FAITH OPENS UP TO FAITHFULNESS; it brings us into a newness; one which is of the heart, the mind, the body, and the spirit! LOTS of people believe, yet, they never grow INTO HIM, nor RIGHTEOUSNESS; instead, they exist as they did previously, and some even exist worse than before, in arrogant confidence that they CAN deny their duties TO THE LORD, HIS WILL, and HIS PLAN! ANYONE can SAY they believe CHRIST JESUS IS LORD, but their existence shall prove them...
*GOD* HATES sin, but LOVES the sinner, hence, we too, are to detest our sins, repent of them, then apply HIS instruction TO diminish them, and overcome them! Of course, we WILL sin, we are still in the carnal world, but we shouldn't sin on purpose, nor continue in our favourite sins! IF we understand THE WORD, then we KNOW that to cling to our sins is to cling to enmity with *GOD*...
There ARE STANDARDS, and RULES FOR the Christian being; these are OF HIS SOUNDNESS, and WISDOM FOR our sake, and the good of others, THAT we TRULY GLORIFY HIM BY adhering TO HIS SANCTIFICATION PROCESS! We ARE being CONSECRATED, and if we ignore the PRINCIPLES OF HIS WILL, then THE HOLY SPIRIT IS hindered, and grieved! On the other hand, if we are sincerely WILLING, and pursue righteousness, HIS WORK in us IS increased, then completed! As I have said MANY times, we will NOT be perfect in this time, but with our cooperation, and allegiance TO HIM, we ARE being MADE perfect, AND our ROLE IN HIS PLAN becomes more manifest, AS WELL AS with greater EASE we CAN exist IN THE NEW BEING; letting go, more, more, and more of the old being; the carnal, fleshy, erroneous being!!!
EVER studying, learning, embracing, and USING HIS instruction, AIDS us in REMAINING IN HIM, THAT HE WILL REMAIN IN US! Works WON'T SAVE us, but coupled WITH FAITH, they PROVE us, and SHOW HIM IN us, THAT the world might TURN TO HIM, and more souls WILL also, enter THE KINGDOM! We HAVE work to be done IN the sense OF BRINGING HIM TO others, sharing HIS LOVE, and compassionately helping others, in diverse ways! We CANNOT be complacent believers, we SHOULD be ACTIVE CO-PARTNERS OF HIS WILL, WAYS, WORD, and PLAN! There is GREAT purpose IN our effort to TRANSFORM INTO our REALITY, which IS spirit OVER the flesh; in which case, the spiritual being is NOT chained to desires of the flesh, nor does it give precedence to the egocentric being, BECAUSE such IS what separates humanity FROM their LORD *GOD*!!!
Duties TOWARDS *GODLY* living IS part of being ONE WITH CHRIST JESUS! HE IS our exemplar, our model, our teacher, our arrow TO THE WAY, which IS one of change FROM the old TO the new! We are NOT citizens of the Earth, we are citizens of THE MOST HIGH KINGDOM, and IN this KINGDOM sound principles, and standards exist, BECAUSE ALL it's citizens ARE a HOLY people, SANCTIFIED/CONSECRATED FOR SERVING HIM, LOVE, and ALL which is RIGHT, JUST, and GOOD...
TITUS 2: 11-14...
11+++For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
12+++instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
13+++looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
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.
The doctrine of grace and salvation by the gospel, is for all ranks and conditions of men. It teaches to forsake sin; to have no more to do with it. An earthly, sensual conversation suits not a heavenly calling.
It teaches to make conscience of that which is good. We must look to God in Christ, as the object of our hope and worship. A gospel conversation must be a godly conversation. See our duty in a very few words; denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, living soberly, righteously, and godly, notwithstanding all snares, temptations, corrupt examples, ill usage, and what remains of sin in the believer's heart, with all their hinderances.
It teaches to look for the glories of another world. At, and in, the glorious appearing of Christ, the blessed hope of Christians will be complete: To bring us to holiness and happiness was the end of Christ's death. Jesus Christ, that great God and our Saviour, who saves not only as God, much less as Man alone; but as God-man, two natures in one person. He loved us, and gave himself for us; and what can we do less than love and give up ourselves to him!
Redemption from sin and sanctification of the nature go together, and make a peculiar people unto God, free from guilt and condemnation, and purified by the Holy Spirit. All Scripture is profitable. Here is what will furnish for all parts of duty, and the right discharge of them. Let us inquire whether our whole dependence is placed upon that grace which saves the lost, pardons the guilty, and sanctifies the unclean. And the further we are removed from boasting of fancied good works, or trusting in them, so that we glory in Christ alone, the more zealous shall we be to abound in real good works.
2 TIMOTHY 3: 14-17...
14+++But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,
15+++and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16+++All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17+++so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Those who would learn the things of God, and be assured of them, must know the Holy Scriptures, for they are the Divine revelation. The age of children is the age to learn; and those who would get true learning, must get it out of the Scriptures. They must not lie by us neglected, seldom or never looked into. The Bible is a sure guide to eternal life.
