law. The Mosaic law isn't a curse to us.

Things like pornography probably attracts evil spirits which hinders finding a relationship, and obviously, we still want to obey God's precepts for our own good:

Of course we still need to be sanctified and stop sinning, following Jesus.

Hebrews 12:14,15 - Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; (ESV)

But sin is rather described in such a way:

Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

We must instead be led by the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22-25 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 3:13 - so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

I consider practicing homosexuality to be erroneous and sinful, and God's original design to be correct.

Matthew 19:4-12 - He answered, Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. They said to him, Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away? He said to them, Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery. The disciples said to him, If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry. But he said to them, Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.

Romans 1:26-27 - For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. (ESV)

And no-one should endorse sinful things. Homosexuality is erroneous. If they do, however, endorse it then I think that inhibits them from approaching God.

54.26. Belief comes before or at the time of receiving the Holy Spirit (receiving the Holy Spirit comes at the time of or after believing)

I believe that the Holy Spirit goes to those who obey God. I believe belief in Jesus comes first.

Acts 2:38 - And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

And that if a person begins to repent and actually seek God then the Holy Spirit will come to you at some point:

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

If you keep Jesus' commandments then the Spirit of Truth will come to you, and help you, and be in you. If we obey Jesus, the Holy Spirit helps us, even before He's inside us:

John 14:15-17 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (ESV)

Belief in Jesus comes first but receiving the Holy Spirit and baptism may happen in any order after that.

I think this is generally the order of things.

youtube.com: The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit | Billy Graham

54.27. God is sovereign to reveal Himself, sovereign to save and sovereign to destroy

Romans 10:20 - Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me. (ESV)

Matthew 10:28 - And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

54.28. Just saying a creed doesn't guarantee that a person is saved (I think)

Read
gracechurch.org: Lordship Salvation | Grace Community Church

God chooses who is saved, and how they are saved.

II Corinthians 10:18 - For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (ESV)

God justifies.

I Timothy 6:11-16 - But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

Confessing and holding to a creed is working faith though:

Song
youtube.com: Petra - Beyond Belief @time: 8 min 49 sec

Hebrews 4:14 - Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Hebrews 3:1 - Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,

Hebrews 10:23 - Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

II Corinthians 9:13 - By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,

Jesus sees here that though they have little power, they kept His word and did not deny His name.

God justifies.

Revelation of John 3:8 - I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie-behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

54.29. It's the obedient who are justified, not the hearers

Romans 14:18 - Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

God keeps us from stumbling along the way:

Jude 1:24-25 - Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

I Peter 2:25 - For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Fulfilling the requirement of the law is required of us by God. God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

Romans 2:13-16 - For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers (4163. poiétés) of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Delirious? - {Investigate} Live From Farewell Show In London - 2010

54.29.1. These people performed dead works, and never obeyed Jesus

Matthew 7:21-27 - Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. (ESV)

To get to know Jesus, follow His commandments - be obedient to Jesus.

54.30. Outside of the Holy Spirit, noone can say Jesus is Lord

1 Corinthians 12:3 - Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says Jesus is accursed! and no one can say Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

54.31. Works accompany the true believers

Mark 16:16-17 - Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; (ESV)

54.32. Those that reject the gospel are not the same as those who haven't heard the gospel

Mark 6:11 - And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.

54.32.1. The following applies to believing Jesus, not to believing that a disciple of Jesus is Jesus

John 8:24 - I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins. (ESV)

A disciple of Jesus isn't Jesus, but a disciple.

  1. There's more chances to accept Jesus after hearing the gospel and initially rejecting or being unsure

    John 4:36-38 - Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, One sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.

    John 4:34-38 - Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, There are yet four months, then comes the harvest? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, One sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.

54.32.2. If someone receives the one who Jesus sends, they receive Jesus

John 13:20 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.

Matthew 10:40 - "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

Mark 9:37 - "Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me."

54.32.3. People always have the choice to believe the gospel

Romans 11:23 - And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.

Matthew 21:32 - For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him. (ESV)

Joel 2:12-13 - Yet even now, declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster . (ESV)

54.32.4. I lean towards this interpretation

  • People who hear the gospel and ultimately reject it / reject Jesus / choose to not put their trust in Jesus are condemned.
  • There's more chances to accept Jesus after hearing the gospel and initially rejecting or being unsure
  • Rejecting Jesus in front of others is not good because it's a testimony against them
  • Acknowledging Jesus in front of others is very good

John 3:19 - This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (ESV)

Luke 19:10 - For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

54.32.5. Rejecting Jesus in front of others is not good

Luke 9:26 - For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

I John 2:23 - No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

I John 4:15 - Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

Matthew 10:32 - So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,

Matthew 10:33 - but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Luke 12:8 - And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God,

54.32.6. It's really important to not reject Jesus through

John 8:12 - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

John 8:21-24 - So he said to them again, I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come. So the Jews said, Will he kill himself, since he says, Where I am going, you cannot come? He said to them, You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.

I Peter 3:18-21 - For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

If this verse suggests that Jesus went to the spirits in prison who had in the days of Noah disobeyed, then we should definitely obey the gospel while we're alive today.

54.33. I believe that repentance is important in faith and faithfulness to God

Acts 2:38 - And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

Joel 2:12-13 - Yet even now, declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. (ESV)

And repentance has the fruit of in your heart truly deciding to tell the truth, not commit adultery, etc. - being accountable to God, knowing that He sees.

Matthew 3:8 - Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (ESV)

This is following the law by faith, I think; Truly loving God and one's neighbour.

There are a lot of 'do nots' in the law but the most important thing is the 2 'do' commandments. The 'do nots' are to stop people from doing bad things, but the 2 Greatest commandments command us to love God and our neighbour.

Matthew 22:37-40 - And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

Colossians 3:4-9 - When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

Lots of people say these days that trying to follow the law is self-righteousness and I don't really agree with that because to follow the law in faith is OK. But to be 'under' the law is put oneself under a curse.

54.34. Celebrating/endorsing sin / error is not right

If a newly born-again Christian is spending all their time with sinners though and endorsing continually instead of being discipled, then they can have their mind conformed to the sinners instead of being strengthened in the truth. This is why I think it's not especially great to, immediately after getting born-again, be overly exposed to unbelievers and sinners.

Jesus ate with sinners but Jesus was the special guest. Think of Nicodemus inviting Jesus over.

54.35. Faith has substance to it, and an amount to it, usually drawn out over time

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (KJV)

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (ESV)

For me, I was acting in faith ever since I was born-again, resulting in a huge chain of events and confirmations!

54.36. Faith believes God and hopes in invisible things, and is convicted of them

But at the end of the day, justification by faith in Jesus justifies the ungodly sinner - but it is faith that God justifies and not faithlessness. It's the type of belief that recognises one's sin, and results in love for Jesus, and it's obedient and submissive to God - it's repentant.

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)

Where we are unfaithful, though, God is faithful. God wants us to choose Him. He wants us to repent.

54.37. Jesus' words never pass away. The law could only pass away after heaven and earth passes away

Psalms 119:160 - The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (ESV)

Matthew 11:25 - At that time Jesus declared, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;

Matthew 24:35 - Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Mark 13:31 - Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Luke 10:21 - In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

Luke 16:17 - But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

We must abide in the teachings of Jesus, believing what Jesus has said, believing Jesus:

John 5:37-38 - And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. (ESV)

Matthew 5:14-20 - You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

Luke 21:33 - Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

The passing away of the heavens and earth looks like the destruction of the present heavens and earth, including the planets, galaxies, etc. and the works done on earth will be exposed. It's an extreme event:

II Peter 3:10 - But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. (ESV)

The Works of Philo Judaeus, Philo of Alexandria (20BC - 50AD), On the Life of Moses II
But the enactments of this lawgiver are firm, not shaken by commotions, not liable to alteration, but stamped as it were with the seal of nature herself, and they remain firm and lasting from the day on which they were first promulgated to the present one, and there may well be a hope that they will remain to all future time, as being immortal, as long as the sun and the moon, and the whole heaven and the whole world shall endure.

54.38. Structure of the Kingdom

When applying the law, justice and mercy and faithfulness are the weightier matters of the law. However, the remainder of the law is not supposed to be neglected either:

Matthew 23:23-25 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

The law still exists. A thought I have : "Perhaps structure of God's kingdom might be determined by the law and Jesus' words."

Psalms 119:160 - The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (ESV)

Heaven is God's throne and its foundation is righteousness and justice.

Psalms 97:2 - Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Psalms 89:14 - Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. (ESV)

Acts 7:49 - 'Heaven is My throne, And earth is the footstool of My feet; What kind of house will you build for Me?' says the Lord, 'Or what place is there for My repose?

The universe is upheld by the word of Jesus' power.

Hebrews 1:3 - He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (ESV)

Revelation of John 20:4 - Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

54.38.1. Great or small in the kingdom of God

  1. The least will be greatest

    Luke 9:48 - and said to them, Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great. (ESV)

  2. Your servant will be greater

    Mark 9:35 - And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. (ESV)

    Mark 10:43-45 - But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (ESV)

    Quote from Martin Luther King Jr.:

    “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

  3. The humble and obedient will be called great

    Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

    Jeremiah 31:34 - And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, Know the LORD, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (ESV)

    Those in the kingdom of God hold faith in Jesus and serve Jesus:

    Romans 14:17-18 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

    There are commandments from God which even Paul the Apostle regarded as important to follow for all people who serve Jesus, such as the 10 Commandments and the commandments which came from Jesus Himself, including the Golden Rule:

    Romans 13:9-10 - The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)

    The law is good. It's not our source of justification but we don't teach people to disobey it, especially those who follow it by faith.

    Romans 14:10-14 - Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. (ESV)

    Instead we focus on following Jesus first and foremost:

    Romans 14:22-23 - The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (ESV)

    When it comes to following the law as a Christian, it's a matter of being accountable to God personally over our own level of law adherence while we follow Jesus first and foremost.

    Quote by John Piper
    That's who we are as Christians. When we walk according to the Spirit, we fulfill the just requirement of the law. That is, we keep the commandments, we love. We are doers of the law. Not sinlessly perfect law-keepers. Nobody is nor anybody has been except Jesus, which is why we depend on Him, but rather, radically transformed people, through faith, in the power of the Holy Spirit, leaning on the grace of God that comes to us through Jesus Christ.

    Jesus, the original Apostles and the founding fathers of Christianity still taught us to keep the 2 Great commandments and the 10 Commandments which is sound doctrine:

    • I Corinthians 7:19 - Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. (KJV)

    So long as we hold faith in Christ, we're no longer victims of the curse of the law (which is to rely on keeping the full law perfectly to avoid being cursed):

    Galatians 3:10-13 - For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them. Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for The righteous shall live by faith. But the law is not of faith, rather The one who does them shall live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree— (ESV)

    Those who keep God's commandments and and the righteousness of faith / the testimony of Jesus will be called great in the kingdom:

    Matthew 5:19 - Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

    So long as we hold faith in Christ, we're no longer victims of the curse of the law (which is to rely on keeping the full law perfectly to avoid being cursed):

    Galatians 3:10-13 - For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them. Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for The righteous shall live by faith. But the law is not of faith, rather The one who does them shall live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree— (ESV)

    It is humility to keep God's commandments by faith (and not works), accountable to God who sees in secret.

    Quote by John Piper
    "Pride is insubordinate. [It says,] You don't have a right to tell me what to do. That's what happened in the Garden of Eden right at the beginning of our sinful plight. And that's what all of us do apart from God's grace."

    There is a self-righteous way of trying to keep the law, and there is a humble way. The law is not annulled but our justification comes from faith in Jesus.

    • The self-righteous way
      • Pursues the law as if by works
      • Observes the law in detail but doesn't follow even the basics from the heart and in truth, or in faith.
      • Doesn't maintain being honest and faithful to God.
      • Doesn't maintain loving one's neighbour in truth and reality.
      • Lacks mercy.
      • Often criticizes others but with hypocrisy, not seeing they break the law while they accuse.
      • Often makes the mistake of condemning the innocent.
      • Often makes the mistake of being without mercy, or love.
    • The humble way, with faith
      • Is accountable to God - it's not lying to God.
      • No deceit.
      • It's acknowledging that God is right, and His law is right.
      • It's loving God, and loving one's neighbour.
      • It's compatible with being led by the Spirit, not opposed

    Matthew 7:3-5 - Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (ESV)

    Galatians 5:18-21 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

    We must be doing the will of God to not be under the law:

    Psalms 143:10 - Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! (ESV)

    We must instead be led by the Spirit, and follow Christ Jesus:

    Galatians 5:22-25 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (ESV)

54.38.2. God's kingdom is from Heaven to Earth

Genesis 14:19 - And he blessed him and said, Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;

Isaiah 66:1 - Thus says the Lord, "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest???

Jeremiah 23:24 - "Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?" declares the Lord. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the Lord.??

Acts 7:49 - 'Heaven is My throne, And earth is the footstool of My feet; What kind of house will you build for Me?' says the Lord, 'Or what place is there for My repose???

Matthew 11:25 - At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.

Luke 10:21 - At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.

Revelation of John 14:7 - And he said with a loud voice, Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.

Acts 17:24 - The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

  1. Jesus inherits the entire Kingdom

    Hebrews 1:2 - in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

    I Corinthians 15:25 - For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

    I Corinthians 15:27 - For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him.

    Ephesians 1:22 - And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,

    Hebrews 2:8 - You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

    Hebrews 10:13 - waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.

  2. Jesus' sheep/followers/saints inherit the Kingdom with Jesus. Jesus' sheep follow Jesus

    Matthew 24:45-47 - Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. (ESV)

    Luke 12:32 - Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

    John 10:27 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

    Luke 9:23 - And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

    Luke 18:22 - When Jesus heard this, he said to him, One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.

    John 12:26 - If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

    John 21:22 - Jesus said to him, If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!

    1 Corinthians 6:9-20 - Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything. Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food-and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, The two will become one flesh. But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (ESV)

    Zechariah 8:23 - Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.

    Revelation of John 2:26 - The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations,

  3. Followers of Jesus become fishers of men

    Mark 1:17 - And Jesus said to them, Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.

  4. One must be born-again to enter in and inherit the Kingdom of God

    John 3:3 - Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.

    John 3:5 - Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

    I Corinthians 15:50d - I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

    youtube.com: The Chosen scene: John 3:16 @time: 2 min 8 sec

54.39. There is no sexual immorality in Heaven, no violence, no sinners.

Heaven is not Earth. It's a place without sinning.

Psalms 11:5 - The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. (ESV)

But the Kingdom of God exists from Heaven to Earth.

II Peter 3:13-14 - But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

Revelation 21:22-27 - And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day-and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. (ESV)

Isaiah 11:6 - The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. (ESV)

Matthew 22:30 - For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

54.40. Adhering to the law like a Pharisee - pursuing the law by works

But adhering to the law like a Pharisee is like strapping yourself to a razor blade, but that doesn't mean the law is wrong.

Romans 3:20 - For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

The law doesn't save:

Galatians 3:21-24 - Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. (ESV)

The law doesn't save:

Hebrews 7:19 - (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. (ESV)

54.40.1. Instead of adhering to the law like a Pharisee we should become obedient to Jesus

That means loving others the way He loved us, and it involves accepting that He loved us first (through the atoning sacrifice):

Matthew 5:20 - For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

We believe God and believe God has sent Jesus to be the propitiation for our sins, and love others freely with Christ's love, relieving their burdens and forgiving their trespasses against us, as we have freely received love and forgiveness from God. This is actually following the Great Commandments to love God and our neighbour properly.

54.41. Follow the law mercifully and without self-righteousness, accountable to God, being a servant to others

So as to not become a hypocrite or condemn the innocent. Accountable to God - a relationship with God. Without self-righteousness.

Acts 23:3 - Then Paul said to him, God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?

Matthew 12:3-8 - He said to them, Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.

The greatest among you will be your servant. Keeping the commandments by faith results in a person a who is a servant, serving others.

Luke 22:26 - But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.

Matthew 5:19 - Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Not the best example, but, for example, when someone says you owe them money, and you can see they are blind, it's paying them because you're the one submitting to God. It's humbling yourself even to others and following God's commandments in truth and reality, with a real faith relationship with God.

It's serving others as Jesus has served us:

Romans 14:18 - Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

It's keeping accountable to God and maintaining faithfulness to God, not keeping others accountable to you:

Romans 14:22 - The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. (ESV)

This isn't self-righteousness, but is a self-sacrificial obedience to continue working as a bond-servant of Christ, being the light of the world.

Philippians 2:14-16 - Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

54.42. Being in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth is being the light of the world

Seek the Kingdom of God:

II Peter 1:5-11 - For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Become born of the Spirit:

John 3:3-5 - Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

In Jesus Christ we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and are transferred into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ:

Colossians 1:13-14 - He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

It's the Kingdom of Christ and God:

Ephesians 5:5 - For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (ESV)

As we walk in the light, as He is in the light, that is in the Truth, walking in, believing, professing and obeying Jesus Christ in Truth, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin:

I John 1:6-7 - If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV)

Walking in the light is walking righteously, in love and holiness and truth:

Ephesians 5:1-17 - Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (ESV)

We are the light of the world. Yes, we must do good:

Matthew 5:14-20 - You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

We must do good, and behave like the children of God, or we will not enter the Kingdom:

I John 3:10 - By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (ESV)

I John 3:7 - Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. (ESV)

I John 2:29 - If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. (ESV)

When we are transferred into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and God, the world hates us, but then we need to shine our light in the darkness, resisting the falsehood:

John 15:19 - If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (ESV)

54.43. All the law is still used

We're not under / condemned by the Mosaic law but we still don't encourage the breaking of the Mosaic law.

The law is good and it still exists, and God still uses the law. All of it. We are supposed to stand for truth and live righteously as the light of the world.

If a person rejects this because they don't like law then they are lying to themself because Jesus teaches that not a jot will pass away:

John 12:48 - The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

Heaven and earth is still around, so therefore the law still exists, but those who are doing the will of God and being led by God's spirit, following Jesus are not under it nor condemned by it - that is a conditional promise:

Luke 16:17 - But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

We all fall short of the glory of God and require the God's righteousness imputed to us through faith in Jesus, but having the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus is not license to sin.

Jesus Christ is the end of the law to all who believe, but grace isn't an excuse to sin.

God's commandments (especially the 10 Commandments; loving God and your neighbour) are still binding on us - written on our heart when we get born-again.

Right after I got born-again of the Spirit I wrote about the 10 commandments being written on my heart, and I believe it was the Holy Spirit inspiring me and also letting me loose to write (and also later be corrected).

I have a more detailed explanation here:

Galatians 6:14-17 - But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. (ESV)

Despite some people believing the new birth is not like a pregnancy, it was indeed like a pregnancy from my experience.

John 3:6 - That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (ESV)

I really believe that John Piper's explanation should be listened to / read:

AMEN to this particular quote too:

youtube.com: How to Seek the Holy Spirit @time: 48 min 13 sec
"If anyone keeps Jesus' word, holds fast, treasures it, in obedience, that person will not be quenching the Spirit, that person will not be grieving the Spirit, but will know the fullness and sweetness of fellowship with the Father and the Son." - AMEN to that, John Piper

Now I could go into detail about why I repented "after" being born of the Spirit, and I have explained things a bit later in this document. But I certainly hold fast to what is good, and allow the Holy Spirit to clean me, as I continue to believe and obey the Holy Spirit.

I can't speak to what people's experience might be.

John 3:8 - The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (ESV)

I received a blue light-body made of blue Spirit light/fire:

… I could feel having a body and see it but the sight I had was unlike regular sight.

When I looked at myself I could see what looked many blue power lines running up my body, glowing and lighting up in blue as waves of some kind of energy moved up and down, pulsating slowly, causing them to glow.

I knew exactly where each part of my physical body was, just as if a person does when they are awake was but when I moved, I seem to have been detaching with another one, which was blue. I thought to myself, “This is my consciousness just trying to retain a sense of self as I am wilfully moving but my body is still asleep.” Perhaps that’s not far from reality.

I could reach in within my own body with my astral hands and ‘see’ where my regular arms lay, but I no vision whatsoever of skin nor flesh, but in a way I could faintly see blackish organs. As I placed my hands below my bones it sent electrical impulses through my body. I could hear electrical vibrations (an electrical sound, like a brrr or a zrrrr) get louder as moved them through my torso and below my rib cage. I could move into my body and feel my organs, and a sore spot under and below my right lung.

I was actually awake and tried to pray aloud but that is when I knew I was in sleep paralysis as I could not make any sounds, nor open my eyes. I sat up a bit where I lay, but just my astral body. And I could see myself. I think I could do this because my body was still very asleep. I prayed to Jesus for forgiveness and for his protection because I was scared and did not know what was going on. This was a very unusual experience. I was experiencing sleep paralysis but when I tried to move I actually could move, but only with my astral body. I came out of my body only by lying up a bit and feeling inside my upper torso but with my astral hands.

There was a sore spot inside in my physical body which I was aware of and when I touched it with my astral hand it felt tender.

I decided I would just lie there, and experience being able to voluntarily (a bit like sonar) send waves of chilling vibrations over my body just by thinking “I want to scan my body”.

I woke up intentionally and it was as if I were already awake but opening my eyes and getting out of bed again, though I could’ve easily slipped back into sleep if I wanted. …

To this day, I still have my blue light-body. Though I don't see it with my regular eyes I can still feel it humming!

Galatians 6:14-17 - But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: Be Who You Are: Living Out Identity in Christ, Part 1

54.43.1. Even the smallest of laws still come into effect in certain circumstances

Leviticus 19:27 - You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard. (ESV)

For example, if Jesus sends you as an ambassador to some pagans and they asked you to shave your head in this specific way, or eat food sacrificed to idols.

James 4:17 - So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. (ESV)

Romans 14:23 - But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (ESV)

Therefore, a person should do what is out of love and faith for the LORD, based on their knowledge of the law, their faithfulness to God and their conviction.

54.43.2. We do not seek to change God's law

Fellow heirs with Christ are still in subjection to Christ. Fellow heirs with Christ have Christ as their King and Lord and Saviour and God and Jehovah as their God.

Christ is reigning until all things are subjected to Him. We must come under the Lordship of Christ Jesus. I consider any so-called god which is in rebellion to Christ to be a demon:

I Corinthians 15:25-28 - For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it says, all things are put in subjection, it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. (ESV)

The prophet Daniel had a vision of kings making war against God, and the saints siding with God:

Daniel 7:1-3 - In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. Daniel declared, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. (ESV)

Daniel 7:4-7 - The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. (ESV)

These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth:

Daniel 7:1-8 - In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. Daniel declared, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. (ESV)

Daniel 7:9-12 - As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. (ESV)

The saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever:

Daniel 7:13-14 - I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (ESV)

Daniel 7:15-18 - As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever. (ESV)

Daniel 7:19-24 - Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said: As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. (ESV)

Daniel 7:25-26 - He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. (ESV)

Daniel 7:27-28 - And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them. Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart. (ESV)

54.44. My experience of being born-again, and reasoning surrounding justification

I affirm justification through faith alone by the imputed righteousness of having trusting faith in Jesus (in the heart, without any work) for the finished work of the cross but I believe that this belief has to be qualified, and that God does the qualifying when He looks at the heart. Amen.

I think that a willingness to turn to obey Jesus in the heart is characteristic of a repentant heart, and I think a willingness to turn away from evil and follow Jesus is an important step towards being born-again.

It's also important to have a response of love for Jesus, and without Jesus' finished work on the cross, we couldn't receive Jesus' Holy Spirit to live inside us.

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit goes to those who obey Jesus.

The Bible also teaches that the Holy Spirit goes those who put their faith on Jesus.

54.44.1. John Piper's view, I affirm, but it also sounds optimal

I believe John Piper's view here is optimal, that during the turbulent process of being born-again of the spirit, we should rely entirely on the righteousness of Christ, and not be led astray by relying on our own works for justification.

John Piper - We should rely entirely on the righteousness of Christ imputed to us by faith alone as the ground of God being 100% for us after which necessary sanctification comes.

54.44.2. But my experience was like this and this is why I cannot deny the importance of obedience and abiding in the teaching of Christ by obedient, trusting, hoping, faith, even before being born of the Spirit

Before I was born-again of the Spirit, I was trying to build a 'Noah's Ark-like' software called Pen.el, and also was endeavouring to keep the 10 commandments by faith seeking God, and then I got born-again of the Spirit.

When I was born of the Spirit (2 April 2022), God permitted me to confess Jesus to Him, and I made a strong repentance to walking in far more obedient faith thereafter. I didn't receive any commendation from my perspective when I was born-again of the Spirit.

Genesis 22:16-17 - and said, By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, (ESV)

But then, as what happened to me after I was born-again of the Spirit (by the grace of God through faith), is that shortly after I was quickly confronted with a lot of paganism, and through obedience to Jesus' commandments through that time, as I learned to walk in them, I was simultaneously getting tested very strongly on them through other people.

I even began to get dreams of evading judgement through good works, and then pagan dreams etc. that were distinctly not Christian, and all I'm saying is that adhering to the truth that I am justified not by my own works but by Christ's finished works was very important for me through that time, so that I wasn't led astray by paganism.

I'm also sanctified as I cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the process of sanctification - post-justification.

54.44.3. I also affirm justification by works of faith done by grace [alone], not just 'faith alone' because I affirm Romans 4:9-12 which says its both groups, and also Hebrews 11 confirms

Romans 4:9-12 - Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

The ones who adhere to the Law (i.e. the true circumcision) should also walk in steps of faith that Abraham had before he was circumcised. I believe in this type of 'merit' if you would call it merit. In reality these works of faith type salvation is still 'grace alone'.

Hebrews 11:2 - For by it the people of old received their commendation. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:4 - By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:7 - By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. (ESV)

Genesis 6:7-9 - So the LORD said, I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them. But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. (ESV)

Luke 19:8-9 - And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. (ESV)

Now what's interesting to me is that before 2 April 2022, I indeed considered myself to be a Christian but in all honesty from my current angle I think I was spiritually dead. But I had started taking steps of faith in God to seek Him out for about a year before then. I didn't have the obvious sense of God's presence which I do now after 2 April 2022. But in 2021 I was casually seeking a real relationship with Jesus. In desperation I called out to God for help and I was born-again of the Spirit. It's still grace. It's still salvation. And it's plainly evident to me that God had been working in my life before I was born-again of the Spirit. It seems obvious that God had been creating in me faith. And it's also plainly evident to me that after I was born-again the Holy Spirit would speak to me through Christians even at my baptist church. I have no doubts it's Jesus' Holy Spirit who has been working in me. I also believe that as Jesus had done with Saul, He may use a person's existing situation which they were in when they are born-again and use for His purposes, and so use their "work". But when I was born of the Spirit, that was quite something, and from my angle all a person would seek to do in a situation like what happened to me is focus on the Lord Jesus and want to be obedient to Him:

Titus 3:3-7 - For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (ESV)

I believe that it's God who tests the heart and justifies who has faith in Jesus.

I also don't think I have an exact idea of what has been good works in the eyes of God before and after 2 April 2022. If someone wants me to try to say that 2 April 2022 was when I was justified and started producing good works, then I don't think I can say that actually. The truth is I actually just don't know if or when God has justified me. I just have faith that I'm justified by Jesus' blood, and called out to God to help me and He helped me and now I'm just really wanting to remain faithful to Him.

54.44.4. Mid-2022 to mid-2023 was chaotic

  • I was saved when I was spiritually dead as an act of pure grace - like a plane on the verge of crashing to the ground, I was born-again at one of the lowest (perhaps the lowest) points in my life.
  • My own theology and behaviour was deeply flawed when I was born-again, and it had to be rectified, and that was a painful process as I repented after being born-again of the spirit.
  • Without reforming my behaviour to come into obedience to Jesus' commandments after being born-again, I would've been led into endorsing paganism and licentiousness.
  • Adhering to the truth during these events had me in constant spiritual warfare, and it wasn't easy, so I believe that obedience is extremely important and I think is in some way very important to saving faith.

Obeying Jesus is very important:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

But we must not believe in vain. Rather, we must believe and hold fast to the gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-2 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Charity Gayle - Thank You Jesus for the Blood {Live}

54.44.5. An obedient/loving response to Jesus, I think is extremely important

I believe it's necessary that we should have a loving response to Jesus, and an obedient response to Jesus. Is that preaching justification through my own works or my own effort? No, I don't think so.

The obediently loving response to Jesus after being born-again of the spirit is to pass-forward the mercy onto others (forgive others as we have been forgiven), die to the selfish nature and learn to walk in Jesus' commandments.

54.44.6. But I believe the grace is a free gift from God.

Jesus is so generous that He saves people who turn out to be unthankful, but we should definitely love Jesus as a response. This story should be taken not only to see how Good God is, but also taken as a warning against unthankfulness:

Luke 17:11-19 - On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. When he saw them he said to them, Go and show yourselves to the priests. And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? And he said to him, Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well. (ESV)

54.45. Justification by faith - Jews + Gentiles, and in-between

There is only the one gospel message: the same gospel that Paul, Jesus, Peter and John preached.

Paul preached the same gospel as Jesus before His crucifixion, and the same gospel that Peter and John preached, but some people think Paul's gospel is different - but that is because they have been deceived by the two-gospel heresy:

Jesus even told people He would be killed and raised, as John the Baptist taught that Jesus takes away the sin of the world, and people came to believe He is the Saviour of the world:

Matthew 17:22-23 - As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day. And they were greatly distressed. (ESV)

John 1:29 - The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (ESV)

John 4:42 - They said to the woman, It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world. (ESV)

It's the same gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-11 - Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. (ESV)

We must follow Jesus Christ who died for our sins, the light of the world, the Good Shepherd, and come into the truth, and into the Kingdom of God. Jesus is Lord of Lords, our Lord, our Saviour, our Master, our King, our God, the Light, the Truth:

John 12:44-47 - And Jesus cried out and said, Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. (ESV)

Jesus taught people to trust in Him and keep His teachings:

John 11:25 - Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, (ESV)

John 8:51 - Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. (ESV)

And Jesus taught that this would produce a transformation in the person where a person receives the Holy Spirit:

John 7:37-38 - On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. (ESV)

Even before His crucifixion, it's clear that Jesus taught the New Covenant:

Luke 22:20 - And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (ESV)

Even before His crucifixion, it's clear that we may have faith in Jesus to forgive us, and change our ways:

John 8:11 - She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more. (ESV)

And according to Paul, Jesus' commands are still binding. We must help the weak. We must remember the words of the Lord Jesus:

Acts 20:35 - In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (ESV)

I Corinthians 11:24-25 - and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. (ESV)

Jesus' words do not pass away, and the truths He spoke before being crucified remain true:

Matthew 24:35 - Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (ESV)

Jesus' words are the words of eternal life:

John 6:68 - Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, (ESV)

Polycarp 2:3
but remembering the words which the Lord spake, as He taught; Judge not that ye be not judged. Forgive, and it shall be forgiven to you. Have mercy that ye may receive mercy. With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again; and again Blessed are the poor and they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.

To be raised up as a child of Abraham, bear fruit in keeping with repentance:

Luke 3:8 - Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

See: 33.4.1

To be regarded as a child of Abraham, a person must fall into one of 2 categories:

  • walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised, I believe with respect to having faith in Jesus Christ, but I also this likely counts to adherents of the law of God (i.e. the circumcised) who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that Abraham had before he was circumcised
    • John 8:39 - They answered him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, (ESV)
  • faith in Jesus Christ:
    • Galatians 3:7-9 - Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, In you shall all the nations be blessed. So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (ESV)

Romans 4:9-12 - Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

I believe this also counts to those who are of the "real/spiritual circumcision". After being born-again of the Spirit, it seems natural to want to obey and trust God the way Abraham did and walk in works of faith like Abraham:

Philippians 3:3 - For we are the real circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— (ESV)

Colossians 2:11-12 - In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. (ESV)

How do we become sons of Abraham:

Sermon
youtube.com: How Do Gentiles Become Sons of Abraham? Galatians 3:6, Part 3

I do believe that trusting inevitably bears fruit. Also Abraham obeyed God's commandments - that's all tied up inside the faith which Abraham had towards God. We must have faith in God, too, but with respect to having faith in Jesus Christ, following Jesus Christ.

It is because of what Jesus Christ has accomplished through His obedience to God, His death and resurrection, that having faith in Him is effective. Everyone in Christ has Him as their High Priest.

We must be a child of Abraham. The blessing comes through being counted as sons of Abraham.

Romans 9:7-8 - and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but Through Isaac shall your offspring be named. This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. (ESV)

Genesis 17:4 - Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. (ESV)

The sign of circumcision was a seal of righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.

This righteousness by faith was not based on law-keeping, but it was based on trust and faithfulness.

Also, faith in Jesus is obedience to Jesus, because we are instructed to hold the faith without partiality - that's faithfulness to God regarding seeking to do His will which includes obedience to His commandments:

James 2:1 - My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. (ESV)

The Apostle Paul says something similar. Faith is a matter of being accountable to God, even with respect to law-keeping:

Romans 14:22 - The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. (ESV)

The purpose was to make him the father of all who have believing, obeying, trusting, faithful faith without being circumcised so righteousness can be counted to them as well.

Romans 4:11-12 - He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. (ESV)

The promises go to Christ:

Galatians 3:16 - Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, And to offsprings, referring to many, but referring to one, And to your offspring, who is Christ. (ESV)

We belong to Christ by faith. If you belong to Christ by faith then you are one in spirit with Christ and Abraham's offspring, and heirs according to the promise:

Galatians 3:29 - And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (ESV)

A new creation lives for Christ:

II Corinthians 5:14-17 - For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

People who are now in Christ are a new creation, and we should be transitioning into the new. That might take some shaking off of old things, and involves being sanctified by obedience to the Truth. But those who are in Christ are a brand new creation:

 1: 5620 [e]  1487 [e] 5100 [e] 1722 [e] 5547 [e]  2537 [e]
 2: hōste     ei       tis      en       Christō   kainē
 3: ὥστε      εἴ       τις      ἐν       Χριστῷ  , καινὴ
 4: Therefore if       anyone   [is] in  Christ    [he is] a new
 5: Conj      Conj     IPro-NMS Prep     N-DMS     Adj-NFS
 6: 
 7: 2937 [e]  3588 [e] 744 [e]    3928 [e]         2400 [e]
 8: ktisis    ta       archaia    parēlthen        idou
 9: κτίσις  . τὰ       ἀρχαῖα     παρῆλθεν  ;      ἰδοὺ  ,
10: creation  The      old things have passed away behold
11: N-NFS     Art-NNP  Adj-NNP    V-AIA-3S         V-AMA-2S
12: 
13: 1096 [e]            2537 [e]
14: gegonen             kaina
15: γέγονεν             καινά  .
16: has come into being [the] new
17: V-RIA-3S            Adj-NNP

Matthew 20:27-28 - and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (ESV)

Jesus Christ's blood is the atonement for our sin.

We should also become obedient to Him - we must have faith in Jesus.

John 8:39 - They answered him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did,

One of the blessings is that we are counted as righteous before God, because we have faith in Jesus, loving Jesus.

