We are looking at the requirements of deacons or elders in GODS Church and Family also known by the term of Body of Christ because within each member of this assembly dwells the Spirit of GOD known as Christ, just HE did the Son of Man Jesus. For understanding of this we must know what was said to man and woman in the garden after their rebellion had taken place, as found in Genesis verse 3:15. When we do we can move forward to 2Corinthians 4:7-12, 13-15, 16-5:5, 6-10 where we find this:
"For we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to GOD and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Christ may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life in Jesus, that is to say Christ, also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Since we have the same spirit of faith (Christ) according to what has been written (in Psalm 116:10), "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that HE Who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory (knowledge) of GOD (now in man according to the LORDS High Priestly Prayer of John 17).
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of (GODLY Knowledge of His) glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from GOD, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by His Life (the true law of Life's path*). For HE Who has prepared us for this very thing is GOD, Who has given us His Spirit as our guarantee.
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are not away from the LORD, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home within the LORD. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what HE has done in the body, whether good or evil."
This said we will now turn our attention to "the mystery of faith" that is to be held and tested in the deacons or elders of His Faith. Again I have shown a link in scriptures with the use of ( * ).
Blameless,
Philippians 2:15 of 12-13, 14-18 "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is GOD Who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Therefore Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of GOD without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the Word of Life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me."
Philippians 3:6 of 2-6, 7-11 "Look out for the dogs (the nations, that is to say the Gentiles), look out for the evildoers (the religious communities), look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of GOD and glory (knowledge held) in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the (Mosaic) Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law*, blameless.
For whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my LORD. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the (Mosaic) Law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from GOD that depends on faith—that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."
Colossians 1:22 of 9-14, 15-20, 21-23, 24-2:5, 6-7 "For this reason, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will (plan and purpose in you) in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the LORD, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of GOD. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father of spirits, Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. HE having delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible GOD, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And HE is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And HE is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything HE might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of GOD (as Christ) was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.
Now you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, HE has reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you hear, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the Church (congregation), of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from GOD that was given to me for you, to make the Word of GOD fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints (in whom His Light, Life, Love as the true law dwells). To them GOD chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. For Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone (perfect) mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that HE powerfully works within me. For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of GOD's mystery, which is Christ, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude (pass to you their delusion) with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus (they being inseparable from us as they were while here on earth, being One being which we also become One with Them) the LORD, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in [by] Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."
1Thessalonians 3:13 of 11-4:8 "Now may our GOD and Father Himself, and our LORD, Christ Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the LORD make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that HE may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our GOD and Father of spirits, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. 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 (plan and purpose) 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 to His Holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but GOD, Who gives His Holy Spirit to you."
1Thessalonians 5:23 of 23-24 "Now may the GOD of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming (perfecting) of our Lord Jesus Christ (in you). For HE Who calls you is faithful; HE will surely do it (this)."
1Timothy 3:2 of 1-7 "The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for GOD's Church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation (delusions) of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare (delusions of hypocrisies) of the devil."
Titus 1:6 of 5-9, 10-16 "This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, is GOD's steward, as such is to be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the (Mosaic Law being themselves the) circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know GOD, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work."
2Peter 3:14, 17 of 14-18 "Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our LORD as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. The eternal Amen."
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