'Seek ME That You May Live.': Part One.
'Seek ME That You May Live.': Part One.
.."Am I A GOD WHO Is Near," Declares The LORD, "And not A GOD far off? "Can a man hide himself in hiding places, So I do not See him?" Declares The LORD. "Do I not Fill The Heavens And The Earth?" Declares The LORD... Jeremiah 23:23-24.
...'And you will seek ME and find, when you search for ME with all your heart. 'And I Will Be Found by you,' Declares The LORD... Jeremiah 29:13-14a.
What we ourselves will put before ourselves to do and to be, what we ourselves shall focus our time and attention on, what we ourselves will want to understand as being Truth, what we ourselves will choose to believe, can so easily prove to be a stumbling block, both to ourselves and to others, though we may not be able to see that it is as such. Only GOD Can Show each one of us. 'Those who have ears to hear will hear.'
A stumbling block is a trap or a snare, any impediment that shall cause one to fall, that which will draw one into error or sin.
To all and for all, now, the veil is only lifted that any may see The Truth In The Light Of The Knowledge Of GOD; JESUS CHRIST, through faith; believing in JESUS CHRIST; WHO Is To us Wisdom From GOD, And Righteousness And Sanctification, And Redemption, that, just as It Is Written, "Let him who boasts, boast In The LORD." ( 1 Corinthians 1:20-31 ). We humbly come to HIM, so that the blind may see, that the deaf may hear. It Is The LORD Alone WHO Sets the prisoners Free. A man cannot do this, ...For since In The Wisdom Of GOD the world through its wisdom did not know GOD, GOD Was Well-Pleased through the foolishness ( as in apparent foolishness; 1 Corinthians 1:18 ) of The Message preached to Save those who believe... ( v21 ).
For i am not ashamed of The Gospel, for It Is The Power Of GOD For Salvation To everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek ( Gentile ). For In It Righteousness Of GOD Is Revealed from faith to faith; as It Is Written, "But the Righteous shall live by faith." Romans 1:16-17.
So as professing Christians, born again to A Living Hope Through The Resurrection Of JESUS CHRIST and our faith in this Grace In Which we stand, thus being HIS ambassadors, HIS representatives on earth, whatever we will present to any who do not yet know The Grace Of GOD in Truth, and indeed what we shall present to one another in The Body, to them we are presenting JESUS CHRIST; HE WHO Is Full Of Grace And Truth.
Whether we are doing so In Truth or in error, what it is we present to others whilst standing in The Name of a born-again Christian, we are presenting to them who it is that they will determine JESUS CHRIST to be, and so with it what means to be HIS followers. Hence the need to always be standing in Truth and to seek Truth; just as Truth Is In JESUS.
And for us to be an effectual witness of The Truth it is that we may testify of The Grace Of GOD and HIS Power through us, made manifest by The Example in us; WHO Is JESUS CHRIST, and no one else. We are to live to GOD Through JESUS CHRIST so that GOD be Glorified through us. Not that we will bring shame, confusion, and falsehood to HIS Name.
This is a great responsibility never to be taken lightly, to be with fear and trembling, for there is both repercussion and consequence for all that we will do in HIS Glorious Name; both to ourselves and for others. And we all, without exception, shall give an account to HIM WHO Is To Judge the living and the dead for all our deeds in the body ( 2 Corinthians 5:6-12 ), and even for every careless word we have spoken ( Matthew 12:33-37 ).
..."GOD Is SPIRIT, and those who worship HIM must worship HIM in spirit and Truth." John 4:24.
The spirit: the rational soul, the vital principle by which we are animated; thoughts, feelings, actions, decisions, desiring; all these to be in accordance with Truth; JESUS CHRIST; having The Spirit Of CHRIST, that we may do homage to, revere, adore The LORD GOD: being what means to worship The LORD GOD.
Truth: Truth is only what is Of GOD, and what is Of GOD Is Given Only By GOD Through HIS HOLY SPIRIT, By Grace through faith in The SON Of GOD; And Truth Is JESUS CHRIST. It is to be nothing of the flesh and can be nothing of the flesh whatsoever.
As for me, i shall behold THY Face In Righteousness; i will be satisfied with THY Likeness when i awake. Psalm 17:15.
