Miscellaneous and Varied Truth's of scripture!

[aikido7]

Most of the natural jews of Peters day, searched the scriptures with an natural understanding, and did not see Eternal Life in Christ Jn 5:38-40

38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

Whereas Peter and the other beliving disciples of Christ [to exclude judas] perceived Eternal Life in Christ Jn 6:65-69

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

The ability for them to know and believe on Christ for Eternal life, was part of the Gift of the Father, to those Chosen in Christ Jn 6:65

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

And they come to Him because they know His Voice as their Shepherd Jn 10:4

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Thats what follow means, to come after ! And to do that, we must know Him, His voice, they dont follow a stranger ! Not when the Spirit of Christ is given them !

The Bible contains a rich tapestry of remembered history, oral traditions, legends, myths and metaphors.

Because these are all actually in the Bible, we must take them seriously and see them honestly at face value. Facts and faith belong to two different dominions and both are needed.

 

[beloved57]

The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

1 Cor 6:9

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

Now exactly who are the Unrighteous ? They are any sinner that Christ did not die for, this is true simply because every sinner Christ died for, the promise is they shall be made/declared Righteous Rom 5:19

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

His obedience comprises His Death Phil 2:8

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

So its impossible for anyone He died for to be amongst the Unrighteous !

 

[Nanja]

1 Cor 6:9

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

Now exactly who are the Unrighteous ? They are any sinner that Christ did not die for, this is true simply because every sinner Christ died for, the promise is they shall be made/declared Righteous Rom 5:19

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

His obedience comprises His Death Phil 2:8

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

So its impossible for anyone He died for to be amongst the Unrighteous !

Yes, those Christ made Righteous, and the unrighteous, are two distinct groups of people.
Their status is God-ordained, and is not subject to change Rom. 9:22-23.

Because 1 Cor. 6:9 tells us that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God,
that clearly illustrates that not all of humanity was made righteous by Christ's Death.
But that Justification / Salvation was limited to all of those who were Chosen in Christ
and predestined to the Adoption of children Eph. 1:4-5, according to God's Purpose and Grace
before the world began 2 Tim. 1:9; they have Redemption through Christ's Blood and forgiveness of sins Eph. 1:7.

The same are the Spiritual Seed of Abraham Gal. 3:16; Heb. 2:16-17 KJV, the Heirs of Promise Heb.6:17 KJV.

Gal. 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Rom. 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God:
but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Only this Spiritual Seed Christ died for, Israel; both jew and Gentile Rev. 5:9, are Promised Salvation in Christ.

Is. 45:17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

~~~~~

 

[beloved57]

Yes, those Christ made Righteous, and the unrighteous, are two distinct groups of people.
Their status is God-ordained, and is not subject to change Rom. 9:22-23.

Because 1 Cor. 6:9 tells us that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God,
that clearly illustrates that not all of humanity was made righteous by Christ's Death.
But that Justification / Salvation was limited to all of those who were Chosen in Christ
and predestined to the Adoption of children Eph. 1:4-5, according to God's Purpose and Grace
before the world began 2 Tim. 1:9; they have Redemption through Christ's Blood and forgiveness of sins Eph. 1:7.

The same are the Spiritual Seed of Abraham Gal. 3:16; Heb. 2:16-17 KJV, the Heirs of Promise Heb.6:17 KJV.

Gal. 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Rom. 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God:
but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Only this Spiritual Seed Christ died for, Israel; both jew and Gentile Rev. 5:9, are Promised Salvation in Christ.

Is. 45:17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

~~~~~

Amen !

 

[beloved57]

How we became Believers / Abraham's Seed ! !

How we became Believers / Abraham's Seed ! !

Gal 3:29

29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Believers became believers as a result of a unconditional Promise God made to Abraham,

Now in the above text Paul is writing to the Church, the Body of Christ, of which He is Head, and which He is Abraham's Seed Gal 3:16, So the Head of the Church, Christ, is Abraham's Seed ! He is writing to both jew and Gentile believers in Christ. Now how did and why did they become Believers of Abraham's Seed ? Its by an unconditional promise that God made to Abraham, in which God promised Abraham a believing seed, that is when God told Abraham this Gen 17:5

5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations[Gentiles] have I made thee. Now how is Abraham the Father to Gentiles, by Faith Gal 3:6-9

6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Rom 4:16-17

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all[Jew and Gentile Believers],

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

So this would be to him a believing seed, and this seed is nit Abraham's children according to the flesh, this we know by Rom 9:7-8

7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Its a Seed that Isaac was a Type of, Children of Promise, and thats why Paul wrote unto the Believers at Galatia, who belonged to Christ Gal 3:29 this statement Gal 4:28

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. Who are the brethren ? Its those who he wrote earlier this Gal 3:29 !

