This document has been a work in progress. I have been born-again and have done my own Bible study to be taught and be corrected by the word of God, and I'm feeling confident with what I have written here, if I have said anything in error I pray that it would be corrected. I'm trying to speak the truth in mercy. This document shows my current understanding at the time of writing. God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Jehovah God, Lord Jesus Christ, please forgive me if I have spoken anything incorrectly and have mercy on me:

I Timothy 4:13-16 - Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (ESV)

In trusting Jesus and His words, we are led by Him. And it's very important that we are not led astray by a different voice, so we should be corrected and goaded and guided by Jesus. With soft hearts we should trust and obey Jesus' voice. He can see our hearts and knows who actually does follow Him:

John 10:4-5 - When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. (ESV)

John 10:27 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (ESV)

II Timothy 2:19 - But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: The Lord knows those who are his, and, Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity. (ESV)

John 10:25-26 - Jesus answered them, I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. (ESV)

John 3:3 - Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. (ESV)

• youtube.com: Not Luther or Calvin, but Jesus {@ligonier}: The thing I want to get across to you is this, that unless a man is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Now, let me just stop for a minute. That's not Billy Graham and it's not RC Sproul and it's not some television evangelist making that declaration. It is not Augustine. It's not Aquinus. It's not Athanasius. It's not Luther. It's not Calvin. It's not Edwards. It is Jesus, the founder of the Christian faith, who is now making a statement that calls attention to something that is necessary for every human being.

Loving God and one another is our duty:

Ecclesiastes 12:13 - The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (ESV)

I John 3:23-24 - And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

Matthew 22:36-40 - Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)

Luke 17:10 - So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty. (ESV)

We must continue in faith in Jesus, in His word, and desire God more than anything else (Mark 4:18-19). These Jews had believed in Jesus but they needed to become free from sin, and Jesus promised that if they abide in His word then they are truly His disciples, and will come to know the truth and be set free from sin. Jesus lets these "believers" in him know that if they were "of God" then they would "love" him. We have to hear, receive, believe and treasure (Luke 8:13) Jesus Christ and His words. The word of God must be rooted securely in our heart, so we must treasure and guard God's word in our heart (Luke 8:13):

John 8:31-47 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (G4100 pepisteukotas: having believed 'V-RPA-AMP past tense') in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. They answered him, We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, You will become free? Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father. They answered him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing what your father did. They said to him, We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God. Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God. (ESV)

Mark 4:18-19 - And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. (ESV)

John the Baptist's call of repentance, to repent, turn from sin, forsake sin and to love our neighbour the way we are commanded to is still for Christians to heed and do. And the wrath to come is still on its way for those who reject Jesus. But how do we accept Jesus? By doing what Abraham did. By faith we must obey Jesus Christ. We must keep Jesus' commandments:

Luke 3:4-14 - As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. And the crowds asked him, What then shall we do? And he answered them, Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise. Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, Teacher, what shall we do? And he said to them, Collect no more than you are authorized to do. Soldiers also asked him, And we, what shall we do? And he said to them, Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages. (ESV)

Our faith mustn't be a superficial faith but we must trust God's word and do it so that in time of testing we do not fall away:

Luke 8:13 - And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. (ESV)

Luke 6:47-49 - Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (ESV)

Mark 4:20 - But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold. (ESV)

Faith in Jesus Christ (and that doesn't mean "not obedience to Jesus"), so by faith obeying Jesus Christ (like Abraham's faith), that's how to be justified:

Galatians 3:22-27 - But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (ESV)

Jesus Christ is the Baptizer, and Jesus baptises us with Holy Spirit and with fire (rather than with H₂O water), although "living water" is an expression used to refer to Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39):

Luke 3:16 - John answered them all, saying, I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Acts 11:16 - And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

John 4:10 - Jesus answered her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. (ESV)

Jeremiah 17:13-15 - O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water. Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise. Behold, they say to me, Where is the word of the LORD? Let it come! (ESV)

So we should trust and obey Jesus and Jesus will baptise us with Holy Spirit:

John 15:9-14 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (ESV)

Ezekiel 33:31-32 - So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice. (engbsb2020eb)

Luke 8:21 - But he answered them, My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it. (ESV)

Matthew 23:8-11 - But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. (ESV)

Jesus isn't saying in Luke 11:2-13 that the one knocking is not a friend of the one who gets up, but Jesus is saying the friend is impudent/persistent in asking his friend. And so, we should certainly be friends with God, doing what Jesus commands us as friends of Jesus do as He commands (John 15:9-14, John 15:13-17). And we should persist and ask God for Holy Spirit. So what I'd say is that we should be keeping Jesus' commandments and when we ask God for something, we knock on His door for it, at any time. And we should ask God for Holy Spirit (Luke 11:2-13).