But when it was now the midst of the feast JESUS went up into the temple, and Teach. The Jews therefore were marveling, saying, "How has This Man become Learned, having never been educated?" JESUS therefore Answered them, and Said, "MY Teaching is not MINE, But HIS WHO Sent ME. "If any man is willing to do HIS Will, he shall know of The Teaching, whether it is Of GOD, or I Speak from MYSELF. "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but HE WHO Is Seeking The Glory Of The ONE WHO Sent HIM, HE Is True, and there is no unrighteousness In HIM. John 7:14-18.
And so it can be no different for us, nor is it ever to be any different if we are to be standing in The Truth. And we live to GOD through JESUS CHRIST only; Conformed to HIS Image, and there is no other way that we may truly live to GOD, but Through JESUS CHRIST.
...Thomas said to HIM, "LORD, we do not know where YOU are going, how do we know the way?" JESUS Said To him, "I Am The Way, And The Truth, And The Life; no one comes to The FATHER, but through ME." John 14:5-6.
But when CHRIST Appeared A High Priest Of The Good Things That Have Come, Through The Greater And More Perfect Tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this Creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but Through HIS Own Blood, HE Entered The Holy Place Once For All, Having Obtained Eternal Redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will The Blood Of CHRIST, WHO Through The Eternal SPIRIT Offered HIMSELF Without blemish to GOD, Cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve The Living GOD? And for This Reason HE Is The Mediator Of A New Covenant, in order that since A Death has taken place for The Redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, those who have been Called may Receive The Promise Of The Eternal Inheritance... Hebrews 9:11-15.
...For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to The SPIRIT, The Things Of The SPIRIT. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on The SPIRIT is Life and Peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward GOD; for it does not subject itself to The Law Of GOD, for it is not even able; and those who are in the flesh cannot please GOD. However, you are not in the flesh but in The SPIRIT, if indeed The SPIRIT Of GOD Dwells in you. But if anyone does not have The Spirit Of CHRIST, he does not belong to HIM... Romans 8:5-9.
Remember that it is the Apostle Paul writting here to The Church in Rome. He is not writing to unbelievers but to those who believe, and he says, ' if indeed The SPIRIT Of GOD Dwells in you.' It is not for us to pressume, but to know with all certainty, ' if indeed The SPIRIT Of GOD Dwells in you.'
What do we do with something that is dead? Do we still feed it? Do we still nurture it? Or do we discard it, bury it, accept that it is gone forever? Yes; it is to be acknowledged as being no more.
Whatever has died, all that it was, all that it required and desired whilst living is no longer so. If we accept that it has gone forever, if we acknowledge in our heart that it is no more, only then can we begin to move on and live anew. If we hold onto anything in our heart and mind then it is we keep it alive to ourselves, and healing; true healing, is hindered, even prevented.
Whatever it is that we hold in our heart this is what we live to, and this is what we shall live in memory to, in accordance with.
And if CHRIST is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of Righteousness. But if The SPIRIT Of HIM WHO Raised JESUS From the dead dwells in you, HE WHO Raised CHRIST JESUS From the dead Will Also Give Life To your mortal bodies Through ( Because Of ) HIS SPIRIT WHO Indwells us... Romans 8:10-11.
To us In CHRIST, now, we still need the things which our mortal bodies will need, such as, food, clothing, shelter; because our mortal body is our vessel. Yet the body, that is, the flesh, with its passions and desires is to be dead, and with all that we are acknowledged as dead. And it is only In CHRIST, through The HOLY SPIRIT that we may be able to begin to do so, and that, til death; so that that Which Is Life indeed may reign in our mortal bodies.
..."The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!... Matthew 6:22-23.
In this passage of Scripture ( Matthew 6:19-34 ), our LORD JESUS CHRIST Speaks a warning of greed, of divided loyalties, of The faith and the consequence of lacking faith, of Instruction of WHO And What we are to seek first.
'The lamp of the body is the eye', and Written in another place, ...But godliness is a means of Great Gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from The faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.
But flee from these things, you man Of GOD; and pursue Righteousness, godliness, faith, Love ( Agape ), perseverance, gentleness. Fight The Good Fight of faith; take hold of The Eternal Life To Which you were Called, and you made the Good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I charge you ( I give this Message by way of a commandment ) in The Presence Of GOD, WHO Gives life To all things, and Of CHRIST JESUS, WHO Testified The Good Confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until The Appearing Of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, Which HE Will Bring About At The Proper Time - HE WHO Is The Blessed And Only SOVEREIGN, The KING Of Kings And LORD Of Lords; WHO Alone Possess Immortality And Dwells In Unaproachable Light; WHOM no man has seen or can see. To HIM Honour And Eternal Dominion! Amen.
