His Divine power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness – practical religion - if Jesus is beautiful and He lived His life beautifully, then, in Him, our life is beautiful, and when we obey Jesus, our lives a beautiful.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. New International Version

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. New Living Translation

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... ESV

Life: real and genuine, actual

• "a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed 

  • this portion even now in this world of those who put their trust in Christ

  • Next portion life eternal, the resurrection

Godliness: reverence, respect

• Promoting godliness - as to reflect or imitate, God

• Aims and acts of godliness - holy conduct toward God and others

This life, this godliness, the fruit of our relationship with God, in Christ, by His Spirit – that Divine power, should result in something beautiful, that increases in its effectiveness and productivity:

Life and godliness.

Jesus’ godly life, His practical religion in action

John 2:1-12

James 3:13,17-18 “13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom…  17...the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

• Good, beautiful - beautiful, as an outward sign of the inward good, noble, honorable character; good, worthy, honorable, noble, and seen to be so.

• Beautiful, praiseworthy; beautiful, as an outward sign of the inward good, noble, honorable character; good, worthy, honorable, noble, and seen to be so.

• beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, and hence praiseworthy; morally good, noble

• This is not “good, as unto righteousness (as to prove to, or appease, God.  But, “good” as an expression of one’s righteousness in Christ as to imitate and please, that good which is done because one has believed in Jesus, been justified by that faith, and have had the righteousness of Jesus imputed in them, by and with the Holy Spirit.  

• This is the “good” Jesus’ commends us to do that brings, that when seen, brings glory and praise to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5); Mary’s loving and gracious gesture of anointing Jesus feet (Matt 26:10; Mark 14:6); and that which Paul describes as that good which should grow weary of doing (Gal 6:9).

So this godliness Peter speaks of ought to result in an “A beautiful life is lived beautifully, a life lived beautifully, does beautiful things.”  This IS good. 

What is godliness?  It is a life lived to God, for God, as God does.

Our being saved “to obedience” is our life being saved and preserved, conditioned and equipped, empowered and enabled, created - beautifully, to be beautiful, that in doing what it, what we, were created to be like, we do, beautifully.  And that is beautiful.  That is Jesus in me, living life with me, in a godly, or practical way - being good and beautiful, we do beautiful things. 

God is love, God's love does; as we have been loved, and been made love, our love must also, do - and this is good and this is beautiful and this is “practical religion”. 

So, this life with live in Christ by faith, in the knowledge of God, this is a vigorous life, marked by practical religion and is best expressed by mutual concern for one another, and mutual concern - does.  (Isa 58:6-12; Gen 3:10,21; Matt 25:35-38; Mark 10:51; John 3:16; 5:19; 13:5; Rom 1:5; 6:17-18; 12:1; Eph 2:8-10; 1Pet 1:2; Acts 2:42-48; Ja 1:26-27; 2:16; 1Jo 3:17)

As God in His love, by His mercy, in His gracious faithfulness, did (and does). In the beginning, God, “did” for His beloved

• Gen 3:10,21 

  • 3:10 “10He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

  • 3:21 21The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

So, we, having experienced that love, now, do 

• 1Peter 5:7-10   “7The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

• Ja 1:26-27; 2:16

  • 1:26-27  “26Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

  • 2:16  “14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”

• 1Jo 3:17   “16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

• Math 25:34-40  “34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Jesus is the light and life of all men, His life and life are our light and life and how He lived this life is how we are to live…  Jesus expresses this vigorous life, this fervent bubbling love, with real religion - love and concern expressed in practical help, the fruit of His love, His (mutual concern) for the bride and the groom, the hostess - His mother Mary and the parents of the couple. Not to mention, the participants in the party.

This is the life that Jesus came to give - as represented in John 2.  For us to get, have, and live this life, Jesus willingly laid down His life that He might give it - to have and live this life we must drink the wine of the Kingdom - which is Jesus, His blood, shed for us - His life, in us. (John 6:26-58)

John 2:1-12

The reflection of this life now in us, more than just animated, but a life vigorous in Christ, that reflects the kingdom AND its divine power, is how we live - now - especially, among ourselves, Jesus’ disciples - it is to be as concerned for one another as Jesus was and is for us, me. 

Love is, this new and vigorous life, for which we have been given everything we need to live, is expressed by our mutual concern.

How has God ordained that we express this “practical religion”, the “godliness”?  Love and serving the “one-another” within the body of Christ. 

1Cor 12:12-26

 Unity and Diversity in the Body

12Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by c one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Why does God have to command us to love this way?  Because we have a propensity to not.

 1Cor 11:17-34 Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper

17In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

33So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come I will give further directions.

God Loves You

• John 3:16  >>> God so loved the world that He gave His only son

• Psalm 139 >>> God created you - you were made in the image of God

• Romans 5:8 >>> Christ demonstrated his love for you – He died for you 

• Ephesians 3:20 >>> God gave you the Bible – He tells you over and over that He loves you – He wants you to have an abundant life

• Jeremiah 33:3 >>> God wants to have a relationship with you – He will answer us when we call to Him

• Hebrews 4:16 >>> God wants to have a relationship with you – He tells us to come boldly before the throne

• John 10: 14-15 >>> God wants to have a relationship with you – I know my sheep and my sheep know me – I lay down my life for the sheep

• Romans 8: 38-40 >>> God loves you – nothing will be able to separate us

Life and Godliness - A Life of Mutual Concern: John 2; 1Corinthians 12:25: 1 Peter 3

Remember, of what Peter speaks of here is the result of:  Faith received; Knowing God, now, personally, experientially, more and more;  Then, having God’s Divine power, in the midst of all of this, everything we need for life and godliness - life and godliness are the fruit, the result, of the gift of the relationship – Life in and with Him: to be as effective and productive in Him and then to recognize that we will be as effective and productive in the relationship as the effort we put into the relationship - though there, we must take responsibility for their strengthening (further) and practice. 

