Love Fulfilled Ministry

all writing [scripture] is God breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for restoration, for rearing of children, that in righteousness so that the man of God exists perfectly equipped for all good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17) The words of Jesus are useful to mature the child. We have to be careful and complete when we teach about good works. There are two types of works, works by themselves and works that come from maturity or perfection in Christ. Some people justify (having a right stance before God) themselves by their works and others know justification is by grace through redemption, the blood of Jesus, and received through faith (Galatians 2:15-21). If I go back to the Law and build up that which Jesus tore down I nullify the grace of God for if righteousness could be obtained through it Christ died for nothing. In the new covenant, the words of Jesus are to mature us so that from righteousness flows fruit of good works. You have cut yourself off from Christ, you who are ...

because those he foreknew he also predestined to become conformed to the image of his Son... (Romans 8:29) The word conformed is συμμορφόω summorphoó  – (from sýn, "together with" and morphḗ; "form, shape, outward appearance"). Conformed in the bible speaks of the outward form embodying the new inner form (the new birth of the Spirit indwelling the child of God) so that the full form is in likeness of God's divine nature. *  So conformed means to be like or similar to Jesus who exists a reflection of the image of God. The idea is being imitators of God (in outwardly form) like as beloved children of God, walking in love just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us (Ephesians 5:1-3).  now, we know all things work for good, to the ones called according to his purpose, because those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:28-30) Whether through foreknowledge that God chose you because he knew you would believe or by ...

hence why a man leaves the father and the mother and joins with that his wife and the two exist one flesh. This mystery is profound, now, I speak to the extent of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:31-32) The word surrender is not used in the process of growth in scriptures. What is used is being joined with Christ in his suffering, united in his death, and crucified with him. There is a great mystery in joining to Christ in our bodies. We must first be joined with Christ spiritually. *   Then just as a man leaves his father and mother and joins with his wife, the two become one flesh, we too become joined with Christ bodily. for the husband exists the head of the wife like as Christ also the head of the church, himself the savior of the body (Ephesians 5:23-23) Christ is also savior of the body. Paul is using the relationship between a man and woman, when they leave their parents and join in marriage whereby two become as one flesh, (which is also spoken as the consummation o...

 you now exist not in the flesh rather in spirit if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you, now the one not having the Spirit of Christ doesn't exist of him (Romans 8:9) Being joined, united, in communion with Christ is a theme throughput the new testament. It has deep meaning and even mystery. We begin with being joined with Christ spiritually. The new covenant, a new will established by the death of Jesus, thus it is called the covenant in his blood, introduces a new way to enter the kingdom of God, by new birth of the Spirit. It also introduces the promise, established on a better oath by the sacrifice of Jesus who gave himself up on behalf of the church, that atones for and appeases God's wrath toward sin and introduces the promised Holy Spirit. Therefore, if you have been born a new, the Spirit of God exists in you and just as it comes in Christ's works, it is the Spirit of Christ and because they exist three as one. So in the new covenant which brings redemption and a...

then I said Behold I have come as is written in the scroll of the bible, it is written about me, to do your will O God behold I have come to do your will... (Hebrews 10:5-10) Before Jesus came into the world, sacrifice and offerings was no longer God's will, having not taking pleasure in these offerings so when he says "I have come to do your will..." he does away with the first in laws and sacrifices and offering "to establish the second in which will we exist holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all" (Hebrews 10:5-10).  just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:1-2) Jesus's sacrifice and offering brought in a new covenant. "There is an annulment of the former commands as it is weak and useless (for the Law made nothing mature) now, the introduction of a better hope through whom we draw nigh" (Hebrews 7:18-19). This whole passage is to establish Jesus as ...

walk as children of the light, for the fruit of light, [is illuminated] in all goodness and righteousness and truth, discerning what is pleasing to the Lord. And do not have fellowship together of fruitless works of darkness... (Ephesians 5:8-13) Can we have fruitless works? Yes, we can follow laws and principles and do many good works, in the name of Jesus, and do fruitless works that do not please God. We must discern what the will of the Lord is to produce fruit of good works that is pleasing to God. "And this I pray that your love abounds more and more in knowledge and all discernment so that you determine what is essential and so be pure and blameless on the day of Christ" (Philippians 1:9-10). The goal of love abounding and being fulfilled is that we grow mature in Christ. The acceptable sacrifice to God thus is what is pleasing to him, producing holiness and a mind that can discern and accept God's will (Romans 12:1-2). Maturity in Christ produces fruitful works pl...

 if we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we speak falsely and do not do the truth. Now, if we walk in the light like as he exists in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin (1 John1:6-7) This is a powerful verse for any believer who struggles with the flesh. And I would say we all do in some way. If we fail to walk in the light then we repent, turn from darkness to the light, confess our sins and be in the light. In the light we have fellowship with Jesus and the Father and with other believers. Then Peter came to him and said Lord, how often should I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? (Matthew 18:21-22).  We can not understand God's ways sometimes, they are above human understanding. Human understanding would say this person keeps sinning against me, they are not truly repenting. God's grace which has effects of his power working in us to mature us, says turn back to the ligh...

I also came to you, brothers, not coming accordingly with superior speech or wisdom as I announce to you the testimony of God, for I made a distinction, to know nothing among you, if not Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-2) Notice that Paul is not saying I made it a point to preach nothing but Jesus crucified. He says he wanted to know nothing more than to know Jesus and him crucified. He is not saying to reduce the proclamation of the gospel to only Jesus dying on a cross. Knowing Jesus is at the heart of Paul's message, in Ephesians 1, he prays they would have a spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing Jesus, and that through knowing him they would enlightened. Also, Paul speaks of having fellowship in the suffering of Christ to be conformed to death, so also to experience his life. There is much teaching in in what it means to be crucified in Christ, Romans 6 talks about being united in his death, to know and be conform to his death,  crucified with him. Mere w...

in which rejoice, if presently proper for little time made sorrowful in various trials so that the proving of your faith (more precious than gold that perishes) proven by fire, now found to the extent praise and glory and honor in revelation Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-7) There is a time and season for all things, a time to weep, and time to be sorrowful just as there are times to be happy and joyful, the wise King Solomon said. It proper for a time that various trials take place so it proves you and tests you. The word proving δοκιμάζω ( dokimazō ) speaks of trials that prove you, to approve by testing. There is a lot to the meaning of the word proving. The purpose of the proving is so that you are found to the extent praise and glory and honor in revelation Jesus Christ. and just as not proving to have God, God gave them over to an unapproved mind to do that not fitting (Romans 1:28) Even though God was revealed to them and they knew God they did not have approved minds so they did not...