The LAW of the Lord is PERFECT, CONVERTING the SOUL!
We have spoken of law before [posts 20-24 on 6-20 / 6-23 also post 31 on 7-02 and post 84 on 8-30], and the Lord yet again has the 'law on my heart' - the 'law' of the 'Spirit of life in Christ'.
SEEING JESUS
Psalm 19:7
The LAW of the Lord is PERFECT
LAW / TORAH
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CONVERTING the SOUL!
CONVERTING
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clipartpal.com PD...acliparthistory.com...christianartforyou.com
SOUL
neh'-fesh
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christianartforyou.com.......yougotJesus.com ........yougotJesus.com.
The LAW of the Lord is PERFECT
LAW / TORAH
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adagerman.com......ImageOriginUnknown......acliparthistory......yougotJesus.com
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biblepicturegallery.com......freeclipart..Ivan Aivazovsky....yougotJesus.com.......acliparthistory
CONVERTING the SOUL!
CONVERTING
shoob'
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clipartpal.com PD...acliparthistory.com...christianartforyou.com
SOUL
neh'-fesh
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christianartforyou.com.......yougotJesus.com ........yougotJesus.com.
I was in the process of this post for the past week when I received an email about church leaders speaking out on various cults, raking political leaders over the coals, in some cases calling them devils. The word 'cult' is actually a form of 'cultivated', particularly as pertaining to worship. In the world's view, there are many cults, 'Christianity' as being one of them. Believers in Jesus Christ are being prepared - cultivated - to 'grow in worship' - - 'in Spirit and truth'. Jesus warns his disciples that we live in a 'lawless' generation, that has no respect for life. Cult or not, we each need instead, not to be distracted, but to look at our own life and ask, 'Do I have a 'converted soul', living as Christ taught disciples to live. John testified of Jesus words to the church of Sardis, the dead church, who had a name that they were alive, but were in fact dead. We indeed have a name that 'we live', but do we live as Christ? There were some in Sardis, as possibly there are 'some in the cults', who have not defiled their garments, and walk with Christ. I heard this Scripture echo in my mind about 'those who are deemed not to have the law, yet 'do the things of the law' are regarded as just, as opposed to 'those who say they are 'not lawless', yet - by their thoughts, words and / or actions are 'lawless'. Is our life 'lawless' or is it the witness of 'spirit and truth' of a 'converted soul'?
Romans 2 ..1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge,
... for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself;
... for you who judge practice the same things.
..2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth
... against those who practice such things.
..3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things,
... and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
..4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long
... suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
..5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart
... you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath
... and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
..6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds":
..7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good
... seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
..8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth,
... but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath,
..9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil,
... of the Jew first and also of the Greek;
10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good,
... to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
11 For there is no partiality with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law,
... and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law
13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God,
... but the doers of the law will be justified;
14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things
... in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,
15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience
... also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing
... or else excusing them)
16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ,
.. according to my gospel.
While it IS necessary to recognize 'false gospels' / false doctrine - I believe God is looking for the 'conversion' of the soul, that does not forget the 'weightier matters' of the 'law'.
Matthew 23:23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier matters of the law:
justice and mercy and faith. These you ought
to have done, without leaving the others undone.
Proverbs 30:20Matthew 23:23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier matters of the law:
justice and mercy and faith. These you ought
to have done, without leaving the others undone.
The walk of a Christian is about the 'worship of God' and doing those things that are pleasing to God, building ourselves up in the 'most holy faith'. That 'faith' is that 'Jesus Christ is Lord'. IF He is indeed our Lord, we cam give NO PLACE to unbelief, rejection, bitterness, anger, jealousy, strife, gossip, self-seeking and more, that seeks to mock God.
We call ourselves by the name 'believer'. Do I believe that 'God loves me'? That God will heal me of my fatal disease? That God will provide for me? That God has a hope and a future - - for me? Or do I give room to unbelief?