Faith: received and precious; authored, pioneered, and perfected by Jesus Himself and given to those who believe, to believe and entrust self to by trusting love in response to being loved.

Knowledge: this incredibly up-close, interpersonal, and experiential relationship with God Himself, initiated, energized, and kept, by God, and enjoyed by His children. This with… God, the Father and Jesus,, our Lord

Grace and peace – in abundance, increasing measure, and that, lavishly given and given some more: the resulting experience of that relationship - its fruit

Abundance: a reflection of God’s generosity and the call to us to respond – generously (Jam 1:5;  Rom 10:12)

• Toward God (Luke 12:21)

• To or toward, or, on behalf of, (Acts 2:42-48; 2Cor 9:13)

  • One another: the brotherhood - according to their need - with ALL that we have been given

  • Others – those who have yet to receive –the hope of the gospel, life in Jesus, the Life.

This is a foreshadowing of where Peter is leading: to increase in Jesus and our relationship with Him

• “Make every effort to…” out of: Gratitude and Appreciation

• “…add to your faith, goodness…” or courageous and generous service - which is a perpetual energizer.  We serve out of the energy of gratification (saved and made/created to obedience to Jesus (out of love) and to good works – out of this love.  This service fuels our spirit and soul - serving breeds and stirs fervor (Rom 12)

This life, this godliness, the fruit of our relationship with God, in Christ, by His Spirit – that Divine power, should result in something beautiful, that increases in its effectiveness and productivity:

Life and godliness.

Life: universally, life, i. e. 

the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate, earthly life, while living on the earth - then - there is the progression of God’s true and real intention for life and the giving of life::

• a new mode of life, dedicated to God, Romans 6:4

• a promise looking to the present and the future life, 1 Timothy 4:8

• of a life preserved in the midst of perils, with a suggestion of vigor, 2 Corinthians 4:10-12

Life emphatically!!  As intended by God - AND THIS IS THE LIFE OF WHICH PETER SPEAKS - THAT WE HAVE AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN EVERYTHING WE NEED TO LIVE!

• God - the Light and Life of mankind - of the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both

• real, genuine life is - then for us, now: 

  • a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last forever - (the life the writers of the O. T. anticipated the conception of as they pointed to the Messiah and the Kingdom to come - a happy life (with God) and every kind of blessing: Deut 30:15, 19; Mali 2:5; Psalm 33:13; Pro 8:35; 12:28): Jo 6:51, 63; 14:6; Ro 7:10; 8:6, 10; 2 Co 2:16; Phil 2:16; (Col 3:4); 2Pe 1:3; 1 John 5:11, 16, 20)

    •  Supplied by God

    • Obtained in fellowship with, or relationship with, or “the knowledge of” Jesus

    • the Spirit, the repository and imparter of life, which is received by those united to Chris

Godliness – practical religion

Mutual consideration. Are there times in our lives, when our own personal cares become so dominant in our lives, that we truly lose sight of the interests of another?  The needs of another? The value of another?

Are there times in our lives, when we’re working so hard to prove our point, to preserve our rights or privileges, to make a statement that we believe is true or necessary, to get done what we need to get done, that we are blind to the needs of another? The concerns of another? The interest of another? Even to the point of refusing to act on their behalf, in servitude, in care and consideration, and meeting their specific needs in their time of acute need?

So, this a vigorous life, marked by practical religion and is best expressed by mutual concern for one another.  (Isa 58:6-12; Gen 3:10,21; Matt 25:35-38; Mark 10:51; John 3:16; 5:19; 13:5; Rom 1:5; 6:17-18; 12:1; Eph 2:8-10; 1Pet 1:2; Acts 2:42-48; Ja 1:26-27; 2:16; 1Jo 3:17)

Jesus expresses this vigorous life, this fervent bubbling love, with real religion - love and concern expressed in practical help, the fruit of His love, His (mutual concern) for the bride and the groom, the hostess - His mother Mary and the parents of the couple. Not to mention, the participants in the party.

This is the life that Jesus came to give - as represented in John 2.  For us to get this the life, Jesus laid down His life that He might give it - to have and live this life we must drink the wine of the Kingdom - which is Jesus, His blood. 

John 2:1-12

The reflection of this life now in us, more than just animated, but a life vigorous in Christ, that reflects the kingdom AND its divine power, is how we live - now - especially, among ourselves, Jesus’ disciples - it is to be as concerned for one another as Jesus was and is for us, me. 

Love is, this new and vigorous life, for which we have been given everything we need to live, is expressed by our mutual concern.

1Cor 11-12

Knowledge, knowing intimately, more and more – this is God’s desire for us!

Knowledge, knowing intimately, more and more – this is God’s desire for us!  

2Peter 1:1-2; Philippians 3:3-11; Eph 1:15-23; John 17:1-3, 20-26

In what does God want us to be most effective? If faith is the knowing, it is by this faith and we are escorted into the knowledge of God, experience with God, that we now know God, and not only know God, but know Him more and more, more deeply, richly, really. 

Knowledge, in this sense, is our knowing God, together with God - not a distant ascent to the truth of His being and existence, but something more unimaginable - that that God, that fearful, awful, all-powerful being, from whom we stand at a distance, afraid - we come to know, in Jesus, that this God actually loves us, longs to be known by us, and that as our loving Father, and desires, even longs, to be loved in return, by us - and has proclaimed, in Jesus, that that love is available to any and all who would receive it!

