'Seek ME That You May Live': Part Two
'Seek ME That You May Live': Part Two
But The Goal Of our Instruction is Love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5.
The Goal is the definite point aimed at. The end result of what we are charged with By GOD In CHRIST JESUS; Love ( Agape ) from a clean ( Cleansed ) heart, and the heart is Cleansed only through The Sanctifying Work Of The HOLY SPIRIT, by faith, as truly means The faith in The LORD JESUS CHRIST ( Acts 15:9 ). The good conscience is as that Of CHRIST; Morally Good, and a sincere faith that means absolute belief in The Truthfulness Of GOD and acknowledgement of our absolute reliance upon CHRIST JESUS. This faith means not being unfeigned: imitating deceptively; putting on an appearance: an act: hypocrisy.
If we say we are of The Truth then Truth Is JESUS CHRIST in all that we are and seek to be; word and deed. To be as JESUS CHRIST, Conformed to HIS Image; forsaking all else is how we may begin to know HIM and the result being what means to know HIM; Conformed To HIS Image.
...But whatever things were gain to me, those things i have counted a loss for the sake of CHRIST. More than that, i count all things to be loss in view of The Surpassing Value of knowing CHRIST JESUS my LORD, for WHOM i have suffered ( willingly ) the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that i may gain CHRIST, and may be found In HIM ( that i may obtain ), not having a righteousness of my own derived from Law, but That Which Is through faith in CHRIST, The Righteousness Which Is From ( Of ) GOD on the basis of ( By ) faith, that i may know ( perceive, understand, have The Knowledge Of, be aquainted with ) HIM, and The Power Of HIS Resurrection and the fellowship of HIS Sufferings, being Conformed to HIS Death ( Luke 14:25-35 ); in order that ( so by all means ) i may attain to The Resurrection from the dead... Philippians 3:7-11.
Paul then continues in his letter to The Church at Philippi for means of example to state of the continuance of his walk. He by no means states that he has already reached The Goal; that his part in The Resurrection Of The Righteous is already achieved, confirmed, but that he must continue as he has been walking. Just as he writes in another letter, to The Church at Corinth: Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we An Imperishable ( 1 Corinthians 15:48-50 ). Therefore i run in such a way, as not without aim; i box in such a way, as not beating the air ( my walk is not subject to change, variable, ambiguous, dependant on chance ); but i buffet my body and make it my slave ( i subdue my body bringing it under subjection ), lest possibly, after i have preached to others, i myself should be disqualified ( for fear that somehow even after i have preached The Divine Truth to others, i myself become unapproved, castaway, rejected )... 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.
...Not that i have already obtained ( attained to The Resurrection of the dead ), or have already become perfect ( accomplised completeness ), but i press on ( i continue, follow after, press toward ) in order that i may lay hold of ( attain to ) That for Which also i was laid hold of By CHRIST JESUS ( The Resurrection from the dead; The Crown Of Life). Brethren, i do not regard myself as having laid hold of yet ( i have not attained to it yet ); but one thing ( but only this ): forgetting what lies behind and reaching foward to what lies ahead ( neglecting, no longer caring for what is left behind; that not of CHRIST; v 7-8, but stretching foward to What is in sight ), i press on toward The Goal for The Prize Of The Upward Call Of GOD In CHRIST JESUS ( i pursue according to the end objective for The Victory and Heavenly Reward Of The High Calling Of GOD In CHRIST JESUS ).
Let us therefore, as many as are perfect ( In CHRIST, growing towards completeness ), have this attitude ( of v14 ); and if in anything you have a different attitude, GOD will Reveal that also to you; however ( nevertheless ), let us keep living by that same to which we have attained ( let us not shrink back to destruction; Hebrews 10:35-39, "No one, after putting his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for The Kingdom Of GOD."Luke 9:62 ).
Brethren, join in following my example ( 1 Corinthians 11:1, according to The Will Of GOD ), and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us ( look upon and take heed only of those who conduct themselves to our model for imitation; as a die struck, exact: Hebrews 13:7-8 ).
