Adding knowledge to our faith

2Peter 1:5 Adding knowledge to our faith: There is a general knowledge of God, that which “has been made” - creation itself - as we will see in Psalm 19 and Romans 1, then there is the very expression of the truth of God in the word of God, the very specific revelation of God, God-breathed by His Spirit through men - the scriptures.  Then there is the Word of God - that is Jesus John 1 and Hebrews 1, along with Colossians 1.

Adding knowledge - wisdom, and discernment - to my experience with God, that up-close and personal experiential encounter with God, is my knowing God by God’s own touching, calling, forgiving and saving, wrestling with and changing, transforming my heart - meeting me where I am - revealing Himself to me.  That is one kind of knowledge - and it is, for most of us, our first encounter with God.  But, it cannot be the only encounter we have with God.  

There is another encounter to be had, a consistent, persistent ongoing encounter - bits of knowledge we must seek coming to know God by experience, we now add another knowledge, that of knowing more about Him through His Self-revelation - as to gain more from Him that we might know Him better, love and trust Him more, and be more and more transformed in mind, and conformed in our likeness of His Son - to Jesus and His life in us - that we might love as Jesus loves, as we have been loved. 

But not just love, but learn and practice a wise love - that is to love wisely, goodly, that the ongoing adding of this more precise knowledge would inform our good love and service that we are (already) adding to our faith.

How, you might ask?  By adding knowledge to my faith’s the expression of Jesus’ goodness - service, adding to that virtuous service, knowledge - continually growing in wisdom and discernment of God and God’s will and applying that to life’s encounters.

Where do we get this knowledge? 

1. Creation - first and most general Psalm 19:1-6 (Job 38-40; Ps 138; Isa 40; Romans 1:19-20,22)

Romans 1:19-20,22

2. God’s word. (...and Spirit - the Spirit of Truth 1John ) Ps 19:7-13;

 2Timothy 3:16  “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” NIV 

• All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, NIV 

• All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. NLT

• All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage] AMP

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.

2Peter 1:21 For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit

2Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

3. Jesus - the one of whom creation speaks, the one to whom the Word points (Isaiah 53)

John 1:1-4, 9-14

John 5:39 “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me...”

Colossians 1:15-20

Hebrews 1:1-4

Luke 24:25-27,44

4. God’s testimony of His work, that leads to our testimony concerning Him, God, and His transforming power in our lives by His grace 

Ephesians 2:6-10

1Peter 3:14-17

“Haven’t you read?" The word of God: adding goodness and knowledge bring out the good (that is, Jesus) in us. | October 3rd

Luke 6 “haven’t you read?”  The word of God: adding goodness and knowledge brings out the good (Jesus) in us. Our proper worship - hearts that are true and devoted to God will bear fruit of goodness and hearts not, won’t. (Isaiah 58) 

Luke 6 “haven’t you read?” (Deut 23:25; Lev 24:5-9; 1Sam 21:1-6) 

Matt 15:7-11 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8“ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  9They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ ” 10Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand.   11What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”  (Isaiah 29:13; Mark 7:6)

Isaiah 58:1-5, 6-12

Rabbinic statement: “Sabbath made for man, not man for the Sabbath” - that we might enjoy God’s presence and daily provision of everything we need and human need rose above the regulations of the law.

Mark 3:23-28 23One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”  25He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”  27Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Even animals and enemies were to be treated with dignity and the grace of compassion, comfort, and provision on the Sabbath. 

Luke 14:1-6  1One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 2There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. 3Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way.

5Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” 6And they had nothing to say.

Free to Serve Like Jesus Matt 20; Luke 14

Free to serve like Jesus!  Yes, I have rights and liberties, Yes I am free. In fact, it is for freedom that I have been set free - but I am to careful to not use my freedom to indulge my own flesh and its desires - to do just anything I want. (Gal 5-6)

Instead, in view of God’s mercy, and all that He has done, and the freedom that comes with being His child (Rom 2;5;8;12;17; Phil 2), I am now utterly free from any and everything that we can restrain me from loving and serving you - for just as Jesus (who is my righteousness) knew from Whom He’d come and to Whom He was returning, I can be humbly confident in my own relationship to and with God to do the same as Jesus did and take on the nature of a servant, the servant’s towels, and humbly serve the “one another” in love. (John 13; Gal 5:13-14)