And then, for those who are now in this love relationship - He longs for us to be effective and productive in our knowledge of Him, with Him - because this is what produces in us righteous acts from the righteousness that He has imputed to us in Christ Jesus - creating us to do good and beautiful works of the kingdom among the lost - revealing this true and real knowledge, the growing knowledge, knowing of, God and having first-hand, contact, real and true, knowledge of, relationship with - me and Him - my creator, God and Father, savior and friend, power and enablement, comfort and encouragement… our love. 

We talk a lot about having effective in:

• Life - in particular 

  • Life in Christ: real and genuine:, "a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last forever" (the writers of the O. T. have anticipated the conception, in their way, by employing חַיִּים to denote a happy life and every kind of blessing

• Character

• Witness and testimony

In what does God want us to be most effective?   Our knowledge of him

• It is our fear, being converted to our reverent awe, of Him that is the beginning of knowledge – Prov 4:7

• It is our fear, converted our reverent awe, of Him that is the beginning of wisdom – Prov 9:10; Ps 111:10

• It is our deeper knowledge of Him and His love expressed in mercy and grace, by faith, that enables us to live this life with Godly character or godliness.  John 1:14-17; Ro 8:29; 2Cor 3:18; 2Pet 1:4

• This knowledge, this love experience, by faith, and the power of the Holy Spirit, is to know Him more and more, deeper and deeper, even more intimately as we are known.  1Co 8:3; 13:12; 1jo 3:2

John 17:1-3, 20-26 - Jesus prays this - He wants us to know Him as He knows us - inside out 

Philippians 3:3-11 - Paul gushes this desire - to know more deeply, personally, intimately

Ephesians 1:15-23 - this is God speaking through Paul as to what He wants for us, with us
 

On, fitting, which intensifies gnosis - academic, scientific knowledge - and experience that fits what we know or have ascertained

• First-hand knowledge - this knowledge is (now) mine

• Contact knowledge - that is appropriate, fitting of, first-hand knowledge, experiential knowing - this is defined by the individual context.

  • Though this experience be universal to all who know, it is individual to us for our knowing

    • God knows me

    • God has made Himself known to me

    • I now know God because He “sees me” and has made Himself known to me

    • This is best seen, evidenced, and experienced by our relationship with the Holy Spirit, or paraclete - the One who is in me and knows me -  the Holy Spirit as advocate or counselor (John 14:16, 26)

God gives us everything we need for this life and the development of our character - godliness – by and through this knowledge of him

And it is God who provides this knowledge - this knowing Him

• This experience, this thing he calls faith -  and he reveals His Faith progressively by his self-revelation

  •  Through what has been made - creation

  •  The touch of His finger, that is His Spirit - the Father draws (John 6)

  •  His Self Revelation by the Spirit to the heart and mind of the person pursued

  •  By Jesus – the Incarnate one

    •  His actual self as seen throughout the scriptures and in particular the Gospels

    •  His risen self – by the testimony of those who have heard and seen and touched

    •  His, now, real existence

      • Through the miraculously – by Mercy, Grace, faith, and perpetually changed lives

        • God's giving

        • God's do

        • Our joining in with every effort

      • Changed lives – our perpetual expression of and growing into the person of Christ 

        • In life, to whom and for whom we live - no longer of this world

        • In godliness

          • How we speak and act, no longer of or like this world

          • how we live and love God, self, and others no longer as this world

            • For selfish ambition and vain conceit

            • In fear and anxiety how we will live, living as one world as if this world is their home

      • By Us - we are the testimony of God, Jesus’ grace, and faithfulness, lavished on us, a His most prized possession.

How does “knowledge” or knowing more deeply change our life, make us godly?  

We experience His love and love Him in return, we become like the one with whom we spend our time, learn from, imitate.  We are overwhelmed by His presence, but because we have seen Him, experienced Him by His choosing, we respond in awe and God invites us into His holiness, making us holy, that we might know Him and know Him more and more, that we might than make Him known… 

Isaiah 4

Power - Baptism Sunday

..to those who have received a faith as precious as ours… looking forward to what’s to come, those before Christ believed God for what He had promised, for those of us on this side of the cross, we believe too, on those promises fulfilled - and what He still promises for those who believe. 2Peter 1; Heb 11; 12

By this faith, with this faith, God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness… to rise above the corruption 

This divine power… by His divine power we have received, we are the recipients of...

• The ability to believe all that God is and has for us - John 6:26-29

  • 26Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”  28Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

• The joy of salvation and sanctification which is our strength 

  • Nehemiah 8(:10) - the merciful, gracious, and good conviction of sin by the word, and with it the forgiveness of sin, which brings into focus God’s love for us - and the knowing of this love’s inherent joy - and the glad obedience that stems from seeing God’s mercy, grace, and goodness in His word (and the good fruit it produces - righteousness).

    • Ps 28:6-9  6Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy.

7The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.  My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

8The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.  9Save your people and bless Your inheritance;

be their shepherd and carry them forever.

• 1Peter 1:8-9 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

  • John 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

  • Ephesians 3:19 of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

  • 1 John 4:20  If anyone says, "I love God," but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

• That joy is being competed: as our faith in Jesus, though He is unseen, is faith in One that has been testified about by those who did see…

  • That joy is complete

    • 1John 1:1-3 1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our joy complete.

