[PureX]

"Be Like God."

An interestingly simple admonition, yet surprisingly complicated when actually attempted.

Everyone seems to have a different idea as to what/who God is. And so when we try to "be like God" we aren't all endeavoring to be or do the same things.

I was coming out of one of those quickie marts in Chicago some years ago, on a very, very cold night. As I'd walked into the place there was a beggarman outside who asked me for some "spare change", and I'd told him I'd catch him on the way out. So as I was leaving, I had a couple of dollars in my hand, inside my glove, to hand to him as I left. I guess I was feeling sorry for the guy because it was so cold, and he was an older man; probably not long for this world in this weather and at his age.

He was still there as I was leaving, so I walked up to him and took my glove off and handed him the money, and I don't know why, but I made it a point to look him in the eyes, and smile. He was thanking me for the money and I told him that was perfectly alright, I was happy to help. And I said something like, "you take care of yourself and try to stay warm, it's really cold out here".

A tear began to well up in his eyes and his face just lit up. And it wasn't because of the money, it was because someone had SEEN him. Someone had acknowledged his existence as a human being, and spoke to him like he was a friend, and not just some anonymous beggarman. That gesture meant far more to him than any amount of money I could've given him.

I don't know why I behaved that way toward him. It was just one of those spontaneous things we do, without thought or reason. But I sure thought a lot about that encounter, afterwards, because of the way it effected him. I can still recall how that man's face lit up with joy and gratitude just to be looked in the eye and treated like a man.

I think this is what it means to "be like God". It means to let that inclination toward love and kindness that's in us all by virtue of our being made in the likeness of God, guide us. Let it act through us toward others. Like Jesus did, but each in our own unique ways and circumstances.

i wish I were that way more often. But I can't seem to make it happen. It's a kind of quiet and automatic thing, that only happens when I get out of myself. When I forget myself, and forget what I'm doing and where I'm going and what I'm after. And unfortunately, that doesn't happen for me all that often.

[Gill White]

Originally Posted by PureX

"Be Like God."

An interestingly simple admonition, yet surprisingly complicated when actually attempted.

Everyone seems to have a different idea as to what/who God is. And so when we try to "be like God" we aren't all endeavoring to be or do the same things.

I was coming out of one of those quickie marts in Chicago some years ago, on a very, very cold night. As I'd walked into the place there was a beggarman outside who asked me for some "spare change", and I'd told him I'd catch him on the way out. So as I was leaving, I had a couple of dollars in my hand, inside my glove, to hand to him as I left. I guess I was feeling sorry for the guy because it was so cold, and he was an older man; probably not long for this world in this weather and at his age.

He was still there as I was leaving, so I walked up to him and took my glove off and handed him the money, and I don't know why, but I made it a point to look him in the eyes, and smile. He was thanking me for the money and I told him that was perfectly alright, I was happy to help. And I said something like, "you take care of yourself and try to stay warm, it's really cold out here".

A tear began to well up in his eyes and his face just lit up. And it wasn't because of the money, it was because someone had SEEN him. Someone had acknowledged his existence as a human being, and spoke to him like he was a friend, and not just some anonymous beggarman. That gesture meant far more to him than any amount of money I could've given him.

I don't know why I behaved that way toward him. It was just one of those spontaneous things we do, without thought or reason. But I sure thought a lot about that encounter, afterwards, because of the way it effected him. I can still recall how that man's face lit up with joy and gratitude just to be looked in the eye and treated like a man.

I think this is what it means to "be like God". It means to let that inclination toward love and kindness that's in us all by virtue of our being made in the likeness of God, guide us. Let it act through us toward others. Like Jesus did, but each in our own unique ways and circumstances.

i wish I were that way more often. But I can't seem to make it happen. It's a kind of quiet and automatic thing, that only happens when I get out of myself. When I forget myself, and forget what I'm doing and where I'm going and what I'm after. And unfortunately, that doesn't happen for me all that often.

Thanks PureX, for sharing this with us.

With living in South Africa, there are many in this type of situation, standing at most stop streets/traffic lights, and it's a difficult decision who to help and when to help, and what to give. God will guide us, when we are out and about, and who He places on our hearts to help others in need.