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on GOD, WHO Richly Supplies us with All things to enjoy. To do good, to be Rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves The Treasure Of A Good Foundation for the future, so that they may be able to take hold of That Which Is Life Indeed... 1 Timothy 6:6-19.
And just as our LORD JESUS CHRIST Speaks, ..."For this reason I Say To you, do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and your Heavenly FATHER Feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?... ..."But if GOD So Arrays the grass of the field, which is today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, not much more you, O men of little faith?
"Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' For all these things the Gentiles ( those who do not know GOD ) eagerly seek; for your Heavenly FATHER Knows that you need all these things. "But seek first HIS Kingdom And HIS Righteousness; and all these things Shall Be Added To you. "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own ( There is sufficient evil in each day as it is without the lacking of faith ). Matthew 6:25-26 & v30-34.
There is warning written in verse 30 of lacking faith. For it is through faith we Receive all things. As is Written in another place, ...For yet in a very little while, HE WHO Is Coming Will Come, And will not delay. But MY Righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, MY Soul has no Pleasure in him.
But we are not ( to be ) of those who shrink back ( timidity to apostasy ) to destruction, but of those who have faith to The Preserving Of the soul.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it men of old gained Approval... ...And without faith it is impossible to please, for he who comes to GOD must believe that HE Is, and HE Is A Rewarder Of those who seek HIM... Hebrews 10:37 - 11:2 & v6.
It is in all things that we are required to die to the flesh; the deeds of the flesh and even all that we shall require in life, that our trust is in GOD, that The LORD GOD Is our trust. Faith. We are not to concern ourselves with such things above that of seeking GOD first and foremost, and we are to live in acknowledgement that our sinful nature is dying, or rather, that we are dying to it.
"Blessed is the man who trusts in The LORD And whose trust Is The LORD. "For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes ( James 1:2-27 ); but its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield Fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8.
And though the body is now dead, even, because the body, that is, our flesh, is now acknowledged as dead by us, and that we begin to live by faith and not by sight, our spirit now begins to live, and lives; meaning lives to GOD. This Is Life. This is The Narrow Path Which Leads to The Eternal Kingdom.
...So then, Brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh - for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die. But if By The SPIRIT you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being Led By The SPIRIT Of GOD, these are sons Of GOD. For you have not Received ( In CHRIST ) a spirit of slavery ( that which is as of the flesh ) leading to fear again ( 1 John 4:17-19 ), but you have Received a spirit Of Adoption ( John 1:12-13 ) as sons By Which we cry out, "ABBA! FATHER!" The SPIRIT HIMSELF Bears Witness with our spirit that we are children Of GOD, and if children, heirs also, heirs Of GOD and fellow heirs With CHRIST, if indeed we suffer with ( die to the flesh; 1 Peter 4:1-2 ) in order ( so that it may be ) that we may also be Glorified With... Romans 8:12-17.
There is a teaching which says that in CHRIST JESUS, 'The body is dead, my spirit cannot sin'.
Though this is to be absolutely true of all who will call on The Name Of The LORD JESUS CHRIST, it is a wrong teaching when it is taught and believed that this will automatically apply to us all. The flesh is to be dead, so that our spirit ( that by which we are animated ) cannot sin. And whatever is not from faith is sin.
If the body; the flesh is indeed dead then yes, the spirit cannot sin against GOD. But when the flesh, anything of it, is constantly held on to, most certainly then, our spirit is not being Led By The SPIRIT Of GOD, The SPIRIT does not then Bear Witness with our spirit that we are children Of GOD; ...And It Is The SPIRIT WHO Bears Witness, because The SPIRIT Is The Truth. For There Are Three That Bear Witness, The SPIRIT And The Water And The Blood; And The Three Are In Agreement. If we receive ( take ) the witness of men, The Witness Of GOD Is Greater; For The Witness Of GOD Is This, That HE Has Borne Witness Concerning HIS SON... 1 John 5:7-9.
