That the Communication of Thy Faith Become Effectual By the Acknowledging of Every Good Thing In Christ Jesus- Part 1276

It is no wonder the world is spiraling into chaos, and the modern day religious culture equally in a state of confusion concerning His Word. Bible scriptures are being rewritten, and the original scriptural context (wherein we would have found abundant life in Jesus) are quickly becoming all but eliminated. And, all the while, those who proclaim to be believers in Jesus by faith, feel like they are alone in their continued defense of His Word.

To some, this is an indication that we are certainly living in the last days, and admittedly, the signs around us point to the end. Still, there is hope. In referring to the state of the church, Jesus says: "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word and hast not denied My name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie, behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee." 

But Jesus does not stop there. He continues, saying, "Because thou hast kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the wold, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy crown ... him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out, and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and [I will write upon him] My new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Revelation 3:10-13)

In other words, the Lord knows how to deliver the Godly out of temptations. (II Peter 2:9)  How do we know? Because the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles ... the Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate." (Psalm 34:15-22)

But I digress somewhat. My point is this. Believers need to study His Word -- as it is written -- to show themselves approved unto God, "a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." (II Timothy 2:15)

To that end, we are to give diligence to make our calling and election sure, not just in being partakers of the divine nature, "having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" but also remaining steadfast in the apostles' doctrine. (II Peter 1:10; Acts 2:36-47) Giving all diligence, adding to our faith virtue, and to virtue, knowledge. (II Peter 1:5)

Not the knowledge that exists in the world -- earthly wisdom that benefits us little -- but the knowledge and wisdom that only comes from our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. Remember Hosea? Therein, the Lord states: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge ..." (Hosea 4:6) 

But, and the key word here is "but" when we are doers of the Word, and not hearers only, we are no longer in a situation whereby we deceive ourselves. (James 1:22) 

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power -- which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead, and set [Him] at His own right hand in the heavenly [places]." (Ephesians 1:17-23)

And, thus, in so learning from His Word, "the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." (Philemon 1:6) But also in order that we as well as others, can learn and understand the mystery of Christ, "which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit." (Ephesians 3:4-5) 

"And to make all [men] see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 3:9) 

"[Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: to whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1:26-27) 

"According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ephesians 3:11) 

The mystery that was hid in the bosom of the Father from the beginning of the world is that God would take on a sin-prone flesh (in the likeness of humanity, as one of us), and yet be without sin. 

As the scriptures point out -- "God manifest in the flesh." (I Timothy 3:16) 

Not another god as the world suggests, or a trinity/tri-une God in three persons doctrine that has no scriptural foundation, but the One and Same God who created the world, coming into the world so that we might have salvation and eternal life in Him. 

This is why Jesus could say, "I and My Father are One." (John 10:30) This is why Jesus told Philip "Have I been so long time with you Philip and yet you still ask, Shew us the Father?" (John 14:6-21) 

This is why the Comforter - the Holy Ghost could not come until Jesus was taken up (Acts 1:2; John 14:26; John 15:26) The Holy Ghost could not come until Jesus (in human form) would be seen no more. (John 14:9; John 16:10, 16) This same Holy Ghost which overshadowed Mary so that she would bring forth a son. (Luke 1:35) The same Spirit of God who created the world in the beginning living within His creation in this current dispensation of grace. (Genesis 1:1) 

Yes, this same God who was in the beginning, was with the Word and indeed was the Word. (John 1:1) The "same" that was in the beginning with God. Not He or another God but the "same God who was the Word." (John 1:2) "All things were made by Him and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." (John 1:1-4)

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) 

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:21-23) 

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. (Ephesians 4:5-6) "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11) 

This is why the first 3,000 souls were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ on the day of Pentecost -- because He -- JESUS -- is the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-47; Romans 6:3-4) One Lord. As Peter standing with the eleven declared -- this same Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) 

Jesus -- the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the great I AM. 

"In the beginning, God." (Genesis 1:1) "I am the Lord thy God and beside Me, there is no other." (Isaiah 43:11; Isaiah 45:5) 

God in Christ, and now as the Comforter -- the Holy Ghost (not Holy Spirit as the modern religious community portrays) -- Christ in God, living within those of us who trust in Jesus by faith. Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone ... in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22) 

"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9)

The kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4)

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:5)

This is why we acknowledge every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus, because He is our hope and salvation, and became so when we finally understood that the love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, so that we might have eternal life.

Stand in the offering plate.