{"id":9482,"date":"2018-03-07T20:47:39","date_gmt":"2018-03-07T14:47:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=9482"},"modified":"2023-05-25T14:09:54","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T19:09:54","slug":"my-deeds-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=9482","title":{"rendered":"My Deeds, Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is a table<\/a> representing my unstudied view of the relationship of the clauses of Revelation 2:26-29.\u00a0 I\u2019m considering the clause, who continues in my deeds until the end<\/em>, because it tugs the hardest at me to return to my own works.\u00a0 I\u2019ve begun to try to understand \u03c4\u1f70 \u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u03b1 \u03bc\u03bf\u03c5, translated my deeds<\/em>, with a study of \u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u1ff6\u03bd (a form of \u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03ad\u03c9<\/a>), translated who continues<\/em>. \u00a0The most basic understanding of \u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u1ff6\u03bd is: Blessed is the one who stays alert and does not lose <\/em>(\u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u1ff6\u03bd, a form of \u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03ad\u03c9) his clothes so that he will not have to walk around naked<\/em>\u2026[1]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 It means to keep<\/em>, not to lose<\/em> or discard<\/em>.<\/p>\n

To review<\/a>, the NET translation of John 14:21<\/a> confirms both my initial belief and practice, that obeying Jesus\u2019 commands was the path to loving Him, knowing Him and being loved by Him and his Father.\u00a0 Refining the translation obeys <\/em>to keeps <\/em>lowers<\/a> the standard a bit but doesn\u2019t alter the order of events, that Jesus and his Father loved me because I first loved<\/a> Jesus (by keeping <\/em>his commandments, not losing <\/em>or discarding <\/em>them). \u00a0But this argument was preceded by another, outlined below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
If you love Me\u2026<\/p>\n

John 14:15a (NASB)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u2026you will keep (\u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u1f75\u03c3\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03ad\u03c9) My commandments.<\/p>\n

John 14:15b (NASB)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides (\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9, a form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9<\/a>; present tense<\/a>) with you and will be (\u1f14\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, a form of \u03b5\u1f30\u03bc\u03af<\/a>; future tense<\/a>) in you.<\/p>\n

John 14:16, 17 (NASB)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…<\/p>\n

Galatians 5:22, 23a (NASB)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

I have not come to abolish [the law or the prophets] but to fulfill them.<\/p>\n

Matthew 5:17b (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

…love is the fulfillment of the law.<\/p>\n

Romans 13:10b (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

He who has My commandments and keeps (\u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u1ff6\u03bd, a form of \u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03ad\u03c9) them\u2026<\/p>\n

John 14:21a (NASB)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u2026is the one who loves Me\u2026<\/p>\n

John 14:21b (NASB)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

I will love Jesus and keep his commandments by the Holy Spirit who abides with me and will be in me.\u00a0 If I concede to the old man (Ephesians 4:22-24<\/a>; Colossians 3:9-11<\/a>), fighting for its own survival by attempting to lose <\/em>or discard <\/em>Jesus\u2019 commandments, though it may not alter God\u2019s love for me, I have ceased to love Him with the love that is the fruit of his Spirit, the love that is the fulfillment of the law, no matter what I tell myself and no matter how much emotion I feel for Him.<\/p>\n

In this essay I\u2019ll consider John\u2019s explanation, And the person who keeps<\/em> (\u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u1ff6\u03bd, a form of \u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03ad\u03c9) his commandments resides in God, and God in him<\/em>,[2]<\/sup><\/a> but I\u2019ll back up first to take a run at it (1 John 2:28, 29 NET):<\/p>\n

And now, little children, remain (\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5, a form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9<\/a>)<\/em> in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back. \u00a0If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices (\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u1ff6\u03bd, a form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03ad\u03c9<\/a>)<\/em> righteousness has been fathered by him.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Greek word translated fathered was \u03b3\u03b5\u03b3\u1f73\u03bd\u03bd\u03b7\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 (a form of \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bd\u03ac\u03c9<\/a>).\u00a0 John didn\u2019t leave us wondering what he meant by it: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been fathered<\/em> (\u03b3\u03b5\u03b3\u1f73\u03bd\u03bd\u03b7\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, a form of \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bd\u03ac\u03c9) by God<\/em>\u2026[3]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 He had a unique understanding of the word \u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5 as one of the twelve<\/a> Jesus sent out with the following instruction (I\u2019ve included Luke 10:7 though it was addressed to the seventy-two others<\/a> <\/em>Jesus appointed and sent on ahead of Him).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Mark 6:10 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Luke 9:4 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Luke 10:7 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

