15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
This verse is somewhat baffling; and altogether foreign from my vantage point. When have we seen anyone praching Christ in order to make a jailed believer suffer more? Even in countries with high persecution; it would seem odd to do this as it would bring persecution to those preaching it; making the cost seemingly too high for preaching in "pretence" as verse 17 states.
The only way I could envision this is if someone mocks Christianity by glibly quoting scripture; or preaches then deliberately incites a riot so that those who preach peaceably will be falsely accused of causing insurrections as a result. In any case until we see believers who are detained for a lengthy period of time in our country with a real threat of death it is something we have to understand with wisdom for the day things do head in that direction. For now most who are arrested are only for a short period of time; and if longer it is not usually clear that it is only for defence of the Gospel that they are in jail. There certainly may be cases like this which the media isn't mentioning; it certainly seems this has begun in Canada in the last year or so.
Boldness because of Paul's chains as seen with Philippians 1:14 shows several things. Through Paul's confidence and ongoing ministry it shows the Gospel can't be bound. It also gives sympathy from Paul's beloved members of the churches he founded as an Apostle who want to continue in his stead. How we need these type of believers today! Finally; it sets an example as a true shephard who lays his life down.
Did Jesus exist before creation? Did the Holy Spirit exist before creation?
Jesus existed in God's plan, Jesus is the beginning of creation Rev. 3:14 and by Him were all things created Col. 1:16 my understanding is Jesus, was the first in God's plan of creation and everything was created by God, in and through the plan and purpose of Jesus. My understanding Jesus did not physically exist until the fullness of time. Ephesians 1:10 He was born of Mary the Son of God. the seed of woman. Genesis 3:15Matthew 1:20
My understanding is the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, not a person, Genesis 1:2. We see all the greetings are from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:71 Corinthians 1:32 Corinthians 1:2Galatians 1:3Ephesians 1:2Ephesians 6:23Philippians 1:2Colossians 1:2 and 6 more. The Holy Spirit not being included is a good clue the Holy Spirit was not considered a person by Paul and others at that time.
If so, who were they in relation to the Father?
I believe the above answers this.
How did the Father, the Son, and the Spirit all create all that is, seen or unseen?
My understanding is God the Father created all, Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:31Proverbs 16:4Isaiah 45:18Nehemiah 9:6.
Does Scripture teach that God is only one person who manifests in three forms, but all these manifestations are only one person?
Scripture does not support Modalism I have never considered this and do not know anything about it.
"29. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30. Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me."
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
The scriptures show multiple times such as Matthew 27:19 with Pilate's wife (who may or may not have come to saving faith) and with Paul in particular (with the jailor who he had a chance to bring to faith along with his whole family) in Acts 16:30-33. The jailor even showed compassion in washing the stripes from whipping of Paul that apparently occurred earlier. There were others who Paul was able to bring to faith who were often wives of important officials.
Jesus; of course knew what He was talking about since we ALL start out as enemies of God. This puts us on an even playing field so to speak; so that we cannot understand how God can change the heart of a serial killer but not of someone who always seems to be a "nice person" whether our family members or friends. It isn't so much important to browbeat someone as to their sinfulness to convince them to repent; ASSUMING that we are preaching about the sorry state of human souls in general with unregenerate hearts. This is how the Gospel was preached; those in authority were given general and very harsh rebukes by Christ as part of the general call. WE certainly need to clearly speak of how Jesus saved us from total depravity or however we want to describe our sorry state before salvation.
Matthew 10:28 shows what we should NOT fear (our death) and what our persecutors SHOULD fear (see also Philippians 1:28).
Easier said than done; actually not possible apart from the Spirit giving us the utterance (see Luke 12:12).
We must remember God determines when our last day is on earth not Satan or man. No doubt Satan desires 24/7 to destroy us so we must always be vigilant and not let our guard down. The same should be said in prayer for those suffering persecution today.
Philippians 1:9 states; "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all JUDGMENT;
Here I believe Judgment is speaking of discernment.
Part 1.
Something to notice about 1 John 2 and 1 John 4. In 1 John when you study it carefully, you see John using the contrast of loving your brother "which is hating your brother" to illustrate the heart of nonbelievers who "say" they love God. John is saying if you don't love your brother, you don't love God!
Look at verse 2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
It all begins in Bethlehem! Christ was born in Bethlehem. It's the incarnation is where we begin!
Calvary and the Garden tomb are meaningless unless he is who he claims to be. God in the flesh! 1 Timothy 3:16.
One way you can determine the false teacher is he will deny the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ and behind this doctrine and the lack of the Spirit, he will have no love for the Brothern. This is the Spirit of the Antichrist.
John has much to say about the deity of Christ. John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us...
1 John he has a lot to say about the Antichrist in the world.
These false teachers appeals to the flesh! We have the Spirit of Christ which protects us.
Verse 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. These false teachers intellectually appeal to the world through their fleshly minds.
Verse 5. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
God's children "WILL" respond to God's word.
Verse 7, Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
John having given a warning of false teachers, John returns to the theme of this section.
No discipline is enjoyable at the time according to Hebrews 12:11. It leads to good fruits according to the passage; however.
I have stated repeatedly that verses indicating chastising all He loves as well as suffering for His Name's sake are both scriptural statements in regard to the fate of those who are saved. (see Philippians 1:29 and dozens of other verses). So in some sense we have died with Christ but are being crucified daily. WE are the ones where there has to be progressive sanctification; Christ Himself only died once for the propitiation of our sins; in other words He didn't need being perfect the process of sanctification before glorification.
Just as the conversion of a serial killer may appear more dramatic than say a stay at home housewife; the sanctification may also appear so. We see Christ tell Paul how much he will have to suffer for His Name's sake ( Acts 9:16). God has His own unique calling on our lives therefore different things necessary in our sanctification process. Nonetheless; changes must occur.
Once we die or are raptured and called home in glory then of course the process is completed; and the rewards commensurate with our service or lack thereof. This means we should strive to win the prize; but that is involved with a combination of learning how to submit daily to the Lord as well as buffeting ourselves with self discipline; someone He can trust to honor His name; and a servant who obeys because of love for their Master; Lord and Savior.
Sanctification therefore means various things; changing our daily habits and routines; changing the focus of our career and recreational time; and for some means a change of venue; or vocation. It is the small things that add up to make one prepared for the big; the lives of Christ and the Apostles show how they faced martyrdom after daily dying to self. Paul had suffered greatly and preferred to be with the Lord but not before the time ( Phil. 1:23)
One will glean more knowledge form interacting on this forum than will ever be gleaned in our churches, sad but true.
Our churches stand on denominational doctrines instead of of the gospel of the kingdom of heaven.
I was raised in a denominal doctrine church, went they any and every time the doors were open, I never hear a sermon on the gospel of the kingdom of God, It was do good and go to heaven, don't do good and go to hell: all works.
Until God CAUSED me to sit and study his word, I never knew the gospel of the Kingdom of God, I never knew the baptism into Jesus NAME, only the water baptism of John.
I was taught we have FREE WILL, never understanding I DIED on the cross, ONLY the BODY of Christ was resurrected and WE as JOINT HEIRS of his resurrection.
Dead men DO NOT HAVE FREE WILL:
Ezekiel 36:22 I WILL put my spirit IN YOU and CAUSE YOU to walk in my statutes, and keep my judgement (we are judged by the words of God) and DO THEM.