Thanks to Jesus condemning sin in the flesh, now for those who live according to the Spirit (trusting, treasuring and obeying God, His Word, Jesus Christ, Jesus' teachings in reality in the heart) setting their minds on the Spirit, we can fulfill the requirement of the law, having the law-fulfilling love of God in us that does not want to harm our neighbour (Romans 13:8-10), that loves agape (from the heart) the children of God in the way that God commands us to (I John 5:1-2), the way that is keeping Jesus' commandments (Ezekiel 33:31-32), and keeping Jesus' commandments is what it means to love Jesus (John 14:21), and we should use our freedom to serve one another:

Romans 8:3-4 - For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (ESV)

I John 5:1-2 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. (ESV)

Galatians 5:13-14 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word (G3056 logō): You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (ESV)

• G1247 diakoneó: To serve, to minister, to attend to: 1. to be an attendant, to wait upon (menially or as a host, friend) 2. (figuratively) to serve as a teacher 3. (technically) to act as a Christian steward (deacon)

Matthew 20:25-28 - But Jesus called them to him and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served (G1247 diakonēthēnai: To serve, to minister, to attend to) but to serve (G1247 diakonēsai: To serve, to minister, to attend to), and to give his life as a ransom for many. (ESV)

Romans 14:17-18 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves (G1398 douleuó: To serve, to be a slave to, to be in bondage) Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

So while Jesus has served us we still serve Jesus, serving His family:

Matthew 25:40 - And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. (ESV)

Galatians 6:2-6 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. (ESV)

Jesus is the manifest love of God:

I John 4:9-10 - In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (ESV)

So we must believe what He says and have the love of God in us! And we must believe in Him and what God has done in sending Him into the world! We must believe God and trust God, and keep believing and trusting God:

John 5:37-42 - And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. (ESV)

• John 3:16 (Interlinear): Thus so (Houtōs) (in this way) did God love (G25 agapaó - value,treasure) the world, that He gave His Only-Begotten (G3439. monogenēs - unique,only begotten) Son that (G2443 hina - in order that) everyone who is trusting/believing (G4100 pisteuo) in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting:

I John 4:9-12 - In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (ESV)

• youtube.com: No, God doesn't "allow it" {@leemalaulau} @time: 1 min 38 sec: May that not be true of us today. If it steals, kills or destroys, it's not from your good father. He only brings life. Here's the thing, in order for love to be real it has to be free and unconditional.

  That's why free will exists. God didn't create robots. He created humans with the ability to choose. Why? Because love without choice isn't love at all. Love that is forced is what we would call tyranny or rape. Love that has to be bought is what we would call prostitution. And love that has to be earned is now no longer a free gift to receive, it's now a wage that I must work for.

  And none of these are agape. Agape love, however, God's love is free and unconditional. And for love to be real it must be freely given with no strings attached.

  But freedom means risk. It means the freedom to make bad choices, to reject love or to walk away all together. And God in His love does not control us, He invites us. Influence has to be invited, not imposed, and he gives us the freedom to choose Him or to not choose Him because anything less wouldn't be love at all.

• G25 agapáō: [Agapé love] focuses on value-driven (a decision-based) love – which of course does not exclude affection! (quote)

God has done a thing for us freely, that is giving Jesus Christ and that is how God demonstates His agape (treasuring, valuing) love for us (Romans 5:7-8). The sacrifice was made before the offer was received by us. God does not want people to perish (Ezekiel 18:20-24, II Peter 3:9-13). Therefore it was a completely unconditional act of love on God's part.