I have also often thought about, carrying these little pocket NT Bible's with me, as it not just supplying their physical needs that need addressing, it's also supplying and feeding their spiritual needs.

Each of us has a stronghold, in what God has given us to do, what God has placed on our hearts, like Roman's 12, indicates.

Rom 12:6-21 (GW)
(6) God in his kindness gave each of us different gifts. If your gift is speaking God's word, make sure what you say agrees with the Christian faith.
(7) If your gift is serving, then devote yourself to serving. If it is teaching, devote yourself to teaching.
(8) If it is encouraging others, devote yourself to giving encouragement. If it is sharing, be generous. If it is leadership, lead enthusiastically. If it is helping people in need, help them cheerfully.
(9) Love sincerely. Hate evil. Hold on to what is good.
(10) Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other.
(11) Don't be lazy in showing your devotion. Use your energy to serve the Lord.
(12) Be happy in your confidence, be patient in trouble, and pray continually.
(13) Share what you have with God's people who are in need. Be hospitable.
(14) Bless those who persecute you. Bless them, and don't curse them.
(15) Be happy with those who are happy. Be sad with those who are sad.
(16) Live in harmony with each other. Don't be arrogant, but be friendly to humble people. Don't think that you are smarter than you really are.
(17) Don't pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you. Focus your thoughts on those things that are considered noble.
(18) As much as it is possible, live in peace with everyone.
(19) Don't take revenge, dear friends. Instead, let God's anger take care of it. After all, Scripture says, "I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord."
(20) But, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you do this, you will make him feel guilty and ashamed."
(21) Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil with good.

Wow, that's quite a list!

May God bless you and help you in all things.

[Gill White]

Love God With All Your Heart

Jesus said to him, “‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37 – 40)

Loving God with your whole heart is the key to everything in life; because your relationship with God affects everything and everyone in your life. It is impossible to love God too much; however it is easy to fall short of loving Him with your whole heart. In a moment of honesty with myself and the Lord I asked “Lord, how can I love you more”?

Instantly the Lord responded “be thankful”. In one moment, with those two words, came several scriptures to my mind and concepts that I had not thought of before. I also understood for the first time that anything, whether past or present, that we are unthankful about is a part of our heart that does not love God. In that same moment I also understood why this is true. Deep down inside our spirit we know that God is in control of the universe. If we have had painful experiences which we are not thankful for then we are unhappy and unthankful to God for them, consciously or unconsciously.

You may not even know that you are blaming God; you may think that you are blaming satan or you may be blaming other people. However, in reality you are blaming God also because you know that He is in control. God allowed the experience to happen to you. God could have prevented it and you know it. Each painful experience which you are unthankful for is a dark spot in your heart that does not love God. Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became vain in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:21)

We are commanded to love God with our whole heart. That is because it is possible to love God with only a part of your heart. Only when you are thankful to God with your whole heart do you really love Him with your whole heart. That means you must be thankful for everything in your life, past and present. Thankfulness is a gauge that measures your heart condition; it reveals anything which is blocking your love for God. Thankfulness to God is an indication of a heart that has right standing before God. Out of a thankful heart flow expressions of love to God, including praise, worship, and obedience. This is a good question to ask your self, “is there anything that I am not thankful to God for”?

See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. (1Thessalonians 5:15–19) Being unthankful causes you to quench the Holy Spirit because it is unforgiveness. The word “quench” means to put the fire out. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of love. When you quench the Spirit you quench love.

God says in everything give thanks for this is His will for you in Christ Jesus. Right now you may be saying I can’t be thankful for the terrible tragedy or wrong that happened to me. You may even be in a current situation that is very painful. But your choice in every situation is to either be angry with God or thankful. Maybe you think that you love God but you also admit that you are angry at people who have hurt you. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? (1 John 4:20) If you will decide to be thankful to God for the situation, recognizing that it is God’s will for you, then the hate and anger will be replaced by love, even for the people who have hurt you. Love always brings revelation, allowing you to see things and people in God’s light.

