"Your words have been arrogant against ME," Says The LORD. "Yet you say, 'What have we spoken against THEE?'
"You have said, 'It is vain to serve GOD; and what profit is it that we have kept HIS Charge and that we have walked in mourning before The LORD Of Hosts? 'So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up, but they also test GOD and escape.' "
Then those who feared (revere) 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 shall 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.
"For behold, The Day Is Coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and The Day That Is Coming Will Set them Ablaze," Says The LORD Of Hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch."
"But for you who fear (revered) MY Name The Sun of Righteousness Will Rise With Healing In Its Wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.
"And you will tread down the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on The Day Which I Am Preparing," Says The LORD Of Hosts.
"Remember The Law of Moses MY servant, Statutes and Ordinances Which I Commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.
"Behold, I Am going to Send you Elijah the Prophet before The Coming Of The Great And Terrible Day Of The LORD. "And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I Come And Smite the land with A Curse." Malachi 3:13 - 4:6.
...and From JESUS CHRIST, The Faithful Witness, The First-Born Of the dead, And The Ruler Of the kings of the earth.
To HIM WHO Loves us and Released us from our sins By HIS Blood, and HE Has Made us A Kingdom, priests to HIS GOD And FATHER; To HIM The Glory And The Dominion Forever And Ever. Amen.
Revelation 1:5-6 - What Many Fail To Understand: just who we are In CHRIST and accordingly, what the true witness of a Saving faith proves to be; through having our whole person Washed from our sins;
Now to HIM WHO Is Able To Keep you from stumbling and to make you to stand In The Presence Of HIS Glory blameless with great Joy, to The Only GOD our SAVIOUR, Through JESUS CHRIST our LORD, Glory, Majesty, Dominion And Authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Jude:24-25.
The Hope Of Righteousness means, the very real expectation of the Righteous; that being the Inheritance; Eternal Life; which is attained to By Grace through faith alone.
For we Through The SPIRIT, by faith, are waiting for The Hope Of Righteousness.
Galatians 5:5.
... Therefore, we are ambassadors for CHRIST, as though GOD were Entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of CHRIST, be reconciled to GOD.
HE Made HIM WHO Knew no sin sin on our behalf, that we might become The Righteousness Of GOD In HIM.
And working together (with HIM), we also urge you not to receive The Grace Of GOD in vain -
for HE Says,
"At The Acceptable Time I Listened To you,
And On The Day of Salvation I Helped you";
behold, now is "The Acceptable Time,"
behold, now is "The Day Of Salvation" -
giving no cause for offense in anything, in order that The Ministry be not discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants Of GOD, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness, in hunger,
in Purity, in Knowledge, in Patience, in Kindness, In The HOLY SPIRIT, in Genuine love, in The Word Of Truth, In The Power Of GOD;
by the weapons Of Righteousness for the right hand and the left, by Glory and dishonour, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true;
as unknown and yet Well-Known, as dying, yet behold, we live;
as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things...
2 Corinthians 5:20 - 6:10.
Bearing in mind, that Paul, here, is writing to The Church by way of exhortation in his statement of the Christian truth.
And so clearly then, we are not The Righteousness Of GOD In CHRIST JESUS, WHO Is The LORD our Righteousness; Jeremiah 23:5-6, if we will receive The Grace Of GOD in vain; through our walking in wilful disobedience and ignorance to what GOD Instructs through HIS Holy Apostles and In all HIS Word; (Hebrews 10:26-31, 2 Peter 2:20-22).
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping according to THY Word.
Psalm 119:9.
...The Sacred Writings Which are able to give you the Wisdom that leads to Salvation through faith which is In CHRIST JESUS.
All Scripture Is Inspired By GOD and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in Righteousness; that the man Of GOD may be adequate, equipped for every Good work...
2 Timothy 3:15-17.
Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not please ourselves.
Let each of us please our neighbour for his good, to his edification.
For even CHRIST did not please HIMSELF; As It Is Written,
"The reproaches of those who reproached THEE fell upon ME."
For whatever was Written in earlier times was Written for our Instruction, that through perseverance and encouragement of The Scriptures we might have Hope.
Now may The GOD WHO Gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to CHRIST JESUS; that with One accord you may with One voice Glorify The GOD And FATHER Of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Wherefore, accept one another, just as CHRIST Also Accepted us to The Glory Of GOD.
Romans 15:1-7.
CHRIST JESUS Is The LORD our Righteousness; when we will walk with the desire of seeking GOD with our whole heart.