For many walk, of whom i often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of The Cross Of CHRIST ( self-denial; The Atonement Of CHRIST ), whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and glory is in their shame ( they set themselves up in their hearts and seek their own glory ), who set their minds on earthly things ( Have the love and moral standards of the world in themselves, Colossians 3:1-17, 1 John 2:15-17 ). For our citizenship Is In Heaven, From Which also we eagerly wait for A SAVIOUR, The LORD JESUS CHRIST; WHO Will Transform the body of our humble state into Conformity With The Body Of HIS Glory, By The Exertion Of The Power That HE Has even to subject all things To HIMSELF. Therefore, my Beloved Brethren whom i long to see, my joy and Crown, so stand firm In The LORD, my Beloved. Philippians 3:12 - 4:1.
Verses 20-21 here can only possibly be true of those who will be walking as to the pattern of such men as the Apostle Paul. Just as he exhorts all in CHRIST JESUS to be imitators of such as these.
Now, furthermore of those who will mistakingly believe the teaching of 'Once Saved always Saved', which only serves to lead away from how it is we are to be constantly mindful of how we walk, understanding The Will Of GOD, constantly nourished on The Words Of The faith, even, being a teaching which does not teach and instill the reverence of GOD. This teaching is accepted by many, preached by well known and respected ( by man ) preachers and teachers, available on line, in books, dvd's, on radio and Christian tv. Nevertheless, this in no way makes it true. Only GOD'S Word confirms GOD'S Truth and The HOLY SPIRIT Is HE WHO Will Guide us into All Truth. It is a foolish thing indeed to trust in mortal man. GOD Tells us it is so ( Psalm 146, Jeremiah 17:5-8 )
1) They will state, 'A Christian is redeemed', and use such Scripture as 1 Peter 1:18-19 to make this point; ...knowing that you were not Redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with Precious Blood, as Of A Lamb Unblemished And Spotless, Of CHRIST...
In their understanding of this they will accept this teaching that says of this Scripture, 'The word "Redeemed" refers to a Purchase being Made, a Price being Paid. For a Christian to lose Salvation GOD HIMSELF would have to revoke HIS Purchase that HE Paid for with The Precious Blood Of CHRIST.'
The Truth is, is that the word 'Redeemed" here means 'To Ransom,' that is, 'to cause to be released to one's self by A Payment of A Ransom,'; 'to Redeem; to Deliver from evil of every kind.' In their misunderstading of this Scripture they pressume that Redemption has been finalised, completed. Yet we are all told that we are as yet "waiting for The Day Of Redemption."
Yes, In CHRIST JESUS; In HIM we have Redemption Through HIS Blood, The Forgivness of our trespasses, According To The Riches Of HIS Grace, Which HE Lavished Upon us. In All Wisdom And Insight. HE Made Known To us The Mystery Of HIS Will, According To HIS Kind Intention Which HE ( The FATHER ) Purposed In HIM ( The SON ) With A View To An Administration suitable to The Fulness Of The Times, The Summing Up Of All Things In CHRIST, Things In The Heavens and on the earth ( In The Dispensation; Stewardship to The Completion; Fulfilling in Due Time; The Set Time; The Decisive Epoch waited for, sum up in One; The Whole; All In CHRIST, Things In Heaven and on earth; ...but the one who endures to The End, he shall be Saved. Mark 13:13b ). In HIM ( In CHRIST JESUS ) also we have Obtained An Inheritance, having been Predestined According To HIS Purpose ( According To HIS Setting Forth [ not our own] ) WHO Works All Things After The Counsel Of HIS Will ( The Purpose Of HIS Desire; "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. John 5:24 )... Ephesians 1:7-11.