Our LORD JESUS CHRIST Tells us, Forewarns us, "Beware of false prophets ( one acting as Divinely Inspired, yet an impostor ), who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves ( men in raiment as sheep Of HIS Pasture, but within themselves, their heart, are given to satisfaction of themselves, their own greed, to capture; Jude 10-13 ). "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn, nor figs from thistles, are they? "Even so, every good tree bears Good Fruit; but the bad tree bears bad ( hurtful, evil ) fruit. "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce Good Fruit... Matthew 7:15-18. The Fruit Of The SPIRIT: Good Fruit; Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control ( Galatians 5:22-26 ).
Again, The LORD JESUS Tells us that there is none Good But GOD ( Luke 18:19 ), and so it is that we can only produce what is Good Through The HOLY SPIRIT WHO Indwells the believer; the one who lives by faith In The SON Of GOD. Just as in another place we are Instructed to be imitators of GOD as Beloved children ( Ephesians 5:1-2 ). Even so, If we receive ( take ) the witness of men, The Witness Of GOD Is Greater; For The Witness Of GOD Is This, That HE Has Borne Witness Concerning HIS SON. The Witness; The Testifying, The Evidence Of GOD Is Greater; Have faith in GOD; put trust in GOD, and also JESUS CHRIST ( John 14:1-17 ).
..."And This Is Eternal Life, that they may know THEE, The Only True GOD, And JESUS CHRIST WHOM THOU Hast Sent..." John 17:3. To know GOD Through being Conformed To The Image Of HIS Beloved SON.
...The one who believes ( has Saving faith ) In The SON Of GOD Has The Witness in himself ( JESUS CHRIST ); the one who does not believe GOD ( the one who does not live by faith In The SON Of GOD as means The faith ) has made HIM a liar, because he has not believed in The Witness That GOD Has Borne Concerning HIS SON... 1 John 5:10. The MOST HIGH Testifies To us all, that we shall be Shown to be Justified By HIM; The ONE WHO Is Just And The Justifier Of the one who believes in JESUS, By The Proof; The Manifestation in us of JESUS CHRIST ( Romans 3:21-26, 1 John 2:3-6 ).
...And The Witness Is This, That GOD Has Given us Eternal Life, And This Life Is In HIS SON. He who has The SON Has The Life; he who does not have The SON Of GOD does not have The Life... 1 John 5:11-12.
If we are not Led By The SPIRIT Of GOD, then it is living according to the flesh; it is not seeking do die to the deeds of the body because this is only possible By The HOLY SPIRIT ( Romans 8:13 ).
...These things i have written to you who believe in The Name Of The SON Of GOD, in order that you may know that you have Eternal Life. 1 John 5:13.
In all our living, Grace is to reign through Righteousness to Eternal Life, meaning through our LORD JESUS CHRIST. ( The LORD JESUS CHRIST Is The LORD our Righteousness; 2 Corinthians 5:21, Jeremiah 23:5-6 ). This means abiding In HIM, and HE in us, which means that HE Shall be evident in all our living; more and more so.
...What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that Grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?... Romans 6:1-2.
Grace cannot increase through unrighteousness ( all unrighteousness is sin ), but can only, ultimately, be made void through our continually willfully sinning ( 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 ); never coming to true repentance. Grace And Peace are Multiplied To us In The Knowledge Of GOD And Of JESUS our LORD ( 2 Peter 1:2 ). 'Seek ME that you may Live.'
...Or do you not know that all of us who have been been Baptized Into CHRIST JESUS Have Been Baptized Into HIS Death?... Romans 6:3. This being Of GOD; This Is how GOD Has Reconciled us To HIMSELF; In CHRIST JESUS.
...Therefore we have been buried With HIM Through Baptism into death, in order ( so that it is possible ) that as CHRIST Was Raised From the dead, so we too might walk in newness of Life... Romans 6:4.
All Authority And Power Has Been Subjected to The LORD JESUS CHRIST ( Matthew 28:18 ); so it is HE WHOM we must obey, and we may only do so By Grace through faith By The Power Of The HOLY SPIRIT; 1 Peter 1:2.
...Therefore, since CHRIST Has Suffered ( Death ) in the flesh, arm yourselves ( equip yourselves, take on the same Mind ) also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered ( death ) in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for The Will Of GOD... 1 Peter 4:1-2.