This power… 

• Has transformed us into a new creation

  • Born again (John 3:

  • Children of God (John 1; Romans 8; 1John 4) 

  • A new creation (Rom 6:4; 2Cor 5:17; Eph 4:24; Gal 6:15)

  • Created in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:29; 2Cor 3:10,18; Eph 2:10)

Galatians 3:26-29 26So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

• The transformation of the mind (Prov 4; Rom 12; 2Cor 10: Eph 4:23; Phil 4:4-8) 

...that you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

• Participate, “share in”: a participant who mutually belongs and shares fellowship; a "joint-participant."  

  • (koinōnia);  stresses the relational aspect of the fellowship.

  • koinōnós (a masculine noun) more directly focuses on the participant himself (herself).

• Divine:  manifesting the characteristics of God's nature, character

• Nature: inherent nature, origin, birth; inner nature, the underlying constitution or make-up of someone 

  • the sum of innate properties and powers by which one person differs from others, distinctive native peculiarities, natural characteristics

  • the holiness distinctive of the divine nature is specially referred to

This power, this new birth, this transformation endowed us with… 

• The power to testify - Acts 1-2

• The nature of Jesus, and makes able to 

  • Love rightly (Matt 22; Gal 5:22)

  • Be good and holy - do good (Eph 5; Gal 5:6; Col 3:12; Titus 2:14)

• The power to persevere - Heb 11,12

Homework: go back and look at the lives of those mentioned here.

Palm Sunday: 3 Kinds of Faith | Jesus on Mission

Matthew 21:1-11; Lev 23:40; Neh 8:14-15; Psalm 118; Rev 7:9 Jesus’ faith in His Father and His mission with the Father, for His Father compelled Him to go into Jerusalem

Why the “Feast of the Tabernacles”, the Passover, the palms: the remembrance, the experience, the vision of what’s to come - the promise. 

This is our faith’s building...

Faith: remember: looking back to what God has done - rescued from a life of bondage (Deut 8:1-5; Neh 8:9-15; Isa 61:1; Luke 4:18)

Faith: experience: realize what God is doing now - taking us through the wilderness (Deut 6:6-19; Neh 8; Rev 3:14-22)

Faith: anticipate: be confident in what God will do - bringing us into the promised land - eternal life, salvation, the Kingdom which the coming King will establish and is even now making (Joshua 1; John 14:1-4)

It is with all of this in mind that Jesus enters the way He enters riding on the foal of a donkey.- this IS Jesus’ declaration is to all who might see since they would not hear, in essence, “I AM, who I say I AM… so see, look, and understand”

Hallelujah! This is Jesus, the Messiah, the One who is to come, is here, seeking to save, now: the author, pioneer, and perfecter of our faith - demonstrated that faith in His Father and that faith is what enables, compels, propels Him to enter in, courageously. 

Jesus’ faith produced in Him…

His courage: I come, I enter in courageously, trusting the Father’s plan, intention, mission - this is why I have come - John 12:23-29

23Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

27“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

• John 13:3 He knew from whence He came and to whom He would return. He trusted the Father for everything in between and placed Himself in His hands - and so ought we 

“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God”

• And we can know, too

  • What gives us the courage to enter? 

    • Courage to surrender our loves and lives

    • Courage to daily go forward in faith

    • Courage to approach the seeking heart on peace, with peace  

  • It is our God-provided faith. (John 1:12; 17; Eph 2:8-10; Phil 2:13)

    • Belief, a budding trust, faith that He is who He claims to be and in turn entrusting ourselves to Him by that faithm

    • Written and conceived and born in and through Jesus that is now in us who believe

His claim: “I am laying claim to being who I AM”

• Jesus had earlier asked: “Who do you say that I am?”

29“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”  Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

And at that time… 30Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

But, now...

• Jesus declares “I AM” He of whom the prophets speak (Zech 9:9; John 12:15)

15“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

• As He lays claim to us, we in turn lay claim to Him and what He has made us be and has created us to do (Rom 1:5; 2Cor 9:13; Eph 2:8-10; 1Pet 1:2; 2:21)

• We now courageously go in… (Matthew 28)

He is declaring His heart’s intention: “I come in peace, to make peace, to give peace to the hearts of men”

• Luke 12: Do not be afraid, for the Father is pleased to give you the kingdom 

• Do not be afraid, do not let your hearts be troubled

• My Father is pleased to give you the kingdom”

• And we can truly now cry out in truth “hallelujah… God saves!”

• And lay down the palms of our hearts and receive and honor Him as Lord and king

This is not only a statement of the moment, but a foreshadowing of what’s to come...

Much like Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, Jesus now courageously approaches the reluctant, the broken, the misunderstanding heart at the risk of denial and rejection, but come, He does, He enters and lays claim to be who He says He is, to lay down the gauntlet, to say to all the princes, lords, kings, of our hearts I am here, the “I AM” is here, what will you do with me? All others have come to steal and destroy, I have come in peace, to being peace, to make peace.  I AM the Prince of peace.  Will you receive me?

And now, once you’ve received me, will you take me to the ends of the earth?

Matt 28:19 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,

And so it is that we meet Jesus this way, or, He meets us.

And so it is that we, bring Jesus…

• Courageously - knowing from whence we came and to whom we are going

• Laying claim of that which we have been laid claim - taking hold of that which 

• Coming in peace - not to condemn, but to bring the life  that had mercifully, graciously given us life - Jesus 

And our faith is built… 

• Looking back to the Prince of Peace, and His entering in on the foal a donkey

• Realizing now the salvation He brought with Him - to save and not condemn (John 3:12-18)

• Looking forward to His coming, but this time, on a horse, to a final and eternal defeat the enemy and bring us home to the place he has prepared for us, that we might be with Him (Matt 24:36-47 25:21,23,34; 1Thes 4:15-17; Rev 6:2; 19:11; 21-22))

And this, by Faith

God’s Grace, the Gift of Faith, for Life: 2Pet 1:2

God’s grace, the gift of faith, for life: 2Pet 1:2 “…To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours” this faith is given to any and all who would believe that Jesus is. 