As GOD HIMSELF Said of David even when he was still a young man and a shepherd to his father's sheep,
'I Have Found David the son of Jesse, a man after MY Heart, who will do all MY Will.'
Acts 13:22b (1 Samuel 13:14, 1 Samuel 16:1-13).
GOD Looks at and Sees the heart, and not as man, who looks at the outward appearance, and It Is GOD Alone WHO Sees the end from the beginning.
With all my heart I have sought THEE;
Do not let me wander from THY Commandments.
THY Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against THEE.
Blessed Art THOU, O LORD;
Teach me THY Statutes.
Psalm 119:10-12.
And even as happened with king David in his sinning, and is to us in The New Covenant, that when, along the way to our overcoming of sin we will stumble and sin; yet still, through understanding when we sin and have sinned, and knowing Godly repentance whenever repentance is needed, JESUS CHRIST The LORD our Righteousness; The Propitiation for our sins, Is our Advocate With The FATHER.
(1 John 1:5 - 2:7, 2 Corinthians 7:9-11, 2 Peter 3:1-8).
The sacrifices of GOD are a broken spirit;
A broken and contrite heart, O GOD, THOU Wilt Not Despise. Psalm 51(v 17).
HE Has Told you, O man, what is good;
And what does The LORD Require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your GOD?
Micah 6:8.
Paul, writing to those who made up a particular Church (we, as believers, are as living stones, being Built Up as a Spiritual House for a Holy priesthood, according to GOD, and never according to any mere mortal man), who were, at that time, being disturbed by men who wanted to distort The Gospel Of CHRIST; just as there are many who do so today in their denial of The Truth,
Do not be deceived, GOD is not mocked (Job 34:21-23, Jeremiah 23:23-24), for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to The SPIRIT shall From The SPIRIT reap Eternal Life (Romans 8:12-14).
And let us not lose heart in doing Good, for in Due Time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.
So then, while we have opportunity, let us do Good to all men, and especially to those who are Of The Household Of The faith.
Galatians 6:7-10.
To this, I feel to use Leviticus 19:15-18 as the example of a Christian, in Truth, by faith, living fulfilling the requirements of The Law; Through The HOLY SPIRIT.
This, as opposed to the observing of the things written in The Law as works to do them and always stumbling in them because of the weakness of the flesh, and if continually doing so throughout life, then living in complete ignorance to The Way Of GOD In Truth In CHRIST JESUS, walking contrary to CHRIST, never learning so as to overcome (1John 3).
Now may The GOD Of Hope Fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing, that you may abound in Hope By The Power Of The HOLY SPIRIT.
Romans 15:13.
Leviticus 19:15-18,
'You shall do no injustice in judgement; you shall not be partial to the poor nor refer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbour fairly (James 2).
'You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people and you are not to act against the life of your neighbour; I AM The LORD.
(Matthew 7:1-2, John 7:24, John 16:1-3, James 4:11-12, Titus 2)
'You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbour, but shall not incur sin because of him. (1 John 3:1-12, 2 Timothy 2:24-26, 2 Timothy 4:1-2, Matthew 6:9-15)
'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself; I AM The LORD.
(Romans 12:9-21, 1 John 4:19 - 5:4, Galatians 6:1-5, Matthew 5:7-9, James 2:12-13, Luke 6:27-38).
And here is why:
In The New Covenant In HIS Blood, living in ignorance to how GOD Calls us to live; through the Renewing of our mind, the Cleansing of our heart, there is no excuse for any; because The Goal Of our Instruction is love from a Cleansed heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5, Matthew 5:17-20),
..."If you abide in MY Word, you are truly disciples of MINE; and you shall know The Truth and The Truth shall Make you Free."...
..."Truly, truly, I Say To you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
"And the slave does not remain in The House forever; the son (Romans 8:14-17) does remain forever.
"If therefore The SON shall Make you Free, you shall be Free Indeed.
John 8:31-32 & v 34-36 (John 5:24-29).
Neither are we any longer to be constantly seeking Forgiveness for the same sins in never overcoming, but are Called to die to the flesh, through our spirit (our sentiment element) being Led By The HOLY SPIRIT; Through The faith that is in CHRIST JESUS:
And everyone who has This Hope on HIM Purifies himself, just as HE Is Pure. 1 John 3:3.
Such as this verse does not mean, as some who profess to believe will assert, that we are Pure, just as HE Is Pure, just because we ourselves profess to believe in JESUS CHRIST, and who will yet walk contrary to HIM; contrary to The Word Of GOD.
