Charity, the labour of love

Charity, the labour of love

1Tim.1:3-5 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, (4) Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. (5) Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

The word "charity" in the context of this passage is not you loving with natural affection. This is a supernatural love that comes from God. This charity is brought about by faith. Paul says in 1Thess. 1:3, “remembering without ceasing your work of faith.” What is the work of faith? Godly edifying. What is the end of that godly edifying? Charity. Thus, charity, which is this outward display of a labour of love, is formed in you, and increases in you based on your faithfulness in godly edification.

The growth and perfecting of the saints through Paul's doctrine

The growth and perfecting of the saints through Paul's doctrine

1Th.3:12-13  And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:  (13)  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

What makes you unblamable and holy before God is for love to increase and abound in you toward each other and toward all men. The greatest thing for you to know is the love of Christ. Now abideth faith, hope, and love, 1Co.13:13. When Paul wrote Romans, he says, "your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.", Rom.1:8. Then he comes to Ephesians and says: “Since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love to all the saints.”, Eph.1:15. And then he comes to Thessalonians and said: “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope.”, 1Th.1:3. Do you see the progression up the curriculum? What you are seeing here is the growth and perfecting of the saint. God is doing a work of faith in us. That work of faith is to teach us the love of Christ, that we may labor outwardly in that love, and then in patience of hope, endure all things in this present world in earnest expectation of the glory that is to come. God gave you our doctrine, Paul's curriculum, to get you ready for that calling" the calling of "us", being the Body of Christ, who is the fulness of him that filleth all in all, Eph 1:20-23.

2Ti.1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

The Words and the Spirit in the written Word

The Words and the Spirit in the written Word

Rom 2:25-29  For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.  (26)  Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?  (27)  And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?  (28)  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:  (29)  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Studying the written Word is more than just reading scripture to learn about the message in the words themselves. Yes, there is important truth in the message delivered by the words, but one should also learn and partake of the spirit of God in the passage, which is found behind the words.

Let’s have a look at the above passage and, as an example, extract a basic learning and understanding from the words in the passage, but also learn something about God’s character and will from the spirit behind the words.

Remember Love

Remember Love

When one first learns about dispensational views and rightly dividing, it quickly becomes deeply rooted in one’s heart and it changes everything about one’s views and interpretation of scripture. I am personally convicted in my heart that rightly dividing the Word between Israel and the Body of Christ, between law and grace, and between prophecy and mystery, is the ONLY way to effectively understand and interpret scripture. It has exponentially changed my understanding of God’s Word and my relationship with Him, and I’ll never turn back to my old understanding of merging or blending all the Bible into a single doctrine that is all about me, or for my needs and cares and wants.

Having said all this, I do want to mention something that is of crucial importance. I’m not sure about you, but this is something that I have experienced and want to bring to your attention.

To be passionate about dispensational truth and rightly dividing is vital in this world where sound biblical knowledge is so scarce. However, for us, who view scripture rightly divided, we should be careful not to get too passionate about the theology and the words, that we forget about love and the human connection. 

What do I mean here? 

Can living the 'Golden Rule' Save You?

Can living the 'Golden Rule' Save You?

QUESTION:

Assuming Jesus existed and assuming the statement attributed to him in Matthew 22:35-40 has been accurately translated in the Bible, is it not true that the only way for a Christian to have everlasting life is by adhering to the Golden Rule?

ANSWER:

There is not an iota of doubt in my mind that Jesus existed. Furthermore, there is not an iota of doubt in my mind that what he quoted is accurately recorded in my King James Bible. Heaven and earth can pass away, but these two facts will remain eternally true.

Before I answer your question, lets look at the verse you quote,

Mat 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This is the first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (40) On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Grace Gospel 101 (Part 6): Eternal Security (Continued…)

Grace Gospel 101 (Part 6): Eternal Security (Continued…)

Start with Part 1 of the series here.

In a previous post, we learned that we can know that we have eternal life. It is vitally important that each of us have this absolute assurance. Thus, I will devote a second post to this critical topic.

Sealed with the Holy Spirit

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory" (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Notice the progression in verse 13: First you hear the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; Secondly, you believe in Christ and His death for your sins; Thirdly, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit. (1. Hear the gospel; 2. Believe the gospel; 3. Sealed with Holy Spirit) Everyone who hears the gospel and believes it, is sealed with the Holy Spirit.

The paradox in the cross of Christ

The paradox in the cross of Christ

In reference to this post:

• https://thebigpicturelink.blogspot.com/2023/08/as-simple-as-that.html

Somone asked the following question(s) in response to the above post. I wanted to share the answer I gave into this space for the encouragement and edification of people that peruse here.
God bless. 🙌

QUESTIONS ASKED:

• Do you believe in Satan? Do you believe a serpent can talk? Do you believe serpent can be smarter than humans? Do you think that God was so stupid to create Satan who will deceive Eve, and then god will dump curses on Eve, and say nothing to Satan. There are numerous problems in my mind about is in Bible.
• Why god kept quite when children were eaten? Why god allowed pagan women to be raped.
• Why god changed Lot’s wife to a pillar of salt, but said nothing to Lot who gulped alcohol and did sex with his daughters.
• Why god told Moses to kill all women who have seen men, and spare others and Moses gave them to his soldiers. Boys with pubic hair were beheaded.
• Why God did not punish David for raping Hittite woman?

MY ANSWER:

God’s LOVE and HATE in one incredible act

 God’s LOVE and HATE in one incredible act

Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be JUST, and the JUSTIFIER of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

The bolded statement of Paul above, found in his letter to the Romans, is a paradox. It reveals that God is absolutely just. God is the personification of righteousness and rightness. However, in the same statement Paul tells us that God justifies persons who believe in Jesus. Now, just that you are fully clear on this paradox, look what Paul tells us in Romans 4:5,

Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 

Do you see the paradox? How can God, who is just, and does what is right, justify the ungodly? Surely this would contravene God’s justness? Well, the key to unravelling this paradox is to understand that this applies to, “him which believeth in Jesus”.

The Journey: Part 3 - Imputation and Propitiation, The Work of God's Love

Start here at the Introduction: The Journey Begins

The Journey: Part 3 - Imputation and Propitiation, The Work of God's Love

The gospel of grace that was communicated to you, and that you chose to put your trust in, provides you with all you need to know about who Jesus Christ is and what He freely did for you (1 Cor.15:1-4). Furthermore, it settles with surety and finality, that through Jesus' death on the cross, and the blood He shed for you, you have complete forgiveness of sins, and by His subsequent burial, and glorious resurrection from the dead, you are absolutely and utterly justified before God and sealed in Christ for that glorious day of redemption, (Rom.4:25).

 Always remember who we are joined to...

Q-A: How to Live by Liberty

Q-A: How to Live by the Liberty*
of Love and Personal Conviction
*(personal actions being directed by love or conviction)

Do you really understand what it means to 'walk in the Spirit'? Is the concept of walking in the Spirit clear and meaningful, or is it vague and elusive? I'd like to write this short article to either confirm or clarify this topic for you. I trust it will bless you.

One can draw from many of Paul's passages to learn about spiritual living, but Romans.14 is one of my favourites, and the chapter that really opened my eyes to what it means to walk in the Spirit. Let's look at some focused verses [with my own added commentary] from this chapter to bring you to a simple, yet clear understanding.