If one believes this scripture he is a SEED of God, ONLY God's WWILL is being done in HIS BODY.
If God is WILLING all things, AND DOING all things in IN US, then WE CANNOT SIN.
This is how Christ was without SIN, He had KNOWLEDGE without measure of the WORDS of GOD.
He KNEW every word from his mouth was OF HIS FATHER, he was just the BODY, every action (works) his body performed was the WORK of his Father.
When Christ became angry, he had knowledge it was the Father CAUSING his to show his anger, but he had knowledge that ALL THINGS (anger and other things we call SIN) all WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD.
We can't see that but GOD'S word says it does, so do we believe our carnal mind of do we let the words of God DESTROY the man of perdition, our carnal mind, and RENEW our carnal mind with the mind of Christ.
HIS mind and his heart were GIVEN TO US by being resurrected JOINT HEIRS with Christ,
BUT even BELIEVING his words have to be GIVEN to us on the BEHALF of Christ .... Philippians 1:29
What does it mean to believe? What is the evidence that we believe? As Paul said, it is like running a race, when we start this race, we believe we are going to finish, and with God's Spirit we have all the determination and motivation we are not only going to finish this race we are going to win this race.
We are saved! We are being saved! We shall be saved! When we start, are all our sins forgiven, our past, present, and our future sins the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and are baptized? Is our salvation guaranteed and we cannot lose it or fall out of grace regardless?
We are saved. Eph. 2:5 When we accept the gospel and are baptized our sins are blotted out, Isaiah 44:22Acts 3:19 and we become a child/son/daughter of God, John 1:12 we are justified, made righteous by the blood of Christ and the Holy Spirit dwells in us, and now we begin a relationship through God's Spirit, and God and Jesus abide in us, 2 John 1:9. This is the start of the race, the beginning of our salvation.
We are being saved. Philippians 1:6 Hearing the Word one believes and is baptized into Christ they are made clean (justification) the work of grace, and the Lord will continue working in us until He returns if we abide in Him John 15:3-5. How does God complete his good work in us? Testing James 1:2-4, chastising Heb. 12:6-7 Our relationship. If we abide in Him, Jesus, and God abides in us. The branches bear the fruit of the vine, the vine produces the fruit not us/branch, sanctification. We are running the race Philippians 2:12
We shall be saved. Redemption and glorification. Our full salvation comes at the end, when Jesus returns. Luke 21:28 "being now justified" We started the race. We are being saved, "being reconciled" we are running the race, 2 Cor. 5:18. We shall be saved at the end of the race. Romans 13:11.
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."
Philippians 1:27-28,
"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I (Paul) come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;"
God gives us His Spirit and it is His Spirit that produces the faith the Bible speaks of. We do not have the capacity to produce the faith we read about. Now, both believers and nonbelievers alike can produce human faith, but this type of faith is different than the faith the Bible speaks of. Only Gods Spirit can produce spiritual faith, or saving faith ( Galatians 5:22).
As far as Philippians 1:29, here is my understanding:
It says, "For unto you it is given," and by the way, the word given is the word graced. God has blessed you, favored you, in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake;
Isn't that good news? It's God's will! Just like Peter says in his letter, why are you so surprised for the fiery trials that come up against you?
It's God's will that not only you believe, but that you suffer for the sake of Christ.
But check out what it says in the next verse ( Philippians 1:30):
Having the same conflict, and that's the word agony. Having the same agony which you saw in me, and now you hear to be in me.
Paul says, you want to know what it looks like, what I just told you about believing and suffering? It's the same agony that you see in my life, as I, like an athlete battle with the opponent all day long.
That's not just God's will for Paul. That's for every believer!
what does Paul mean in 1 Philippians 1:29 when he says it is a privilege granted to us to believe in Christ? does that mean that saving faith is something given to us from God or is it something we produce on our own? I'd love to hear all your thoughts!
I KNOW you believe we are saved by grace ALONE, everything is the WORKS of GOD.
May the spirit of truth add to your comments:
You said OUR PART is confess and believe.
IS IT NOT the ''works'' of CHRIST IN US that CAUSES us to believe.
Philippians 1:29 For it is given (GRACE) to us on the behalf of Christ --- TO BELIEVE ----
ALL is the WORKS of GOD.
The ""belief" by and of, the "faith" by and of, the "life" by and of ---JESUS CHRIST ---
We are just the BODY of CHRIST, the "heart" and "mind" in that body; you and I and everyone else, IS CHRIST
Christ; the firstborn, of many brethren, we are the FRUIT of the TESTOR.
Isaiah 14:29 and out of the ROOT of the serpent (man) shall come forth a cockatrice (a saviour of men) and his (the saviours) FRUIT shall be a FIERY FLYING SERPENT.
God BLESS YOU as the spirit of truth makes us all ONE in Christ.
Ronald, you said Salvation is a gift from God, but We cannot earn this gift, but we must receive it according to God's terms. Isn't that a contradictory statement?
What are God's terms? Isn't it believe in him whom he sent?
John 6:27-29.
27) Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
"Notice in verse 28 the disciple's ask what their labor is they must do.
Notice in verse 29 Jesus gives them their part!
28) Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29) Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
AFTER YOU PART SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE IS ESTABLISHED!
Here is the next step and source of our growth. Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Ronald, concerning Abraham.
Abraham proved his faith by his works, He was justified by faith alone.
Here's how Paul put it in Romans 10:8-11. "AND NOTICE THE LAST SENTENCE IN VERSE 11"
"But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON HIM SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED.
all creation is judged now, today: tomorrow; tomorrow will become today, world without end. judgement is what god has said. his word will not return unto him void.
judgement is now, today, upon the house of the christ; you, me and everyone on this forum; is that house, and there is only one house, the lord god almighty and the lamb: some have not yet come to that truth, but there is a today coming when they shall be overcome by judgement.
you are baptised into the name of jesus christ, resurrected as one, join-heirs, a husband and his bride.
john 17:22 and the glory that thou hast given me, i have given them, that as we are one, they may be one in us.
judgement is now, do you believe what god has said.
philippians 1:29 for it is given to you on the behalf of christ ...... to believe......
Luke 20:36 And THEY (who are they) CAN DIE NO MORE (they DIED on the cross of Christ):for they are EQUAL unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the CHILDREN of the RESURRECTION.
If you are the children of the RESURRECTION, you had to literally died to be resurrected.
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and Holy is he that hath part in the FIRST RESURRECTION ......
Isaiah 26:19 ... together with my dead body shall they arise ......
God spoke the words before you were ever born of woman, that you would be raised as ONE with Christ.
The carnal mind is ENMITY against the words of God.
The Spirit of TRUTH was SENT to destroy the WORKS of Satan, our carnal mind.
Philippians 1:29 For it is GIVEN TO YOU on the behalf of Christ (the Spirit of TRUTH) TO BELIEVE ......
If I can just add my 2-cents on this great verse ( Philippians 1:6) you brought up.
Notice how it says "being confident."
It's actually a Perfect Tense. It should read, "having become confident." Why? Because they've been in fellowship with the gospel from the first day until now.
They've been in fellowship with the gospel, so confidently Paul can say about this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform, and the Greek word means literally complete it, until the day of Jesus Christ:
That's quite a promise. But he didn't say that for all people. He says because you have been in the word from the first day until now, I can tell you that God's promise to you is that whatever work He began in you, He's going to complete it until Christ comes.