Another promise is that we would be an heir of the world. We belong to the Messiah. In the Messiah, God can make promises such as this to His chosen people:

Romans 4:13 - For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. (ESV)

Another promise is that in Christ (in union with Christ), the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles so that we together Jew, and Gentile, might receive the promised Spirit (God's Spirit) through faith:

Galatians 3:13-14 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (ESV)

God can raise up children from anyone who has repentance and may grant being a child of Abraham to anyone who walks in the footsteps of the faith that Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Luke 3:3-8 - And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

Galatians 3:13-14 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

John the Baptist even taught people to love one another:

Luke 3:11-15 - And he answered them, Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise. Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, Teacher, what shall we do? And he said to them, Collect no more than you are authorized to do. Soldiers also asked him, And we, what shall we do? And he said to them, Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages. As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,

And I assume that repentance and loving one's neighbour are good precursors to being baptised by Jesus with the Holy Spirit and fire:

Luke 3:16 - John answered them all, saying, I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Justification by faith is the correct teaching but the promise is for the gentiles AND the adherent of the law but they all must have faith, and pursuing the law as if by works is the problem, but pursuing the law by faith is ok.

I believe in-between is OK, so long as it is by faith.

Romans 7:22 - For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, (ESV)

Romans 3:29-30 - Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. (ESV)

It's possible for Gentiles to keep Jewish commandments if they want (I think it's honorable) - but we are justified by faith in Jesus, not by being under the law:

Romans 2:25-29 - For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

It's possible to keep commandments by faith:

Romans 9:30-32 - What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, (ESV)

Romans 4:15-16 - For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring-not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (ESV)

Matthew 5:17-25 - Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, You fool! will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. (ESV)

54.46. Theoretically belief usually comes before or at the time receiving the Holy Spirit

But for me I believe before I was born-again and before I was baptised in the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:1-7 - And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said, No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. And he said, Into what then were you baptized? They said, Into John's baptism. And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus. On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all. (ESV)

55. Receive through the hearing of the word and faith

Galatians 3:2 - Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? (ESV)

Not just by hearing but by hearing with faith.

55.1. Faith requires obedience

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (ESV)

Galatians 3:14 - so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (ESV)

55.2. The promised Spirit is received through faith

Galatians 3:14 - so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (ESV)

Matthew 19:16-26 - And behold, a man came up to him, saying, Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life? And he said to him, Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments. He said to him, Which ones? And Jesus said, You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said to him, All these I have kept. What do I still lack? Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

I was born-again on 2 April 2022. On 1 April 2022 (one day before) I was wearing a pendant which on one side I had written 1023 which is decimal for the binary 1111111111 - which are ten ones. I was trying hard to follow the ten commandments from the heart, like Jesus teaches. I was doing this to seek Jesus. Then I was born-again. What a mystery.

The day of the Lord (as in the second-coming of Jesus Christ) has not happened yet:

II Thessalonians 2:1-4 - Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (ESV)

Matthew 24:36 - But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. (ESV)

Jesus is coming a second time to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him. AMEN!!:

Hebrews 9:27-28 - And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (ESV)

But I consider that Jesus may have visited me personally to make me born-again and bring me into His service / or just into His will. But I also strongly believe this was for my own purification - God's grace to me:

Mark 13:32-37 - But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake. (ESV)

Jesus went to the place of the dead so people who had died (those who Paul is referring to here) may also be saved. Also, it seems that the rapture doctrine was made known from a word from the Lord:

I Thessalonians 4:14-17 - For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (ESV)

Although it happened around midday, I was lying down on my bed very peacefully with my cat and took a nap during the day. And when I was born-again in this way I asked Jesus to save me because I didn't know what was going on. So Like Paul the Apostle and the heavenly vision he received, the idea is to be taken into service by Jesus and continue in obedient faithfulness to Jesus. I also recognise we still wait for the eschatological "Day of the Lord" - the second coming of Jesus has not yet happened:

Matthew 24:41-44 - Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 5:2-5 - For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, There is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. (ESV)

Romans 4:20-22 - yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief (570. apistia) but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness. (NASB)

1: apistia: unbelief
2: Original Word: ἀπιστία, ας, ἡ
3: Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
4: Transliteration: apistia
5: Phonetic Spelling: (ap-is-tee'-ah)
6: Definition: unbelief
7: Usage: unbelief, unfaithfulness, distrust.

Remain faithful to Jesus:

Acts 26:19 - Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, (ESV)

Matthew 24:12-13 - And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (ESV)

Hebrews 5:9-14 - And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (ESV)

Have your mind renewed:

Romans 12:1-2 - I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

Hebrews 5:14 - But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 5:20-21 - Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. (ESV)

Isaiah 7:14-15 - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. (ESV)

Since then I've been trying to follow Jesus' commandments to get to know Him out of love for God, and because He has commanded His disciples to be fruitful for Him, and to abide in Him.

I had my belief in Jesus Christ and I had taken small steps of faith in remaining loyal to Jesus.

Ezekiel 11:19-20 - And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (ESV)

The following links obeying the commandments it to Jesus:

I Kings 11:38 - And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.

II Timothy 2:8 - Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,

55.2.1. Everlasting covenant

Genesis 17:19 - God said, No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.􀧁

An indicator of the ones who are saved is that they have the fear of God in their hearts.

Jeremiah 32:40 - I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. (ESV)

An indicator of the ones who are saved is that they have remorse for their past sin.

Ezekiel 16:58-63 - You bear the penalty of your lewdness and your abominations, declares the Lord. For thus says the Lord God: I will deal with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant, yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish for you an everlasting covenant. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you take your sisters, both your elder and your younger, and I give them to you as daughters, but not on account of the covenant with you. I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord, that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I atone for you for all that you have done, declares the Lord God.

Hebrews 8:10-13 - For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

God gives the Spirit to help keep the commandments. When she says the gospel is loving your neighbour, she is actually speaking part of the gospel. In the way that the man on the cross next to Jesus also spoke part of the full gospel message. They deserve the punishment but Jesus has done no wrong.

Hosea 2:19-20 - And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD. (ESV)

55.2.2. 2 years before being born again of the Spirit - prayer - proving belief came before being born-again

55.2.3. Over easter

The old covenant is growing old and ready to vanish, but the New Covenant still involves the commandments but they are written on our heart. We follow them in faith.

  1. Being born-again

    Being born of the Spirit isn't receiving the glory body:

    https://web.archive.org/web/20220402091720/https://mullikine.github.io/posts/astral-projection/

    Galatians 6:14-17 - But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. (ESV)

    Sermon
    youtube.com: Be Who You Are: Living Out Identity in Christ, Part 1

    So while I have Jesus' spirit in me, I'm also still in this body of dust:

    I Corinthians 15:42-48 - So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.

    The lowly, natural, corruptible body, which I am still in, will be transformed into an incorruptible body:

    Philippians 3:20-21 - But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (ESV)

    As interesting as what happened to me is, regarding a light body, I believe more important is objectively walking in the light of the truth.

    John 1:9-11 - The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. (ESV)

    John 12:36 - While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light. When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

  2. Meeting with the Holy Spirit

    Jesus saving me - This is evidence the Holy Spirit is Person:

    https://web.archive.org/web/20220402091720/https://mullikine.github.io/posts/astral-projection-pt-2/

    I Timothy 6:20 - O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”–

    II Timothy 1:14 - Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.

    John 3:33-34 - Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. (ESV)

    Something I realised fairly recently. I also before having that short conversation with Holy Spirit knew (as I was dreaming/asleep) that they were following me:

    Jesus follows us and supports us:

    I Corinthians 10:4 - and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. (ESV)

  3. I wrote about following the law by faith, also law written on my heart.
    Quote
    "When Jesus said that he is the truth, he was saying that he is the embodiment and fulfillment of the Word of God, and that he is alétheia, reality, the opposite of what is false or illusion."

    https://web.archive.org/web/20220703044748/https://mullikine.github.io/posts/the-tapestry-of-truth/

    Hebrews 8:10-13 - For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

    Romans 2:29 - But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

    I Corinthians 7:19 - For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. (ESV)

  4. Baptised in the Holy Spirit

    https://web.archive.org/web/20220806085237/https://mullikine.github.io/posts/astral-projection-pt-3/

    Betrothed to God:

    Hosea 2:19-20 - And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD. (ESV)

    AMEN!!

    Hosea 2:21-23 - And in that day I will answer, declares the Lord, I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth, and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, and they shall answer Jezreel, and I will sow her for myself in the land. And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, You are my people; and he shall say, You are my God.

    AMEN!!

    II Corinthians 11:2 - I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. (ESV)

    Some people believe that the baptism by fire is arriving at Christian perfection:

    Even though I felt spiritually restored when I was baptised in the Holy Spirit / baptised by fire, I believe I am baptised by fire in order to obey God more fully, and to love God with my whole heart, to love my neighbour as myself and to pursue perfection in following Jesus!

    Matthew 5:48 - You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)

    Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (ESV)

    In other words, I received the grace before I had perfect obedience, and I believe I should not exchange this grace for anything, but use it to obey Jesus Christ:

    Jude 1:4 - For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (ESV)

    I believe that after I made testimony of being born-again and baptised by fire, I needed to be sanctified/corrected by the Truth, the Word of God, and as a consequence of endeavouring to do so by repenting and becoming obedient to Jesus, I was spiritually attacked and deplatformed.

55.3. Later in the year

John 15:26 - “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, (ESV)

https://web.archive.org/web/20220402091720/https://mullikine.github.io/posts/dream-the-way-the-truth-the-life/

55.4. Jesus is our Eternal High Priest

Hebrews 7:26 - For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. (ESV)

Hebrews 7:27 - He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. (ESV)

Jesus is not only Eternal High Priest, but Son of God, and made perfect forever. AMEN!!:

Hebrews 7:28 - For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (ESV)

Jesus is our Great High High Priest:

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (ESV)

55.5. New covenant

The first covenant had fault, but the New Covenant has no fault:

Hebrews 8:6-9 - But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. For he finds fault with them when he says: Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. (ESV)

God writes His laws on our minds and on our hearts:

Hebrews 8:10-13 - For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Covenants require faithfulness between both parties, But Jesus is faithful even when we are unfaithful:

II Timothy 2:13 - if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. (ESV)

We come to know God through Jesus by faith and we are able to move on from dead works and focus more on faith towards God, and serving God now.

Hebrews 6:1 - Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, (ESV)

Hebrews 9:14 - how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (ESV)

Hebrews 9:11-15 - But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. (ESV)

Hebrews 9:18-20 - Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you. (ESV)

Mark 14:22-25 - And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, Take; this is my body. And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Luke 22:15-20 - And he said to them, I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (ESV)

John 6:46-51 - Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” (ESV)

John 6:52 - Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”

John 6:53-56 - So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. (ESV)

John 6:57-58 - As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.”

John 6:59-60 - These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?”

John 6:61-62 - But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?

John 6:63-65 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”

55.6. Life is very different for me now after being born-again

As you can see in this discussion, I've been born-again and I'm living to serve Jesus now:

Colossians 3:3 - For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (ESV)

I John 5:11 - And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (ESV)

Luke 12:23 - For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. (ESV)

Matthew 19:17 - And he said to him, Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments. (ESV)

II Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Galatians 6:14 - But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (ESV)

It's important to thank God, even though life can be challenging after being born-again:

I Thessalonians 5:18 - give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (ESV)

55.6.1. The 'wilderness' - I guess this is common experience/season for born-again season Christians after being baptised / born-again of the Spirit

Well explained here:

Matthew 3:15-17 - But Jesus answered him, Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. (ESV)

Jesus Himself used the Scriptures to combat lies from the enemy:

Matthew 4:1-11 - Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread. But he answered, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, He will command his angels concerning you, and On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. Jesus said to him, Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test. Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, Be gone, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve. Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. (ESV)

The lies certainly come not just through dreams, etc. but through other people. We are tested and must use the word of God to fight against lies:

Ephesians 6:17 - and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (ESV)

We have to learn the voice of God.

The Holy Spirit train us to learn the voice of God.

55.7. Born of Water and the Spirit

When a person is born-again of the Spirit, they receive the Spirit which helps them to stop sinning and it's really important to do so.

1 Peter 1:23 - since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (ESV)

1 John 5:18 - We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. (ESV)

Ezekiel 11:19-20 - And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (ESV)

Jeremiah 32:40 - I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. (ESV)

I John 3:9 - No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

But I would much like my dream life to be like the following:

John 5:19 - So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

Whoever loves in the way Jesus loved us and the way Jesus commanded us has been born of God and knows God.

I John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

Knowing God involves loving one another the way Jesus instructed us and we can get there by following Jesus' commandments:

John 8:19 - They said to him therefore, Where is your Father? Jesus answered, You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also. (ESV)

I John 4:12 - No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (ESV)

Anyone who truly believes.

We must receive Jesus' words, walk in them and come to know in truth (we must truly know) that Jesus came from God.

John 17:8 - For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

Therefore, we should obey Jesus and arrive at the truth. Obedience is a part of faith. Like Abraham obeying God, or like Israel crossing through the Red Sea, it's obedience which leads to sure belief. And the obedience doesn't end.

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (NASB)

I John 5:1 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

I John 5:4 - For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith.

I John 5:18 - We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

I feel like stopping sin is very important after being born again.

John 5:14 - Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.

55.8. Justification by faith for the both adherents of the law and the gentiles

Justification by faith is the correct teaching but the promise is for the gentiles AND the adherent of the law but they all must have faith, and pursuing the law as if by works is the problem, but pursuing the law by faith is ok.

Romans 7:22 - For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, (ESV)

Romans 9:30-32 - What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, (ESV)

Romans 4:15-16 - For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring-not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (ESV)

55.9. Paul used the law to judge back, but without hypocrisy

Matthew 23:27 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.

Acts 23:3 - Then Paul said to him, God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?

55.10. Justified by God through faith [and works done in faith?]

All of these, for example, I believe belong under the umbrella of faith, not works:

  • Taking communion is not 'dead works'. It's obedience.
  • Getting baptised is not 'dead works'. It's obedience.
  • Obeying Jesus Christ's commandments are not 'dead works'. It's obedience.

God will be the judge of who has had faith in Jesus, and who has obeyed Him.

55.10.1. God is the one who justifies

Romans 8:33 - Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

Romans 8:30 - And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (ESV)

But repentance is a work of the heart which is an act of faith. I believe repentance is inseparable from faith because intrinsic to faith is belief and intrinsic to belief is metanoia (changing one's mind).

At it's most basic form repentance (metanoia) means a person changes their mind to believe and trust and have a heart of obedience - accepting of the will of God. To repent means stop distrusting and start trusting God.

We have believe Jesus and to trust Jesus. When Jesus says He is the Son of God, we must believe it because we trust Him. Likewise when He commands us to repent from sinning we should agree with Jesus and be obedient:

John 16:8-9 - And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; (ESV)

Luke 13:3 - No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. (ESV)

We keep eyes on Jesus and trust Him:

Hebrews 12:2 - looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)

Isaiah 12:2 - Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. (ESV)

Most importantly we must believe in Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah who, being innocent, paid the price for their sin through His broken body and shed blood on the cross - a perfect and eternal offering; that He died there but God resurrected Him, and He is Lord of Heaven and Earth, and has a heart of obedience to the will of God, wanting to do the will of God, which involves their sanctification.

We must honour Jesus.

But I believe we are forgiven to forgive others. That must be part of the act of faith and the change of heart, I think.

Matthew 6:15 - but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (ESV)

55.10.2. We have been saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved

We have been saved (when we believed):

II Timothy 1:9 - who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, (ESV)

I Corinthians 6:11 - And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (ESV)

We are being saved:

I Corinthians 1:18 - For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (ESV)

II Corinthians 2:15 - For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, (ESV)

Philippians 2:12-13 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)

We shall be saved:

Romans 5:9-10 - Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (ESV)

Romans 13:11 - Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. (ESV)

Ephesians 1:14 - who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (ESV)

55.10.3. Justified by faith alone. But faith is substantiated by works, Jesus' works which is entirely sufficient and Jesus working in us even by our obedience

James 2:10 - For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe-and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness-and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

I tend to agree with James on this. Eliminating works from faith is not good.

Works:

  • obedience
  • faithfulness
    • keeping God's commandments
  • trust
  • fear of God
  • response of love
    • thankfulness
    • praise
    • forgiving others
  • humility
    • keeping God's commandments
  • patient endurance (time)

We're sure that we abide in Christ when we are keeping His commandments:

I John 2:1-6 - My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

If a person is trusting/believing (verb) that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God then they abide in Christ:

I John 4:16 - So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (ESV)

If a person hates their brother they don't have eternal life:

I John 4:21 - And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (ESV)

I John 3:15 - Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (ESV)

If a person loves one another, they have been born of God:

I John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (ESV)

We need to have love for one another to be saved as we believe in Jesus to be saved.

How can a person believe without having a heart that trusts Jesus? How can a person have life without a relationship with God?

A relationship involves more than just 'belief', but I'm quite sure it also means being a conduit of Christ's love.

II Timothy 2:19 - But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: The Lord knows those who are his, and, Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity. (ESV)

If a person does not have obedience, trust and repentance from sin, but their faith has belief, then they only abide in Jesus extremely precariously, and also that person's 'faith' probably wont receive much at all from God.

Psalms 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (ESV)

Hebrews 11 describes faith. We must live by faith:

Hebrews 10:37-39 - For, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (ESV)

Our faith must be sound. We must believe and have assurance in the Truth:

Titus 2:1-2 - But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. (ESV)

Faith comes from hearing the word of Christ. Christ's words are Absolute Truth, therefore, as we believe them, it increases our faith:

Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (ESV)

With faith we believe what God's Word tells us:

Hebrews 11:1-3 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (ESV)

We walk by faith, not by sight:

II Corinthians 5:7 - for we walk by faith, not by sight. (ESV)

Faith in the Truth naturally produces evidence of the faith, as a person is believing the Truth, and operating in the Truth, people should be able to recognise it:

James 2:18 - But someone will say, You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV)

The object of our faith is Jesus, who is the Truth:

Revelation of John 14:12 - Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. (ESV)

The Truth is that we know we can ask God for things, then by faith we can ask from God and await to receive:

James 1:6 - But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. (ESV)

Faith in Jesus is something we aim to keep our entire lives:

Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (ESV)

II Timothy 4:7 - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (ESV)

Philippians 2:16 - holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (ESV)

The rhema word of God:

Hebrews 5:12 - For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (ESV)

What is the rhema word? | GotQuestions.org

Hebrews 11:1-3 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (ESV)

We should put our faith in God:

Mark 11:22 - And Jesus answered them, Have faith in God.

I put a bunch of concepts together to describe faith:

 1: Faith-in-God = Hope-from/in-God * Work/Love/Walking-By-Faith
 2: 
 3: Hope-from/in-God = Belief(believing God) * Truth(God's word is Truth, Jesus is the Truth)
 4: 
 5: Work/Love/Walking-By-Faith = Obedience * Faithfulness * Fear-of-God * Response-of-love-to-Jesus * Patient-Endurance(time)
 6: 
 7: Obedience = Submitting to the Righteousness of God * Turning from sin, loving, showing mercy, etc.
 8: 
 9: Fear-of-God = e.g. The poor in spirit recognise their need of God's mercy and tremble at His Word: "beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner!"
10:               Fear of God is not only about having the heart to repent from sin and "beat hand on chest and ask God for mercy", but it is also having a changed heart,
11:               endeavoring to please Christ with our actions.
12:               godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret
13: 
14: Response-of-love-to-Jesus = e.g. praise, thankfulness, obeying His commandments
15: 
16: Love is proportional-to the baggage which has been forgiven
17: Love ∝ forgiven-baggage
18: 
19: Obedience ∝ Love
20: 
21: F = H * L
22: 
23: Faith-in-God when tested by God is found to be true Faith in God.
24: Faith-in-God must submit to the Righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ,
25: Jesus Christ having paid the price of sin, enabling a relationship with God.

These things are factors of faith.

Galatians 5:6 - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (ESV)

God is the judge.

When we do what Jesus says, it's as if Jesus is working through us. We are like a man building a house, but it is actually the Lord Jesus building it. A person must/should do what Jesus said:

Luke 6:46-49 - Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (ESV)

Psalms 127:1 - Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

Matthew 7:24-27 - Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. (ESV)

1: :  4102  pistis  pis'-tis
2: 
3:  from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious
4:  truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially
5:  reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such
6:  profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth
7:  itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
8:  see GREEK for 3982

Galatians 2:15 - "We are Jews (G2453 Ioudaios) by nature (G5449 phusis) and not sinners (G268 hamartolos) from among (G1537 ek) the Gentiles (G1484 ethnos);

Justified through (G1223 dia) faith (G4102 pistis) in Christ.

Galatians 2:16 - nevertheless (G1161 de) knowing (G3609 oikeios) that a man (G444 anthropos) is not justified (G1344 dikaioo) by the works (G2041 ergon) of the Law (G3551 nomos) but through (G1223 dia) faith (G4102 pistis) in Christ (G5547 Christos) Jesus (G2424 Iesous), even (G2532 kai) we have believed (G4100 pisteuo) in Christ (G5547 Christos) Jesus (G2424 Iesous), so (G2443 hina) that we may be justified (G1344 dikaioo) by faith (G4102 pistis) in Christ (G5547 Christos) and not by the works (G2041 ergon) of the Law (G3551 nomos); since (G3754 hoti) by the works (G2041 ergon) of the Law (G3551 nomos) no (G3756 ou) (G3956 pas) flesh (G4561 sarx) will be justified (G1344 dikaioo).

Justified through (G1223 dia) faith (G4102 pistis) in Christ (G5547 Christos) Jesus (G2424 Iesous). Pistis is a strong word for faith that doesn't merely encapsulate belief, but it includes trust.

The greeks can turn the noun faith into the verb believing faith (G4100 pisteuo). It's not the noun 'believe' as the root of the verb faith

we have believed (G4100 pisteuo) in Christ means we have 'faithed' in Christ.

The 'believing faith' verb pisteuo has a root of faith (pistis).

Faith is a relationship with God. Before Abraham believed God, he obeyed God. Faith requires belief but it's more than belief.

I Timothy 4:1: But the Spirit (G4151 pneuma) explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith (G4102 pistis), paying attention to deceitful spirits (G4151 pneuma) and doctrines of demons (G1140 daimonion), (NASB)

Faith is ongoing. Ongoing faith is patience endurance. Jesus says patience endurance is a work.

Revelation of John 2:19 - I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.

55.10.4. Paul here mentions trust even for the one who trusts in Him who justifies the ungodly

Romans 4:2 - For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

Paul doesn't deny that Abraham could have been justified by works, but he claims that Abraham doesn't have anything to boast about before God.

Romans 4:5 - And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

So Paul says that for someone who does not have any works but trusts Him who justifies the ungodly, the person's trusting faith is counted as righteousness.

AMEN!! God is good for justifying people who are poor of spirit, and have fear of God.

55.11. Conditional Promises In The New Testament

The Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5 may better be understood as describing the transformation that happens when we are born-again.

The resources to be transformed are not in ourselves. Jesus does the transformation.

We yield our life to Lord Jesus Christ, and our life doesn't lose control when we yield control over it to Jesus.

We should be able to see the transformation described in the sermon of the mount.

55.11.1.

Matthew 5:3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

Condition: Those who are poor in spirit
Promise: They will inherit the kingdom of Heaven

55.11.2.

Matthew 5:4 - Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (ESV)

Condition: Those who mourn
Promise: They will be comforted

55.11.3.

Matthew 5:5 - Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (ESV)

Condition: For the gentle, humble and/or meek
Promise: They will be inherit the Earth

55.11.4.

Matthew 5:10 - Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

Condition: It's those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness
Promise: The Kingdom of Heaven will be theirs.

55.11.5.

Matthew 5:11-13 - Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. (ESV)

The "salt of the earth" are the disciples of Jesus.

Ignatius to the Magnesians 10 - Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness. For were He to reward us according to our works, we should cease to be. Therefore, having become His disciples, let us learn to live according to the principles of Christianity. For whosoever is called by any other name besides this, is not of God. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the sour leaven, and be ye changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ. Be ye salted in Him, lest any one among you should be corrupted, since by your savour ye shall be convicted. It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus, and to Judaize. For Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism Christianity, that so every tongue which believeth might be gathered together to God.

People may take offense to disciples of Jesus as they did to Jesus, but we should still remain 'salty', which would predictably offend some people while it hasn't lost its taste, and it's desirable for Jesus' disciples to be set apart for God, and distinct the world.

Matthew 11:6 - And blessed is the one who is not offended by me. (ESV)

John 15:18 - If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. (ESV)

Condition: If people revile and persecute you for Jesus' sake and your faith in Him
Promise: The Son of Man (Jesus) will reward you in Heaven and the reward will be great
Song
youtube.com: I Asked The Lord by John Newton - Indelible Grace

55.11.6.

Matthew 11:6 - And blessed is the one who is not offended by me. (ESV)

Condition: If you are not offended by Jesus
Promise: You are blessed.

55.11.7.

Matthew 7:7 - Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (ESV)

Condition Promise
If you ask It will be given you
If you seek You will find
If you knock It will be opened to you

Jeremiah 29:13-14 - You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. (ESV)

55.11.8.

Matthew 24:14 - And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (ESV)

Condition: When the Gospel has been preached to all nations in the whole world.
Promise: The end (eschaton) will come.

55.11.9.

Matthew 24:45-47 - Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. (ESV)

Condition: If that person is faithful and wise in charge of the "little things"
Promise: God will make a person ruler over all that is His (His possessions).

55.11.10.

Mark 9:41 - For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. (ESV)

Condition: Giving a cup of water (being charitable) in Christ's name for the exact reason that we belong to Christ.
Promise: A person will not lose their reward.

55.11.11.

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)

Condition: To whosoever will have faith in the true God by being faithful to His Son
Promise: You will have eternal life

Stress: Trust in God.

55.11.12.

Romans 8:31 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (ESV)

Condition: When God is for you.
Promise: No one can be against you.

55.11.13.

Philippians 3:20-21 - But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (ESV)

Philippians 4:1 - Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. (ESV)

Condition: If we stand firm in the Lord
Promise: Jesus will transform our current perishing bodies in exchange for a body that does not perish like His glorious body (Resurrection body)

55.11.14.

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (ESV)

Condition: If Christ strengthens us
Promise: We can do all things.

55.11.15.

Colossians 3:1-4 - If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (ESV)

Condition: If we too are risen or raised up in Christ, and seeking the things above
Promise: When Christ appears at the second coming, we will appear with Him in glory.

55.11.16.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 - For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (ESV)

Condition: If we have faith that Jesus died and rose again.
Promise: The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are still alive will be called up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. We will then be with the Lord forever after that.

55.11.17.

II Timothy 4:6-9 - For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. Do your best to come to me soon.

Condition: Those who have loved His appearing and faithfully preach the Gospel and the Word of God in season and out of season.
Promise: There is a crown of righteousness laid up for us by God which I will be awarded with on my day of glory.

55.11.18.

Hebrews 12:28 - Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, (ESV)

Condition: If we serve Him with reverence and fear.
Promise: We will serve God acceptably.

55.11.19.

James 1:5-6 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. (ESV)

Condition: If you ask of God in faith.
Promise: Wisdom will be given.

55.11.20.

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (ESV)

Condition: If we endure trials by temptation and love the Lord.
Promise: We will receive the crown of life

55.11.21.

1 Peter 5:1-4 - So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (ESV)

Condition: If they feed the flock God has given them, by taking the oversight of the flock willingly and not for money (blood money). Thereby setting an example for said flock.
Promise: Elders will receive a crown of glory that will not fade.

55.11.22.

1 John 3:2 - Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (ESV)

Condition: If we are children of God
Promise: When Jesus appears we will be like Him

55.11.23.

1 John 3:9 - No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. (ESV)

Condition: If/because we have been born of God
Promise: A Christian cannot habitually sin without feeling horrible and wishing to repentant of it.

55.11.24.

2 John 1:7-8 - For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. (ESV)

Condition: If we acknowledge that Jesus has indeed come in the flesh (incarnate).
Promise: We will receive our full reward from God.

55.11.25.

Revelation 2:7 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (ESV)

Condition: If we persevere over evil and endure for Christ's namesake and overcome (persecution and trials)
Promise: We will be allowed to eat from the Tree of Life which is in the paradise of God

55.11.26.

Revelation 2:10 - Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. (ESV)

Condition: If we are faithful to the point of death.
Promise: Jesus Himself will give you a crown of life.

55.11.27.

Revelation 2:11 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. (ESV)

Condition: If we overcome persecution and trials
Promise: We will not be hurt by the second death which is damnation in the Lake of Fire

55.11.28.

Revelation 2:17 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. (ESV)

Condition: If we overcome persecution and trials
Promise: Jesus will allow us to eat of the hidden Manna and will give a us white stone with a new name written on it that only the one that receives it will know.

55.11.29.

Revelation 2:23 - and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve. (ESV)

Condition: According to their works.
Promise: Jesus will give to every one.

55.11.30.

Revelation 2:26-28 - The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. (ESV)

Condition: To those that overcome and keep Jesus' works until the bitter end
Promise: Jesus will give power over the nations and will give the morning star

55.11.31.

Revelation 3:21 - The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (ESV)

Condition: To those that overcome persecution and trials.
Promise: Jesus will allow people to sit with Him on His throne

55.11.32.

Revelation 20:4 - Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (ESV)

Condition: Those that did not worship the beast, nor his image, nor received his mark (666)
Promise: Some will live and reign with Christ for 1000 years.

55.12. Body without spirit is dead. But I think the spirit without the body is still alive

James 2:26 - For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Matthew 22:32 - I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.

Mark 12:27 - He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.

Luke 20:38 - Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.

Yet we await an imperishable body.

55.13. Forgiveness and ongoing sin

I Corinthians 9:25-27 - Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

55.13.1. New covenant

Jeremiah 31:31-34 - Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, Know the LORD, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (ESV)

I'm confident that God gives a person a new life in Christ Jesus, where God has totally forgiven their past sin, but expects them to turn a new leaf and turn away from sin.

1 Peter 1:18-20 - knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, (ESV)

We must have faith in Jesus for the righteousness of God that comes by faith.

Romans 10:4 - For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Jesus is our High Priest:

Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Romans 8:3-4 - For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (ESV)

Jesus condemned sin in the flesh. Now we walk according to the spirit so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us - doing no harm to our neighbour:

Romans 13:8 - Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. (ESV)

It's still really important to put a stop to sin, and show no partiality as we love our neighbour as ourselves, doing no harm to our neighbour and bearing one another's burdens!

James 2:1 - My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. (ESV)

Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Grace given through faith alone is not license to sin, but the power of salvation to be corrected, healed and brought into obedience to God, and into loving God and your neighbour.

55.13.2. We must stop sinning after receiving the 'big forgiveness' for past sin

Matthew 12:33 - Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.

Repentance leads to the knowledge of the truth, and ceasing to do the devil's will:

II Timothy 2:24-26 - And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (ESV)

We must cease to do the devil's will:

Hebrews 10:26-31 - For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, Vengeance is mine; I will repay. And again, The Lord will judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (ESV)

The big forgiveness, and that we must stop sinning to be provided an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ:

II Peter 1:1-11 - Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Our debt was cancelled:

Colossians 2:11-15 - In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (ESV)

We must stop sinning after the big forgiveness:

II Peter 2:20-22 - For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.

55.13.3. We totally should stop sinning, since we await a place without sinning

II Peter 3:13-14 - But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

Mark 10:19 - You know the commandments: Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother. (ESV)

1 John 3:4-9 - Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. (ESV)

If Israel had pursued the Mosaic law by faith they would have reached the righteousness of God.

Romans 9:30-32 - What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,

This is prophetic - the attitude we are called to is the same today as it was back then:

Deuteronomy 10:12-15 - And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good? Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.

Circumcise your heart and do not be stubborn:

Deuteronomy 10:16-17 - Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.

55.13.4. The 'all time' means we can still approach Jesus for forgiveness for future sins

Hebrews 10:12 - But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,

Hebrews 10:14 - For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Hebrews 4:16 - Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

55.13.5. If we sin

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

1 Peter 4:8 - Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (ESV)

56. Personally judging sin

John 7:7 - The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. (ESV)

John 7:24 - Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. (ESV)

56.1. We should always discern what is right on our own initiative

Luke 12:57 - "And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right?"

56.2. We should be examining, judging, cleaning ourselves up, taking a look in the mirror first

Judge yourself first (by God's standards) before judging others.

Clean yourself up first before the Lord judges you (in this world) - the Lord judges a believer while this world to discipline them and clean them up before final judgement. I know this is talking specifically about taking communion, but I believe it applies also at the macroscopic level.

I Corinthians 11:28-32 - But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

I Corinthians 4:5 - Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. (ESV)

God looks at the heart:

II Corinthians 5:10-12 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.

Hebrews 4:12-13 - For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (ESV)

Make yourself ready imminently:

Matthew 24:42-44 - Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (ESV)

Matthew 7:3 - Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

II Corinthians 7:1 - Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves (G1438 heautou) from all (G3956 pas) defilement of flesh (G4561 sarx) and spirit (G4151 pneuma), perfecting holiness in the fear of God (G2316 theos).

Revelation of John 22:14 - Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. (ESV)

I hold myself accountable to the standard which I subscribe to.

I Corinthians 9:27 - But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

I try to keep the 10 commandments by faith. I observe the Mosaic law, and try to keep parts of it by faith, particularly on the topic of sexual morality, body markings, etc.

56.3. It is necessary sometimes to judge others, but do it properly

We should certainly avoid judging others. But we keep our own selves accountable to God, not try to keep others accountable to God. Judge for our own sake. We don't judge who we deem to be our brother/neighbour:

James 4:11-12 - Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? (ESV)

But Jesus is the ultimate judge and judges His servants:

II Chronicles 6:22-23 - If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house, then hear from heaven and act and judge your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness. (ESV)

Right judgement takes into consideration the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness:

Matthew 23:23 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. (ESV)

John 7:23-24 - If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. (ESV)

Judging others with the law also makes yourself accountable to the law in the way you measured it:

Matthew 7:1 - Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

I don't hold others accountable to the same standard that I hold myself to.

For Gentile believers I'm with the Apostles on the following:

Acts 15:28-29 - For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

But I also would add that one should not bear false-witness or worship idols.

56.3.1. Here we go

I Corinthians 10:14-20 - Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.

56.4. I repent from being liberal and ever endorsing LGBT or idolatry

At first, to not judge that others wear clothes of the opposite sex seemed mostly harmless to me, but I feel like endorsing sinful, erroneous things, or annulling laws is not helpful in liberating people from sin.

56.4.1. Endorsing sinful things endorses people to become enslaved by sin / stuck in falsehood

Also, I feel as though endorsing it is in a way similar to endorsing that people commit adultery, in that it gets people stuck in sin, even without the awareness they are in sin, and makes it harder for people to find God.

I feel like getting a person unstuck from sin is a bit like freeing an animal in that they are often not aware that they need freeing.

youtube.com: Two men saving the life of a deer

56.4.2. Endorsing sinful behavior welcomes demons

Also, I believe that endorsing sinful behavior or annulling God's law allows people who do such things to come into one's life and situation - a bit like putting holes in a boat, or lowering the drawbridge to a castle.

Sin attracts demons:

Matthew 12:44-45 - Then it says, I will return to my house from which I came. And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation. (ESV)

youtube.com: How To Expel The Enemy | Basics Of Deliverance Pt. 2 | Derek Prince @time: 15 min 33 sec

It's spiritual, so I think it may actually welcome demons into a person's life to endorse sinful things.

Deuteronomy 7:26 - And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house and become devoted to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is devoted to destruction. (ESV)

56.4.3. Personal holiness

I Corinthians 9:27 - But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Well, I repent of endorsing sinful things, which are explicitly mentioned in old testament law, such as transvestisim.

I no longer think that in order to be compassionate I must say "I do not judge." But if someone were to ask me if I think it is sinful, I would say, "I believe it is sinful."

I pursue personal holiness for myself, and I think deliberate lawbreaking is wrong, but I stress I am not under the Mosaic law.

I'm under the law of faith in Christ and I believe LGBT and transvestism are sinful.