It is not newness of life, not living for The Will Of GOD when we shall live; both acting and speaking according to the flesh. Only those who will do as The LORD GOD Speaks; in accordance with CHRIST are those united With HIM in doing The Will Of GOD.
...For if we have become United With in The Likeness Of HIS Death, certainly we shall be also Of HIS Resurrection, knowing this ( absolutely understanding this ), that our old self was crucified With, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died With CHRIST, we believe ( our Saving faith is ) that we shall also live With HIM, knowing ( perceiving with all that we are ) that CHRIST, having been Raised from the dead, is never to die again ; death no longer is master over HIM ( "It Is Finished" ). For The Death that HE Died, HE Died to sin, Once For All; But The Life that HE Lives, HE Lives To GOD. Even so ( so you too likewise as CHRIST Lives in you and you In HIM ) consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to GOD In CHRIST JESUS... Romans 6:5-11.
We must recognize that the flesh is dead. ...But According To HIS Promise we are looking for New Heavens and A New Earth, In Which Righteousness dwells. Therefore, Beloved, since you look for These Things, be diligent to be found in HIM in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard The Patience Of our LORD Salvation; just as also our Beloved Brother Paul, According To The Wisdom Given him, wrote to you, as also in all letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as also the rest of The Scriptures, to their own Destruction. You therefore, Beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unpricipled men ( being led away by fraudulence, deceit, of those who enact lawlessness; ravenous wolves ), you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow In The Grace And Knowledge Of our LORD And SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. To HIM The Glory, both now and to The Day Of Eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:13-18.
Amen.
The HOLY SPIRIT Gives Life To our mortal bodies; HE Becomes our 'animation' in all we will purpose to do, so that on That Day this mortal will put on Immortality, this persihable may put on The Imperishable. But we have to recognize this first; that i am dead to sin but alive to GOD In CHRIST JESUS. It is that initial realisation that the flesh is actually dead; its 'requirements' no longer exist.
For us, trials will take place throughout our walk and these will come in various forms, and all for the testing of our faith; the proof of our faith. It is inevitable that not all who are tested shall endure to the end, we are told this By GOD in HIS Infallible Word. We are told in The Scriptures that there are those who have been purchased with GOD'S Own Blood and yet will fall away; and that it is only the one who endures to the end who shall be Saved.
This is not because The LORD GOD cannot keep us, HE Tells us that HE will never leave us nor forsake us ( Romans 8:31-39, Hebrews 13:5-6 ), that no one can snatch those who are HIS ( that actually means, those who hear HIS Voice, those who seek to obey HIM ); from HIS Hand ( John 10:27-30 ), and GOD cannot lie. "GOD is not a man that HE should lie, Nor a son of man, that HE should repent; Has HE Said, and will HE not Do It? Or has HE Spoken, and will HE not Make It Good? Numbers 23:19.
...confident of this very thing, that HE WHO Began a good work in you will Perfect It until The Day Of CHRIST JESUS. Philippians 1:6, for It Is GOD WHO Is At Work in you, both To Will And To Work for Good Pleasure... Philippians 2:13. Those who were written to and of here are spoken of in this manner because they were actually participating in The Gospel ( v3-5 ); obedience to It; being effectual doers. They were not Christians in name only, by which i mean they were not saying they were Disciples Of CHRIST and yet walking contrary to HIS Example, speaking from themselves, but they were seeking to live to GOD Through faith in HIM.
Now i make known to you, Brethren, The Gospel Which i preached to you, Which you also Received, in Which you also stand, By Which also you are Saved, if you hold fast The Word Which i have preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2.
"Truly, truly, I Say To you, The SON can do nothing of HIMSELF unless It Is Something HE Sees The FATHER Doing; for Whatever The FATHER Does, These Things The SON Also Does In Like Manner. "For The FATHER Loves The SON, And Shows HIM All Things That HE HIMSELF Is Doing; And Greater Works Than These Will HE Show HIM, that you may marvel. "For just as The FATHER Raises the dead and Gives them Life, even so The SON Also Gives Life To whom HE Wishes. "For not even The FATHER Judges anyone, but HE Has Given All Judgement To The SON, in order that all may honour The SON, even as they honour The FATHER. He who does not honour The SON does not honour The FATHER WHO Sent HIM. "Truly, truly, I Say To you, he who hears MY Word, and believes HIM WHO Sent ME, has Eternal Life, and does not come into Judgement, but has Passed Out of death into Life. "Truly, truly, I Say To you, an hour is coming and Now Is, when the dead shall hear The Voice Of The SON Of GOD; and those who hear shall Live. "For Just As The FATHER Has Life In HIMSELF, Even So HE Gave To The SON Also To Have Life In HIMSELF; And HE Gave HIM Authority To Execute Judgement, Because HE Is SON Of Man. John 5:19-27.