[Jesus] said to them, \u201cWherever you enter a house, stay (\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5, a form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9) there until you leave the area.\u201d<\/td>\nWhatever house you enter, stay (\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5, a form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9) there until you leave the area.<\/td>\nStay (\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5, a form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9) in that same house, eating and drinking what they give you, for the worker deserves his pay.\u00a0 Do not move around from house to house.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

I understand what it means to stay in a house, to not move around from place to place. \u00a0But what does it mean to stay <\/em>in God?\u00a0 A few verses prior to this John wrote (1 John 2:24 NET):<\/p>\n

As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain (\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u1f73\u03c4\u03c9, another form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9)<\/em> in you. \u00a0If what you heard from the beginning remains (\u03bc\u03b5\u1f77\u03bd\u1fc3, another form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9)<\/em> in you, you also will remain (\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9)<\/em> in the Son and in the Father.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So I remain in the Son and in the Father if Jesus\u2019 teaching remains in me.\u00a0 Here is Jesus\u2019 teaching on the subject (John 15:4, 5a NET):<\/p>\n

Remain (\u03bc\u03b5\u1f77\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9)<\/em> in me, and I will remain in you. \u00a0Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains (\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u1fc3, another form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9)<\/em> in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain (\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9)<\/em> in me. \u00a0I am the vine; you are the branches. \u00a0The one who remains (\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd, another form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9)<\/em> in me \u2013 and I in him \u2013 bears much fruit\u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In other words, remaining in Jesus (and his Father) by remaining in the teaching I have heard from the beginning of my new life in Christ (assuming that teaching was the Gospel of Christ) brings forth the fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control that is the fulfillment of the law.\u00a0 Jesus continued, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing<\/em>.[4]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 I don\u2019t think He meant that I couldn\u2019t become a hypocrite, an actor playing at righteousness more or less skillfully.\u00a0 Jesus warned, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven<\/em>.[5]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 But I can\u2019t do the righteousness that fulfills the law apart from remaining in Jesus by remaining in his teaching.<\/p>\n

Jesus continued teaching his disciples (John 15:6 NET):<\/p>\n

If anyone does not remain (\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u1fc3, another form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9)<\/em> in me, he is thrown out like a branch, and dries up; and such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and are burned up.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He listed some impediments either to hearing in the beginning or to what was heard from the beginning remaining (Luke 8:11-15 NET):<\/p>\n