Eph 2:10 So “It is by grace that you have been saved, and this by faith – and this is the gift from God.”  This faith enables us to believe and trust what is unseen

Heb 11:1 As “…faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Romans 4:3 Our faith, the faith God requires can be seen in the forerunner and father of our faith, Abraham, as he “…believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. His faith was credited to him as righteousness”.  It is our believing God, trusting Him, entrusting to Him our life and eternal welfare, for the forgiveness of sin and life in Him in faith that saves – and this is love expressed: grace and faith.

Our salvation is not by works, or anything else we might do, but by grace, through faith, a gift from God, His divine persuasion - that it would be His grace!

Matthew 7:21, 24 “not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord’… but did we not… in your name?.” is saved”; the one who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is a wise man who built his house on a rock.”

John 6:26-59 “…what are the works God requires?  …the work of God… Is to believe…”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he sent… that whoever believes…” 

Faith: where does this faith come from? 

Faith is: God originated; God authored; God pioneered –

Galatians 1:1-13 “… that the gospel I preached is not of human origin... I did not receive it from any man….  For you have heard of my previous way of life, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.” 

Hebrews 12:2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith.”

Faith is: a gift of God, from God - God-given; God-kept; God-finished - as He has promised:
John 3:16 “...that whoever believes has eternal life…” 

Faith is: always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people.   Persuaded, we come to trust, we have faith; that this, He, is true, and we believe this by divine persuasion, therefore “I believe!”, trust, and entrust myself to Him and am saved.

Ephesians 2:8 “8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…” 

How does faith work? "Faith" in and for the believer is "God's divine persuasion" and therefore distinct from human belief and confidence, while yet involving it. The Lord births faith in the (elect) as an appeal to their heart that they are loved and purchased, redeemed, acceptable in Jesus.  God then continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know what He prefers, i.e. the persuasion of His will (1 Jn 5:4).  

Faith is: always received from God and never generated by us.

Faith is: God finished – begun, completed and perfected

Philippians 1:6 “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Faith is: God kept; God-empowered, God-accomplished

Philippians 2:13 “it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” 

Work - Energy – God says: “ I work, am operative, am at work, am made to work, accomplish; mid: I work, display activity, personally engaged in…” which intensifies the "work" – God energizes, working in a situation which brings it, or the person from one stage (point) to the next: i.e. sinful to righteous; death to life;  darkness to light -  like an electrical current energizing a wire, bringing it to a shining light bulb – Go God’s “energy” works, or flows, in us to have the desired effect.

To will - desire, to wish (for) - Lord extending His "best-offer" to the believer – wanting (desiring) to birth His persuasion (faith) in them which also empowers, manifests His presence - to be determined to act according to the God’s purposes – thus not only then saved by grace through faith, but living and working out salvation bin and by that same grace and faith. 

Faith is: a gift of God, a gift that never stops giving!  God-given; God-kept; God-finished; God accomplished; God finished; accomplishing His will and purposes in and for those who love Him and have been called by Him - as He has promised:

Ephesians 2:6-10 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Romans 8:28-30 “28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who i have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

Faith is genuine: God proved genuine - our faiths’ persevering through trials and temptations - God’s desire for us to know that our faith is real… 

1Peter 1:6-9 “suffering… have been given so that your faith… might be proved genuine”

This surety is the seat of our joy, our strength, as we see and can be confident in, the goal of this faith - The Forgiveness of sin (and sins); salvation of our souls; the exchange of sin for righteousness (of Jesus); Our being justified by God - declared innocent of all charges against; the promise of God being for us - “who will (now) bring any charges against us?” (Isa 50:7-10)… if God is for us who can be against us?”; being sanctified, set apart to by His will, to accomplish His will; endowed with an eternal hope - the great and confident expectation of being glorified with Him. (Rom 5;8)

 Faith is: precious, priceless, to be cherished - How valuable is this faith?  

1Peter 1:7 “your faith...more valuable, of greater worth, than gold, even though refined…” 

1Peter 1:18-19 “18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19but with the precious blood of Christ”

Faith is: resilient: How durable, how reliable is this faith? How trustworthy is it?  More importantly, how trustworthy is, He?  Because this faith is not of ourselves, we can trust that… 

Romans 8:18-39 “nothing can separate us from the love of God...

Philippians 1:6 “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion, or perfection”

He has placed His seal of approval on us (Eph 1:13-14; 2Cor 5:4-5)

Ephesians 1:13-14 “13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

2Corinthians 5:5-9 “Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.  Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident… So we make it our goal to please him.”

What does this faith do? 

As much as it saves, it enables us to live confidently and joyfully in its hope - the certainty of God’s love expressed in Jesus and Jesus’ work and promises, which are sufficient to save and sustain – the real and true promise of forgiveness of sin, the imputation of Jesus’ righteousness, the indwelling of the Spirit, the very Person of God in us, and the permanency of our adoption as His, our Abba Father’s children.  And on top of all of that, being declared CO-HEIRS with Christ in the kingdom!! 

1Peter 1:8-9 “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

This faith lives a life of love… 

Gal 5:5-6  “For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love”

Romans 5:5 “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Galatians 5:22-23, 25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control…. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

As God reveals Himself to us we are persuaded of His reality, His love for us, His glory.  As we see and believe it is by faith we receive what He offers us in Jesus, we are changed, justified, made righteous, now able to receive Him, and having received Him, we are made new. And being new, I find myself wanting more - to see more, to hear more, to experience more - of Him – is wonderful evidence of the reality of this faith – even or especially In our suffering.  