To do this is to not know repentance; and repentance for Forgiveness of sins is The Message Of The Gospel (Luke 24:47, Matthew 3:2, Mark 1:1-4, Luke 3:3-9).
To remain committing the same sins; to remain living contrary to The Word Of GOD is not being set free from The Law of sin and death, and is contrary to The Purpose Of GOD In CHRIST JESUS; that we may indeed be a people for GOD'S Own Possession, zealous for Good deeds; being those Of a Holy priesthood (Romans 2:1-13, 1 Peter 1:13 - 2:10).
...For The Law Of The SPIRIT Of Life In CHRIST JESUS has set you Free from The Law of sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:56-58).
For what The Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, GOD: Sending HIS Own SON in the likeness of sinful flesh and For sin, HE Condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of The Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but According to The SPIRIT.
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh (Galatians 5:18-21), but those who are According to The SPIRIT, The Things Of The SPIRIT (Galatians 5:22-26, Colossians 1:9-23).
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 8:2-9.
Now The LORD Is The SPIRIT; and where The SPIRIT Of The LORD is, there is Liberty (James 1:25).
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror The Glory Of The LORD, are being Transformed into The Same Image from glory to Glory, just as From The LORD, The SPIRIT.
Therefore, since we have this Ministry, as we Received Mercy, we do not lose heart, but we renounced the things hidden because of shame (our hidden sins, which GOD Knows and Sees; Romans 2:16, Hebrews 4:12-13), not walking in craftiness or adulterating The Word Of GOD, but By The Manifestation of Truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience In The Sight Of GOD.
And even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see The Light Of The Gospel Of The Glory Of CHRIST, WHO Is The Image Of GOD.
For we do not preach ourselves but CHRIST JESUS As LORD, and ourselves as your bond-servants for JESUS' Sake.
For GOD, WHO Said, "Light Shall Shine out of darkness," Is The ONE WHO Has Shone in our hearts to Give The Light Of The Knowledge Of The Glory Of GOD In The Face Of CHRIST.
But we have This Treasure in earthen vessels (Genesis 2:7), that the Surpassing Greatness of The Power may be Of GOD and not from ourselves;
afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not despairing;
persecuted, but not Forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying about in the body the dying Of JESUS, that The Life Of JESUS also may be Manifested in our body.
For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for JESUS' Sake, that the Life Of JESUS also may be Manifested in our mortal flesh.
So death works in us, but Life in you.
But having the same spirit (sentiment element) of faith, according to what Is Written,
"I believed, therefore I spoke," we also believe, therefore also we speak;
knowing that HE WHO Raised The LORD JESUS Will Raise us also With JESUS and will Present us with you.
For all things are for your sakes, that The Grace Which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to The Glory Of GOD.
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being Renewed day by day.
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an Eternal Weight Of Glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at The Things Which are not seen;
for the things which are seen are temporal, but The Things Which are not seen are Eternal...
2 Corinthians 3:17 - 4:18
But when CHRIST Appeared A High Priest Of the Good things that Have Come, HE Entered 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 (have sinned), 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?...
To Cleanse the conscience from dead works means the overcoming of sin, as Paul writes in Romans 8:4, in order that the requirement of The Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but According to The SPIRIT.
Released from our sins By HIS Blood, being that we die to the sins, which before, through and because of the weakness of the flesh (Romans 8:6-8), we were once enslaved to and always being, slaves of sin.
The overcoming, so as to live to Righteousness, overcoming the weakness of the flesh because of the sin which indwells our flesh is exactly what Paul is writing of in Romans chapters 6 and 7.
And those who, now In CHRIST, joyfully concur with The Law Of GOD in the inner man, have as their ambition, their zeal, to do so.
Then on to Romans 8 and The Grace Of GOD, through faith, being realised (John 1:17), by the true believer in all their living; that though their outer man is decaying (they are getting older) their inner man is being Renewed day by day, bearing The Fruit Of The SPIRIT (Galatians 5:22-25); and being Protected By The Power Of GOD through faith (1 Peter 1:4-5), and as Hebrews 9 continues,
...And for this reason HE Is The Mediator Of a better Covenant, in order that since A Death has taken place for The Redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Covenant (The Law), those who have been Called may Receive The Promise Of The Inheritance (By Grace through faith)....
Hebrews 9:11-15.
Is The Law then contrary to The Promises Of GOD?