There's a reason why they stayed in the word. He didn't say for all people who profess to be Christians because not all professing Christians are saved, especially in our religious system in our country.
So the confidence comes because they've been in the word since the first day they were saved. God began a work in them. He gave them His Spirit, and by His Spirit, they were continuously being drawn to His word.
This is God's doing. It is His work in their lives. He began this work, and He sees it to its completion.
Those who overcome "overcomes" by the blood of Christ and is "overcoming" by the blood of Christ.
Paul says in Philippians 1:6
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you WILL PERFORM IT UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST:
Therefore, the promise is "the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Rec. 3:5.
And so, Timothy was considered Jewish. And in case some of the Hebrew and Jewish people would hear that he's Jewish as he's traveling and wanted to corner him and pin him down as to whether he's been circumcised, and whether he's been through the synagogue ceremonies, Paul had him circumcised so that he would be free to preach the gospel in the synagogues.
Timothy was ordained by Paul and the Presbytery ( I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:6).
He accompanies Paul on his third missionary trip ( Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4; II Corinthians 1:1, 19).
Timothy ministered in at least five churches as Paul's representative. He sent Timothy to:
1) Thessalonica ( I Thessalonians 3:2, 6).
2) Corinth ( I Corinthians 4:17; 16:10; II Corinthians 1:19).
3) Philippi ( Philippians 2:19-23).
4) Berea ( Acts 17:14).
5) Ephesus ( I Timothy 1:3).
Timothy was with Paul during Paul's first imprisonment ( Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; Philemon 1:1) and went to Philippi after Paul's release ( Philippians 2:19-23).
After Paul's release from his first imprisonment ( Acts 28:30), he revisited several cities leaving Timothy at Ephesus.
Paul went on to Macedonia from where he wrote Timothy this letter ( I Timothy 3:14-15).
Timothy was around 35-years of age when Paul wrote I Timothy.
Paul was arrested in Troas and taken to Rome and imprisoned for the second and last time.
Timothy also suffered imprisonment ( Hebrews 13:23).
Timothy ministered in at least 5 churches as Paul's representative:
1) Thessalonica ( I Thessalonians 3:2, 6)
2) Corinth ( I Corinthians 4:17; 16:10; II Corinthians 1:19)
3) Philippi ( Philippians 2:19-23)
4) Berea ( Acts 17:14)
5) Ephesus ( I Timothy 1:3)
So, here's somebody who spent 15-20 years with Paul all the time. He knew his teaching. He was able to live with him and watch his walk with the Lord, and he was sent out as Paul's representative to these different churches.
Timothy was with Paul during Paul's first imprisonment ( Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; Philemon 1:1) and went to Philippi after Paul's release ( Philippians 2:19-23). After Paul's release from his first imprisonment ( Acts 28:30), he revisited several cities leaving Timothy at Ephesus.
Paul went to Macedonia where he wrote Timothy this letter ( I Timothy 3:14-15). Timothy was around 35-years old when Paul wrote I Timothy. Timothy also suffered imprisonment ( Hebrews 13:23).
IV. DATE OF THE LETTER:
Written around 62 - 63 A.D. between Paul's first and second imprisonment. Paul wrote both 1 Timothy and Titus during this time. Paul was arrested again sometime after 64 A.D. and condemned to death. July, 64 A.D was when Rome was burned by Nero and blamed on the Christians. So, from 64 A.D. onward, Christianity was an illegal religion.
That's why there was persecution all the way from 64 A.D. to 313 A.D. Christians were persecuted and put to death because Christianity was an illegal religion until Constantine decided to bring Christianity from the underground and make it a legal religion.
Christianity joined Constantine's sun worship religion, which is why we have a lot of the traditions we have in the church today. It hasn't come from the bible. It hasn't come from the Christian church in the first 300 years. It came from Constantine's false religious system.
Paul wrote this letter during his second imprisonment; he also wrote II Timothy.
I've been reading the comments concerning the word of God, the Bible.
It appears that y'all have come to a conclusion that the Scriptures are to be the rule & guide of a Christian life, or at least finally stated this conclusion. Friends, no its not!
The Guide & Rule of a Christian life is not the Scriptures, but the Spirit, that gave forth the Scriptures
Jesus said, John 16:13, He didn't say the letter would lead us into all truth, but the Spirit. 1John 2:272Pet 1:3
Rom 8:14; not the letter, but led by the Spirit are the sons & daughters of God
Psalms 143:10Gal 4:10Rom 8:16Rom 8:9
Friends, you who are fermented on the Scriptures, do you not hear what the letters has to say?
2Cor 3:61Cor 2:9-13Rev 2:7,11Rev 2:29 etc;
Jesus was made like unto us in all things, & is our Example, its recorded in Scriptures John 7:15 was not taught by man, but taught & lead by God Spirit John 5:192Cor 5:19,20Rom 8:11 & was made 1Cor 15:45 to all that will receive Him in Spirit.
John the Baptist, was in the wilderness unto the day of his appearing; Luke 1:80 it is written Luke 3:2John 1:33 the Spirit of God came to him, taught him & empowered him for the life & ministry chosen for him from the foundation of the world.
The same principle applies to us this day, God has not change, He works the same way He always has & that's by His Spirit.
As I stated previously the Scripture true glory & honor are they give us a true testimony of Christ & point to Him who did return as He promised, & that in Spirit. The Scriptures are very profitable indeed when honor for which they were given forth. The NT is the administration of the Spirit 2Cor 3:8
Paul says Philippians 1:19 The Spirit of Christ is what lead him & taught him all that we read of in his writing. He counted all the knowledge & understanding that he previously attain to & live as Dung, Philippians 3:5-8 compare to the experiential knowledge John 5:17 he received from Holy Spirit. 1John 4:6 do you hear Him?
Hello Ashley. In my understanding, there are two aspects for those who belong to Jesus at their death: the mortal body goes into the ground & the immortal spirit returns to God ( Ecclesiastes 12:7). Some believe that both the spirit/soul & body remain together in the ground.
In Daniel 12:1,2, we read about the resurrection of the body in that final day, but there is no mention of the fate of the spirit of the deceased. Then in the account that Jesus gave of the wealthy man & poor Lazarus ( Luke 16:19-31), we note that Jesus spoke of three men: one in torment in hell's flames, one in relative peace & comfort in paradise, & with Abraham at his side. If any of these men just remained in the grave, Jesus would not have spoken of life beyond the grave soon after their deaths & such a life where either torment or peace can be experienced.
Even the Apostle Paul expressed his desire to leave this Earth ( Philippians 1:21-24) & to be with Christ, though he was required to continue to be used of God in the Gospel for a little longer. Paul didn't expect to lie in the grave, but his hope was that death would actually be welcome, for it meant that he would be with his Lord & Savior. And in passages such as Revelation 4:4; Revelation 5:5-10; Revelation 19:4; etc. we read about the Elders around God's Throne in Heaven. So I believe that at death our spirits return to God to join the host of Heaven worshiping the Lord of Glory. And when Jesus returns in the clouds to receive His beloved, those who have died in Christ will have their bodies re-formed to join their spirits, & those believers alive at that time will arise physically to be with the Lord forever. All this points to Jesus snatching away His people off the Earth before the awful Judgements of God come upon the unbelieving world. And then we all reign with Christ on the Earth in the Millennium period.
