The Obtaining spoken of in 2nd Peter Chapter 1
(1.) What is this obtaining is and is this type of obtaining just an ordinary process ? obtained <2975> (5631)
obtained <2975> (5631) There are 3 definitions offered - Which definition fits the Bible's sum of 2nd Peter Chapter 1's context ?
2975 lagcanw lagchano lang-khan’-o ( to obtain by lot- to cast lots, determine by lot ) - a chance hit maybe you will get it or maybe not, is it a celestial lottery ? ( to receive by divine allotment, obtain ) What does the Bible say ?
Maybe this will help - (5631) is a refering to past tense and the people who are supposed to have obtained already are the ones Peter is writting to, and they have not only done this but they are still doing it.
it grows in them as they keep on following the process needed to get it in the first place.
They start with a little like a Sequoia Tree seed and it sprouts and grows, because at first they can only hold a little, but as they use these things their ability to obtain-receive-use grows and develops.
when it says - "TO THEM THAT HAVE " ? Just a few believers or all the ones counted as believers that Peter was writting to ? was Peter writting locally or for all time and to US ALSO ?
Paul writes in 1st Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. - Are we at the beginning of this World, the middle of this World, or the Biblical Time Of The End - of this World ?
If we are at the Biblical era called the Time of the End - does it mean these things are for US ALSO ? Question : So this is for just a few beleivers - or all believers ? Answer - all believers - even me.
What is this obtaining is and is this type of obtaining just an ordinary process ?
God said anciently to build a Sanctuary so that He could dwell among the people.
Ex 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. God wants to be more than a neighbour . God wants more than that. 2nd Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
God wants his Presence to dwell in people, but He wants them to have some of what is in His mind / heart in them, He wants them to share His character attributes. It is not an ordinary process or everyone whould have all of God's character attributes spoken of in 2nd Peter Chapter 1. But only few people actually do have them all as part of their character, the process of getting them is called in Scripture "obtaining" them.
This obtaining is getting something from God by Divine appointment, supernatural implanting and imparting. Is then this a process that works - without God as the giver, and a person as the obtainer being the receiver - both - being personally involved in the process ? NO it does not .
Both are, and have to be, personally involved in the process and with each other. You can not go to Walmart and buy it, you can not get it by trying harder and gearing up your will and you trying to invent it - even though it requires will power and effort - during the process.
There is no putting God in one corner and the obtainer in the other corner, if the person is to obtain anything from God. This Biblical obtaining means that it comes from God's heart / mind / life, and only He can be the One to put it into your heart / mind / life . And only you can be the one put into the position to receive it, and only you can seek to obtain it.
That's why some virgins had oil and some virgins had none.
obtain* list of Bible Texts
Es 2:9
Es 2:15
Es 2:17
Es 5:2
Pr 8:35
Pr 12:2
Pr 18:22
Isa 35:10
Isa 51:11
Da 11:21
Ho 2:23
Mt 5:7
Lu 20:35
Ac 1:17
Ac 22:28
Ac 26:22
Ac 27:13
Ro 11:7
Ro 11:30
Ro 11:31
1Co 7:25
1Co 9:24
1Co 9:25
Eph 1:11
1Th 5:9
2Th 2:14
1Ti 1:13
1Ti 1:16
2Ti 2:10
Heb 1:4
Heb 4:16
Heb 6:15
Heb 8:6
Heb 9:12
Heb 11:2
Heb 11:4
Heb 11:33
Heb 11:35
Heb 11:39
Jas 4:2
1Pe 2:10
2Pe 1:1
What is to be obtained and the reason why it is obtained is to fulfill this mission. The mission described in the following paragraphs. Lightening the minds and hearts of the people living on Earth, in the time called - the time of the end - in the Bible.
"Behold," says the Scripture, "the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee." Verse 2. Christ, the outshining of the Father's glory, came to the world as its light. He came to represent God to men, and of Him it is written that He was anointed "with the Holy Ghost and with power," and "went about doing good." Acts 10:38. In the synagogue at Nazareth He said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord." Luke 4:18, 19. This was the work He commissioned His disciples to do. "Ye are the light of the world," He said. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:14, 16. This is the work which the prophet Isaiah describes when he says: "Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward." Isaiah 58:7, 8. Thus in the night of spiritual darkness God's glory is to shine forth through His church in lifting up the bowed down and comforting those that mourn.
All around us are heard the wails of a world's sorrow. On every hand are the needy and distressed. It is ours to aid in relieving and softening life's hardships and misery. The wants of the soul only the love of Christ can satisfy. If Christ is abiding in us, our hearts will be full of divine sympathy. The sealed fountains of earnest, Christlike love will be unsealed. There are many from whom hope has departed. Bring back the sunshine to them. Many have lost their courage. Speak to them words of cheer. Pray for them. There are those who need the bread of life. Read to them from the word of God. Upon many is a soul sickness which no earthly balm can reach nor physician heal. Pray for these souls. Bring them to Jesus. Tell them that there is a balm in Gilead and a Physician there. Light is a blessing, a universal blessing, pouring forth its treasures on a world unthankful, unholy, demoralized. So it is with the light of the Sun of Righteousness. The whole earth, wrapped as it is in the darkness of sin and sorrow and pain, is to be lighted with the knowledge of God's love. From no sect, rank, or class of people is the light shining from heaven's throne to be excluded. The message of hope and mercy is to be carried to the ends of the earth. Whosoever will, may reach forth and take hold of God's strength and make peace with Him, and he shall make peace. No longer are the heathen to be wrapped in midnight darkness. The gloom is to disappear before the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness.