May it never be!
For if a Law had been Given which was able to impart Life, then Righteousness would indeed have been based on Law.
But The Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that The Promise by faith in JESUS CHRIST might be Given To those who believe.
But before faith Came, we were kept in custody under The Law, being shut up to The faith which was later to be Revealed.
Therefore The Law has become our tutor to CHRIST, that we may be Justified by faith.
But now that faith has Come, we are no longer under a tutor.
For you are all sons Of GOD through faith In CHRIST JESUS.
For all of you who were Baptised Into CHRIST have Clothed yourselves with CHRIST.
Galatians 3:21-27 (Romans 13:8-14).
Do we then nullify The Law through faith?
May it never be!
On the contrary, we establish The Law.
Romans 3:31.
This means now knowing to do in the actual doing of (proving to be a doer of The Word as opposed to merely being hearers who delude themselves: James 1:16-27) because for the true believers, having indeed Clothed themselves with CHRIST, they are now walking towards and becoming; Through The SPIRIT, by faith, a partaker of Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:2-11); and so, The Testimony Of JESUS is becoming, day by day, the very nature of the one who lives truly confessing JESUS CHRIST.
Through that faith, The HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF Is Bearing Witness with their sentiment element, that is, their spirit, that they are children Of GOD (Romans 8:16-17), who prove to walk accordingly; being Led By The HOLY SPIRIT (Galatians 5:16-18); through The Indwelling Of The HOLY SPIRIT; HIS Sanctifying Work Alone; The Sanctification without which no one will see The LORD (Hebrews 12:14-15).
This Is The Purpose Of GOD In HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.
Such a one is indeed going through the process of The Washing Of Regeneration And Renewing By The HOLY SPIRIT, that his conscience is being Cleansed and may indeed be Cleansed from dead works so as to be able to serve The Living GOD; living able to worship The FATHER in spirit and Truth (John 4:23-24).
But when The Kindness Of GOD our SAVIOUR And Love For mankind Appeared, HE Saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have done in Righteousness (Romans 3:10-20, Isaiah 64:6-7), but According to HIS Mercy, By The Washing Of Regeneration And Renewing By The HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM HE Poured Out Upon us Richly Through JESUS CHRIST our SAVIOUR, that being Justified By HIS Grace we might be Made heirs according to Hope Of Eternal Life.
This Is a trustworthy statement; and concerning These Things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed GOD may be careful to engage in Good deeds.
These Things are Good and profitable for men...
Titus 3:4-8
"Has The LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying The Voice Of The LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than Sacrifice, to heed than the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:22.
For I Delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice and in The Knowledge Of GOD rather than burnt offerings.
But like Adam (man) they have transgressed The Covenant; they have dealt treacherously against ME.
Hosea 6:6-7
"...HE Is ONE; and there is no one else besides HIM; And to love HIM with all the heart and with all understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbour as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
Mark 12:33
Whether one, after first confessing himself a sinner and with his mouth confessing JESUS LORD, believing in his heart that GOD Raised HIM From the dead (Mark 16:15-16, Romans 10:8-17), who then soon after leaves this mortal coil, or, will remain for a long time as a sojourner; a stranger and alien in and to this world, The Words Of JESUS CHRIST are true of any who call upon HIS Name in truth.
Whether they may then quickly depart this world, they are the same as the one who calls on HIS Name, in truth, and remains on in this world a long time; enduring to Eternal Life, "Thus the last shall be first, and the first last "
Matthew 20:1-16 (v 16).
Yet for all, the same warning applies; to always be dressed in readiness: Luke 12:16-48.
The LORD Is Righteous In All HIS Ways And Kind In All HIS Deeds.
The LORD Is Near To all who call upon HIM, To all who call upon HIM in Truth.
HE Will Fulfill the desire of those who fear HIM;
HE Will Also Hear their cry And Will Save them.
The LORD Keeps all who love HIM;
But all the wicked HE Will Destroy.
My mouth will speak the praise of The LORD;
And all flesh will bless HIS Holy Name forever and ever. Psalm 145:17-21.
Just as The LORD JESUS Spoke to Martha, it shall be for all who shall call upon The Name Of The LORD:
And JESUS Said To her,
"I AM The Resurrection And The Life; he who lives and believes in ME Shall Live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in ME Shall Never die. Do you believe this?"
John 11:25-26.
And to believe means to obey (John 3:36, Acts 5:32)
For all who are being Led By The SPIRIT Of GOD, these are sons Of GOD.