Instead, I now have the right, the liberty, the freedom to rightly… love and serve (Isa 60:21; Jer 23:6; Hab 3:19; Rom 3:24; 7:24-25; 8:1; 1Cor 1:30; 2Cor 5:21), having (had) taken off our old way, attitude - that of the world - and (had) put on what Jesus has provided for us - the righteousness and goodness of Jesus reflected in the attitude and posture of Jesus, I cooperate with and participate in this truth, and take off the old way and put on the new  (Ez 36:26; Isa 65:17; John 1:14; 3:3; Rom 6:4; 2Cor 5:16-21; Phil 2:1-11; Col 3:1-17; 2Pet 1:1-4)

• The privilege and responsibility of being a dearly loved child (Rom 8; Eph 5)

• To perform the duties, the good works, prepared in advance for me to do  (Isa 43:1-13; 58:6-14; Eph 2:1-10)

Taking on Jesus’ attitude, posture, rights, and liberties, and how is this so.   Just as Jesus did not come to be served but to serve, so we, having the same attitude as Jesus, who Himself a servant, now empowered, get to do the same. Seeing others as better than ourselves, we humbly serve.  1Pet 5:1-7 - humble ourselves talk to God and one another.

Matthew 20 Looking at leadership, authority, and success from a worldly point of you, is the desire to have power, prestige, position, worldly prosperity. The economy of the kingdom, on the contrary, is an upside-down economy - where the first is last and the last is first.  And the heart of the one who has been saved has in it the ability to see and gladly learn and practice this truth.  And for the one who would lead anyone or anything - it is to actually be the chief servant, and the one who seems greatest be the one who takes the lowest.

Luke 14:1-14 So, what is it, to intentionally, exercise the attitude and posture of Jesus?  What does it look like to adopt and express His attitude of humility? Is it not, the same as the parable of the banquet, where are the invited jockey for a position, but we, also having been invited, look to take the lowest seat and in doing so, we are not seeking around glory, recognition, neither do we desire to have the eyes of the crowd upon us, we come in with lowly spirit without any expectation except to be glad that we were invited.

Duty: we speak a lot of our rights and liberties, but little about our duty.

Philippians 2; Romans 12: Adding goodness to our faith is a humble and modest endeavor of servitude.  It seems we speak so much of rights and liberties, but very little of responsibility and duty, humility and servitude.  

Loving, living, serving like Jesus…

Though Jesus was a public figure, His notoriety had nothing to do with His seeking attention or seeking fame for Himself, an attempt to bring attention to Himself, it seems as though he never did He say “look at me”. But he humbly defered to His Father: His Father’s will, work, and this, for His Father’s glory.   

John 4:34 “Jesus explained, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.”

John 5:19-29, 36 “‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.…The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me.”

John 10:37-38 “37Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38But 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 in the Father.”

In fact, what Jesus did was let His work speak for Him, and His words were in sync with that work, and His words were supported by that work - His work giving weight and credibility to His words.

Remembering who we are, taking the privilege of responsibility given to us, and performing our duty as humble servants to God and one another, and (and thus, our good works, born from Jesus’ goodness) being a testimony of His mercy and grace to the lost.  And what are these good works?  What is this duty and responsibility that speaks of the privilege of being God’s children?  Remembering Whose and who we are, Who it is that works in us, we commit ourselves (for Jesus’ sake) to being…  

• A good citizen of the Kingdom of God

• A good alien resident of this place in which we reside and sojourn 

• A good neighbor to those around us

• A good offspring of the ones who bore us, a sibling, a spouse, parent, employer/employee 

• And most of all, a good friend to those in the Body of Christ. 

So that “Even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed…” (1Peter 1-3) because have been counted worthy to suffer with Christ Jesus, having been made His siblings:

As Jesus said when notified regarding his mother and sister and brothers Jesus said 

Mark 3:33-35 “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 34Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 35Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” and… 

John 15:14-17 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17This is my command: Love each other.