Christ has made every provision that His church shall be a transformed body, illumined with the Light of the world, possessing the glory of Immanuel. It is His purpose that every Christian shall be surrounded with a spiritual atmosphere of light and peace. He desires that we shall reveal His own joy in our lives.
(2.) What are the things obtatned ?
1 ¶ Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 ¶ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12 ¶ Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
[A] like precious faith
[B] multiplied grace and peace
[C] divine power - hold my strength make peace - sins scarlet white - Isaiah
{D] the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord
[E] all things that pertain unto life and godliness - through knowing God & Jesus Christ
[F] exceeding great and precious promises
[G] be partakers of the divine nature - Jn 17:26
[H] having escaped the corruption - freedom
[I] diligence - <4710> implanted earnestness and endurance daily renewal of spiritual willingness and ability to see it though to completion in this world.
[J] faith
[K] virtue
[L] knowledge
[M] temperance
[N] patience
[O] godliness
[P] brotherly kindness - <5360> comes from <5361> and <5384> - the divine bond of camaraderie and looking out for each other that does not depend on biological family ties or secular unity but rather kinship of the unity of the faith.
[Q] charity - Agape The Divine form of love expressed by unity of the nature of these three words <25>Agapous, <26>Agape, < 5384> Philios .
[R] ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful
[S] cure for spiritual blindness - he that lacketh these things is blind<5185>, and cannot see afar off <3467> (5723), - buy of me - eyesalve - oil lamps - conscience
[T] a conscience that has forgotten the sins and only remembers the purging - he that lacketh these things - hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. continually having and retaining these things, ( all the facets of this like precious faith - the A to Z listing and what each A-Z facet refers to in everything God says ), rescues you from returning to former corruptions of your old sins, protects the retaining of the repentance and forgiveness and cleansing of the old sins supplied by Christ in your behalf - read Ezekiel Ch 18:
[U] diligence to make your calling and election sure
[W] Divine assurance - freed from sin's dominion - victory - for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:- have commited - preserved in Christ Jesus
[X] intercession - sealing - an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. - Hebrews 7:25 saved to the uttermost - retension in the Lamb's Book of Life when the examination wedding guest list and guests - comes to where you are written. The pre-second Advent compiling rejecting time of comprising who are the individuals making up the population of New Jerusalem the Lamb's wife - or not, the open door to the wise virgins and the closed door to the foolish, . ( Matthew 22:1-14 Matthew 24:37 through Matthew 25: 1-46 & Luke 19:9-28)
[Y] continual divine reminders - will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. - so that life can not be allowed overcharge overfill you and crowd out God from ruling all your heart - John 4: 26 continual speaking Luke 21:33-36 -
[Z] - witnessing, testifying, teaching, proclaiming, passing on to each generation early on, so they build upon it's truthfulness and it grows, becoming brighter, stronger, more vigerous and full of life in them and through them . Their link with God and all His Words made stronger by this early and progressive training so that they repeat and propel the process .2nd Peter 1:12-21
(3.) Are these ordinary commodities, or supernatural gifts that each believer is expected to obtain and that would be upon divine loan according to the concept - use them or loose them ? Looking at what Daniel and his three Hebrew companions went through and how God helped them to aquire the kind of characters needed ( that is a Old Testament version of what 2nd Peter Chapter 1 is talking about), reading Prophets and kings Chap. 39 - In the Court of Babylon, carefully considering each paragraph - it is found that obtaining this kind of character requires the combination of Divine power and intervention and human cooperation and decision and efforts to both obtain and retain such a character. Seeing that Satan makes special efforts to destroy such a character is more evidence such a character is seen as coming from above. In Chapter 39 it is said Daniel and Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were walking with God like Enoch did.
(excerpt pasted here ) "In acquiring the wisdom of the Babylonians, Daniel and his companions were far more successful than their fellow students; but their learning did not come by chance. They obtained their knowledge by the faithful use of their powers, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They placed themselves in connection with the Source of all wisdom, making the knowledge of God the foundation of their education. In faith they prayed for wisdom, and they lived their prayers. They placed themselves where God could bless them. They avoided that which would weaken their powers, and improved every opportunity to become intelligent in all lines of learning. They followed the rules of life that could not fail to give them strength of intellect. They sought to acquire knowledge for one purpose--that they might honor God. They realized that in order to stand as representatives of true religion amid the false religions of heathenism they must have clearness of intellect and must perfect a Christian character. And God Himself was their teacher. Constantly praying, conscientiously studying, keeping in touch with the Unseen, they walked with God as did Enoch. {PK 486.1}
True success in any line of work is not the result of chance or accident or destiny. It is the outworking of God's providences, the reward of faith and discretion, of virtue and perseverance. Fine mental qualities and a high moral tone are not the result of accident. God gives opportunities; success depends upon the use made of them. {PK 486.2}
While God was working in Daniel and his companions "to will and to do of His good pleasure," they were working out their own salvation. Philippians 2:13. Herein is revealed the outworking of the divine principle of co-operation, without which no true success can be attained. Human effort avails nothing without divine power; and without human endeavor, divine effort is with many of no avail. To make God's grace our own, we must act our part. His grace is given to work in us to will and to do, but never as a substitute for our effort. {PK 486.3}