Romans 8:14.
...For The Scripture Says,
"Whoever believes in HIM will not be disappointed."...
..."Whoever will call upon The Name Of The LORD Will Be Saved."
Romans 10:11 & v 13.
This is The Truth Of The Grace Of GOD In HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST; This Is The Purpose Of GOD In HIS SON for all who will believe in HIM In Truth; who live believing in HIM to Eternal Life.
It is not of those who fall away (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, 2 Timothy 4:1-2), but is of those who will endure to Eternal Life.
And of those who walk, for however long they walk, being according to and in agreement with Paul's words,
But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross Of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, through Which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Galatians 6:14-16), being according to GOD'S Rule; Peace and Mercy Upon them.
As the Scripture Says,
And we know that GOD Causes all things to work together for Good to those who love GOD, to those who are Called according to HIS 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.
What then shall we say to These Things?
If GOD Is For us, who is against us?
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? (HIS Saints: Sacred; physically pure, morally blameless ones; Psalm 145:8-13)
GOD Is The ONE WHO Justifies; who is the one who condemns?
CHRIST JESUS Is HE WHO Died, yes, rather, WHO Was Raised From the dead, WHO Is At The Right Hand Of GOD, WHO Also Intercedes For us.
Who shall separate us from The Love Of GOD?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Just as It Is Written,
"For THY Sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer Through HIM WHO Loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from The Love Of GOD, Which Is In CHRIST JESUS our LORD.
Romans 8:28-39.
("And why do you call ME, 'LORD, LORD', and do not do what I Say?... Luke 6:46-49).
I urge you therefore, Brethren, By The Mercies Of GOD, to present your bodies a living and Holy Sacrifice, acceptable to GOD, your Spiritual service of worship (John 4:23-24).
And do not be conformed to this world, but be Transformed by The Renewing of your mind, that you may prove what The Will Of GOD Is, that which is Good and acceptable and perfect (Matthew 5:48).
For through The Grace Given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgement, as GOD Has Allotted To each a measure of faith.
For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are One Body In CHRIST and individually members Of one another...
Romans 12:1-5.
And as to this Spiritual service of worship, we, through The faith Receive Gifts, as the Scripture in Romans 12 continues to state from verse 6, and is according to the Grace Given to us; which are all The Working Of The HOLY SPIRIT (Mark 3:28-35), Given just as HE Wills; The Manifestation Of The SPIRIT for the common Good (1 Corinthians 12:4-7).
It Is CHRIST'S Church, Of Which CHRIST HIMSELF Is The Head, And Which HE Purchased With HIS Own Blood (Acts 20:28).
And The Grace Given, to each, according to The Measure Of CHRIST'S Gift, From WHOM The Whole Body, being Fitted and Held Together by that which every joint (the true believer) supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes The Growth Of The Body to the Building Up of Itself in love (1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:7-16).
Thus it is essential to recognise those who will cause division in The Body, those who maintain strife and dissensions, speaking arrogantly, those who are actually devoid of The SPIRIT, yet who will testify of and commend themselves that they are something in The Body Of CHRIST (Jude).
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 (1 Corinthians 11:19).
Yet, and as Paul writes to earnestly desire the greater Gifts in the service Of The LORD, he shows toward a pre-eminent way; that is, being superior and far and above all of these, and with good reason; for it is love that is the fulfillment of The Law (Luke 10:25-28).
Therefore he writes,
...But earnestly desire the greater Gifts.
And I show you a still more excellent way.
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have the Gift of Prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor and if I deliver my body that I may boast, but do not have love, it profits me nothing...
1 Corinthians 12:31 - 13:3.
The Gifts, clearly, do not Save to Eternal Life, but are Given towards the proper working of each individual part of The Body for the Building Up of Itself in love.
(A house divided against itself cannot stand)
...But now abide, faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13.
"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.
"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 7:21-23.
The Apostle Paul understood this, he who, through The Grace Given To him, who himself Prophesied, who himself spoke Godly Knowledge and who performed many miracles.
And when he knew his time to leave this world had come, he wrote,
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure has come.
I have fought The Good fight, I have finished The Course, I have kept The faith; in the future there is Laid Up For me The Crown of Righteousness, Which The LORD, The Righteous Judge, will Award to me on That Day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved HIS Appearing.
2 Timothy 4:6-8.
And earlier in his Ministry he exhorts,
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 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, realising the fact that law is not made for a Righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, 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 (enslavers) 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 1:5-11.