The root of bitterness is a rejection of God, and for the Christian is a rejection of self - of 'Christ in me'. Bitterness is sevenfold, giving way to resentment, retaliation (payback), anger, and hate, which in turn leads to violence with intent to murder . Murder (to destroy a life, to cut it off) is the ultimate spirit of unbelief that uses bitterness, rejection, jealousy fear, even 'simple gossip' to whisper in our ear, 'you are justified in your rebellion and LAWLESSNESS - whether 'telling the tale, assassinating someone's character, aborting the child, divorcing the spouse [See post 41 on 7-16-11] - 'just' - CUT THEM OFF'. It is really unthinkable the things our self-seeking heart is willing to 'kill for'.
God in his divine mercy forgives us, teaching us to forgive as He forgave. But if we are to grow in Christ we need to take seriously - CONVERSION - walking circumspectly, knowing that forgiveness is not license for a 'do over' or to yet pursue a life of idolatry (worship of our own desire over the Word of God), having a 'name that we are alive', but that we are 'dead'. The warning to Sardis [Revelation 3:5] was to 'strengthen what remains, that your name NOT be blotted out of the book of Life. For me it is a sobering thought that one who has a 'name that you are alive', but in reality is dead - 'works not found perfect' [complete in Christ], CONVERTED - can be blotted out of the Book of Life. As a song says, 'HE is better than life', so thru tears I purpose to overcome, that I may walk with him.
The root of bitterness is a rejection of God, and for the Christian is a rejection of self - of 'Christ in me'. Bitterness is sevenfold, giving way to resentment, retaliation (payback), anger, and hate, which in turn leads to violence with intent to murder . Murder (to destroy a life, to cut it off) is the ultimate spirit of unbelief that uses bitterness, rejection, jealousy fear, even 'simple gossip' to whisper in our ear, 'you are justified in your rebellion and LAWLESSNESS - whether 'telling the tale, assassinating someone's character, aborting the child, divorcing the spouse [See post 41 on 7-16-11] - 'just' - CUT THEM OFF'. It is really unthinkable the things our self-seeking heart is willing to 'kill for'.
God in his divine mercy forgives us, teaching us to forgive as He forgave. But if we are to grow in Christ we need to take seriously - CONVERSION - walking circumspectly, knowing that forgiveness is not license for a 'do over' or to yet pursue a life of idolatry (worship of our own desire over the Word of God), having a 'name that we are alive', but that we are 'dead'. The warning to Sardis [Revelation 3:5] was to 'strengthen what remains, that your name NOT be blotted out of the book of Life. For me it is a sobering thought that one who has a 'name that you are alive', but in reality is dead - 'works not found perfect' [complete in Christ], CONVERTED - can be blotted out of the Book of Life. As a song says, 'HE is better than life', so thru tears I purpose to overcome, that I may walk with him.
This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats
and wipes her mouth, and says, "I have done no wickedness."
Better Understanding 'Pleroo' (Fulfil)...
Robin A. Brace, 2009
Robin A. Brace, 2009
The Greek for 'fulfil' is pleroo. It occurs on many New Testament occasions, including Matthew 5:17. The range of meanings for this word are, 'to fill up,' 'to fill to the brim,' 'to level up' (that is, in the sense of leveling up a hollow). Figuratively, the meaning would be 'to satisfy,' 'to execute,' 'to finish,' or 'to complete.'
In the New Testament, 'pleroo' usually has the sense of accomplishing and satisfying, as in the case of prophecies. We may also read of a net being full (Matthew 13:48), and of joy being full (John 15:11; 16:24; 1 John 1:4; 2 John 1:12). In each case in those Scriptures, 'pleroo' is used. These examples help us to see that 'pleroo' does not need to be forced in meaning. In Matthew 1:22-23, the miracle of Mary’s virgin pregnancy and the resulting birth has fulfilled (Gk: 'pleroo') the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14; thereby that prophecy was satisfied, completed, accomplished. 'Pleroo' may also be found in the following (and more) Scriptures:
Matthew 2:15, 17, 23; 4:14; 12:17; 13:35; 21:4; 26:54, 56; 27:9, 35; Mark 14:49; 15:28; Luke 21:20-22, 24; 24:44; John 12:38; 13:18; 15:25; 17:12; 18:9, 32; 19:24, 36.