God has made the "first move":

I John 4:8-10 - Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (ESV)

In God's unconditional love He has paid the price for us to be saved from sin and death and hell:

• John 3:16 (Interlinear): Thus so (Houtōs) (in this way) did God love (G25 agapaó - value,treasure) the world, that He gave His Only-Begotten (G3439. monogenēs - unique,only begotten) Son that (G2443 hina - in order that) everyone who is trusting/believing (G4100 pisteuo) in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting:

I John 4:9-12 - In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (ESV)

The fact that God has agape loved us first doesn't make void the commandment that we must love God and one another, but rather sets the context. God loved us first:

John 15:9-14 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 30:6 - And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (ESV)

Ezekiel 11:19-20 - And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (ESV)

I Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! (ESV)

I John 3:14-20 - We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love (agapōmen) 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. 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. (ESV)

John 15:9-14 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (ESV)

But we have free will and still need to receive the salvation, and that's why there is still a conditional aspect to this. God, through His word and in sending Jesus (God's Word made flesh) has instructed us in receiving the salvation He has bought:

II Timothy 3:14-15 - But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Jesus is patient with us as we are saved:

II Peter 3:15 - 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, (ESV)

Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain:

I Corinthians 15:53-58 - For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (ESV)

Hebrews 6:9-12 - Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (ESV)

• Watch: youtube.com: Work Out What Christ Has Won: The Christian Life as Gift and Duty

Philippians 2:12-16 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out (G2716 katergazomai) 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. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 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. (ESV)

Salvific, sanctifying faith in Jesus and in the blood of Jesus continues. It's not just a single-moment thing:

• youtube.com: Robert Henderson | 6. Courts of Heaven {@VictoryChristianCentre} @time: 10 min 26 sec: I use the blood to silence the voice [of the accuser]. Of course that's Hebrews 12:24:

  Hebrews12:24 - and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (ESV)

  Now let me just show you one scripture.

  Why it's important to repent:

  I John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV)

  It literally says keeps on cleansing us from all sin.

  That's actually the verbiage - it keeps on cleansing us. Why? Because the blood is 'not that which was spoke, it is that which is speaking'.

  That's what it said.

  There is a blood that speaks better things.

  The blood isn't something that was spoke about you.

  The blood is speaking concerning you.

  So watch, it says that the blood _keeps on cleansing us from all sin, but only when we walk in the light as he is in the light.

  What does that mean?

  That means I come out of darkness into the light.

  That means I have to repent.

  Repentance is coming out of darkness and into light.

  So you cannot get the benefits of the blood, you cannot agree with what the blood is saying about you unless you come out of darkness and into light.

It makes sense to me that anything that opposes the sanctification of those who God wants to be sanctified is not from God. Anything that opposes God's will is not from God:

I Thessalonians 4:3-8 - 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 Holy Spirit to you. (ESV)

Jesus Christ's blood cleanses us from all sin as we walk in the light. We must be walking in the love of the truth:

I John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV)

If a person is holding faith in Jesus Christ with a real faith, one that loves Jesus with agape love then they presently hold eternal life:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes (G4100 pisteuōn - is believing (verb)) in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

Romans 14:23 - But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (ESV)

Going forward, we must continue in the teaching of Jesus Christ. We must continue trusting and being corrected by God:

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

We must agape love, treasure, value, be faithful to God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit, more than anyone else. But we must also love our family in Christ:

Matthew 22:37-40 - And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)

Matthew 10:32-38 - So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (ESV)

I John 5:1-2 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. (ESV)

God is going to help us to love Him with our whole heart, so that we can live. This is a commandment with a promise that God is going to help us to love Him with our whole heart, so that we will live. God is going to make it happen as we trust and obey Jesus Christ. But we've got to keep trusting Him:

Deuteronomy 30:6 - And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (ESV)

II Corinthians 10:5-6 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (ESV)

I John 2:3-6 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

Romans 11:21-23 - For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. (ESV)

A "law-abiding faith" is a faith that agrees with the law in the heart, and wants to do what pleases God and do what is right in God's eyes. But sometimes even if we do want to / desire to do what is right, because of indwelling sin Romans 7:16-20), we sometimes don't, even though we do want to. God who is without sin always fulfills His promises. God carries out perfect deeds (Deuteronomy 32:4). And as Jesus Christ is the telos (G5056 telos) of the Law for righteousnes to everyone who is believing, a "law-abiding faith" must continue to agree with and come into agreement with Jesus Christ and His teachings. We must be correctable by Jesus ongoingly. Jesus is our Master, so we trust and obey Jesus. We recognise that we are distinct from the indwelling sin that rebels against the law of God (Romans 7:18-20), but that the indwelling sin is condemned, and God is going to deliver us from every evil deed and bring us safely into His heavenly kingdom. So God is going to sanctify us. We still set our minds on the "things of the Spirit", keeping Jesus' commandments, and the "law of the Spirit of life", as we abide in Jesus keeping Jesus' commandments, sets us free from the law of sin and death. Trusting and obeying Jesus, we are cleaned up. Trusting and obeying temptation to sin, that would dirty us:

III John 1:11 - Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. (ESV)

Romans 7:16-20 - Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (ESV)

I John 3:23-24 - And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

Romans 8:1-7 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. (ESV)

II Timothy 4:18 - The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)

We must desires God and not desire sin. We must desire to be sanctified, to please God, to do the will of God:

• youtube.com: I GIVE YOU MY HEART {@ savedbygrace85 }: This is my desire To honor You; Lord, with all my heart; I worship You; All I have within me; I give You praise; All that I adore; Is in You;

  Lord, I give You my heart; I give You my soul; I live for you alone; And every breath that I take; Every moment I'm awake; Lord, have Your way in me

  …

  And I will live And I will live for You

Romans 11:30-31,12:1-2 - Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

I Peter 4:1-5 - Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (ESV)

I Corinthians 10:9-14 - We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (ESV)

If we sin then we confess the sin, we agree with God about it, and God is faithful and just to forgive us. So we come to faith and we go on abiding in the truth, and when we stuff up, then we repent and return to the truth, like in the story of the prodigal son:

1 John 1:9 - If we confess (G3670 homologeó) our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

Luke 15:7 - Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

For a born-again believer, practicing righteousness becomes the normal mode of operation. The person born of God stops sinning and starts practicing righteousness. But if they do commit sin, then there is propitiation for that sin. We need to confess our sins. We need to repent of them:

I John 3:7 - Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. (ESV)

Colossians 3:8-10 - But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (ESV)

I John 2:1-6 - My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

If a person has presently the law-abiding faith then they are trusting and obeying Jesus Christ and, therefore, in the grand scheme of things, that person has been perfected (i.e. that person's sanctification will be completed):

Hebrews 10:14 - For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (ESV)

If a person's faith is not law-abiding then actions done out of that are not done in faith (real faith) (Romans 14:23) or not done in a non-idolatrous (I Peter 4:3 says idolatry is unlawful, abominable) agape love for God and their neighbour (I Corinthians 16:13-14) and that type of faith, not being love for the Truth, is not the faith of a son or daughter of God. A law-abiding faith agrees with the law of God:

Romans 7:16-25 - Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV)

Faith in Jesus Christ looks like by faith obeying Him, just as Abraham did (Hebrews 11:8) and continues to agree with the same Jesus (II John 1:9-10).

Faith in the blood of Jesus looks like by faith obeying Jesus Christ as Abraham did (Hebrews 11:8), while also having faith in the passion (Isaiah 53:5), death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:20). We trust and obey God, trusting and obeying Jesus, not under the old code but in the new life of the Spirit, so we endeavour to please God, but if we sin then we confess them and we have an advocate with Father God, Jesus Christ, the Righteous, and if we abide in Jesus' commandments, we abide in Jesus and have access to propitiation. Jesus Christ's teachings and commandments for us are all spirit and life, grace and truth, and it's not going back "under law rather than grace" to believe we must be "doers of Christ's law", because it's a law of faith, not works. We trust and obey Jesus, but our faith isn't relying on us being able to carry out perfect deeds, but we still have a heart of obedience that desires, even tries to please God with our actions, but like Paul, sometimes what we end up doing isn't what we really want, and indwelling sin is not grounds for condemnation. Rather, those who abide in Jesus Christ, abiding in Jesus' commandments are not condemned. So the intention of the heart is important, even the intention of the heart to obey Jesus out of faith. And Jesus has commanded us to have faith in Him and to love one another as He commanded:

• Trusting that Jesus Christ's propitiation for sin is available to wash away one's sin. This is available even after we have first come to faith
  • Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (ESV)
  • I John 4:9-10 - In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (ESV)
  • Romans 3:21-31 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from (G5565 chōris: "alongside but distinct from i.e. isolated from" rather than "completely without", as used in Matt 14:21. So, "manifested alongside but distinct from. i.e. separate from") the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (ESV)
    • And by saying "apart from the law", it's talking about the law of Moses (which came in after Abraham). So in talking about the faith being distinct from the Mosaic law, it's not taking obedience out of the equation because by faith Abraham obeyed. We are to by faith obey Jesus Christ directly.
    • Matthew 14:21 - And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides (G5565 chōris) women and children. (ESV)
      • Specifying the number of men, it's not saying there were only men, but that the count is counting only the men.
      • So in Romans 3:21-31, the 'righteousness of God "apart from" the law' is not saying the law doesn't exist alongside the faith but that it's the faith in Jesus Christ that is counted, rather than the works of the law. We shouldn't rely on the works of the law, though good deeds do naturally come from good faith, and we should certainly strive to trust and obey God better, increasingly, with less failure. Paul himself said sometimes he doesn't do what he wants to do. So if he wants to do what is right, the heart is right, he has the right faith. Intentions matter. Heart faith, obedience, hope, love, fear of God matters.
      • Romans 3:28 - For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from (G5565 chōris) works of the law. (ESV)
      • James 2:26 - For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart (G5565 chōris) from works is dead. (ESV)
      • Galatians 3:10 - For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.” (NASB)
    • John 15:5 - I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from (G5565 chōris) me you can do nothing. (ESV)
      • So we must "abide in Jesus".
    • John 1:3 - All things were made through him, and without (G5565 chōris) him was not any thing made that was made. (ESV)
    • Romans 3:28 - For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from (G5565 chōris) works of the law. (ESV)
      • The faith (trusting, loving, obedient to, the truth) and the works (successfully carrying out intended actions from a desire to please God) are distinct though the faith does try (II Peter 1:5-10, Luke 13:24-27)
    • Romans 7:9 - I was once alive apart from (G5565 chōris) the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. (ESV)
  • I John 2:1-6 - My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)
  • John 13:7-11 - Jesus answered him, What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand. Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head! Jesus said to him, The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you. For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, Not all of you are clean. (ESV)
• Believing what is said by Jesus' Apostles regarding sanctification and doing the will of God:
  • That we are sanctified by faith (actively trusting in, hoping in) in Jesus Christ
    • Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (ESV)
  • That we are sanctified by obedience to the Truth for a sincere love of our family in Christ
    • I Peter 1:22 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)
    • I John 5:1-2 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. (ESV)
    • God has described what this love looks like in several places
      • Colossians 3:8-10 - But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (ESV)
      • Galatians 6:2-6 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. (ESV)
      • Romans 13:10 - Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)
      • Mark 10:17-21 - And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother. And he said to him, Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth. And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.
      • John 15:9-14 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (ESV)
        • Agape love is definitely valuing, treasuring, preserving

Luke 8:21 - But he answered them, My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it. (ESV)

To be saved, we must trust in what is true, we must agape love the truth:

II Thessalonians 2:9-12 - The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (ESV)

Luke 8:12 - The ones along the path are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. (ESV)

Isaiah 26:2-4 - Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. (ESV)

Trusting in Jesus Christ, we should be abiding in His teachings, including His commandments.

Abraham just obeyed God, trusting God. And so should we. God sees what's in our heart. We focus on trusting and obeying God's commandments from the heart. We walk by faith and not by sight (II Corinthians 5:6-7). Not focusing on the visible exterior results of our obedience, but simply by faith obeying Jesus Christ sincerely from the heart:

• Hebrews 11:8 (Interlinear): By faith being called Abraham obeyed to go out into a place that he was going to receive for an inheritance and went out not knowing where he is going

  1 G4102 G2564 G11 G5219 G1831 G1519 2 Pistei kaloumenos Abraam hypēkousen exelthein eis 3 Πίστει καλούμενος , Ἀβραὰμ ὑπήκουσεν ἐξελθεῖν εἰς 4 By faith being called Abraham obeyed to go out into 5 N-DFS V-PPM/P-NMS N-NMS V-AIA-3S V-ANA Prep 6
  7 G5117 G3739 G3195 G2983 G1519 G2817 8 topon hon ēmellen lambanein eis klēronomian 9 τόπον ὃν ἤμελλεν λαμβάνειν εἰς κληρονομίαν , 10 a place that he was going to receive for an inheritance 11 N-AMS RelPro-AMS V-IIA-3S V-PNA Prep N-AFS 12
  13 G2532 G1831 G3361 G1987 G4226 G2064 14 kai exēlthen mē epistamenos pou erchetai 15 καὶ ἐξῆλθεν , μὴ ἐπιστάμενος ποῦ ἔρχεται . 16 and went out not knowing where he is going 17 Conj V-AIA-3S Adv V-PPM/P-NMS Adv V-PIM/P-3S