That wanting of more, even when frustrated in our continued longing and delayed satisfaction, is a proof of the reality of God in our lives - our heart’s longing for more - that will not be fully realized until we see Him face-to-face in glory.  In the meantime, we ache, we long, we groan - waiting, anticipating, the glory to come, but in hope, by faith, eagerly waiting for our (eternal redemption as children of God (Rom 8) 

The gospel, the good news of God’s love for us in and through Jesus is the power and provoker of our faith for salvation:

Romans 1:16-17 “...the gospel… is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes… For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith… the righteous will live by faith.”

 Gospel: After the death of Christ the term comprises also the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ as having suffered death on the cross to procure eternal salvation for men in the kingdom of God, and then restored to life and exalted to the right hand of God in heaven, thence to return in majesty to consummate the kingdom of God; so “gospel” may be more briefly defined as "the good news of salvation through Christ; the proclamation of the grace – the gift of eternal life - of God manifested and pledged in Christ; that is - the gospel"

Power: "inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth"

Gospel being the expression and effect of that power - manifest, acting in and on, men

Miraculous power to make right and righteous - as to change and transform through and by that power - the gospel, which is His power seen, experienced, realized

Faith: where does this faith come from? | March 14th

Faith is: a gift of God, from God - God-given; God-kept; God-finished - as He has promised: “...that whoever believes has eternal life…” (John 3:26)

Ephesians 2:8 “8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God –

·         Faith is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people. In short, ("faith") for the believer is "God's divine persuasion" – and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence), yet involving it. The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know what He prefers, i.e. the persuasion of His will (1 Jn 5:4).

·         Persuaded, we come to trust, we have faith; that this, He, is true, and this by a divine persuasion, I believe, trust, entrust myself to Him and am saved.

·         Faith is always received from God and never generated by us.

As God reveals himself to us we are persuaded of His reality, His love for us, His glory.  As we see and believe it is by faith in we receive what He offers us in Jesus, we are changed, justified, made righteous, now able to receive Him, and having received Him, I have been made new. wanting more - to see more, to hear more, to experience more - of Him.  

 That wanting of more, even when frustrated in our continued longing and delayed satisfaction, is a proof of the reality of God in our lives - our heart’s longing for more - that will not be fully realized until we see Him face-to-face in glory.  In the meantime, we ache, we long, we groan - waiting, anticipating, the glory to come, but in hope, by faith, eagerly waiting for our (eternal redemption as children o f God (Rom 8) 

Faith is: God kept; God fueled: God accomplished - Philippians 2:  “...it is God who works in you…” God empowered; God-accomplished

Faith is: God finished - Philippians 1:6 

Faith is: a gift of God (Eph 2:8-10) God-given; God-kept; God-finished; God accomplished God finished  - as He has promised:

Work - Energy – God says: I work, am operative, am at work, am made to work, accomplish; mid: I work, display activity, personally engaged in," which intensifies the "work" – to  energize, working in a situation which brings it from one stage (point) to the next, like an electrical current energizing a wire, bringing it to a shining light bulb. To effect 

To will - desire, to wish (for) - Lord extending His "best-offer" to the believer – wanting (desiring) to birth His persuasion (faith) in them which also empowers, manifests His presence - to be determined to act according the God’s purposes

God’s desire for us to know that our faith is real and trustworthy… 

1Peter 1: “these have been given so that your faith… might be proved genuine”

God proved genuine - our faiths’ persevering through trials and temptations - This surety is the seat of our joy, our strength, as we see and can be confident in, the goal of this faith - The Forgiveness of sin (and sins); salvation of our souls; the exchange of sin for righteousness (of Jesus); Our being justified by God - declared innocent of all charges against; the promise of God being for us - “who will (now) bring any charges against us?” (Isa 50:7-10)… if God is for us who can be against us?”; being sanctified, set apart to by His will, to accomplish His will; endowed with an eternal hope - the great and confident expectation of being glorified with Him. (Romans 5;8)

How valuable is this faith?  

·         1Peter 1 “your faith...more valuable, of greater worth, than gold, even though refined…”

·         1Peter 1:18-19 “18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19but with the precious blood of Christ”

How durable, how reliable is this faith? How trustworthy is it?  More importantly, how trustworthy is, He?

·         Romans 8:18-39 “nothing can separate us from the love of God...

·         Philippians 1:6 “He who began a good work in

·         He has placed His seal of approval on us (Eph 1:13-14; 2Cor 5:4-5)

o    Eph 1:13-

o    2Cor 5:4-5

Little difference from the seal of approval placed on Jesus - as THE sacrificial lamb - holy and unblemished, certified by God Himself and declared worthy (Rev “worthy is the Lamb who was slain”)

What does this faith do?  As much as it saves, it enables us to live joyfully in its hope - the certain 

·         1Peter 1:8-9

And now that I see Jesus… I no longer look at anything from a worldly point of view - as I begin to see everything as the handiwork of God - I see Him, His hand, in everything

 Our salvation: it is by faith…

The gospel, the good news of God’s love for us in and through Jesus is the power and provoker of our faith:

·         Romans 1:16-17 “...the gospel… is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, e just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Gospel: After the death of Christ the term comprises also the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ as having suffered death on the cross to procure eternal salvation for men in the kingdom of God, but as restored to life and exalted to the right hand of God in heaven, thence to return in majesty to consummate the kingdom of God; so that it may be more briefly defined as "the glad tidings of salvation through Christ; the proclamation of the grace of God manifested and pledged in Christ; the gospel"

Power: "inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth"

Gospel being the expression and effect of that power - manifest, acting in and on, men

Miraculous power to make right and righteous - as to change and transform through and by that power - or - the gospel, which is His power seen, experienced,

2Peter 1:1 “1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours”  Ephesians 2:“It is by grace that you have been saved, and this by faith – and this is the gift from God”

So what is this faith?

