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One of the ways to ensure good fruit is to tend the tree: "3His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Great post my friend. The things that divide Christianity are really not worth the time of day in the light of the scripture you quoted. There is enough in that scripture if we are serious about growing in the grace of God and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ to last us our whole time on this place we call earth.
Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
One of the ways to ensure good fruit is to tend the tree: "3His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Jesus said that bearing fruit glorifies the Father. He also said that He glorified His Father by doing the work that was given to Him. So do you think that doing the works Jesus did is what glorifies God and makes one a true disciple according to these verses?
"If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you may ask what you will and it shall be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. "
"I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do."
'bear much fruit' John chapter 15 starts out with Jesus saying he is the true vine....
Do you think a literal vine can give us an abundance of fruit?
As the literal vine gives us the 'gift' of its fruit, then God can give us as he did Jesus an abundance of 'spiritual gifts' that can benefit oneself and others.- Such as the list of aspects of the fruit of God's spirit found at Galatians 5 vs 22,23.
According to John 15 v 2 Not bearing spiritual fruit can lead to being taken away.
Or, to be lopped off the 'vine' [ Jesus ] and destroyed.- verses 4, 6
Remain attached to the 'vine'. - verse 5
Jesus' Father is glorified if we bear much fruit proving discipleship. - verse 8
How? but by remaining in Christ's love.- verses 9,10.
Jesus commands in verse 12 to love as he loved.
Doing so leads to be called his friend.- verse 13 - 15
Called friend even under adverse conditions. - verse 18 -21
If you could aid or help a friend experiencing troubles and could help them wouldn't you ?
Under such bad conditions Christians have a helper according to verses 26 - 27
So, we were created to bear fruit and still more fruit because of God's gift of the 'fruit of the vine' [ John 15 v 1 ]
And to also receive the gift of abundant peace and spiritual joy which overshadows problems.
Add helps accomplish the task of Matthew [ 24 v 14 ] to spread internationally the good news of God's kingdom.
Jesus said that bearing fruit glorifies the Father. He also said that He glorified His Father by doing the work that was given to Him. So do you think that doing the works Jesus did is what glorifies God and makes one a true disciple according to these verses?
"If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you may ask what you will and it shall be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. "
"I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do."
There is absolutely nothing that we humans can do to add to or detract from God's infinite glory. It is supreme human vanity and hubris to think that we can.
There is absolutely nothing that we humans can do to add to or detract from God's infinite glory. It is supreme human vanity and hubris to think that we can.
As usual you are way out in left field.
Try reading 1 Peter 4:11 and stop trying to sound like your user name.
There is absolutely nothing that we humans can do to add to or detract from God's infinite glory. It is supreme human vanity and hubris to think that we can.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stan53
As usual you are way out in left field.
Try reading 1 Peter 4:11 and stop trying to sound like your user name.
1 Peter 4:11 speaks of God being glorified by Christ . . . NOT us!!!
Um, the phrase "give God the glory" refers to giving God the credit for anything we might accomplish, knowing that it is in God's strength that we do what we do. It's not about somehow increasing God's glory.
Do apples hanging on a tree make it an apple tree? Suppose we take the apples off and put oranges on it? Does it become an orange tree?
Fruit tells us what something or someone is. They were that thing before the presence of said fruit......so when a Christian produces fruit it shows that he/she is a Christian. But we don't become Christians by doing good things.
Do apples hanging on a tree make it an apple tree? Suppose we take the apples off and put oranges on it? Does it become an orange tree?
Fruit tells us what something or someone is. They were that thing before the presence of said fruit......so when a Christian produces fruit it shows that he/she is a Christian. But we don't become Christians by doing good things.
Amen. The Lord is talking about making the tree good. God is good. Those born again by the Spirit of God justified by the blood of Christ in Faith in the resurrection are new creatures in Christ. God circumcises the Heart giving the believer the desire to submit, trust, and obey the Lord.
BOASTING is in the works of GOD! Correct doctrine producing boasting in the cross of Christ not boasting in "abiding".
The thief on the cross did not bear ANY fruit. All he did was humble himself and call upon the Lord to remember him when he came into His Kingdom.
The Lord by His lovingkindness and GRACE received an undeserving sinner getting what he deserved on that cross. This is THE model of God's Grace to Mankind that He's given us so we do not get confused when we talk about receiving God's "free gift" of Salvation.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Period)
God receives the sinner and in His love cleans them up. All GOD's work. Correct doctrine opens up the mouth to praise God out of a pure motive of LOVE for your Savior God. False doctrine opens up the mouth to praise God out of the motive to stay saved/abide. So the praise really isn't for God but has a selfish motive. Therefore any doctrine that adds MAN to the process is wrong.
Hands and feet bound, all we can do is humble ourselves and come to Christ.
No room for Man's PRIDE. Salvation is us not getting what we deserve - the death penalty - all the way through.
This correct doctrine hurts our PRIDE. We want to deserve it. All good dogs go to heaven. Not so. There is no balance, only a judicial stamp declaring forgiveness for those that put their Faith in Jesus Christ. All fall shirt of the glory of God. EVEN those justified by His Spirit standing on their own righteousness.
Last edited by Mikelee81; 06-03-2013 at 06:40 AM..
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