As the Lord co-operated with Daniel and his fellows, so He will co-operate with all who strive to do His will. And by the impartation of His Spirit He will strengthen every true purpose, every noble resolution. Those who walk in the path of obedience will encounter many hindrances. Strong, subtle influences may bind them to the world; but the Lord is able to render futile every agency that works for the defeat of His chosen ones; in His strength they may overcome every temptation, conquer every difficulty. {PK 487.1}
God brought Daniel and his associates into connection with the great men of Babylon, that in the midst of a nation of idolaters they might represent His character. How did they become fitted for a position of so great trust and honor? It was faithfulness in little things that gave complexion to their whole life. They honored God in the smallest duties, as well as in the larger responsibilities. {PK 487.2}
As God called Daniel to witness for Him in Babylon, so He calls us to be His witnesses in the world today. In the smallest as well as the largest affairs of life, He desires us to reveal to men the principles of His kingdom. Many are waiting for some great work to be brought to them, while daily they lose opportunities for revealing faithfulness to God. Daily they fail of discharging with wholeheartedness the little duties of life. While they wait for some large work in which they may exercise supposedly great talents, and thus satisfy their ambitious longings, their days pass away. {PK 487.3}
In the life of the true Christian there are no nonessentials; in the sight of Omnipotence every duty is important. The Lord measures with exactness every possibility for service. The unused capabilities are just as much brought into account as those that are used. We shall be judged by what we ought to have done, but did not accomplish because we did not use our powers to glorify God. {PK 488.1}
A noble character is not the result of accident; it is not due to special favors or endowments of Providence. It is the result of self-discipline, of subjection of the lower to the higher nature, of the surrender of self to the service of God and man. {PK 488.2}
Through the fidelity to the principles of temperance shown by the Hebrew youth God is speaking to the youth of today. There is need of men who like Daniel will do and dare for the cause of right. Pure hearts, strong hands, fearless courage, are needed; for the warfare between vice and virtue calls for ceaseless vigilance. To every soul Satan comes with temptation in many alluring forms on the point of indulgence of appetite. {PK 488.3}
While people have individual personalities and tendencies - notice this sentence - " A noble character is not the result of accident; it is not due to special favors or endowments of Providence." There are no lucky few who are born with a human character filled exclusivly with the A-Z facets of 2nd Peter Chapter 1.
Jesus obtained these things just as the rest of us have have to. His natural Self = the Eternal Christ Second Member of the GodHead and omnipotent supernatural species, that is not available to humanity by biological birth. Read John 5:30 - He said I OF MINE OWN SELF CAN DO NOTHING - He was required to live and obtain and prevail as we are offered to do through active living saving faith or to fail, under the same conditions humanity has to live in relation toward father God and Heaven. He could not cut corners using His natural Divine self to do for Himself what we could not do using our limited natural human abilities claimbing God's promises by faith, and acting upon God's Word and receiving the fulfilling of those promises.
Only by the supernatural working of God through the conditions of the everlasting Gospel and each era's present truth - can humanity obtain what God offers freely to all. Hense these statements from the Bible -
"Re 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Re 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Joh 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
Joh 4:11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
(4.) What was the generic version of the individualized process that was required to obtain these the things ?
All the seperate commodies fit together and each one builds upon each other, but the last one that is written is the foundation of them all, and all the others guard the last thing and the first thing that was written in this passage - that first thing was called "LIKE PRECIOUS FAITH" the entire passage is describing part by part what this like precious faith is and what it is built of - and this reveals the Bible's roadmap where to go to the Bible's passages talking about these things - because those passages start explaining the what's, why's, and the how's. The last thing "CHARITY" is Agape<26> built upon Agapous <25>
ask, Biblically believe =decide to trust enough to put to use and ask for life from above, help, Christ's "vital transfusion" from above practice obeying as a learning process, daily lift cross deny self follow - follow ='s what, during the following -eat& drinkJohn 6:54-63 & get watered like a garden Isaiah 58
As applying to <25>Agapous <26> Agape - I was tutored in learning the process written into the everlasting gospel regarding obtaining , when I asked God to tutor me . It is and old concept I had to be taught to relearn and apply. Adapt it by putting in the A-Z of 2nd Peter Ch 1 - inserting each facet into place and researching Inspiration and examining God's promises about His implanting each facet, and examine His story comparing your self and personal history and character and inheirited and cultivated tendencies to identify each obstacle to obtaining and receiving and putting to use each facet.
Take each need as a seperate thing to pray to God about, claim His promises and Word about, and depend upon what He has said He will do under His stated conditions of receiving that and using that facet.
Each day is a new day, God has His own schedule - don't run ahead - make today count, prepare, but wait till God works and opens the way. Don't try to force yourself to build each facet of character by trying harder, go to God till He plants it in you.
No field ever plants it's self with an orderly crop of grain, only the Farmer does, and God is that Farmer. Don't try to force God's schedule of your growth - today you may not know He is subconsciously plowing, disking inside your heart / mind / conscience / character, cultivating - preparing for planting His character in you, but today pay attention to the little things - ask Him what He wants you to memorize, to study & think about, what to practice putting into action.
Swimming is taught in the water, practice obeying as best you understand = learning to do well, practice substuting obedience in thoughts and ways of looking at things and actions = ceasing to do evil. Talking everything over with God as if you could see that He was visibly next to you, and trusting Him to answer you in some of His, already written down words and testifying, life experiences, small still voice in your conscience, new circumstances He brings ='s reasoning together with Him.