I thought it fitting to also point out how those in leadership will also be held accountable on this subject. There are few in ministry who will ask the congregation to pray for their needs; or who will openly acknowledge when they have done something amiss. Specifically; it is methodologies that are often held from worldly experience that are used to build up ministries; such as slick advertising campaigns. I prefer to hold to the seeker unfriendly camp; or perhaps what has been coined "your worst life now". Such advice is exemplified in Paul's harsh retort to the Corinthians who were living "like kings" at the time ( 1 Cor. 4:8). Sounds familiar; right? It would be wonderful to see the Gospel preached out of envy ( Philippians 1:15-16). That would be the case if the world was being turned "upside down" ( Acts 17:6); but in truth there are few that want to go down in a blaze of glory which the martyrdom at the time exemplified.
Exhortation; or iron sharpening iron ( Prov. 27:17) is also becoming a rare art heading toward extinction. Sin may be covered by the blood; but undoubtably still can lead to death; at least as far as the body is concerned. Such is the case with 1 Corinthians 11:30. For us to not have some awareness of the Holy Spirit convicting us of sin after salvation ignores passages such as Galatians 5:17. It is easy to ignore the desires of the Holy Spirit in the contentious struggle and just focus on the struggle with the flesh; for conflict to occur evidence of the Spirit's sanctification must be present. Again; without such things all of our "good deeds" simply are a remake of our actions to satiate God to the best of our ability; without ceding control to the Lord's authority and power. His RIGHTEOUSNESS is the only way we are going to want to obey His commandments; the whole emphasis of Psalm 119 as an example. And the Bema Seat keeps us humble now; every action is judged ( 1 Cor. 3:13)
OT promises, Isa 54:13Jeremiah 31:33-34; confirmed in NT, Hebrews 8: 10,11,12; why is it that God doesn't remember their sins? Because He has cleanse them of all unrighteousness & has endue them with His Spirit & they sin no more. Jeremiah 32:39-41; The cause & effect of God teaching us Himself, & that by His Spirit John 14:13,14,15; with all His Heart & all His Soul; says the LORD, Selah.
Consider; it was not until the 14th or 15th century that these things became widely available, & then it was only to the learned & privilege. The Apostasy that the Apostles spoke of was already at work in their day & came into full maturity with the Roman Catholic's Rev17:2 for then the world was Rome. Daniel 2:40
Who taught Moses, etc; even Jesus John 7:15; the disciples etc; one educated, Paul & he Philippians 3:7,8,9,10; he relied on Philippians 1:19; What about all the people in time that didn't get a chance to learn how to read or were in the remote regions of the earth were the Scriptures were unavailable? Or hear the Good New being preach in the power of the Holy Ghost? His words are, "from the least to the greatest". His Spirit is able to reach them to the uttermost, even the blind, deaf, dumb-mentally, etc; Jeremiah 32:27;
Chris, everyone; consider these things. God is just, He's not going to condemn someone for something they did not know. Rom 1:17, which comes by Rom 10:17; which is in Rom 10:8; continue Rom 1:19; & that by His 1Cor 2:10; He's that Light that admonish you in the car, follow Him & He will lead ALL that do to the Father. He's the Treasure 2Cor 4:7 that's opens our understanding to the knowledge & the glory of God, it's the face of Jesus Christ.
Basic points: Scripture makes it clear that we as believers are to "suffer for His name's sake" ( Philippians 1:29). We are given a new heart with our stony heart removed ( Ezekiel 36:26). We are to love the brethren ( 1 John 3:14) if we have "passed from death to life." We also love our enemies ( Matt. 5:44) and we should read the entire passage to meditate on how we pray for them who despitefully use you"; etc. We are aliens ( 1 Peter 2:11-12; see also 1 Chron. 29:15) and not of this world. We are truly born again and seated in heavenly places ( Eph. 2:6) and our treasure is now in heaven as well ( Matt. 6:20-21). We understand that we were saved as hopeless sinners and therefore serve as "unworthy servants" ( Luke 17:7-10). We still have peace that passes understanding (Phillipians 4:7); and is not of this world ( John 14:27).
With all this we have an understanding of how we have been called and chosen and predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son ( Romans 8:29).
We learn to love His ways and His Word; trusting God for the difficult and hard scriptures and sayings as well. A true believer is being transformed by the renewing of His mind ( Romans 12:2) and is concerned about the needs of others; particularly within the house of God. Hebrews 13 as well as Paul's example ( 2 Cor. 11:28) despite the persecutions he endured. We desire to grow and also must believe He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him ( Heb. 11:6). That means we also desire to win the prize of the high calling (Phillipians 3:14). Therefore those in Christ should be careful not to lose their reward ( Rev. 3:11).
All this being said; there are examples of those who think they are saved but are not; as well as those who make it into heaven but suffer loss. Evidence of fruit can be seen in time; and each of us are responsible to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith ( 2 Cor. 13:5). Seek and ye shall find ( Matt 7:7-8
You said; It was by their works that He never knew them.
But if you examine Matthew 7:16-23 carefully you'll see that it was them trusting in their works and not his work is why he never knew them.
vv 16 states "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Matthew 7:17-20 goes on to give you the contrast between the fruit and the thistles and what become of them.
There's dead works and there's fruit.
Thistles may be a sign of dead works.
Fruit is a work of God and performed by God that the believer bares by being connected to the vine. Philippians 1:6.
Philippians 2:13.
This is what James is saying in James 2:18 "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I WILL SHEW THEE MY FAITH BY MY WORKS."
A person wilfully continuing in sin is not saved, so you can't lose what you don't have.
James 3:19 reads; "Thou believest THAT THERE IS ONE GOD; thou doest well: THE DEVILS ALSO BELIEVE, AND TREMBLE.
Believing there's a God doesn't save souls.
Also; Titus 1:16 reads; "THEY PROFESS THAT THEY KNOW GOD; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."
A profession doesn't save souls either.
Look at those professors described in the previous verse.
vv 15. "Unto the pure all things are pure: (BUT UNTO THEM THAT ARE DEFILED AND UNBELIEVING) is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled."
If you can earn your salvation you can lose it.
If you can earn it you have no need of Christ, he came to loose the captives.
He didn't come to give instructions on how to live a saved life.( You can't. )
Salvation is him giving you life that produces fruit.
So shall we continue in sin? NO!
If you were baptized into Christ you are Identified with him and see sin the way he do.
This is what Romans chapters 6, 7, and 8 is all about.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
This verse is somewhat baffling; and altogether foreign from my vantage point. When have we seen anyone praching Christ in order to make a jailed believer suffer more? Even in countries with high persecution; it would seem odd to do this as it would bring persecution to those preaching it; making the cost seemingly too high for preaching in "pretence" as verse 17 states.
The only way I could envision this is if someone mocks Christianity by glibly quoting scripture; or preaches then deliberately incites a riot so that those who preach peaceably will be falsely accused of causing insurrections as a result. In any case until we see believers who are detained for a lengthy period of time in our country with a real threat of death it is something we have to understand with wisdom for the day things do head in that direction. For now most who are arrested are only for a short period of time; and if longer it is not usually clear that it is only for defence of the Gospel that they are in jail. There certainly may be cases like this which the media isn't mentioning; it certainly seems this has begun in Canada in the last year or so.