This one: "...he who hears MY Word, and believes HIM WHO Sent ME, has Eternal Life, and does not come into Judgement, but has Passed Out of death into Life., is the one The LORD Refers to in John 10:27-30, "MY sheep hear MY Voice, and I Know them, and they follow ME; and I Give Eternal Life To them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of MY Hand. "What MY FATHER Has Given ME Is Greater than all; and no one is able to snatch out of The FATHER'S Hand. "I And The FATHER Are ONE." This one will honour The SON as they honour The FATHER; "Truly, truly"
But of the one who lives unable to finish ( Luke 14:25-35 ) it is because he has willfully refused to hear HIM WHO Is Speaking, it is his own refusal to live with/in the full knowledge that he is not ( to be) his own anymore, but that he is now under obligation to die to the deeds of the body; through living by The SPIRIT ( Romans 8:12-14 ).
Those who will fall away, withdraw themselves from The faith ( 1 Timothy 4:1-2 ).
Those who will seek false teachers to accomodate themselves in their own wants and desires deeming what they deem as right and acceptable as being acceptable to GOD ( 2 Timothy 4:3-4, yet Hebrews 13:7-8 ).
Those who will introduce destructive heresies denying The LORD WHO Bought them, speaking evil; what is not of The Way In Truth ( 2 Peter 2:1-3 ).
Those who do not know the fear ( reverence ) of GOD and forsaking The Right Way; which is that Of CHRIST only ( 2 Peter 2:12-22 ), treating The Grace Of GOD with insolence and in their living to the flesh contradicting our only MASTER And LORD, JESUS CHRIST ( Jude:4 ).
Those who are fault finders ( Jude:15-16 ), causing divisions in The Body ( Jude:19 ), those who practice lawlessness; ( the unloving; Matthew 7:22-23 ).
And ultimately, these who are those who will never humbly seek repentance in all the wrong that they will do, but will stubbornly, even arrogantly hold to it. They seek their own glory and not The Glory Of GOD.
The Secret Of The LORD Is For those who fear HIM, And HE Will Make them know HIS Covenant. Psalm 25:14.
The LORD JESUS CHRIST, our Perfect Example in all things, WHO, In The Days Of HIS Flesh Lived Through The Indwelling Of The HOLY SPIRIT, Thus HE Said And Spoke and Acted in everything HE Did ( John 12:49-50 ). Just as we shall, if The HOLY SPIRIT Dwells in us and thus we live, by HIS Leading.
If one believes that he may live and act contrary to The Commandments Of The Eternal GOD; contrary to CHRIST; apart from The faith ( Romans 3:31 ), then he is most certainly still living according to the flesh; living in disobedience, grieving The HOLY SPIRIT. And we are told, that the mind set on the flesh leads to death. And this death means the second death; total separation from GOD.
Many times i have heard Christians speak of GOD'S unconditonal Love. What is it they are saying? What does it even mean? Where are these words even written in The Holy Scriptures?Firstly, we are under obligation to put to death the deeds of the body ( Romans 8:12-14 ), thus through The SPIRIT we are called sons Of GOD.
If an obligation, as in the word opheiletes in verse 12 of Romans chapter 8 which in its definition means 'an ower, one who is indebted, a debtor, one held by some obligation, bound by some duty', and the word 'unconditional' in its definition means, 'without conditions or limitations', how is this applied or can it apply to love, and GOD'S Love ( Agape ), in respect to us and our own conduct?