And again; The LORD JESUS CHRIST Has Obtained Eternal Redemption For us ( Hebrews 9:12 ), for The Redemption; The Ransom of the transgressions ( HIS Work in us that we die to sin and live to Righteousness ), that we might Receive The Promise Of Eternal Life ( Hebrews 9:15 ). This is only through living by faith in HIM, through which The HOLY SPIRIT Works in our heart; our Sanctification that we may obey JESUS CHRIST and have Forgivness of sins; 1 Peter 1:2. And in this and for this reason we are told, ...And do not grieve The HOLY SPIRIT Of GOD, By WHOM you were Sealed For The Day Of Redemption ( future; when those who have lived by faith as truly means to live by faith will then Receive The Crown Of Life; The Promise Of Eternal Life, 2 Timothy 4:7-8, James 1:12-19 ). Ephesians 4:30.
We are Sealed By The Work Of The HOLY SPIRIT. We are not Sealed in CHRIST JESUS by the witness of men, just because we say we are Christian, not because we have been Baptised, not because we have once confessed HIM as LORD, and yet now do not live according to GOD'S Purpose being fulfilled. Our Redemption is a future event, which is only guaranteed in the present through faith in The LORD JESUS CHRIST. If the Apostle Paul did not count himself as having laid hold of it yet, who is any man to believe this of himself?
So, to those who understand to be Redeemed as being already completed they need to answer this question correctly: What is your definition of The faith that means belief in JESUS CHRIST, which thus makes Salvation conditional to it?
2) Another Scripture those who believe 'once Saved always Saved' will quote is 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore if any man is In CHRIST, he is a New Creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. And their interpretation of this Scripture is that, 'this verse speaks of a person becoming an entirely new creature as a result of being In CHRIST. For a Christian to lose Salvation the new creation would have to be cancelled and reversed.'
The first part is correct, because we are told this In Scripture, Therefore if any man is In CHRIST, he is a New Creature. Their understanding that this means for a Christian to lose Salvation the new creation would have to be cancelled and reversed, and this for them is an impossible thing to happen, lacks insight into The Truth of what means to be 'In CHRIST.'
Sin separates; Fact. And these will also state that the one who continues in sin was never really born again in the first place. This again is lacking insight into Truth, and is applied by them because it is easier for them to attribute other certain Scriptures as meaning applying to such a one.
Yes, The LORD Tells us all The Parable Of The Sower ( Mark 4 ); The Seed Is The Word, the soil is the heart:
To some the seed fell beside the road; satan immediately comes and takes away The Word which has been sown in them. To another The Seed was sown on a rocky place; they hear, and Receive It with joy, yet they have no root in themsleves and so are temporary Christians because they will so easily fall away when affliction or persecution comes. Others, in their hearts is The Seed Which is sown amongst thorns; they have heard The Word, but the worries of the world, of the age, the deceitfulness of riches and desires/ lusts of things that are not Of GOD, not of The Way In Truth, but of the flesh, enter in and choke, drown out The Word, and The Word becomes unfruitful ( the bad tree produces only bad fruit; Matthew 7:15-27 ). And there is The Seed Sown in the good soil; these are the ones who hear The Word and accept It, and produce much Fruit because they have accepted It; because they hear It and grow ( Good Fruit from the good tree ).
How then is it they will say 'For a Christian to lose Salvation the new creation would have to be cancelled and reversed' in their belief that one cannot lose Salvation? The truth is GOD HIMSELF does not 'cancel' or 'reverse'. It is we who will effectively do so when we will reject CHRIST JESUS when we live according to the flesh as opposed to putting to death the deeds of the body through living according to The SPIRIT; apart from, denying, what means true repentance.
The New Creation is true of all who have Received The Word, confessed JESUS As LORD, believed in their heart, and been Baptized. These have been Bought With GOD'S Own Blood and those who stray have since that time denied or are living denying The MASTER WHO Bought them.
To merely state that those who will live apart from GOD were not truly Saved in the first place actually makes GOD a liar. GOD Gives repentance! Any who have strayed from The Truth may, By GOD'S Amazing Grace, repent, turn away from their sin and error and back to GOD, and HE Will Abundantly Forgive ( Luke 15 ).