 

[beloved57]

How we became Believers / Abraham's Seed ! ! 2

How we became Believers / Abraham's Seed ! ! 2

Now how did Isaac come to be ? He came into being as Abraham's Son and Heir [ heir of the righteousness which is by faith.], Rom 4:13

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

He came into being by God's Promise, lets read Gods promise to Abraham about Isaac his Heir Gen 15:4

4 And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

Gen 17:16,19

16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

God confirms this birth of Isaac here Gen 18:10

10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

And God fulfilled the Promise by His Word of Promise and Power Gen 21:1-3

And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

Isaac, as well as all other Children of Promise given to Abraham, were not born Heirs by their own freewill, but as results of the Promise and Power of God, and scripture says he[Isaac] was born after the Spirit Gal 4:29

29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him[Isaac] that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

 

[beloved57]

How we became Believers / Abraham's Seed ! ! 3

How we became Believers / Abraham's Seed ! ! 3

As stated, the Heirs of Promise are not born already believers, but they become believers because through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus for them, God sends the Spirit into their hearts as proof of their Sonship and Heirship Gal 4:1-7

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

You see when God Promised Isaac to Abraham as an Heir Gen 15:4

4 And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

It automatically denoted he would be a Child of Faith in Christ Gal 3:7

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Rom 4:13

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

And the same was True of those Believers Paul calls bretheren, whether they be jew or Gentile here Gal 4:28

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

You see, if God does not bring heirs to Faith in Christ, then He has failed His Promise to Abraham ! And may that never be !

 

[beloved57]

How we became Believers / Abraham's Seed ! ! 4

How we became Believers / Abraham's Seed ! ! 4

Now its important to understand that God's Promise to Abraham to have Isaac as a Son, as a Heir, was unconditional, and the Promise of his birth was not contingent upon anything in the aged couple, in fact from a natural perspective, Isaac's Birth through Sarah was not even possible, for she was to advanced in age to physically have children, and this was all by Divine Purpose and design, so that the Birth of Isaac as well as all the other children of promise, can be seen to be as an accomplishment of the Sovereign Power and Word of God. And again so it is with all the Heirs of Promise, their Heir-ship with their Faith cannot be attributed to anything natural, not the will of the flesh, but only by the Will of God.

This Illustrates that God's Word of Promise has its own Virtue and Power to produce His promised results , just like saying, " Let there be Light" and behold Light is Born ! God said " Let there be a Child of Promise born to such and such, and behold, A Child of Promise shall be born of them ! Ecc 3:1-2

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

Isaac as well as any other Child of Promise to Abraham, are born both naturally and Spiritually by the Purpose of God !

 

[Nanja]

Now its important to understand that God's Promise to Abraham to have Isaac as a Son, as a Heir, was uncondional, and the Promise of his birth was not contingent upon anything in the aged couple, in fact from a natural perspective, Isaacs Birth through Sarah was not even possible, for she was to advanced in age to physically have children, and this was all by Divine Purpose and design, so that the Birth of Isaac as well as all the other children of promise, can be seen to be as an accomplishment of the Sovereign Power and Word of God. And again so it is with all the Heirs of Promise, their Heirship with their Faith cannot be attributed to anything natural, not the will of the flesh, but only by the Will of God.

This Illustrates that God's Word of Promise has its own Virtue and Power to produce His promised results , just like saying, " Let there be Light" and behold Light is Born ! God said " Let there be a Child of Promise born to such and such, and behold, A Child of Promise shall be born of them ! Ecc 3:1-2

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

Isaac as well as any other Child of Promise to Abraham, are born both naturally and Spiritually by the Purpose of God !

(post #926)
Isaac, as well as all other Children of Promise given to Abraham, were not born Heirs by their own freewill, but as results of the Promise and Power of God, and scripture says he[Isaac] was born after the Spirit Gal 4:29

29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him[Isaac] that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

Freewill religion is the devil's tool of deception.
Yet God's Will shall be accomplished perfectly!

(post #927)
As stated, the Heirs of Promise are not born already believers, but they become believers because through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus for them, God sends the Spirit into their hearts as proof of their Sonship and Heirship Gal 4:1-7

So true!