Boldness because of Paul's chains as seen with Philippians 1:14 shows several things. Through Paul's confidence and ongoing ministry it shows the Gospel can't be bound. It also gives sympathy from Paul's beloved members of the churches he founded as an Apostle who want to continue in his stead. How we need these type of believers today! Finally; it sets an example as a true shephard who lays his life down.
Part 2 Trinity discussion
Did Jesus exist before creation? Did the Holy Spirit exist before creation?
Jesus existed in God's plan, Jesus is the beginning of creation Rev. 3:14 and by Him were all things created Col. 1:16 my understanding is Jesus, was the first in God's plan of creation and everything was created by God, in and through the plan and purpose of Jesus. My understanding Jesus did not physically exist until the fullness of time. Ephesians 1:10 He was born of Mary the Son of God. the seed of woman. Genesis 3:15 Matthew 1:20
My understanding is the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, not a person, Genesis 1:2. We see all the greetings are from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:7 1 Corinthians 1:3 2 Corinthians 1:2 Galatians 1:3 Ephesians 1:2 Ephesians 6:23 Philippians 1:2 Colossians 1:2 and 6 more. The Holy Spirit not being included is a good clue the Holy Spirit was not considered a person by Paul and others at that time.
If so, who were they in relation to the Father?
I believe the above answers this.
How did the Father, the Son, and the Spirit all create all that is, seen or unseen?
My understanding is God the Father created all, Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:31 Proverbs 16:4 Isaiah 45:18 Nehemiah 9:6.
Does Scripture teach that God is only one person who manifests in three forms, but all these manifestations are only one person?
Scripture does not support Modalism I have never considered this and do not know anything about it.
See part 3.
"29. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30. Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me."
Matthew 5:44 states:
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
The scriptures show multiple times such as Matthew 27:19 with Pilate's wife (who may or may not have come to saving faith) and with Paul in particular (with the jailor who he had a chance to bring to faith along with his whole family) in Acts 16:30-33. The jailor even showed compassion in washing the stripes from whipping of Paul that apparently occurred earlier. There were others who Paul was able to bring to faith who were often wives of important officials.
Jesus; of course knew what He was talking about since we ALL start out as enemies of God. This puts us on an even playing field so to speak; so that we cannot understand how God can change the heart of a serial killer but not of someone who always seems to be a "nice person" whether our family members or friends. It isn't so much important to browbeat someone as to their sinfulness to convince them to repent; ASSUMING that we are preaching about the sorry state of human souls in general with unregenerate hearts. This is how the Gospel was preached; those in authority were given general and very harsh rebukes by Christ as part of the general call. WE certainly need to clearly speak of how Jesus saved us from total depravity or however we want to describe our sorry state before salvation.
Matthew 10:28 shows what we should NOT fear (our death) and what our persecutors SHOULD fear (see also Philippians 1:28).
Easier said than done; actually not possible apart from the Spirit giving us the utterance (see Luke 12:12).
We must remember God determines when our last day is on earth not Satan or man. No doubt Satan desires 24/7 to destroy us so we must always be vigilant and not let our guard down. The same should be said in prayer for those suffering persecution today.
Here I believe Judgment is speaking of discernment.
Part 1.
Something to notice about 1 John 2 and 1 John 4. In 1 John when you study it carefully, you see John using the contrast of loving your brother "which is hating your brother" to illustrate the heart of nonbelievers who "say" they love God. John is saying if you don't love your brother, you don't love God!
Look at verse 2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
It all begins in Bethlehem! Christ was born in Bethlehem. It's the incarnation is where we begin!
Calvary and the Garden tomb are meaningless unless he is who he claims to be. God in the flesh! 1 Timothy 3:16.
One way you can determine the false teacher is he will deny the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ and behind this doctrine and the lack of the Spirit, he will have no love for the Brothern. This is the Spirit of the Antichrist.
John has much to say about the deity of Christ. John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us...
1 John he has a lot to say about the Antichrist in the world.
These false teachers appeals to the flesh! We have the Spirit of Christ which protects us.
Verse 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. These false teachers intellectually appeal to the world through their fleshly minds.
Verse 5. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
God's children "WILL" respond to God's word.
Verse 7, Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
John having given a warning of false teachers, John returns to the theme of this section.
See Part 2.
No discipline is enjoyable at the time according to Hebrews 12:11. It leads to good fruits according to the passage; however.
I have stated repeatedly that verses indicating chastising all He loves as well as suffering for His Name's sake are both scriptural statements in regard to the fate of those who are saved. (see Philippians 1:29 and dozens of other verses). So in some sense we have died with Christ but are being crucified daily. WE are the ones where there has to be progressive sanctification; Christ Himself only died once for the propitiation of our sins; in other words He didn't need being perfect the process of sanctification before glorification.
Just as the conversion of a serial killer may appear more dramatic than say a stay at home housewife; the sanctification may also appear so. We see Christ tell Paul how much he will have to suffer for His Name's sake ( Acts 9:16). God has His own unique calling on our lives therefore different things necessary in our sanctification process. Nonetheless; changes must occur.
Once we die or are raptured and called home in glory then of course the process is completed; and the rewards commensurate with our service or lack thereof. This means we should strive to win the prize; but that is involved with a combination of learning how to submit daily to the Lord as well as buffeting ourselves with self discipline; someone He can trust to honor His name; and a servant who obeys because of love for their Master; Lord and Savior.
Sanctification therefore means various things; changing our daily habits and routines; changing the focus of our career and recreational time; and for some means a change of venue; or vocation. It is the small things that add up to make one prepared for the big; the lives of Christ and the Apostles show how they faced martyrdom after daily dying to self. Paul had suffered greatly and preferred to be with the Lord but not before the time ( Phil. 1:23)
I'm not saying don't go to church, I'm saying DON'T be DECEIVED, by man's doctrines.
Most in the churches, are taught by man, not taught by the spirit of truth.
You will know them by their fruit, the WORD that comes from their lips, are they God's truths or man's truth.
You just said we are saved by grace, they will say those same words, THEN ADD, what you have to do HELP Christ save YOU.
You were SAVED at Christ resurrection, not yet having seen the light of day, Christ didn't need your help then nor now.
It's finished WORK.
JUST BELIEVE, But you don't even do that, it alsois a gift of God.
Philippians 1:29 ... it is GIVEN to you, on the behalf of Christ, TO BELIEVE ....
God Bless YOU!
One will glean more knowledge form interacting on this forum than will ever be gleaned in our churches, sad but true.
Our churches stand on denominational doctrines instead of of the gospel of the kingdom of heaven.
I was raised in a denominal doctrine church, went they any and every time the doors were open, I never hear a sermon on the gospel of the kingdom of God, It was do good and go to heaven, don't do good and go to hell: all works.
Until God CAUSED me to sit and study his word, I never knew the gospel of the Kingdom of God, I never knew the baptism into Jesus NAME, only the water baptism of John.
I was taught we have FREE WILL, never understanding I DIED on the cross, ONLY the BODY of Christ was resurrected and WE as JOINT HEIRS of his resurrection.
Dead men DO NOT HAVE FREE WILL:
Ezekiel 36:22 I WILL put my spirit IN YOU and CAUSE YOU to walk in my statutes, and keep my judgement (we are judged by the words of God) and DO THEM.
If one believes this scripture he is a SEED of God, ONLY God's WWILL is being done in HIS BODY.
