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Knowing the Desirous will of God – Suffer for our consistent testimony

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better while doing good if he desirously wills the desirous will of the God to suffer than while doing wrong.

1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore also the suffering according to the desirous will of God, as to a faithful Creator, while entrusting our souls in doing good.

In the first epistle from the apostle Peter, he writes to the saints that have been dispersed due to persecution throughout the Roman Empire into primarily Gentile regions (1 Peter 1:1). In this letter he writes concerning the persecution they will face and how to overcome it. Today, these words still hold true. When we as Christians are in areas that are primarily governed by unbelievers, living out our salvation will bring suffering.

We are not to follow in the ways of the unsaved, for they live a life of futility and are completely focused on satisfying their own depraved desires. They corrupt everything they touch, even the concept of love. Rather, we are to be of one frame of mind, suffering together, friendly, compassionate, and humble, not paying back wrong for wrong or verbal abuse for verbal abuse (1 Peter 3:8-9). We are called to inherent a good eulogy, for the Lord already speaks well of us in all spiritual things in the heavens (Ephesians 1:3). Therefore, knowing we are called to this, let us speak well of others by speaking with grace, not considering if they deserve for us to speak in a good manner towards or about them, but because of who we are in Christ, as we refrain our tongue from wrong while turning from what is wrong to do what is beneficial while pursuing peace (1 Peter 3:9-11). However, this type of […]

Knowing the Desirous will of God – Suffer for our consistent testimony2023-11-25T07:53:03-08:00

A Gift for Favor

The gift [is] a favorable stone in [the] eyes of its owners, unto all which it turns it causes to be prudent.  Proverbs 17:8

So-had (שֹׁחַד) is a gift that is given for the purpose of bringing favor. Although not specifically a bribe, it can be used to gain favor in an illicit way and is prohibited under the Mosaic law for being used in this manner (Deuteronomy 16:19); however, when used correctly the result will be a favorable attitude towards the one giving the gift. It is the one who walks righteously and speaks with equity while shutting up bribery that will see God (Isaiah 33:15), where a wicked man accepts a gift to pervert the way of justice (Proverbs 17:23).

We see this type of favorable gift being given in negotiations (1 Kings 15:19), which is not meant as a bribe, but to bring favor. When used this way, it will cause the one receiving it to be wise in handling practical matters while exercising good judgment related to the circumstances bringing about the gift.

The negative side of giving is seen with one who uses money to gain favor. Such as with Ananias and Saphira giving a gift to the Apostles (Acts 4:37), Simon trying to bribe the Apostles into giving him the ability to give the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands (Acts 8:18-20), and Felix seeking a bribe from Paul to release him (Acts 24:26). However, when used properly this type of gift will result in a favorable attitude from the one receiving it. In business, when a shop is willing to offer free service, such as fixing a flat tire, the one receiving this generosity is far more likely to […]

A Gift for Favor2023-12-14T12:26:53-08:00

Glory (δόξα)

and exchanged the proper opinion (glory) of the incorruptible God with the likeness of an image of corrupt man and birds and four-footed animals, and crawling things – Romans 1:23.

Glory means, “to have or express a proper opinion”. Its root concept is grounded in an opinion, notion, or judgment concerning someone.

When we express glory to God, we are actually voicing a proper view of Who He is. In the first chapter of the book of Romans, we see the impact on those who reject a proper opinion of God as they change His image to be that of corrupt humans, birds, four-footed animals, and even creeping things, while not giving the Creator glory. That is, not expressing a proper opinion of Who God really is.

Due to Adam’s trespass and sin, we all have fallen short of God’s opinion of us – for all sinned and fall short of God’s proper opinion, Romans 3:23 (Romans 5:12 – Adam’s sin is passed to all of us). God never expects us to live up to His glory, for He shares His glory with no one (Isaiah 42:8). Romans 3:23 is referring to His opinion of us as Humans. When God created Adam, He blessed Him (Genesis 1:28). When Adam ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, his conscience became aware of the difference between what is beneficial and what causes calamity. However, in determining to break God’s law, Adam separated himself from God in his spirit, bending his nature to corruption, which he passed down to all of us (Genesis 5:3). He corrupted what God blessed. Although we have a corrupt nature, we still have a conscience and the knowledge of good and evil; therefore, God’s opinion of all humans involves their ability to […]

Glory (δόξα)2023-11-25T07:58:50-08:00

Not Adopted, Real Children Placed as Sons

having marked off our bounds to the placement of sons (υἱοθεσία) through Jesus Christ unto Himself according to the good pleasure of His desirous will – Ephesians 1:5.

Did you know that the Greek words for “adoption” never occur in Scripture? “ἄμφανσις”, which means, “adoption” and “ἐκποίητος”, which is “to give in adoption” are not used in Scripture because we are not adopted into God’s family; rather, we become legitimate children of God.

Beloved now we are the children (born ones) of God… 1 John 3:2. His seed has been placed into us (1 John 3:9) and we are now born again, not from a corruptible seed (1 Peter 1:23).

In Ephesians 1:5, Paul is not writing about adoption, but about son placement. This is a concept in the Roman culture concerning when a child is no longer under governors and tutors (Galatians 4:1). When the father determines the child is trained properly, the child would be placed as a son, into a place of privilege where the child (inarticulate babbler) is no longer under governors and tutors (Galatians 4:2). When it comes to humans and God, those who are inarticulate babblers are under law, but those who are sons live out from faith.

When I was an inarticulate babbler (child), I spoke as an inarticulate babbler (child), I framed the mind as an inarticulate babbler (child), I reasoned as an inarticulate babbler (child). When I became a man, I rendered ineffective the things of the inarticulate babbler (child), 1 Corinthians 13:11.

As children (born ones) of God, let us walk in the light (Ephesians 5:8). As sons, let us exercise our senses to know what is proper and what is wrong in our conduct (Hebrews 5:14) and live out […]

Not Adopted, Real Children Placed as Sons2023-12-14T08:23:40-08:00

The Mysteries of God The Blindness of Israel

And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: “Hearing you will hear and will not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.’ – Matthew 13:14-15

For I do not desire for you to be ignorant, brethren, of this mystery in order that you are not alongside yourselves in a frame of mind, because hardness from a part to Israel has come until which the fullness of the Gentiles has come. – Romans 11:25

The nation of Israel has been blinded due to their unbelief for a short time while the Gentiles are being offered reconciliation. God uses an example of a cultivated olive tree to show that the Gentiles are now able to partake in the benefits that belong to Israel, but due to her unbelief she has been cut off until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.

Therefore, you say, “Branches were broken off in order that I on my part should be grafted in,” Well, by unbelief they were broken off, and you by faith stand not having a high frame of mind but respect. – Romans 11:19-20

The placement of sons, expressing a proper opinion of God, the covenants, the legislation, the religious service, and the promises belong to Israel. The Church does not replace Israel in these, but rather is allowed to partake in the benefits of being in Christ.

For I vow for myself that I myself were separated from the Christ on behalf of […]

The Mysteries of God The Blindness of Israel2023-12-14T08:31:53-08:00
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