A careful consideration of the above verses will show how the New Testament uses 'pleroo' - there is nothing strange or fanciful in how the word is employed and, from these verses, we quickly learn that this word is very well translated as 'fulfilled,' 'accomplished,' 'satisfied' and so on. All who are conversant with New Testament Greek understand this without too much difficulty, yet when those of a legalistic frame of mind find this word used in Matthew 5:17-18 they immediately seek to distort/exaggerate it's meaning, not allowing the simple and obvious meaning. Jesus was stating that the Hebrew Bible should not be set aside, it still held authority. He did not come to destroy the Old Testament (the Law and Prophets), but He certainly did come to fulfil or satisfy, that revelation since He brought a superior revelation, that of the New Covenant.
Luke 16:16: The Law and the Prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone is pressing into it.
It has further been stated that Jesus came to "magnify the law," magnify is not a bad word but we must understand it. Jesus indeed magnified the law but assuredly not in the sense of making the letter of the law more binding; He magnified it by making it's essential purpose more clear, by revealing that we must obey the full spiritual meaning of God's law (Matthew 5-7).
Today Christians are not subject to the Ten Commandments as a ten-point code of 'dos' and 'donts,' rather, the Holy Spirit has been sent into our hearts so that we may walk in faith and obedience at a much deeper level than was possible before. We should now seek to obey (admittedly, not always successfully) the great moral and spiritual law which lies behind the Ten Commandments, yet which is infinitely greater than those ten specific, and obviously restricted, points ever could be. The 'Law of Christ' is a good term for this. Through this, we see that adultery is not the real problem, but, rather, the lust which leads to it is the problem. We see that murder is not the real problem but the hatred which leads to the act. We also see that "keeping the sabbath," is not about mechanically refraining from all work one day a week, but about entering the rest of Christ (Matthew 11:28-30) as a Christian convert now, and finally to enter His 'rest' of Eternal Life at the end of our lives when our earthly 'labours' are complete (Hebrews 3:14-4:11).
Romans 10:4: For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness for everyone who believes.
'... you are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, not having been written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not on tablets of stone, but in fleshly tablets of the heart. And we have such trust through Christ toward God, not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God; who also has made us able ministers of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive.' (2 Corinthians 3:3-6).
* 'end' / telos: from a primary tello: (to set out for a definite point or goal)
In the New Testament, 'pleroo' usually has the sense of accomplishing and satisfying, as in the case of prophecies. We may also read of a net being full (Matthew 13:48), and of joy being full (John 15:11; 16:24; 1 John 1:4; 2 John 1:12). In each case in those Scriptures, 'pleroo' is used. These examples help us to see that 'pleroo' does not need to be forced in meaning. In Matthew 1:22-23, the miracle of Mary’s virgin pregnancy and the resulting birth has fulfilled (Gk: 'pleroo') the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14; thereby that prophecy was satisfied, completed, accomplished. 'Pleroo' may also be found in the following (and more) Scriptures:
Matthew 2:15, 17, 23; 4:14; 12:17; 13:35; 21:4; 26:54, 56; 27:9, 35; Mark 14:49; 15:28; Luke 21:20-22, 24; 24:44; John 12:38; 13:18; 15:25; 17:12; 18:9, 32; 19:24, 36.
A careful consideration of the above verses will show how the New Testament uses 'pleroo' - there is nothing strange or fanciful in how the word is employed and, from these verses, we quickly learn that this word is very well translated as 'fulfilled,' 'accomplished,' 'satisfied' and so on. All who are conversant with New Testament Greek understand this without too much difficulty, yet when those of a legalistic frame of mind find this word used in Matthew 5:17-18 they immediately seek to distort/exaggerate it's meaning, not allowing the simple and obvious meaning. Jesus was stating that the Hebrew Bible should not be set aside, it still held authority. He did not come to destroy the Old Testament (the Law and Prophets), but He certainly did come to fulfil or satisfy, that revelation since He brought a superior revelation, that of the New Covenant.