Deuteronomy 22:5 - A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God. (ESV)

57. The law of liberty

James 1:25 - But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

James 2:11-13 - For he who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

57.1. The Torah isn't contrary to the promises of God, including justification by faith

The law doesn't save:

Galatians 3:21-24 - Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. (ESV)

The law doesn't save:

Hebrews 7:19 - (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. (ESV)

57.2. Submitting to God is submitting to Christ

Psalms 81:11 - But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.

James 4:7 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Ephesians 5:23 - For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

I Corinthians 11:3 - But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. (ESV)

57.3. The freedom Christ gives us involves obeying Christ

Sermon
youtube.com: Christian Submission - John Piper

Obeying Jesus, even Jesus' commandments, is actually freedom. To disobey Jesus is to submit to slavery.

Galatians 5:1 - For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (ESV)

Galatians 2:4-5 - Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. (ESV)

This really says it all. We die to the law of Moses but live to God. By the works of the law no one will be justified, but by faith in Jesus Christ we seek to be justified:

Galatians 2:16-19 - yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. (ESV)

Ephesians 5:24 - Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. (ESV)

Quote from John Piper
Submission does not mean agreeing with everything your husband says. Now you can see that right here in verse one she is a Christian [and] he is not a Christian. That is about as significant a disagreement as you can have they don't come any more significant there isn't any bigger issue in the world than whether Jesus is Lord and they don't agree on it. Peter calls this wife to submission assuming she will not submit to her husband's ideas about the most important thing in the world, God. So there's lesson number one. Submission does not mean agreeing with everything your husband thinks. Number two, submission does not mean leaving your mind or your will at the wedding altar; It's not the inability to think for yourself as a woman or to will for yourself.

Romans 8:21 - that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (ESV)

II Corinthians 3:17 - Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (ESV)

John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (ESV)

Don't think that obeying Jesus is submitting to slavery.

We are bondservants of Christ and it is freedom.

Romans 1:1 - Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

57.4. We are no longer 'under' the Mosaic Law but we have freedom as we are led by the Spirit

Galatians 2:3-5 - But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. If you are disobedient to God then you are under the Law.

Galatians 5:18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Being led by the spirit, a person would be doing no wrong to their neighbour:

Romans 13:10 - Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)

I Peter 2:16 - Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

Galatians 5:1 - For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:13 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

II Peter 2:19 - They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

57.5. Submitting to God's righteousness involves obeying Jesus because Jesus is God's righteousness

Romans 10:3 - For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.

58. Both God the Father and God the Son raise the dead

Both the Father and the Son give life to whom they will.

John 5:21 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (ESV)

John 10:28 - I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

God gives life.

Deuteronomy 32:39 - See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. (ESV)

John 10:29 - My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

God the Father and God the Son are one:

John 10:30 - I and the Father are one.

God the Father raised this child from the dead:

I Kings 17:21-22 - Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again. And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.

God the Father raised this child from the dead too:

2 Kings 4:32-35 - When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD. Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. (ESV)

God the Father raised Jesus from the dead:

Romans 8:11 - If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (ESV)

God gave authority to Jesus to raise the dead:

John 17:2 - since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. (ESV)

Jesus raises people from the dead:

John 11:25 - Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, (ESV)

Luke 7:13-15 - And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, Do not weep. Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, Young man, I say to you, arise. And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

People recognised Jesus as a great prophet like Elijah or Elisha

Luke 7:16 - Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet has arisen among us! and God has visited his people!

Jesus was doing the works of Father God:

John 10:37-38 - If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.

Who can question it?

Acts 26:8 - Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? (ESV)

58.1. Leaving the tomb / spiritual prison (Sheol/Hades / the bad place in Sheol/Hades) which was a result of disobedience

Romans 6:8-9 - Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.

Jesus as a life-giving spirit proclaimed to the spirits in prison (Sheol/Hades):

John 5:25 - Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. (ESV)

I Peter 4:6 - For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. (ESV)

Baptism is an appeal to God for a good conscience - It's an appeal to God but not strictly required to be saved. It is an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We appeal to God for a good conscience with Him, asking God to partake in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God circumcises our heart, and we are buried with Jesus in His death, our old man dies, and we walk in the newness of life - rise with Him in resurrection through faith in the powerful working of God:

I Peter 3:21-22 - Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. (ESV)

Colossians 2:11-12 - In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. (ESV)

Romans 6:4 - We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (ESV)

I definitely believe that "believer's baptism" is the right way to perform baptism:

Isaiah 7:14-16 - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. (ESV)

Luke 2:48-52 - And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress. And he said to them, Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house? And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. (ESV)

Mark 10:37-40 - And they said to him, Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory. Jesus said to them, You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? And they said to him, We are able. And Jesus said to them, The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared. (ESV)

Baptism does save, but I believe it must be coupled with belief, and also trust, and I think that obedience comes from trust:

I Peter 3:18-21 - For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Acts 19:4 - And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus. (ESV)

Fear of God (wanting to please God doing His will), wanting a good conscience with God, and wanting to change from doing dead works to perform deeds which glorify Jesus obedient to His commandments - deeds in keeping with repentance - being zealous for good deeds, love issuing from a good conscience - and receiving Jesus' Holy Spirit to empower this resurrection life - this is the mind set we should have going into baptism:

I Peter 3:21 - Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (ESV)

I believe a person must believe, and not just be baptised:

Acts 19:1-6 - And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said, No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. And he said, Into what then were you baptized? They said, Into John's baptism. And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus. On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. (ESV)

This sounds interesting:

John 5:28-29 - Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

It's totally worth following Jesus, doing good and proclaiming the gospel after getting born-again - following Jesus, even faithfully stopping sin, is the correct response, for if being born-again is dying with Christ, and being given life by the life giving Spirit of Jesus, we are partaking in the death and resurrection of Jesus, where Jesus had actually suffered for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, so we too should continue living in a way that is turning away from sin.

Galatians 6:7-8 - Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (ESV)

Spiritually died with Christ:

Colossians 2:20 - If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—

Colossians 3:3 - For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (ESV)

Spiritually raised with Christ:

Colossians 3:1 - If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

OK, so spiritually resurrected and raised. Now we wait for the resurrection of the body.

Things make a bit more sense now:

Matthew 19:16-26 - And behold, a man came up to him, saying, Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life? And he said to him, Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments. He said to him, Which ones? And Jesus said, You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said to him, All these I have kept. What do I still lack? Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Jesus is the Saviour of the world.

I John 4:14 - And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

John 1:17 - For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (ESV)

John 12:46-48 - I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (ESV)

Isaiah 43:10-11 - You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.

God saves through Jesus.

Jude 1:25 - to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Titus 1:1-3 - Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

John 5:43 - I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.

John 10:25 - Jesus answered them, I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me,

Titus 3:4-7 - But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

I Peter 3:19 - in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,

Romans 8:10 - If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

That was a total gift. Thanks Jesus!

So in this life we can know that we will partake in the resurrection at the second coming.

59. The resurrection at the second coming

Hebrews 9:27-28 - And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

59.1. So don't be in Adam, but be in Christ, because all in Christ will be made alive, but all in Adam will perish

  1. Christ the firstfruits, then
  2. at his coming those who belong to Christ.

I Corinthians 15:20-26 - But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

59.2. What it looks like

Our heavenly inheritance is imperishable!

1 Peter 1:4 - to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, (ESV)

59.2.1. The fiery trial and the rapture being contemporaneous

So long as I'm in the fiery trial I am currently in, will expect rapture as though it were imminent. Come, Lord Jesus!

Revelation of John 22:20 - He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (ESV)

John Piper's explanation of the rapture I affirm:

I'm a total believer in the rapture. In fact, I believe that a person can be raptured by faith. I really wouldn't mind being raptured today <2024-07-18 Thu>. The world lost its luster for me, and that is a good thing actually:

Hebrews 11:5 - By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. (ESV)

Revelation of John 3:10 - Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. (ESV)

I Peter 4:12 - Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. (ESV)

Relief for believers and affliction for the disbelievers as one coming:

II Thessalonians 1:6-8 - since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (ESV)

II Thessalonians 2:1-3 - Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, (ESV)

Rapture:

I Thessalonians 4:16-17 - For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (ESV)

Revelation of John 22:20 - He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (ESV)

Amen! I'm waiting for that day. Also, I believe God can take me up any time if it's His will!

Mark 9:23 - And Jesus said to him, If you can! All things are possible for one who believes. (ESV)

59.2.2. The resurrection of the just

Luke 14:12-14 - He said also to the man who had invited him, When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. (ESV)

59.2.3. The natural first, then the spiritual

We may die a natural death in this life but be raised at the second coming with an incorruptible body.

I Corinthians 15:42-48 - So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.

Jesus can subject all things to Himself. By that power, Jesus will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body:

Philippians 3:20-21 - But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 15:49 - Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. (ESV)

  1. This - we are made like the man of heaven

    I Corinthians 15:49 - Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

    AMEN!!

    And then it's possible to inherit the imperishable:

    I Corinthians 15:50 - I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

    I Corinthians 15:51-54 - Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. (ESV)

  2. The mortal puts on immortality (at the resurrection)

    I Corinthians 15:53 - For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory.

    Because truth is truth, it is imperishable:

    I Peter 1:22-25 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (ESV)

    Isaiah 25:8 - He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

  3. Victory over sin and death through Jesus

    will still experience tribulation. Believers who are unrepentant from sin are probably not true believers and will experience the literal place Hades (the bad part).

    youtube.com: Christ Appeared for Our Sake @time: 11 min 21 sec

    I think the resurrection of Jesus does two things: One, it vindicates the value of the ransom. When God looked down on the bloodshedding of his Son, which he himself ordained and caused, and He looked at it and Jesus said, "It is finished.", the Father said, "It is finished." Then He raised him from the dead to say to all the world, "It was finished. It is all satisfying and all valuable and all sufficient. No more needs to be paid. Once for all, it is done."

    I think that's what the resurrection is like - a big exclamation point at the end of Christ's blood is enough. Boof! Exclamation point. Up out of the grave! And the second thing it does is say, "Death is defeated." Death is defeated.

    So that, this afternoon, when sin comes to you, and this is the way he comes, and he says, "You know, life is short, my pleasures are large, and then you die. Maximize. Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you die." To which, you, now after this morning's message, will say, " And the day after that, I will live again, forever, and therefore you're a liar! You're a liar! You're telling me that this life is all I've got, and I should follow you because you can maximize it for me? Well, I'll tell you what I'm going to rise from the dead with Jesus and then I live 10 million million Ages of Ages, and if I were to choose your way now and go to hell rather than Jesus' way and go to heaven I would be an absolute fool. Out of here, sin! That's the way you argue with sin. It's the only way you can defeat sin. Righteousness is not automatic, folks. It is won by warfare with Truth from the Bible.

    Because truth is truth, it is imperishable:

    I Peter 1:22-25 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (ESV)

    youtube.com: Hope and the Fruit of Love @time: 5 min 10 sec

    The Word is not perishable. What's the point? It lasts and lasts, well what's the point of that? Hope! If the word of God by which you were born again dies, you die. Jesus said, "We live by every word that comes out of the mouth of God."

    If those words someday die, if they cease to be true, if they cease to have power, we're dead. If they live forever, if those words go on, and they're imperishable, we carried by them, standing on them are imperishing.

    II John 1:1-2 - The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

    Titus 1:1-3 - Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

    We will be raised imperishable, just as the truth is imperishable:

    I Corinthians 15:51-58 - Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (ESV)

59.2.4. No lust/corruption in heaven. The divine nature does not have lust/corruption

II Peter 1:3-4 - seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. (NASB)

I Thessalonians 4:5 - not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;

I feel like people often get this backwards, although I do believe that by Jesus' stripes we are healed, even from things such as addictions (Jesus set me free from vaping, for example), I think that, as Tim Keller puts it, "Not all addiction is sin but all sin is addiction.

Quote by Tim Keller
Sin is a power and the things you crave become your slave masters, because in your heart those things burn with this idea, "if only". Everything would be fine if only that. And that creates a suction in your life, like a fire. That says, "I've got to have more approval, I've got to have more this, I've got to have a better spouse, I've got to have this. That's the reason I'm unhappy." But the more you throw in there the more it wants. Sin enslaves. We're all addicts. Not all addiction is sin but all sin is addiction.

Sinful addictions, the lusts of the world, the pride of life, etc:

II Peter 2:19-21 - They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

John 8:34 - Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

We must be holy.

Ephesians 1:4 - even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

I Peter 1:15-16 - but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.

Revelation of John 22:11 - Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.

Ephesians 5:27 - so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

These angels were corrupted:

Genesis 6:2 - that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.

59.2.5. Incorruptible inheritance

God is incorruptible:

Romans 1:23 - and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

We will receive an incorruptible body as Jesus' resurrection body does not corrupt:

Acts 13:36-37 - For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.

Incorruptible love is something we can have in this life:

Ephesians 6:24 - Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.

I Corinthians 13:8 - Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

An imperishable reward:

I Corinthians 9:25 - Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

I Peter 1:4 - to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

The Holy Spirit dwelling within us guarantees our imperishable inheritance:

II Timothy 1:14 - By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

I Peter 1:23 - for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

In believing in Jesus, we are guaranteed an inheritance in heaven:

Ephesians 1:13,14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (ESV)

The inheritance is in heaven:

I Peter 1:4 - to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (ESV)

We work for the Lord while believing in Jesus:

Colossians 3:23-25 - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. (ESV)

Even our bodies will be raised imperishable:

I Corinthians 15:52 - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

60. We're not called to agree with sinners but to show them the light

60.1. Jesus' company with sinners was to bring them to repentance, and from darkness to light

Mark 2:17 - And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. (ESV)

Luke 15:2 - And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, This man receives sinners and eats with them. (ESV)

Matthew 9:10-13 - And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? But when he heard it, he said, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. (ESV)

60.2. We must disagree with evil, and show people the light of the Gospel

Proverbs 4:14-15 - Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. (ESV)

Psalms 1:1-4 - Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. (ESV)

I Peter 4:3-4 - The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; (ESV)

Ephesians 5:11 - Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. (ESV)

60.2.1. Friendship with the world is emnity to God

Article
Why is Friendship with the World Enmity with God? {James 4:4} - InspiredWalk.com

James 4:4 - You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (ESV)

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

I Corinthians 5:10 - not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. (ESV)

II Corinthians 4:4 - In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (ESV)

John 15:18 - If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. (ESV)

John 15:19 - If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (ESV)

60.2.2. We must desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus and that goes against the pattern of the world

II Timothy 3:12 - Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (ESV)

61. Commandments of God

61.1. Commandments of Father God in the New Testament:

Romans 16:26 - but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith — (ESV)

Listen to Jesus and believe Jesus is God's Son:

Mark 9:7 - And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, This is my beloved Son; listen to him. (ESV)

Luke 9:35 - And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him! (ESV)

Acts 3:22 - Moses said, The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 18:15-19 - The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die. And the LORD said to me, They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. (ESV)

Walk in the truth, love one another and do not deny that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh:

II John 1:4-9 - I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (ESV)

61.2. Commandments of Jesus (which are from God)

The words Jesus Christ spoke were altogether a commandment of eternal life which Father God had given Jesus to speak:

John 12:49-50 - For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me. (ESV)

Have faith in God:

Mark 11:22 - And Jesus answered them, Have (G2192 echo) faith (G4102 pistis) in God (G2316 theos).

Have faith in God and have faith in Jesus:

John 14:1 - “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe (G4100 pisteuo) in God, believe (G4100 pisteuo) also in Me.

Pisteuo means to trust. Trust in God, trust also in God's Son Jesus:

Romans 4:5 - And to the one who does not work but trusts (G4100 pisteuo) him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, (ESV)

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near:

Matthew 3:2 - Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (ESV)

Follow the 10 commandments from the heart in truth as far as to not idolize or covet your material possessions, leave behind your old life and follow Him (Jesus).

Luke 18:18-22 - And a ruler asked him, Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother. And he said, All these I have kept from my youth. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (ESV)

Have faith in God to help you achieve this:

Luke 18:26-27 - Those who heard it said, Then who can be saved? But he said, What is impossible with men is possible with God. (ESV)

Come and follow Jesus and allow Him to make you into a fisher of men:

Matthew 4:19 - And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (ESV)

Rejoice when you're persecuted in Jesus' name:

Matthew 5:11-13 - Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. (ESV)

Let your light shine before all people:

Matthew 5:16 - In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

II Corinthians 8:1-2 - We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. (ESV)

Be reconciled to one another:

Matthew 5:23-24 - So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (ESV)

Take sin very seriously:

Matthew 5:29-30 - If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (ESV)

Follow the commandments from the heart, and in truth, accountable to God:

Matthew 5:32 - But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (ESV)

Turn the other cheek:

Matthew 5:39 - But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (ESV)

James 5:6 - You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. (ESV)

Go above and beyond. Forgive:

Matthew 5:40-42 - And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. (ESV)

Love your enemies as well as your friends. Be like Your Heavenly Father. Be perfect. Love (25. agapaó) your enemies means "treasuring your enemies" and looks like not repaying evil for evil. It sometimes looks like refusing to do evil and instead doing good to those who do you harm, taking the initiative in overcoming evil with good:

Matthew 5:43-48 - You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)

Proverbs 25:21-22 - If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. (ESV)

Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect:

Matthew 5:48 - You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)

Be accountable to God. Do not seek reward from others but from God. Focus on spiritual disciplines for the right reasons.

Matthew 6:1-18 - Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (ESV)

Have a relationship with God:

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)

I'm pretty convinced that what Jesus means by the following is that by giving up earthly treasure in the pursuit of Jesus, heavenly treasure is acquired. I'd say it's likely that the heavenly treasure is simply helping those people. So selling what a person possesses and giving to those in need, though apart from faith in Jesus isn't a "requirement for eternal life", it is a fast track to serving Jesus and getting our heart in heaven and leaning on Jesus, so doing as Jesus said in obedient faith is already starting to follow Jesus and store up heavenly treasure. Seek heavenly reward, not earthly reward. Have a heart seeking reward from God and not from man. Have your heart in heaven, not in earth. We give up our earthly treasure and help other people with it and this becomes heavenly treasure, and we then go after Jesus as our Pearl of Great Price:

Matthew 6:19-21 - Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (ESV)

Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)

Seek God's kingdom and His righteousness first of all:

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)

Do not worry about tomorrow:

Matthew 6:34 - Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (ESV)

Use right judgment. We should be examining, judging, cleaning ourselves up, taking a look in the mirror first (by God's standards) before judging others:

Matthew 7:1-5 - Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (ESV)

Romans 2:1 - Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. (ESV)

James 4:11-12 - Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? (ESV)

I Corinthians 4:3 - But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. (ESV)

Practice discretion:

Matthew 7:6 - Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. (ESV)

Ask, seek, and knock:

Matthew 7:7-8 - Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (ESV)

Ask God for your needs, which includes asking God for the Holy Spirit:

Luke 11:1-11 - Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples. And he said to them, When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation. And he said to them, Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him; and he will answer from within, Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; (ESV)

Treat others as you would like to be treated:

Matthew 7:12 - So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)

Choose the narrow path to life:

Matthew 7:13-14 - Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow (4728 stenos ie. narrow, small) and the way is hard (2346 thlibó - meaning: like when circumstances "rub us the wrong way" that make us feel confined (hemmed in); restricted to a "narrow" place/) that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (ESV)

Look out for false prophets:

Matthew 7:15-20 - Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (ESV)

Pray for kingdom laborers. Pray that God sends out kingdom laborers:

Matthew 9:37-38 - Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. (ESV)

Be on your guard. Jesus sends us out to be like scapegoats. Be wise and remain blameless:

Matthew 10:16-17 - Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, (ESV)

Do not fear persecutors. Fear God. But put your trust in God because He takes care of those who fear Him. Speak the truth:

Matthew 10:26-31 - So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (ESV)

Being subject to governing authorities does not mean behaving like them, but rather is about being blameless before God:

Romans 13:1 - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (ESV)

Matthew 23:3 - so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. (ESV)

Mark 12:17 - Jesus said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him. (ESV)

Mark 15:14 - And Pilate said to them, Why, what evil has he done? But they shouted all the more, Crucify him. (ESV)

Take Jesus' yoke upon yourself:

Matthew 11:28-30 - Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (ESV)

Do not despise the little ones:

Matthew 18:10 - See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

How to deal with offenders:

Matthew 18:15-17 - If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. (ESV)

Forgive extremely generously / almost without limits:

Matthew 18:21-22 - Then Peter came up and said to him, Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. (ESV)

Lead through service:

Matthew 20:25-28 - But Jesus called them to him and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (ESV)

Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul:

Matthew 22:37-38 - And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. (ESV)

Love your neighbor as yourself - fulfill the requirement of the law:

Matthew 22:39 - And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (ESV)

Stay alert and keep watch:

Matthew 24:42-44 - Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (ESV)

Make disciples of all the nations, teaching them to follow/obey Jesus:

Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe (G5083 tereo) all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (ESV)

Matthew 28:20 - and teaching them to obey (G5083 tereo) all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (BSB)

The word tereo means (to keep, observe, obey, follow). Commandments are for obeying. That's all they are for. This observance means to remember and practice. Nowhere in the Bible does it teach to disobey God:

Matthew 28:20 - teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (NASB2020)

Don't teach against needing to do Jesus' commandments. To do so is to teach people to not be a part of Jesus' family. It's great how God has given us Hebrew and Greek to make this unambiguous:

Deuteronomy 5:27 - Go near and hear all that the LORD our God will say and speak to us all that the LORD our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it. (ESV)

Luke 8:21 - But he answered them, My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it. (ESV)

Deny yourself daily, and follow Jesus:

Luke 9:23-24 - And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. (ESV)

Do not covet your possessions:

Luke 12:15 - And he said to them, Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. (ESV)

Give to those who can't reciprocate:

Luke 14:12-14 - He said also to the man who had invited him, When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. (ESV)

You must be born again:

John 3:7 - Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. (ESV)

If you love Jesus, keep His commandments. The one who keeps Jesus' commandments is the one who loves Jesus:

John 14:15 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (ESV)

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

Those who have testimony of Jesus should preach testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead:

Acts 10:41-44 - not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. (ESV)

Acts 13:47 - For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.

Those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel:

I Corinthians 9:14 - In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

61.3. Precepts of Paul

  • Pursue godliness with contentment but not without contentment. Pursue personal righteousness
    • righteousness,
    • godliness,
    • faith,
    • love,
    • steadfastness,
    • gentleness.

I Timothy 6:3-11 - If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. (ESV)

I Corinthians 10:24 - Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. (ESV)

I Corinthians 10:19-21 - What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. (ESV)

I Corinthians 7:10-17 - To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. Wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife? Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. (ESV)

61.4. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers

II Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (ESV)

62. More commandments of Jesus (which are all from God)

The words Jesus Christ spoke were altogether a commandment of eternal life which Father God had given Jesus to speak:

John 12:49-50 - For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me. (ESV)

Video
youtube.com: "These things I command you" Jesus' own words from the 4 Gospels

62.1. From the gospel of Matthew

62.1.1. Do the will of Father God to enter heaven

Matthew 7:21 - Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

62.1.2. Amend your lives, repent from sin

Matthew 4:17 - From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (ESV)

62.1.3. Follow Jesus

Matthew 4:19 - And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (ESV)

62.1.4. Rejoice when persecuted, and slandered on Jesus' account

Matthew 5:11-13 - Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. (ESV)

Following Jesus:

Matthew 24:9-13 - Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (ESV)

62.1.5. Let your light (good works) shine before others so they may give glory to Father God

Matthew 5:16 - In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

62.1.6.

Matthew 5:23-24 - So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (ESV)

62.1.7.

Matthew 5:29-30 - If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (ESV)

62.1.8. Do not swear an oath at all

Matthew 5:34-37 - But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply Yes or No; anything more than this comes from evil. (ESV)

62.1.9. Do not render evil for evil

Matthew 5:38-40 - You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. (ESV)

62.1.10. Overcome evil with good

Matthew 5:40-41 - And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (ESV)

Paul following and teaching Christ's teachings:

Romans 12:19-21 - Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (ESV)

62.1.11. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you

Matthew 5:42 - Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. (ESV)

62.1.12. Love your enemies

Matthew 5:44-45 - But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (ESV)

Didache Chapter 1 - … Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. For what reward is there for loving those who love you? Do not the Gentiles do the same? But love those who hate you, and you shall not have an enemy. …

Matthew 5:48 - You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)

Philip, an Evangelist in Brazil
We have to treat every single person that we encounter with the love of God as much as possible. We fall short, we make mistakes, we're not always at our best, but as much as possible. We provide a testimony.
(no term)
Do not resist the one who is evil - but do good to them
  • Romans 12:21 - Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (ESV)
  • if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also
  • if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well
  • if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles
  • Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you
  • Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

Matthew 5:38-48 - You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate (3404. miseó, 3404 miséō – properly, to detest (on a comparative basis); hence, denounce; to love someone or something less than someone (something) else, i.e. to renounce one choice in favor of another.) your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 5:14 - And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (ESV)

With Jesus' commandments in mind, we should have joy when the time of testing happens and things are taken away from us. It can take a really long time. But we need to not shrink back. I'm also speaking to myself.

Hebrews 10:34-39 - For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (ESV)

62.1.13. Do your good not to get some kind of earthly praise

Matthew 6:1 - Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

Matthew 5:16 - In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

Matthew 9:11-13 - And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? But when he heard it, he said, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. (ESV)

62.1.14. Be merciful

Luke 6:36 - Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (ESV)

62.1.15. How to pray

Matthew 6:5 - And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. (ESV)

Matthew 6:6 - But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (ESV)

Matthew 6:7 - And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. (ESV)

Matthew 6:8-13 - Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (ESV)

62.1.16. How to fast

A Guide to Prayer and Fasting - General Assembly

1: fasting
2:     The self-denial of some or all food or
3:     drink as the faithful express their
4:     intense concerns to God in special times
5:     of prayer and worship.

Matthew 6:16-18 - And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (ESV)

When you fast:

  • anoint your head and wash your face
    • that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret
    • don't even tell anyone
  • pray while you fast:
    • your Father knows what you need before you ask him
    • pray in secret
    • ask for God's will be done
    • forgive others
  • also, fast for those who persecute you
  • be prepared with Scripture, and use it
  • praise and worship the Lord

Just fast for God, and focus on God:

James 4:8 - Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (ESV)

Have a goal reason for fasting:

  • e.g. before baptism

Go for about a month month, or 40 days, just go without:

  • breakfast
  • lunch
  • coffee

Focus:

  • more on prayer
  • more on meditating on Jesus' commandments
  • willing God's will and not your own

Be:

  • repentant

Repent while fasting:

Joel 2:12-17 - Yet even now, declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, Where is their God? (ESV)

Be humble while fasting and supplicating to God:

Isaiah 58:4-6 - Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? (ESV)

Some manuscripts include 'fasting' in Mark 9:29:

Mark 9:29 - And he said to them, This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer. (ESV)

Mark 9:29 - And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” (NASB)

Mark 9:29 - And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. (KJV)

We should fast to seek the LORD and we should fast together for a common purpose:

II Chronicles 20:3 - Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. (ESV)

Didache Chapter 7 - … But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whoever else can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before.

We should even fast for the sake of others:

Didache Chapter 1 - … Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. For what reward is there for loving those who love you? Do not the Gentiles do the same? But love those who hate you, and you shall not have an enemy. …

Ezra 10:6 - Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib, where he spent the night, neither eating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles. (ESV)

Use Scripture while fasting. Fast for days, or weeks:

Matthew 4:1-4 - Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread. But he answered, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (ESV)

Praise and worship the Lord while fasting:

Acts 13:2 - While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. (ESV)

Pray while fasting:

Acts 14:23 - And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (ESV)

Repentance in the heart:

Psalms 69:10 - When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. (ESV)

Psalms 69:10 - When I wept in my soul with fasting, It became my reproach. (NASB)

Psalms 69:10 - When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. (KJV)

62.1.17. Lay up treasure in heaven, not on earth - have your heart in heaven, not on earth

I'm pretty convinced that what Jesus means by the following is that by giving up earthly treasure in the pursuit of Jesus, heavenly treasure is acquired. I'd say it's likely that the heavenly treasure is simply helping those people. So selling what a person possesses and giving to those in need, though apart from faith in Jesus isn't a "requirement for eternal life", it is a fast track to serving Jesus and getting our heart in heaven and leaning on Jesus, so doing as Jesus said in obedient faith is already starting to follow Jesus and store up heavenly treasure. Seek heavenly reward, not earthly reward. Have a heart seeking reward from God and not from man. Have your heart in heaven, not in earth. We give up our earthly treasure and help other people with it and this becomes heavenly treasure, and we then go after Jesus as our Pearl of Great Price:

Matthew 6:19-21 - Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (ESV)

Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)

62.1.18. Trust in God to provide

*Matthew 6:25-34 - Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (ESV)

62.1.19. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)

62.1.20. Do not judge unless you don't mind being judged by the same judgement

Matthew 7:1-2 - Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (ESV)

Luke 6:37 - , Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; (ESV)

James 3:1 - Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (ESV)

62.1.21.

Matthew 7:5 - You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (ESV)

62.1.22.

Matthew 7:6 - Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. (ESV)

62.1.23.

Matthew 7:7 - Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (ESV)

62.1.24.

Matthew 7:12 - So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)

62.1.25.

Matthew 7:13-14 - Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow (4728 stenos ie. narrow, small) and the way is hard (2346 thlibó - meaning: like when circumstances "rub us the wrong way" that make us feel confined (hemmed in); restricted to a "narrow" place/) that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (ESV)

62.1.26.

Matthew 7:15-16 - Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? (ESV)

62.1.27.

Matthew 8:22 - And Jesus said to him, Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead. (ESV)

62.1.28.

Matthew 9:2 - And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven. (ESV)

62.1.29.

Matthew 9:13 - Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. (ESV)

62.1.30.

Matthew 9:22 - Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well. And instantly the woman was made well. (ESV)

62.1.31.

Matthew 9:29 - Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it done to you. (ESV)

62.1.32.

Matthew 9:38 - therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. (ESV)

62.1.33.

Matthew 10:7-10 - And proclaim as you go, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. (ESV)

62.1.34.

Matthew 10:11-14 - And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. (ESV)

62.1.35.

Matthew 10:16 - Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. (ESV)

62.1.36.

Matthew 10:17 - Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, (ESV)

62.1.37.

Matthew 10:19-20 - When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (ESV)

62.1.38.

Matthew 10:23 - When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. (ESV)

62.1.39.

Matthew 10:26 - So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. (ESV)

62.1.40.

Matthew 10:27 - What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. (ESV)

62.1.41.

Matthew 10:28 - And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (ESV)

62.1.42.

Matthew 10:31 - Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (ESV)

62.1.43.

Matthew 11:15 - He who has ears to hear, let him hear. (ESV)

62.1.44.

Matthew 11:28 - Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (ESV)

62.1.45.

Matthew 11:29 - Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (ESV)

62.1.46.

Matthew 12:33 - Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. (ESV)

62.1.47.

Matthew 13:9 - He who has ears, let him hear. (ESV)

62.1.48.

Matthew 13:43 - Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. (ESV)

62.1.49.

Matthew 15:10-11 - And he called the people to him and said to them, Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person. (ESV)

62.1.50.

Matthew 16:6 - Jesus said to them, Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (ESV)

62.1.51.

Matthew 16:24 - Then Jesus told his disciples, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (ESV)

62.1.52.

Matthew 18:8-9 - And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. (ESV)

62.1.53.

Matthew 18:10 - See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

62.1.54.

Matthew 19:14 - but Jesus said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

62.1.55.

Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (ESV)

62.1.56.

Matthew 22:21 - They said, Caesar's. Then he said to them, Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. (ESV)

62.1.57.

Matthew 22:37-40 - And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)

62.1.58.

Matthew 23:2-4 - The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. (ESV)

62.1.59.

Matthew 23:8 - But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. (ESV)

62.1.60.

Matthew 23:9 - And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. (ESV)

62.1.61.

Matthew 23:10 - Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. (ESV)

62.1.62.

Matthew 24:4-5 - And Jesus answered them, See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray. (ESV)

62.1.63.

Matthew 24:6 - And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. (ESV)

62.1.64.

Matthew 24:15-18 - So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. (ESV)

62.1.65.

Matthew 24:23 - Then if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Christ! or There he is! do not believe it. (ESV)

62.1.66.

Matthew 24:26 - So, if they say to you, Look, he is in the wilderness, do not go out. If they say, Look, he is in the inner rooms, do not believe it. (ESV)

62.1.67.

Matthew 24:32-35 - From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (ESV)

62.1.68. Our Lord is the Son of Man, and we should be ready and on alert

Matthew 24:42 - Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. (ESV)

Matthew 24:44 - Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (ESV)

Matthew 25:13 - Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (ESV)

Luke 18:8 - I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?

62.1.69.

Matthew 26:26 - Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. (ESV)

62.1.70.

Matthew 26:27-28 - And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

62.1.71.

Matthew 26:41 - Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (ESV)

62.1.72.

Matthew 26:52 - Then Jesus said to him, Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. (ESV)

62.1.73.

Matthew 28:19-20 - Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (ESV)

62.2. From the gospel of Mark

62.2.1.

Mark 1:15 - and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. (ESV)

62.2.2. Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men

Mark 1:17 - And Jesus said to them, Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. (ESV)

62.2.3.

Mark 4:9 - And he said, He who has ears to hear, let him hear. (ESV)

62.2.4.

Mark 4:23 - If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. (ESV)

62.2.5.

Mark 4:24 - And he said to them, Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. (ESV)

62.2.6.

Mark 6:10-11 - And he said to them, Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them. (ESV)

62.2.7.

Mark 7:14-16 - And he called the people to him again and said to them, Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him. (ESV)

62.2.8.

Mark 8:15 - And he cautioned them, saying, Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. (ESV)

62.2.9.

Mark 8:34 - And he called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (ESV)

62.2.10.

Mark 9:23 - And Jesus said to him, If you can! All things are possible for one who believes. (ESV)

62.2.11.

Mark 9:39-41 - But Jesus said, Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. (ESV)

62.2.12.

Mark 9:45 - And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. (ESV)

62.2.13.

Mark 9:47 - And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, (ESV)

62.2.14.

Mark 9:50 - Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. (ESV)

62.2.15.

Mark 10:9 - What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. (ESV)

62.2.16.

Mark 10:14-15 - But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. (ESV)

62.2.17.

Mark 10:21 - And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (ESV)

62.2.18.

Mark 11:22 - And Jesus answered them, Have faith in God. (ESV)

62.2.19.

Mark 11:24 - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (ESV)

62.2.20.

Mark 11:25 - And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (ESV)

62.2.21.

Mark 12:17 - Jesus said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him. (ESV)

62.2.22.

Mark 12:29-31 - Jesus answered, The most important is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. (ESV)

62.2.23.

Mark 12:38-40 - And in his teaching he said, Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation. (ESV)

62.2.24.

Mark 13:5-6 - And Jesus began to say to them, See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, I am he! and they will lead many astray. (ESV)

62.2.25.

Mark 13:7 - And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. (ESV)

62.2.26.

Mark 13:9 - But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. (ESV)

62.2.27.

Mark 13:10 - And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. (ESV)

62.2.28.

Mark 13:11 - And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

62.2.29.

Mark 13:14-16 - But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. (ESV)

62.2.30.

Mark 13:21-23 - And then if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Christ! or Look, there he is! do not believe it. False christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand. (ESV)

62.2.31.

Mark 13:28-29 - From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. (ESV)

62.2.32.

Mark 13:32-33 - But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. (ESV)

62.2.33.

Mark 13:35-37 - Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake. (ESV)

62.2.34.