God sending the Spirit of His Son into the hearts of each one of His Heirs of Promise is
the powerful assurance and confirmation that Eternal Life was Promised them,
God's Chosen Seed, before the world began Titus 1:2; 1 John 2:25.


Thank you for this powerful study:

How we became Believers / Abraham's Seed ! !

~~~~~

 

[beloved57]

Freewill religion is the devil's tool of deception.
Yet God's Will shall be accomplished perfectly!





So true!

God sending the Spirit of His Son into the hearts of each one of His Heirs of Promise is
the powerful assurance and confirmation that Eternal Life was Promised them,
God's Chosen Seed, before the world began Titus 1:2; 1 John 2:25.


Thank you for this powerful study:

How we became Believers / Abraham's Seed ! !

~~~~~

May God continue to Bless you!

 

[aikido7]

2 Tim 3:15-17

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

As we read and study the scriptures, God has been pleased at times to give us certain light and understanding on a particular portion of scripture; and as we feel the desire to testify to that Truth, it at times is difficult in placing it in any given Thread. So I would like to introduce a thread that is designed for varied Truth's of scripture, not really given to any certain subject, but yet its Truth the same.

The first scripture passage i will begin with is 2 Tim 1:9-10

9Who 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,

10But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

What death is abolished, and what light and immortality is brought to light via the Gospel ?

Now in a real sense Christ hath abolished even physical death, but that only to be the last enemy to be manifested as destroyed at His Second Coming, when it will be declared 1 Cor 15:54-55,51-52

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

And at His coming, some Saints will have never tasted of physical death, which will indicate the abolishment of death physically vs

51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

But yet, even in this present life Christ by His death hath for the elect of God, hath abolished spiritual death, which by nature they are born dead in trespasses and sins Eph 2:1,5

1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved )

This being dead, is a death that Christ hath abolished. The word abolished is the greek word katargeō and means:


to render idle, unemployed, inactivate, inoperative

a) to cause a person or thing to have no further efficiency

b) to deprive of force, influence, power

2) to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish

a) to cease, to pass away, be done away

b) to be severed from, separated from, discharged from, loosed from any one

c) to terminate all intercourse with one

Yes, for those whom Christ died and abolished death for, He for them causes spiritual death to cease, He puts an end to it, He annuls or abolishes it. Now How does He do that ?

God's word cannot change. But the opinions, interpretations and conjectures about his word continue--and because they are all from the human mind, they will always be sometimes contradictory.

 

[beloved57]

Tell me about it!

 

[beloved57]

Where God gives Grace He gives Glory !

Where God gives Grace He gives Glory !

We read in 2 Tim 1:9

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,

That Grace was given to the saved before the world began, both Grace and Purpose, and then we also read that God gives Both Grace and Glory Ps 84:11

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Glory follows Grace, in fact Paul goes on to write to these same believers this 2 Tim 2:10

10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Now the Elect here, those who were given Purpose and Grace in Christ Jesus before the world began 2 Tim 1:9, they also shall obtain that Salvation which is in CHRIST JESUS with Eternal Glory, which is because Grace was given them in CHRIST JESUS before the World began, hence Grace must reign in their behalf until it consummates them in Glory !

 

[beloved57]

Saved, then Called !

Saved, then Called !

2 Tim 1:9

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,

In the matter of Salvation and the Gospel, One must be saved [born again] first, in order to be called, then they[The Saved/Called] believes the Gospel of their Salvation Eph 1:13, for its not the Gospel of your Salvation if you are not saved ! Thats Pauls order here in our text, God has first Saved us, by His Purpose and Spirit, and afterwards Called Us.

The saving here is done by the Holy Ghost Titus 3:5

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

The saving here is from the power of sin, not the penalty of sin !
The Work of Christ alone saved us from the penalty of sin, and the Spirit as a effect of that, shall save us from the power of sin by new birth/regeneration !

So He saves us in this regard by giving us New Life, sent by Christ 1 Cor 15:45

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

And out of this giving of Life is given Spiritual Ears to Hear, to Hear the Gospel of Our Salvation Eph 1:13

13 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,

Ye must be of the Truth to Hear the Truth Jn 18:37

37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice[In the Gospel].

Understand something, there is no Spiritual Hearing without or apart from Spiritual Life, just like there is no physical hearing apart from physical life and a hearing ear thats not deaf !