To say in regard to us 'GOD'S Love is unconditional' is simply not a true statement. It is contained no where in Scripture. It does not teach of The Way Of GOD In Truth. What is True to say is, 'GOD Is Love and GOD does not change.' ' It Is A Trustworthy Statement: For if we died with HIM ( JESUS; Romans 6:1-11, 1 Peter 4:1-2 ), we shall also Live With HIM; If we endure, we shall also reign With HIM; If we deny HIM, HE Also Will Deny us; If we are faithless, HE Remains Faithful; for HE cannot deny HIMSELF. Remind of These Things, and solemnly charge In The Presence Of GOD not to wrangle about words, which is useless, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved of GOD as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately The Word Of Truth. But avoid worldly empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness...' 2 Timothy 2:11-16.
That Scripture, 2 Corinthians 5:17, to be misapplied as they will do, is actually taking one verse out and refusing to hear it in the context in which it is Speaking To all, and in the doing of leaves it open to contradiction in The Word.
The whole passage is talking of the temporal and The Eternal. It Speaks of The Ministry Of Reconciliation, meaning, we, as servants, The Restoration to Divine Favour; leading to Atonement, namely, that GOD Was In CHRIST Reconciling the world to HIMSELF, not counting their trespasses against them, and HE Has Committed To us The Word Of Reconciliation. ( v19 ). 'HE Has Appointed, Given, Ordained, Purposed, Set Forth For us The Word Of our Restoration To Divine Favour ( ongoing until we shall reach The Goal of our Instruction; Philippians 3:8 - 4:1, 1 Corinthians 9:24 - 10:13 ).' And this, is In CHRIST, Through CHRIST only, not whilst living apart from CHRIST.
...in order that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than to The Administration Of GOD Which Is By faith. But The Goal Of our Instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside ( deviated from, missed the mark ) to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of The Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. But we know that The Law Is Good, if one uses it Lawfully, realizing The Fact that The Law is not made for a Righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebelious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers ( an enslaver, one who unjustly reduces free men to slaves ) and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to Sound Teaching, According To The Glorious Gospel Of The Blessed GOD, with Which i have been entrusted. 1 Timothy 1:3b-11.
For if we go on sinning willfuly ( do not know true repentance ) after Receiving The Knowledge Of The Truth, there no longer remains A Sacrifice For sins, but a certain terrifying expectation Of Judgement, and The Fury Of A Fire Which Will Consume the adversaries... Hebrews 10:26-27.
3) This leads to another word they will choose to use in their belief that none can forfeit Salvation; 'A Christian is Justified.'
For this they will quote such a Scripture as Romans 5:1, ...Therefore having been Justified by faith, we have peace with GOD Through our LORD JESUS CHRIST,.... In their understanding of thisthey will then state 'that to 'Justify' means to 'Declare Righteous', adding 'that all those who have received JESUS as SAVIOUR are 'Declared Righteous' By GOD. Therefore for a Christian to lose Salvation GOD would have to go back on HIS Word and 'undeclare' what HE had previously declared.'
Here is just one of the errors of their understanding in this. To be Justified by faith means to be living by faith as is GOD'S Standard of what means to live by faith in HIS SON, and not their own/our own interpretation of it. We are told that In JESUS CHRIST, GOD Has Passed over our sins previously committed, and this is only By The Blood Of HIS SON. Just as when Israel, when in Egypt ( to us in similitude being the world ), was 'Passed Over' by GOD; The Passover Lamb. ...'And the blood shall be A Sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I See the blood I Will Pass Over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy when I Strike the land of Egypt... Exodus 12:13.
...But now apart from The Law Righteous Of GOD Has Been Manifested, being Witnessed By The Law and the Prophets, even Righteousness Of GOD Through faith in JESUS CHRIST for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of The Glory Of GOD, being Justified As A Gift By HIS Grace Through The Redemption Which Is In CHRIST JESUS; WHOM GOD Displayed publicly As A Propitiation In HIS Blood through faith. To demonstrate HIS Righteousness ( through faith we shall have this: HIS Righteousness Demonstrated; made manifest in ourselves ), because In The Forebearance Of GOD HE Passed Over the sins previously committed; for The ( the reason of ) Demonstration ( Sign, Evidence, Proof, Manifestation ) Of HIS Righteousness at the present time, that HE might be Just And The Justifier Of the one who has faith in JESUS... Romans 3:21-26.
