Love Fulfilled Ministry

blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one according to his great mercy begot us to the extent a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3) We were begotten (ἀναγεννάω, anagennaō , aná , "up, again," and gennáō , "give birth") into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul writes when we were dead in our trespasses and sin God was rich in mercy, through his great love, and made us alive together in Christ, and raised us and seated us in the heavenlies with him (Ephesians 2:4-6). So much of our hope rests on the "living."  I was begotten into a living hope. It is through the resurrection, and Jesus is the resurrection and life. The same power that raised Christ from the dead raised and seated me in the heavenlies and is working in me. Paul prays that God would give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing him, the one in whom it is said is our living hope, and that the eyes...

but the free grace is not like the transgression also, for if the many died of transgression of the one, many to a greater extent abound of the grace of God and the gift in the grace, of the one man Jesus Christ, overflows to the many (Romans 5:15) There is a gift that comes through, or in the grace of God that overflows to many. Many died through one man's sin, and through the gift coming through grace many will live because of one man's righteousness. The result of one man's sin came judgement to the extent condemnation. But the free gift or grace from many transgressions to the extent of, or brought, justification. The transgression of Adam brought death and condemnation but the free gift that comes through Jesus brings justification. Those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one Jesus Christ. for just as one man's disobedience, the many were made sinners, in this same way one man's obedience, the many will b...

Not only so, but ourselves also groan  having the firstfruits of the Spirit, groaning inwardly, and we await eagerly our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:23 Paul is talking about creation itself and how it has been subjected to futility and decay, and compares the earth, a body, to our own bodies. Like creation we are awaiting our salvation. As creation itself will be set free from its bondage so will we, experiencing glorious freedom as children of God. For in this hope we are saved… Romans 8;24 In this hope we are saved, I believe Paul is saying there is hope in that we await our salvation, which speaks to that we are saved because we have been born of God, but we still exist in this body of death and sin. Without having testimony of Spirit, that testifies of our adoption as children of God, we wouldn't have much hope and certainly would not be saved. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery leading back again to fear rather you rece...

and through this he exists mediator of a new covenant, so that the ones called receive the promised eternal inheritance . A death has occurred to the extent of redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant (Hebrews 9:15) The ones called receive the promised eternal inheritance . The ones called are those predestined , "now, whom predestined  these also called and whom called these also justified . Now, whom justified these also glorified " (Romans 8:30). In the new covenant, which is an eternal covenant, there is an eternal blood bought redemption and eternal inheritance in which we are born into of the Spirit. The Spirit is one of adoption and predestination comes through adoption, a sealing by the "promised" Holy Spirit, as His own, guaranteeing our eternal inheritance. ... in him also believing sealed of the promised Holy Spirit who exists the guarantor of our inheritance, to the extent redemption of his possession , to the praise of His glory! (...

  I like this translation of this verse, specifically the part "Christ has made me his own." Paul has not obtained the fullness of righteousness or life in Christ, but he presses on toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. How does he press on? because Christ has made him his own.  The word καταλαμβάνω (katalambanō)  means to lay hold of, grasp; to seize, to take possession of; to apprehend to make one own. Let us look at the meaning of such a statement, Christ has made us his own. he predestined us for adoption as his own... (Ephesians 1:5) He predestined as his own. He chose us before he created the world, in love (Ephesians 1:4). Just like Jacob, " though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls " (Romans 9:11, ESV). Election is according to grace and it's basis is predestination which is through adoption, where we are made his...

and do not be conformed to this world rather be transformed, the renewing of mind, to the extent you prove the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2) He mentions renewal again in Ephesians 4:23, "now be renewed, of spirit, of your mind." This renewal of the mind Paul calls transformation. Transformation is key to a victorious life in Christ. for the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh, for these are opposed to one another so that you do no do that you will (Galatians 5:17) This is the wretched state of a believer that Paul talks about in Romans 7. He stuck between delighting in God in his inner being and doing the things he hates, not having the power to overcome. This is because he has a carnal mind, it is not renewed of the Spirit. Paul writes no good thing dwells in the body, the flesh, and evil is near. Evil uses this weakness to bring believers unto captivity to sin.  But now that you have come to know Go...

"he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will," (Ephesians 1:5).  I am predestined. "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers" (Romans 8:29). Predestination is a predestination of adoption, "he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will," (Ephesians 1:5). I am adopted as His own, sealed with the Holy Spirit until the redemption of my body, in which we await salvation, when God takes possession of His own (Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:23-24).  The Spirit testifies of predestination. If I am predestined for adoption and the Spirit is a Spirit of adoption then the Spirit testifies that I am predestined. In this the Spirit testifies, of adoption, bearing witness that we are His own (Romans 8:15-17). I am eternally secure in my pred...

God cares for me. The devil cares nothing about me!  The devil is a liar, a deceiver, and a murderer. "He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (Matthew 8:44) "Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8) "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep..." (Matthew 10:9-10) The devil uses fleshly desires against me, so that I become captive to sin and go against my new nature, that which was created new in the image of God. The devil's ultimate goal, now that I am a child of God, is that I do not glorify God in this body. That I do not grow up (Ephesians 4:13-15). Because if I do not act like Jesus, look like him...

casting all of your anxieties on him, because he cares for you -1 John 5:7 The word casting means to throw upon; cast upon. The meaning conveys that there is an action on our part, we must cast upon Jesus our anxieties. It means we must be intentional at this. The carnal mind, the fleshly member, is against the Spirit, against trusting in God, it will fill your mind with anxieties, cares and worries so cast them upon Jesus. be vigilant, be alert your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion seeing any to devour- 1 Peter 5:8 The verse about casting your anxieties is sandwich between  humbling yourself under the mighty hand of God, and this verse. I take that in context to mean the devil uses anxiety against us. Much like unhealthy fear where the devil works, anxiety clouds the mind so you do not have peace. Jesus mentions anxiety, cares of this world, as a thorn that attempts to choke out our growth (Matthew 13:22; Luke 8:14; Mark 4:19). ... because he cares for you Jesu...

even as he chose us in him, before creating the world, to be holy, blameless in his presence, in love, predestined for adoption  to the extent of his own through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:4-5) God predestined us for adoption as his own, even before he created the world he chose us through Christ. He predestined us according to his purpose, who accomplishes all according to the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11). According to what God purposed in Christ, we are adopted as children of God. now, as many accepting him, to them he gives the authority to become children of God, to those who believe in his name (John 1:11-12) How did he accomplish such a feat? To adopt us as his own? We read on, "whom are born, not from blood, nor from fleshly will, nor from a man's will, rather from God" (John 1:13). Jesus said, "I tell you the amen truth, if not one is born a new, not of the kingdom of God,.. the one born from flesh exists flesh and the one born from Spirit exists spiri...