Now the parable means this: The seed is the word of God (\u1f41 \u03bb\u1f79\u03b3\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6)<\/em>. \u00a0Those along the path are the ones who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. \u00a0Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. \u00a0They believe for a while, but in a time of testing fall away (\u1f00\u03c6\u1f77\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, a form of \u1f00\u03c6\u03af\u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u03bc\u03b9<\/a>)<\/em>. \u00a0As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked (\u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03c0\u03bd\u1f77\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, a form of \u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03c0\u03bd\u03af\u03b3\u03c9<\/a>)<\/em> by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. \u00a0But as for the seed that landed on good soil, these are the ones who, after hearing the word, cling (\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f73\u03c7\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd, a form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03ad\u03c7\u03c9<\/a>)<\/em> to it with an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If you remain<\/em> (\u03bc\u03b5\u1f77\u03bd\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9) in me and my words remain<\/em> (\u03bc\u03b5\u1f77\u03bd\u1fc3, another form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9) in you<\/em>, Jesus continued, ask<\/a> whatever<\/em> you want, and it will be done <\/em>(\u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u1f75\u03c3\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, a form of \u03b3\u03af\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>) for you. \u00a0My Father is honored by this, that you bear much fruit and show that you are<\/a> <\/em>(\u03b3\u1f73\u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03b8\u03b5, another form of \u03b3\u03af\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9) my disciples<\/em>.[6]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The words if <\/em>and whatever <\/em>are the same Greek word \u1f10\u1f70\u03bd<\/a>.\u00a0 I understand this request as related to, and bracketed by, bearing fruit.\u00a0 I\u2019m unsure about translating \u1f10\u1f70\u03bd whatever<\/em>.\u00a0 In my case it led to unbelief while\u2014ask <\/em>[if] you want, and it will be done <\/em>(or, become<\/em>) for you<\/em>\u2014has led to some faith-confirming results.\u00a0 Jesus continued (John 15:9, 10 NET): \u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you; remain (\u03bc\u03b5\u1f77\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9)<\/em> in my love. \u00a0If you obey (\u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u1f75\u03c3\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03ad\u03c9)<\/em> my commandments, you will remain (\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9)<\/em> in my love, just as I have obeyed (\u03c4\u03b5\u03c4\u1f75\u03c1\u03b7\u03ba\u03b1, another form of \u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03ad\u03c9)<\/em> my Father\u2019s commandments and remain (\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03c9)<\/em> in his love.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/a>This is how I understood this passage even when the Bible I read translated \u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u1f75\u03c3\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5 keep <\/em>and \u03c4\u03b5\u03c4\u1f75\u03c1\u03b7\u03ba\u03b1 kept<\/em>.\u00a0 \u201cJesus promises to love the disciples if they obey his commandments,\u201d reads the sermon notes<\/a> for John 15:9-17 on Sermon Writer<\/a> online.\u00a0 Here, and other places like it, I turned from being led by the Holy Spirit, especially if my behavior was too embarrassing too often to confess any longer, to take charge of my own righteousness in my own strength.<\/p>\n

See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God\u2019s children<\/em>,[7]<\/sup><\/a> John continued.\u00a0 The note (1<\/a>) in the NET reads:<\/p>\n

The \u1f35\u03bd\u03b1 (Jina) clause is best understood (1) as epexegetical (or explanatory), clarifying the love (\u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b7\u03bd, <\/em>agapen) that the Father has given to believers. Although it is possible (2) to regard the \u1f35\u03bd\u03b1 as indicating result, the use of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u03b1\u03c0\u1f75\u03bd (<\/em>potapen, \u201cwhat sort of\u201d) to modify \u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b7\u03bd suggests that the idea of \u201clove\u201d will be qualified further in the following context, and this qualification is provided by the epexegetical \u1f35\u03bd\u03b1 clause.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I think option (2) is the better understanding.\u00a0 The sort of love the Father has given to us<\/em> is not the Father\u2019s feeling for us, but a very practical gift: It is the love that is patient, the love that is kind, the love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things<\/em>.[8]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0This love may be shared in.\u00a0 It is the fruit of his Spirit<\/a>, the fulfillment of the law<\/a>.\u00a0 This love may be remained in or may be left behind.\u00a0 If I leave God\u2019s love behind to run ahead in my own strength God\u2019s love has not and does not change.\u00a0 If I do not remain in his love I strive way too hard to become a highly-skilled hypocrite rather than receiving the love he has given us.\u00a0 He gave us this sort of love in order that we should be called God\u2019s children.\u00a0 Paul concurred with John (Romans 5:5b; 7:6b; 8:3, 4, 14 NET):<\/p>\n

…the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us…<\/p>\n

\u2026so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code.<\/p>\n

For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. \u00a0By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.<\/p>\n

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cTo remain in Jesus\u2019 love,\u201d the entry<\/a> in SermonWriter reads, \u201csuggests being immersed in Jesus\u2019 love\u2014surrounded by Jesus\u2019 love\u2014comforted by Jesus\u2019 love\u2014empowered by Jesus\u2019 love.\u00a0 Imagine a swimming pool filled, not with water, but with Jesus\u2019 love.\u201d\u00a0 All analogies have their problems but this one isn\u2019t too bad.\u00a0 Ordinarily one tries not to drown in a swimming pool.\u00a0 A pool of Jesus\u2019 love is really only threatening to the old man<\/em> (Ephesians 4:25-5:5<\/a>; Colossians 3:12-17<\/a>).\u00a0 The believer lives and breathes in its environs, in fact, only in its environs.\u00a0 This pool travels with the believer, but the believer can leave the pool.\u00a0 A believer leaving the pool of God\u2019s love does not change God\u2019s love at all.\u00a0 Leaving only changes the believer\u2019s access to, and appreciation of, God\u2019s love.\u00a0 Jesus\u2019 and John\u2019s point was, don\u2019t get out of God\u2019s love.<\/p>\n