Now lets observe again the very same order of first being Saved [born again] by the Spirit, then Called by the Gospel unto belief of the Truth 2 Thess 2:13-14

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Sanctification of the Spirit here is the same activity described in Titus 3:5, its a saving and setting apart work, which is preceded the Belief of the Truth via the Call of the Gospel Vs 14 !

There is no way around this order, its Saved then Called ! The Gospel is the Power of God to the Saved 1 Cor 1:18

18 For the preaching of the cross or Gospel is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved[In a Spiritually saved state] it is the power of God.

The Aramaic Translation captures the meaning here:

The message of the crucifixion is insanity to the lost, but to those of us who have life it is the power of God.

That is who Have Life from Christ by the Spirit, it is the Power of God !

The Gospel to the Ones who have Life begins to cure our unbelief, grants us repentance from lies to the belief of the Truth See 2 Tim 2:25 !

Being saved here in 1 Cor 1:18 is in the present tense, and passive voice, the saved will be continually being saved [from error] by the Power of the Gospel,

But now if we be not saved or have not Spiritual Life at the Preaching of the Gospel, then we are in peril of being of those who are lost and perishing, and though they may physically hear the Gospel Doctrines and Truths, but yet still in the state of nature, the Gospel serves to them in the Purpose of God, as a message of death unto death 2 Cor 2:14-16

14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

But in order to be called by the Gospel to Faith, we must already be experimentally Saved by the Spirit !

 

[Nanja]

2 Tim 1:9

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,

In the matter of Salvation and the Gospel, One must be saved [born again] first, in order to be called, then they[The Saved/Called] believes the Gospel of their Salvation Eph 1:13, for its not the Gospel of your Salvation if you are not saved ! Thats Pauls order here in our text, God has first Saved us, by His Purpose and Spirit, and afterwards Called Us.

The saving here is done by the Holy Ghost Titus 3:5

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

The saving here is from the power of sin, not the penalty of sin !
The Work of Christ alone saved us from the penalty of sin, and the Spirit as a effect of that, shall save us from the power of sin by new birth/regeneration !

So He saves us in this regard by giving us New Life, sent by Christ 1 Cor 15:45

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

And out of this giving of Life is given Spiritual Ears to Hear, to Hear the Gospel of Our Salvation Eph 1:13

13 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,

Ye must be of the Truth to Hear the Truth Jn 18:37

37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice[In the Gospel].

Understand something, there is no Spiritual Hearing without or apart from Spiritual Life, just like there is no physical hearing apart from physical life and a hearing ear thats not deaf !

Now lets observe again the very same order of first being Saved [born again] by the Spirit, then Called by the Gospel unto belief of the Truth 2 Thess 2:13-14

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Sanctification of the Spirit here is the same activity described in Titus 3:5, its a saving and setting apart work, which is preceded the Belief of the Truth via the Call of the Gospel Vs 14 !

There is no way around this order, its Saved then Called ! The Gospel is the Power of God to the Saved 1 Cor 1:18

18 For the preaching of the cross or Gospel is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved[In a Spiritually saved state] it is the power of God.

The Aramaic Translation captures the meaning here:

The message of the crucifixion is insanity to the lost, but to those of us who have life it is the power of God.

That is who Have Life from Christ by the Spirit, it is the Power of God !

The Gospel to the Ones who have Life begins to cure our unbelief, grants us repentance from lies to the belief of the Truth See 2 Tim 2:25 !

Being saved here in 1 Cor 1:18 is in the present tense, and passive voice, the saved will be continually being saved [from error] by the Power of the Gospel,

But now if we be not saved or have not Spiritual Life at the Preaching of the Gospel, then we are in peril of being of those who are lost and perishing, and though they may physically hear the Gospel Doctrines and Truths, but yet still in the state of nature, the Gospel serves to them in the Purpose of God, as a message of death unto death 2 Cor 2:14-16

14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

But in order to be called by the Gospel to Faith, we must already be experimentally Saved by the Spirit !

Yes, definitely. We must be able to hear the call, and Spiritual hearing of the Gospel,
which is Spiritual, is only possible by one who is Born of God.

John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.


And only once a person is Born of God is he able to Savingly believe on Christ,
because believing / faith is a Fruit and Gift of the Spirit Eph. 2:8; Gal. 5:22.