Mark 14:22 - And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, Take; this is my body. (ESV)

62.2.35.

Mark 14:38 - Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (ESV)

62.2.36.

Mark 16:15 - And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. (ESV)

62.3. From the gospel of Luke

62.3.1.

Luke 6:22-23 - Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. (ESV)

62.3.2.

Luke 6:27-28 - But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. (ESV)

We should pray for our enemies and bless those who curse us. After all, at one time I was myself in the dark, and we are not fighting against flesh and blood.

Proverbs 24:17-18 - Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him. (ESV)

Ephesians 6:12 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (ESV)

62.3.3.

Luke 6:29 - To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. (ESV)

62.3.4.

Luke 6:30 - Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. (ESV)

62.3.5.

Luke 6:31 - And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. (ESV)

62.3.6.

Luke 6:35 - But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. (ESV)

62.3.7. Be merciful

Matthew 9:11-13 - And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? But when he heard it, he said, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. (ESV)

Luke 6:36 - Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (ESV)

62.3.8. Forgive that we be forgiven

Luke 6:37 - , Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; (ESV)

And absolutely do not bear grudges against those who are in Christ:

Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (ESV)

62.3.9.

Luke 6:38 - give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. (ESV)

62.3.10.

Luke 6:42 - How can you say to your brother, Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye, when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye. (ESV)

62.3.11.

Luke 8:8 - And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold. As he said these things, he called out, He who has ears to hear, let him hear. (ESV)

62.3.12.

Luke 8:18 - Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away. (ESV)

62.3.13.

Luke 8:48 - And he said to her, Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace. (ESV)

62.3.14.

Luke 8:50 - But Jesus on hearing this answered him, Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well. (ESV)

62.3.15.

Luke 9:3-5 - And he said to them, Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them. (ESV)

62.3.16.

Luke 9:23 - And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (ESV)

62.3.17.

Luke 9:48 - and said to them, Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great. (ESV)

62.3.18.

Luke 9:50 - But Jesus said to him, Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you. (ESV)

62.3.19.

Luke 9:60 - And Jesus said to him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God. (ESV)

62.3.20.

Luke 10:2-11 - And he said to them, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house! And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near to you. But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near. (ESV)

62.3.21.

Luke 10:20 - Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (ESV)

62.3.22.

Luke 11:2-4 - And he said to them, When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation. (ESV)

62.3.23.

Luke 11:9 - And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (ESV)

62.3.24.

Luke 11:33 - No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. (ESV)

62.3.25.

Luke 11:34-35 - Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. (ESV)

62.3.26.

Luke 11:41 - But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. (ESV)

62.3.27.

Luke 12:1-3 - In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. (ESV)

62.3.28.

Luke 12:4-5 - I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! (ESV)

62.3.29.

Luke 12:7 - Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. (ESV)

62.3.30.

Luke 12:11-12 - And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. (ESV)

62.3.31.

Luke 12:15 - And he said to them, Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. (ESV)

62.3.32.

Luke 12:22-24 - And he said to his disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! (ESV)

62.3.33.

Luke 12:27-28 - Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! (ESV)

62.3.34.

Luke 12:29-30 - And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. (ESV)

62.3.35.

Luke 12:31 - Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. (ESV)

62.3.36.

Consider that Jesus is making Father God known.

Luke 12:32 - Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (ESV)

Consider this as I read Jesus' words talking about Father God:

John 1:18 - No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (ESV)

62.3.37.

Luke 12:33-34 - Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (ESV)

62.3.38.

Luke 12:35-36 - Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. (ESV)

62.3.39.

Luke 12:58 - As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. (ESV)

62.3.40.

Luke 13:24 - Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. (ESV)

62.3.41.

Luke 14:8-11 - When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, Give your place to this person, and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, Friend, move up higher. Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (ESV)

62.3.42.

Luke 14:12-14 - He said also to the man who had invited him, When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. (ESV)

62.3.43.

Luke 14:34 - Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? (ESV)

62.3.44.

Luke 16:9 - And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. (ESV)

62.3.45.

Luke 17:3-4 - Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, I repent, you must forgive him. (ESV)

62.3.46.

Luke 17:10 - So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty. (ESV)

62.3.47.

Luke 17:19 - And he said to him, Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well. (ESV)

62.3.48.

Luke 17:21 - nor will they say, Look, here it is! or There! for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you. (ESV)

62.3.49.

Luke 17:22-25 - And he said to the disciples, The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, Look, there! or Look, here! Do not go out or follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. (ESV)

62.3.50.

Luke 17:30-31 - so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. (ESV)

62.3.51.

Luke 18:6-8 - And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? , Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? (ESV)

62.3.52.

Luke 18:16-17 - But Jesus called them to him, saying, Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. (ESV)

62.3.53.

Luke 18:22 - When Jesus heard this, he said to him, One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (ESV)

62.3.54.

Luke 18:42 - And Jesus said to him, Recover your sight; your faith has made you well. (ESV)

62.3.55.

Luke 20:25 - He said to them, Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. (ESV)

62.3.56.

Luke 20:46-47 - Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation. (ESV)

62.3.57.

Luke 21:8-9 - And he said, See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, I am he! and, The time is at hand! Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once. (ESV)

62.3.58.

Luke 21:14-19 - Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. (ESV)

62.3.59.

Luke 21:20-22 - But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. (ESV)

62.3.60.

Luke 21:25-28 - And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. (ESV)

62.3.61.

Luke 21:29-31 - And he told them a parable: Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. (ESV)

62.3.62.

Luke 21:34-36 - But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. (ESV)

62.3.63.

Luke 22:17-18 - And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. (ESV)

62.3.64.

Luke 22:19 - And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. (ESV)

62.3.65.

Luke 22:26 - But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. (ESV)

62.3.66.

Luke 22:36-37 - He said to them, But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: And he was numbered with the transgressors. For what is written about me has its fulfillment. (ESV)

62.3.67.

Luke 22:40 - And when he came to the place, he said to them, Pray that you may not enter into temptation. (ESV)

62.3.68.

Luke 22:46 - and he said to them, Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation. (ESV)

62.3.69.

Luke 23:28-31 - But turning to them Jesus said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed! Then they will begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry? (ESV)

62.3.70.

Luke 24:36 - As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, Peace to you! (ESV)

62.3.71.

Luke 24:38-39 - And he said to them, Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. (ESV)

62.3.72.

Luke 24:49 - And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. (ESV)

62.4. From the gospel of John

62.4.1.

John 1:43 - The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, Follow me. (ESV)

62.4.2.

John 2:16 - And he told those who sold the pigeons, Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade. (ESV)

62.4.3.

John 4:34-35 - Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, There are yet four months, then comes the harvest? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. (ESV)

62.4.4.

John 5:14 - Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you. (ESV)

62.4.5.

John 6:27 - Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal. (ESV)

62.4.6.

John 6:29 - Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent. (ESV)

62.4.7.

John 6:43-44 - Jesus answered them, Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. (ESV)

62.4.8.

John 7:24 - Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. (ESV)

62.4.9.

John 7:37-38 - On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. (ESV)

62.4.10.

John 8:7 - And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her. (ESV)

62.4.11.

John 8:11 - She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more. (ESV)

62.4.12.

John 10:37-38 - If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father. (ESV)

62.4.13.

John 12:26 - If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (ESV)

62.4.14.

John 12:35-36 - So Jesus said to them, The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light. When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. (ESV)

62.4.15. Jesus washed out feet. Now we wash others' feet. A saint, having been forgiven and love by Jesus passes forward this love and forgiveness and bears other people's burdens

John 13:14-15 - If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. (ESV)

62.4.16.

John 13:34 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (ESV)

62.4.17.

John 14:1 - Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (ESV)

62.4.18.

John 14:11 - Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. (ESV)

62.4.19.

John 14:15 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (ESV)

62.4.20.

John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (ESV)

62.4.21.

John 15:4 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. (ESV)

62.4.22.

John 15:9 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (ESV)

62.4.23.

John 15:12 - This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (ESV)

62.4.24.

John 15:17 - These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (ESV)

62.4.25.

John 15:20 - Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. (ESV)

62.4.26.

John 15:26-27 - But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. (ESV)

62.4.27.

John 16:24 - Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (ESV)

62.4.28.

John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (ESV)

62.4.29.

John 20:17 - Jesus said to her, Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. (ESV)

62.4.30.

John 20:19 - On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, Peace be with you. (ESV)

62.4.31.

John 20:21 - Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. (ESV)

62.4.32.

John 20:22-23 - And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld. (ESV)

62.4.33.

John 20:27 - Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe. (ESV)

62.4.34.

John 21:17 - He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Do you love me? and he said to him, Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep. (ESV)

62.4.35.

John 21:19 - (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, Follow me. (ESV)

62.5. From the Acts of the Apostles

62.5.1.

Acts 1:4-5 - And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. (ESV)

62.5.2.

Acts 10:15 - And the voice came to him again a second time, What God has made clean, do not call common. (ESV)

62.5.3.

Acts 18:9-10 - And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people. (ESV)

62.6. We must abide by His teaching

II John 1:9 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (ESV)

Luke 6:46-49 - Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (ESV)

Mark 16:15 - And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. (ESV)

62.6.1. Notice how James and Paul both here abide by Jesus' teaching

With the judgment you pronounce you will be judged:

Matthew 7:1-5 - Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (ESV)

Romans 2:1 - Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. (ESV)

James 4:11-12 - Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? (ESV)

Do not worry about tomorrow:

Matthew 6:25-34 - Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (ESV)

James 4:13-14 - Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (ESV)

Jesus taught to overcome evil with good:

Matthew 5:38-41 - You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (ESV)

James understood Jesus' teaching regarding not resisting evil people and overcoming evil with good:

James 5:6 - You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. (ESV)

Paul following and teaching Christ's teachings regarding overcoming evil with good:

Romans 12:19-21 - Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (ESV)

63. godliness

The word godliness, I think means, to act in a way fitting of having true knowledge of our God, and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and preparing oneself for eternity.

Titus 1:1 - Paul, a bond-servant (G1401 doulos) of God (G2316 theos) and an apostle of Jesus (G2424 Iesous) Christ (G5547 Christos), for the faith (G4102 pistis) of those chosen of God (G2316 theos) and the knowledge (G1922 epignosis) of the truth (G225 aletheia) which is according to godliness (G2150 eusebeia),

Perfect godliness revealing God through Jesus Christ:

I Timothy 3:16 - Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. (ESV)

Isaiah 32:6 - For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the LORD, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink. (ESV)

Relevant verses Characteristics of godliness
Titus 1:2 Behaviour in accordance with true knowledge about God
Isaiah 32:6, Romans 1:18 Disinclined towards wickedness; inclined to practice righteousness
Isaiah 32:6, Romans 1:18 Speaks the truth about the Lord
Isaiah 32:6 Takes care of their neighbour
Romans 1:21 Honours God as God
Romans 1:21 Gives thanks to God
Romans 1:18-22, Proverbs 1:7 Has the fear of God
I Timothy 3:8 Knows God can see your heart
I Timothy 2:1-4 Cares that any person, even the worldly, may be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth
I Timothy 2:9, I Timothy 3:8 Not worldliness, knowing that humility pleases God
I Timothy 6:10-11 Not worldliness, knowing that true riches are in heaven. No love for money
I Timothy 2:10 Performs good works (works which are pleasing to God)
I Timothy 3:11 Dignified, sober-minded
I Timothy 3:11 Faithful in all things
I Timothy 4:7-8 Profitable for all things (physical and spiritual), present life and eternity
I Timothy 6:4, II Timothy 2:16 Has eyes set on God. Doesn't fall into vain, time-wasting arguments
II Timothy 3:5 Keeps themself accountable to God. Has a real relationship with God.
Titus 2:11-14 Cooperates with Jesus purifying them, and employing them in good works, for eternal life
Titus 1:2, Titus 2:11-14 Hopes for eternal life
II Peter 3:10-12 Prepares for eternity
II Peter 1:3 Responds well to Jesus' supply to us of what we need to live godly lives.
II Peter 1:5-7 Supplements steadfastness (helps us to be more steadfast)
II Peter 1:5-7 Is supplemented by brotherly affection (in accordance with true knowledge about God)
II Peter 2:6, I Corinthians 6:18 Obeys God, and lives righteously, and in love for one's neighbour, and flees from lust
I Corinthians 10:8-14 Does not put Christ to the test. Clings to God, flees from idolatry, sexual immorality and other sin

63.1. Verses

Isaiah 32:6 - For a fool speaks nonsense, And his heart inclines toward wickedness: To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the Lord (H3068 Yhovah), To keep the hungry person unsatisfied And to withhold drink from the thirsty.

Romans 1:18 - For the wrath of God (G2316 theos) is revealed from heaven (G3772 ouranos) against all (G3956 pas) ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth (G225 aletheia) in unrighteousness,

Romans 11:26 - and so all (G3956 pas) Israel will be saved (G4982 sozo); just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”

I Timothy 2:1-4 - First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

I Timothy 2:10 - but rather by means of good works (G2041 ergon), as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.

I Timothy 3:16 - By common confession, great is the mystery (G3466 musterion) of godliness (G2150 eusebeia): He who (G3739 hos) was revealed in the flesh (G4561 sarx), Was vindicated in the Spirit (G4151 pneuma), Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world (G2889 kosmos), Taken up in glory (G1391 doxa).

I Timothy 4:7-8 - But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness (G2150 eusebeia); for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness (G2150 eusebeia) is profitable for all (G3956 pas) things (G3956 pas), since it holds promise for the present life (G2222 zoe) and also for the life to come.

I Timothy 6:3-6 - If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness (G2150 eusebeia) actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.

I Timothy 6:10-11 - For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

II Timothy 2:16 - But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,

II Timothy 3:5 - holding to a form of godliness (G2150 eusebeia), although they have denied its power (G1411 dunamis); Avoid such men as these.

Titus 1:1 - Paul, a bond-servant (G1401 doulos) of God (G2316 theos) and an apostle of Jesus (G2424 Iesous) Christ (G5547 Christos), for the faith (G4102 pistis) of those chosen of God (G2316 theos) and the knowledge (G1922 epignosis) of the truth (G225 aletheia) which is according to godliness (G2150 eusebeia),

Titus 2:11-14 - For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Jesus has granted us what we need to live a godly life:

II Peter 1:3 - seeing that His divine power (G1411 dunamis) has granted to us everything (G3956 pas) pertaining to life (G2222 zoe) and godliness (G2150 eusebeia), through the true (G1922 epignosis) knowledge (G1922 epignosis) of Him who called us by His own glory (G1391 doxa) and excellence.

II Peter 1:5-7 - For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

II Peter 3:10-12 - But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!

64. 'Election' / predestination, theology etc. is a massive distraction, I think

I believe that here on earth, God wants us to choose Jesus. But from God's perspective, who knows how it works.

Isaiah 55:8-9 - For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (ESV)

God can raise up children from anyone who has repentance and may grant being a child of Abraham to anyone who walks in the footsteps of the faith that Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Luke 3:8 - Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

Romans 4:9-12 - Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

We do have the ability to make choices:

Isaiah 66:3 - He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog's neck; he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig's blood; he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol. These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations; (ESV)

A gift can be accepted or rejected - and this is a choice we can make:

Romans 5:17 - If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Even the elect need help to obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory:

II Timothy 2:10 - Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (ESV)

We should not lean on our own understanding:

Isaiah 55:9 - For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

What we should do now is acknowledge the LORD, keep our eyes on Jesus, and live godly lives (godliness is behaviour in accordance with the knowledge of God, believe the truth and walk in that truth, love the light, walk in the light, walk in the truth). Trust in the LORD to save us as we walk in the light (in obedience):

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (ESV)

Although God chooses who He has mercy on, we should still have a godly and humble response to God's mercy:

Romans 9:10-16 - And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call— she was told, The older will serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

We should be confident that God will continue to take care of us:

Romans 8:29-39- For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God has good plans for us and we should submit to His wisdom, and obey Him:

Isaiah 64:8 - But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Who chooses who? I believe Jesus chose me and I also choose Jesus every day but Jesus chose me first:

John 15:16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (ESV)

Romans 8:29 - For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

God is the Creator, our Maker.

  • For those who love God
    • obedient to God
  • For those who are called according to His purpose
  • All things work together for good

God's ultimately the one in control of us but from our perspective we must submit to His righteousness and His will and be obedient.

To make election sure, and to not fail, one must practice personal righteousness and put a stop to sin.

II Peter 1:10-11 - Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Acts 13:14-16 - but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it. So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. (ESV)

  • The elect fear God
    • They had soft hearts
      • able to believe and obey
  • The non-elect judge themselves unworthy of eternal life
    • They had hard hearts
      • unable to believe and obey

One thing is for sure. The elect do not have hard hearts. So I'd say if a person's heart is not totally hard, then soften it.

youtube.com: God Is Our Savior from What? 1 Timothy 1:1-2, Part 2 @time: 2 min 3 sec
He does everything he does as an apostle to help people (who turn out to be God's elect) obtain salvation.

II Timothy 2:10 - Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (ESV)

A heart not easy to be moved with virtuous affections:

Deuteronomy 15:7 - If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, (ESV)

Mark 3:4-5 - And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent. After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: Do I Have a Hard Heart?

Mark 8:17 - And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? (ESV)

II Chronicles 36:12-13 - He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord, the God of Israel. (ESV)

Romans 2:4 - Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (ESV)

Zechariah 7:12 - They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts. (ESV)

If we have a hard heart, we should ask for a new one:

Ezekiel 36:26 - And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Don't let your heart go hard - find a community of encouraging believers - this place looks cool: https://www.youtube.com/@jesusimage:

Hebrews 3:13 - But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Acts 13:46-48 - And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. (ESV)

I do believe, however, that cooperation is generally required on the part of the believer:

  • Before regeneration, and
  • After regeneration

Before regeneration, I was trying hard to repent of my sin by trying to obey the 10 commandments from the heart. And I would say I was also making progress. After regeneration, I had to learn to walk in Jesus' commandments, and to submit to His righteousness.

To be sanctified by faith in Jesus is an applied process, I think:

Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (ESV)

Obeying Jesus Christ, and having love perfected in us is the most important part of sanctification, I think:

I John 4:17 - By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

In similar fashion to Jesus continually obeying Father God as he endured suffering, I think we should learn to submit and follow Jesus' commandments:

Hebrews 5:7-10 - In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

The 1689 Baptist confession affirms that the problem of corruption remains after regeneration:

 1: Paragraph 5
 2: 
 3: The corruption of nature, during this life,
 4: does remain in those that are regenerated;13
 5: and although it be through Christ pardoned and
 6: mortified, yet both itself, and the first
 7: motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.14
 8: 
 9: 13 Rom. 7:18,23; Eccles. 7:20; 1 John 1:8
10: 14 Rom. 7:23–25; Gal. 5:17

64.1. My experience in turning to love Jesus and obey Jesus

I believe that after being born-again of the spirit, I had (with very little knowledge of Jesus' commandments) had to learn Jesus' commandments and apply them, and I believe the Holy Spirit taught me to obey Jesus as I read Jesus' sayings and was subsequently tested on those sayings. For example, if I read that we must give to all who ask, and then the Lord sets up a situation where someone asks for money, then I have a choice to obey Jesus, which means resisting those who try to deter me from obeying Jesus. Upon being tested, someone would offer worldly wisdom in an attempt to deter me from following Jesus, and as I obey God I am led by the Holy Spirit, and taught by the Holy Spirit. And this is an ongoing process. I say this for others' sake to explain how I have come to know how faith in Jesus, following Jesus, works practically, that it is more than mere intellectual belief to be led by the Spirit, but it is also obedience, and a process of sanctification, and walking in the light which involves walking in love characteristic of Christ's love.

So I was born-again of the Spirit and when that happened I was given some very strong faith/knowledge that God exists, but I still had to seek Jesus because the Bible says that anyone who claims to know Jesus but doesn't walk in His commandments is not telling the truth, and I want to come to know Jesus.

I John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

When people say, "Is there anyone who does not know Jesus yet? Please put up your hand." they are effectively saying, "Is there anyone who does not follow Jesus' commandments yet? Please put up your hand."

Believing in your heart is an initial act of obedience before continuing in the teaching of Christ. If we believe in Him we have obeyed Him, but belief doesn't end there:

John 14:1 - “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe (G4100 pisteuo) in God, believe (G4100 pisteuo) also in Me. (NASB)

Acts 28:27 - For the heart of this people has become dull, And with their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes; Otherwise they might see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.”’

God wants everyone who comes to Jesus and place their trust in Him to have eternal life:

John 6:40-47 - For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, I am the bread that came down from heaven. They said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, I have come down from heaven? Jesus answered them, Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. (ESV)

If you hear Jesus' word and believe Father God, then you have eternal life, and don't come into judgement. I don't doubt it. We must continue trusting. But the enemy will certainly try to condemn the person after they are born-again.

Matthew 17:5 - He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. (ESV)

Trusting Jesus' words we do not come into judgement, but change direction, and instead our destiny is life eternal. We do not come into judgement. Jesus is the judge of that:

John 5:21-24 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word (191. akouó) and believes (4100. pisteuó) him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come (2064. erchomai) into judgment, but has passed (3327. metabain) from death to life. (ESV)

I think John 5:24 reads that the one who is trusting the words spoken through Jesus, trusting God, trusting Jesus is holds/posesses eternal life and has passed from death into life.

2064. erchomai
to come, go
3327. metabain
to pass over, withdraw, depart

It's imperative that as we go ahead, we must abide in the teaching of Christ, or we won't have God (Jehovah God), and God is love and love comes from God, so we need to abide in Christ's teachings, by belief and by obedience. For example, in Mark 10:18, Jesus affirmed that God is Good. Therefore when we read this, we must also be sanctified by this truth, affirming and coming into agreement that God is Good. Also, Jesus commanded us to love one another as He loved us John 13:34-35:

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

64.2. Repentance includes bearing fruit and being raised up as a child for Abraham

John the Baptist taught repentance and love for one's neighbour before receiving the baptisim of the Holy Spirit:

Luke 3:3-8 - And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

Regeneration is the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit, though. AMEN!! Nevertheless, I believe in allowing Jesus Christ to be my Lord and being sanctified through obedience to Jesus:

John 3:5-8 - Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

John 6:45-47 - It is written in the Prophets, And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me — not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes (G4100 pisteuo) has eternal life.

Also, I believe that this is what God actually wants from us - to seek Him and worship Him of our own volition.

Romans 11:7-10 - What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day. And David says, Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.

The Gentiles should not harden their own hearts. Neither should the Jews.

Psalms 95:8 - do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,

Hebrews 3:8 - do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,

Hebrews 3:15 - As it is said, Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.

Hebrews 4:7 - again he appoints a certain day, Today, saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.

God puts the fear of Him into the elect's heart.

Jeremiah 32:40 - I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. (ESV)

I still think there is co-operation by the believer before and after spiritual regeneration.

Having heard the truth, the Spirit sanctifies us through our obedience to the Spirit, and are we are conformed to holiness, not to impurity:

I Peter 1:14-16 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.

We purify ourselves as we have faith in Jesus:

I John 3:3 - And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Having purified ourselves by obedience to the truth:

This here says we must obey for the sake of purification of our souls even after being born-again:

I Peter 1:22-23 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

And Jesus instructs us to have an obedient heart if we want to know that Jesus' teaching is from God:

John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (ESV)

64.3. God loved us first

I John 4:8-11 - Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Isaiah 64:8 - But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. (ESV)

64.3.1. God's love is greater

Romans 8:35 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Romans 8:39 - nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

64.4. God was faithful to us first

64.4.1. God's faithfulness is greater

Romans 3:3-4 - What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.

II Timothy 2:13 - if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

Today <2024-06-02 Sun> in the morning I got a picture of the Star of David. To me that means: "God is faithful".

Song
Amy Grant - El-Shaddai

I still get encouragements such as this from God.

I also got a bunch of pictures of my family.

64.4.2. We can rest in God and don't need to trust in our own understanding too much

Psalms 131:1-3 - O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. A Song of Ascents. Of David. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. (ESV)

In following Jesus, the Apostles were perplexed sometimes:

II Corinthians 4:8 - We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; (ESV)

That's because we don't have the full picture:

I Corinthians 13:9 - For we know in part and we prophesy in part, (ESV)

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (ESV)

Isaiah 55:8-9 - For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (ESV)

God has made Christ Jesus our wisdom:

I Corinthians 1:30 - He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. (ESV)

64.5. The Way is available for everyone, but not everyone ends up walking it

Jesus made the Way - He is the Way:

Romans 5:18-19 - Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

  • for all men
  • the many

64.6. We have free will, but the Holy Spirit helps us and dwells with us and comes to be in us

We can't come to Jesus unless Father God draws us to Jesus. While it is true that we need God to draw us, I believe we should still choose Jesus, and follow Jesus as Jesus' sheep:

John 6:44 - No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. (ESV)

We're supposed to do the will of God from the heart:

Ephesians 6:6 - not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

When we hear Jesus' voice, we must open the door. We have free will to receive or reject Jesus - we must be obedient believers:

Revelation of John 3:20 - Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (ESV)

If you keep Jesus' commandments then the Spirit of Truth will come to you, and help you, and be in you. If we obey Jesus, the Holy Spirit helps us, even before He's inside us:

John 14:15-17 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (ESV)

Since the Holy Spirit dwells with us even before He is in us, I do understand that the Holy Spirit may seem to be more force-like before the Holy Spirit dwells inside and we know Him as a person.

As an example, as I was talking to a couple of JWs this year, a leaflet containing the gospel message tumbled down the footpath and stopped at my feet. I picked it up and we conferred about it.

Paul was resisting the goading of the Holy Spirit:

Acts 26:14 - And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads. (ESV)

Being born of the Spirit is something which is genuinely unpredictable but we can sense its coming and going. It's not the same thing as getting someone to pray a sinner's prayer, for example, otherwise Jesus would not have used this analogy. We can sense it (hear it's sound. Me making testimony of being born of the Spirit is me making the sound, I guess), but we don't know where it comes form or where it goes:

John 3:3-8 - Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (ESV)

We should aim for Jesus' commandments to become unburdensome. So I would use the analogy of entering a current of water (like the Turtle Cruising in Finding Nemo) While in the Holy Spirit, Jesus' commandments should be unburdensome, and having the Holy Spirit in us helps us to keep Jesus' commandments even when we face resistance from the world:

I John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (ESV)

It appears there is evidence that we live by the Spirit even before we walk by the Spirit. We must also walk by the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22-25 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (ESV)

I John 3:2-7 - Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. (ESV)

We obey Jesus to be saved:

Hebrews 5:9 - And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

We obey Jesus to receive the Holy Spirit:

Acts 5:32 - And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

Jesus certainly suggests here that by believing and obeying Jesus' commandments, we can receive the Holy Spirit. Walking by Jesus' words and commandments is walking by the Spirit:

John 6:63-65 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe. (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him. ) And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”

This definitely indicates that we should try to keep Jesus Christ's commandments even before receiving the Holy Spirit inside of us.

64.7. We have free will. We must believe God

We may ask God for a willing spirit:

Psalms 51:10-12 - Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. (ESV)

Obedience is good:

Psalms 40:6-8 - Sacrifice and offering you have not desired, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. (ESV)

There is intellectual belief and there is experiential belief, and we could have both, by having both belief and obedience to Jesus. To believe, we must be seeking God, not glory from one another:

John 5:44 - How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (ESV)

Nevertheless, if a person hears the word of Christ, and believes the word of Christ, they are believing the truth, and a natural consequence of that should be the development of faith because while believing the truth, other things become more apparent:

Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (ESV)

The Scriptures say Abraham believed God, and it doesn't say God believed God. We must believe God:

Romans 4:3 - For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. (ESV)

The Scriptures say Abraham obeyed God - we must become obedient believers:

Genesis 26:5 - because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. (ESV)

Also, in advance of being given the promise, Abraham was faithful to God:

Genesis 14:23 - that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, I have made Abram rich.

That is when God rewarded Abraham for Abraham's faithfulness, with a promise:

Genesis 15:1-6 - After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great. But Abram said, O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir. And he brought him outside and said, Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them. Then he said to him, So shall your offspring be. And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Rewards are for people who choose to do the right thing.

It doesn't say, God rewarded God. God said that Abraham's reward shall be very great. God rewarded Abraham.

64.8. Seeking God

Blessed are those who like being around Jesus and trust Him:

Luke 7:23 - And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.

Blessed are those who have believed before having come to see and know for certain:

John 20:29 - Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.􇩙

Blessed are those who ask and seek for a blessing:

Matthew 7:7-8 - Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

64.9. Run the race

Hebrews 12:1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

I Corinthians 9:24 - Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

Luke 13:24 - Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Galatians 5:7 - You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? (ESV)

Philippians 3:13-14 - Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

II Timothy 4:6-9 - For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. Do your best to come to me soon.

64.9.1. Steadfastness

James 1:1-4 - James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (ESV)

II Peter 1:5-10 - For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. (ESV)

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (ESV)

James 5:11 - Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (ESV)

Titus 2:1-8 - But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. (ESV)

I Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (ESV)

Colossians 1:21-23 - And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. (ESV)

64.10. God has planned in advance our salvation

64.10.1. Grace alone - sola gratia (by grace alone) AMEN!!

I Corinthians 1:30 - But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, (NASB)

Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, (ESV)

Ephesians 1:4-5 - just as He chose (G1586 eklegomai) us in Him before (G4253 pro) the foundation of the world (G2889 kosmos), that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined (G4309 proorizo) us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention (G2107 eudokia) of His will, (NASB)

1: :  1586  eklegomai  ek-leg'-om-ahee
2: 
3:  middle voice from 1537 and 3004 (in its primary sense); to
4:  select:--make choice, choose (out), chosen.
5:  see GREEK for 1537
6:  see GREEK for 3004
1: :  4309  proorizo  pro-or-id'-zo
2: 
3:  from 4253 and 3724; to limit in advance, i.e. (figuratively)
4:  predetermine:--determine before, ordain, predestinate.
5:  see GREEK for 4253
6:  see GREEK for 3724

In the fullness of time, all things in heaven and earth are united to God:

Ephesians 1:10 - as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Given that we have an inheritance, it's evident that God must have predestined us:

Ephesians 1:11-14 - In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

The inheritance is salvation:

Hebrews 1:14 - Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? (ESV)

64.11. We are fellow workers with God. It's by God's power that our work flourishes

Ephesians 3:16 - that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

64.11.1. Without God we can do nothing

I Corinthians 3:6-9 - I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

John 1:3 - All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (ESV)

We work in God's field:

John 4:34-38 - Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, There are yet four months, then comes the harvest? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, One sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.

64.11.2. God's power through Jesus, through the man's faith in Jesus' name made the man walk

Acts 3:12 - And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? (KJV)

The man had faith - faith enters into the truth / receives from God:

Acts 3:5-8 - And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene– walk!” And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

Jesus made the man walk through Jesus' power and Jesus' holiness:

Acts 3:11-12 - While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?

The faith which He had in Jesus' name is what healed him:

Acts 3:16 - And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

There are other instances of this - it's faith in Jesus which makes a person well and receives forgiveness and salvation from Jesus:

Mark 5:34 - And he said to her, Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease. (ESV)

Luke 7:47-50 - Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven-for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. And he said to her, Your sins are forgiven. Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, Who is this, who even forgives sins? And he said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go in peace. (ESV)

65. Father God

Amos 5:8 - He who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the LORD is his name; (ESV)

1: 6213              3598         3685          2015
2: ‘ō·śêh            ḵî·māh       ū·ḵə·sîl,     wə·hō·p̄êḵ
3: עֹשֵׂ֨ה               כִימָ֜ה         וּכְסִ֗יל         וְהֹפֵ֤ךְ
4: He made           the Pleiades and Orion     and He turns
5: V‑Qal‑Prtcpl‑msc  N‑fs         Conj‑w | N‑ms Conj‑w | V‑Qal‑Prtcpl‑ms
1: 1242               6757                3117          3915
2: lab·bō·qer         ṣal·mā·weṯ,         wə·yō·wm      lay·lāh
3: לַבֹּ֙קֶר֙               צַלְמָ֔וֶת               וְי֖וֹם          לַ֣יְלָה
4: into morning       the shadow of death and the day   as night
5: Prep‑l, Art | N‑ms N‑ms                Conj‑w | N‑ms N‑ms
1: 2821             7121                  4325
2: heḥ·šîḵ;         haq·qō·w·rê           lə·mê-
3: הֶחְשִׁ֑יךְ            הַקּוֹרֵ֣א                 לְמֵֽי־
4: makes dark       He calls              for the waters
5: V‑Hifil‑Perf‑3ms Art | V‑Qal‑Prtcpl‑ms Prep‑l | N‑mpc
1: 3220       8210
2: hay·yām,   way·yiš·pə·ḵêm
3: הַיָּ֗ם        וַֽיִּשְׁפְּכֵ֛ם
4: of the sea and pours them out
5: Art | N‑ms Conj‑w | V‑Qal‑ConsecImperf‑3ms | 3mp
1: 5921 6440     776          3068        8034
2: ‘al- pə·nê    hā·’ā·reṣ    Yah·weh     šə·mōw.       s
3: עַל־  פְּנֵ֥י      הָאָ֖רֶץ         יְהוָ֥ה        שְׁמֽוֹ׃          ס
4: on   the face of the earth Yahweh      [is] His name  -
5: Prep N‑cpc    Art | N‑fs   N‑proper‑ms N‑msc | 3ms   Punc

II Chronicles 15:3-4 - For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law, but when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.

Jeremiah 10:10 - But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.

Deuteronomy 10:14 - Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. (ESV)

Ephesians 3:9-11 - and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Romans 1:18-25 - For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness (763. asebeia) and unrighteousness (93. adikia) of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Deuteronomy 7:9 - Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: To Him Be Glory Forever

Romans 11:33-36 - Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (ESV)

65.1. Jesus is the Only Way to Father God

John 14:1-6 - Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going. Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

We must get to know God through knowing Jesus:

John 14:7-9 - If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him. Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, Show us the Father?

We want to know Jesus experientially because Jesus has made us His own:

Philippians 3:12 - Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (ESV)

A relationship is formed between the obedient person and God:

  • Get to know Jesus by following His commandments and being obedient and willing to do God's will.
  • But as we do God's will, God comes to know us (it's simultaneous):

Galatians 4:8-9 - Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

65.2. The life that Father God gave us is in His Son, Jesus Christ

I John 4:8-11 - Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

65.2.1. God made Himself knowable by sending Jesus Christ, who has made Father God known

John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

God is knowable through having faith in Jesus Christ:

John 1:18 - No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

Exodus 33:18-23 - Moses said, Please show me your glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name The Lord. And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But, he said, you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live. And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.

Grace, mercy, and the eternal life which God has given us is in Jesus Christ. He is the bread of life:

II John 1:3 - Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.

I John 5:11 - And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

I confess that God was acting through Jesus Christ of Nazareth as He walked the earth in the flesh, around 2000 years ago, and that God is still working through us who are in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:13 - for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)

John 10:32 - Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?”

65.2.2. The testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son

Whoever has faith in the Son of God has the testimony in himself.

I John 5:9-13 - If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

65.2.3. We must be in Him, Jesus Christ

I John 5:18-20 - We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

We know that we abide in Him because He has given us of His Spirit:

James 1:17 - Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

I John 4:13-17 - By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

Acts 2:33 - Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.

For the day of judgement, we must seek to:

  • abide in His love
  • be loving as He loves

We should be like Jesus while we are in this world:

I John 4:16-17 - So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

Abide in His love:

I John 4:10 - In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Be loving as He loves:

II John 1:4-6 - I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.