If God is WILLING all things, AND DOING all things in IN US, then WE CANNOT SIN.
This is how Christ was without SIN, He had KNOWLEDGE without measure of the WORDS of GOD.
He KNEW every word from his mouth was OF HIS FATHER, he was just the BODY, every action (works) his body performed was the WORK of his Father.
When Christ became angry, he had knowledge it was the Father CAUSING his to show his anger, but he had knowledge that ALL THINGS (anger and other things we call SIN) all WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD.
We can't see that but GOD'S word says it does, so do we believe our carnal mind of do we let the words of God DESTROY the man of perdition, our carnal mind, and RENEW our carnal mind with the mind of Christ.
HIS mind and his heart were GIVEN TO US by being resurrected JOINT HEIRS with Christ,
BUT even BELIEVING his words have to be GIVEN to us on the BEHALF of Christ .... Philippians 1:29
God Bless YOU!
Part two
What does it mean to believe? What is the evidence that we believe? As Paul said, it is like running a race, when we start this race, we believe we are going to finish, and with God's Spirit we have all the determination and motivation we are not only going to finish this race we are going to win this race.
We are saved! We are being saved! We shall be saved! When we start, are all our sins forgiven, our past, present, and our future sins the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and are baptized? Is our salvation guaranteed and we cannot lose it or fall out of grace regardless?
We are saved. Eph. 2:5 When we accept the gospel and are baptized our sins are blotted out, Isaiah 44:22 Acts 3:19 and we become a child/son/daughter of God, John 1:12 we are justified, made righteous by the blood of Christ and the Holy Spirit dwells in us, and now we begin a relationship through God's Spirit, and God and Jesus abide in us, 2 John 1:9. This is the start of the race, the beginning of our salvation.
We are being saved. Philippians 1:6 Hearing the Word one believes and is baptized into Christ they are made clean (justification) the work of grace, and the Lord will continue working in us until He returns if we abide in Him John 15:3-5. How does God complete his good work in us? Testing James 1:2-4, chastising Heb. 12:6-7 Our relationship. If we abide in Him, Jesus, and God abides in us. The branches bear the fruit of the vine, the vine produces the fruit not us/branch, sanctification. We are running the race Philippians 2:12
We shall be saved. Redemption and glorification. Our full salvation comes at the end, when Jesus returns. Luke 21:28 "being now justified" We started the race. We are being saved, "being reconciled" we are running the race, 2 Cor. 5:18. We shall be saved at the end of the race. Romans 13:11.
See part three.
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."
Philippians 1:27-28,
"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I (Paul) come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;"
Philippians 1:29.
You are right.
God bless.
God gives us His Spirit and it is His Spirit that produces the faith the Bible speaks of. We do not have the capacity to produce the faith we read about. Now, both believers and nonbelievers alike can produce human faith, but this type of faith is different than the faith the Bible speaks of. Only Gods Spirit can produce spiritual faith, or saving faith ( Galatians 5:22).
As far as Philippians 1:29, here is my understanding:
It says, "For unto you it is given," and by the way, the word given is the word graced. God has blessed you, favored you, in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake;
Isn't that good news? It's God's will! Just like Peter says in his letter, why are you so surprised for the fiery trials that come up against you?
It's God's will that not only you believe, but that you suffer for the sake of Christ.
But check out what it says in the next verse ( Philippians 1:30):
Having the same conflict, and that's the word agony. Having the same agony which you saw in me, and now you hear to be in me.
Paul says, you want to know what it looks like, what I just told you about believing and suffering? It's the same agony that you see in my life, as I, like an athlete battle with the opponent all day long.
That's not just God's will for Paul. That's for every believer!
Blessings to you in Christ!
I KNOW you believe we are saved by grace ALONE, everything is the WORKS of GOD.
May the spirit of truth add to your comments:
You said OUR PART is confess and believe.
IS IT NOT the ''works'' of CHRIST IN US that CAUSES us to believe.
Philippians 1:29 For it is given (GRACE) to us on the behalf of Christ --- TO BELIEVE ----
ALL is the WORKS of GOD.
The ""belief" by and of, the "faith" by and of, the "life" by and of ---JESUS CHRIST ---
We are just the BODY of CHRIST, the "heart" and "mind" in that body; you and I and everyone else, IS CHRIST
Christ; the firstborn, of many brethren, we are the FRUIT of the TESTOR.
Isaiah 14:29 and out of the ROOT of the serpent (man) shall come forth a cockatrice (a saviour of men) and his (the saviours) FRUIT shall be a FIERY FLYING SERPENT.
God BLESS YOU as the spirit of truth makes us all ONE in Christ.
Part 2.
Ronald, you said Salvation is a gift from God, but We cannot earn this gift, but we must receive it according to God's terms. Isn't that a contradictory statement?
What are God's terms? Isn't it believe in him whom he sent?
John 6:27-29.
27) Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
"Notice in verse 28 the disciple's ask what their labor is they must do.
Notice in verse 29 Jesus gives them their part!
28) Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29) Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
AFTER YOU PART SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE IS ESTABLISHED!
Here is the next step and source of our growth. Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Ronald, concerning Abraham.
Abraham proved his faith by his works, He was justified by faith alone.
Here's how Paul put it in Romans 10:8-11. "AND NOTICE THE LAST SENTENCE IN VERSE 11"
"But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON HIM SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED.
See part 3.
all creation is judged now, today: tomorrow; tomorrow will become today, world without end. judgement is what god has said. his word will not return unto him void.
judgement is now, today, upon the house of the christ; you, me and everyone on this forum; is that house, and there is only one house, the lord god almighty and the lamb: some have not yet come to that truth, but there is a today coming when they shall be overcome by judgement.
you are baptised into the name of jesus christ, resurrected as one, join-heirs, a husband and his bride.
john 17:22 and the glory that thou hast given me, i have given them, that as we are one, they may be one in us.
judgement is now, do you believe what god has said.
philippians 1:29 for it is given to you on the behalf of christ ...... to believe......
god bless you as we abound in the works of god.
Luke 20:36 And THEY (who are they) CAN DIE NO MORE (they DIED on the cross of Christ):for they are EQUAL unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the CHILDREN of the RESURRECTION.
If you are the children of the RESURRECTION, you had to literally died to be resurrected.
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and Holy is he that hath part in the FIRST RESURRECTION ......
Isaiah 26:19 ... together with my dead body shall they arise ......
God spoke the words before you were ever born of woman, that you would be raised as ONE with Christ.
The carnal mind is ENMITY against the words of God.
The Spirit of TRUTH was SENT to destroy the WORKS of Satan, our carnal mind.
Philippians 1:29 For it is GIVEN TO YOU on the behalf of Christ (the Spirit of TRUTH) TO BELIEVE ......
God Bless YOU!
John 1:29 ...... Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the SIN of the world.
Hebrews 12:1 ... an the SIN which doth so easily beset us ......
What is this singular SIN that so easily besets God's people, and Jesus said he will TAKE AWAY, because his blood covers all other sins.
John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of SIN.......
John 16:9 Of SIN, because they BELIEVE NOT .... (the Word of God)......
Philippians 1:29 ... it is GIVEN TO YOU on the behalf of Christ to BELIEVE
God Bless YOU!
Do you BELIEVE you are dead to sin?