Why has God allowed you to experience painful situations? It is for your good, He wants you to be an overcomer. The Lord is teaching you to trust Him and love Him in every situation with all your heart so that you will be more than a conqueror through Him. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) If you are having a difficult time being thankful for a situation and you are thinking I do not see any way that good can come out of this it may be that you are preventing the good from being revealed.

Remember that the promise in Romans 8:28 is conditional, for those who love God. If there is a part of your heart that is unthankful and therefore does not love God you may be preventing the Lord from being able to make the situation “work together for good”. When you become thankful then that part of your heart loves God and the Lord can now make the tragedy into a testimony. As long as you hold on to the pain, being unthankful, it can not work out for good because you do not love God with that part of your heart.

You will not see the good until you become thankful. You must trust Him and say Lord I thank you for this situation because I know that you allowed it for my good, according to your word. When you become thankful you will experience the love, peace, and joy of God’s presence. That is because we enter into God’s presence through thanksgiving. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. (Psalms 100:4-5)

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalms 139:23–24) The Hebrew word for wicked, in this passage, means idol and it also means pain and sorrow. Any situation that has caused great pain and sorrow can become an idol in your heart if you choose to be unthankful for it. Until a person can trust God enough to become thankful for those situations they are in bondage to them and they do not love God with that part of their heart. Sometimes tragic events become such an important part of a person’s life that it becomes a part of their identity such is the case with victim mentality. This happens when a person sees themselves as just a victim instead of being an overcomer. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Unthankfulness is not the cause of a heart problem rather it is a symptom of a root problem. A root problem may be unforgiveness, anger, bitterness, jealousy and any other spiritual condition that opens a door for satan and closes a door to God. The root problem will need to be put to death first before a person can become thankful. If a root problem has become a part of your life you will need to go through a “dieing to yourself process”. Recognize that you are not a victim and that everything that happens to you is a part of your life to help make you into the person God wants you to be.

The law of sowing and reaping tells us that what cost the most receives the greatest reward. When you decide to be thankful to God for a very difficult situation in your life you will be taking a big step in denying yourself; because you will be giving up what has become a big part of your life. You will be sacrificing your pride and humbling yourself before God. This allows God’s grace to flow into you and cover the whole painful situation. It will be a big step in your spiritual growth in the Lord, causing you to love Him and trust Him more.

You may not be thankful for something that you did which caused suffering for you or others. However, you can be thankful for the lessons you learned. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:10) You can also be thankful to the Lord for the way He is going to work it out for good. Often we do not see the good that God has planned. However, every time we go through a suffering situation with a thankful heart we grow in our love and faith in God.

We must realize that when we go through difficult situations it is not because God does not love us, but rather because He does love us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35 – 39)

In the passage above the word “conquerors” is the same root word used for “overcomer” in Jesus’ messages to the churches in the book of Revelation, chapters 2 & 3. We overcome by the blood Jesus shed for us, the word of our testimony, and by loving God more than our own life. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death; (Revelation 12:11). When you become thankful for your suffering it is turned into a testimony. It is also a way of denying yourself and giving up your life for Jesus. It proves that you love Him more than your own life. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to follow Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 16:24 – 25) This is why, “For His sake we are killed all day long”.

Job was a wealthy blessed man but in one day he lost all he owned and all ten of his children were killed. This was Job’s reaction. Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. (Job 1:20 - 22)

Then it got even worse for Job. God allowed him to go through a very difficult time of physical pain and suffering. After it was all over Job said, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. (Job 42:5) When you decide to be thankful to God, even for the suffering, then the love in your heart for God will increase and so will your revelation of knowing Him. Afterward God blessed Job with more than He had before.

Paul and Silas were beaten by a large mob of people and then whipped with many stripes. Afterward they were thrown into prison and the jailer put them in stocks. They were in terrible conditions, suffering from their painful wounds, and their hands and feet were locked in a very uncomfortable position. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. (Acts 16:25–26)

That night the jailer and his family were saved. The next morning Paul and Silas were let go. When you thank and praise God in your suffering your love for God allows Him to make the situation work together for good, for you and for other people also.