1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God:
and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

So one is called because they already are, or are being Saved.

~~~~~

 

[beloved57]

Yes, definitely. We must be able to hear the call, and Spiritual hearing of the Gospel,
which is Spiritual, is only possible by one who is Born of God.

John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.


And only once a person is Born of God is he able to Savingly believe on Christ,
because believing / faith is a Fruit and Gift of the Spirit Eph. 2:8; Gal. 5:22.

1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God:
and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

So one is called because they already are, or are being Saved.

~~~~~

You have understood correctly!

 

[beloved57]

What is this fulness ?

What is this fulness ?

Col 1:19

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

John Gill in his comments says:

but rather chiefly that dispensatory communicative fulness, which is, of the Father's good will and pleasure, put into the hands of Christ to be distributed to others, is here designed. There is a fulness of nature in Christ; the light of nature is from him, and communicated by him to mankind; the blessings of nature are the blessings of his left hand, which he distributes to his people as he thinks fit; and all things in nature are subservient to his mediatorial kingdom and glory. There is a fulness of grace in him, out of which saints receive, and grace for grace, or a large abundance of it; the fulness of the spirit of grace, and of all the graces and gifts of the Spirit is in him; and of all the blessings of grace, as a justifying righteousness, pardon of sin, adoption, sanctification, even of all that grace that is implanted in regeneration, that is necessary to carry on and finish the good work upon the soul; there is a fulness of all light and life, of wisdom, and strength, of peace, joy, and comfort, and of all the promises of grace, both with respect to this world and that which is to come; and there is also a fulness of glory in him, not only the grace, but the glory of the saints, is laid up and hid with him, and is safe and secure in him: this is said to dwell in Christ, which implies its being in him; it is not barely in intention, design, and purpose, but it is really and actually in him, nor is it in any other; and hence it comes to be communicated to the saints: and it also denotes the continuance of it with him; it is an abiding fulness, and yields a continual daily supply to the saints, and will endure to the end of time, and be as sufficient for the last as the first believer; it is like the subject of it, the same yesterday, today, and for ever: and it also intends the safety of it: the saints' life both of grace and glory is hid with Christ, and is secure, it is out of the reach of men and devils, and can never be lost, or they deprived of it; and all this is owing not to any merits of men, to their faith and holiness, or good works, which are all the fruits of this fulness, but to the good will of God; "it pleased the Father" to place it here for them; it was owing to his good will to his Son, and therefore he puts all things into his hands; and to his elect in him, for, having loved them with an everlasting love, he takes everlasting care of them, and makes everlasting provision for them; it was his pleasure from all eternity to take such a step as this, well knowing it was not proper to put it into the hands of Adam, nor into the hands of angels, nor into their own at once; he saw none so fit for it as his Son, and therefore it pleased him to commit it unto him; and it is his good will and sovereign pleasure, that all grace should come through Christ, all communion with him here, and all enjoyment of him hereafter; which greatly enhances and sets forth the glory of Christ as Mediator, one considerable branch of which is, that he is full of grace and truth; this qualifies him to be the head of the church, and gives a reason, as these words be, why he has, and ought to have, the preeminence in all things.

This is that fulness of Grace given Christ's Body, the Church chosen in Him before the foundation of the World, when they were given both Purpose and Grace in Him 2 Tim 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,


Paul say Grace was given us believers in Christ Jesus before the word began !

Again John Gill writes:

which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began; it is a gift, and a free gift, not at all depending upon any conditions in the creature, and entirely proceeding from the sovereign will of God; and it was a gift from eternity; there was not only a purpose of grace in God's heart, and a promise of it so early, but there was a real donation of it in eternity: and though those to whom it was given did not then personally exist, yet Christ did, and he existed as a covenant head and representative of his people; and they were in him, as members of him, as represented by him, being united to him; and this grace was given to him for them, and to them in him; in whom they were chosen, and in whom they were blessed with all spiritual blessings. The Ethiopic version reads, "in Christ Jesus, who before the world was"; but without any foundation.

Then in Time, according to Gods Purpose, each member of Christ's Body receive from Him experimentally Jn 1:16

And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

This is the same fulness as in our text Col 1:19

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Now they shall receive it in proportions by the Spirit of Grace Zech 12:10

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Note: The House of David is the House of Christ, the Greater David, and His house is His Church, His Body, His Family !

So the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Grace is sent by Christ, the Head of His Body the Church, to communicate to the members, that Grace and Life already given them in Him before the World began.

So basically the Fulness of Col 1:19 is that Fulness of Grace stored up in Christ for His Members the Church, that they may receive communications of it in due time according to God's Purpose for them !