Matthew 8:13 And Jesus said ..... Go thy way, and as thou has BELIEVED, so it BE DONE UNTO THEE, and his servant was healed the selfsame hour.
Philippians 1:29 For unto you IT IS GIVEN on the behalf of Christ to not only BELIEVE but to suffer for his sake;
God Bless YOU!
If I can just add my 2-cents on this great verse ( Philippians 1:6) you brought up.
Notice how it says "being confident."
It's actually a Perfect Tense. It should read, "having become confident." Why? Because they've been in fellowship with the gospel from the first day until now.
They've been in fellowship with the gospel, so confidently Paul can say about this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform, and the Greek word means literally complete it, until the day of Jesus Christ:
That's quite a promise. But he didn't say that for all people. He says because you have been in the word from the first day until now, I can tell you that God's promise to you is that whatever work He began in you, He's going to complete it until Christ comes.
There's a reason why they stayed in the word. He didn't say for all people who profess to be Christians because not all professing Christians are saved, especially in our religious system in our country.
So the confidence comes because they've been in the word since the first day they were saved. God began a work in them. He gave them His Spirit, and by His Spirit, they were continuously being drawn to His word.
This is God's doing. It is His work in their lives. He began this work, and He sees it to its completion.
God bless!!!
Welcome to the site.
Those who overcome "overcomes" by the blood of Christ and is "overcoming" by the blood of Christ.
Paul says in Philippians 1:6
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you WILL PERFORM IT UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST:
Therefore, the promise is "the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Rec. 3:5.
God bless.
"In my heart and life it happened. By eagles wings I was carried out of darkness and the bondage of Egypt into a new and better land.
That reminds me of Philippians 1:6.
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
God bless
And so, Timothy was considered Jewish. And in case some of the Hebrew and Jewish people would hear that he's Jewish as he's traveling and wanted to corner him and pin him down as to whether he's been circumcised, and whether he's been through the synagogue ceremonies, Paul had him circumcised so that he would be free to preach the gospel in the synagogues.
Timothy was ordained by Paul and the Presbytery ( I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:6).
He accompanies Paul on his third missionary trip ( Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4; II Corinthians 1:1, 19).
Timothy ministered in at least five churches as Paul's representative. He sent Timothy to:
1) Thessalonica ( I Thessalonians 3:2, 6).
2) Corinth ( I Corinthians 4:17; 16:10; II Corinthians 1:19).
3) Philippi ( Philippians 2:19-23).
4) Berea ( Acts 17:14).
5) Ephesus ( I Timothy 1:3).
Timothy was with Paul during Paul's first imprisonment ( Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; Philemon 1:1) and went to Philippi after Paul's release ( Philippians 2:19-23).
After Paul's release from his first imprisonment ( Acts 28:30), he revisited several cities leaving Timothy at Ephesus.
Paul went on to Macedonia from where he wrote Timothy this letter ( I Timothy 3:14-15).
Timothy was around 35-years of age when Paul wrote I Timothy.
Paul was arrested in Troas and taken to Rome and imprisoned for the second and last time.
Timothy also suffered imprisonment ( Hebrews 13:23).
Timothy ministered in at least 5 churches as Paul's representative:
1) Thessalonica ( I Thessalonians 3:2, 6)
2) Corinth ( I Corinthians 4:17; 16:10; II Corinthians 1:19)
3) Philippi ( Philippians 2:19-23)
4) Berea ( Acts 17:14)
5) Ephesus ( I Timothy 1:3)
So, here's somebody who spent 15-20 years with Paul all the time. He knew his teaching. He was able to live with him and watch his walk with the Lord, and he was sent out as Paul's representative to these different churches.
Timothy was with Paul during Paul's first imprisonment ( Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; Philemon 1:1) and went to Philippi after Paul's release ( Philippians 2:19-23). After Paul's release from his first imprisonment ( Acts 28:30), he revisited several cities leaving Timothy at Ephesus.
Paul went to Macedonia where he wrote Timothy this letter ( I Timothy 3:14-15). Timothy was around 35-years old when Paul wrote I Timothy. Timothy also suffered imprisonment ( Hebrews 13:23).
IV. DATE OF THE LETTER:
Written around 62 - 63 A.D. between Paul's first and second imprisonment. Paul wrote both 1 Timothy and Titus during this time. Paul was arrested again sometime after 64 A.D. and condemned to death. July, 64 A.D was when Rome was burned by Nero and blamed on the Christians. So, from 64 A.D. onward, Christianity was an illegal religion.
That's why there was persecution all the way from 64 A.D. to 313 A.D. Christians were persecuted and put to death because Christianity was an illegal religion until Constantine decided to bring Christianity from the underground and make it a legal religion.
Christianity joined Constantine's sun worship religion, which is why we have a lot of the traditions we have in the church today. It hasn't come from the bible. It hasn't come from the Christian church in the first 300 years. It came from Constantine's false religious system.
Paul wrote this letter during his second imprisonment; he also wrote II Timothy.
I've been reading the comments concerning the word of God, the Bible.
It appears that y'all have come to a conclusion that the Scriptures are to be the rule & guide of a Christian life, or at least finally stated this conclusion. Friends, no its not!
The Guide & Rule of a Christian life is not the Scriptures, but the Spirit, that gave forth the Scriptures
Jesus said, John 16:13, He didn't say the letter would lead us into all truth, but the Spirit. 1John 2:27 2Pet 1:3
Rom 8:14; not the letter, but led by the Spirit are the sons & daughters of God
Psalms 143:10 Gal 4:10 Rom 8:16 Rom 8:9
Friends, you who are fermented on the Scriptures, do you not hear what the letters has to say?
2Cor 3:6 1Cor 2:9-13 Rev 2:7,11 Rev 2:29 etc;
Jesus was made like unto us in all things, & is our Example, its recorded in Scriptures John 7:15 was not taught by man, but taught & lead by God Spirit John 5:19 2Cor 5:19,20 Rom 8:11 & was made 1Cor 15:45 to all that will receive Him in Spirit.
John the Baptist, was in the wilderness unto the day of his appearing; Luke 1:80 it is written Luke 3:2 John 1:33 the Spirit of God came to him, taught him & empowered him for the life & ministry chosen for him from the foundation of the world.
The same principle applies to us this day, God has not change, He works the same way He always has & that's by His Spirit.
As I stated previously the Scripture true glory & honor are they give us a true testimony of Christ & point to Him who did return as He promised, & that in Spirit. The Scriptures are very profitable indeed when honor for which they were given forth. The NT is the administration of the Spirit 2Cor 3:8
Paul says Philippians 1:19 The Spirit of Christ is what lead him & taught him all that we read of in his writing. He counted all the knowledge & understanding that he previously attain to & live as Dung, Philippians 3:5-8 compare to the experiential knowledge John 5:17 he received from Holy Spirit. 1John 4:6 do you hear Him?
in L & T
In Daniel 12:1,2, we read about the resurrection of the body in that final day, but there is no mention of the fate of the spirit of the deceased. Then in the account that Jesus gave of the wealthy man & poor Lazarus ( Luke 16:19-31), we note that Jesus spoke of three men: one in torment in hell's flames, one in relative peace & comfort in paradise, & with Abraham at his side. If any of these men just remained in the grave, Jesus would not have spoken of life beyond the grave soon after their deaths & such a life where either torment or peace can be experienced.