Read "Is it a theory ?" and apply the concept to A-Z and adapt it for your individual needs and background and circumstances - Ask Jesus to setup a specific program of tutoring you, and go to Him as often as a child sees and talks to their trusted teacher during each school day.
(excerpt from "is it a theory ?} Use each A-Z facet of 2nd Peter ch 1 - in the same way as obtaining the golden rule impulse. Consider asking Jesus to "please implant in me A or B or C or D or so on all through the list of A to Z as God moves on your heart to move from A on to the next one and the next one and so on. keep asking till you want it with your whole heart, fake it till you make it, act on it as if it was already there, thank God in advance of feeling it, just keep claiming His promises.
"I found the way to get the attitude of the "golden rule"- impulse to help and bless others continually constantly - implanted in me. It is not something any person either has or does not have, it is a gift from above. Therefore anyone can get it if they do these basic things.
1. Ask for it in prayer several times a day (even quietly from the heart while working - without speaking-Heaven hears)
2. Pray till you really want it, at first it is usually prayed without much desire to get it, prayer changes the person
praying - the concept "fake it till you make it" - works. Keep asking till it is desired and it happens.
3. Act as though you have it already, after asking for it, the Red Sea and the Jordan River didn't open till people stepped into the edge of the H20.
4. If you have a family, get them all joining you in asking, and acting on it; everyone will get the similar attitude = happy family unity - otherwise only you will get the attitude and they won't = family disunity. This is generically what I asked for after reading the quote in the book Christ's Object Lessonns p-384-5. "Please cause my self to be merged in Christ, please implant and cultivate in me the impulse to help and bless others constantly, please cause the sunshine of heaven to fill my heart and is revealed in my countenance". I asked this 3 times a day - and started acting as though I had it and thanking Heaven for receiving it - then started progressively getting it. The internal benefits are long lasting. This transcends ideologies, anyone can have it. The Golden Rule process is for sharing freely."
5. What was required to keep and develop these obtained things ? keep- ( see MH not shared ), develop ( see learn swim in water)
" The church of Christ is organized for service. Its watchword is ministry. Its members are soldiers, to be trained for conflict under the Captain of their salvation. Christian ministers, physicians, teachers, have a broader work than many have recognized. They are not only to minister to the people, but to teach them to minister. They should not only give instruction in right principles, but educate their hearers to impart these principles. Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessing can be retained only as it is shared. {MH 148.4}
The monotony of our service for God needs to be broken up. Every church member should be engaged in some line of service for the Master. Some cannot do so much as others, but everyone should do his utmost to roll back the tide of disease and distress that is sweeping over our world. Many would be willing to work if they were taught how to begin. They need to be instructed and encouraged. {MH 149.1}
Every church should be a training school for Christian workers. Its members should be taught how to give Bible readings, how to conduct and teach Sabbath-school classes, how best to help the poor and to care for the sick, how to work for the unconverted. There should be schools of health, cooking schools, and classes in various lines of Christian help work. There should not only be teaching, but actual work under experienced instructors. Let the teachers lead the way in working among the people, and others, uniting with them, will learn from their example. One example is worth more than many precepts. {MH 149.2}
........
Educated workers who are consecrated to God can do service in a greater variety of ways and can accomplish more extensive work than can those who are uneducated. Their discipline of mind places them on vantage ground. But those who have neither great talents nor extensive education may minister acceptably to others. God will use men who are willing to be used. It is not the most brilliant or the most talented persons whose work produces the greatest and most lasting results. Men and women are needed who have heard a message from heaven. The most effective workers are those who respond to the invitation, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me." Matthew 11:29. {MH 150.1}
It is heart missionaries that are needed. He whose heart God touches is filled with a great longing for those who have never known His love. Their condition impresses him with a sense of personal woe. Taking his life in his hand, he goes forth, a heaven-sent, heaven-inspired messenger, to do a work in which angels can co-operate. {MH 150.2}
............
Men deficient in school education, lowly in social position, have, through the grace of Christ, sometimes been wonderfully successful in winning souls for Him. The secret of their success was their confidence in God. They learned daily of Him who is wonderful in counsel and mighty in power. {MH 151.1}
Such workers are to be encouraged. The Lord brings them into connection with those of more marked ability, to fill up the gaps that others leave. Their quickness to see what is to be done, their readiness to help those in need, their kind words and deeds, open doors of usefulness that otherwise would remain closed. They come close to those in trouble, and the persuasive influence of their words has power to draw many trembling souls to God. Their work shows what thousands of others might do, if they only would. {MH 151.2}
********************************
"Learn to Do by Doing.--Love and loyalty to Christ are the spring of all true service. In the heart touched by His love there is begotten a desire to work for Him. Let this desire be encouraged and rightly guided. Whether in the home, the neighborhood, or the school, the presence of the poor, the afflicted, the ignorant, or the unfortunate should be regarded, not as a misfortune, but as affording precious opportunity for service. {AH 490.1}
In this work, as in every other, skill is gained in the work itself. It is by training in the common duties of life and in ministry to the needy and suffering that efficiency is assured. Without this the best-meant efforts are often useless and even harmful. It is in the water, not on the land, that men learn to swim. {AH 490.2} "
There are lots of appropriate truths to share - God will lead you if you watch & listen for His leadings, and look with His kind of attitude of kindness to others. Opprtunities are all around you don't otherwise see.
(6.) (Q.) What if I make mistakes or decide to do it my way and mess up or decide to sin while I am trying ?