How do we go about such a life? Is it not to be effective and productive in a relationship with Jesus? How do we make ourselves effective in that relationship? Well, after everything Jesus has done, to establish and sustain and keep the relationship, our’s is to “make every effort”, to treat Jesus as he deserves, to see Him for who He is, and to serve Him as He served us.  And that is, not to just speak well of Him, or desire to be like Him, but it is too, by…

“...setting apart Christ (alone) on the throne of your heart as Lord, and be prepared to give a reason for hope when you asked, and when we do so, to do so with gentleness and respect“. (1Peter 3:18)

In Jesus, it is my right and liberty to rest in God’s grace, and then take up my cross and follow Jesus, by imitating him, and laying down my life for the sake of my friends, my neighbor, as He has for His.

That is my right, and I have the liberty to do so, and I see it as a privilege, to be given the responsibility, to perform the duties, as one who will “humbly see others as better than myself, and look not only to my interests but also the interests of others.”

To live in a way that when the plane is going down, I put my oxygen mask on first, and then turn to help others with theirs. And when it is time to save a life, I do not run to save my own life, but I give mine for the saving of others - serving others in life and death. Just as Jesus said and did “knowing from where He came, from Whom He came, and to Whom He was going, He took off His cloak and grabbed a towel down, wrapped it around Himself, poured water in a basin, and showed his disciples the extent of his love - the full extent of his love - and washed His disciples’ feet. (even Judas’).

We must ask ourselves: If the righteous will not be righteous, where will righteousness be? If the good will not be good, where will goodness be?  It is us, we, who are in Christ, who have been made good, to do good, to reflect his goodness. And if we who know Jesus do not speak of Jesus, with both of our lives’ actions and our words, who will speak of Jesus?

How should we thus love here? Letting our works, the expression of Jesus' goodness in and through us, speak for themselves… and use words, words of life, when I asked…

As alien-residents in this place, that is the temporary dwelling that it is, are we not told by our parents, that when we are at another person’s house, we are to treat it even better than our own?  We are to leave it better than we found it? We are to honor and respect those with whom we trod?  That what we have been blessed with is not for keeping, but for a blessing - others?

Acts 20:25 “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “

Isiah 35:1-5 “1Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.

The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.  2Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy!  The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.  There the LORD will display his glory, the splendor of our God.  3With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees.  4Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.’”

Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!”  (Is 40:9; Ro 10:15)

This is our responsibility and duty, our privilege as children of God - instruments of His righteous goodness - who have been given the right and liberty to be His representatives - we are those feet bearing good news, are our feet - effective and productive in their message - as we make Jesus Lord in our hearts, and serving Him by making every effort to add goodness, His imputed goodness, to our grace-given faith. 

Attitude and Posture: "you first. No, really"

Matt 20; Mark 8;9; Luke 9;48; 22

There is a posture that, once taken, sets the tone for how we see and treat God and others, and therefore, that posture itself, promotes the very attitude and actions Jesus demands of His disciples.  

Let us not underestimate the importance of posture and the attitude it both reflects (and further promotes) in establishing the foundation of our ability to do the good prescribed for us to do (Matt 5; Luke 6; Eph 2) - to EVEN be alerted to, aware of, acknowledge and then, to be able to make the most of the opportunity before us (Eph 5).  Just to be able to see and perceive the opportunity depends on the attitude and our posture, let alone take advantage of (it).

If we do not think in search terms as humility and servitude - that we are here to serve and bless God and others if we do not understand Jesus’ own attitude and resulting posture (Phil 2), we will not see, we cannot see, the opportunity for what it is and we will,  in essence, miss it.

Taking this posture is a reflection of an inward belief and subsequent attitude, and when one takes this posture they cannot think of themselves more highly than it should, but by the posture, shows their humble self -  this person recognizes humbly their own neediness and that this neediness is met by God as they recognize, acknowledge, understand and accept, that neediness of soul and by extension life - and therefore can not help but be humble - and take the attitude and then the posture of a servant (just like Jesus - Phil 2).

This attitude and posture are what lead to the edification of the body - and in the one who has this attitude, and takes this posture - the purposeful desire that grows into a compulsion, prompting, a wanting, a getting, to bless the body- that is to bring one’s gift for, for the purpose of blessing others for their sake and the sake of the body. (Rom 12; 1Cor 12-14)

This is very much, the “storage-Phileo” family love, Paul here coins, or mints, to describe the true heart condition of one who is truly a disciple of Jesus, one being conformed into his likeness by time and proximity.  It is the mark of one who has been truly affected, regenerated, born again, by the Spirit - a character in a consistent and persistent trajectory toward Christlikeness (Eph 5)

Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher. Luke 6:40

And to be like Jesus, is the take on his attitude and posture. It is to recognize that their master, confident in his position (John 13; Phil 2; Heb 2), laid himself down, and that true strength and power in life, is, in the hands of the one, the heart of the one, who is secure in their position and their identity (as a child of God), and therefore, humbles themselves, even submitting themselves, to the honoring of the one before them as one worthy of being served and to meet their needs according to their needs - not one’s requirements or status.

25Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  

Matthew 20:25-28

And not depending on their own self’s esteeming, but having been esteemed by God, they instead, bend a knee in the service - of God and others. 

Realizing that all they have received is not merely for one’s and enjoyment, and certainly not for ones on hoarding, but instead to take those things received, and humbly and generously serve the brotherhood and to do so, with their welfare in mind. 

Realizing that their welfare has been taken care of by their heavenly Father, in Christ, so that they can be confident that in God and in the brotherhood, their humble servitude will be, eventually, reciprocated in the brotherhood by the brotherhood.

Romans 12:3-21

• Do not think more highly of yourself than you ought

  • Sober judgment

  • Do not lack humility 

  • Do not be overly proud; arrogant 

  • personal perspective regulating behavior

  • to act high-minded, lacking humility and a true sense of reality

  • to think more highly of oneself than is proper

• Sober or think - to feel, to think

  • to have understanding, be wise

  • to have an opinion of oneself, think of oneself - a proper understanding or feeling about oneself (1Cor 4:6-7)

Matt 20; Mark 8;9; Luke 9;48; 22

Proverbs 16:18-19 “18Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.  19Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” 

1Corinthians 12:7,11  “7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good… All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”

Ephesians 4:7 7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

Humbly, but with confidence (as God’s child - chosen) - happy in our poverty 

Every Good and Perfect Gift is From Above: James 1; Rom 12

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  (James 1:17)

Therefore all good things come from above because God is good, His nature is good therefore He is the father of goodness, so when we add goodness to our faith, we are adding the expression of the nature of God placed in us by Jesus - His righteousness - that is good, to do good, because we are good. (2Cor 5:21)

Therefore, we are to find joy in every circumstance - knowing the Father’s goodness and good intentions and will always, ultimately, mean good. 

We must realize that as we find ourselves, in any and every circumstance, we (Get to) bring joy into every circumstance.

In this context, when someone is suffering, we can bring joy to them, by mourning with them as they mourn, by suffering with them as they suffer, helping them see, with insight and discretion, that God is good, and has good intentions.  As He promises (and is able to) “working all things out for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purposes” (Ro 8:28-39)

Therefore we (can) rejoice in our suffering (Ro 5; Ja 1; 1Pe 1) because we know that Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33) and with that God does and will work all things for the good (Rom 8), we can now do everything without grumbling and complaining because we realize, we see, we know, that it is God who works in us to will and act according to his purpose is - and that is good. (Phil 2:13, Ro 12.)

“...for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” NIV

“…for God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” NLT

All of this should induce/produce goodness. As we look at them in the next few passages concerning our conduct, we are not only empowered to do such things, we are created in Jesus to do such things. We are created in Christ Jesus, with the seeds of faith, that bear the fruit of (Jesus’) righteousness, the character of Jesus as he has taken our sin and made us righteous. We are righteous and good, and therefore, are made, created, to do good works, and in that, we cannot.

Therefore as we look at these texts – Romans 12; Ephesians 4; Colossians3; Galatians 5; we can see what He is creating us (in Jesus) to be, we are what He is making us be (Eph 2), therefore we are not only empowered to do such things, but we are created to do such things, and then that empowerment enables us to live out what He is making us to be, what we are being created to be - that is, more and more like Jesus, more and more, righteous and good, to do good as Jesus did, as His goodness in us, is good and that good does good. 

This is for all of us who know Jesus, every one of us as we are being made and created - conformed to His likeness, and each one of us uniquely as He and His goodness wills and purposes (1Cor 12) 

Do we rejoice in the truth? Do we rejoice in righteousness? The righteousness of God?  Which IS righteous and good in EVERY circumstance?

If God is good, and he makes everything good for those who love him, is there a time and place, where His goodness is not good? At least it’s the ultimate accomplishment?