There are those who have faith, and those who betray. Betrayal is counter to having faith. Faith includes belief, obedience and faithfulness:

John 6:63-65 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe. (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him. ) And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”

65.2.4. Father God was always with Jesus

John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (ESV)

John 16:25-32- I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father. His disciples said, Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God. Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.

65.2.5. Our will must be aligned with God's will - We start by desiring to do His will

So put into practice Jesus Christ's commandments, and line up your will line up with God's will:

I John 5:14-15 - And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

III John 1:11 - Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

We must be imitators of Christ Jesus. See what Paul is doing as an example of imitating Christ. We repent from sin, we do what God says, we are accountable to God with His precepts and are doers of His commandments, we forgive others as we've been forgiven and we love others as we've been loved, and we have our minds set on heavenly things and the promises of God:

Philippians 3:12-21 - Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (ESV)

If we love one another [as He loved us]:

I John 4:12 - No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

We must be drawn to Jesus Christ, who is the bread of life. We do the will of God and Jesus Christ will raise us on the last day:

John 6:44-48 - No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life.

We must have faith in Jesus Christ and the words He has spoken:

John 6:57-58 - As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.

Don't betray Jesus. Continue walking with Jesus:

John 6:63-69 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe. (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him. ) And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, Do you want to go away as well? Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.

65.2.6. The Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus

John 15:26 - “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,

https://web.archive.org/web/20220402091720/https://mullikine.github.io/posts/dream-the-way-the-truth-the-life/

The Holy Spirit is a person, and is a He:

John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

65.2.7. We must do God's will

John 4:32-34 - But he said to them, I have food to eat that you do not know about. So the disciples said to one another, Has anyone brought him something to eat? Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. (ESV)

65.2.8. We must walk in His commandments

If we want God to make His home with us, we must keep Jesus' words, and obey His commandments:

John 14:23-25 - Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.

In the following case, I think that obedience would have come before belief as if the disciples had loved Him then they would have rejoiced, but that Jesus explains things in advance so that we will believe when we see. Jesus tells us in advance that He goes to the Father, and will come to us, so that we will believe:

John 14:27-29 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, I am going away, and I will come to you. If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.

Faith is a lifestyle. It's walking in the truth:

II John 1:4-6 - I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.

God always preferred for people to walk in obedient, loving, faith to Him over offering burnt sacrifices to him while walking disobediently and faithlessly. Now we have Jesus we are redeemed to walk in obedient faith. We should not be presumptuous in our faith, but should listen to God, to see what He wants and believes is right and live according to His Word, His precepts, His commandments, His Truth. We should listen to God and base our faith on God's Word, and allow God to correct us:

I Samuel 15:22-26 - And Samuel said, Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king. Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may worship the LORD. And Samuel said to Saul, I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel. (ESV)

Loving Jesus, obeying Jesus, and believing that He came from God are essential:

John 16:25-27- I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

65.2.9. The Holy Spirit is a He and brings to remembrance all the words of Jesus

As Jesus came in His Father's name, and spoke His Father's words, the Holy Spirit comes in Jesus' name and brings to remembrance all the words of Jesus:

John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

The following verse was brought to my mind as I was sleeping:

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

65.2.10. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us

Matthew 1:18-25 - Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (ESV)

Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (ESV)

Luke 1:35 - And the angel answered her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. (ESV)

65.2.11. The Word became flesh - Jesus Christ is the Word of God

Jesus is the Word of God become flesh:

John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (ESV)

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV)

John 17:17 - Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (ESV)

Psalms 119:160 - The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (ESV)

John 6:56 - Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. (ESV)

John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (ESV)

John 12:49-50 - For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me. (ESV)

dwell

Revelation of John 19:11-13 - Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. (ESV)

Jesus' flesh was Word. The Word became flesh:

Ephesians 2:11-14 - Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility (ESV)

Romans 2:28-29 - For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (ESV)

65.2.12. Yeshua, the Lion and the Lamb

Genesis 49:9 - Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? (ESV)

Isaiah 11:6 - The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. (ESV)

Isaiah 65:25 - The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, says the LORD. (ESV)

65.2.13. Jesus returned to the Father

John 14:28 - You heard me say to you, I am going away, and I will come to you. If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. (ESV)

John 16:28 - I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.

John 16:5 - But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, Where are you going? (ESV)

John 17:5 - And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. (ESV)

Isaiah 55:11 - so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (ESV)

65.2.14. We also become one with the Father as we are kept in His name

John 17:11 - And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. (ESV)

65.2.15. We can know Father God directly, while Jesus tells us plainly about Father God

We must walk in Jesus' commandments and believe that He came from God.

John 16:25-28 - I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.

65.3. We must agape love God, and our family in Christ and called to agape love even our enemies - How Christians agape love:

65.3.1. Who Christians must agape love

65.3.2. Who Christians are called to agape love:

65.3.3. What Christians must not agape love

Agape love must not be to anything of the world:

Book
timothykeller.com: Counterfeit Gods - Timothy Keller
Sermon
youtube.com: Counterfeit Gods - Tim Keller

Luke 11:43 - Woe to you Pharisees! For you love (agapate) the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. (ESV)

I think I John 2:15-17 is essentially saying, "Do not agape love the world or what's in the world. Do not love the things of this world with the type of love that we have for God and for people, namely agape love." If we fall out of agape love for the world and are not conformed to the world but are transformed by the renewing of our minds then by testing we will be able to discern the will of God:

I John 2:15-17 - Do not love (agapate) the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

65.4. In a way, the Son is the Father as far as we can see because looking upon Jesus we see the Father, but the Father is greater

John 12:44-45 - And Jesus cried out and said, Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. (ESV)

One thing is for sure, Jesus is the only way to the Father.

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (NASB)

Isaiah 48:16-17 - Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there. And now the Lord GOD has sent me, and his Spirit. Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. (ESV)

Matthew 3:16-17 - And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. (ESV)

This quite clearly shows that Jesus Christ is Almighty God:

Zechariah 12:10 - And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. (ESV)

John 10:28 - I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (ESV)

The Father abides in Jesus:

John 14:10 - Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. (NASB)

Jesus abides in the Father (and is in the bosom of the Father):

John 1:18 - No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. (NASB)

Jesus Christ is at the Father's side (and has made Father God known):

John 1:18 - No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (ESV)

This says the Word was God. We can be sure that in the beginning there was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, and that Jesus Christ is the Word:

John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (ESV, NASB, KJV, BSB)

In Christ the Godhead is present: simply, it means that in human nature/form of Jesus, that entails the human flesh/body, there dwells the entirety of divine perfection:

Colossians 2:9-15 - For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

The Word actually became flesh:

John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (ESV)

Luke 24:39 - See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. (ESV)

Thomas saw God in Jesus Christ, or Jesus Christ as God:

John 20:28 - Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God! (ESV)

It's very clear that there is some distinction between Father and Son:

John 20:17 - Jesus said to her, Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. (ESV)

John 7:16 - So Jesus answered them, My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. (ESV)

But Jesus Christ is our Mediator:

I Timothy 2:5 - For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (ESV)

Jesus still refers to Father God as His God:

Revelation of John 3:12 - The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. (ESV)

I think this really clears things up a little bit:

Revelation of John 3:21 - The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (ESV)

John 16:32 - Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. (ESV)

Jesus came in Father God's name:

John 5:43 - I have come in my Father's name (onomati), and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. (ESV)

John 10:25 - Jesus answered them, I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me,

Revelation of John 14:1 - Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144, 000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.

The Father is with the Son, the Father is in the Son, and the Son in the Father:

John 10:30 - I and the Father are one.

The Father is not specifically the Son (Jesus Christ), at least in title, but Jesus is the Word, and the Word is God, and I think Jesus Christ is still the Father in the sense that Jesus Christ is in the Father, and the Father in the Son, but there still seems to be some distinction there between persons or titles, and to be honest, I'm just trying to rationalise this and understand how this fits together and don't presume to know everything with certainty.

And Jesus came in the Father's name.

God was revealed in Jesus Christ for us.

65.5. God adopts children, fellow heirs with Christ

The sons of God on earth who are being adopted by God:

  • are led by the Spirit
    • obeying Jesus Christ
    • crucified the flesh with its passions and desires
  • are sons of Abraham, with the faith of Abraham
    • demonstrating the faith that Abraham had
  • have had faith in Jesus Christ's name
  • suffer with Christ in order to be glorified with Him
  • await their adoption as sons when our bodies are redeemed
  • have the creation eagerly longing for their revealing
  • have heard God and had faith

Since the Holy Spirit dwells with us even before He is in us, I do understand that the Holy Spirit may seem to be more force-like before the Holy Spirit dwells inside and we know Him as a person.

It appears there is evidence that we live by the Spirit even before we walk by the Spirit. We must also walk by the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22-25 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (ESV)

Walking by the Spirit I believe looks like following Jesus' commandments:

Romans 8:14-23 - For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (ESV)

To those who had faith in His name:

Acts 3:16 - And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

John the Baptist came as a witness to the Light that is Jesus Christ, so that through John the Baptist's testimony, all might come to faith:

John 1:6-7 - There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness (G3141 marturia), to testify (G3140 martureo) about the Light, so that all might believe (G4100 pisteuo) through him. (NASB)

Jesus Christ is received through faith:

John 1:12 - But to all who did receive (G2983 lambano) him, who believed (G4100 pisteuo) in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (ESV)

 1: :  2983  lambano  lam-ban'-o
 2: 
 3:  a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is use only as an alternate
 4:  in certain tenses; to take (in very many applications, literally and
 5:  figuratively (properly objective or active, to get hold of; whereas
 6:  1209 is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while
 7:  138 is more violent, to seize or remove)):--accept, + be amazed,
 8:  assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), +
 9:  forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).
10:  see GREEK for 1209
11:  see GREEK for 138

Receiving is a mixture of believing, obeying, trusting, believing to receive - as Abraham's faith was. The faith to receive Jesus, getting to know Him I think is a span of time (it could be instantaneous to a lengthy period of time), I presume, as a person continues to trust Him:

Romans 4:9-12 - Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Galatians 3:7 - Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

Galatians 3:9 - So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (ESV)

Romans 8:19 - For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. (ESV)

Galatians 3:3-6 - Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness?

We are to be conformed into Christ's image:

Romans 8:29 - For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (ESV)

It makes sense to me that being conformed into Christ's image and knowing Father God and Jesus Christ who God has sent would be contemporaneous:

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (ESV)

Jude 1:25 - to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (ESV)

Mark 10:35-45 - And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you. And he said to them, What do you want me to do for you? And they said to him, Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory. Jesus said to them, You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? And they said to him, We are able. And Jesus said to them, The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared. And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (ESV)

65.6. Inheriting the promises made to Abraham and to Christ

The promises were made to Abraham and to Christ:

Galatians 3:16 - Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, And to offsprings, referring to many, but referring to one, And to your offspring, who is Christ.

But through the faith of Abraham in Jesus Christ, we inherit the promises because we have faith in Jesus Christ:

Galatians 3:22 - But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Christ is formed in us, after all:

Galatians 4:18-19 - It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!

In Christ Jesus, through faith, we are sons:

Galatians 3:25-26 - But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Acts 4:12 - And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

We put on Christ when we are baptized into Christ:

Galatians 3:27 - For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Ephesians 4:4-5 - There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, (ESV)

If you are Christ's (in Christ) then you are Abraham's offspring:

Galatians 3:29 - And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

Galatians 4:4-9 - But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

The ones who love God, even demonstrated by repenting from sin and away from the course of this world, God gives to Jesus:

John 17:6 - I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

John 17:9 - I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.

With the light of truth, people may go from darkness to light:

John 12:36 - While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light. When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

Galatians 3:13-14 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

The world (the remaining people, who have not repented) may know that Father God has sent Jesus and loved Jesus' disciples:

John 17:23 - I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

Ephesians 2:2 - in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

66. Father God has always abode in and through Jesus through all of God's work, even as Jesus walked the earth in the flesh. Jesus is the Word

John 14:10 - Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. (ESV)

Proverbs 8:22-23 - The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. (ESV)

John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (ESV)

John 10:18 - No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father. (ESV)

Luke 11:47-51 - Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute, so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. (ESV)

I Corinthians 1:30 - He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. (ESV)

67. Sun's light failing as the curtain was torn and Jesus died

Mark 15:37-39 - And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God! (ESV)

Matthew 27:51 - And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. (ESV)

Mark 15:38 - And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. (ESV)

Luke 23:43-46 - And he said to him, Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise. It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit! And having said this he breathed his last. (ESV)

Hebrews 6:19-20 - We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (ESV)

Hebrews 9:11-15 - But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:12-14 - But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:19-20 - Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, (ESV)

68. Jesus rose from the dead and ascended by His own authority given to Him by Father God. Amen

Luke 24:1-7 - But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” (ESV)

Luke 24:25-26 - And he said to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? (ESV)

Luke 24:38-49 - And he said to them, Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, Have you anything here to eat? They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. Then he said to them, These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. (ESV)

Jesus, by His own authority, rose from the dead. AMEN!!

Sermon
youtube.com: Message To All Christians @time: 2 min 54 sec

John 10:17-18 - For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father. (ESV)

68.1. Ascension

Luke 24:50-53 - And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God. (ESV)

Acts 1:1-12 - The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. (ESV)

69. Armour of God / Armour of Light

Ephesians 6:11-13 - Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (ESV)

  • Belt of Truth
  • Breastplate of Righteousness
  • Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
  • Shield of Faith
  • Helmet of Salvation
  • Sword of the Spirit
  • Prayer
  • Lamp

69.1. Love and holiness

  • Romans 13:10-14 - Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (ESV)

69.2. Belt of Truth

Message
youtube.com: C S Lewis message 2024 - Faith in action God fights for you, but you must also act @time: 13 min 7 sec

CS Lewis - Think of it as the sturdy belt a soldier wears, holding everything in place.

The Truth serves as the foundation of our spiritual lives, anchoring us in a world full of deceptions and falsehoods.

It is the Word of God that anchors us and sets us free, as Jesus said in John 8:32.

Then there is the breastplate of righteousness.

This piece of armour protects our hearts against the enemy's attacks.

It is a reminder of the righteousness we have through Christ, not because of anything we have done, but because of His sacrifice on the cross.

It is about living in obedience and integrity, knowing that we are clothed in His righteousness.

Ephesians 6:14 - Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (ESV)

Ephesians 5:9 - (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), (ESV)

A comprehensive and broad understanding of the Bible is certainly important so we are not "tossed around by every wind of doctrine", and to grow into and become established in the knowledge of Jesus, and able to not be tossed around when people ask questions about doctrine (I have often felt tested in this way, and sometimes unprepared), and that is why I am writing this Bible study out:

69.2.1. Belts of righteousness, faithfulness

Isaiah 11:5 - Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. (ESV)

69.2.2. We are fighting against lawlessness

II Thessalonians 2:9-13 - The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. (ESV)

Daniel 7:25-26 - He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. (ESV)

I Peter 1:2 - according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (ESV)

We must have belief in the truth while being sanctified by the Spirit through faith.

69.3. Breastplate of Righteousness

69.3.1. Imputed righteousness - The righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:9 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— (ESV)

Ephesians 6:14 - Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (ESV)

Isaiah 59:17-18 - He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment. (ESV)

I Corinthians 1:30 - He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. (ESV)

69.3.2. Personal holiness righteousness - Godliness

Cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light:

Romans 13:12-14 - The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (ESV)

Live in the spirit the way God does:

I Peter 4:1-6 - Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. (ESV)

youtube.com: Unstained from the World: The Battle for Purity - Tim Conway @time: 16 min 34 sec

Unspotted by the world is mainly a mind thing.

Listen what Paul says, "Do not be conformed to this world."

That's the issue. Don't be spotted by it. Don't be conformed to it.

But be transformed by the renewal of your mind. You see where the battle is?

Brethren, to be unspotted from the world, this is largely for us to be unspspotted by the ways that this world thinks, its theories, its belief systems. We're talking strongholds of thought and Brethren, you know what, you had a world out there and it's like they have this fortification around their head, around their thoughts, around how they think, and they live in it.

And they're trapped in these things and our responsibility is to seek to come and dash these things. John MacArthur says, heard him say that these things become their tombs. They die in there.

Oh, they appear so lofty, scientific, intelligent, intellectual. This all seems good, and you know what Paul said, listen you know what he said? Every lofty opinion, we destroy arguments, every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God. It's all against the knowledge of God. You see what people are fortifying themselves with? Systems that are anti-god, anti-christ and, listen, to the degree you embibe this, the way the world thinks, you're stained by it, you're adulterated by it.

We got to get the world's ideologies out of our mind and stop being double-headed, stop being adulterated in the mind. You know what we're striving after? Your virginity of the mind.

69.4. Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

The readiness to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people, and also live out the Gospel.

Ephesians 6:15 - and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. (ESV)

Isaiah 52:7 - How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns. (ESV)

Romans 10:15 - And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! (ESV)

II Corinthians 5:18-21 - All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)

69.5. Shield of Faith

Maintaining faithfulness to God, and our trust in God, God fights for us and is our shield.

Ephesians 6:16 - In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; (ESV)

I Peter 5:8-9 - Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (ESV)

I John 5:4-5 - For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (ESV)

Psalms 56:3-4 - When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? (ESV)

Having faith in God, we have our shield:

Genesis 15:1 - After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great. (ESV)

69.6. Helmet of Salvation

Our hope of salvation which we have in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 6:17 - and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (ESV)

Isaiah 59:17 - He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 5:8 - But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. (ESV)

69.7. Sword of the Spirit

69.7.1. Apply the word of God to combat lies

Ephesians 6:17 - and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (ESV)

69.7.2. Believe the truth

Matthew 4:4 - But he answered, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (ESV)

69.7.3. Keep a clean heart with God

Hebrews 4:12-13 - For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (ESV)

Acts 24:14-16 - But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. (ESV)

69.7.4. Repent

Revelation of John 19:15 - From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. (ESV)

Revelation of John 2:16 - Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. (ESV)

Hosea 6:5 - Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. (ESV)

69.8. Prayer

An example of a prayer - short and sweet:

Genesis 24:12 - And he said, O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. (ESV)

Another example:

Daniel 2:20-23 - Daniel answered and said: Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter. (ESV)

Ephesians 6:18 - praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, (ESV)

I Thessalonians 5:17 - pray without ceasing, (ESV)

Colossians 4:2 - Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (ESV)

I Timothy 2:1 - First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, (ESV)

Philippians 4:6 - do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (ESV)

Jude 1:20 - But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; (ESV)

Romans 8:26-27 - Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (ESV)

69.9. Lamp

Awaiting the grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ, prepare our hearts, waiting for Jesus to knock, ready for action.

The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. But we know it's coming, so we'll be ready for it:

I Thessalonians 5:4-5 - But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. (ESV)

Keep shining your light, maintaining a heart of service, and do good works of faith to glorify God, as we put our hope fully on the mercy and grace from Jesus Christ:

I Peter 1:13 - Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Jesus will serve His servants who are awake:

Luke 12:33-37 - Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. (ESV)

Matthew 23:11 - The greatest among you shall be your servant. (ESV)

69.10. Armour of God - CS Lewis notes

69.10.1. Belt of Truth

Think of it as the study belt a soldier wears, holding everything in place. The Truth serves as the foundation of our spiritual life, anchoring us in a world full of deceptions and falsehoods. It is the word of God that anchors us and sets us free.

69.10.2. Breastplate of Righteousness

Protects our hearts against the enemy's attacks. It is a reminder of the righteousness we have through Christ, not because of anything we have done. It is about living in obedience and integrity, knowing that we are clothed in His righteousness.

69.10.3. Shoes of Peace

These are not just ordinary shoes. They symbolise our readiness to share the good news of peace with others. In a world torn by conflict and turmoil, we carry the message of reconciliation and hope wherever we go. It is the peace that comes with knowing Christ as mentioned in Philippians 4:7.

Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

69.10.4. Shield of Faith

Faith comes in as our shield against the fiery darts of the enemy. It is not just a passive belief but an active trust in God's promises. With faith, we can extinguish every arrow of doubt, fear and temptation. We hold our groud, secure in God's love as Romans 8:38-39 assures us.

Romans 8:38-39 - For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

69.10.5. Helmet of salvation

The Helmet of salvation is what protects our minds from the enemy's lies and doubts:

  • Reminds us of the certainty we have in Christ
    • The assurance of our salvation
    • Our hope
    • Our eternal inheritance

With this helmet we stand firm in our identity as children of God, redeemed and forgiven.

We cannot forget the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. This is not just any weapon, but it is our offensive tool in spiritual battles, just as Jesus did in the wilderness. We use scripture to demolish strongholds and take every thought captive for Christ as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

II Corinthians 10:4-5 - For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (ESV)

youtube.com: Unstained from the World: The Battle for Purity - Tim Conway @time: 16 min 34 sec

Unspotted by the world is mainly a mind thing.

Listen what Paul says, "Do not be conformed to this world."

That's the issue. Don't be spotted by it. Don't be conformed to it.

But be transformed by the renewal of your mind. You see where the battle is?

Brethren, to be unspotted from the world, this is largely for us to be unspspotted by the ways that this world thinks, its theories, its belief systems. We're talking strongholds of thought and Brethren, you know what, you had a world out there and it's like they have this fortification around their head, around their thoughts, around how they think, and they live in it.

And they're trapped in these things and our responsibility is to seek to come and dash these things. John MacArthur says, heard him say that these things become their tombs. They die in there.

Oh, they appear so lofty, scientific, intelligent, intellectual. This all seems good, and you know what Paul said, listen you know what he said? Every lofty opinion, we destroy arguments, every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God. It's all against the knowledge of God. You see what people are fortifying themselves with? Systems that are anti-god, anti-christ and, listen, to the degree you embibe this, the way the world thinks, you're stained by it, you're adulterated by it.

We got to get the world's ideologies out of our mind and stop being double-headed, stop being adulterated in the mind. You know what we're striving after? Your virginity of the mind.

I want to let the Bible smash bad theology - not just my own bad theology.

Not by our own strength, but by God's power. God equips and enables us to stand firm so in the midst of every spiritual battle, let us stand strong with the armour He has provided.

70. Solae

I am covered by the Blood of Jesus Christ. My trust is in Jesus. I am justified by faith in Jesus Christ who has set me free from the law of sin and death. The law of the spirit of life in Christ has set me free from the law of sin and death. In Christ I am justified by His blood as I have placed by faith in Him and continue to trust Him and obey Him. He takes care of me.

God has made Christ Jesus our wisdom:

I Corinthians 1:30 - He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. (ESV)

My justification and salvation are absolutely reliant on Him and He is faithful even when I am unfaithful.

Obeying Jesus is not contrary to faith in Jesus but gives me confidence before God. AMEN!!

I John 3:21-24 - Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

I John 3:18-19 - Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; (ESV)

I believe in all of theses:

  • sola fida (by faith alone) AMEN!!.
    • The justifying faith may include 'acts of faith', which is just visible, working faith.
    • Works done outside of faith do not qualify for justification.
  • sola gratia (by grace alone) AMEN!!
  • sola scriptura (by Scripture alone) AMEN!!
  • Solus Christus AMEN!!
  • Soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone) AMEN!! But the glory God gives us glorifies God.

To believe, we must be seeking God, not glory from one another:

John 5:44 - How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (ESV)

I'm using the Word of God and doing this Bible study to tread on serpents. Thanks Jesus for giving me authority to do that:

Luke 10:19 - Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. (ESV)

John 7:18 - The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

I'm honestly just trying to combat falsehood by reading and applying the Scriptures in a way where I'm responding to promptings from the Holy Spirit and taking every thought captive to obey Christ, and I want to honour Jesus and honour God, and not bury my talent. So I hope my Bible study has been helpful. And all glory to God.

II Corinthians 10:5 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Matthew 25:22-23 - And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more. His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.

71. Glorification

Jesus sent us. We seek to glorify Jesus. We seek to glorify our Master. We seek to glorify God. We seek to be found in Jesus. We seek the glorification that comes from being found in our Master, Jesus Christ.

John 7:18 - The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

We must abide in Jesus. God doesn't give glory to anyone else. God is love and God is Jehovah and God is Father God and Jesus Christ who He sent:

Isaiah 42:8 - I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. (ESV)

I'm using the Word of God and doing this Bible study to tread on serpents. Thanks Jesus for giving me authority to do that:

Luke 10:19 - Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. (ESV)

The glory comes from God:

John 5:44 - How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (ESV)

Psalms 73:24 - You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.

God glorifies Jesus:

John 5:41 - I do not receive glory from people.

John 8:54 - Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, He is our God.

God glorifies Himself through glorifying Jesus through working through Jesus. The power comes from God:

John 11:4 - But when Jesus heard it he said, This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.

John 13:32 - If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.

Jesus glorifies us, provided we suffer for His sake, by working through us to do God's work which also glorifies Jesus and glorifies God:

John 14:13 - Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 15:8 - By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 17:10-11 - All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. (ESV)

Romans 8:17 - and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)

The Spirit whom those who have faith in Jesus receive works through us:

John 7:39 - Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Jesus glorified God by accomplishing the work that God gave Him - Jesus obeyed God.

John 17:4 - I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

Likewise, we must obey God, and obey God by obeying Jesus, and being sanctified in the Truth. By having faith in Jesus and trusting in the Truth, and obeying, we are cleaned, transformed and made to glorify God:

John 17:8-26 - For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.

II Thessalonians 1:10 - when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

We are to be conformed into Christ's image:

Romans 8:29 - For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (ESV)

We're supposed to do good works of faith by Jesus' power so that Jesus' name is glorified - and those works done in Jesus' power are entirely given by grace to us:

71.1. Glorification is grace

Being persecuted for doing good works of faith by His power is all grace:

II Thessalonians 1:11-12 - To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

71.2. Glorification is Christ-likeness

We are trying to shine the Truth of Jesus Christ and Jesus' gospel.

I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (ESV)

Glorification is the visible works of following Jesus including forgiving others, relieving others' burdens, etc. suffering for the sake of righteousness and obedience to God.

Imitating Jesus, forgiving others, walking righteously, and doing good works (bearing one-another's burdens) glorifies Jesus and glorifies God. The motivation is to glorify Jesus, and to honour Jesus.

I Corinthians 6:20 - for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (ESV)

Romans 12:1 - I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Steve Apirana - Living Sacrifice

This should never replace Jesus, but glorifies Jesus because it's being a disciple of Jesus.

II Thessalonians 1:11-12 - To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Hebrews 2:10 - For it was fitting for Him, for whom (G3739 hos) are all (G3956 pas) things (G3956 pas), and through whom (G3739 hos) are all (G3956 pas) things (G3956 pas), in bringing many sons to glory (G1391 doxa), to perfect (G5048 teleioo) the author of their salvation (G4991 soteria) through sufferings.

If someone's lord is money and not Jesus and then they try to do good works such as setting up businesses, I feel like this glorifies money, not Jesus.

Here, Zacchaeus, renounces money and makes Jesus his Lord. This must happen first.

Luke 19:8 - And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. (ESV)

Abram did this too. It's a necessary act of faith.

Genesis 14:20-24 - and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand! And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. And the king of Sodom said to Abram, Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself. But Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, I have made Abram rich. I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.

Genesis 15:1 - After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.

71.3. True obedience leads to glory/holiness/Christ-likeness

For example, to truly obey God and love / do no harm to one's neighbour involves relieving other's burdens as they ask more from you.

Philippians 2:8 - And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV)

youtube.com: C.S. Lewis - God is guiding our lives to the best path @time: 18 min 37 sec
As you feel compelled to act according to what pleases God, even in the face of difficulties, it is a clear sign that He is moulding not only your heart but your entire being. God is reshaping you to reflect the person he created you to be, with a heart like that of Jesus.

Jesus endured the weight of His cross to lighten our burden:

Hebrews 12:3 - Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (ESV)

We are called to do the same, lightening the burdens of others. We are forgiven and given grace, then we can choose to forgive others and lighten their burdens - grace propagates.

Hebrews 12:4-6 - In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.

Hebrews 12:10 - For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

71.4. Forgive others' offenses towards you is glory

Proverbs 19:11 - Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. (ESV)

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (ESV)

We are required to:

  • forgive others for your sake
  • forgive others for their sake
  • forgive others as a response of love to Jesus for your sins being forgiven
  • to be able to forgive others is a gift to you and part of glorification
  • be merciful to others as we have received mercy

This is simultaneously required and is part of glorification/holiness.

I think there's something very important about forgiving others especially for things which happen after being born-again of the Spirit and receiving the Holy Spirit.

Colossians 3:13 - bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

John 20:21-23 - Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.

Especially immediately after receiving the Holy Spirit, Jesus forgives those who you forgive - this is partaking in the process of forgiveness.

Jesus is the one who forgives sin, but we actually participate in propagating that forgiveness.

Forgiving others entirely is also required

Matthew 6:12 - and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Sometimes you don't know if you're in the right or wrong, so forgiving others' offences towards you is freeing yourself:

Matthew 18:21-35 - Then Peter came up and said to him, Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything. And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, Pay what you owe. So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, Have patience with me, and I will pay you. He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. (ESV)

Before God we're all guilty:

Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV)

Loving one another includes forgiving one another. Forgiving others means not holding a grudge:

Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (ESV)

youtube.com: Sin as Slavery - Timothy Keller Sermon @time: 22 min 17 sec
What if you just decided, "I know I'm supposed to forgive but I'm not I'm going to hold a grudge." You know what that will do to your mind? It will rot your mind mind. Because first of all in order to hold a grudge you've got to feel morally superior to that person. You cannot see yourself as yourself guilty of anything that person has done. And so, when the evidence comes that you are a sinner, when the evidence comes that you are weak, when the evidence comes that you're flawed, you'll screen it out. You won't be able to. Because you can't hold on, you can't crave vengeance and still be rational. You'll have to screen out any evidence that says, "Hey, you're as bad as that person" and not only that, you'll have to screen out any evidence that person isn't as bad as you thought they were.
youtube.com: Sin as Slavery - Timothy Keller Sermon @time: 23 min 7 sec
Sin will not only destroy your emotions through an eternal tolerance effect but it will destroy your mind. You will not be able to think and in the end your will is gone.

Forgiving each other moves mountains (I know Gospel of Thomas is not canon and I don't affirm the gospel of Thomas - I think it's misleading, but this saying rings true for me, and I believe it means that when two people make peace, they can move mountains. Whether Jesus truly said it or not, who knows):

Thomas 48 - Jesus said: If two make peace with one another in this one house, they will say to the mountain: Be removed, and it will be removed.

Matthew 18:15-20 - If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. (ESV)

It's Christlike to forgive others' offences against us:

Proverbs 19:11 - Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. (ESV)

We'll be chastised if we do not forgive our brother from our heart:

Matthew 18:35 - So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. (ESV)

Get out of debt to others:

Romans 13:7 - Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. (ESV)

Come to the place where we owe others nothing but to love them:

Romans 13:8 - Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. (ESV)

Our unforgiveness is an impediment to receiving forgiveness:

Mark 11:25 - And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (ESV)

Matthew 6:14-15 - For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (ESV)

We should have the right response to the grace of God, and forgive our neighbour:

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

We are instructed to forward grace to others:

Matthew 10:8 - Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. (ESV)

71.5. Be extremely generous - give without limits to relieve the burdens of others

Matthew 10:8 - Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. (ESV)

1 Peter 4:8 - Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (ESV)

Luke 6:35-36 - But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (ESV)

Luke 6:38 - give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. (ESV)

Mark 12:41-44 - And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on. (ESV)

Psalms 37:21 - The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives; (ESV)

Psalms 37:25-26 - I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing. (ESV)

Paul commends giving even beyond their means. This is in accordance with the widow's offering:

II Corinthians 8:3-5 - For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. (ESV)

Give as you have made up in your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, but resist other people deterring you from giving when your heart convicts you it's the right thing to do as far as obeying Jesus goes:

II Corinthians 9:6-9 - The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. (ESV)

71.6. Do the good works which have been gifted to you

Our works have been gifted to us by God's grace - works of deed and word:

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)

God chose us and called us out of darkness into His marvelous light to proclaim His excellencies:

I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (ESV)

Matthew 5:16 - In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

71.7. Walk in righteousness

Daniel 12:3 - And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. (ESV)

71.8. The deeds of glory - Christlikeness

Hebrews 3:14 - For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. (ESV)

All the times a person has acted in Christlike obedience:

  • forgiving others in knowledge they have been forgiven themselves
  • giving mercy to others in knowledge they have themselves received mercy
  • encouraging one-another
  • serve others
  • suffering as a Christian
  • etc.

God glorifies Jesus (His Son) so Jesus may glorify Him (God). Jesus glorifies us (His disciples) so we may glorify Him (Jesus) and glorify God by glorifying Jesus.

This is obedience.

John 17:1 - When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,

John 17:4 - I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

God glorifies Jesus. Jesus obeyed God and accomplished the work God gave Him. Jesus showed God's truthfulness through His obedience. Jesus showed God to be true and glorified God:

Romans 15:8-9 - For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.

Jesus glorifies us: We must obey Jesus and accomplish the work God gives us.

John 8:54 - Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, He is our God.

Jesus is glorified in us - our glory is His glory because we obey Him and show Jesus's truthfulness as Jesus has shown God's truthfulness:

John 17:22-23 - The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

Jesus is glorified in us.

John 17:10 - All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. (ESV)

Jesus accomplished His work. we must accomplish our work.

John 17:4 - I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

Christlikeness:

I Peter 2:12 - Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Romans 12:1 - I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Revelation of John 19:8 - it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

Suffering for Christian obedience, as Christ suffered for His obedience:

John 21:18-19 - Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go. (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God. ) And after saying this he said to him, Follow me.

I Peter 4:16 - Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

John 7:7 - The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: John Piper Recites from 1 Peter

Please your neighbour for their good:

Romans 15:2-3 - Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.

Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you. Live in harmony with one-another, encouraging and serving one another [as Christ did]:

Romans 15:5-7 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Be merciful and serving to others, show God's truthfulness. glorify God by your conduct. Others then praise God:

Romans 15:8-9 - For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.

Supply the needs of the saints:

II Corinthians 9:12 - For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

Be thankful to God:

II Corinthians 9:13 - By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,

Glorification can only come through being found in Jesus Christ:

Isaiah 42:8 - I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. (ESV)

And in Jesus Christ there is no sin:

I John 3:5-6 - You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

71.9. Seeing Jesus, appearing in glory

1 John 3:2 - Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 1:4-8 - I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Colossians 3:4 - When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (ESV)

Philippians 1:6 - And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Philippians 1:10 - so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, (ESV)

Philippians 2:16 - holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (ESV)

John 6:39 - And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. (ESV)

71.10. The putting off of the body

II Peter 1:13-21 - I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

71.11. I think to relax commandments is throw away glorification

Matthew 5:19 - Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

However, I'm not placing myself under the Mosaic law. My job is to do God's will, and I believe I have to maintain faithfulness to God with regards to His will for my life, being led by the Holy Spirit, not making Mosaic law compliance my objective, but making God's will my objective. So, for example, that means making disciples of Jesus. Also, that means deepening my relationship with Jesus.

Matthew 24:35 - Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

72. I was dead and helpless before being made alive in Christ

72.1. Before being born-again of the spirit I was thinking worldly/materially

I Corinthians 2:14 - The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (ESV)

72.1.1. I was spiritually blind

II Corinthians 4:4 - In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (ESV)

72.2. I was quite unable to go against the trajectory of the world

Romans 8:7 - For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. (ESV)

72.3. In a very real sense I was helpless

I was helplessly:

  • stuck in sinful habits,
  • struggling with mental energy to try to stay on top of things / get ahead (of others),
  • wondering why everything was going against me, and
  • wondering where God is
  • wondering why other so-called Christians were not being Christlike

I could not see my spiritual opposition:

Ephesians 6:12 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (ESV)

I felt like giving up, and I cried out to Jesus one night to save me:

Romans 10:13 - For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (ESV)

72.4. In defense of any type of love for God before being born-again

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)

I had already begun to seek God before I was born-again of the Spirit / regenerated on 2 April 2022.