(A.) I asked Jesus to tutor me as my High Priest / Mediator / Redeemer / Teacher and supervise my education. How did He react to my mistakes, my running ahead or dragging my feet or starting off my own way, and my iniquities (deliberate chosen sins-He would have to draw me away from using "behind the barn / woodshed - rebuke / conviction and repentance ?) Read this for the answer.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. How would I in the blindness of either ignorance, forgetfulness, or sin - be awakened to my actual needs. No mistakes = no needs = no help from God - so mistakes & ignorance & defeats can be turned into learning experiences and future strengths and blessings. No attempts = no mistakes but no faith / no learning / no help from God. Abraham was called to follow, Abraham was trained and through the training became God's friend - similiar to Moses & Enoch.
1st John 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Jesus Christ is filled with father God's Agape Agapous Philio, so once you need help - is it Biblical to expect Him not to awaken your sense of needs and have you now knowing your previously hidden needs - cry out to Him more intelligently specifically about those needs - then have Him be less loving and less righteous than Apostle John and withold Himself from you because you made ignorant or reckless or sinful mistakes and now are in position to see your needs and have come to Him in VAIN ? He does not say so - He declares .
Revelation 3:19-21 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. If Jesus has to rebuke and chasten you - were you in the right or in the wrong at that point ? IN THE WRONG ! Did Jesus say He hated you ? NO - He says He loves you.
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Eze 34:6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
Eze 34:11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
Eze 34:12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
Lu 15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
In the past Satan kept God's own Jewish Church both from believing and being God's sheep. John 10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. But today in God's modern Church Satan works to remove people from being Christ's sheep by destroying their faith and trust and following and thus knowing Christ - by fear, and doubt and self talk he builds and implants in their minds. Satan studies human nature and the sciences of the mind to create skillful traps for everyones individuality.
Is it better to try to follow Jesus and do wrong for whatever reason and be in a position to be restored to following Him, or is it better to do wrong and refuse to follow Jesus and guarantee to try to never be in a position to be restored to follow Him - which is better ? So follow this process trusting Jesus to personally lead and teach you however He sees fit - and educate yourself to trust Him and rest in trusting Him and work to follow, but do not work to try to depend on your works - learn to do it because it is right because love calls for it then forget it, because if you help somebody and did it and can't forget it, but brag within your heart or speak your bragging , you did it for the wrong reasons.
(Q.) Shouldn't I wait till I am sure I will get it right, or be sure I won't decide to go my own way or decide to sin ?
(A.) Abraham was God's friend - did he know where he was going as he followed as God lead him ? was he mistake free and sinless ? hebrews 11: 8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. The 12 Disciples of Jesus 11of whom Jesus called unto Himself, later sucessfully became Apostles, and they still continued growing up in Christ. He did not call them then expect success upon their efforts alone and not on His efforts alone. He called them into partnership of something closer than human family and marriage with Himself to acheive all the capasities He had in mind when He created them. What to use seems like trial and error and mistakes, He knows all about and has already planned for those needs, just like new parents buy diapers and progressivly larger baby clothes.
"Christ rejoiced that He could do more for His followers than they could ask or think. He spoke with assurance, knowing that an almighty decree had been given before the world was made. He knew that truth, armed with the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit, would conquer in the contest with evil; and that the bloodstained banner would wave triumphantly over His followers. He knew that the life of His trusting disciples would be like His, a series of uninterrupted victories, not seen to be such here, but recognized as such in the great hereafter. {DA 679.2}
Abraham decided to trust God "AND JUST DO IT."
(Q.) What if I don't understand all this stuff you have written - shouldn't I wait till I understand it all before I start ?
(A.) Ask Jesus to tutor you and superintend your education, to teach you to read Scripture and SOP and pray and trust and act on what you read and pray about and listen to Him and trust and rest in that He loves you, knows all about you, and is your personal trainer and confidant, as well as your Redeemer. start with what you CAN understand and DO know, ask Jesus to help you build on it. He has perfect experince at being human and loves to pass it on. Trust Him and blossom and thrive under His care - He will never do anyone wrong who comes to Him as a helpless child, even an ignorant child, even a wayward child, even a selfish proud child. Look closely at the characters of His 12 disciples and the many who followed Him . There were among them no perfect Job's, or noble Moses's, or enduring Enoch's - till He tutored and changed them over time. They all started out bad in some manner, and everyone who stayed under His care - all of them got recreated after His excellence of character.
It is not about what I can do for you or explain to you. It's about what Jesus says and what He can do, and has proved again and again across the centuries and with millions of different people. Read the Bible & SOP both in paper print and using the search abilities of good Bible freeware and the EGW CD Rom Disk. Put yourself in position for Jesus to rapidly work with you and in you and through you.
What He's done for others He will do for you. Because He planned for your existance from all eternity, He looked at all the options and their results, and decided to build you, where and when and who you are - and He knows what he can build using You as where you are right now as His starting point.