We are shown to be Justified, not by our own standards, not by our own words, not by our own commendation of ourselves or our own commendations of others, not because we say that we are Justified, but because our Justification Is Shown By GOD, From GOD, to be Of GOD; through faith, because GOD'S Work in the heart will Show HIS Justification in us; CHRIST In us, The Hope Of Glory.
It Is GOD WHO Justifies; It Is GOD Alone WHO Renders any to be Just; any to be innocent; any to be Free; any to be Righteous to how and as we ought to be; as Righteousness Is and actually means: GOD'S Righteousness.
...HE WHO did not spare HIS OWN SON, but Delivered HIM Up For us all, how will HE not also With HIM Freely Give us All Things? Who will bring a charge against GOD'S Elect? GOD Is The ONE WHO Justifies; who is the one who condemns?... Romans 8:32-33.
The preceeding verses to Romans 5:1 Tell us, Speaking of Abraham, he To whom The Promise was Given, ...Now not for his sake only was It Written, that It was Reckoned To him, but for our sake also, To whom It will be Reckoned, as those who believe in HIM WHO Raised JESUS our LORD From the dead, WHO was Delivered Up because of our transgressions, and Was Raised Because of ( For The Purpose of ) our Justification... Romans 4:23-25.
To believe in GOD The FATHER we will believe in GOD The SON; and to truly believe in The LORD JESUS CHRIST; to live by faith in HIM; means only then do we believe in GOD The FATHER. Our faith means to believe in All HE Says, All HE Is, and All HE Says we are to be. And HIS Word Endures Forever.
The proceeding verse of Romans 5:1, ...through WHOM ( JESUS CHRIST ) also we have Obtained our Introduction by faith Into This Grace In Which we stand; and we exult in Hope Of The Glory Of GOD... Romans 5:2. We do not and we cannot boast, glory, rejoice, in anything of ourselves, but only in The Hope Of The Glory Of GOD. And JESUS CHRIST Alone Is our Hope.
...But he who boasts, let him boast in The LORD. For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom The LORD Commends. 2 Corinthians 10:17-18.
Proven Character!
...And not only this, but we also exalt in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because The Love Of GOD ( Agape ) Has Been Poured Out within our hearts Through The HOLY SPIRIT WHO Was Given To us. Romans 5:3-5.
4) Another word they will use to 'evidence' this belief of theirs of 'Once Saved always Saved' is, 'A Christian is promised Eternal Life.' And to show this they will quote John 3:16. And in their explanation of this they will preach and teach, 'Eternal Life is a promise of eternity in Heaven with GOD. GOD Promises, 'Believe and you will have Eternal Life.' For a Christian to lose Salvation, Eternal Life would have to be taken away. If a Christian is promised to live forever, how then can GOD break HIS Promise by taking away Eternal Life?'
This actually shows such a misunderstanding of John 3:14-21, a misunderstanding of what means to receive GOD'S Promises, a misunderstanding of what means to believe in The Only Begotten SON Of GOD, and a misunderstanding, even, ignorance to many other passages of Scripture.
The LORD'S Words, Written To all in John 3:16, "For GOD So Loved ( Agapao ) the world, that HE Gave HIS Only Begotten SON, that whoever believes in HIM should not perish, but have Everlasting Life..." This Speaks of GOD Loving ( Agapao: Moral, Social Affection; i.e such as GOD Commanded Israel to have toward others, Leviticus 19:18, and toward GOD, Deuteronomy 6:5 ), and this is the word 'Love' which is quoted By our LORD JESUS CHRIST And Written in what we know as John 3:16; Agapao for every soul ( the world ).