And in his Ministry, he writes to The Church, warning us all, including and knowing of himself also, 1 Corinthians 9:24 - 10:17, just as he also writes to Timothy and in The Foreknowledge Of GOD, to us also;
You therefore, my son, be strong in The Grace that is In CHRIST JESUS.
And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
Suffer hardship with me as a Good soldier Of CHRIST JESUS.
No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.
And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.
The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.
Consider what I say, for The LORD Will Give you Understanding in everything.
Remember JESUS CHRIST, Risen From the dead, Descendant of David, according to my Gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but The Word Of GOD is not imprisoned.
For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are Chosen, that they may also Obtain The Salvation Which Is In CHRIST JESUS With Eternal Glory.
It Is A Trustworthy statement;
For if we died With HIM, 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 to GOD as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately The Word Of Truth.
2 Timothy 2:1-15.
Of love and The faith: all being From GOD, see 1 John 4:7 - 5:4.
Listen, my Beloved Brethren: did not GOD Choose the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs Of The Kingdom Which HE Promised To those who love HIM?
James 2:5.
When we first come to The LORD, when we first confess JESUS LORD and are born again; fleshly to Spiritual (John 3:3-8), we are as newborn babes, starting on the Milk Of The Word.
Our Washing Of Regeneration And Renewing By The HOLY SPIRIT is a process, whereby we grow in respect to Salvation and on to Solid Food.
But Solid Food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses Trained to discern good and evil. Hebrews 5:14.
This Is The Grace Of GOD In HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, that along the way, In HIS Name, if we confess our sins, we have Forgiveness of sins; HIS Blood Cleanses us from all sin.
But not all maintain this process in their living as professing Christians and some fall away and some are deceived into following strange and varied teachings, yet believing of themselves that they walk as in CHRIST JESUS.
They will distort The Word, living not according to The Word Of GOD In Truth, because they are untaught and unstable, yet will believe of themselves and even boast of great things of themselves, commending themselves.
But The Word Of GOD Shows all for what it truly is, holding no contradictions.
As Paul wrote,
...But what I am doing, I will continue to do, that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in The Matter about which they are boasting.
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of CHRIST.
And no wonder, for even satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds.
2 Corinthians 11:12-15.
What many who profess The Name seem not to understand is that JESUS CHRIST, WHO Loves us and WHO Released us from our sins By HIS Blood, has Made us A Kingdom and priests to HIS GOD And FATHER, and just what this means, and that we are Called to be imitators of HIM.
...In The Days Of HIS Flesh, HE Offered Up prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to The ONE Able to Save HIM from Death, and HE Was Heard because of HIS Piety.
Although HE Was A SON, HE Learned Obedience from the things which HE Suffered.
And having been Made Perfect, HE Became To all those who obey HIM The Source Of Eternal Salvation, being Designated By GOD As A High Priest According To The Order of Melchizedek.
Concerning HIM we have much to say and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need for someone to teach you the Elementary Principles Of The Oracle's Of GOD, and you have come to need Milk and not Solid Food.
For everyone who partakes of Milk is not accustomed to The Word Of Righteousness, for he is a babe.
But Solid Food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses Trained to discern good and evil...
Hebrews 5:7-14.
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, long for The Pure Milk Of The Word, that By It you may grow in respect to Salvation, if you have tasted The Kindness Of The LORD.
And coming to HIM as to A Living Stone, rejected by men, but Choice And Precious In The Sight Of GOD, you also, as living stones, are being Built Up As A Spiritual House for a Holy priesthood, to offer up Spiritual sacrifices acceptable to GOD Through JESUS CHRIST.
For this is contained In Scripture:
"Behold I Lay In Zion A Choice Stone, A Precious Corner Stone, and he who believes in HIM shall not be disappointed,"
This Precious Value, then, is for you who believe.
But for those who disbelieve,
"The Stone Which the builders rejected, This became The Very Corner Stone,"
And,
"A Stone of stumbling And A Rock of offence";
for they stumble because they are disobedient to The Word, and to this they were also Appointed.
But you (who truly believe) are a Chosen race, a Royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a people For GOD'S Own Possession, that you may proclaim The Excellencies Of HIM WHO Has Called you out of darkness into HIS Marvellous Light;
for you once were not a people, but now you are the people Of GOD;
you had not Received Mercy, but now you have Received Mercy...
1 Peter 2:1-10.