Luke 16:16: The Law and the Prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone is pressing into it.
It has further been stated that Jesus came to "magnify the law," magnify is not a bad word but we must understand it. Jesus indeed magnified the law but assuredly not in the sense of making the letter of the law more binding; He magnified it by making it's essential purpose more clear, by revealing that we must obey the full spiritual meaning of God's law (Matthew 5-7).
Today Christians are not subject to the Ten Commandments as a ten-point code of 'dos' and 'donts,' rather, the Holy Spirit has been sent into our hearts so that we may walk in faith and obedience at a much deeper level than was possible before. We should now seek to obey (admittedly, not always successfully) the great moral and spiritual law which lies behind the Ten Commandments, yet which is infinitely greater than those ten specific, and obviously restricted, points ever could be. The 'Law of Christ' is a good term for this. Through this, we see that adultery is not the real problem, but, rather, the lust which leads to it is the problem. We see that murder is not the real problem but the hatred which leads to the act. We also see that "keeping the sabbath," is not about mechanically refraining from all work one day a week, but about entering the rest of Christ (Matthew 11:28-30) as a Christian convert now, and finally to enter His 'rest' of Eternal Life at the end of our lives when our earthly 'labours' are complete (Hebrews 3:14-4:11).
Romans 10:4: For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness for everyone who believes.
'... you are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, not having been written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not on tablets of stone, but in fleshly tablets of the heart. And we have such trust through Christ toward God, not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God; who also has made us able ministers of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive.' (2 Corinthians 3:3-6).
* 'end' / telos: from a primary tello: (to set out for a definite point or goal)
FOR THE BELIEVER
Psalm 19:7
The LAW of the Lord is PERFECT
Psalm 19:7
The LAW of the Lord is PERFECT
LAW / TORAH
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Vera Kratochvil /PD...FDP: smokedsalmon...biblepicturegallery.com ... FDP: markuso
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CONVERTING the SOUL!
CONVERTING
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biblepicturegallery.com ...Vera Kratochvil /PD...biblepicturegallery.com...ImageOriginUnknown
SOUL
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Vera Kratochvil /PD...FDP: smokedsalmon...biblepicturegallery.com ... FDP: markuso
For true believers, the TORAH - the law - requires that we 'embrace the cross, walking by faith in the gospel, transforming our mind to the mind of Christ, as evidenced in our thoughts, our words AND our actions.
PERFECT
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. .. biblepicturegallery.com....Poel.....biblepicturegallery.com.....bibleseo.com .. fdp/markuso
The law of the Lord is PERFECT. Jesus tells his disciples to 'be perfect - as He is perfect'. To be PERFECT is to 'embrace the cross by faith, be baptized in water, experientialy walking on the water of the Word, grasping the reality of Christ Messiah. To use the excuse 'nobody's perfect' as license to sin - - is not Scriptural, nor words of a committed Christian.
CONVERTING the SOUL!
CONVERTING
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biblepicturegallery.com ...Vera Kratochvil /PD...biblepicturegallery.com...ImageOriginUnknown
God says, 'My house shall be called a house of PRAYER'. Prayer, 'teffilah' is 'demonstrated faith revealed by the spoken prayer (in agreement with the Word) of the mouth'. CONVERSION involves 'family of Christ' life visibly demonstrated by 'loving one another' as Christ forgave us and loved us. CONVERSION involves 'walking the Word' - being 'perfected'.
SOUL
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The LORD spoke to Moses 'mouth to mouth'. He yet speaks to us today - mouth to mouth - through His Word on our tongue. In Genesis 2 man became a 'living soul' - a 'living nephesh' as the 'seat of appetites, the seat of emotions and passions, the activity of the mind, the activity of character. For the Christian - the believer:
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God.
Selah
Shalom!
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God.
Selah
Shalom!
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