1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the
grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him,
in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed
in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no
gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that
ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This sentence is five verses long. Paul has specific prayers for
the Corinthian Christians. He acknowledges that the grace of God was extended
to them by Jesus Christ. We must understand that God loved the world at the
Cross when He gave all men the opportunity, without distinction, to come to
Him.
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have eternal life. 16 For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned:
but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in
the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men
loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the
light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light,
that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
1Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to
come unto the knowledge of the truth.
God through Christ injects into our lives, into our understanding,
wisdom that comes from Him.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first
pure, then peaceable, gentle, and
easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and
without hypocrisy.
This is the evidence and proof of our faith, of having the Spirit
of God, the Spirit of Christ, indwelling us. This is the wisdom of Christians,
the wisdom of Christ.
Galatians 5:13 ¶ For, brethren, ye have been called unto
liberty; only use not liberty
for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite
and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the
lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh
lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are
contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye
are not under the law. 19 Now the works
of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance,
emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness,
revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do
such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is
no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s
have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in
the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of
vain glory, provoking one another,
envying one another.
Smug self-righteousness and a sense of spiritual superiority over
others is not enrichment from Christ but a facet of our own self-worship. Fear
and paranoia over who in the world is out to get you is nothing but a sign of a
lack of faith in God and acceptance of His will.
Everything you say and everything you know should confirm the
testimony of Christ in you. This, so that we are lacking nothing in waiting for
Christ’s return to call us out and take over control of the world.
Paul told another church;
2Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly
jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
It is God’s will that we be perfected, finished, completed,
lacking nothing in knowledge and wisdom that comes from Him.
See here for the definition of perfect, as in complete and lacking
nothing or, as it says in this passage, that we come behind in no gift.
2Chronicles 8:16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto
the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished.
So the house of the LORD was perfected.
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring
fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete
in all the will of God.
James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing.
This is God’s will for us.
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect.
I was never really an atheist. It wasn’t that I didn’t or couldn’t
believe that there was a God. I wasn’t a diehard materialist like some
theoretical scientists who reject all evidence that opposes their religion of
materialism so they can justify disbelieving in God. To me all gods could be true
and all religions just as valid or invalid. God was just basically irrelevant
to me. As some would say there was no purpose in life beyond my own will that
was of any importance. I was led to Christ in difficult circumstances of life
by watching others who had faith and belief in Christ and a meekness toward
God’s will. These people were kind and good and understood that even though THEY
could not understand what was happening that they must and could trust Christ.
It was the testimony of Christ in them that led me to Him.
That testimony of Christ is not found in just clever words or
absolute statements as if you were descending like Moses from Sinai to give the
Ten Commandments to a bunch of rascally Israelites. It is found in the truth
and completeness of your faith and the expression of the fruit or proof of
God’s indwelling in your heart. People need to see Christ in you. That is not
performed by arrogant bigotry or your terror of the world. It is accomplished
by faith and the fruit of the Spirit coming from you.
Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the
sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,
among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
1Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you
wholly; and I pray God your
whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
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