But what we will fail to see, or can fail to understand, is that It Is GOD'S Grace In HIS SON, our LORD JESUS CHRIST; Full Of Grace And Truth ( John 1:14 ), and that we cannot know The Love we are Commanded to pursue, The Love Of GOD, Agape ( 1 Timothy 1:5 ); Which Is Poured out within our hearts through The HOLY SPIRIT, Romans 5:1-5, ( By Grace you have been Saved through faith ), which is the Love written in The Holy Scriptures that aligns to the fulfillment of The Law ( Romans 13:10 ) whilst we are living apart from The faith.
We may only Receive GOD'S Love ( Agape ) in our hearts by Grace through faith. This Is The Gospel Of The Grace Of GOD; The Word Of HIS Grace Which Is Able To Build Up and To Give The Inheritance among all who are Sanctified.
The Apostle Paul writes, Now i urge you, Brethren, by our LORD JESUS CHRIST And By The Love ( Agape ) Of The SPIRIT, to strive together with me in your prayers to GOD for me, that i may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the Saints; so that i may come to you in joy By The Will Of GOD and find rest in your company. Now The GOD Of Peace be with you all. Amen. Romans 15:30-33.
If any believe that 'unconditional love' is spoken of in Romans 8:31-39, then they need to hear what is Spoken here in these verses, culminating in verse 39, ...shall be able to separate us from The Love Of GOD ( Agape ), Which Is In CHRIST JESUS our LORD;this cannot be pursued, cannot be attained to whilst we will live apart from HIM; in disobedience to HIM.
Sin separates ( Lamentations 3:39-44, John 9:31 ), and sin and disobedience is not listed here of all that actually cannot separate us from The Love Of GOD, Which Is In CHRIST JESUS our LORD. We ourselves, that is, our flesh, can separate ourselves through willfull disobedience to The Truth. In their interpretation of Scripture they fail to recognize this.
...being Justified As A Gift By HIS Grace Through The Redemption Which Is In CHRIST JESUS; WHOM GOD Displayed Publicly As A Propitiation In HIS Blood Through faith... Romans 3:24-25a.
...those which Receive The Abundance Of Grace And The Gift Of Righteousness shall reign in life Through The ONE, JESUS CHRIST. Romans 5:17b.
Now may our LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF And GOD our FATHER, WHO Has Loved ( Agapao ) us And Given us Eternal Comfort And Good Hope By Grace, Comfort And Strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17,
The Grace Of our LORD JESUS CHRIST Be With you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:18.
Grace is indeed made void when we do not stand in The Truth, just as Truth Is In JESUS ( 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 ).
5) Another word they will speak is, 'A Christian is guaranteed glorification.' For this they will quote The Scripture of Romans 8:30, ...and whom HE Predestined, these he also Called; and whom HE Called, these HE also Justified; and whom HE Justified, these HE also Glorified... To this they believe and teach, 'As we learned in Romans 5:1, Justification is declared at the moment of faith. According to Romans 8:30, glorification is guarnanteed for all those whom GOD Justifies. Glorification refers to a Christian receiving a perfect resurrection body in Heaven. If a Christian can lose Salvation, then Romans 8:30 is in error, because GOD could not guarantee glorification for all those whom he predestines, Calls, and Justifies.'
This is strewn with error. Firstly, such arrogance to presume that GOD'S Word, so meaning that GOD HIMSELF can possibly be in error. It is man who makes errors, man who misunderstands, man who gets things wrong; GOD cannot. There is a failure to even grasp that they themselves could be in error in their teaching. They recall their own teaching of Romans 5:1 that Justification is declared at the moment of faith, and that this means being declared Righteousness, with the understanding that this is maintained regardless, to state their belief that Romans 8:30 is speaking of a guarantee of glorification for all.
To read and understand Romans 8:30 correctly it must be read in the context of which it is Spoken, and, the understanding of it cannot conflict with even another single verse of Scripture elsewhere; ...And we know that GOD Causes all things to work together for Good To those who love ( Agapao ) GOD, to those who are Called According To Purpose. For whom HE Foreknew, HE also Predestined Conformed To The Image Of HIS SON, that HE might be The First-Born among many Brethren, and whom HE Predestined, these he also Called; and whom HE Called, these HE also Justified; and whom HE Justified, these HE also Glorified... Romans 8:28-30.