Here is John again (1 John 3:1-10 NET):<\/p>\n

(See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God\u2019s children \u2013 and indeed we are! \u00a0For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know him. \u00a0Dear friends, we are God\u2019s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. \u00a0We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is. \u00a0And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure).<\/p>\n

Everyone who practices (\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u1ff6\u03bd, a form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03ad\u03c9)<\/em> sin also practices (\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b5\u1fd6, another form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03ad\u03c9)<\/em> lawlessness; indeed, sin is lawlessness. \u00a0And you know that Jesus was revealed to take away (\u1f04\u03c1\u1fc3, a form of \u03b1\u1f34\u03c1\u03c9<\/a>)<\/em> sins, and in him there is no sin. \u00a0Everyone who resides (\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd, another form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9)<\/em> in him does not sin; everyone who sins has neither seen him nor known him. \u00a0Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices (\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u1ff6\u03bd, a form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03ad\u03c9)<\/em> righteousness is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous. \u00a0The one who practices (\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u1ff6\u03bd, a form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03ad\u03c9)<\/em> sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. \u00a0For this purpose the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the works of the devil. \u00a0Everyone who has been fathered (\u03b3\u03b5\u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bd\u03b7\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2, another form of \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bd\u03ac\u03c9)<\/em> by God does not practice (\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b5\u1fd6, another form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03ad\u03c9)<\/em> sin, because God\u2019s seed resides (\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9, another form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9)<\/em> in him, and thus he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered (\u03b3\u03b5\u03b3\u1f73\u03bd\u03bd\u03b7\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, a form of \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bd\u03ac\u03c9)<\/em> by God. \u00a0By this the children of God and the children of the devil are revealed: Everyone who does not practice (\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u1ff6\u03bd, a form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03ad\u03c9)<\/em> righteousness \u2013 the one who does not love his fellow Christian (\u1f00\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u1f78\u03bd, a form of \u1f00\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>)<\/em> \u2013 is not of God.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now if I do what I do<\/em> (\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u1ff6, another form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03ad\u03c9) not want<\/em>, Paul wrote believers in Rome, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me<\/em>.[9]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 It is better to greet John\u2019s and Paul\u2019s explanations with faith than with fear<\/a> or mockery<\/a>.\u00a0 <\/a>But the Spirit of God relentlessly dragged me back when my default position was to \u201cchuck this whole religion thing.\u201d\u00a0 He was kind and patient when my default position became do-it-myself sanctification<\/a>, when I said in so many words, \u201cI can\u2019t trust You with something as important as MY righteousness.\u201d\u00a0 Jaco Gericke<\/a> had a very different testimony<\/a>.\u00a0 I rationalize this difference with Paul\u2019s conclusion: So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden<\/em>.[10]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Others rationalize it as individual free will.<\/p>\n

When I was young righteousness was a matter of good habits<\/a> developed through willpower because Jesus had saved me.\u00a0 Now I can see this as a childish misunderstanding of potentially good teaching.\u00a0 But at the time I saw Jesus\u2019 salvation only as a reason, why I should do righteousness, never as a cause, how I could do righteousness.\u00a0 My willpower proved to be unequal to the task.\u00a0 I am weak-willed vis-\u00e0-vis righteousness.\u00a0 So I tend to minimize the effect of my will and magnify the effect of God\u2019s mercy.\u00a0\u00a0 Now that I understand that Jesus\u2019 salvation causes righteousness I have replaced willpower <\/em>with the fruit of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 Of course, I still don\u2019t recognize any habit in me toward the good apart from that daily infusion of his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, I proved to be quite willful, stubborn, rebellious and stiff-necked regarding my sin.\u00a0 So I tend to see free will as more useful, or more conducive, to sinning.\u00a0 I don\u2019t tend to argue the point because I can see how one who had more success than I did could regard willpower as helpful in the pursuit of righteousness.\u00a0 Still, I keep my mind open to the possibility that the preachers of free will may have taken more credit for that righteousness than they deserve.<\/p>\n