Right now ask the Lord how you can experience more love for Him. Ask Him to reveal anything in your life that you are not thankful for, anything that is blocking your hearts’ flow of Love to Him.

Be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:18,19,20)

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1Thessalonians 5:18)

Seek God Ministries

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Heb 12:9-11
(9) On earth we have fathers who disciplined us, and we respect them. Shouldn't we place ourselves under the authority of God, the father of spirits, so that we will live?
(10) For a short time our fathers disciplined us as they thought best. Yet, God disciplines us for our own good so that we can become holy like him.
(11) We don't enjoy being disciplined. It always seems to cause more pain than joy. But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes from doing what is right.

[Gill White]

Psalm 119:66-88 AfflictedGrace Ministry International

Click and scroll down to listen: 929 http://graceministryinternational.org/psalm119.html 29 Minutes

Psalm 119:66-88 (NKJV)
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe Your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.
68 You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes.
69 The proud have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is as fat as grease, But I delight in Your law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.
72 The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver. --- yod ---
73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
74 Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word.
75 I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
76 Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to Your word to Your servant.
77 Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; For Your law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be ashamed, For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood; But I will meditate on Your precepts.
79 Let those who fear You turn to me, Those who know Your testimonies.
80 Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, That I may not be ashamed. --- kaph ---
81 My soul faints for Your salvation, But I hope in Your word.
82 My eyes fail from searching Your word, Saying, "When will You comfort me?"
83 For I have become like a wineskin in smoke, Yet I do not forget Your statutes.
84 How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?
85 The proud have dug pits for me, Which is not according to Your law.
86 All Your commandments are faithful; They persecute me wrongfully; Help me!
87 They almost made an end of me on earth, But I did not forsake Your precepts.
88 Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth. --- lamed ---

Faith Triumphs in Trouble
Romans 5:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

God bless

[Gill White]

Choose Life And Live
By Mary Ann Yaconis

After revealing the terms of His covenant to Israel while in the wilderness, Yahweh provided a model of living for those who desire to love Him.

Deuteronomy 30:15-16
“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.

Yahweh very clearly gives us the freewill choice of loving Him by living in His ways (told to us in commandments, statutes, and judgments), and when we have the courage to live in His ways, we will obtain a prosperous life now and the promise of the Kingdom of God at Christ’s return. The prosperous life we can live now is well defined in the book of Acts in which Christians, although persecuted mercifully, were joyous because they chose to believe on the Son of God and live in the power of the holy spirit.

It was not, and is not, for the faint of heart to live as a Christian. Those who love Christ and desire to live in line with the Scriptures find the push and pull of the world difficult to withstand, and this evil may even defeat us if we get lazy and idle in our pursuit of a godly life. Christians today can take heed to what Yahweh explained as good to live by and what evil to watch out for.

Deuteronomy 30:17-20
But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish...So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him.…

During Jesus Christ’s ministry, he reiterated the same principles of obedience but also made very clear that we have an enemy that wants to steal, kill, and destroy each of us. The message of the parable of the sower and the seed makes it very apparent that the afflictions of this world will try to inhibit us by any means from exercising our freewill choice to love God first. As a reminder, some of the ways of the evil one, cajoles us to go his ways and then how to remain faithful to Yahweh are:

Matthew 13:18 – 23
“Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.

“The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.

“And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. “And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”

We live amongst evil that tries to steal our thoughts and ensuing actions. This evil is depicted as tares that the enemy sowed in the following parable in Matthew 13. Matthew 13:24 – 30

Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. “But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. “But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. “The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’

“And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ “But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. `Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”

For us to be the wheat that will be ultimately gathered into the barn, we must stand against the evil one. We, by our freewill choice, determine what we do, say, and feel. When we think we do not have control over ourselves, we are deceived. As soldiers and athletes, we are taught in God’s Word to train ourselves to be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might. We can today, every moment, choose to live for Yahweh through Christ and the holy spirit.

Eph 6:10
(10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

[keypurr]

Gill White, your posts are like a breath of fresh air. You lighten up this forum friend.