We are clearly told in The Holy Scriptures that if anyone loves ( Agapao ) GOD, he is Known By HIM ( 1 Corinthians 8:3 ), that The Mystery Hidden Which GOD Predestined before the ages to our Glory, Revealed Through The HOLY SPIRIT, is for those that love ( Agapao ) GOD ( 1 Corinthians 2 ), that, "If anyone loves ( Agapao ) ME, he will keep MY Word; and MY FATHER Will Love ( Agapao ) him, And WE Will Come To him, And Make OUR Abode With him. "He who does not love ( Agapao ) ME does not keep MY Words; and The Word Which you hear ( The Gospel ) is not MINE, But The FATHER'S WHO Sent ME... John 14:23-24, that we are the branches; The LORD JESUS CHRIST Is The True Vine, and, ..."If anyone does not abide In ME, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they ( the angels; Matthew 13:24-30, & v36-43 ) gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:6.
Secondly, in respect to us, how does 'unconditional love' tie in with obedience? "He who believes ( has Saving faith ) in The SON has Eternal Life; but he who does not obey The SON shall not see Life, but The Wrath Of GOD Abides On him." John 3:36. ...when The LORD JESUS Shall Be Revealed From Heaven With HIS Mighty angels In Flaming Fire, Dealing Our Retribution To those ( any; there is no partiality with GOD ) who do not know GOD And To those ( any; there is no partiality with GOD; Romans 2:1-16 ) who do not obey The Gospel Of our LORD JESUS. And these will pay The Penalty Of Eternal Destruction, away from The Presence Of The LORD And From The Glory Of HIS Power, when HE Comes To Be Glorified In HIS Saints On That Day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed ( had Saving faith ) - for our testimony to you was believed ( you participate in The Gospel ). To this end we pray for you always that our GOD may Count you worthy of your Calling, and Fulfill every desire for goodness and The Work Of faith With Power ( Psalm 37:4-6 ); in order that The Name Of our LORD JESUS may be Glorified in you, and you in HIM, according to The Grace Of our GOD And The LORD JESUS CHRIST. 2 Thessalonians 1:7b-12.
This passage from 2 Thessalonians chapter 1 is full of warning and of the obligation which applies to us all. Some who will make the statement of GOD'S unconditional love, who will also accompany this with 'Salvation cannot be forfeited,' being the teaching of 'Once Saved always Saved,' who will then state that any who will believe contrary to this are mis-applying and manipulating, misunderstanding Scripture, are the ones who are doing this very thing themselves. There's a false theology, and, The LORD Willing, in part two, GOD'S Word will show it further from the very Scriptures they will use to 'evidence' this belief of there's, and their mis-understandings of them.
..."A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit." Matthew 7:18. A good tree is the one who lives according to The SPIRIT, thus he will produce The Fruit Of The SPIRIT. A bad tree is the one living according to the flesh, and as such will produce only that which is worthless, good for nothing; bad fruit. The flesh cannot subject itself to The Law Of GOD, it is not even able to do so. For we through The SPIRIT, by faith, are waiting for The Hope Of Righteousness. Galatians 5:5. "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. "So then, you will know them by their fruits. Matthew 7:19-20.
Then those who feared The LORD spoke to one another, and The LORD Gave Attention And Heard, and A Book Of Remembrance Was Written Before HIM For those who fear ( revere ) The LORD and who esteem HIS Name. "And they will be MINE," Says The LORD Of Hosts, "on the day that I Prepare MY Own Possession, and I Will Spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him." So you will again distinguish between the Righteous and the wicked, between one who serves GOD and one who does not serve HIM... Malachi 3:16-18.
"Not everyone who says to ME, 'LORD, LORD,' will enter The Kingdom Of Heaven; but he who does The Will Of MY FATHER WHO Is In Heaven." Matthew 7:21. The Will Of GOD Is our Sanctification, that we may share HIS Holiness. And we may only obtain this Sanctification through living by faith in JESUS CHRIST ( Acts 26:18 ). He who rejects this is not rejecting man, but GOD, WHO Gives HIS HOLY SPIRIT To us ( 1 Thessalonians 4:1-9 ). There will be not one with excuse at The Last Day, for GOD Has So Worked that we have all we need. And all we need is In HIS SON; our Great GOD And SAVIOUR CHRIST JESUS; WHO Loved us, and Delivered HIMSELF Up For us. We Receive, only, By Grace through The faith.
"Many will say to ME on That Day, 'LORD, LORD, did we not Prophesy In YOUR Name, and In YOUR Name Cast Out demons, and In YOUR Name Perform many Miracles?' "And then I Will Declare To them, 'I never Knew you; Depart from ME, you who practice lawlessness.'... Matthew 7:22-23.