·         Hebrews 11:1-3

·         Romans 4 (Abraham) 

Genesis - Abraham, look at the stars… God whispers to Abram and encourages him to look at the stars, to what has been made, those things God has created to declare and express His own divine and invisible qualities - seen by what has been made.  So that, by what is seen, God may begin the act of persuasion, the first seeds of belief, to strike fear in the heart of mankind - reverent awe of His glory and majesty, that we might be persuaded that there is a God, that we might believe.  (Romans 1:20; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10)

Where faith began… God meets Abraham, goes to him, calls to him, speaks to him, reveals Himself to him, and called by God, he was persuaded by God, to believe, and believe, he did, and it was credited to him and his righteousness...(Romans 4:3, 9, 13,16, 18-24; Genesis 12:1-4; 13:14-18; Genesis 15:1-6 – righteousness imputed upon believing, having faith, for salvation, Abraham believes God and shows His believing, his faith in obeying; Genesis 22:1-19 – Abraham expresses his imputed righteousness, His faith in God His faith expressed by obeying)

Our salvation is not by works, or anything else we might do, but by grace, trough faith, a gift from God, His divine persuasion

·         Matthew 7:21, 24

·         John 6:26-59  “‘...do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.  For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.’  then they asked him, ‘what mut we do to do they works requires?’  Jesus answered, ‘the work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.’ so they asked him, ‘what sign will you give that we might see it and believe you?’

·         John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he sent… that whoever believes…”

Remember, it is God’s INVISIBLE qualities - His eternal power and divine nature, even His wisdom - that can be known by what seen, by what has been made!  (Ps 33:6; 146:5; Jer 10:12; 51:15; Rom 1:19-20; John 1:18; Col 2:9; Tim 1:17)  when we see God in what He has made, it is God overcoming our inability that we might see, revere, and know. (Prov 1:7)

Faith Received | 2Peter 1:1-2

“8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” -Ephesians 2:8-10

Genesis - Abraham, look at the stars… God whispers to Abram and encourages him to look at the stars, to what has been made, those things God has created to declare and express His own divine and invisible qualities - seen by what has been made.  So that, by what is seen, God may begin the act of persuasion, the first seeds of belief, to strike fear in the heart of mankind - reverent awe of His glory and majesty, that we might be persuaded that there is a God, that we might believe.  (Romans 1:20; Proverbs )

• Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Where our faith began…

God meets Abraham, goes to him, calls to him, speaks to him, reveals Himself to him, and called by God, he was persuaded by God, to believe, and believe, he did, and it was credited to him and his righteousness...

• Romans 4:3, 9, 13,16, 18-24

• Genesis 12:1-4

• Genesis 13:14-18

• Genesis 15:1-6

• Genesis 22:1-19

So, it is not by works or anything else we might do, but faith, a gift from God, His divine persuasion

21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  ...everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. “ - Matthew 7:21, 24

“‘...do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.  For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.’  then they asked him, ‘what must we do to do the works required?’  Jesus answered, ‘the work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.’ so they asked him, ‘what sign will you give that we might see it and believe you?’ -John 6:26-59 

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he sent… that whoever believes…”

So what is this faith?

• Hebrews 11:11

• Romans 4 (Abraham) 

Faith, pistis, where does this faith come from? As God reveals himself to us we, our hearts, are persuaded more and more of His reality, His love for us, His glory… as we receive what He offers us in Jesus, we are changed, now able and wanting more - to see more, to hear more, to experience more - of Him.  that wanting of more, even when frustrated in our continued longing and delayed satisfaction, is a proof of the reality of God in our lives and our heart’s longing for more - that will not be fully realized until we see Him face-to-face in glory.  In the meantime, we ache, we long, we groan - waiting, anticipating, 

• Persuaded, come to trust, have faith; that this, He, is true, and this by a divine persuasion

• His preference becomes my preference - I prefer what God prefers, having been loved this way, i prefer to love this way - God, self, others AS self

• Faith is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people. In short, ("faith") for the believer is "God's divine persuasion" – and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence), yet involving it. The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know what He prefers, i.e. the persuasion of His will (1 Jn 5:4).

• Faith is always received from God, and never generated by us.

Hebrews 11:

• God originated 

• God authored

• God pioneered 

Philippians 2:  “...it is God who works in you…” God-accomplished

• Work - Energeo - I work, am operative, am at work, am made to work, accomplish; mid: I work, display activity.  engaged in," which intensifies "work") – properly, energize, working in a situation which brings it from one stage (point) to the next, like an electrical current energizing a wire, bringing it to a shining light bulb. To effect 

• To will - desire, to wish (for) - Lord extending His "best-offer" to the believer – wanting (desiring) to birth His persuasion (faith) in them which also empowers, manifests His presence - to be determined to act according the God’s purposes

Faith is a gift of God (Eph 2:8-10)

• God-given

• God-kept 

• God-finished - as He has promised: “...that whoever believes has eternal life…” 

God’s desire for us to know that our faith is real and trustworthy… 

1Peter 1: “these have been given so that your faith… might be proved genuine”

• God proved genuine - our faiths’ persevering through trials and temptations

  • This surety is the seat of our joy, our strength, as we see and can be confident in, the goal of this faith 

    • The salvation of our souls

    • Forgiveness of sin (and sins) 

    • The exchange of sin for righteousness (of Jesus)

    • Our being justified by God - declared innocent of all charges against 

      • “who will (now) bring any charges against us?” (Isa 50:7-10)

      • “If God is for us who can be against us?”