Isa 53:11-12 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
" The Lord will not leave his afflicted, tried children to be the sport of Satan's temptations. It is our privilege to trust in Jesus. The heavens are full of rich blessings, and it is our privilege to have the joy of Christ in us that our joy may be full. We have not because we ask not, or because we do not pray in faith, believing that we shall be blessed with the special influence of the Holy Spirit. To the true seeker through the mediation of Christ the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit are imparted in order that the receiver may impart a knowledge of saving truth. Why do we not believe the plain "Thus saith the Lord"? Do not cease to pray under any circumstances. The spirit may be willing but the flesh may be weak, but Jesus knows all about that. In your weakness you are not to be anxious; for anxiety means doubt and distrust. You are simply to believe that Christ is able to save unto the uttermost all who come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us. What does intercession comprehend?--It is the golden chain which binds finite man to the throne of the infinite God. The human agent whom Christ has died to save importunes the throne of God, and his petition is taken up by Jesus, who has purchased him with his own blood. Our great High Priest places his righteousness on the side of the sincere suppliant, and the prayer of Christ blends with that of the human petitioner. Christ has urged that his people pray without ceasing. This does not mean that we should always be upon our knees, but that prayer is to be as the breath of the soul. Our silent requests, wherever we may be, are to be ascending unto God, and Jesus, our Advocate, pleads in our behalf, bearing up with the incense of his righteousness our requests to the Father. ** The Lord Jesus loves his people, and when they put their trust in him, depending wholly upon him, he strengthens them. He will live through them, giving them the inspiration of his sanctifying Spirit, imparting to the soul a vital transfusion of himself. He acts through their faculties, and causes them to choose his will and to act out his character. With the apostle Paul they then may say. "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Christ impresses upon the mind of believers the fact that they are to have the glory which the Father has given him, in order that all who love and serve him may be one with God. "For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. . . . And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory [character], which thou hast given me; for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." {SSW, February 1, 1896 par. 3}
Oh, what a request! He asked not that which was impossible for the members of the human race who believe on him to receive. He asks that the Father shall love those who believe in him, who love and serve him, as he loves his Son. Is this not sufficient to fill our mind with profoundest awe and love? Where is our faith? Oh, let it be strengthened in contemplation of the thought of the possibility of God loving finite men, even as he loved his only-begotten Son! Let our faith be strengthened in contemplating the thought that as followers of Christ we may be complete in him. Oh, how far short is our faith! Let us talk faith, live faith, and give to the world an example of the faith which works by love and purifies the soul. {SSW, February 1, 1896 par. 4} ** Read John Ch 17 notice verse 26 - research in Scripture & SOP what this verse is talking about - it was written for YOU .
If at first you wonder what to do - follow these outline basics then ask Jesus to teach you more as you go.
1. Ask for God to put as much of His character (the parts are listed in the A-Z listing already written out), (for example like precious faith, or diligence, or virtue, or temperance or patience - and so on) into you as you can hold and will use that day, in prayer several times a day (even quietly from the heart while working - without speaking-Heaven hears)
2. Pray till you really want it, at first it is usually prayed without much desire to get it, prayer changes the person
praying - the concept "fake it till you make it" - works. Keep asking till it is desired with your whole heart more than anything else and God makes it get planted into you and you put yourself in position to receive it and use it.
3. Act as though you have it already, after asking for it, the Red Sea and the Jordan River didn't open till people stepped into the edge of the H20, study God's words and instructions and explanations about what you are asking Him to plant and cultivate in you .
Example if you pray for your flower garden to grow, but mow it down twice a week, you work against your prayers; but if you weed - water - fertilize - tie up and support the growing flowers - you are working in cooperation with your prayers.
If you want faith - look up in Scripture & Jesus's Testimony all about saving precious living faith, how to get it, strengthen it, use it, and learn why God gives it in the first place.
Look up what puts you in position, and prepares you to get more of it, and improves it's quality within you, and imitates Jesus's kind of faith.
Go through each of the character traits gifts in A-Z use the Bible and everything God says about them to check them out and intelligently persue them using God's promises and terms as His accepted proper tools to get them from Him.
4. If you have a family, get them all joining you in asking, and acting on it; through doing it every day - over time - everyone will get the similar attitude = happy family unity - otherwise only you will get the attitude and they won't = family disunity. Explain to them that at first it is not human nature to want all these things, but as each one prays they are to ask God to change them to make them "willing to be made willing * " to cause them to want these things so that they can and will ask with their whole heart and it will cause them to be happier doing this than anything else. * see - {AA 482.3}; {MB 142.1-143.2};
This is generically what I prayed for after reading the Bible and Jesus's testifying about these character virtues listed in A-Z . "Please cause my self to be merged in Christ, please implant and cultivate in me [I was mostly asking for Charity /Agape /Agapous.] [ But going through 2nd Peter Chapter One the same steps would still apply] (then naming or reading off these virtues listed in 2nd Peter Chapter 1). I could ask for them also, asking 3 times a day - asking God to lead me to His promises to put them in me, then claim them deciding to trust God's ability and attitude toward me to give them to me, ask His tutoring me to cooperate with Him and put myself in position to receive them, and then started acting as though I had already received them, and thanking Heaven for receiving them - then I will start progressively getting them. The internal benefits are long lasting. This transcends ideologies, anyone can have them on God's Biblical terms.