As The Scriptures Speak in another place, ...no Prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men Moved By The HOLY SPIRIT Spoke From GOD. 2 Peter 1:21. And The Power to Cast Out demons and to Perform Miracles is not of man either, nor can it ever be; it is By GOD'S Authority; GOD'S Power, In The Name Of JESUS CHRIST;
And GOD Was Performing Extraordinary Miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to Name over those who had evil spirits The Name Of The LORD JESUS, saying, "I adjure you By JESUS WHOM Paul preaches." And seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "i recognize JESUS, and i know about Paul, but who are you?" And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. Acts 19:11-16.
And of the seventy The LORD Sent out, ...And the seventy returned with joy, saying, "LORD, even the demons are subject to us In YOUR Name." And HE Said To them, "I Was watching satan fall from Heaven like lightning. "Behold, I Have Given you Authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions ( A Path over sly cunning ), and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are Recorded In Heaven." Luke 10:17-20.
Written in Matthew 7, The LORD Tells of those who have done things in HIS Name, By GOD'S Power, those who call HIM, 'LORD.' And no one can call JESUS LORD but By The HOLY SPIRIT ( 1 Corinthians 12:3 ). Yet here is The LORD HIMSELF Saying to those who are telling him what they have done in HIS Name, 'I never Knew you; Depart from ME, you who practice lawlessness.'
And Speaking To the seventy whom HE Sent out, who then returned to HIM with joy, saying, "LORD, even the demons are subject to us In YOUR Name." , HE Tells them of seeing satan falling from Heaven like lightning, and tells them of The Authority HE Has Given them, yet warns them not to rejoice in this, but to rejoice that their names are Recorded In Heaven.
This is to us too. It is not to say that because we may do things By The Power Of GOD that our Salvation is secured. Having any of The Gifts does not mean proof that our Salvation is secured. If we will 'rejoice' in this then we are deceived in what our joy and focus is on. But rather It Is WHO It Is that our joy and focus must constantly be in and upon and seeking. Because we too can 'fall from Heaven':
"And To the angel of The Church in Sardis ( a luxurious city in Asia Minor ) write: HE WHO Has The Seven Spirits Of GOD ( MESSIAH JESUS; Isaiah 11:1-2, John 3:34 ), And The Seven Stars, Says This: 'I Know your deeds, that you have A Name that you are alive, but you are dead. "Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed In The Sight Of MY GOD. 'Remember therefore What you have Received and heard; and keep, and repent. If therefore you will not wake up, I Will Come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I Will Come Upon you. 'But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with ME In White; for they are worthy.
He who overcomes shall thus be Clothed in White Garments ( Revelation 19:7-10 ); And I will not Erase his name From The Book Of Life, And I Will Confess his name Before MY FATHER, And Before HIS angels. 'He who has an ear to hear, let him hear What The SPIRIT Says To The Churches.'... Revelation 3:1-6.
We, as Christians, can have A Name, but nothing else. The Name alone cannot Save us. I Know your deeds, that you have A Name that you are alive, but you are dead. This is not speaking as of those who are doubly dead ( Jude:10-13 ), but those who are asleep in their walk, though alive, yet because of their sleeping they are as dead. "Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed In The Sight Of MY GOD. 'Remember therefore What you have Received and heard; and keep, and repent.
GOD Gives us repentance for the Forgivness of sins ( Luke 24:47 ). Apart from repentance there can be no Forgivness of sins. And true repentance means that what we shall do should bear the evidence of repentance ( Matthew 3:8 ). Whilst still alive yet sleeping, there is the chance, the opportunity is still there to wake up. For whoever is joined with the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. Indeed their love, their hate, and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:4-6.
Whatever it is we as Christians believe in how we are walking, what it is we are believing in, it is to bring it to The Light that it may be seen for what it truly is; whether Of GOD, HIS Way In Truth; JESUS CHRIST, or not ( John 3:20-21, Ephesians 5:13-17 ). The doubly dead will not hear because they refuse to hear and so and cannot wake up, but only to The Day Of Judgement.
"If therefore you will not wake up, I Will Come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I Will Come Upon you." No one of us knows the day our soul shall be required of us! He who has an ear to hear, let him hear What The SPIRIT Says To The Churches.'
'Remember therefore What you have Received and heard; and keep, and repent. : The Gospel.
But The Goal Of our Instruction is Love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5.