[IP Man]

Originally Posted by Gill White

Choose Life And Live
By Mary Ann Yaconis

I looked up the link.

Groovy. This is really cool. Mary Ann Yaconis et al.

I was impressed by the dual reconsiderations of the deity of Yeshua and the Shema. Shema changes all of gospel once considered. Leaves out unconditional grace and leaves out
OSAS lukewarm mental theologies.

All roads lead to truth. Halleluyah!

[Gill White]

Originally Posted by keypurr

Gill White, your posts are like a breath of fresh air. You lighten up this forum friend.

Originally Posted by IP Man

I looked up the link.

Groovy. This is really cool. Mary Ann Yaconis et al.

I was impressed by the dual reconsiderations of the deity of Yeshua and the Shema. Shema changes all of gospel once considered. Leaves out unconditional grace and leaves out
OSAS lukewarm mental theologies.

All roads lead to truth. Halleluyah!

Thank you keypurr & IP Man

I have been blessed, to have encouragement from people afar, who have helped me to keep my mind, heart, soul and strength on the Creator of the universe, through His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Seeing how Jesus Christ walked and how He encourages us through His love and devotion that He had for God, inspires me so much, I need to learn from Him.

May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, bless you both.

[Gill White]

Metamorphosis
Based on a Cortright Teaching




Romans 12:2 (KJV)
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God

The word conformed is translated from the Greek word "suschematizo" which means "to fashion." A related word is "schema" from which we get our English word "scheme."

We are not to continue in the schemes or fashions of this world, the old ways of living.

The fashions of this world include lying, stealing, jealousy, fear, rivalry, hot tempers, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct and many other negative actions.

2Co 5:17
(17) Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.

The word transformed is translated from the Greek word "metamorphoo" which means "to transfigure" or "to get a new figure." We are to change the forms of our mind and thus be transfigured to prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

This same Greek word, "metamorphoo", was used regarding Jesus when he was "transfigured" on the mountain before his apostles. Just as Jesus' appearance took on a new figure on that mountain, so our minds are to take on a new figure. They are to be transfigured.

The English word metamorphosis also comes from the Greek word "metamorphoo." Metamorphosis is the biological process whereby a worm or caterpillar goes through various stages and finally emerges as a beautiful moth or butterfly. Just as that ugly worm one day changes into a beautiful butterfly, so can our minds be transfigured from being fashioned according to this world to being fashioned into a gloriously beautiful new figure as we put on God's Word.

If we have been lying, we change and tell the truth (Ephesians 4:25). If we have been stealing, we change and begin to work with our hands the thing which is good (Ephesians 4:28).

''The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence''

We need to have a new attitude, that new way of living, and ''be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind (attitude), that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God

2Pe 3:9
(9) The Lord isn't slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn't want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.


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Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

[Gill White]

Four Steps to Fashioning a New Figure in your Mind.
Based on a Cortright Teaching


1. Read the Word of God.

II Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We are what we feed our minds with. We have been feeding our minds with material from the senses world for many years. For the most part, this knowledge is negative and contrary to that which we find in God's Word.

That which we see on TV or read in the newspapers or glean from searching the Internet will naturally have an impact on how or what we think. By reading God's Word we can flood our minds with the positives of the Word and change the figure in our minds.

Colossians 1:9-10
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

We must read, study, meditate on God's Word, if we are to truly increase in the knowledge of God or be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. We must study God's Word to change the figure in our minds.

2. Recognize your position in Christ as a son of God.

I John 3:2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

You can read the whole Bible and flood your mind with God's Word; but if you do not believe what it says about you and act accordingly you will not really have a new figure in your mind. We must believe what God's Word says about us. We must recognize what it means to have the spirit from God born in us.

Philippians 2:5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

3. Practice the presence of God.

Colossians 3:23
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.

Philippians 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

I Corinthians 14:15
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

Ephesians 5:19-20
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord: Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

A new figure in your mind also includes practicing the presence of God. We must continually turn our thoughts to God, talk to Him, pray in understanding or pray perfectly by speaking in tongues. 1Co 14:15

4. Live with the Love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation.

Colossians 3:14
And above all these things put on charity [agapeo - the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation] which is the bond of perfectness.