The prophets and apostles did not speak from themselves, but delivered what they received of God, 2Pe 1:21. It is profitable for all purposes of the Christian life. It is of use to all, for all need to be taught, corrected, and reproved. There is something in the Scriptures suitable for every case. Oh that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer to them! then shall we find benefit, and at last gain the happiness therein promised by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the main subject of both Testaments. We best oppose error by promoting a solid knowledge of the word of truth; and the greatest kindness we can do to children, is to make them early to know the Bible.
2 PETER 3...
1+++Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
2+++I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3+++Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
4+++They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”
5+++But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.
6+++By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.
7+++By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
8+++But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
9+++The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10+++But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
11+++Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
12+++as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
13+++But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
14+++So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
15+++Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
16+++He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17+++Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.
18+++But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
The purified minds of Christians are to be stirred up, that they may be active and lively in the work of holiness. There will be scoffers in the last days, under the gospel, men who make light of sin, and mock at salvation by Jesus Christ. One very principal article of our faith refers to what only has a promise to rest upon, and scoffers will attack it till our Lord is come. They will not believe that he will come. Because they see no changes, therefore they fear not God, Ps 55:19. What he never has done, they fancy he never can do, or never will do.
Had these scoffers considered the dreadful vengeance with which God swept away a whole world of ungodly men at once, surely they would not have scoffed at his threatening an equally terrible judgment. The heavens and the earth which now are, by the same word, it is declared, will be destroyed by fire. This is as sure to come, as the truth and the power of God can make it.
Christians are here taught and established in the truth of the coming of the Lord. Though, in the account of men, there is a vast difference between one day and a thousand years, yet, in the account of God, there is no difference. All things past, present, and future, are ever before him: the delay of a thousand years cannot be so much to him, as putting off any thing for a day or for an hour is to us. If men have no knowledge or belief of the eternal God, they will be very apt to think him such as themselves. How hard is it to form any thoughts of eternity!
What men count slackness, is long-suffering, and that to us-ward; it is giving more time to his own people, to advance in knowledge and holiness, and in the exercise of faith and patience, to abound in good works, doing and suffering what they are called to, that they may bring glory to God.
Settle therefore in your hearts that you shall certainly be called to give an account of all things done in the body, whether good or evil. And let a humble and diligent walking before God, and a frequent judging of yourselves, show a firm belief of the future judgment, though many live as if they were never to give any account at all. This day will come, when men are secure, and have no expectation of the day of the Lord. The stately palaces, and all the desirable things wherein worldly-minded men seek and place their happiness, shall be burned up; all sorts of creatures God has made, and all the works of men, must pass through the fire, which shall be a consuming fire to all that sin has brought into the world, though a refining fire to the works of God's hand. What will become of us, if we set our affections on this earth, and make it our portion, seeing all these things shall be burned up? Therefore make sure of happiness beyond this visible world.
From the doctrine of Christ's second coming, we are exhorted to purity and godliness. This is the effect of real knowledge. Very exact and universal holiness is enjoined, not resting in any low measure or degree. True Christians look for new heavens and a new earth; freed from the vanity to which things present are subject, and the sin they are polluted with. Those only who are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and sanctified by the Holy Ghost, shall be admitted to dwell in this holy place. He is faithful, who has promised.
Those, whose sins are pardoned, and their peace made with God, are the only safe and happy people; therefore follow after peace, and that with all men; follow after holiness as well as peace. Never expect to be found at that day of God in peace, if you are lazy and idle in this your day, in which we must finish the work given us to do. Only the diligent Christian will be the happy Christian in the day of the Lord.
Our Lord will suddenly come to us, or shortly call us to him; and shall he find us idle? Learn to make a right use of the patience of our Lord, who as yet delays his coming.
Proud, carnal, and corrupt men, seek to wrest some things into a seeming agreement with their wicked doctrines. But this is no reason why Paul's epistles, or any other part of the Scriptures, should be laid aside; for men, left to themselves, pervert every gift of God. Then let us seek to have our minds prepared for receiving things hard to be understood, by putting in practice things which are more easy to be understood.
But there must be self-denial and suspicion of ourselves, and submission to the authority of Christ Jesus, before we can heartily receive all the truths of the gospel, therefore we are in great danger of rejecting the truth. And whatever opinions and thoughts of men are not according to the law of God, and warranted by it, the believer disclaims and abhors. Those who are led away by error, fall from their own steadfastness.
And that we may avoid being led away, we must seek to grow in all grace, in faith, and virtue, and knowledge. Labour to know Christ more clearly, and more fully; to know him so as to be more like him, and to love him better. This is the knowledge of Christ, which the apostle Paul reached after, and desired to attain; and those who taste this effect of the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, will, upon receiving such grace from him, give thanks and praise him, and join in ascribing glory to him now, in the full assurance of doing the same hereafter, for ever.
LWINSOR © 2018
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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