*{AA 482.3}
" God wishes us to have the mastery over ourselves. But He cannot help us without our consent and co-operation. The Divine Spirit works through the powers and faculties given to man. Of ourselves, we are not able to bring the purposes and desires and inclinations into harmony with the will of God; but if we are "willing to be made willing," the Saviour will accomplish this for us, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5. {AA 482.3}
" The victory is not won without much earnest prayer, without the humbling of self at every step. Our will is not to be forced into co-operation with divine agencies, but it must be voluntarily submitted. Were it possible to force upon you with a hundredfold greater intensity the influence of the Spirit of God, it would not make you a Christian, a fit subject for heaven. The stronghold of Satan would not be broken. The will must be placed on the side of God's will. You are not able, of yourself, to bring your purposes and desires and inclinations into submission to the will of God; but if you are "willing to be made willing," God will accomplish the work for you, even "casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5. Then you will "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Philippians 2:12, 13. {MB 142.1}
But many are attracted by the beauty of Christ and the glory of heaven, who yet shrink from the conditions by which alone these can become their own. There are many in the broad way who are not fully satisfied with the path in which they walk. They long to break from the slavery of sin, and in their own strength they seek to make a stand against their sinful practices. They look toward the narrow way and the strait gate; but selfish pleasure, love of the world, pride, unsanctified ambition, place a barrier between them and the Saviour. To renounce their own will, their chosen objects of affection or pursuit, requires a sacrifice at which they hesitate and falter and turn back. Many "will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Luke 13:24. They desire the good, they make some effort to obtain it; but they do not choose it; they have not a settled purpose to secure it at the cost of all things. {MB 143.1}
The only hope for us if we would overcome is to unite our will to God's will and work in co-operation with Him, hour by hour and day by day. We cannot retain self and yet enter the kingdom of God. If we ever attain unto holiness, it will be through the renunciation of self and the reception of the mind of Christ. Pride and self-sufficiency must be crucified. Are we willing to pay the price required of us? Are we willing to have our will brought into perfect conformity to the will of God? Until we are willing, the transforming grace of God cannot be manifest upon us. {MB 143.2}
" Christ has urged that his people pray without ceasing. This does not mean that we should always be upon our knees, but that prayer is to be as the breath of the soul. Our silent requests, wherever we may be, are to be ascending unto God, and Jesus, our Advocate, pleads in our behalf, bearing up with the incense of his righteousness our requests to the Father. The Lord Jesus loves his people, and when they put their trust in him, depending wholly upon him, he strengthens them. He will live through them, giving them the inspiration of his sanctifying Spirit, imparting to the soul a vital transfusion of himself. He acts through their faculties, and causes them to choose his will and to act out his character.
*******************************************************
Using common sense - Looking at two Spouses and the kids who imitate them. Spouse #1 - if you are not willing to pay the price God requires to get something - and you know you ought to, don't want to burn in the Lake of Fire - and you try harder and harder and force yourself at last to go through the outward motions - are you trusting Christ and grabing onto and depending on His power or your supposedly righteous efforts or it a self righteous mixture of some of His requirements and your outward imitation of compliance ? Only you would know - if consciensious or not - but are you happy or miserable - are you resting in Him or always in doubt ?
On the other hand Spouse #2 . - if you are not willing to pay the price God requires to get something - and you know you ought to, don't want to burn in the Lake of Fire - and you read and learn that that 1st Corinthians Chapter 13 says that if God's Agape / Agapous does not motivate it - you were grudgingly going through the outward motions. God says this about it. Sullen submission = heart of a rebel over time and all God's things = drugery.
Spouse #2 - THEY ADD AN EXTRA STEP TO THE PROCESS - THAT STEP- BEING - THE SEEKING OF THE LOVE OF GOD TO WANT WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO GET FROM HIM , AND WANT HIS PROCESS TO GET IT, AND BE MOTIVATED TO DO IT , BE IT BY HIS LOVE DWELLING IN THEM COMPELLING THEM FROM THE HEART. SO THAT IT IS NEVER MECHANICAL OR SULLEN BUT ALWAYS FROM THEIR HEART FULLY CAPTIVATED BY HIS AGAPE - AGAPOUS - PHILIO. THEY DECIDE AND TELL GOD, "THEY ARE WILLING TO BE MADE WILLING" . THEY GIVE GOD PERMISSION TO CHANGE THEM AND SEEK THAT CHANGED WILLINGNESS OF HEART / MIND.
"Chap. 114 - The Rest Christ Offers
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt. 11:28. {TMK 120.1}
There is a condition to the rest and peace here offered us by Christ.. . . . {TMK 120.2}
Meekness and humility will characterize all who are obedient to the law of God, all who will wear the yoke of Christ with submission. These graces will bring the desirable result of peace in the service of God. . . . {TMK 120.3}
God knows that if we were left to follow our own inclinations, to go just where our will would lead us, we would fall into Satan's lines and become possessors of his attributes. Therefore the law of God confines us to the will of One who is high and noble and elevating. He desires that we shall patiently and wisely take up the duties of service. . . . A sullen submission to the will of the Father will develop the character of a rebel. The service is looked upon by such a one in the light of drudgery. It is not rendered cheerfully and in the love of God. It is a mere mechanical performance. . . . Such service brings no peace or quietude to the soul. {TMK 120.4}
God presents to the world two classes. For the one--the wicked-- He says, "There is no peace" (Isa. 48:22). Of the other, "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them" (Ps. 119:165). . . . {TMK 120.5}
The Lord calls His yoke easy and His burden light. Yet that yoke will not give us a life of ease and freedom and selfish indulgence. The life of Christ was one of self-denial and self-sacrifice at every step. And His true follower, with consistent, Christlike tenderness and love, will follow in the footsteps of his Master. {TMK 120.6}
So they read [sullen submission rebel] {PCP 45.1}, {PCP 50.4}; {TMK 120.4}; {ST, July 22, 1897 par. 11}; {12MR 236.1 - 3 } & 1st Corinthians Chapter 13 & {COL 350.1} {GC 487.2} {LHU 343.4 - 7} {Mar 342.1 - 3 } {RH, November 18, 1884 par. 16} July 3 & 10, 1894 Parable of the Laborers. {RH, July 3, 1894 par. 1 onward 2 part article } & in the Bible - the phrases "his righteousness", EGW Folio Views phrase search "done from love" .
