Spiritual life originates from
Jesus Christ Who is the resurrection and the life. He is the vine we are the
branches. We extract spiritual life from Christ in Whom we stand. Now without
faith it is impossible to please God. For whoever would draw near to God must
believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.
However, faith is insufficient of
itself to help us grow in the nature of God, because faith by itself if it has
no works is dead.
Therefore, faith has to be
supplemented with virtue, and virtue with knowledge. Because the new nature is
being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator; for we all with
unveiled face, are beholding the glory of the Lord, and are being changed into
His likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord
who is the Spirit.
Then knowledge because it makes one
arrogant, has to be supplemented with temperance or self-control. And
temperance supplemented with perseverance, in order to have the tenacity to
stick to the task ahead.
Perseverance must be supplemented
with godliness, which is to live holy lives;
And godliness supplemented with
brotherly kindness which is to demonstrate the second of the great commandment,
which is to love your neighbor as yourself.
And finally, brotherly kindness
supplemented with love which is the very nature of God.
We are told that, "If these
things are ours and abound, they will keep us from being ineffective or
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
On the other hand, "Whoever
lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten that he was
cleansed from his old sins."
We are admonished therefore to,
"Be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this
you will never fall: so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into
the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2Peter
1:10-11).
It is imperative that we all know
these things, because faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes
by the preaching of Christ. But how are men to call upon Him in whom they have
not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard?
And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they
are sent?
As of today, you are without
excuse. Will you believe?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFP1SMV
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S9QXQ4E
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4WTWQ
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XYGDD7M
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJJ9M1X7
With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
With brotherly love
No comments:
Post a Comment