Jeremiah 29:13-14 - You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. (ESV)

I had begun trying to repent from sin by trying to follow the 10 commandments from the heart.

72.4.1. With regards to God

Before I was born-again, I had begun speaking out against evil and I had begun repenting from my evil deeds, but I was still very much spiritually depraved. God was still working in my life.

John 7:7 - The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. (ESV)

The doctrine of total depravity asserts that people are, as a result of the fall, not inclined or even able to love God wholly with heart, mind, and strength, but rather are inclined by nature to serve their own will and desires and reject his rule.

John 14:15-17 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (ESV)

72.5. Christ's love

Love is:

I Corinthians 13:4-8 - Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. (ESV)

Required to satisfy the "Christ's love" criteria I believe are:

  • Our first agape love has to be Jesus
  • We love because God loved us first. We ought to love others because we have been loved by God
  • We forgive out of a loving response to God and to others, knowing we have already been forgiven of our debt
  • It must satisfy Christ's law
  • Acceptance comes at the beginning; Jesus gives us the benefit of the doubt
  • Be a servant; consider others more significant than yourself
  • Seek to do not harm to your neighbour and not take vengeance
  • Bear one another's burdens without partiality
  • We should endeavour to love not just on occasion, but at all times, continually, as Jesus did, and give our all

Our first agape love has to be Jesus:

Revelation of John 2:1-5 - “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first (G4413 protos) love (G26 agape). Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place–unless you repent. (NASB)

Song
youtube.com: Petra - First Love

Our love is in response to Christ having loved us first:

I John 4:10-11 - In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (ESV)

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (ESV)

To love your neighbour as yourself means forgiving them too, and remember that Jesus forgave us. It also means to not take vengeance (Christ's law includes not rendering evil for evil):

Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (ESV)

Because God loved us first:

  • The Apostle Paul endeavours to know Jesus ('makes it his own'. See Php 3:9-13 below) because Jesus made Paul His own
    • To be found in Jesus is what Paul describes as the righteousness from God that depends on faith
    • We know Jesus by believing in Him and obeying His commandments, and when we love and forgive we know God loved us and forgave us first
  • We should love because He loved us first
    • Romans 5:7-8 - For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)
  • We must forgive as we have been forgiven

Philippians 3:9-13 - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (ESV)

We should be loving our neighbour continually:

John 13:1 - Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (ESV)

72.5.1. Obedience to God and passing forward the love of Christ

It was Father God's will that Jesus went to the cross:

Luke 22:42 - saying, Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done. (ESV)

Jesus was willing to do God's will - Jesus was obedient:

John 10:18 - No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father. (ESV)

In response to forgiveness, we must love:

Luke 7:47 - Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. (ESV)

He loved us first, and that is why and how we love (knowing we've already received mercy). Christ's love is not simply charity but a) it's passing-forward Christ's love, and b) it's to relieve other's burdens (mercy, not sacrifice):

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

Acts 2:45 - And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. (ESV)

Jesus laid down His life. Maybe this says something about how we should also lay down our lives for each other:

John 10:17 - For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. (ESV)

John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. (ESV)

72.6. 2020 (About 1 and a bit years before I was born-again of the Spirit)

I was attempting to prove that "faithful, truthful, unconditional" love should be the basis of a romantic relationship and I did not have any success in finding one.

The good part of it was wanting her to be happy. The bad part was that I wanted to be the solution, when the solution is Jesus.

I Thessalonians 5:20-21 - Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. (ESV)

I believe that Jesus gives us unconditional love but that He also gives us conditional love. There is unconditional love, which extends even to the evil and the ungrateful. This is just one of those apparent paradoxes. However, there is some profoundly conditional aspects of God's love to us which include many promises He makes to those who love Him back:

John 10:27-28 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (ESV)

Polycarp 2:2
Now He that raised Him from the dead will raise us also; if we do His will and walk in His commandments and love the things which He loved, abstaining from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness; not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing or blow for blow or cursing for cursing;

But in all fairness, at this time I still didn't have a relationship with God where I considered Christ's law and bearing my neighbour's burdens, doing no harm and counting others more significant than myself as a defining part of agape love. And for the sake of trying to solve my own problems, I was not at all times counting them as more significant them myself, but I think it's very unfair to say that I did not ever.

Romans 13:10 - Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)

Philippians 2:3-5 - Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, (ESV)

I was still just getting to know Jesus and I had a lot to learn. I believe that the grace in my life ran out.

I gave up on seeking a romantic relationship with that person because there was definitely no mutual feeling from them.

That was up until about December 2020.

At the time I was just beginning to learn to keep Jesus' commandments but I was also trying to fulfill a desire which only Jesus can fill, and I had not died.

Colossians 3:3 - For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (ESV)

We must love (not just any way you believe it's defined, not even merely with charity) but in the same way that Jesus loved us - self-sacrificially, impartially, following Christ's law (bearing one another's burdens) and in a response to having been loved already:

John 13:34 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (ESV)

I John 4:10-11 - In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (ESV)

I John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

Then I was amazed surprised to meet someone else who I simply felt at total peace with being around, someone who I thought also didn't hate me, after struggling for years having romantic feelings for people who didn't have any affection for me at all.

That was around January 2021.

And almost as soon as I met this person I had to let her go for the time being and I simply worked on Pen.el when it was AI software (before it was Bible Study software) for the course of 2021. With the AI project I was building a 'virtual house', but Jesus wants us to allow Him to build our life:

Psalms 127:1 - Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. (ESV)

Matthew 7:24 - Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (ESV)

I just say this in order to describe the events leading up to being born-again, for the sake of others, and so they may know how God drew me to Jesus to save me, as this is my testimony of being born-again.

Even though from time to time I sin, I do not consider myself to be a 'ravenous wolf' because I'm in a world that is incredibly toxic and unconducive to holiness. Nor am I a liar by nature - except in a strict sense, I am by fallen nature, but I'm being sanctified as far as I understand, so that means I'm being renewed in the likeness of my Creator who is not a liar. I hate lying, and when I realise I've said something false I am remoseful. And I rejoice in the truth. Also my first allegiance is always to Jesus. I am conformed to Jesus, not trying to conform Jesus to me. Jesus also did battle against demons, and I identify as being with Him, on His side, of the truth.

youtube.com: C.S. Lewis - God is guiding our lives to the best path @time: 20 min 45 sec
Jesus faced adversities from birth to the cross.

I love Jesus as a response to having been loved by God, and I love God's law, and God has cleaned my heart and my attitude, and remain faithful to Jesus. With my mind I serve the law of God, and I have yielded and am yielding my life to Jesus' control and Lordship, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin:

Romans 7:25 - Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV)

God made me born-again of the Spirit. I was spiritually regenerated. God shone light into my heart, and I embraced Jesus, made following Jesus my number one priority, and abandoned the false-substitute AI stuff, and have made a big effort to turn away from sin, and be as obedient as I can:

John 3:19 - And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. (ESV)

I died and my life is now hidden with Christ in God:

Colossians 3:3 - For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (ESV)

My own obedience/righteousness will never be enough on its own (I also need to have accepted forgiveness from God by Jesus' blood), but I hate sin (especially after I have committed it) and I have made an effort to be conformed to holiness, and I honestly feel like without grace/assistance the call to "be holy as He is holy" feels impossible. But as far as being right with God goes, I'm resting on the righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus so on the day of judgement I hope to receive a "not guilty" verdict, and the ongoing fear of God I believe is a continuing trust and obedience to Jesus Christ after accepting Him as Lord and Saviour - accepting the truth of His Gospel:

Matthew 13:37-43 - He answered, The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. (ESV)

True freedom is found in Jesus, not in the AI stuff:

Colossians 2:18-21 - Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch (ESV)

We must keep and accept the precepts of God over the precepts of men:

Mark 7:6-9 - And he said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men. And he said to them, You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! (ESV)

This passage is condemning submitting to worldly / human precepts and imploring us to submit to God's precepts. It's not condemning God's precepts but imploring us to put to death what is against God's precepts:

Colossians 2:20-23,3:1-6 - If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. (ESV)

And now I'm in this situation where I feel like:

  • with the first person (a year + before being born-again), the failure was my own fault and I wasn't really in a relationship with God but I wanted a Christian wife. I did not propose to her
    • I learned from this that a spouse is not supposed to be one's saviour
  • after meeting the second person (a year before being born-again) I thought everything about it was perfect
    • so much peace and joy with not needing anything from her and I could focus and work, etc. and wait forever to see her.
    • But when I met the new girl everything felt right, and at the time I met her I felt like I definitely wanted to marry her.
  • after being born-again, Jesus became the most important person to me and was still in love with the girl.
    • When I had the vision of her on the beach, I thought she was a gift from God. I proposed to her after seeing her smiling at me on the street.
    • I was brought into court. I needed to reinforce the following again truth again: that a spouse is not supposed to be one's saviour, and, also, we're not supposed to be our spouses' saviour either. A spouse cannot be an idol. Jesus must always be first because Jesus is our life.

However, it's the husband's role to demonstrate Christ's love, and not deny their wife to know Jesus:

Ephesians 5:21-23 - submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. (ESV)

In my opinion, everything up to when I proposed to her was good - it was like heaven in terms of my happiness. It felt right and I felt close to Jesus too. However, I still had a lot to learn about following Jesus and dying to self.

We are saved to obey God better. God puts us into Christ. We obey to wash others, and for ourselves to be sanctified, like a branch becoming healthier in the tree:

John 13:12-16 - When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. (ESV)

We are required to:

  • forgive others for your sake
  • forgive others for their sake
  • forgive others as a response of love to Jesus for your sins being forgiven
  • to be able to forgive others is a gift to you and part of glorification
  • be merciful to others as we have received mercy

The failure to keep the police bail conditions was still potentially rooted in my own fault theologically speaking.

I still needed ongoing repentance and sanctification (correction theologically and behaviorally), and I think that theological error most likely led to endorsing things which I later wanted to repent from. I felt like it was urgent to repent from heresy and from publicly affirming that I would not judge gay marriage, and my need to plead guilty was in the light of the knowledge of my error.

I understand now from experience that spreading heresy is a very dangerous thing to do:

II Peter 2:1 - But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (ESV)

II Peter 2:15-16 - Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness. (ESV)

I am not the judge of people. There is only one judge. But I am repentant from sin and affirm God's precepts, not sin.

Also, my attitude of wanting to remain faithful to the girl began to degrade my faithfulness to Jesus as I began to make compromises in my writing to continue affirming faithfulness to the girl.

But ultimately, under test I felt the need to affirm Jesus as being the Truth and forsake all else, as from my perspective it looked like I was being tested on relationship idolatry.

Part of why I could not resist but continue blogging, was because of the sheer injustice I felt regarding my freedom to write, and I felt like there was this relationship-destroying spirit sabotaging my relationships again, and whatever thing was completely against faith itself - I had already been writing on my blog very few times to demonstrate a track record of faithfulness, and another part was that after I proposed I wanted to demonstrate faithful waiting in way that was legal (though it was grey, I guess) as the proposal had not been rejected, and as far as I knew at the time, copying Reformed Church Quiz Night results on my blog was not illegal, despite it having elements of her name dispersed in the result answers, or a picture of a flowerbed on my own Facebook page.

I realise that by doing this may have looked like "poking the bear" and I was aware of that possibility, but my motivation wasn't to. I'm a human being who proposed to someone, and I feel like I can in all honesty plead that I was just being human who was making their first proposal and I felt at the time like the system opposing me was an evil and graceless machine that was punishing me for doing what felt right, but also I wasn't exercising perfect love because otherwise I would not have been even a tiny bit resentful:

I Corinthians 13:4-8 - Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. (ESV)

Jesus showed perfect love. We then strive to have love perfected with us:

I John 4:17 - By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

Everything seemed to line up:

The truth is that I was born-again and then I met someone I already liked, and decided I wanted to marry when I talked to her and simply had excessive joy with and also compassion for and thought God made her for me because everything seemed to line up and I was under the impression she liked me too. That has never ever happened before that everything has lined up. However, one must also consider relationship with God, and I knew/know practically nothing about their relationship with God. Perfection would include also both parties having joy in God and love for God, for Jesus, that remains even when the other person is taken away - in fact it's the most important thing in a Christian marriage probably. I would love to have more than just baseline joy in God when it's extremely tough. The question is do I have it? I would describe my relationship with God and joy over the person I wanted to marry as a cake which was mostly composed of icing (20% base, 80% icing), when I feel like ideally the composition should be more like a cake that was mostly cake and a little bit of icing (80% base, 20% icing) - where the joy over the wife is the icing and the joy over God is the base. In all honesty, I think I would prefer if it could be mostly cake base and icing on the top. God doesn't want to be merely the icing on the cake but the foundation of our life.

This sermon helps:

youtube.com: Sustaining Joy in Christ
#8 - "Spend time with God saturated people who will help you see God and fight the fight of faith." #9 "Read biographies of great Christian Saints." Now I mention this because it's biblical Hebrews 11 is all about heroes of the faith.

I think the judiciary system should be careful not to infringe on basic human rights going forward with the AI-generated fiction which is now in the world, otherwise as I have said, robots may be taking human wives before poor people can, and that to God is an abomination I assure you - and I wouldn't want to tempt God.

I think I John 2:15-17 is essentially saying, "Do not agape love the world or what's in the world. Do not love the things of this world with the type of love that we have for God and for people, namely agape love." If we fall out of agape love for the world and are not conformed to the world but are transformed by the renewing of our minds then by testing we will be able to discern the will of God:

I John 2:15-17 - Do not love (agapate) the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

Tempting God with that seems a worse idea than "poking the bear".

II Samuel 11:3-5 - And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, I am pregnant. (ESV)

II Samuel 12:1-18 - And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him. Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. Nathan said to David, You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun. David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said to David, The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die. Then Nathan went to his house. And the LORD afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm. (ESV)

Because of the seriousness of the circumstances, and the fear of God, I'm prevented from doing much without specific and unambiguous instruction from God, like an angel:

Matthew 1:20 - But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

I John 4:1-3 - Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. (ESV)

It's right for me to focus on God right now, and remain obedient to Jesus:

youtube.com: 'I Have Loved You'
The revelation of the the Lord's love is unfolded in a way that makes us tremble.

James 1:12-18 - Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (ESV)

youtube.com: The Fullest, Longest Happiness: For Those Who Pass the Test

That lifestyle, that unselfish, other oriented, love your neighbor as yourself, sacrificial way of life, I'm telling you, is going to be required of you in the midst of lifelong miseries, which are God's tests.

That's where the obedience of this book (James) is going to be required of you.

There's no vacation time to do nice obedience and then you can suffer at another time…

It is design in those tests is your deep and lasting happiness and these tests provide circumstances through which you are found proven and fit for the crown of life.

All God's tests are designed to make you deeply and lastingly happy.

Everything else in the text is to help you believe that live that because life is going to be hard Joy is going to be serious.

From my angle, I had considered myself as the poor man (II Samuel 12:1-18) in the situation of court and not like David who stole someone's wife, but I had a lot of repentance to do. I believe I could have asked God to get justice with this, but then it's better to show mercy even for my own sake, especially in the knowledge that I have been shown mercy by God. So I know I have been shown mercy, and I know I should pass forward mercy. Remember the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35):

James 2:13 - For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (ESV)

Despite having already been involved (while on earth) with the courts of heaven, I will also ultimately stand before God where He will see if I passed forward mercy after having received mercy:

II Corinthians 5:10-11 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. (ESV)

But I did give a letter of forgiveness in court, so there's no (even spiritual) legal obligation to have this amended. Also, perhaps to them I have been like David. Despite being made new I still have a "history" from others' point of view, and having received grace it makes sense to pass forward grace.

I'm at peace with whatever happens next.

Jesus emptied himself. So despite being born-again, it's right to do the same:

II Corinthians 8:9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (ESV)

We are supposed to have the same mind:

Philippians 2:5-8 - Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV)

But I am allowed to ask God for more grace, but that's between me and God:

James 4:6-7 - But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (ESV)

And I'm allowed to speak the truth from my angle:

Isaiah 41:21 - Set forth your case, says the LORD; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob. (ESV)

I believe strongly that outlawing marriage proposal is very close to outlawing God, and outlawing my writing was punishing faith which is the way in which we are supposed to live.

Hebrews 10:38 - but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. (ESV)

I Corinthians 7:1-2 - Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman. But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. (ESV)

I also believe that the situation was interfered with by the influences of unclean spirits. For all my faults I have been following Jesus, not perfectly but penitently.

I had to be obedient after going to court:

John 3:16-21 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God. (ESV)

I've had to be corrected even after being born-again of the Spirit. Jesus has to be number one.

I'm no longer interested in AI. I know God is real and is taking care of me.

I realise what has happened regarding me and relationships is messy and the need to hold no grudge going forward. I offer it to anyone.

Life doesn't feel like the kingdom of God to me currently because that would involve having this trifecta of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, and I have felt like I have had my blessings stolen from me by the enemy, but God is the only one who can solve this for me, but I do have peace and righteousness in the Holy Spirit, and baseline joy which is derived from a good conscience with God.

At the end of the day, it's good conscience with God I am after and sanctification:

Romans 14:17-18 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

A goal is to be content in any situation:

Philippians 4:11 - Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. (ESV)

Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. (ESV)

72.7. Being born-again / being regenerated of Spirit

God made me born-again/regenerated me on 2 April 2022 and following Jesus became the most important thing.

I was washed and sanctified:

I Corinthians 6:11 - And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (ESV)

I'm still being sanctified:

Hebrews 10:14 - For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (ESV)

I myself am also trying to cooperate with Jesus and the Holy Spirit to be sanctified:

John 17:19 - And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (ESV)

An import part of being sanctified and made perfect/complete is having love perfected with us - getting better at holding no grudges and loving our neighbour as ourselves and loving God obeying God, and being faithful to God even with a good conscience with regards to God's precepts:

I John 4:17 - By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

I John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (ESV)

Ever since 2 April 2022 I have been a new creation. I am controlled by the love of Christ and have stopped thinking like the world thinks, and I've been living for Christ, and I've been learning to do that better:

II Corinthians 5:14-17 - For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (ESV)

72.7.1. Court

I had an out-of-body meeting with the Holy Spirit, and a dream on 3 May 2022 foreshadowing 1 year later on 3 May 2023 when I ended up pleading guilty in court.

I got angry and yelled at the judge in court saying he was a liar because the judge had made a remark against what I assumed was my water baptism (saying, "he must have been baptised at midnight"), but my water baptism was an appeal to God for a good conscience and I was trying to "do good" like in John 7:19-25:

youtube.com: The Hidden Snare of Bitterness @time: 9 min 21 sec
"anger at something because God's purposes are being resisted or God's character is being maligned not our purposes merely or our character good anger is targeting sin against God not just assaults against us"

I regretted getting angry in court very much and I'm very sorry about that, but I was under extreme pressure, not understanding why I was forced to be in court and I was very upset that even after having arrived at peace pleading guilty that it was the most loving thing to do, I was provoked to anger by both judges in court who had the freedom to speak when I did not. But I am very sorry for my outburst of anger and i hold no grudge to either judge or to anyone. I really want the spiritual attack against me to end.

But maybe the judge was referring to me meeting the Holy Spirit in my sleep at 12.30am which may of course have been part of my Holy Spirit baptism - this is mysterious so we can only speculate.

Also, I'm aware that I've been born-again, saved from walking in darkness and in sin and the need to pass-forward forgiveness and the need to obey Jesus, and I'm aware that I was not strictly perfectly innocent. I snapped in court and I'm sorry about it.

Well, whatever is the reasons for what happened, all humans except for Jesus have broken God's law - we've all been liars, but God is true. And that is exactly the reason why I pleaded guilty, and the judge is also guilty:

Romans 3:4 - By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged. (ESV)

Sproul also had a moment like this:

youtube.com: The Meaning of Holiness: The Holiness of God with R.C. Sproul

I was lecturing on the Lord's Supper, and his question was not so much a question as an expression of unbridled cynicism.

He put his hand up, and I acknowledged him.

He said, "What's the big deal about bread and wine?

Why do we have to do that?

Why can't we just have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and coca-cola?" That's when I lost it.

I just felt this rage just flowing up out of my soul.

He grated my sensitivity when he said that, and instead of giving a polite, genteel, professorial response to him, I said, "You want to know why we don't have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and coca-cola at Holy Communion?

Because Jesus never consecrated peanut butter and jelly or coca-cola." I just wanted to kill him.

Why?

Because he had just profaned with his question something that was precious and holy in my experience.

But what is it that makes the bread and the wine so special?

What is it that makes any moment in history so special?

What is it that makes a piece of real estate holy ground?

Why is it that Noah marked the spot where he landed with a – built an altar?

And Abraham built an altar to God.

Why is it that we are drawn to take something that is common and make it extraordinary because of its significance?

It's not because of the intrinsic value of these objects, but what makes something sacred, what makes something holy is the touch of God upon it.

When the one who himself is other and different touches that which is ordinary, it becomes extraordinary.

If someone is angry with his brother, then God may take this matter to judgement:

Matthew 5:22 - But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, You fool! will be liable to the hell of fire. (ESV)

5520. cholaó
Definition: to be melancholy, mad, angry Usage: I am angry with. 5520 xoláō (akin to 5521 /xolḗ, "gall, bile") – properly, full of bile; (figuratively) filled with bitter anger and hence harsh (even violent).

If you're unrighteously angry then watch out:

John 7:19-25 - Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me? The crowd answered, You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you? Jesus answered them, I did one deed, and you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? (ESV)

3709. orgé
"Orgē comes from the verb oragō meaning, 'to teem, to swell'; and thus implies that it is not a sudden outburst, but rather (referring to God's) fixed, controlled, passionate feeling against sin . . . a settled indignation (so Hendriksen)" (D. E. Hiebert, at 1 Thes 1:10).

Jesus' anger here was a godly grief:

Mark 3:4-5 - And he said to them, Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill? But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger (3709. orgé), grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, Stretch out your hand. He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. (ESV)

We must forgive our family in Christ from the heart:

Matthew 18:33-35 - And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. (ESV)

Even though I have been born-again, and I think I've been treated with almost zero grace, even treated unfairly, I do not say I am without sin, and to have pleaded 'not guilty' as I am seeking to be obedient to Jesus, even while repenting from certain things which were nothing to do with court, and to not use the year I was born of the Spirit to make testimony of Jesus I think would be to dishonour Jesus, as Jesus is my Lord. So for that and also to try to do no harm to my neighbour, and also because I am not without sin, even after being washed and regenerated, I pleaded guilty in court. I was upset because I thought my latest water baptism was being disrespected and because I was under intense pressure due to what felt like severe spiritual attack against me in the prior months and an unreasonable lack of reality, grace, truth, and fear of God in the court yet I know I was not without sin:

I John 1:8-10 - If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (ESV)

Romans 3:4 - By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged. (ESV)

Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV)

I was also asked just leading up to Easter what I would plea. I did not want to test God by pleading not guilty, especially on Easter.

Nor does it make sense to challenge someone in court who you want to marry because:

  • a) that would be illogical because having love for them I do not want want to hurt them, and
  • b) we are supposed to love our wives as Christ loves His church - self-sacrificially

I Corinthians 10:9-11 - We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. (ESV)

Nor does it make senses to pit old concerns of my pre-born-again life such as "a conviction might make it harder to get a job" up against the needs of the person I want to marry.

There was simply no logic as far as godly wisdom goes to pleading 'not guilty'.

And we are called to love with Christ's love impartially, so had the court situation been with different people and with a different charge, Christ's law still applies:

James 2:1 - My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. (ESV)

James 2:8-9 - If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (ESV)

The judiciary system is right to execute impartial justice:

Deuteronomy 16:17-20 - Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you. You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the LORD your God is giving you. (ESV)

II Chronicles 19:5-7 - He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality or taking bribes. (ESV)

In my situation I obviously needed to hold faith in Jesus:

Romans 3:19-22 - Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: (ESV)

And it means pleading guilty:

Romans 3:4 - By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged. (ESV)

Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV)

It seems to me like the court in several areas regarded good as evil and evil as good:

Proverbs 17:15 - He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD. (ESV)

Good:

  • marriage proposal
  • repentance, trying to be corrected by the Word of God
  • speaking truth
  • forgiving

Evil:

  • slandering
  • punishing good (punishing forgiveness, for example)
  • lying, perjury
  • making it harder to do the right thing

Leviticus 19:15 - You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. (ESV)

Only Jesus was without sin:

Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (ESV)

I John 1:10 - If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (ESV)

I John 1:8-10 - If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (ESV)

However graceless I thought the situation was, pleading not guilty from my perspective would have been:

  • not loving my neighbour,
  • not trusting God,
  • not putting God first before a girl I like,
  • and putting Christ to the test by saying I have not done anything wrong

We must not put Christ to the test:

I Corinthians 10:9-11 - We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. (ESV)

We must remain faithful to God:

James 2:21-23 - Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness—and he was called a friend of God. (ESV)

We must not short-sightedly exchange our invaluable inheritance for immediate relief as Esau did, and do our best to not allow bitterness to damage us going through the fiery trial:

Hebrews 12:15-17 - See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. (ESV)

Mark 8:35-36 - For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? (ESV)

Despite being born of water and the Spirit, we must commit to offering our entire life as a living sacrifice for God, to sow our own life for Jesus' sake:

II Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Matthew 16:25 - For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (ESV)

Jesus laid down His life. Maybe this says something about how we should also lay down our lives for each other:

John 10:17 - For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. (ESV)

Immediately before I had that out-of-body meeting with the Holy Spirit, I had come to the end of myself after doing everything I could in April, writing to my pastor Philip.

Because I was trying to be obedient to God after being born-again, and I then had a prayer request after I considered I had become burnt out from going "all out for God", having given God my first fruits of being born-again for a full month.

Genesis 4:4 - and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, (ESV)

I was in tears feeling as though I had poured out my heart in obedience to Jesus, and asked Him for one thing in prayer and it was me crying to God saying I have given Him everything but I don't have any love in my life and it was taken from me, then in my heart I accepted that I would see her again - you could call it faith, or deluding myself on purpose in order that I would be able to sleep, and I felt immediately better afterwards.

I actually don't think it was a delusion though. I actually think it's the truth.

Romans 12:9 - Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. (ESV)

I Corinthians 13:4-8 - Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. (ESV)

We are commanded to love our wives the way Jesus did:

Read
https://omny.fm/shows/today/questions-to-ask-before-you-marry-1-12-june-2024

Ephesians 5:25-27 - Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

That's how it happened for the record.

I felt as though I was carving out a piece of my heart because it felt as if I had said to God in my heart that I could only be happy while I held faith that I'd see her again.

If I recall correctly, that was the night before May 3.

But I certainly felt that way after May 3. I kind-of doubled-down in my heart regarding that. Part of the reasoning behind that is the joy I had throughout 2021. At this stage (May 3, 2022) I did not know what the significance of the date was and had no idea what the dream of the policeman questioning me was about.

Romans 13:1-7 - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. (ESV)

Now to make this slightly more complicated, there was someone I had met previously who I had feelings for in 2020 but at this stage, after being born-again, and then seeing her sitting by herself during easter, I had only compassion and no joy over seeing her by herself.

Still in May 2022 around Pentecost, God, gave me an immersive vision of healing people with compassion.

One year later on 3 May 2023 I pleaded guilty on Easter, and I pleaded guilty in full knowledge that God is watching and knows my innermost thoughts and the fruit of the Spirit while lawful do not justify me. I must carry my cross and make testimony of Jesus and follow Christ's law.

I experienced what felt like practically no grace in the time leading up to my dealings with court (though I had blind spots).

In all honesty, though the situation felt graceless, I needed behavioral and theological correction:

Matthew 7:5 - You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (ESV)

The question is, "Is joy over a wife and a family even something that is allowed in this world? Or in acting on joy over somebody will I run out of grace and run up against heaven's courts? Will I get even pushed out of church communities for wanting to show compassion? Or get pushed out of church communities for making a marriage proposal out of joy and peace?" That is what has happened to me. So the root cause of my depression is well defined. I feel like this has been unfair for me in both cases. I see other people with wives and families and why am I not allowed one? Who actually drew me into a situation where I found myself in court over the mariage proposal? I hold to external spiritual influences and ultimately God was overseeing it:

Acts 27:24 - and he said, Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you. (ESV)

I guess it's quite important to forsake all else for Jesus:

Luke 14:26 - If anyone comes to me and does not hate (miseo) his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (ESV)

The Pearl of Great Price is Jesus and we want to gain Christ, know Christ and invest our lives for His gospel. In following Jesus, eternal life is still a free gift because as Paul says here, what we give up is worthless compared to knowing Christ:

Philippians 3:7-8 - But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (ESV)

I think I John 2:15-17 is essentially saying, "Do not agape love the world or what's in the world. Do not love the things of this world with the type of love that we have for God and for people, namely agape love." If we fall out of agape love for the world and are not conformed to the world but are transformed by the renewing of our minds then by testing we will be able to discern the will of God:

I John 2:15-17 - Do not love (agapate) the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

We should forsake:

  • the desires of the flesh, and
  • the desires of the eyes,
  • and pride in possessions

John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (ESV)

Read
star.net.nz: Protect your marriage

But God is our life (we can't trade God for anything):

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (ESV)

But during the process it was as if all the grace was sucked out of the world (and to be honest, it's not the first time I've felt like I've been treated with absolutely no grace - I've felt often shot down for acting on love, joy and truth - punished for it).

But also, in retrospect I can see that I still had blind spots on myself after being born-again and entering court and my intuition was I should plead guilty because it felt like I was under God's microscope. I was right to try dying to my own ego, and I was right to believe that I was not completely without guilt, but this took some humbling, and overall I am glad that I pleaded guilty.

It's very important to maintain a clear conscience with God and with man, but to be ultimately faithful to God:

Acts 24:16 - So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. (ESV)

Our first allegiance must be to God:

Philippians 2:8 - And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV)

Acts 5:29 - But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men. (ESV)

But the NZ government truly did graciously grant me an unbiased lawyer who graciously was payed for by the government, and the time I spent in the asylum did help to humble me and teach me more about loving my neighbour, and to admit my own faults with regards to God's law, but the legality as far as NZ law goes of me being sent and kept there I'd say is very grey, but the Police also did their jobs admirably, and took care of me when I was in a cell, and they also gave me a very small (but valuable) amount of time to be heard before having to plead guilty/not guilty. There wasn't exactly no grace in the court process but there was very little grace and an almost complete absence of truth in the court process, which felt mostly beyond my control.

But I'm on the other side of it now and feel like I have learned a lot about what it means to love my neighbour.

Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (ESV)

The corrections process which happened after pleading guilty has been very gracious and very valuable.

So I decided to just use court as an opportunity to bear witness of Jesus Christ. And also, as a chance to learn humility, and be corrected:

Matthew 10:18 - and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. (ESV)

Jesus Christ is full of grace and truth:

John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (ESV)

John 1:17 - For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Jesus was led like a lamb to the slaughter. I'm not Jesus, but my experience with court felt a lot like this. I'm an imperfect, fallible person though:

Isaiah 53:7 - He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. (ESV)

The other party, I never considered to be my adversaries! I only ever held love for them. Spiritually, it's not one side vs another in court but there are external spiritual influences:

Ephesians 6:12 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (ESV)

youtube.com: How God Uses Satan

Every one of the sufferings that Jesus went through was lifting sin off of us and sin is the only thing Satan's got to kill us with. It's the only weapon he's got.

Satan cannot hurt you without sin. If you solve your sin problem, you solve your Satan problem. He can show you green things in the middle of the night and terrify you but he cannot hurt you. If Christ saves you from your sin through the cross he can never have you; never never ever have you aga in. Satan is the lacky, he's the lacky of God, he can't do anything without God's leash being lengthened, and God can shorten it anytime he pleases. Somehow or other God uses Satan as an intermediary cause was in some of the painful work that he ordains for our good.

Revelation of John 2:10 - Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. (ESV)

II Corinthians 12:7-8 - So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. (ESV)

Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (ESV)

Jesus commands us to love our enemies:

Matthew 5:43-48 - You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)

Proverbs 25:21-22 - If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. (ESV)

But they were never my enemies because I never considered them my enemy. I will always love them:

Didache Chapter 1 - … But love those who hate you, and you shall not have an enemy. …

After I was born-again I decided that Jesus was the most important thing and I began following Jesus, and learning to live by Christ's law.

I made the proposal during this time. I received a dream on 6 Aug, which happened to be the Feast of Transfiguration, I found out a year or so later, and made the proposal on 10 Aug, which is the 222 day of 2022, at 2:22pm. Honestly, at the time I just thought it sounded memorable and I wanted it to be. Go figure! I'm not going to justify my own actions here.

I find this interesting, notice the word for life (Zoe) has the Strongs number 2222.

John 5:12 (Interlinar):

 1: 3588      2192      3588    5207  2192     3588
 2: ho        echōn     ton     Huion echei    tēn
 3: ὁ         ἔχων      τὸν     Υἱὸν  ἔχει     τὴν
 4: The [one] having    the     Son   has       -
 5: Art-NMS   V-PPA-NMS Art-AMS N-AMS V-PIA-3S Art-AFS
 6: 
 7: 2222    3588      3361 2192      3588    5207
 8: zōēn    ho        mē   echōn     ton     Huion
 9: ζωήν  ; ὁ         μὴ   ἔχων      τὸν     Υἱὸν
10: life    the [one] not  having    the     Son
11: N-AFS   Art-NMS   Adv  V-PPA-NMS Art-AMS N-AMS
12: 
13: 3588    2316    3588    2222  3756 2192
14: tou     Theou   tēn     zōēn  ouk  echei
15: τοῦ     Θεοῦ  , τὴν     ζωὴν  οὐκ  ἔχει  .
16:  -      of God   -      life  not  has
17: Art-GMS N-GMS   Art-AFS N-AFS Adv  V-PIA-3S

Being born of the Spirit unpredictable:

John 3:8 - The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (ESV)

I'm endeavouring to work according to God's timing a bit more. I like having my days managed by the Holy Spirit. I never liked alarm clocks anyway:

Matthew 6:34 - Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (ESV)

God's timing is not in any way predictable by man:

Matthew 25:13 - Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (ESV)

Isaiah 55:8-9 - For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (ESV)

Honestly, I'm just really annoyed I haven't managed to put to death all impure thoughts and behaviour, and sin in my own body.

Romans 7:24 - Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (ESV)

But I know when it's wrong. I just pray for God's grace to be put all the impure thoughts and behaviour to death. I am fully aware of the warnings in chapter II Peter 2:1-22. God give me grace please to be sanctified and delivered:

II Peter 2:22 - What the true proverb says has happened to them: The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire. (ESV)

Keeping with obedience to Jesus Christ's commandments is very challenging as the world opposes those who Christ has selected.

John 15:19 - If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (ESV)

I personally believe that fulfilling Christ's law means doing no harm to your neighbour and pleading guilty does the least damage. Where pleading not guilty on easter would be not carrying my cross, and would be like the unforgiving servant:

Matthew 18:21-35 - Then Peter came up and said to him, Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything. And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, Pay what you owe. So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, Have patience with me, and I will pay you. He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. (ESV)

I do not say I have done this perfectly, but I record this because I want to explain what obedient faith looks like, as I understand it, and to show that I simply meant no harm at all but I was simply born-again and I come against any spirit which ties to oppose that fact in Jesus Christ's name, and in Jehovah's name.