    • Sanctified, set apart to by His will, to accomplish His will. 

    • Endowed with hope - the great and confident expectation of being glorified with Him. (Romans 5;8)

How valuable is this faith?  

• 1Peter 1 “your faith...more valuable, of greater worth, than gold, even though refined…”

• 1Peter 1:18-19 “18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19but with the precious blood of Christ”
  

How durable, how reliable is this faith? How trustworthy is it?  More importantly, how trustworthy is, He?

• Romans 8:18-39 “nothing can separate us from the love of God...

• Philippians 1:6 “He who began a good work in

• He has placed His seal of approval on us (Eph 1:13-14; 2Cor 5:4-5)

  • Eph 1: 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

  • 2Cor 5: 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

• Little difference from the seal of approval placed on Jesus - as THE sacrificial lamb - holy and unblemished, certified by God Himself and declared worthy (Rev “worthy is the Lamb who was slain”)

What does this faith do?  As much as it saves, it enables us to live joyfully in its hope - the certain 

• 1Peter 1:8-9 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

And now that I see Jesus… I no longer look at anything from a worldly point of view - as I begin to see everything as the handiwork of God - I see Him, His his hand, in everything

You Can Tell a Tree by its Fruit | 2 Peter

You can tell a tree by its fruit…  Being a Christian is not about getting or living your best life, but living your life best - to live fulfilling everything God intended for you - loving Him, self and others; in bearing the fruit if His life is in you;  get to do the good works prepared in advance for you to do.   This is what it is to be effective in Christ, to do the work of the kingdom - to believe in and on Jesus, everything that is, Jesus. 

2Peter 1:1-11

He has given… make every effort…  you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord

Always bringing it back to Jesus - seeing that our “making every effort to add” is about building upon our faith, our belief, our ongoing believing 

Matthew 7:13-29  

The work of the kingdom, the will of the Father, is to believe on the one who has been sent - to know Him, more and more - the work is to believe, to continue in belief is to make every effort to add to our faith… the knowledge of, the knowing, Him

Matt 7:21 “Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of the Father who is in heaven”

• This statement is not meant to scare, but affirm, to be sure we are 

  • In Jesus, by faith and believing

  • Our works reflect Jesus in us and being further formed in us

  • That is that we are believing more and more

    • Not just believing in

    • But believing on - that each encounter with God, in Jesus, furthers my 

      • Faith and believing not only that He is, but that He does

      • Knowing Him more and more

      • Confidence and assurance grows more and more

      • Bearing Jesus’ person

But, what of the miracles??  Aren’t they “fruit”?  God can do anything through whom He wishes - He used a donkey!  It is not any supposed miracle that proves one is in the will of God, but the character and nature, the humble submission, the continued growth on an upward trajectory that shows the fruit of being in and “doing the will of the Father who is in heaven.” (see also; 1Cor 13:1-3)

It’s not doing, but believing…  with an ongoing, growing belief

• But they said “Lord, Lord”  Romans 6:12; Acts 2:21  “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (I call upon (on my behalf) the name of the Lord, i. e. to invoke, adore, worship, the Lord)

• What is the work of the Kingdom, “the will of the Father”? John 6:28-29 

“Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’  Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.’”

What is “believing”?  “Calling upon”? What is this “fruit” that Jesus speaks of?

The fruit of believing is calling, the fruit of the calling is the righteousness of God being formed in a person, me and you, the fruit of righteousness is more effective and productive believing - as we grow in the knowledge of Him - (Romans 8:18,28-30; Gal 5:22-23; 2Peter 3:18; John 17:3; Phil 3:7-14; Ps 73:25; Jer 9:23; Col 1:9-11)

• 1Corinthians  - the righteousness of Jesus making me (Eph 2:8-10)

• Galatians 5:22-23 the fruits of the Spirit coming from me

• The love of God growing in me - of Him, for Him and others

  • Matthew 22:37-40 - God's right and just command to love

  • 1John 4:10 - this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, loves us

  • Romans 5:5 - to aid and ensure our being able to love as God’s children should love - He has given us love having poured it into our hearts by His Spirit

  • John 14:15  - and our loving response is to trust and obey His love and loving commands

  • Galatians 5:6 (1Jn 4:17) - the only thing that then matters - our faith, belief, our continued, ongoing, believing in and on the one who was sent - expressing itself with and in love

  • 1Corinthians 13:4-7 - this is what love, as expressed by the Spirit to us and through us, looks like

That fruit is the righteousness which IS the Person of Jesus being formed in us that we would be conformed to Him - and this more and more, as we believe, more and more - and that is love and growing in that love.

Phil 1:9-11  9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for LIFE AND GODLINESS in our knowledge of God”

That we might “participate in the divine nature…”

Having been given everything we need, our responsibility is to make every effort to add, or, build, an effective, productive, fruit-bearing, life in and of Christ so that we will be effective in that knowledge of God… bearing the fruit of that “knowledge”, doing the will of Father, the work of the Kingdom - to believe in the One who was sent and everything about Him.

“Therefore, whoever hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man…”   

So it is ours to build, but what are we building?  And with what are we building? How are we building and to what end?

It seems the first block with which we build, be right here:

• Matthew 5:1-3 “Blessed are the poor… yours is the kingdom of God

• John 6:29

But there is work to be done - and we grow by making every effort to add to our (given) faith… to build, according to Jesus and His wise and loving word.

This journey is going to take us all over through the scriptures to get glimpses of God’s work and intentions