And we know that GOD Causes all things to work together for Good To those who love ( Agapao ) GOD, means and is Speaking of those who will keep HIS Commandments; "If you love ( Agapao ) ME, you will keep MY Commandments."John 14:15. It all comes back to obedience of faith. If you love GOD then it is you will obey HIM; ...that the proof of your faith, more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in Praise and Glory and Honour At The Revelation Of JESUS CHRIST; and though you have not seen HIM, you love ( Agapao ) HIM, and though you do not see HIM now, but believe in HIM ( John 3:16, & v36 ), you greatly rejoice with joy inexpresssible and full of Glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith The Salvation Of souls... 1 Peter 1:7-9.
Again, in another place It Is Written of GOD'S Wisdom in A Mystery ( That Is, CHRIST In you, The Hope Of Glory; Colossians 1:26-29 ), which GOD Predestined before the ages to our Glory;
..."Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And have not entered the heart of man, All that GOD Has Prepared For those who love ( Agapao ) HIM." ( "He who has MY Commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves [ Agapao ] ME; and he who loves [ Agapao ] ME Shall Be Loved [ Agapao ] By MY FATHER, And I Will Love [ Agapao ] him, And Will Disclose MYSELF To him [ Will Manifest MYSELF In him ]." John 14:21 ) But To us GOD Revealed through The SPIRIT; for The SPIRIT Searches all things, even The Depths Of GOD. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? ( This is a question which gives the only answer there is. No one among men knows the thoughts of another man except the man himself, only GOD Knows And Sees all thoughts and intentions of the heart; Hebrews 4:11-13 ) Even so The Thoughts Of GOD no one knows except The SPIRIT Of GOD. Now we have Received not the spirit of the world, but The SPIRIT WHO Is From GOD, that we might know The Things Freely Given To us By GOD,... 1 Corinthians 2:9-12.
Even the understanding of what means our Glorification by those who will preach 'Once Saved always Saved' is in error. Of Romans 8:28-30: We cannot know The Love Of GOD in our hearts ( Agape ) without loving GOD ( Agapao ). First it is we love GOD ( Agapao ), and this means that we shall obey HIM, we shall keep HIS Commandments; ...By this we know that we love ( Agapao ) the children Of GOD ( the Brethren ), when we love GOD ( Agapao ) and observe HIS Commandments. For This Is The Love Of GOD ( Agape ), that we keep HIS Commandments; and HIS Commandments are not burdensome ( for us not heavy to bear, stern, or severe ). For whatever Is born Of GOD overcomes the world; and this is The Victory that has overcome the world - our faith... 1 John 5:2-4.
We are Called according To HIS Purpose, that being, Predestined ( simply meaning that The LORD GOD Foreordained, Determined Beforehand ) that all who will believe in The SON Of GOD; JESUS CHRIST ( John 3:16 ), shall be Conformed To HIS Image. And this cannot be apart from obedience of The faith, because it is through The faith in The SON Of GOD, believing in all HE Says, all HE Is, all HE Did, that GOD The HOLY SPIRIT Works in the heart of the one who believes. That the requirement of The Law might be fulfilled in us: Romans 8:3-14. That we may be Conformed To HIS Image: Romans 8:29. That we may walk in The Same Manner as HE Walked: 1 John 2:3-6. That we may know HIM and The Power Of HIS Resurrection: John 5:24-29. That we may know GOD: John 17:3. That we may have fellowship with The FATHER, And with HIS SON JESUS CHRIST: 1 John 1.
And this, that HE, JESUS CHRIST, is The First-Born Of The New Covenant In HIS Blood, Being The First-Born among many Brethren.