It is perpetual perseverance through our circumstances, small and smaller, that enable less than two allow God‘s peace to overcome the current larger or bigger more comprehensive circumstance to trust that God will do what God does. This is a piece of transcends understanding.

Romans 12:3-21

• Do not think more highly of yourself than you ought

  • Sober judgment

  • Do not lack humility 

  • Do not be overly proud; arrogant 

  • personal perspective regulating behavior

  • to act high-minded, lacking humility and a true sense of reality

  • to think more highly of oneself than is proper

• Sober or think - to feel, to think

  • to have understanding, be wise

  • to have an opinion of oneself, think of oneself - a proper understanding or feeling about oneself (1Cor 4:6-7)

Mark 8;9; Luke 9;48; 22

Proverbs 16:18-19 “18Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

19Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” 

1Corinthians 12:7,11  “7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good… All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”

Ephesians 4:7 7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

Humbly, but with confidence (as God’s child - chosen) - happy in our poverty 

We are to make every effort to add to our given faith, goodness 2Pet 1:5;Rom 12; Isa 64; Mat 7; 12

We are to make every effort to add to our given faith, goodness 2Pet 1:5;Rom 12; Isa 64; Mat 7; 12

He has done all of this by his mercy and his grace - His goodness - having placed His goodness in us, that is His righteousness, which is His virtue, His character.  And as He as revealed HImself, His love to us, we delight in God because He is - love, He has loved, and he still does love - and His love has done, does, and will continue to do.

Therefore, God has made us good. We are good, not in and of ourselves, but in Jesus as Jesus is now in us.  As Paul said”...there’s nothing good in me, that is in my flesh.” (Roma 7)  But that same writer goes on to say in 2Corinthians 5:21 that Jesus is “my righteousness.”

Goodness: a virtuous course of thought, feeling,and action; moral good; a moral vigor - we are excited by goodness, virtue and what is right

• Moral goodness, virtue - excellence, moral excellence 

Romans 12:9-21 “love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good…, ...conquer evil with good.”

So, I thought our good works were “filthy rags”?

Isaiah 64:5-7 “6All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. 7No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins.”

Yes, but, no…

Isaiah 64:5 “5You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways.  But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry.  How then can we be saved?”

Good stored in the heart 

2Corinthians 5:2  We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Salvation, sanctification - justified and made, not just right, but righteous - good. 

Warning - 

Matthew 7:15-21  15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Therefore not everyone who says the believe is what they say they are…  it is not about our good works, but Jesus’ work in and on and through us… 

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.

Salvation - Jesus in the heart of the believer 

Matthew 12:33-37 33“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit... 35A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Jesus said… “Make a tree good…” He has made the tree good. He’s exchanged are propensity for evil and sin, with a heart of flesh and given a spirit to incline us to Him and His word. 

Ezekiel 36:24-27 (John 14; Rom 8; Eph 1) 24“ ‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

Sanctified - Jesus set apart in the heart of the believer as LORD - as the maintenance of our relationship - from our side: Filling our heart with Jesus - Jesus will come out (to play).   Why?  Because we’re friends

Luke 6:43-45 43“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Proverbs 4 - the good work of storing good… 

• Fear of the Lord

• Make Jesus Lord 

• My Father and I will make our home in Him

Humility and Honor: Hebrews 13; James 1&2

Hebrews 13; James 1&2. Humility and honor, doing good to all without bias:

What is the humble circumstance for the rich? Could it be that they are not treated in a manner they anticipated or accustomed to?  That they are not seen for their status and position?

What is this way of honor that the poor are treated? Could it be that we just treat them as equals? That we don’t treat them as they might expect or are accustomed to - that we don’t treat them as others might treat them?

The fact is, we honor one and humble the other by the equal treatment of them - each and both. That we treat them both with grace and mercy, dignity and respect, based on their person not on their social status, their economic status, or their perceived position in the community.

Is this not how Jesus treats us? Does He not know how to approach each one of us according to who we are and our station of life to both humble and honor? Not as our outward appearance might suggest, but the true condition of our heart, our greatest inward need and heart’s desire?

Did God not do this from the beginning? In the making of man and woman equal and opposite, beautifully mutual and complementary (Gen 1:26-28; 2:7,15,20-25; Matt 19:4-6), to be and to live just like He is in His divine community – that the Father is equal to the Son, and the Son is equal to the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit being equal to the Father - and all of this in this beautiful expression of mutuality? 