Ephesians 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

The love of God is unconditional. When we love each other with God's love we manifest a love that is much different than that which is seen in the world. The love of God is not dependent upon the response of the person being loved. It is pure giving. For God so loved that He gave... As we live love, we have fellowship with other believers, and our lives become knit together in unity of purpose. The love of God ties and binds God's family together.

It's up to each and every one of us to make a life-long descission, a life in wanting to know God and His will, or rejecting it.

2Pe 3:9
(9) The Lord isn't slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn't want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.

[locomotivebreath]

Based on a Cortright Teaching

Universalists. Fail.

[Gill White]

Originally Posted by locomotivebreath

Universalists. Fail.

1Co 1:12-13
(12) This is what I mean: Each of you is saying, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ."
(13) Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in Paul's name?

Gal 6:15
(15) Certainly, it doesn't matter whether a person is circumcised or not. Rather, what matters is being a new creation.

2Co 5:17-21
(17) Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.
(18) God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships.
(19) In other words, God was using Christ to restore his relationship with humanity. He didn't hold people's faults against them, and he has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others.
(20) Therefore, we are Christ's representatives, and through us God is calling you. We beg you on behalf of Christ to become reunited with God.
(21) God had Christ, who was sinless, take our sin so that we might receive God's approval through him.




Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

[Christ's Word]

Beautiful posts Gill! Your points are wonderful!

You quoted,
"Jesus said to him, “‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37 – 40) "

I believe that you may find the most complete and accurate rendering of this story in Mark 12:29,30,31 where we find the foremost commandment to be that the LORD is One, and and we are to love Him, the subsequent commandment is about loving your neighbor. Most scholars believe that Mark predates Matthew, and in areas such as this could be more accurate and more complete. There could always be two events, but I find it unlikely that Christ would contradict Himself.

[Gill White]

Holy Transformation
By Chuck LaMattina

Romans 10:9-10 state that if we confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord of our lives, and if we believe that God has raised him from the dead, then we are saved, we are born again. By God's grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we are redeemed from the penalty and the power, or influence of sin. We receive the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit, by which we become partakers of the divine nature.

By God's grace we are saved. By His grace we are cared for in the present. And by His grace we shall ultimately be glorified. Salvation from start to finish is not of our own works, so that no one should boast. But we must never think that salvation by grace gives us a license to sin, to go on living as we did before we were saved. The apostle Paul responds to this kind of thinking in Romans chapter six [All scripture quotations are from the NKJV]:

Romans 6:1-2 (NKJV)
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Grace is not a license to sin: it is a strong encouragement to live righteously. In the gospel of John, Jesus Christ has a woman brought before him accused of adultery. The hypocritical religious leaders want to know if Christ would have her stoned. The Lord suggests that those without any sin cast the first stone. One by one, they left. Alone with the woman, Jesus Christ said,

John 8:10-11 (NKJV)
... "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?"
She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

In an act full of grace, Jesus Christ forgave the woman. But then he commanded her to "go and sin no more." Forgiveness is not a license to go on sinning, but an opportunity to change for the better.

As Christians, born again of God's Spirit, we have been given the tremendous power and ability to sin no more. Yet, all too often I have found that when Christians talk about the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives, they tend to emphasize the seemingly spectacular: the revelations, speaking in tongues, the miracles. While all of these are very important aspects of the power of the Spirit in our lives, they are not the most vital. These manifestations of the power of the Spirit are not ends in themselves, but rather means to an end. They are for the edification and good of the church. The primary purpose of the gift of the Holy Spirit is the reproduction of the very graciousness and holiness of our Father God in our own lives!

What the gift of the Holy Spirit does in the new birth is not just make you a Christian in spite of any evidence. Rather it enables you to put forth real evidence of transformation. Look at how the apostle Paul pictures the change in the lives of the believers in the city of Corinth:

1Corinthians 6:9-11 (NKJV)
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Some of the members of the church of Corinth had come from "the bottom of the barrel," so to speak. But Paul said that they were now different. What happened to effect the change? They were washed, they were sanctified and they were justified in the name of the Lord and by the power of God's Spirit within them. Because of their relationship to Christ and the Spirit of God within, they were made new.