So, verse 30, whom HE Predestined ( the world has been so, since before the ages to be Conformed to HIS Image. There is no other way to The FATHER; John 3:16, John 14:6 ), these HE also Called ( sadly not everyone will hear ); and whom HE Called ( those who hear HIS Voice; John 5:25, John 8:47, John 10:27-30 ), these HE also Justified ( HE Alone Shows to be Righteous, Innocent, Free, By HIS Witness being in them, Made Manifest in them ); and whom HE Justified, these HE also Glorified ( GOD Is our Glory! CHRIST in you, The Hope Of Glory )
My soul waits in silence for GOD only; From HIM Is MY Salvation. HE Only Is my ROCK And my Salvation, my Stronghold; i shall not be greatly shaken.
How long will you assail a man, that you may murder, all of you, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position ( James 1:9-12 ); they delight in falsehood; They bless with their mouth, But inwardly they curse.
My soul, wait in silence for GOD Only, For my Hope Is From HIM. HE Only Is my ROCK And my Salvation, my Stronghold; i shall not be shaken. On GOD my Salvation And my Glory; The ROCK Of my Strength, my Refuge Is In GOD. Trust In HIM at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before HIM; GOD Is A Refuge For us... Psalm 62:1-8.
May the proof of our faith be found to result in Praise And Glory And Honour At The Revelation Of JESUS CHRIST when HE Shall Be Revealed From Heaven with HIS mighty angels In Flaming Fire, and GOD will Judge according to The Gospel the secrets of men Through JESUS CHRIST.
Test yourselves if you are in The faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that JESUS CHRIST Is in you - unless indeed you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5.
For It Is only HE WHO Is Able to keep you from stumbling, and to Make you Stand In The Presence Of HIS Glory blameless with great joy.
It is how we will walk in That Name which will determine on That Great And Terrible Day whether HE will place us with the sheep on HIS Right, or with the goats on HIS Left ( Matthew 25 ). This is in no way stating that works Save; they clearly do not, and so very clearly they cannot ( Ephesians 2:8-10 ). Whatever we do in 'good deeds' in our own strength are but a filthy garment before GOD ( Isaiah 64:6 ). But it is what we will do In HIS Name, By The Strength Which GOD Supplies, By The Power Of The HOLY SPIRIT. Whoever speaks, as it were, The Utterances Of GOD; whoever serves, as By The Strength Which GOD Supplies; so that in all things GOD may be Glorified Through JESUS CHRIST, To WHOM Belongs The Glory And Dominion Forever And Ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11.
We will not have true faith that is without works, even as faith without works is dead, because it is WHO is in the heart that compels the one who lives by faith that he cannot sit idly by doing nothing ( James 2:14-26 ).
There is warning in The Parable of The Talents leading into The Judgement ( Matthew 25:14-46 ), of letting our faith lay idle.
The LORD JESUS CHRIST Is The Author And Perfecter Of faith ( Hebrews 12:1-3 ). All HIS Words Spoken Are Of GOD; HE never once Spoke from HIMSELF ( John 12:44-50, John 14:23-24 ). All HIS Words Are Of GOD, just as ours are to be also, as is our strength that we may be adequate servants ( 1 Peter 4:11, 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 ), and these will be if JESUS CHRIST is in you. If not so, then it is to know that there is repentance needed, there's some dying to self to be done.
So then, there can be no other proof of faith other than JESUS CHRIST. If anyone will teach and preach anything whatsoever contrary to this, then he speaks in error. No lie is Of The Truth. JESUS CHRIST is not only The Truth, But The Way And The Life also.
We are born again To A Living Hope Through The Resurrection Of JESUS CHRIST ( 1 Peter 1:3-9 ). And this, that we might die to sin and live to Righteousness:
Or do you not know that all of us who have been Baptized into CHRIST JESUS have been Baptized into HIS Death? Therefore we have been buried with HIM through Baptism into death, in order that ( just as, exactly like ) as CHRIST Was Raised from the dead Through The Glory Of The FATHER, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become United with in The Likeness Of HIS Death ( in exact same manner ), certainly we shall be also Of HIS Resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with ( in like manner ), that our body of sin might be done away with ( "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after [ follow in like manner ] ME cannot be MY Disciple." Luke 14:27 ), that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin... Romans 6:3-7.