II Corinthians 4:18 - 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. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:39-40 - And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. (ESV)

Those in the kingdom of God hold faith in Jesus and serve Jesus:

Romans 14:17-18 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

I John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (ESV)

Romans 8:38-39 - For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

I John 2:3-6 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

And we keep ourselves in the love of God. We continue to keep believing that God has loved us in sending Jesus Christ (I John 4:6-19), and at the same time agape loving one another (I John 3:21-24) in the way He both demonstrated and commanded:

Jude 1:18-21 - They said to you, In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions. It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God (G26 agapē: [the] love) (G2316 Theou: of God), waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (ESV)

Being 'philos with (friends with, allured by, attracted to)', money , self, pleasure, rather than ((G3123 mallon: rather [Adv])) being allured by God (wanting to be around God) is bad. But we should avoid those who are attracted to such things rather than/instead of God. We want to be attracted to God, and certainly must be attracted to God moreso than by pleasure, money, self, etc. And we are instructed to avoid such people who are drawn to such things in preference to God. We are to avoid enemies of God:

II Timothy 3:1-5 - But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self (G5367 philautoi: lovers of self [Adj-NMP]), lovers of money (G5366 philargyroi: lovers of money [Adj-NMP]), proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good (G865 aphilagathoi: without love of good [Adj-NMP]), treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure (G5369 philēdonoi: lovers of pleasure [Adj-NMP]) rather than (G3123 mallon: rather [Adv]) lovers of God (G5377 philotheoi: lovers of God [Adj-NMP]), having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (ESV)

James 4:4 - You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (ESV)

I John 4:16 - So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (ESV)

John 15:9-10 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (ESV)

And we serve in the strength that God provides. If we find ourselves in a position to demonstrate serving others out of love, and the Scriptures have a lot to say about what that that love looks like (such as in the 10 commandments. See Romans 13:9-10), then we should do so and give God the glory:

I Peter 4:11 - whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)

I Peter 4:12-19 - Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (ESV)

All of us have a duty to keep God's commandments for us, (notably Christ's commandments). The strong [of faith, of obedience, at keeping God's commandments] are obligated to bear with the failings of those who are weak [of faith, of obedience, at keeping God's commandments]. So we should be supporting one another to live in a way that is pleasing to God:

Romans 15:1-4 - We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me. For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (ESV)

Colossians 3:13-14 - Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love (26. agapé), which is the bond of perfect unity. (engbsb2020eb)

Romans 13:8-10 - Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)

Gal 6:2-6 is saying that in bearing one-another's burdens a person fulfills the law/commandments of Christ. So the type of law-fulfilling love of God that those who are in Christ have involves abiding in Jesus' commandments and bearing one-another's burdens:

• Galatians 6:2 (Interlinear): One another’s burdens bear you and thus you shall fulfill the law of Christ

Galatians 6:2-6 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. (ESV)

John 13:34 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (ESV)

Good works are works that are done in genuine faith, in the agape love of the truth, the trust of the truth, in the heart. Love is not strictly the works, but is from the heart. And the love we have is a love of the truth, not a love of sin:

I Corinthians 13:1-8 - If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. (ESV)

I Corinthians 10:5-11 - Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end (G5056 telē) of the ages has come. (ESV)

The word "telē" in I Cor 10:11 is the plural of "telos" which is used in Romans 10:4. It doesn't mean "abolishment". It's more like "culmination", "goal, or "full maturity", or the "final stage", or the "ultimate purpose" and that if a person has arrived at faith in Jesus then they have arrived at the destination where the Mosaic Law was a "schoolmaster" to get us to. Now even if the coming faith was not yet "revealed", if someone were to have pursued the Mosaic Law by genuine fear of God, love of God, trust of God, hope in God, faith in the heart (rather than the exterior works) then that would still be commendable. But if a person rejects Jesus (say if they reject Him as King, or as Christ, if they don't submit to God's righteousness) then it simply shows that they do not have true faith in God, that they do not do what Abraham did, they do not have the love of God, the love of the Truth in them:

Romans 10:4 - For Christ is the end (G5056 telos) of the law (G3551 nomos) for righteousness (G1343 dikaiosune) to everyone who believes (G4100 pisteuo, trusts). (ESV)