Little children<\/em>, John continued, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth<\/em>.[11]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 As Jesus tried to teach me about the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe<\/em>,[12]<\/sup><\/a> I got tripped up here quite often.\u00a0 I thought, especially if my performance was less than perfect when I had attempted to trust Him, that his teaching was not his teaching but me playing word games, loving with word <\/em>(\u03bb\u1f79\u03b3\u1ff3, a form of \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>) or with tongue <\/em>(\u03b3\u03bb\u1f7d\u03c3\u03c3\u1fc3, a form of \u03b3\u03bb\u1ff6\u03c3\u03c3\u03b1<\/a>).\u00a0 \u201cNo, you really have to do it,\u201d I heard many times from my elders<\/a> if I tried to share what I thought I had been learning.\u00a0 How I ever thought that obeying rules in my own strength might become loving in deed <\/em>(\u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u1ff3, a form of \u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd<\/a>) and truth <\/em>(\u1f00\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u1f77\u1fb3, a form of \u1f00\u03bb\u03ae\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1<\/a>), I can\u2019t explain apart from being willful, stubborn, rebellious and stiff-necked.\u00a0 Now I assume that loving with word or with tongue <\/em>corresponds to my hypocrisy, while loving in deed and truth <\/em>corresponds to being led by his Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

John continued (1 John 3:19-24 NET):<\/p>\n

And by this we will know that we are of the truth (\u1f00\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2, another form of \u1f00\u03bb\u03ae\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1)<\/em> and will convince our conscience in his presence, that if (\u1f10\u1f70\u03bd)<\/em> our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience and knows all things. \u00a0Dear friends, if (\u1f10\u1f70\u03bd)<\/em> our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God, and whatever<\/a> (\u1f10\u1f70\u03bd; or <\/em>if)<\/em> we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing to him. \u00a0Now this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he gave us the commandment. \u00a0And the person who keeps his commandments resides (\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9, another form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9)<\/em> in God, and God in him. \u00a0Now by this we know that God resides (\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9, another form of \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9)<\/em> in us: by the Spirit he has given us.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I want to conclude this essay by addressing one of the statements in the entry<\/a> in Sermon Writer directly:<\/p>\n

The emphasis is love.\u00a0 Love begins with the Father and flows through the Son to the disciples (v. 9).\u00a0 It is contingent on obedience…Jesus promises to love the disciples if they obey his commandments.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The demonstrably false statement\u2014\u201cJesus promises to love the disciples if they obey his commandments\u201d\u2014mischaracterizes God\u2019s love and remaining in his love.\u00a0 First, consider Jesus\u2019 teaching on the nature of the Father\u2019s love (Matthew 5:43-48 NET):<\/p>\n

You have heard that it was said, \u2018Love your neighbor<\/em><\/strong>\u2019 and \u2018hate your enemy.\u2019 \u00a0But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. \u00a0For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? \u00a0Even the tax collectors do the same, don\u2019t they? \u00a0And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? \u00a0Even the Gentiles do the same, don\u2019t they? \u00a0So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jesus\u2019 love for me is not equivalent to, or contingent upon, my remaining in his love.\u00a0 Jesus loves me because God is love<\/a> <\/em>and Jesus remains<\/a> in his Father\u2019s love.\u00a0 If and only if I remain in his love I will bear the fruit of his Spirit, the love which is the fulfillment of the law<\/a><\/em>, and obey him thereby.\u00a0 It is not that his love, or even remaining in his love, is contingent upon some open-ended obedience of mine but that my obedience is contingent upon his love and my remaining in his love.<\/p>\n