Also, in Jesus Christ's name I come against and rebuke any vindictive spirit or spirit of unforgiveness / antichrist / hatred / slander which continues to meddle in my affairs regarding the court process of 2022-2023 at the expense of either party (i.e. framing it as a zero-sum game where only one party must be innocent or only one party guilty) when I have pleaded guilty in good conscience before God and forgiven and I come against and rebuke any spirit which denies that both parties are guilty before God and in need of forgiveness and justification by God, and I pray that anyone involving themselves will learn the meaning of forgiveness, and pray they will come to exercise the love of Christ so they may abide in God:

Romans 3:23-24 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (ESV)

Colossians 3:12-13 - Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (ESV)

Forgiveness is very important:

Matthew 5:25 - Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. (ESV)

Matthew 6:14 - For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, (ESV)

Obedient faith looks like remaining faithful to Jesus Christ to one's best ability as an appropriate response of love for grace and justification already given - we hope that justification has already been given but we continue to obey God. We don't act like justification and obedience was a one time thing that happened in the past and now there's no more need to trust, hope and obey even for justification. We don't justify ourselves. Rather, we believe that God justifies the one who has faith in Jesus, and we don't stop having faith in Jesus - we live by that faith, now serving God. Living by faith in Jesus Christ looks like trusting, cleaving to, believing, obeying Jesus Christ to the end, putting our trust in God to justify even the ungodly. We don't justify ourselves but we still have faith to be justified by God as we hold faith in Jesus. We have faith that we are justified in advance of receiving that personal commendation from Jesus, but that doesn't mean we don't need to continue to obey! We still seek personal commendation from the Lord Jesus as we do not justify ourselves. So we should still live in faithful obedience to Jesus, following Him for the rest of our lives - just like Abraham's faith.

The saving grace we receive is primarily for the salvation of our souls, not in order to enjoy this life:

Ephesians 4:7 - But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. (ESV)

Ephesians 2:5 - even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— (ESV)

But I'm still hoping for more grace:

James 4:6 - But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (ESV)

I Peter 5:10 - And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (ESV)

What I mean to say is that, I think God is still justified in giving only enough grace to save the person's soul, while allowing them to be put to death for a response of obedience to Him.

Ephesians 4:7 - But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. (ESV)

We can still ask for more grace when we are in need:

Hebrews 4:16 - Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (ESV)

Consider St Polycarp
en.wikipedia.org: Polycarp - Wikipedia

I had to sacrifice the marriage proposal I made being born again in order to not put her in first place, and also to abide by Christ's law because selfish agape is no agape at all and love comes from God, and it's because God loved us first that we love, and whatever is not done in faith is sin and without the type of love Jesus showed us, faith is dead. And this is challenging ask but it's what God asks of us.

We are faithful first and foremost to God:

I Corinthians 7:12-15 - To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. (ESV)

I am a new creation:

II Corinthians 5:14-17 - For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Being a new creation is a new start where we are repenting from sin, and putting on holiness, and walking according to the spirit fulfilling the requirement of the law:

Colossians 3:5-10 - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Romans 8:3-4 - For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (ESV)

In anticipation of any spiritual backlash I will leave the following disclaimer
In Jesus Christ's name I rebuke any spirit which tries to put the old issues of the past (before I was born-again on 2 April 2022) back on to me. I am a new Creation in Christ Jesus ever since I was born-again and regenerated on 2 April 2022. As I understand it, as of then I had a completely clean record. I'm basically 2 years old. On top of that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Yes the Apostle John says that we ought to pass-forward love as a response, but I also have the right to move on completely from things which did not work out, and I offer that same right to others as well.

Our debt was cancelled:

Colossians 2:11-15 - In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (ESV)

Therefore, since I am a new creation, brought from death to life, I must live out the new identity. I'm currently fighting this battle:

Romans 6:12-14 - Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (ESV)

youtube.com: The Effort Needed to Fight Sin: Living Out Identity in Christ, Part 2

We love in the knowledge we have already been loved first when God sent Jesus Christ to pay for our sin with His blood. I was born-again of the Spirit and regenerated on 2 April 2022.

That's how we are found in God, by accepting that He loved us first through Jesus Christ, and God puts us into Him.

John 13:6-7 - He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered him, What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand. (ESV)

Ephesians 2:5 - even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— (ESV)

As far as my court situation goes, it happened after I was born-again and regenerated. My debt was already cancelled. I want to be clear about this because I don't want to mislead anyone. I strongly believe that I was hit by an antichrist spirit trying to make it appear as though I needed to work for my salvation - this happened after I was born of the Spirit! Madness! I had just been born-again!

I've also been hit with other things, like being pounded and barraged with LGBT dreams, and lewd antichrist dreams and visions, interactions with people who just don't want to submit to the righteousness of God (not believing they need to accept Jesus as Saviour, not believing they need to accept forgiveness from God, or the Lordship of Jesus, not wanting to obey God) and also people telling me that following Jesus' commandments is wrong, and also literally having antichrist thoughts pushed into my head as I am sleeping. There's no denying I've been attacked by antichrist spirits and I noticed it after I was born-again of the Spirit - and I don't want a bar of it.

While the following verse seems relevant, I still believe the real adversary I have faced is not the other people in my court situation but the influence of unclean spirits:

Matthew 5:25-26 - Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. (ESV)

We must turn to obedience to Jesus and loving with Christ's love to come to know Him. We ought to love as Christ loved us, as He is our Lord and Teacher, but Jesus WASHED (past-tense) us and then we ought to love as He did and we practice personal righteousness while having His imputed righteousness, as he is our Master.

We are saved to obey God better. God puts us into Christ. We obey to wash others, and for ourselves to be sanctified, like a branch becoming healthier in the tree:

John 13:12-16 - When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. (ESV)

Christians are instructed to love our enemies, to have the love of our Heavenly Father:

Matthew 5:43-44 - You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (ESV)

I still believe strongly that there was an antichrist spirit meddling in the situation with court in 2022, diametrically opposed to grace, Christian marriage, forgiveness, mercy, and the truth of Jesus, with an agenda of pressuring me to be deceived into thinking I was not forgiven, and pressuring me to be deceived that I needed to pay for my salvation with good works, but I have done all my good works out of obedience, knowing I am born again and forgiven, price paid in full with Jesus' blood.

I have lots of evidence of this. Jehovah knows it.

Sermon

He says in Revelation 12:10, he said, first-hand, "for the accuser of the brethren who accuses them before God day and night has been cast out."

Here's what I want you to see: The thing that's going to cause complete and total breakthrough is not you defeating a demon on a battlefield…

It is you silencing the argument of a demon against you.

When you silence the voice of the accuser the full breakthrough is now free to come you see.

In other words, what is stopping us from coming into the full breakthrough God has for us is not a demon on a battlefield, it's an argument in the spirit world against you.

And we have to know how to go in to the spirit world in silence that argument.

We have to know how to accomplish that because when we do, when we were able to silence the argument, then all of a sudden everything that we were made for, everything that we were were created to accomplish, every destiny every purpose ,every breakthrough begins to be set into place so that we can experience what God has for us.

Because that's what you have to do with an accuser.

Now, the next verse tells us how to do.

Here's what he says he says, "and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives unto death." So there's three things he says here, three things that are necessary to overcome the accuser.

He says very clearly, it says, "these are the way they overcame him".

This is the way they silenced the legal argument against them, was they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto death.

Okay, number one, the blood of the Lamb, and we've talked about this a little bit but the blood of the Lamb is what you use to dismiss cases against you.

That's what you do with the blood.

The blood is used to dismiss cases that the enemy would claim against you.

Why?

Because when I come and I repent, when I come and I repent and through my repentance agree with the blood of lamb, when I do that then what happens is that the blood is able to now silence the voices that would be speaking against me that the accuser would be using.

Okay, so I use that or I use the blood to silence the voice of course that's Hebrews12:24 - and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (ESV) Now let me just show you one scripture.

Why it's important to repent: I John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV) It literally says keeps on cleansing us from all sin.

That's why - that's actually the verbiage

  • it keeps on cleansing us - why because

the blood is 'not that which was spoke, it is that which is speaking'.

That's what it said.

There was a blood that speaks better things.

The blood isn't something that was spoke about you.

The blood is speaking concerning you.

So watch, it says that the blood keeps on cleansing us from all sin but only when we walk in the light as he is in the light See what does that mean?

That means I come out of darkness into the light.

That means I have to repent.

Repentance is coming out of darkness and into light.

So you cannot get the benefits of the blood, you cannot agree with what the blood is saying about you unless you come out of darkness and into light.

As we walk in the light as he is in the light, the blood of Jesus keeps on cleansing us from all unrighteousness at all sins.

Does that make sense?

So it's very important to repent: that we come and we acknowledge, we come in yoder hearts, we come in surrender, we ask for the blood to speak in our behalf, and it begins to speak in our behalf, and the cases that are against us whether it's because by sin by transgression or by iniquity, those cases are dismissed.

In Jesus Christ's name I rebuke the antichrist spirit which continues to attack me and deny the grace, forgiveness and atonement which I have received through faith in Jesus Christ, as if God has not forgiven me especially in regards to the sins of my past particularly before I was born-again of water and the Spirit on 2 April 2022. I rebuke that spirit in Jesus Christ's name and in Jehovah's name. Also as I continue walking in the light as Jesus is in the light, even when I sin, the blood of Jesus continues to wash me clean. So in Jesus Christ's name I rebuke any antichrist spirit continuing to bother me, whether in my sleep or through other people.

When it comes to 'works' and 'law-keeping', I believe disciples of Jesus should know they have been forgiven by grace through faith and they should also practice their righteousness. Christians should both submit to the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, having the imputed righteousness of Christ that we believe we have as we are walking with Christ and Christians should practice righteousness too (as Jesus said, "go and sin no more"), and Christians should seek to keep accountability primarily to God in regards to the law because He sees everything, and secondarily have good conscience with men, to love as Jesus loved, and give to Caesar what is Caesar's, but give to God what is God's - and God owns our hearts - and we should be prepared to die for Jesus, and remain faithful to Jesus:

Matthew 23:2-7 - The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. (ESV)

Our work for God is not in vain, and it's all grace:

I Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (ESV)

But at the time I was being led by the Spirit, walking in seeking to know Jesus Christ through following His commandments, so I decided I would use it as an opportunity in what felt like a graceless situation to demonstrate Christ's love and to make testimony of Jesus, and to 'take any log out of my own eye' - to be corrected - because despite already walking in obedience to Jesus, He is my Lord and Teacher, and I want to love Jesus more and be taught by Jesus more.

Most importantly is a good conscience with God, but I try also to do right with my fellow man, even if I disagree with them or if I think they may not be walking in Christ's love:

Acts 24:16 - So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. (ESV)

Paid the last penny? I believe that Jesus paid my debt, and by faith in Jesus I was born-again of Jesus' Spirit and I was grafted into Jesus, but that I should pass forward mercy and forgiveness, thus it looks like being taken to court as a criminal, but I think the situation reflects having been put into Christ and following as a disciple and friend of Jesus:

Matthew 5:26 - Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. (ESV)

Colossians 2:14 - by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (ESV)

Jesus went to the cross in the appearance of a criminal, but He committed no crime:

John 10:18 - No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father. (ESV)

I can't claim perfect innocence:

I John 1:8-10 - If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (ESV)

Romans 3:4 - By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged. (ESV)

Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV)

What I can do is apply Jesus' instructions for being His disciple, and bear fruit for Jesus:

John 15:1-14 - I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.

We must practice the truth:

John 3:21 - But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

Hebrews 10:14 - For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Even though my debt was cancelled, and I was a new creation, born-again of water and the Spirit, washed in Jesus' blood, I still obey Jesus to pass-forward love and forgiveness to others, and to continue being cleansed by the blood of Jesus. I must continue walking in the light.

After being born-again of the spirit I don't say I'm completely sinless - that would be deceiving myself.

But I continue walking in the light, in trusting obedience to Jesus, and Jesus' blood continues to cleanse me from all sin:

I John 1:7-9 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

Sometimes you don't know if you're in the right or wrong, so forgiving others' offences towards you is freeing yourself:

Matthew 18:21-35 - Then Peter came up and said to him, Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything. And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, Pay what you owe. So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, Have patience with me, and I will pay you. He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. (ESV)

AMEN!! This doesn't justify the mistakes I've made in the past, but I do believe that the Son of God dying on the cross and making me into a new creation should be enough atonement from anyone's perspective to allow me to have a clean slate, have a fresh start, change my ways, and to live rightly without being harassed by people or by evil spirits. But I also want to be found to be a disciple of Jesus, passing forward His love and forgiveness, as I have received it:

Romans 6:11 - So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Worthy | Live | Elevation Worship

I wont allow myself to be buried in condemnation by other people or by the enemy. Rather, I'll just use this as an opportunity to live faithfully to God with gratitude and an appropriate response of obedience and love for God and love for Jesus while on this earth:

Romans 6:12-13 - Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. (ESV)

star.net.nz: How to have peace (3) - June 10th
(2) Accept God’s pardon. Guilt is the top destroyer of peace. When we feel guilty, we feel haunted by our past. We read about people who make amends for a wrong they committed thirty years earlier, saying, ‘I was living in hell all those years and had to get it off my chest.’ The only way to have peace is to possess a clear conscience, and only God is able to give you that. ‘Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives…transgression?…You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy’ (Micah 7:18 NIV). Notice, Micah reveals God is eager – ready and waiting – to clean your slate. He enjoys forgiving. He owns a big eraser. It’s his personality: ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9 NIV).

Isaiah 54:17 - no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD. (ESV)

Matthew 24:9 - Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. (ESV)

Now I'm saying that it's all in God's hands, and I've made an effort to have Jesus as the number one most important person in my life, and I feel like I have a good conscience with God, and I have been acting in truth (I have peace, and joy, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit with my decisions and I wouldn't change much. I'd still have made the proposal. It wasn't a mistake) and trying to conform to God's truth and also, trying to walk with faith in Jesus Christ, and fully with God, to my best endeavor, but God is the justifier. And I am as far as I can tell now in good conscience with God and a bachelor.

I Timothy 1:19 - holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, (ESV)

Job 22:24-26 - if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent bed, then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver. For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. (ESV)

God wants us to love Him, treasure Him (25. agapaó), value Him with all our heart, and love and value and treasure one another (25. agapaó) as ourselves
youtube.com: What Is It Like to Enjoy God? @time: 35 min 16 sec

I have absolutely no unforgiveness or grudge with anyone involved regarding what has happened with the marriage proposal and I just want God to completely deliver me from the evil.

I still hope for the personal acknowledgement from God that I have acted faithfully to Him!

Matthew 25:21 - His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. (ESV)

We're always seeking God's commendation:

Galatians 1:10 - For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (ESV)

The righteous live by their faith in Jesus - in belief to His promises and in obedience to His commandments all of our life as Christians - hoping for God's commendation.

We live to serve Jesus, believing we are justified by our faith in Him, and not relying on our own righteousness, but we're still living by our faith in God and in Jesus His Son.

I think it's possible to say, "I've been justified by Jesus' blood because I'm having faith in Jesus and I'm living to serve Him and I believe He is saving me from the wrath of God and I'm going to continue believing and obeying Him to receive the sanctification."

And then we await personal commendation from God.

Disbelief causes disobedience. Disbelief caused the Israelites to not walk in obedience:

Hebrews 3:16-19 - For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. (ESV)

I Corinthians 10:5-12 - Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. (ESV)

I think it's dangerous and probably incorrect to say, "I've been justified and saved from the wrath of God" without having become trustingly obedient to Jesus, or without having become someone steadfastly hoping in Him to fulfill His promises.

Hebrews 6:11-15 - And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, Surely I will bless you and multiply you. And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. (ESV)

Hebrews 4:3 - For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, As I swore in my wrath, They shall not enter my rest, although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. (ESV)

Hebrews 3:14-15 - For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. (ESV)

We aren't the justifiers of ourselves ever, but we still have faith that we are justified already by God as we hold faith in Jesus, and we don't necessarily know when God has personally justified us by faith because, like Abraham's faith, it's from obedience to God's commandments that we get personal assurance. But if we are hoping in God's promises while serving Jesus then we certainly can have confidence that God will/has justified us, where if we are not agapé-ing God and our family in Christ, serving Jesus then I think to say that we are justified and saved from God's wrath while going on doing evil is very daring and I wouldn't be surprised if that person receives the wrath of God.

Romans 2:6-11 - He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (ESV)

II Peter 2:4-9 - For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, (ESV)

Faith maintains hope in God to fulfill His promises:

youtube.com: Future-Oriented Faith

Justifying faith, the faith that justifies you that makes you right with God that receives the imputation of righteousness is future-oriented faith in the promises of God.

Faith first looks back to Jesus and it takes a step back and says, "I believe God Almighty sent his son died for my sins raised him from the dead covers all my sins imputes to me his righteousness" and standing on that rock of past accomplished salvation, faith looks steadfastly into the future … and faith on the basis of this assurance and security believes the promises of God for this reality called future and that's the way we live.

See how faithfulness is related to faith - faith is faithful to God. Having faith in God is keeping accountability with God with regard to His commands and promises and maintaining faithfulness with God who sees in secret:

II Timothy 2:13 - if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:30-31 - For we know him who said, Vengeance is mine; I will repay. And again, The Lord will judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (ESV)

We are justified through holding faith in Jesus:

Romans 3:21-28 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (ESV)

There is a way of following the commandments of God that is by faith, compatible with keeping faith in Jesus, and that is in seeking praise from God, not from men - it's not about trying to keep a good conscience by justifying yourself in the eyes of men, but it's about keeping a good conscience by keeping accounts with God:

Romans 2:26-29 - So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (ESV)

Romans 5:1-2 - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (ESV)

It may have happened when we first believed. I would suggest holding to that belief and going on obeying Jesus like someone alive from the dead, serving God:

John 3:36 - He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

I just want to continue to live faithfully to Jesus for the rest of my life, as I also hold faith that God is my justifier. I want God to justify me / have justified me, as the way in which we are justified is that God does the justifing of the one who has faith in Jesus. So the plan is to really be transformed by the gospel and live in the truth of God's word, and seek God's commendation, and live in the reality that God is for me and not against me as I hold faith in Jesus. I'll give it my best shot:

I John 4:17 - By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

It certainly appears that we're not supposed to simply do some righteous thing and then lean on that. Rather we're supposed to 'live by' our faith, – keep going, and not shrink back:

Ezekiel 33:13 - Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. (ESV)

Proverbs 4:18 - But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. (ESV)

We should be growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ:

II Peter 3:18 - But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (ESV)

This is in line with what is written in Hebrews:

Hebrews 10:37-39 - For, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (ESV)

This morning <2024-10-13 Sun>, I woke up to a dream of my Dad and my little brother Joshua in the bosom of my Dad and my Dad said, "Pardon me." - I woke up and thought about this.

And I remembered this Bible verse:

John 1:18 - No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (ESV)

Now, writing this out, I realise it connects to this verse:

Matthew 5:8 - Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (ESV)

Recently, I have written about agape-love. Jesus commanded us to agape love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Agape love does not bear a grudge or take vengeance. Agape love is a saving, treasuring, valuing, love. We need to treasure Jesus' words, and treasure God Himself. God has to be our number one treasure and we must agape-love our wives too with the same agape love which Christ showed us, and we must agape-love those in Christ, and we are called to agape-love all people but we must not have any agape for anything of the world. And I know that what the dream I had was saying was pointing out that agape-loving God first also means not bearing a grudge with God.

I was born-again on 1 Nisan, (2 April 2022). Then had a meeting with Holy Spirit on 3 May 2022 and I said my God is the True God and Jesus saved me from lies. Then on 6 Aug 2022 (feast of transfiguration of Christ) I had a dream/vision of someone I wanted to marry and on the 10 Aug, the 222nd day of 2022 at 2:22pm I proposed marriage. Then it felt like witchcraft - I was pulled into court over harassment and forced to plead a week before easter. I pleaded guilty because I was following Jesus' commandments, and only because in an extremely strict sense I am guilty. I claim that it felt like all the grace in the world was utterly sucked out of the world when I was pulled into court for breaking bail by copying out reformed church quiz night results and being baptised and telling the other side I was baptised after a harassment charge from proposing marriage - absurd, I know, but around the time I proposed marriage, I had been giving to a hindu guy who was asking me for help (i was just obeying Jesus) and I pleaded guilty in this absurd situation where I am taken to court over marriage proposal because it does no harm to the other party and because I love them. It was agape love which does no harm to your neighbour and treasures your neighbour and and in court the judge on 3 May 2023 told me I must have been baptised at midnight and that I'm not remorseful. I have been trying to love literally everybody. Being denied marriage not necessarily this one incident but generally in my life surely comes from demons / antichrist spirit.

Jesus in me utterly defeats antichrist spirit and I will go to war against this thing which has been trying to rob, kill and destroy me, the people I love and my testimony of being born-again. With the authority that Jesus gave His disciples I will trample on snakes and scorpions and trample on that antichrist spirit and rebuke it into utter destruction.

Daniel 7:25 - He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. (ESV)

But I yelled at the judge in court saying he is a liar because to say I am unremorseful for harassment via a marriage proposal and sentencing me for doing good, calling good evil and evil good, while I was following Jesus and trying to keep His commandments - I found that the judge lacked respect for God's precepts and for God. And to me this felt like being born-again and then crucified in court over making a marriage proposal with a good conscience and sincere faith. I used the opportunity to make testimony of Jesus. Then received international slander and feeling like I was the victim of a sin like the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit or something, and continually being oppressed by demons preventing me from marrying, trying to push me into LGBT and I felt like the devil tried to steal my blessings and tried to bury me for making testimony of Jesus. I have felt like I had the Kingdom of God taken away from me (peace, joy and righteousness in the Holy Spirit) after being born-again, regenerated, made new - and I pray to God daily for Him to fix my life. But Jehovah God (Father God and Jesus Christ God's Son and Holy Spirit) are my number 1 agape love for sure. But I will speak the truth of what happened here.

Loving God means also obeying His commandments - and His great commandments and fulfilling the requirement of the Law. Am I to love God with my whole heart if I take the person I propose to trial and waste years of her life in court? It's not loving God to do evil against my neighbour.

The blood of Jesus is enough for me to be washed white as snow. Christ is enough for me. Give me Jesus and a good conscience. But I don't forgive satan, nor his angels, nor his demons. Nor do I affirm anyone who does not submit to the righteousness of God.

My God is the God who instituted marriage between man and woman.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 - The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (ESV)

72.7.2. Humility

Being born-again, I actually had a lot to learn about humility, and service.

Talk
youtube.com: How to be Humble

Quote from Martin Luther King Jr.:

“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

72.7.3. Marriage should not become idolatry

The Hebrew has two words for 'helper'. The word which the greek in John 14 refers to I believe is the Saviour one:

1: מוֹשִׁיעַ
2: savior, deliverer, helper, saviour

But the Hebrew for helper in Genesis 2:18 is not the 'saviour' but the assistant!:

1: עוֹזֵר
2: assistant, aide, helper, second

Genesis 2:18 - Then the Lord (H3068 Yhovah) God (H430 'elohiym) said (H559 'amar), “It is not good (H2896 towb) for the man (H120 'adam) to be alone (H905 bad); I will make (H6213 `asah) him a helper (H5828 `ezer) suitable (H5048 neged) for him.”

72.8. The spiritual attack I have received in recent times

My spiritual experiences are not all bad, but it has been very bad at times, and really good at times too. I'm "in the Spirit" now and I am engaged in spiritual warfare.

It makes sense that I've been receiving spiritual attack because I'm at war with satan's kingdom after being born of the Spirit:

I'll be listening to music such as this to help maintain the correct perspective against lies that come from the enemy through dreams and through other people:

Radio
https://www.star.net.nz/
Song
youtube.com: Who You Say I Am - Hillsong Worship
Song
youtube.com: Jesus Paid It All - Kim Walker-Smith | Worship Circle Hymns

The more vocal I become about Jesus and the more I align with the Truth and reject false-religion, and the more I disagree with sin as I repent from it, the more resistance I appear to be getting.

My sleep has in recent times become highly disrupted as I've been bombarded with demonic dreams - things I can't even mention - pro-false-religion, anti-Christianity, pro-sinful things type dreams. Littered amongst those I sometimes also get Bible verses, or dreams of singing worship songs, etc. I frequently are tested through other people too.

youtube.com: How to Seek the Holy Spirit @time: 16 min 59 sec
He is the spirit of Truth according to John 14:17, John 15:26, John 16:13, and He brings to our minds whatever truth we need, little or much. He will bring it to your mind. All the forces of darkness will seek to confuse you and obscure the light of truth in that hour. All the proportions of power in this world will appear to make God look distant, small, ineffective — like nothing. That is the goal of Satan and sin: to make God look useless and worthless. The work of the Holy Spirit in that hour — the work of the Spirit of truth — is to rest upon you with whatever measure of truth you will need in order to be faithful.

AMEN, John Piper. Yup, this is my experience too. God is faithful though even when I am unfaithful.

Romans 8:20-21 - For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (ESV)

Thanks to John Piper for helping me to maintain perspective on suffering, even for struggling against sin:

Romans 8:16-17 - The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)

youtube.com: Put to Death the Deeds of the Body @time: 55 min 28 sec

The global context of my suffering is that he says, "all creation is awaiting my coming out into sonship". Until you are manifested, creation's holding back, and when you are manifested creation will say, "all right, here we come." And all the futility of the natural world will be removed. All the horrors of of natural calamities will be taken away. But that's all waiting until God does his redemptive work on you.

Aven though it may seem strange to you that if a person comes to you with suffering that you'd want to help them get into a global context, maybe do it at a better time. Like right now we're doing it so that when you go home and find some horrible thing has happened, you will be able not just to deal with it in some little microcosm of your life and how God works everything together for your good, but that it's part of something absolutely huge.

Read
desiringgod.org: How to Seek the Holy Spirit | Desiring God

John 14:17 - even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (ESV)

John 15:26 - But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. (ESV)

John 16:13 - When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (ESV)

Anyway, I see this stuff in the spirit very easily (it's just like having eyes I didn't have before) after being born of the Spirit, and the way to fight against the evil is with the Word of God:

Matthew 4:9-11 - And he said to him, All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, Be gone, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve. Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. (ESV)

The Word of God is a light to our path:

Psalms 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (ESV)

I think what this verse says is that putting a stop to sin 'closes doors' which the enemy uses to attack:

I John 5:18 - We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. (ESV)

Psalms 66:18 - If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. (ESV)

I'm fighting hard against evil spirits to make no provision for the flesh:

Romans 13:12-14 - The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (ESV)

I Peter 4:5-10 - but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: (ESV)

We must live in the spirit the way God does, not for human passions, but for the will of God:

I Peter 4:1-6 - Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. (ESV)

Research:

72.9. The very reason I found myself in court is for coming to the light, and for exposing darkness, even that of my own fault, but that meant doing the right thing even though it would give me a conviction

John 3:21 - But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God. (ESV)

Jehovah God as my witness.

72.10. I'm definitely leaving this stuff in God's court

At the end of the day I am resting on the righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus - Amen to that.

I've been going through a lot of trial and tribulation over the last 2 years:

I Peter 1:6-9 - In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (ESV)

By the Holy Spirit we are supposed to put to death the deeds of the body:

Romans 8:13 - For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (ESV)

But if there is a spirit-spouse manifesting spiritually and messing with me physically and a bunch of other demonic attacks and it doesn't go away when I rebuke it in Jesus' name, and it resists when I use Scriptures, and the attack lasts for 600 days almost every day, then I feel like the challenge of fighting back is just too difficult. At least I do not feel as guilty about it. But I think I should continue to true to fight against it.

I sometimes worry that some of the spiritual attack experiences I've had are so extreme that my mistakes involving them can't be forgiven but God knows my heart and how I think the spiritual attack situations I've been in are so extreme and so excessive and so relentless that they ordeal is just plain unfair - a stich-up:

Matthew 12:31-32 - Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (ESV)

Luke 12:10 - And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. (ESV)

I John 3:20 - for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. (ESV)

Yeah, this morning <2024-06-28 Fri> I had a night swamped with such evil dreams. God knows why. So evil that I cannot even mention them. This is the day after writing about how Christians should be have like children of Father God, that is Jehovah:

Psalms 91:5-8 - You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. (ESV)

The Golden Rule, I think explains that we should behave like a child of Father God who is by nature Good and gives good gifts to His children, and gifts that are truly good, far exceeding any amount of favour we might show our own children. As we behave like a child of Father God, believing the gospel of Jesus, and loving with Christ's love, we can really say our Father is God, as a child takes after their parents, and a child of Father God behaves like Jesus and follows Jesus. We try to follow Jesus, and imitate Christ's pattern, as Christ is the Son of God.

Yeah, I am at my limits to what I can endure.

This has been going on every day for nearly 2 years.

Any Christians out there pray for me please that God will stop allowing the evil spirits to attack me.

Psalms 88:18 - You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness. (ESV)

Psalms 10:1 - Why, O LORD, do you stand afar off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? (ESV)

Psalms 10:12 - Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. (ESV)

Also, to "be holy as He is holy" when people deny relationships and marriage, and just heap on heavy burdens, asking even more of me, without lifting a finger to help, and then simultaneously I'm attacked with a spirit spouse at night, for example, and I'm supposed to just ignore it - well it feels like an impossibility to remain clean.

So a complaint I have to Almighty God Jehovah is that remaining holy in all my conduct during the trial I have faced has felt impossibly difficult, and very graceless, and I've felt "under the pump", in constant spiritual warfare, and I have been constantly denied work and a marriage partner!

Colossians 2:18-21 - Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch (ESV)

Paul says:

  • He has the right to eat and drink
  • He has the right to take along a believing wife, just like other believers
  • It seems just even by God's law that as working as an apostle he may reap material things from the ones he is serving
    • If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you
  • He has the right to refrain from working for a living
    • Because he is working for God
      • Who serves as a soldier at his own expense?
      • Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit?
      • Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
  • Even God's law says the same:
    • Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain. Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.

I Corinthians 9:3-14 - This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain. Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. (ESV)

Paul doesn't claim his full rights in the gospel (even rights shown by God's precepts in God's law) that He might receive reward from God for going beyond the call of His duty:

I Corinthians 9:12,9:15-18 - If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. (ESV)

We must keep and accept the precepts of God over the precepts of men:

Mark 7:6-9 - And he said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men. And he said to them, You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! (ESV)

This passage is condemning submitting to worldly / human precepts and imploring us to submit to God's precepts. It's not condemning God's precepts but imploring us to put to death what is against God's precepts:

Colossians 2:20-23,3:1-6 - If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. (ESV)

I've kept a good conscience with God, and with men, being obedient to Jesus over the last 2 years:

I Timothy 1:18-20 - This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (ESV)

I'm definitely taking this stuff to God's court and asking for grace to be sanctified/delivered.

James 4:6 - But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (ESV)

II Corinthians 9:8 - And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (ESV)

I have felt spiritually damaged/injured by what I've had to endure regarding a "spirit spouse / defilement" - I simply don't understand why that thing has been allowed to touch me for 1.5 years and push lewd dreams into my head. This daily bombardment of demonic dreams, and visions is very demoralizing but especially when I succumb to "defilement" often because of anxiety, and when I don't keep perspective (i.e. when I fail to praise God through trial). I believe that I will be totally healed.

youtube.com: Called to Be Saints | Charles Spurgeon | Devotional | Morning & Evening: Daily Readings
All are "saints" whom God has called by His grace and sanctified by His Spirit; but we are apt to look upon the apostles in the New Testament as extraordinary beings, scarcely subject to the same weaknesses and temptations as ourselves. Yet in so doing, we are forgetful of this truth that the nearer a man lives to God the more intensely he has to mourn over his own evil heart. the more also does the evil of the flesh provoke and harass him day by day.

With regards to the spirit spouse, it makes me feel very gross and it mas in the past made me sometimes feel Psalm 22:1 forsaken by God - no joke. But, also, fascinatingly, after making such complaints to God in my private praying, I have like a reflex action been encouraged through other people that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and will not leave or forsake me.

Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 31:8 - It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (ESV)

youtube.com: Petra: No Doubt

There are times when you fell like you can't go on

There are times when you fell like giving in

And there are times when you feel like you can't try anymore

There are times of trouble in believing

This test of your faith will last

As long as it takes to pass

Till you have no more doubt you'll endure

And you faith will emerge true and pure

Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (ESV)

God does give me encouragements from time to time though, and my confidence in God is not failing:

Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. (ESV)

But I am still required to live by faith, and so much of what I hope for is unseen and I don't have total assurance, but I have a conviction about it:

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (ESV)

I Corinthians 13:12 - For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (ESV)

I have literally no idea why Father God waited such a long time in the first place to draw me to Jesus:

Isaiah 55:8-9 - For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (ESV)

God draws us to Jesus who brings us to God:

John 6:44 - No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. (ESV)

II Corinthians 5:18-19 - All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (ESV)

I want to hear from God clearly, but I feel like being delivered from being attacked by demons would be really good.

Psalms 22:1 - My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? (ESV)

Psalms 6:1-4 - O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD—how long? Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. (ESV)

I was in that happy place shortly after being born-again even though my theology wasn't great, but then God has put me through this trial.

I Timothy 6:12 - Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (ESV)

Acts 14:22 - strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

I claim to be a fallibly obedient child of God - trusting in Jesus and responsive to the love of God, and I claim to love and follow the law of God in my mind, and I actually try very hard to not be conformed to sinful lusts - and I though I was quite successful in doing in advance of my trial, but it's just so difficult to live properly now because of such intense persecution in this world - physical and spiritual, inside and outside of church, so I'm complaining to God and saying it has been far too difficult:

Psalms 142:2 - I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. (ESV)

I will still try aim to put that stuff to death and to be holy in all my conduct:

I Peter 1:14-19 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (ESV)

Sigh….

On the bright side, last week I did get a picture of John Piper on YouTube saying "Jesus has given you clothes." That means that when I turn up in heaven I'll have 'clothes' so I can enter - the imputed righteousness of Christ.

But being brought into communion with God by the blood of Jesus we must not resist sanctification. We must humble ourselves in obedience to Christ Jesus.

Acts 10:34-35: So Peter opened his mouth and said: Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

Galatians 2:6 - And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. (ESV)

Matthew 22:11-13 - But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (ESV)

youtube.com: The Hidden Snare of Bitterness @time: 4 min 6 sec
So when Paul says, "Put it on, this new nature, he means, 'Act it out'." If you have been created anew after the likeness of God clothe yourselves with godly garments. Now what is clothing? Clothing is what people see. When you put clothing around yourself you give something for people to look at that's presentable. So when Paul says "clothe yourselves, put on your new nature," he means, "let that inner reality that God has created work itself out in visible actions and behaviors and attitudes. Become what you are within." If the hidden spring has been purified let the visible streams run clean. But of course if the spring is purified the streams will run clean. If the tree is good the fruit will be good. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth does speak. … These choices are the obedience that confirm your calling and election and make it sure. …

youtube.com: Keep Rejoicing

warning
If we neglect to understand that the Christian life as it is lived out is a miracle, then all our pursuit of morality or holiness will become striving in our own strength… we will chalk it up to our merit…

Also, I recall that some time in 2022 I had a dream where someone asked me, "How did you get in here?" And I responded pointing to 2 blog articles I had written (2 April 2022 and 3 May 2022 and indicating that it was through being born-again, through baptism, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Revelation of John 3:4 - Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. (ESV)

But I have to keep seeking to be sanctified because Jesus is coming for me at some point. So I want to be ready for when that happens by being holy and loving:

I John 4:17 - By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

Both our faith and our love should be increasing:

II Thessalonians 1:3 - We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. (ESV)

Doing the will of God is still extremely important for inheriting the kingdom of God. The will of God includes exercising personal righteousness as a fruit of sanctification (holiness, loving your neighbour as yourself, and doing good):

I Corinthians 6:9-10 - Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Hebrews 12:11 - For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (ESV)

Doing the will of God is important for inheriting the kingdom of God:

Matthew 25:23 - His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. (ESV)

We do need a lot of faith (faith, faithfulness, obedience) in God to inherit the Kingdom of God:

James 2:5 - Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? (ESV)

Romans 6:22-23- But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (ESV)

Quote from CH Spurgeon
"Peace is joy resting, and joy is peace dancing"

Sigh…. For the record, as of <2024-06-13 Thu>, it still feels as though I'm being hit by witchcraft.

