Now, it is our work to pattern ourselves after this perfect being; at least to the best of our abilities, and, why not? Is there anyone else more impressive, sound, righteous, kind, compassionate, LOVING, caring, sharing, and, bent on FREEING us from this world? Is there anyone in all of history, worthy of our imitation???
CHRIST IS THE MAN *GOD* INTENDED ALL MANKIND TO BE, when HE CREATED humanity! Adam was supposed to be such a Man, but, that old deceiver was there PRONTO, with his beguilement, lies, delusion, confusion, and, deception; straight away, he bonded Man, because he was SO jealous, and, disgusted with our being CREATED! SO, you see, we NEEDED a ROLE MODEL to pattern ourselves after, because, WHO could be like CHRIST? *GOD* IS GENIUS, magnified endlessly, and, has it ALL in control!!!
The problem is, people LIKE living in the world, and, *GOD*, too, SO, they have a difficult time, even struggling against, living in the spirit, but, IF we are of CHRIST, by the spirit IS how we are to live!!!
One should READ THE WORD, at all times, to DISCOVER the ways to become CHRISTLIKE, and, certain BOOKS, as well as Chapters, hold GREAT information, like 1 & 2 PETER, which, SHOULD be read entirely, over, and, over again...
Let's look at 1 PETER 1...
1/ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen sojourners of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2/ in the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification by the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ: may grace and peace be yours in abundance.
3/ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4/ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you
5/ who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.
6/ In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials,
7/ so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
8/ Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
9/ as you attain the goal of (your) faith, the salvation of your souls.
10/ Concerning this salvation, prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and investigated it,
11/ investigating the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the glories to follow them.
12/ It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you with regard to the things that have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you (through) the holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels longed to look.
13/ Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14/ Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance
15/ but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,
16/ for it is written, "Be holy because I (am) holy."
17/ Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one's works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning,
18/ realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold
19/ but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb.
20/ He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you,
21/ who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22/ Since you have purified yourselves by obedience to the truth for sincere mutual love, love one another intensely from a (pure) heart.
23/ You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and abiding word of God,
24/ for: "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, and the flower wilts;
25/ but the word of the Lord remains forever." This is the word that has been proclaimed to you.
1 PETER 2:1-11...
1/ Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, insincerity, envy, and all slander;
2/ like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk so that through it you may grow into salvation,
3/ for you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4/ Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God,
5/ and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6/ For it says in scripture: "Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame."
7/ Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith: "The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"
8/ and "A stone that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall." They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.
9/ But you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
10/ Once you were "no people" but now you are God's people; you "had not received mercy" but now you have received mercy.
11/ Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against the soul.
It IS all about LOVE! LOVING *GOD*/CHRIST/THE HOLY SPIRIT, LOVING self, and, others, which, MAKES one consider the actions of improving the being, that it SHINES before the world, as a testimonial, to bear witness to, GLORIFYING THE *GODHEAD*, and, fulfilling HIS WILL!!!
YES, all TRUE Christians should know HOW to finish out their days, what is ahead, and, how honed our FAITH, endurance, perseverance, and, knowledge should be, come those final times, yet, SO many seem to be high on the belief, but, without substantiating that belief with ONENESS TO THE PROMISE, THE BODY/THE CHURCH! They are NOT acting as TRUE members of THE BODY/THE CHURCH/CHRIST! We are SERVANTS TO THE LORD, we are TO HONOUR HIM, THROUGHOUT our days, we are TO REFLECT HIM at ALL times, in thought, action, and, reaction, THAT, the world SEES HIM in us; it is MORE than FAITH, it is FAITHFULNESS TO HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS!!!
True Christian freedom is the result of being servants of God. It includes reverence for God, esteem for every individual, and committed love for fellow Christians.
REV. LWINSOR © 2012
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