Even the Apostle Paul expressed his desire to leave this Earth ( Philippians 1:21-24) & to be with Christ, though he was required to continue to be used of God in the Gospel for a little longer. Paul didn't expect to lie in the grave, but his hope was that death would actually be welcome, for it meant that he would be with his Lord & Savior. And in passages such as Revelation 4:4; Revelation 5:5-10; Revelation 19:4; etc. we read about the Elders around God's Throne in Heaven. So I believe that at death our spirits return to God to join the host of Heaven worshiping the Lord of Glory. And when Jesus returns in the clouds to receive His beloved, those who have died in Christ will have their bodies re-formed to join their spirits, & those believers alive at that time will arise physically to be with the Lord forever. All this points to Jesus snatching away His people off the Earth before the awful Judgements of God come upon the unbelieving world. And then we all reign with Christ on the Earth in the Millennium period.
I thought it fitting to also point out how those in leadership will also be held accountable on this subject. There are few in ministry who will ask the congregation to pray for their needs; or who will openly acknowledge when they have done something amiss. Specifically; it is methodologies that are often held from worldly experience that are used to build up ministries; such as slick advertising campaigns. I prefer to hold to the seeker unfriendly camp; or perhaps what has been coined "your worst life now". Such advice is exemplified in Paul's harsh retort to the Corinthians who were living "like kings" at the time ( 1 Cor. 4:8). Sounds familiar; right? It would be wonderful to see the Gospel preached out of envy ( Philippians 1:15-16). That would be the case if the world was being turned "upside down" ( Acts 17:6); but in truth there are few that want to go down in a blaze of glory which the martyrdom at the time exemplified.
Exhortation; or iron sharpening iron ( Prov. 27:17) is also becoming a rare art heading toward extinction. Sin may be covered by the blood; but undoubtably still can lead to death; at least as far as the body is concerned. Such is the case with 1 Corinthians 11:30. For us to not have some awareness of the Holy Spirit convicting us of sin after salvation ignores passages such as Galatians 5:17. It is easy to ignore the desires of the Holy Spirit in the contentious struggle and just focus on the struggle with the flesh; for conflict to occur evidence of the Spirit's sanctification must be present. Again; without such things all of our "good deeds" simply are a remake of our actions to satiate God to the best of our ability; without ceding control to the Lord's authority and power. His RIGHTEOUSNESS is the only way we are going to want to obey His commandments; the whole emphasis of Psalm 119 as an example. And the Bema Seat keeps us humble now; every action is judged ( 1 Cor. 3:13)
OT promises, Isa 54:13 Jeremiah 31:33-34; confirmed in NT, Hebrews 8: 10,11,12; why is it that God doesn't remember their sins? Because He has cleanse them of all unrighteousness & has endue them with His Spirit & they sin no more. Jeremiah 32:39-41; The cause & effect of God teaching us Himself, & that by His Spirit John 14:13,14,15; with all His Heart & all His Soul; says the LORD, Selah.
Consider; it was not until the 14th or 15th century that these things became widely available, & then it was only to the learned & privilege. The Apostasy that the Apostles spoke of was already at work in their day & came into full maturity with the Roman Catholic's Rev17:2 for then the world was Rome. Daniel 2:40
Who taught Moses, etc; even Jesus John 7:15; the disciples etc; one educated, Paul & he Philippians 3:7,8,9,10; he relied on Philippians 1:19; What about all the people in time that didn't get a chance to learn how to read or were in the remote regions of the earth were the Scriptures were unavailable? Or hear the Good New being preach in the power of the Holy Ghost? His words are, "from the least to the greatest". His Spirit is able to reach them to the uttermost, even the blind, deaf, dumb-mentally, etc; Jeremiah 32:27;
Chris, everyone; consider these things. God is just, He's not going to condemn someone for something they did not know. Rom 1:17, which comes by Rom 10:17; which is in Rom 10:8; continue Rom 1:19; & that by His 1Cor 2:10; He's that Light that admonish you in the car, follow Him & He will lead ALL that do to the Father. He's the Treasure 2Cor 4:7 that's opens our understanding to the knowledge & the glory of God, it's the face of Jesus Christ.
You ask what define as sin? Rom 14:23;
In Love & Truth
Frankie J
Basic points: Scripture makes it clear that we as believers are to "suffer for His name's sake" ( Philippians 1:29). We are given a new heart with our stony heart removed ( Ezekiel 36:26). We are to love the brethren ( 1 John 3:14) if we have "passed from death to life." We also love our enemies ( Matt. 5:44) and we should read the entire passage to meditate on how we pray for them who despitefully use you"; etc. We are aliens ( 1 Peter 2:11-12; see also 1 Chron. 29:15) and not of this world. We are truly born again and seated in heavenly places ( Eph. 2:6) and our treasure is now in heaven as well ( Matt. 6:20-21). We understand that we were saved as hopeless sinners and therefore serve as "unworthy servants" ( Luke 17:7-10). We still have peace that passes understanding (Phillipians 4:7); and is not of this world ( John 14:27).
With all this we have an understanding of how we have been called and chosen and predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son ( Romans 8:29).
We learn to love His ways and His Word; trusting God for the difficult and hard scriptures and sayings as well. A true believer is being transformed by the renewing of His mind ( Romans 12:2) and is concerned about the needs of others; particularly within the house of God. Hebrews 13 as well as Paul's example ( 2 Cor. 11:28) despite the persecutions he endured. We desire to grow and also must believe He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him ( Heb. 11:6). That means we also desire to win the prize of the high calling (Phillipians 3:14). Therefore those in Christ should be careful not to lose their reward ( Rev. 3:11).
All this being said; there are examples of those who think they are saved but are not; as well as those who make it into heaven but suffer loss. Evidence of fruit can be seen in time; and each of us are responsible to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith ( 2 Cor. 13:5). Seek and ye shall find ( Matt 7:7-8
You said; It was by their works that He never knew them.
But if you examine Matthew 7:16-23 carefully you'll see that it was them trusting in their works and not his work is why he never knew them.
vv 16 states "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Matthew 7:17-20 goes on to give you the contrast between the fruit and the thistles and what become of them.
There's dead works and there's fruit.
Thistles may be a sign of dead works.
Fruit is a work of God and performed by God that the believer bares by being connected to the vine. Philippians 1:6.
Philippians 2:13.
This is what James is saying in James 2:18 "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I WILL SHEW THEE MY FAITH BY MY WORKS."
A person wilfully continuing in sin is not saved, so you can't lose what you don't have.
James 3:19 reads; "Thou believest THAT THERE IS ONE GOD; thou doest well: THE DEVILS ALSO BELIEVE, AND TREMBLE.
Believing there's a God doesn't save souls.
Also; Titus 1:16 reads; "THEY PROFESS THAT THEY KNOW GOD; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."
A profession doesn't save souls either.
Look at those professors described in the previous verse.
vv 15. "Unto the pure all things are pure: (BUT UNTO THEM THAT ARE DEFILED AND UNBELIEVING) is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled."
If you can earn your salvation you can lose it.
If you can earn it you have no need of Christ, he came to loose the captives.
He didn't come to give instructions on how to live a saved life.( You can't. )
Salvation is him giving you life that produces fruit.
So shall we continue in sin? NO!
If you were baptized into Christ you are Identified with him and see sin the way he do.
This is what Romans chapters 6, 7, and 8 is all about.
God bless.