Our Spiritual Richness

While sharing Norman Grubbs comments I noticed that he used the statement that GOD is a God of wonders. So I did some more looking into that phrase and I found something else that I will share here dealing with mans Possession of Christ's Character which makes this man Pleasing GOD. But first Pastor Hoekstra and in writing on Grace, more Grace as contained in the word of GOD. This I will do making use of the ESV translation, with the LORD's help.


"Even More on Continuing in the Word of His Grace"


"I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able . . . Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed" . . . Paul later says.....For this reason I have sent Timothy to you . . . who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church." (Acts 20:32; John 8:3; 1Corinthians 4:17)

"GOD's Grace characterizes His word: "I commend you to GOD and to the word of His Grace." This permeating presence of grace in the scriptures is what makes GOD's word so able to effect godly changes in our lives: "the word of His Grace, which is able." This is why the LORD wants us to continue in His word: "continue in the faith" (Acts 14:22). Also, continuing in the word allows the LORD to remind us of things pertaining to grace, things we need to hear over and over again. Why? Because we have now taken on the character of say Jacob, as a prince who now walks as a one with the LORD, having discarded the old man like Esau of our former nature. 

Jesus called professing disciples to continue in His word. "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide [remain, continue] in My word, you are My disciples indeed'." It is impossible to truly live as a follower of Jesus without continuing in His word. The Christian life is lived by grace. The Bible is "the word of His Grace." We cannot follow Jesus by grace apart from hearing regularly of His grace. The natural bent of our humanity (including, the flesh of true believers) is toward human works of self for self, self-love and that of condemnation under the self imposed Law that demands self performance. This is one reason why the LORD wants us to hear of His effective grace day by day. As GOD in His mighty promises, promises to do the works of Grace within redeemed man, that man may walk pleased Him Who IS. 

The ministry of reminding is part of this process. The Apostle Paul sent out his ministry partner, Timothy, to remind the saints of matters that he himself had previously expounded upon in all the churches. "For this reason I have sent Timothy to you . . . who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church." Later, after Timothy had become a pastor in Ephesus, Paul wrote urging him to remind the saints of some basic elements of grace (matters pertaining to the faithfulness of GOD). "This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us (as Esau was denied, because he denied his inheritance as being of no worth or value) . If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. Remind them of these things" (2Timothy 2:11-14). Such vital truths need to be considered repeatedly. The Apostle Peter knew that it would amount to spiritual irresponsibility to neglect the import of reminders. "Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you" (2Peter 1:12)." Man after have received forgiveness of his sin (the nature of Esau) and has passed through this to enter Salvations (having now the likeness of Jacob or Christ is being a) building up of grace for grace as an ongoing process. Until the day of the LORD or his being laid to rest in a sleep, which ever comes first.

The Possession of, the Character as Pleasing GOD:


Renders Life Secure,


Proverbs 16:1-11 "The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the (our) spirit. Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished. By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil. When a man's ways please the LORD, HE makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. An oracle is on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment. A just balance and scales are the LORD's; all the weights (grace are) in the bag are His work."

A Characteristic of Christ,

Matthew 3:13-17 "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and he saw the Spirit of GOD descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased."

John 8:21-30 "Jesus said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek Me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come." So the Jews said, "Will he kill himself, since he says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?" He said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am HE you will die in your sins." So they said to Him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but HE Who sent Me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from Him." They did not understand that He had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own authority, but speak just as the Father taught (given) Me. And HE who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him." As He was saying these things, many believed in Him."

The Aim of the True Minister,

1Thessalonians 2:1-8 "For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the Gospel (oracle) of GOD in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by GOD to be entrusted with the (His oracle)) gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please GOD who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—GOD is (our) witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles (servant's) of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the (oracle) gospel of GOD but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us."


The Christians Duty,


1Thessalonians 4:1-8 "Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please GOD, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the Will of GOD, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know GOD; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the LORD is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For GOD has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but GOD, Who gives His (Holiness of) Spirit to you."


Enoch and Example of,


Hebrews 11:1-7 "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction (substance of fact or truth) of things not (yet) seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word (Christ) of GOD, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to GOD a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, GOD commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because GOD had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased GOD. And without faith it is impossible to please GOD, for whoever would draw near to GOD must believe that HE exists and that HE rewards those who (diligently) seek Him."


Benevolence a Means of,


Hebrews 13:7-16 and 1John 3:13-22 "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word (oracles) of GOD. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent (tabernacle, temple of Israel) have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through Hs own blood. Therefore let us go to Him outside he camp and  bear the reproach H endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through Hm then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to GOD."


1John 3:11-22 "For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. For We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does GOD's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. For by this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him; for whenever our heart condemns us, GOD is greater than our heart, and HE knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn, we have confidence before GOD; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him."