And that is how we are to be, as we have been made from the beginning, and now being created in Christ.  That we would treat each other in the same manner…

As Jesus came here we are being created for the same purpose…

Hebrews 2:14-18 “14Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17For this reason he had to be made like them,  fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

...we are being created for the same purpose…

1Cor 9:19-23 “19Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”

Oh, to be like Jesus…

So, these two writings, Hebrews and James, written to the Jewish believers, to the formerly religious, to those who struggled with grace, and might still try to find their “righteousness” in what they know and the religious practices and activities – having grown up believing that their earthly lot is an expression of God’s divine favor, or not, still might be tempted to judge self and others and God’s love and blessings the same way.

Each writer, once having established that our relationship with God in Christ by grace and that our faith in Jesus is what consummated our relationship with God in Christ and saved us, it is only then that they call us to be sure that there faith expresses itself in good works and deeds of humble service, doing the good works we have been created  in Christ Jesus to do (Eph 2:8-10), chosen, saved and sanctified for obedience to Jesus  (1Pet 1:2) - that our works do not save us, but that our works are an expression, an outgrowth, fruit of our faith, so that our life of faith and goodness (our righteousness - 2Cor 5:21) is shown by our good works, as an expression of our faith (Ja 2) to the glory of our Father (Matt 5:16).

We see that our religion is useless without faithful obedience as our faith is expressed in good works

1Corinthians 7:19  “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.”

Galatians 5:6; 6:15-16  “...in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love...., 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule....”

Hebrews and James…

Making every effort to add, or supplement - by what we do…

Making every effort to add, or supplement - by what we do… 2Peter 1:1-5:  when we read this text, we might notice that the one thing to which effort does not apply is - faith.  Faith is a gift, received that we give back to the one who’s given it in trust that He will take care of me.  (to be effective, we must be confident in what is true, our assurance is a mark of our faith’s expression when our faith is exercised out of gratefulness and with joy of our eternal destiny - made right with the God of the universe - the maker and creator -  it is this love and our response to it in faith makes us more effective in our relationship with God - and His working through me. Which is what we ultimately want! – AND THIS HAPPENS WHEN WE OBEY! 

Make every...

• Using every aspect of self - 

...effort

• Haste, diligence, earnestness, enthusiasm - in accomplishing, promoting, or striving after 

Add to or supplement - your (received) faith:

• Show the truth of it, your faith, by your deeds

• Proving to others and self the reality of your faith (As it expresses itself in, to, and through you - as you obey its (God’s) promptings

Romans 12:11 “Never be lacking in zeal…”

·   Diligence, speed, haste, enthusiasm - swiftness to show zealous diligence - one’s best and full effort by making haste (getting after it)

·   Speedy diligence - quickly obeying what the Lord reveals is His priority

o The better over good

o The more important over the important

o And do so with earnest swiftness - intensity - with eagerness to serve

If you notice here, our effort does not apply to our faith itself - as it was given to you. (2Peter 1:2) Effort is an expression of our faith that is shown real and genuine by what you do, and that – earnestly, sincerely, with growing enthusiasm – in fact, our enthusiasm grows as we serve!! What we do is the expression of our faith. God, through, in, and by our faith, works in us, on us, and through us, as we do what faith compels, prompts us to do and we do it.  The effort is not in having faith, keeping faith, or having more faith. The effort is in exercising our faith, which, ironically builds, deepens, and enriches our faith - in that, we might say, increasing our faith - or - trust, as we express our faith, in faith, by faith. 

The disciples asked that their faith might be increased, which seems a reasonable request and one that Jesus would gladly respond to in kind, but, instead, Jesus responded by speaking to the effect of faith on the life of the one who has it (however seemingly small - as if it was small in any way)

Luke 17:1-6 (Matt 13:31-32; 17:20-21; Mark 4:31; Luke 13:19)

Romans 12:11 cont. but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Our service, our good works, what we do as we read, hear, and respond by doing - is in joyful and grateful response to having received that faith, through God’s love expressed by mercy and grace, giving us, me, eternal life and not “just” saved, though that be a miracle. But even more profoundly - adopted into His family as a child, a co-heir with Jesus and the privilege of being on mission with Him!