2 Corinthians 5:17(NKJV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

The power of God can do what no therapist can do, what no government program can do, what no amount of money can do. It delivers people from the destructive power of the old sin nature and transforms lives for the better. The goal of the gospel is that we become more and more like the image of God in Christ that is within us.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NKJV)
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

With the Spirit of the Lord within us we are liberated from the dominion of sin in our lives. As we look into the Word of God, taking in the image of all God says we are and can do, just as we would take in our physical image in a mirror, we are then able to radiate back the image we see in the Word. The Spirit within us enables us to be transformed more and more into the image of God, in Christ, in us. With the Word in our minds and the Spirit within our being, we can manifest the new man, which was created in righteousness and true holiness.

Ephesians 4:17-24 (NKJV)
This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles [i.e. the unbelievers] walk, in the futility of their mind,
having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart;
who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
and be renewed in the spirit [or, life] of your mind,
and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Since we have been washed, justified and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the power of God's Spirit, we should live differently. We have been redeemed from a futile existence. We have been given a new life, a new nature and this new nature within, is capable of righteous and holy living.

Ephesians 4:25-30 (NKJV)
Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.
"Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
nor give place to the devil.
Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

These are all simple and direct commands. We are not to see a therapist about our lying, or our stealing, we are simply to stop! We are to control our anger and control our mouths. We are not to "grieve" the Spirit within. To "grieve" the Spirit is to place a heavy burden upon it. It is to bury it under the desires and actions of the "old man" nature. We are not to do this. Rather we need to give our new nature room to grow.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NKJV)
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV)
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

The Christian is to put off the "old man" and grow up into all he is in Christ, and we grow up by imitating our Father. Sure! How do children learn what is acceptable behavior in life? They learn from their parents. In the same way, we learn what holy living is all about by imitating the actions of our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

To imitate God would be an incredible command, were it not for the fact that we have the gift of the Holy Spirit within us, our new nature. The natural man cannot imitate God, it is beyond his natural abilities. All of us as Christians are called to live a life so morally pure and so full of blazing love, that it could come from no other source than the gift of Holy Spirit. This is how we become witnesses for Christ. As Christ said in Acts 1,

Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
"... you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

This verse doesn't say that we would do witnessing after we received the Holy Spirit, but that we would be witnesses! You can try to convince someone that a brick is really a tomato, but if it doesn't look like one, or taste like one, if it doesn't have all the characteristics of a tomato, then it isn't one. We can say that the gospel is the power of God to change lives, we can say that we are believers. But if we don't look like one and act like one, if we do not manifest the characteristics of a believer, then our testimony will never convince anyone! And our life-style will bring disgrace upon the God of all grace and our Lord Jesus Christ. This is why we are told to stop living like the unredeemed.

Ephesians 5:3-10 (NKJV)
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let not one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Therefore do not be partakers with them.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
finding out [or, proving] what is acceptable to the Lord.

The Spirit within us enables us to live lives full of goodness and righteousness, and truth. It enables us to live a life honoring God. Walking as children of light means revealing God's light, making known the truth of His Word in all we say and do. The believer has no business whatsoever living in darkness! When Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too were raised with him, to awake out of the spiritual death of sin and to walk in newness of life.

Ephesians 5:14-18 (NKJV)
Therefore He says:
"Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.

"Be filled with the Spirit" is God's command and He expects us to obey. But some might ask, "I thought we were already filled?" All of us have the Spirit of God dwelling within us, but we are not all filled.
The word "filled" is the Greek word pleroo and it means filled to capacity and thus having great influence upon that which it fills. The word is used in secular Greek for the wind which fills the sails of a ship causing it to move. Being filled with the Spirit means allowing the Spirit, the new nature, to inspire and motivate, and move us.