They see and feel their hardened heart / mind / attitude and instead of deciding to rebel right then and there, they add this pivotal life changing step, thus despite being fallen sinners, they now join Jesus along His journey taking His crossroads path along that fork in their life's road and walking to be upon it's streight and narrow path, traveling by faith - to Christ in You - right here on Earth and following Him and all His teachings ( not just 28) with Him further and further toward Heaven this path's destination.
This gives them ability and willingness and motivation to spiritually grasp Christ by faith and exit the broad road that is inevitability at last only Satan's presence and character in you, and the destruction promised him in Ezekiel chapter 28 - which is the Book of Revelation's Lake of Fire.
They ask God to cause them to want to do - to love to do and love to be - those things He wants for them.
They tell God they are not willing now by nature but if He will change them and make them cheerfully willing - that is what willing to be made willing means. They ask God not to let their present feelings and attitude and nature stop His work in them, they are willing - TO BE RECREATED INTO BEING MADE WILLING INSTEAD OF UNWILLING BY GOD"S INTERVENING POWER AND MEDIATION AND VITAL TRANSFUSION OF HIMSELF INTO THEM. Whatever God's price is to get those character traits that their heart by nature does not want, they go to God and get His emnity (Genesis 3:15) against whatever wars against loving His process to get what He says get, and asking for the changed atrtitude of loving the process and also asking for the end result of getting what God wants them to get in the first place .
Then they seek to obtain and practice the A-Z character traits.
Which spouse and the kids who imitate them are depending upon Jesus to be their wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; and which are depending upon SELF righteousness of forcing their mechanical observance ?
Both spouses and their kids are required to do and be the same things Scripture commands them all.
Which ones strive lawfully to both obtain and become and dwell in - what the Everlasting Gospel & Present Truth speak of ?
Which ones try to force carnal human nature to obey - when it can not and will not ?
Why don't they at every heart barrier seek a new heart in the area their barrier to God identifies ?
New heart & Agape Agapous Filio in - barrier gone - sullen drudgery gone - delight in - all family members individually seek this till God accomplishes it in them = unity happiness undivided family .
Isa 27:5 Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.
Isa 1: 16 ¶ Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
All rebels start out with sullen hearts - why not add the step of going to God with the sullen heart / mind condition and attitude of heart as well as seeking the A-Z of 2nd Peter Chapter 1. God changes hearts / minds all the time .
( rebel heart training starts how ? [I don't want to - but they get forced or coerced to - still sullen but do it. Never change the heart condition toward what they sullenly do. Become a rebel sooner or later.] ) ( the heart is trained to be loyal by, and motivated by what and only what ? and from Whom [ 1st Corinthians Ch 13 & John 14:23-24] .)
I just learned this while compiling .
" Jesus says, "I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." All I can give either first or last is myself. If any one has been laboring for anything else except the Lord's glory, he will be disappointed in receiving a reward. The reception of the penny by the laborers represents the character that God will give to those who follow him. ........ But those whose hearts are lifted up in pride, who are self-righteous, full of envy, jealousy, and evil surmising, are enfeebling their capacity for receiving from God that which will make them what he would have them to be. They are clouding the mirror, darkening the vision, marring the vessel, so that it contains less and less of God's blessing. {RH, July 10, 1894 par. 7}
Jesus says to those who think they should receive more than he gives them, "Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou not agree with me for a penny: Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?" So long as I am just with thee, is it not my privilege to be liberal to others? Those who display such wrong feelings, make it manifest that they deserve no reward; for many are called but few are chosen. Many, many are called to work in the Lord's vineyard; but they manifest so little humility, show so little appreciation of the Lord's grace, are so wanting in submission, so poorly comprehend the fact that righteousness is alone from Christ, and that there is none in themselves, that they fail to develop characters that can be called true and faithful, and so lose heaven at last. {RH, July 10, 1894 par. 8}
Why and when are the many people called seperated from the fewer people choosen ?
There is a difference in the concept of religion in you, verses Christ in You.
Religion can be any form of the worship of anything. No guarentee Christ is there.
Christ in you includes all that Christ offers and that you are capable of receiving, this alone is called the Hope of Glory. There is a time the guests to the wedding are examined as to their characters and lives and these virgins experience a time the door gets shut either in their face or behind them after they that were ready went in . Matthew 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Obviously God does not expect fallen nature humans to ever at any time seek to develop their own righteousness and merits, from the conclusion reached using Case Based - Decision / Reasoning, because everywhere in Scripture & Jesus's Testifying , this is said to be impossible.
God is calling fallen humans to learn how to, and practice, and actually lay hold on the perfect righteousness and merits and complete perfect ability of His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, and cooperate with Him in obtaining and developing what is to be their own - a fully redeemed Christ filled character, as part of a life consumed with Christ inspired Christ motivated good works filled with the implanted and imparted motives coming from their union with Christ. Starting in the mirror, then at home, and ever expanding outwards.
The kind of character and life obtained from Christ to intelligently know God and in unity with Him continually Biblically intelligently and Biblically appropriatly help and bless others everywhere within opportunity to do so, and progressivly obtain the character attributes Christ offers all through the Bible & His testifying, especially the attributes of 2nd Peter Chapter One < A - Z > list.