Our faith permeates us no matter how seemingly small (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21) and affects us profoundly from the inside out!  It is our faith that expresses itself in loving, trusting (the more and more) obedience.  Seeing God’s word, God’s commands, the truth (utterances) of the Truth – given to us in the scriptures

Faith is not the hearing of the word and believing or assenting to its being true, it is the obeying – exercising our faith in a way that reveals our faith – in God and His word.  Trust is built over time through the exercise of our faith as our present degree of trust permits – stepping out in faith, coming to more and more trust in God by His word and the Spirit’s leading, guiding, and comforting – our faith becomes more and more evident, and we trust it, and Him, more, by faith.

Add to your faith… that which is Jesus -Goodness: a gracious act, virtue, uprightness

• virtue ("moral excellence") which is displayed to enrich life.

• any excellence of a person (in body or mind) or of a thing, an eminent endowment, property or quality.

• a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action; virtue, moral goodness

• his excellences, perfections, 'which shine forth in our gratuitous calling and in the whole work of our salvation'

James 1:19-27 (Romans 4; Hebrews 10-11)

What are we to put our every effort into then?  Adding to our faith, that most basic thing, those things that enhance our looking and acting like Jesus – obedience.   Obeying is the expression of our faith, the working out of our faith, the working of our faith in and through us as God prompts us by our faith. Our faith is shown, seen, not by our speaking of it, but by what is done through our faith – our living in and through and by our faith.

James 2:18-26 (John 14)

Use Everything You've got to Enthusiastically Follow Jesus!

Making every effort to add, or supplement: notice the one thing to which effort does not apply is - faith. Faith is a gift, received that we give back to the one who’s given it in trust that He will take care of me.

2Peter 1:1-5

Make every...:

Using every aspect of self -

...effort

Haste, diligence, earnestness, enthusiasm - in accomplishing, promoting, or striving after Romans 12:11 “Never be lacking in zeal…

”Diligence, speed, haste, enthusiasm - swiftness to show zealous diligence - one’s best and full effort by making haste (getting after it)…”

Speedy diligence - quickly obeying what the Lord reveals is His priority

- The better over good

- The more important over the important

- And do so with earnest swiftness - intensity - with eagerness to serve

Add to or supplement - your (received) faith:

Show the truth of it, your faith, by your deeds

Proving to others and self the reality of your faith (As it expresses itself in, to, and through you - as you obey its (God’s) promptings

If you notice here, our effort does not apply to our faith itself - as it was given to you. (2Peter 1:2) Effort is an expression of your faith that is shown real and genuine by what you do, and that - earnestly! (in joyful and grateful response to having received that faith, through God’s love expressed by mercy and grace, giving us, me, eternal life and not “just” saved, though that be a miracle. But even more profoundly - adopted into His family as a child, a co-heir with Jesus and the privilege of being on mission with Him!)

What we do is the expression of our faith. God, through, in, and by our faith, works in us, on us, and through us, as we do what faith compels, prompts us to do and we do it.

The effort is not in having faith, keeping faith, or having more faith. The effort is in exercising our faith, which, ironically builds, deepens, and enriches our faith - in that, we might say, increasing our faith - or - trust, as we express our faith, in faith, by faith.

The disciples asked that their faith might be increased, which seems a reasonable request and one that Jesus would gladly respond to in kind, but, instead, Jesus responded by speaking to the affect of faith on the life of the one who has it (however seemingly small - as if it was small in any way)

Luke 17:1-6 (Matt 13:31-32; 17:20-21; Mark 4:31; Luke 13:19)

Our faith permeates us no matter how seemingly small (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21) and affects us profoundly from the inside out!

Faith is not the hearing of the word and believing or assenting to its being true, it is the obeying – exercising our faith in a way that reveals our faith – in God and His word.  Trust is built over time through the exercise of our faith as our present degree of trust permits – stepping out in faith, coming to more and more trust in God by His word and the Spirit’s leading, guiding, and comforting – our faith becomes more and more evident, and we trust it, and Him, more, by faith.

James 1:19-27

What are we to put our every effort into then?  Adding to our faith, that most basic thing, those things that enhance our looking and acting like Jesus – obedience.   Obeying is the expression of our faith, the working out of our faith, the working of our faith in and through us as God prompts us by our faith. Our faith is shown, seen, not by our speaking of it, but by what is done through our faith – our living in and through and by our faith.

James 2:18-26