In verse 18, being filled with the Spirit is contrasted and compared to being drunk with wine. As a comparison, being drunk means being under the influence of alcohol. Being filled with the Spirit means being under the influence of the new nature. But being drunk is dissipation, leaving you out of control, while being filled with the Spirit actually gives you control of your life (Galatians 5:23 - "self-control"; II Timothy 1:7 - "sound mind").

When we are filled with the Spirit, when it permeates our personalities, we produce the fruit of the Spirit, rather than the works of the fallen flesh.

Galatians 5:16-23 (NKJV)
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
But if your are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
idolatry, sorcery, hatred contentions jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

When we walk in the Spirit, when we are filled with the Spirit, we will produce the fruit of our new nature. And we walk in the Spirit, or we allow ourselves to be filled with the Spirit, when we have our minds full of the Word of God. The mind full of the Word of God is the key to unleashing the power of the Spirit which transforms us (Romans 12:1-2; II Corinthians 3:17-18).

The primary goal of God in giving us His Spirit is our holy transformation. He desires for us to manifest the qualities of our new nature for His glory and our own good. The victorious Christian life is a life no longer bound to the destructive influences of sin. The victorious Christian life is a transformed life where we live righteously, encouraging one another, loving one another (Ephesians 5:19ff), and bearing the beautiful fruit of the Spirit.

[Gill White]

The People of Faith
By Richie Temple

In the Bible there is one God and one people of God - the people of faith. This concept of a unique "people of God" comes clearly into focus in the Old Testament with the promises God made to "Abraham and his seed" (Gal. 3:16). It then continues throughout the Bible so as to bind the Old and New Testaments together as one continuous story - a story of Old Testament promise and New Testament fulfillment. This continuity is plainly set forth throughout the New Testament and is seen in quotations of Old Testament prophecies being fulfilled "in Christ:"

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come II Cor. 1:20-22 (NIV)

The new covenant church of the body of Christ, which came into existence on the day of Pentecost, saw itself in direct continuity with the Old Testament people of God. In short, through faith in Christ and their incorporation via the Spirit "into Christ" the new covenant believers saw themselves as the true "seed of Abraham" and heirs of all the promises of God to his covenant people. This theme is set forth in Paul's letter to the Galatians:

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise Gal. 3:26-29 (NIV)

Through the Spirit the first century believers were "children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ" (Rom. 8:16-17). God's gift of holy Spirit was understood by them to be the "firstfruits" (Rom. 8:23) or "first-installment" (Eph. 1:13-14) of God's future inheritance for his people. Through the Spirit the blessings of God's future kingdom, as prophesied in the Old Testament and announced by Christ himself, had already broken into this present evil age. Therefore, both the "last days" of the present evil age and the future blessings of the glorious "age to come" had already begun. Because of this the first century believers saw themselves as those "upon whom the fulfillment of the ages had come" (I Cor. 10:11). What had been foreshadowed in the Old Testament events, law, temple and sacrificial system had now found its "substance" or "reality" in Christ (Col. 2:17). The following section of scripture illustrates this understanding of fulfillment in the NT church:

For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit Eph. 2:18-22 (NIV)

The physical building of the Old Testament temple could never be a permanent place for God's dwelling because "the Most High does not dwell in houses made by men" (Acts 7:48). But what had been foreshadowed by the OT temple had now found its greater "reality" or "fulfillment" in Christ. The New Testament people of God had become "a spiritual house" or "a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." Such language of NT fulfillment of the Old Testament "shadow" is everywhere on the pages of the NT epistles as well as in the Book of Acts. It was precisely this unique understanding of the first century believers as the NT "people of God" that gave them their revolutionary perspective on all of life. "Already" they were the children of God possessing the firstfruits of their future inheritance but "not yet" had they received that inheritance in full. They were a people living "between the times" of Christ's first and second comings. The letter of 1 John illustrates this perspective:

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure 1 John 3:1-2 (NIV)

As the children of God within the societies of our own day we also should reflect the qualities of our status as God's new covenant people and bring others into the royal heritage of God's family. The letter of 1 Peter sums up this unique perspective of fulfillment:

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone," and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people but now you are the people of God ... 1 Pet 2:1-10 (NIV)