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In Need of Endurance

Now, my righteous ones live by faith and if shrinking back my soul is not approving of him. Now, we exist not of those, to the extent lost, but faithful to the extent of preserving the soul.*

We see this concept of making sure of our calling which is to become holy like Jesus. If we were to fall short of this calling, if we are not sure of this calling, having not entered into this reasonable service, continuing in sin, then we should be fearful. If we fall back it means we are not of the faith of Abraham. There is a time to suffer, blessed are those persecuted for righteousness sake. There is a time to be joyful and a time to mourn, blessed are those who mourn. There is a time to be assured of our calling, to work out our salvation in fear and trembling. If I were to shrink back, to fall short of my calling, to fall into the hands of a living God, would not this be fearful? Continue on, we exist (to be, I am) not of those who shrink back but endure. We exist of the faith of Abraham, who was strengthened in faith until he was fully convinced of what God had promised he would do.
Through judging, not through judging in unbelief to the extent of the promise of God, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, also fully convinced of what God promised existing powerful to do. This is why also it is reasoned to him as righteousness.*
Who is counted as righteous? Who are the descendants from which the promise of inheritance comes through the Seed? Was not the promise given to Abraham, through faith according to grace? The promise is to children not of the flesh, but of the Spirit, this is why it is a Spirit of the promise.* The children of the promise are of the Faith of Abraham, the true Jew who exists circumcised in the heart by the Spirit.* The word for "through judging" here is διακρίνω (dia-krinō) meaning to distinguish, to judge. The idea is that Abraham did not turn back, shrink back, not through judging in unbelief but chose, pressed in, and judged to be strengthened in faith, until he was fully convinced of God's word.

The goal of faith is the salvation of our souls, so the outcome of godly judging is maturity, and strengthening in faith. It is why Jesus told us to judge those who claim to be mature, our soul is at stake and some are false teachers not caring for your soul. We do not judge based upon the natural but the spiritual, not in unbelief but in belief. Nor do we judge based upon works, forfeiting grace as the church of Galatia. Nor do we judge the brother, as this is not a doer but a judge and there is only one judge and lawgiver, Christ.* 

We are to judge by fruit, those who claim to be mature, for the purpose of our growth, so we do not listen and are influenced by those who are immature or false. This judging does not compare itself to works or others for justification, and it doesn't judge the speck in the brother's eye while ignoring the plank in its own but looks intently into the truth* The key to increasing faith is not to judge, either others or ourselves by works, but to submit to the just judge, Jesus. If faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God then I am strengthened in faith by abiding in Jesus, who is the word of God, the author, and perfecter of our faith. This requires that we submit in meekness to the implanted word of God, the judge and the one power to save our souls.

Blessed is the man who endures proving, because he is becoming proved, receiving the crown of Life that the Lord has promised to the one who loves him.*

The glory of heaven, the crown of life, in part, is received here on earth, Jesus being the hope of such glory. It is a transformation into the image of Christ, from glory to glory. What is required to not fall back? endurance. How do I have endurance? It takes training that produces an approved mind, one that has been approved by God, that will accept God's will. Such a mind comes in the proving or testing of our faith when we do not shrink back through judging in unbelief. The word for "through judging is diakrinō, and is often translated as waver or doubt, but it is from dia "through" and krinó "to judge." Surely one who wavers back and forth in unbelief is a double-minded man but it is the one with this judging mindset who is unable to receive from God, to the extent of receiving wisdom that would mature. Look at the faith of Abraham, he believes in God and goes to the land but there is a famine, he did not judge in unbelief turning back...

... but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God...

Look again at the faith of Abraham, God promised Abraham a son and now that he has a son, God asks Abraham to sacrifice him. Do you think Abraham did not have doubt? I believe so, but he did not judge according to doubt, or unbelief, he did not shrink back, but was strengthened in faith until he became fully convinced. What did Abraham believe and was convinced of? Paul writes the gospel was preached to Abraham beforehand, that through his descendant, not multiple descendants but one, the Seed Christ, the promise would come to all peoples. Abraham believed the gospel that God would give his son as a sacrifice, and such did not require God to take his own son. In the proving comes endurance, and when endurance has performed its work it produces maturity, a mind fully convinced of the promises of God. Such a person judges that God is faithful and trustworthy. Knowing that all has been given for godliness and life thus this mind rests on His promises and that He is powerful to do. When we have doubt, the key is to press in and be strengthened in faith, not shrinking back. It helps us to remember, to have communion, to remember what Christ has done and our commitment, our profession of faith. In the proving times of our faith what we are in need of is endurance.

... knowing that you possess a better and lasting possession. Therefore do not throw away your confidence which has great reward. You are in need of endurance, it is so that by doing the will of God, you obtain that promised.*

Jesus I Believe

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