Here the misdirection of translating forms of \u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03ad\u03c9 with forms of obey <\/em>becomes evident.\u00a0 To keep <\/em>Jesus\u2019 commandments, not to lose <\/em>or discard t<\/em>hem, has much more in common with his words remaining<\/a> in us than it does with any form of obey<\/em>.\u00a0 Even as I write this I hear the quibble in my head: \u201cBut you have obeyed<\/em>: you have remained in his love by clinging<\/a> to his teaching.\u201d\u00a0 I write this quibble off to the religious mind.<\/p>\n

<\/a>I acknowledged<\/a> the religious mind<\/em> as nothing more than the carnal mind <\/em>or the outlook of the flesh<\/em>, but the term still serves a useful purpose for me.\u00a0 I expect the carnal mind<\/a> <\/em>or the outlook of the flesh<\/a> <\/em>to be focused directly on sin.\u00a0 The pretense of the religious mind<\/em> is its focus on righteousness, albeit a righteousness of its own derived from the law<\/a> with a keen desire to justify<\/a> itself by law.\u00a0 Consider Jesus\u2019 teaching on the subject (Luke 17:10 NET):<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, \u2018We are slaves undeserving of special praise; we have only done what was our duty.\u2019\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As I\u2019ve written before<\/a>, we have this attitude not because we are in some wretched social condition but because our deeds have been done in<\/em> (or, by<\/a><\/em>) God<\/em>[13]<\/sup><\/a>\u2026for the one bringing forth <\/em>(\u1f10\u03bd\u03b5\u03c1\u03b3\u1ff6\u03bd, a form of \u1f10\u03bd\u03b5\u03c1\u03b3\u03ad\u03c9<\/a>) in you both the desire<\/em> (\u03b8\u1f73\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd, a form of \u03b8\u03ad\u03bb\u03c9<\/a>) and the effort<\/em> (\u1f10\u03bd\u03b5\u03c1\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd, another form of \u1f10\u03bd\u03b5\u03c1\u03b3\u03ad\u03c9) \u2013 for the sake of his good pleasure \u2013 is God<\/em>.[14]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

\n
Back to Father, Forgive Them, Part 3<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to To Make Holy, Part 5<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Atonement, Part 3<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/a>[1]<\/sup> Revelation 16:15b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[2]<\/sup> 1 John 3:24a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[3]<\/sup> 1 John 5:1a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[4]<\/sup> John 15:5b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[5]<\/sup> Matthew 5:20 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[6]<\/sup> John 15:7, 8 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[7]<\/sup> 1 John 3:1a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[8]<\/sup> 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[9]<\/sup> Romans 7:20 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[10]<\/sup> Romans 9:18 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[11]<\/sup> 1 John 3:18 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[12]<\/sup> Romans 3:22a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[13]<\/sup> John 3:21b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[14]<\/sup> Philippians 2:13 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There is a table representing my unstudied view of the relationship of the clauses of Revelation 2:26-29.\u00a0 I\u2019m considering the clause, who continues in my deeds until the end, because it tugs the hardest at me to return to my … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4105,3833],"tags":[592,4263,4259,4269,4270,1835,4271,4114,1846,415,3713,3989,3979,4264,2924,4265,4267,4268,784,4262,3208,4266,4261,4260,899,199,1959,543,3978,1046,683,884,1148,1136,1135,1332],"class_list":["post-9482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-my-deeds","category-section-four","tag-1-corinthians-137","tag-1-john-224","tag-1-john-228-29","tag-1-john-31","tag-1-john-31-10","tag-1-john-318","tag-1-john-319-24","tag-1-john-324","tag-1-john-51","tag-galatians-522-23","tag-john-1415","tag-john-1416-17","tag-john-1421","tag-john-154-5","tag-john-155","tag-john-156","tag-john-157-8","tag-john-159-10","tag-john-321","tag-luke-107","tag-luke-1710","tag-luke-811-15","tag-luke-94","tag-mark-610","tag-matthew-517","tag-matthew-520","tag-matthew-543-48","tag-philippians-213","tag-revelation-1615","tag-romans-1310","tag-romans-55","tag-romans-720","tag-romans-76","tag-romans-814","tag-romans-83-4","tag-romans-918"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9482"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20966,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9482\/revisions\/20966"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}