 

[beloved57]

Obtaining Mercy !

Obtaining Mercy !

Remember when Paul wrote these words to Timothy 1 Tim 1:13

13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

I did it ignorantly in unbelief ! That Paul obtained Mercy doesnt mean he was offered it and he decided to accept it with his own freewill, but it means it was bestowed upon him Sovereignly, as he was one of the Vessels of Mercy he writes of here Rom 9:23

23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

Also when Paul was writing to the Gentile converts of the Gospel in Rome he stated in Rom 11:30

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

In both places obtaining mercy is in the passive voice, they were made recipients of mercy or made to experience mercy !

Peter writing believers here writes 1 Pet 2:10

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

They obtained that is why they were now believers ! God has Mercy upon the Elect Vessels of Mercy because of their unbelief !

God imprisoned the Elect Vessels of Mercy in unbelief, so that He could demonstrate upon them His Mercy Rom 11:32

31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

God doesnt condemn the Elect Vessels of Mercy for unbelief, but has Mercy upon them so that they believe !

 

[beloved57]

What Men are Christ the Mediator for ?

What Men are Christ the Mediator for ?

1 Tim 2:5

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Is Christ the Mediator between God and all men without exception ? The answer is absolutely NO ! By no means, for Christ is Mediator according to the New/Better Covenant , for we read in Heb 8:6

6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

And its limited to God's Elect, the House of Israel/Judah Heb 8:8

8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

And thats the All Men He is Mediator unto, and they shall all know God [in Salvation] by Him Heb 8:11

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

And this knowing coincides with the Knowing God wills and desires for here 1 Tim 2:4-5

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

For lets not forget Paul is a Minister for the New Teatament / Covenant 2 Cor 3:6

6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament/covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

So Paul had a view of Christ as Mediator of the New Covenant as Per Heb 8:6; 9:15;12:24

Lets look at Heb 9:15

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament/covenant, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

We can conclude that He is the Mediator of all men that comprise them who shall partake of the Promise of Eternal Inheritance, which is Abraham's Seed Gal 3:16-18

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham[and his Seed] by promise.

Rom 4:13-17

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For if they which are of the law be heirs[of the promised inheritance], faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

So another way of saying it is that 1 Tim 2:5

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men/seed of Abraham, the man Christ Jesus;

Called to receive the Inheritance Heb 9:15

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

 

[beloved57]

I was found of them that sought me not !

I was found of them that sought me not !

Rom 10:20

20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

I have heard it falsely said, that in order for God to save one, that the one must come to God as a repentant sinner ! That is as unbiblical and anti grace as it can get, its just another way to promote salvation by works, by what a person does.

This text of scripture reveals an entirely different gracious Truth, how God is found by them that sought Him not, and the reason for that is because God first sought them out and found them Lk 15:4

4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

Jesus said He came to do what ? Lk 19:10

10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Actually the word seek here is the same word found in our main text sought as in "I was found of them that sought me not !"

And the word means to seek in order to find, and the Sheep is not found until its laid upon the shoulders of the One Seeking Lk 15:4-6

4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

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.

The Lost Sheep dont seek or sought after the Shepherd, the Shepherd is responsible for finding His Lost Sheep !

This also goes together with the idea of Rom 9:16

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

The Sheep are not saved because they made any effort towards it, as the false statement implies " that in order for God to save one, that the one must come to God as a repentant sinner"

The Lost man doesnt even have the ability to come to God in Christ to get or be saved Jn 6:44

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

This means, man by nature lacks the abilty to come to Christ ! And man can only savingly come to God by Christ Jn 14:6

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Heb 7:25

25 Wherefore he is able also to save[Lk 19:10] them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Thats part of Christ's mission in coming to seek and to save that which was Lost, causing them to come to God by Him !

Also that word for come in Heb 7:25 " that come to God by Him " its the same word come in Heb 11:6

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

So the coming to God in Heb 7:25 denotes coming in Faith to God, which can be done only by Christ saving work !

Jn 14:6 and Heb 7:25 in both of these scriptures the prep dia is used to denote how and why men come to God, because of Jesus Christ, their Shepherd who sought and found them Lk 19:10.

Men only have a will to come to God in Christ after the Salvation of Christ has been applied to them by the Spirit, otherwise men cannot come to God in Christ ! The false saying therefore, one must come to God as a repentant sinner to be saved, it is a lie !