As we mature in our faith more is required of us. The fruit of the Spirit grows precept by precept in us as believers and becomes evident in our words and in our actions. We know that it is only the grace of God in Jesus Christ that saves us. It is truly nothing to do with our works or our righteousness but everything with Jesus’ and the Spirt of God working out our salvation in us. Christ never leaves us. We choose to love because God first loved us.
To God all honor, all glory and all love is due and is manifested in heaven and in earth.
Luke 12:47-48
47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. The New King James Version
1 John 2:20-23 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
When this was written by John the whole concept of the Gospel of Grace to the Gentiles had not been revealed. Jewish believers were still working under the teachings of the Kingdom Gospel. Many left the Way of Christ and went back to the legalism of Judaism.
Acts 1:10-11 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
The believing Jews saw Jesus ascend into heaven. He will return in the same manner. Until His return they would be His witnesses to the whole world.
Zechariah 14:3
Then the Lord will go forth
And fight against those nations,
As He fights in the day of battle.
And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,
At the second coming Jesus the King of the Jews will stand on the Mount of Olive. God will fight their battle.
Matthew 16:13-17 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
Those who denied the deity of Jesus as the Christ had the truth hidden from them preventing them from seeing Jesus as their King, their Messiah. Jesus fulfilled all the promises of God to the Israelites in the Old Testament.
Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
The Gospel of Grace to the Gentiles was revealed to Paul and needed to be explained to those who were not familiar with the inclusion of the Gentiles into the Body of Christ. Jesus and the salvation of the Cross was new revelation and was taught to others under the inspiration of Holy Spirit. The very Spirit of God resides in those who by faith believe.
Romans 7:4-6 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
Under the grace of Jesus in salvation and in the resurrection we produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives to the glory of God. The Law could only condemn us but now we are no longer under the law and use the fruit of the Spirit growing in us to serve others in love. Carla
The proclamation of God’s kingdom brings conflict because it forces those who hear to make a decision about Jesus. Faithlife Study Bible
This is a category of disobedience, not as blatant as doing the opposite, but unfaithfulness nonetheless. This servant is disciplined with many stripes, though he is not rejected. Such evaluation of church leaders is described in 1 Corinthians 3:10–15 and is broadened to apply to all believers in 2 Corinthians 5:10.
Discipline for the ignorant is less severe. The faithful are rewarded, the ignorant are disciplined a little, the disobedient are disciplined moderately, and the blatantly disobedient are executed. In each case, the stewardship of the servant is evaluated. The NKJV Study Bible
James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Matthew 13:12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
The gift of gratitude: from enough, we are able to share, give, spill light, because we have set down the heaviness we’ve carried.
So, let’s pause. We don’t need another assignment. Or test to pass.
Sometimes, without even knowing it... We need times and places to decompress. Sabbath Moments
…smack in the middle of our own lives, we can experience profoundly the presence and power of God, who never leaves us alone. He is always with us. First5
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