The spirit spouse stuff has continued. It's only been a problem since the end of 2022, and I think its objective is to make me feel disqualified, but I know it's just demons/witchcraft/defilement and I'm resisting it to my best ability, including in my thoughts (sometimes I have succumbed).

It's interesting with the spirit spouse stuff, as it affects me it is involuntary (like rape in my sleep), and it tries to make it so that sex is voluntary (think myself to sex):

We should be cleansing ourselves of every defilement of body, and spirit with faith, the Word of God and the Spirit of God:

II Corinthians 7:1 - Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body (4561. sarx) and spirit (4151. pneuma), bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (ESV)

God cleanses our hearts as we practice our faith in Him:

Acts 15:9 - and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. (ESV)

We walk in the light (God's light, truth) in trust, faith, obedience:

I Peter 1:22 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)

Asides from that, I'll continue endeavouring to abide by Jesus' commandments, and I have a good conscience.

I'm also experiencing a lot of testing, and positive interactions, and some encouragements from God, and I'm feeling like studying the Gospel of Jesus using the Bible is changing my life for the better, and I feel really confident having a much better perspective.

Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Sermon
youtube.com: Assurance for Battle

I know my family in Christ also experience the same kind of suffering / spiritual warfare:

I Peter 5:9 - Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (ESV)

I Peter 4:16-17 - Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (ESV)

Job 1:8-12 - And the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? Then Satan answered the LORD and said, Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face. And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand. So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. (ESV)

Psalms 57:1 - Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. (ESV)

Song
youtube.com: Elvis Presley - Help me {With Lyrics}

Well this morning <2024-06-23 Sun> I dreamed of rebuking evil spirits in Jesus' name and I remember even willing in my heart as I was sleeping to rebuke them in Jehovah's name too, and I believe it was the Holy Spirit fighting for me as I was sleeping, and woke up after that. But I feel so encouraged when the Holy Spirit fights for me in my sleep. Also, after waking up I felt noticeably freed from the spirit spouse stuff - very encouraging. I was woken up by evil spirits again after that a couple more times this morning from memory, but I just put on some praise and worship music.

It's now <2024-06-26 Wed> and a couple of days ago I heard a voice which asked, "What do you think of the Golden Rule." That prompted me to do a little study on the Golden Rule and the Royal Law.

When it comes to 'works' and 'law-keeping', I believe disciples of Jesus should know they have been forgiven by grace through faith and they should also practice their righteousness and a person who has accepted forgiveness for their sin by the atonement made in Jesus' blood should certainly endeavour after that to fulfill practically the Royal Law, that is to love one's neighbour as themself, even owing that to other people:

Romans 13:8 - Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. (ESV)

But I continue walking in the light, in trusting obedience to Jesus, and Jesus' blood continues to cleanse me from all sin:

I John 1:7-9 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

It is clear that following Jesus helps us to not sin, which means that the destructiveness of sin for us is still a reality if we are not following Jesus. We get on top of it by following Jesus and walking by His Spirit:

Galatians 5:14-16 - For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (ESV)

Romans 8:14 - For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (ESV)

A person who is mature in Christ has faith in Christ, follows the teachings of Christ and the pattern of His life, and is spiritually minded, and thinks with Christ's wisdom, not worldly wisdom, and lives for the will of God:

Colossians 1:28 - Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. (ESV)

The Golden Rule, I think explains that we should behave like a child of Father God who is by nature Good and gives good gifts to His children, and gifts that are truly good, far exceeding any amount of favour we might show our own children. As we behave like a child of Father God, believing the gospel of Jesus, and loving with Christ's love, we can really say our Father is God, as a child takes after their parents, and a child of Father God behaves like Jesus and follows Jesus. We try to follow Jesus, and imitate Christ's pattern, as Christ is the Son of God.

We should love others, as we would want to be loved by others. God gives common grace to all people, even the evil. We should love in this way, as our Father in Heaven:

Matthew 5:45 - so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (ESV)

I do not think the Golden Rule is saying that "God is humanity." Neither do I think the Golden Rule is saying that God treats us precisely how we treat others.

I think the Golden Rule is really telling us to be loving, and love our enemies, as we would want to be loved by our enemies - love people the way Father God loves us:

Matthew 7:9-12 - Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)

We should be imitators of God's love:

Psalms 103:8 - The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (ESV)

Ephesians 5:1-2 - Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (ESV)

I John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (ESV)

Love your enemies as well as your friends. Be like Your Heavenly Father. Be perfect. Love (25. agapaó) your enemies means "treasuring your enemies" and looks like not repaying evil for evil. It sometimes looks like refusing to do evil and instead doing good to those who do you harm, taking the initiative in overcoming evil with good:

Matthew 5:43-48 - You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)

Proverbs 25:21-22 - If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. (ESV)

I'm still getting slammed with these antichrist dreams at night up till today <2024-07-13 Sat>, but I'm going to stick with what Scripture says. These dreams and visions are very false with regards to what the Holy Bible says. I wont trust every spirit but only those which confess Jesus biblically (i.e. as having come from God, walked the earth in the flesh, died and raised from the dead and ascended to Father God and reigns on High). God has spoken quite a lot already through the Scripture so I'm going to be taught and corrected by the Word of God, and be sanctified by the Truth.

I think I'll keep these notes here documenting a tiny view of spiritual attack I have endured, until I am delivered and on the other side of it.

72.11. In my helpless state I cried out to God for help, and He made me born-again of the spirit

I was spiritually bankrupt and I knew I needed God's help.

Jeremiah 29:13-14 - You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. (ESV)

Ephesians 2:4-5 - But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— (ESV)

Thanks to Jesus' endurance, His spirit empowers us to live as He lived, and to be conformed to His image. God's strength does not guarantee that we will not suffer as a result of following Jesus. But God gives us the power at the time we need it to endure the suffering:

Hebrews 12:1-3 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (ESV)

72.11.1. I was spiritually blind

I Corinthians 2:14 - The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (ESV)

II Corinthians 4:3 - And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. (ESV)

72.11.2. Father God intervenes and draws us to Jesus

II Corinthians 4:6 - For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

John 6:44 - No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. (ESV)

72.11.3. My spiritual senses were enabled / eyes were opened

I was born-again of the Spirit.

John 3:3 - Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. (ESV)

And I began learning to walk in Jesus' commandments, and repenting from sin. There was an incredible amount of resistance from other people to following Jesus' commandments.

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (ESV)

Likewise, there was also a lot of resistance, spiritually, to repenting from sin.

youtube.com: The Good Shepard | His sheep | Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel @time: 7 min 46 sec

72.11.4. I had to humble myself and repent

I had to acknowledge certain beliefs and behaviour in my life was not what God's will was for me, and turn away from the bad beliefs and behaviour, and I want to continue learning Christ:

Ephesians 4:20-21 - But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, (ESV)

Trust and obey:

II Timothy 3:12-17 - Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (ESV)

72.11.5. We're persecuted for following Jesus. We're persecuted for repentance

John 7:7 - The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. (ESV)

Galatians 4:29 - But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. (ESV)

Christian persecution is not for suffering as an evildoer:

I Peter 4:15 - But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. (ESV)

Being persecuted for righteousness-sake, for faithful obedience to Jesus is evidence of entering the Kingdom of God:

II Thessalonians 1:4-5 - Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— (ESV)

We're supposed to do good works of faith by Jesus' power so that Jesus' name is glorified - and those works done in Jesus' power are entirely given by grace to us:

II Thessalonians 1:11-12 - To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

72.11.6. Believers will marvel. The saints will do good works which glorify Jesus, all done in God's grace

I am increasingly of the opinion that there is a subtle difference between simply 'believer' and 'saint' who is also a believer. Saints both believe and keep the God's commandments. Saints are disciples of Jesus who have been sanctified by the Truth. Believing disciples of Jesus may become saints:

II Thessalonians 1:9-12 - They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

73. Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human

Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. Jesus' words are Spirit and Life. We must 'eat' Jesus' words, believe Him, believe in Him, keep His words:

John 6:58-63 - This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever. Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. When many of his disciples heard it, they said, This is a hard saying; who can listen to it? But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (ESV)

John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (ESV)

Jesus Christ is the Word of God who became flesh - this is what I believe - not just God in the flesh but God who became flesh, then He was put to death on a tree (a cross) for our trespasses and Father God raised Him from the dead for our justification:

John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (ESV)

Romans 4:20-25 - No distrust (apistia) made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (ESV)

AMEN!!

I trust the ESV and NASB translations that say the word became flesh.

Also, I've been born of God, so I have Christ in me:

John 1:12-13 - But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (ESV)

I have the Spirit of God in me:

Romans 8:9 - You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (ESV)

We are to be conformed into Christ's image:

Romans 8:29 - For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (ESV)

74. Praising and thanking God in Heaven

Sermon
youtube.com: Christ Has Purchased Global Praise

We should start now.

Revelation 7:9-12 - After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen. (ESV)

75. I don't want to think too hard about theology, but it is important - writing this was worthwhile in arriving at a sound understanding

By God's grace I've been set free from sin, and brought into a relationship with God, and have hope for the future now.

Ephesians 2:12-13 - remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 29:29 - The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (ESV)

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (ESV)

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (ESV)

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)

Matthew 5:16 - In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

76. The close of the age

Sermon
youtube.com: His Voice in Yours: How Christ Wins the World

Revelation of John 14:7 - And he said with a loud voice, Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water. (ESV)

Matthew 13:45-52 - Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Have you understood all these things? They said to him, Yes. And he said to them, Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.

It's important to get to know God, and important to obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus, or face the punishment:

II Thessalonians 1:5-8 - This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (ESV)

God is not saving Lucifer/Satan/the devil or his demons/devils. Neither is God saving his angels. They're all going to Hell, the Lake of Fire, forever. … Along with those who reject God and do not repent. Amen to that:

Revelation of John 20:7-10 - And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (ESV)

Revelation 22:12-17, 20-21 - Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. (ESV)

I'm a total believer in the rapture. In fact, I believe that a person can be raptured by faith. I really wouldn't mind being raptured today <2024-07-18 Thu>. The world lost its luster for me, and that is a good thing actually:

Hebrews 11:5 - By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. (ESV)

Andrae Crouch - Take Me Back
Take me back, dear Lord, where I first believed. I must confess, Lord, I've been blessed, But yet, my soul's not satisfied. Renew my faith, restore my joy, Lord.

Jesus is coming a second time to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him. AMEN!!:

Hebrews 9:27-28 - And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (ESV)

And Jesus' enemies will be made a footstool for His feet:

Hebrews 10:10-13 - And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. (ESV)

youtube.com: The Book Of Revelation | Satan Being Chained | Bishop Mari @time: 8 min 25 sec
The Lord's first coming was nothing but mercy. He came to heal, he came to deliver, he came to save, he came to redeem - all mercy. But in his second coming, the third name will apply: "King of Kings and Lord of Lords". And who will acknowledge this name? And who will bow before this Holy and mighty name? The entire world of the church. Everyone who rejects the Lord now, every everyone who denies the Lord now, everyone who opposes the Lord now, everyone who offends the Lord now will bow whether they like it or not on his second return, because he is the King of all Kings and he is the Lord of all Lords.

76.1. Living and the dead

There are those who are not really alive but are like the walking dead.

I Peter 4:4-5 - With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (ESV)

Romans 8:10-13 - But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (ESV)

Matthew 8:22 - And Jesus said to him, Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead. (ESV)

Luke 9:60 - And Jesus said to him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God. (ESV)

76.2. Hades and Hell - eternal fire

76.2.1. Those who do not trust God's testimony of Jesus are condemned even now, and should repent and believe to not be condemned

I think John 5:24 reads that the one who is trusting the words spoken through Jesus, trusting God, trusting Jesus is holds/posesses eternal life and has passed from death into life.

2064. erchomai
to come, go
3327. metabain
to pass over, withdraw, depart

In trusting Jesus' words - or even His name (onoma) and He is the judge - we do not come into judgement, but change direction, and instead our destiny is life eternal. Jesus is the judge of that. We do not come into judgement:

John 5:21-24 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears (191. akouó) my word (3056. logos) and believes (4100. pisteuó) him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come (2064. erchomai) into judgment, but has passed (3327. metabain) from death to life. (ESV)

John 3:18 - Whoever believes (pisteuōn) in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name (onoma) of the only Son of God. (ESV)

76.2.2. Eternal life vs eternal punishment - Judgement at the close of the age

Matthew 25:43-46 - I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. Then they also will answer, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you? Then he will answer them, saying, Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. (ESV)

It's really important to get to know God and obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus:

II Thessalonians 1:5-10 - This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (ESV)

I John 4:6-12 - We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (ESV)

Matthew 25:41 - Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (ESV)

76.2.3. Sheol / Hades - this is where Jesus went

Read
youthpastortheologian.com: What does the Apostles' Creed mean by "He descended to the dead"? - Youth Pastor Theologian

Proverbs 15:24 - The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath. (ESV)

Matthew 12:40 - For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (ESV)

Proverbs 2:16-19 - So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life. (ESV)

John 5:25 - Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. (ESV)

I Peter 4:6 - For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. (ESV)

7585. sheol
Definition: underworld (place to which people descend at death).
86. hadés
Definition: Hades, the abode of departed spirits. Usage: Hades, the unseen world.

Psalms 9:17 - The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God. (ESV)

While Sheol/Hades includes a place of torment regarded to be hell, that place is not the Lake of Fire, but it's still not a nice place:

Proverbs 23:14 - If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol. (ESV)

Proverbs 23:14 - Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. (KJV)

But Sheol will be thrown into hell after those in Sheol are judged.

Acts 2:27-28 - For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence. (ESV)

The bad part of Sheol/Hades though is still a place of torment with fire. Maybe Jesus visited this place - I suppose He did:

Revelation of John 1:17-18 - When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. (ESV)

KJV considers this place to be hell too - but it's not the Lake of Fire:

Luke 16:27-28 - And he said, Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment. (ESV)

Death and Hades will be thrown into the lake of fire, which is Hell:

Revelation of John 20:13-14 - And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades (86. hadés) gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. (ESV)

Jesus went to Hades, the bad part:

I Peter 3:18-20 - For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. (ESV)

And Jesus went to the Bosom of Abraham:

Luke 23:43 - And he said to him, Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise. (ESV)

Read
gotquestions.org did-Jesus-go-to-hell.html: Did Jesus go to hell between His death and resurrection? | GotQuestions.org

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word used to describe the realm of the dead is sheol. It simply means "the place of the dead" or "the place of departed souls/spirits." The New Testament Greek equivalent of sheol is hades, which also refers to "the place of the dead." The New Testament indicates that sheol/hades is a temporary place, where souls are kept as they await the final resurrection and judgment. Revelation 20:11-15 makes a clear distinction between hades and the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the permanent and final place of judgment for the lost. Hades, then, is a temporary place. Many people refer to both hades and the lake of fire as "hell," and this causes confusion.

If Jesus visited the place of torment in Luke 16:28 (the bad part of Sheol/Hades), it was just temporarily. My current belief is that He would have visited all of the place of the dead (both sides of the chasm).

Jesus went to Hades and I haven't been convinced that Jesus did not visit the bad part of Hades. Jesus experienced Death and Jesus experienced Hades.

Revelation of John 1:18 - and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. (ESV)

Sheol/hades is a realm with two divisions - a place of blessing and a place of judgment (Matthew 11:23; Matthew 16:18; Luke 10:15; Luke 16:23; Acts 2:27-31). The abodes of the saved and the lost are both generally called "hades" in the Bible. The abode of those who die while they have done good in this life is also called "Abraham's bosom" (KJV) or "Abraham's side" (NIV) in Luke 16:22 and "paradise" in Luke 23:43.

The abodes of the ones who have lived righteously in God's sight and the lost are separated by a "great chasm" (Luke 16:26).

When Jesus died, He went to the blessed side of sheol, or paradise.

(Some believe, based on a particular interpretation of Ephesians 4:8-10, that Jesus took believers with Him from sheol to another place of bliss that we now call heaven.

More likely, Ephesians 4 refers to the ascension of Christ.) All the unbelieving dead go to the cursed side of hades to await the final judgment. All the believing dead go to the blessed side of hades to await the resurrection.

Some of the confusion has arisen from such passages as Psalm 16:10-11 as translated in the King James Version: "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. . . . Thou wilt show me the path of life." "Hell" is not a correct translation in this verse. A correct reading would be "the grave" or "sheol." Jesus said to the thief beside Him, "Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43)

76.2.4. The dead hearing the gospel - was it only a one time thing?

I think it's important to trust Jesus in this life because no guarantees with hearing the gospel in the place of the dead.

John 5:25 - Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. (ESV)

I Peter 4:6 - For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. (ESV)

Proclaiming the gospel in the place of the dead might have only been a one-time thing:

I Peter 3:18-22 - For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. (ESV)

John 5:28-29 - Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (ESV)

76.2.5. Tartaroó

God cast rebellious angels into this place. It sounds like Hades but maybe worse:

II Peter 2:4 - For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell (5020. tartaroó) and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; (ESV)

God sent/sends rebellious angels into this place called Tartaroó. Satan and his angels and demons will ultimately end up in the eternal fire.

Jude 1:6-7 - And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day — just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. (ESV)

76.2.6. Hell, lake of fire, the second death

Jesus didn't go to the Lake of Fire, as far as I understand. Jesus went to the place of the dead, both Abraham's Bosom and the bad part of Sheol/Hades colloquially known as hell. The Lake of Fire is the final Hell, and is a Christless eternity with no hope of salvation.

Matthew 10:28 - And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy (622. apollumi) both soul and body in hell. (ESV)

622. apollumi
Definition: to destroy, destroy utterly Usage: (a) I kill, destroy, (b) I lose, mid: I am perishing (the resultant death being viewed as certain). 622 apóllymi (from 575 /apó, "away from," which intensifies ollymi, "to destroy") – properly, fully destroy, cutting off entirely *(note the force of the prefix, 575 /apó). 622 /apóllymi *("violently/completely perish") implies permanent (absolute) destruction, i.e. to cancel out (remove); "to die, with the implication of ruin and destruction" (L & N, 1, 23.106); cause to be lost (utterly perish) by experiencing a miserable end.

The Lake of Fire is where unrepentant sinners who reject God (and reject Jesus) go - i.e. those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus - they do not want to be saved from their sin. It's also where Satan and his angels and demons go:

Matthew 13:49-50 - So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (ESV)

Revelation of John 21:8 - But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. (ESV)

Mark 9:42-44 - Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. (ESV)

Mark 9:45-46 - If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] (NASB)

Matthew 25:41 - Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (ESV)

Revelation of John 19:20 - And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. (ESV)

Matthew 13:42 - and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (ESV)

The lake of fire is for people who not only are unrepentant sinners but also reject Christ (they do not want to be saved).

What is the difference between Sheol, Hades, Hell, the lake of fire, Paradise, and Abraham’s bosom?
The lake of fire, mentioned only in Revelation 19:20 and Revelation 20:10, Revelation 14-15, is the final hell, the place of eternal punishment for all unrepentant rebels, both angelic and human (Matthew 25:41). It is described as a place of burning sulfur, and those in it experience eternal, unspeakable agony of an unrelenting nature (Luke 16:24; Mark 9:45-46). Those who have rejected Christ and are in the temporary abode of the dead in hades/sheol have the lake of fire as their final destination.

76.2.7. The ones who have not heard the gospel are judged by God very fairly

Romans 2:13-16 - For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Romans 2:26-29 - So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (ESV)

Isaiah 65:1 - I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, Here am I, here am I, to a nation that was not called by my name. (ESV)

As God judges, unrighteous people remain under punishment until they are judged and until the righteous are freed from trial:

II Peter 2:5-10 - if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones, (ESV)

76.2.8. The outcome of just judgement for all

Glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.

Luke 16:22-25 - The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame. But Abraham said, Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. (ESV)

Romans 2:6-11 - He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (ESV)

John 5:28-29 - Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (ESV)

76.2.9. The unrepentant sinners including believers who do not want to repent from sin

Sinning believers will still experience tribulation. Believers who are unrepentant from sin are probably not true believers or are rebellious even in face of hearing the gospel and maybe even experience the literal place Hades (the bad part).

Those who do not repent from sin, but instead embrace evil will experience tribulation.

Polycarp 2:1
Wherefore gird up your loins and serve God in fear and truth, forsaking the vain and empty talking and the error of the many, for that ye have believed on Him that raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and gave unto him glory and a throne on His right hand; unto whom all things were made subject that are in heaven and that are on the earth; to whom every creature that hath breath doeth service; who cometh as judge of quick and dead; whose blood God will require of them that are disobedient unto Him.

All sinners (even believers) will experience tribulation and distress on earth if they do not turn away from their sinning.

If a person is a remorseless, unrepentant sinner, it's better for them that their body destroyed so their soul is saved:

I Corinthians 5:4-5 - When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. (ESV)

Matthew 5:29-30 - If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (ESV)

Me speculating

Hades as it's used in this way could possibly look appearance-wise the same, but perhaps God re-organises cities and their inhabitants (me speculating), say forcing unrepentant sinners to other cities. Or perhaps it really is a literal place.

Luke 10:15 - And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. (ESV)

Any person who is experiencing tribulation/torment for wrongdoing would not be experiencing the Kingdom of God on earth, but they may still go to heaven at the final judgment if they end up putting their trust in Jesus Christ:

Romans 2:6-11 - He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (ESV)

The bad part of Sheol/Hades is for those who do evil deeds, possibly including believers who do not repent from sin:

Luke 16:22-31 - The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame. But Abraham said, Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us. And he said, Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment. But Abraham said, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them. And he said, No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent. He said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead. (ESV)

I John 2:19 - They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. (ESV)

But the ones who hear the voice of God and trust in Jesus will certainly be spared from the Lake of Fire at the judgement.

John 5:24 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (ESV)

Unrighteous people remain locked up here until judgement:

II Peter 2:5-10 - if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones, (ESV)

76.2.10. The believers who have embraced repentance from sin and sanctification while on earth

Believers who have obeyed the gospel and are living to serve Christ will enter the Kingdom of God while on Earth and inherit eternal life and not experience the place of torment in Hades, but go straight to heaven.

Romans 2:6-11 - He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (ESV)

76.2.11. Those who are not repentant from sin, and who do not trust Jesus (do not want to be saved) will go to the second death, the Lake of Fire

Luke 5:31-32 - And Jesus answered them, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. (ESV)

Those who do not ultimately repent from practicing sin and also distrust Jesus (they do not want to do the will of God) will go to the lake of fire:

Revelation of John 21:5-8 - And he who was seated on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. Also he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. And he said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. (ESV)

Revelation of John 20:14-15 - Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (ESV)

Revelation of John 20:9-10 - And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (ESV)

Revelation of John 14:11 - And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name. (ESV)

77. Jesus Christ is Lord! :)

The Only True God is the God and Father of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ who He Sent.

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (ESV)

We serve the Most High God, Jehovah and Jesus Christ who He has sent:

I Corinthians 8:5-7 - For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earthas indeed there are many gods and many lords — yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 10:17 - For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. (ESV)

What I believe is that everything that is in the 'made' category has been created through Jesus (Yeshua) by Jehovah (Yahweh) God. Jesus Christ was not made. He was there with Jehovah in the beginning. He is the Word of God. Jesus is God the Son:

John 1:1-3 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (ESV)

Colossians 1:15 - He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (ESV)

Jude 1:25 - to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (ESV)

John 3:33-34 - Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. (ESV)

Ephesians 3:20-21 - Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)

I Chronicles 29:11 - Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. (ESV)

Revelation of John 19:1 - After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, (ESV)

I Timothy 6:15-16 - which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. (ESV)

Revelation of John 17:14 - They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful. (ESV)

I Timothy 1:17 - To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus Christ (God the Son) currently has all authority in heaven and earth:

Matthew 28:18 - And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (ESV)

Fellow heirs with Christ are still in subjection to Christ. Fellow heirs with Christ have Christ as their King and Lord and Saviour and God and Jehovah as their God.

Christ is reigning until all things are subjected to Him. We must come under the Lordship of Christ Jesus. I consider any so-called god which is in rebellion to Christ to be a demon:

I Corinthians 15:25-28 - For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it says, all things are put in subjection, it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. (ESV)

Daniel 7:13-14 - I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (ESV)

Jesus Christ has total dominion:

I Peter 4:11 - whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)

77.1. The Bible says the ones who are co-heirs with Christ are the ones who suffer with Him

Romans 8:16-17 - The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)

I Peter 4:12-19 - Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (ESV)

Jesus is not ashamed to call brothers [and sisters] those who are cleaned up and sanctified through obedience to Jesus' gospel:

Hebrews 2:11 - For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, (ESV)

I Corinthians 1:2 - To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: (ESV)

77.2. The Bible does not say we are kings - it says we are royalty - a royal priesthood for His possession

Revelation of John 1:5 - and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood– (NASB)

Revelation of John 1:5 (Interlinear) - and from Jesus Christ the witness - faithful the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth To the [One] loving us and releasing us from the sins of us through the blood of Him (Interlinear - biblehub.com)

 1: 2532 575  2424  5547      3588    3144
 2: kai  apo  Iēsou Christou  ho      martys
 3: καὶ  ἀπὸ  Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ , ὁ       μάρτυς
 4: and  from Jesus Christ    the     witness
 5: Conj Prep N-GMS N-GMS     Art-NMS N-NMS
 6: 
 7: 3588    4103      3588    4416       3588    3498
 8: ho      pistos    ho      prōtotokos tōn     nekrōn
 9: ὁ       πιστός  , ὁ       πρωτότοκος τῶν     νεκρῶν
10:  -      faithful  the     firstborn  of the  dead
11: Art-NMS Adj-NMS   Art-NMS Adj-NMS    Art-GMP Adj-GMP
12: 
13: 2532 3588    758    3588    935      3588
14: kai  ho      archōn tōn     basileōn tēs
15: καὶ  ὁ       ἄρχων  τῶν     βασιλέων τῆς
16: and  the     ruler  of the  kings    of the
17: Conj Art-NMS N-NMS  Art-GMP N-GMP    Art-GFS
18: 
19: 1093   3588         25        1473     2532
20: gēs    Tō           agapōnti  hēmas    kai
21: γῆς  . Τῷ           ἀγαπῶντι  ἡμᾶς     καὶ
22: earth  To the [One] loving    us       and
23: N-GFS  Art-DMS      V-PPA-DMS PPro-A1P Conj
24: 
25: 3089      1473     1537 3588    266
26: lysanti   hēmas    ek   tōn     hamartiōn
27: λύσαντι   ἡμᾶς     ἐκ   τῶν     ἁμαρτιῶν
28: releasing us       from the     sins
29: V-APA-DMS PPro-A1P Prep Art-GFP N-GFP
30: 
31: 1473     1722    3588    129     846
32: hēmōn    en      tō      haimati autou
33: ἡμῶν     ἐν      τῷ      αἵματι  αὐτοῦ   —
34: of us    through the     blood   of Him
35: PPro-G1P Prep    Art-DNS N-DNS   PPro-GM3S

I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (ESV)

I Peter 2:9 (Interlinear) - You however [are] a race chosen a royal priesthood a nation holy a people for [His] possession so that the excellencies you may proclaim of the [One] out of darkness you having called to the marvelous of Him light (Interlinear - biblehub.com)

 1: 4771     1161    1085         1588       934
 2: Hymeis   de      genos        eklekton   basileion
 3: Ὑμεῖς    δὲ      γένος        ἐκλεκτόν , βασίλειον
 4: You      however [are] a race chosen     a royal
 5: PPro-N2P Conj    N-NNS        Adj-NNS    Adj-NNS
 6: 
 7: 2406         1484     40       2992     1519
 8: hierateuma   ethnos   hagion   laos     eis
 9: ἱεράτευμα  , ἔθνος    ἅγιον  , λαὸς     εἰς
10: priesthood   a nation holy     a people for [His]
11: N-NNS        N-NNS    Adj-NNS  N-NMS    Prep
12: 
13: 4047          3704    3588     703
14: peripoiēsin   hopōs   tas      aretas
15: περιποίησιν , ὅπως    τὰς      ἀρετὰς
16: possession    so that the      excellencies
17: N-AFS         Conj    Art-AFP  N-AFP
18: 
19: 1804             3588         1537   4655
20: exangeilēte      tou          ek     skotous
21: ἐξαγγείλητε      τοῦ          ἐκ     σκότους
22: you may proclaim of the [One] out of darkness
23: V-ASA-2P         Art-GMS      Prep   N-GNS
24: 
25: 4771     2564          1519 3588    2298
26: hymas    kalesantos    eis  to      thaumaston
27: ὑμᾶς     καλέσαντος  , εἰς  τὸ      θαυμαστὸν
28: you      having called to   the     marvelous
29: PPro-A2P V-APA-GMS     Prep Art-ANS Adj-ANS
30: 
31: 846       5457
32: autou     phōs
33: αὐτοῦ     φῶς  ,
34: of Him    light
35: PPro-GM3S N-ANS

Being a saint (trusting, faithful, obedient Christians who endure while keeping the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus):

Revelation of John 14:12 - Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Quote by Charles Spurgeon
All are "saints" whom God has called by His grace and sanctified by His Spirit;

Jesus is not ashamed to call brothers [and sisters] those who are cleaned up and sanctified through obedience to Jesus' gospel:

Hebrews 2:11 - For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, (ESV)

There is a promise for the saints who conquer and keep Jesus' teachings to the end - authority over the nations:

Revelation of John 2:25-29 - Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (ESV)

II Timothy 2:12 - if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; (ESV)

Conquerors should not let sin reign in their mortal bodies:

Romans 7:11-14 - So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (ESV)

Revelation of John 3:18-21 - I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (ESV)

78. AMEN!!

Sermon
youtube.com: There's Only One Acceptable Motive To Serve God

The motivation for everything must be to glorify God.

78.1. Do the will of the Father - obey Jesus. It's not just the red letters either. We must keep God's commandments. AMEN!!

youtube.com: The most terrifying passage in the Bible | Matthew 7:21-23

Luke 8:21 - But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” (ESV)

Matthew 12:48-50 - But he replied to the man who told him, Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. (ESV)

Paul agrees:

Philippians 4:9 - What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me — practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (ESV)

Walk as an imitator of Christ:

Philippians 3:17-18 - Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. (ESV)

I Corinthians 11:1 - Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (ESV)

Do not be an enemy of the cross of Christ, submit to the righteousness of God - we needed Jehovah God, Father of Jesus Christ, to pay for our sin - and we must imitate Christ, passing forward Christ's love and forgiving as we have been forgiven, and repenting from sin:

Hebrews 13:7 - Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (ESV)

III John 1:11 - Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. (ESV)

John 3:19 - This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (ESV)

It's obedience which leads to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith:

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (ESV)

Romans 4:12-13 - and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

78.1.1. Obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus

II Thessalonians 1:4-8 - Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering — since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (ESV)

78.1.2. A heart of belief and obedience is the start of faith

John 7:17 - If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (ESV)

Believing Father God Jehovah, loving Him, obeying His commandments, loving and obeying Jesus Christ His son, all must be true together, even to have a sound definition of what love is:

I John 5:1-3 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (ESV)

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.

I John 3:24 - Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

The fear of God helps us to obey Him. God please forgive us:

Jeremiah 32:40 - I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. (ESV)

II Corinthians 7:1 - Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves (G1438 heautou) from all (G3956 pas) defilement of flesh (G4561 sarx) and spirit (G4151 pneuma), perfecting holiness in the fear of God (G2316 theos).

Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. (ESV)

Fear of God is not only about having the heart to repent from sin and "beat hand on chest and ask God for mercy", but it is also having a changed heart, endeavoring to please Christ with our actions:

II Corinthians 5:6-11 - So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. (ESV)

II Corinthians 7:10 - For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. (ESV)

78.2. For one's work to stand the test of fire

It should be:

  • For God's Glory. Amen. All glory to God, not to me
  • In obedience to the Word of God
  • Working in the power of the Holy Spirit
God's telephone number The password
Jeremiah 33:3 - Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (ESV) Psalms 100:4 - Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! (ESV)
Medley
youtube.com: God And God Alone {Gospel Medley}
Medley
youtube.com: Holy Are You Lord Medley | Jesus Image
Song
youtube.com: All Honor {Consuming Fire} | Jesus Image
Song
youtube.com: Praise {feat. Brandon Lake, Chris Brown & Chandler Moore} | Elevation Worship

Isaiah 64:4 - From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. (ESV)

Acts 5:39 - but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God! So they took his advice, (ESV)

78.3. Please help me by repenting, forgiving your family in Christ, and imitating Christ

  • I forgive everyone.
  • I hold no grudges.
  • But I'm fighting a spiritual battle right now, and I'm going to speak the truth as best as I can.

I Corinthians 13:6 - it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. (ESV)

I am really sorry for any hurt I have been the cause of to anyone, and making frustrated prayers to God, like Job did, except for many reasons I deserve the tribulation which I have faced.

Please, God, forgive us for our blind spots and errors and continue to sanctify us.

I forgive everyone <2024-07-24 Wed>.

Please, God, continue to sanctify us.

78.5. Prayer of thanks

 1: Dear Heavenly Father, Almighty Jehovah God!
 2: Your will be done.
 3: We praise Your name! We praise You God! And, Lord Jesus Christ, we praise You also.
 4: And Holy Spirit, we praise You also!
 5: Thank You God for Your mercy!
 6: Thank You Father God for making a way for us to be reconciled with You through Your Son Jesus Christ!
 7: Thank You Jesus for dying on the cross to pay the price for our sins.
 8: Thank You Father God for raising Jesus from the dead!
 9: I believe that You've raised Jesus from dead.
10: Please help us to continue carrying out Your great commission.
11: And I'm going to do my best to prepare myself to be holy and blameless for the day of Christ Jesus and to honor You with my life.
12: All glory to You, God.
13: In Jesus Christ's name I pray,
14: AMEN!!
 1: Dear Heavenly Father, Jehovah God,
 2: Please forgive, me, LORD.
 3: Have mercy on me, a sinner!
 4: I want to serve You, God.
 5: I don't deserve any of Your grace, LORD.
 6: Thank You, God, for not condemning me, because Jesus has paid the price for my sin.
 7: I believe that. I know it's already paid for.
 8: Nevertheless, I live to serve You, God, and to be conformed into the image of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
 9: In Jesus Christ's name I pray,
10: AMEN!!

Romans 3:21-26 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

Colossians 2:14 - by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Revelation of John 1:5 - and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood (ESV)

Philippians 1:9-11 - And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Hebrews 13:20-21 - Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)

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Date: 2024-10-15 Tue 00:00

Author: Shane Mulligan

Created: 2024-10-15 Tue 16:09

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