Galatians 3:22-27 - But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (ESV)

Romans 9:30-32 - What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, (ESV)

John 8:31-47 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (G4100 pepisteukotas: having believed 'V-RPA-AMP past tense') in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. They answered him, We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, You will become free? Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father. They answered him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing what your father did. They said to him, We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God. Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God. (ESV)

Luke 16:29-31 - But Abraham said, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them. And he said, No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent. He said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead. (ESV)

But if a person rejects Jesus (say if they reject Him as King, or as Christ, if they don't submit to God's righteousness) then it simply shows that they do not have true faith in God, that they do not do what Abraham did, they do not have the love of God, the love of the Truth in them:

Matthew 21:37-44 - Finally he sent his son to them, saying, They will respect my son. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance. And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants? They said to him, He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus said to them, Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him. (ESV)

Jesus is the focal point.

• youtube.com: John MacArthur | The Ben Shapiro Show Sunday Special Ep. 29 {@DailyWirePlus} @time: 59 min 57 sec: I think what Jesus did in the Sermon on the Mount was elevate the teaching of the Rabbis. Elevate it. He went above them. He said, "You've been told you shouldn't commit adultery. I'm telling you, if you look at woman to lust after her you've committed adultery in your heart." He got to the heart of the Law. They were content with the practical application of the Law. He was not content with that. So I would say that Jesus was the purest Jew that ever lived because He understood the elevation of the Law to the heart and the soul… When you hear of even the people in His time saying, 'never a man spoke like this man…' He is a person that doesn't seem to have been a product of human invention… You cannot come to Jesus and just patronise Him as a noble, good, Jewish teacher because He crossed a line and the Jews saw that. Either He's the Messiah or He's a blasphemer… So when you ask me to show the variation between Judaism and Christianity, morally there's none. In terms of God, we don't have the same God as Muslims. Allah is not the same God as Jehovah… He (Jehovah) is the One, True Creator God, the One True Living God… We believe He is more than one Person in One God. That's why Genesis says, "Let us make man in Our own image." And relationship comes from a God who has relationship within Himself. But the distinction between Christianity and Judaism is what we do with Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews says 'If a sacrifice had been enough to atone for sin, they would've stopped making them.' But they never stopped… [morning and evening, morning and evening…] Basically, a priest was a butcher (he had blood up to his waist)… You come to the death of Jesus Christ and at the death of Christ, the veil of the Temple is rent from top to bottom. The Holy of Holies is thrown open. That's a statement from God because it couldn't have been ripped by men from the top down. The way to God is open. There's no more barriers because a suitable sacrifice has been found. This is The Lamb of God. And amazingly, soon after that the whole sacrificial system ends because that's the final sacrifice. And God validates that sacrifice by raising Him from the dead. The resurrection is a provable historical fact. So I think that's the issue, it's what do you do with Jesus. And God validates that sacrifice by raising Him from the dead. The resurrection is a provable historical fact. So I think that's the issue, it's what do you do with Jesus… This is Judaism's culmination, so I don't see Judaism and Christianity as antithetical. I see them as perfectly complimentary so that what the prophet said the Messiah would be, Jesus was. That fulfills it. The sacrificial system ends. It's never been reinstituted again. The one sacrifice, the writer of Hebrews says, 'He perfected forever those who are sanctified by His one offering.' He was God's Lamb, a spotless lamb without blemish. God put on Him the sins of us all. This is a stunning theological truth because all the people who will ever believe through human history, their sins are covered by Christ, even those who believed going back to Adam. All of them had to have a sacrifice that paid for their sins, whether it happened before Christ (their belief), or after Christ. Christ is the focal point. So, He bears in His body all the sins of all who would ever believe ((G4100 pisteuo: actively trusting/believing in Jesus Christ)) through human history.

I John 2:23 - No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. (ESV)

The faith we must have is still law, but it's not a law of works:

Romans 3:21-31 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (ESV)

It's "by the 'works', specifically, of the law", the Mosaic Law, that no mere human being will be justified in God's sight and in Romans 3:20 Paul is referring to what came in through Moses to increase the trespass. Paul is not there referring to Jesus' commandments. All Jesus' commandments are grace and truth, spirit and life, and we should trust, hope in love and obey Jesus. It is by the law of faith in Jesus who has fulfilled the law, fulfilled it even by works, that we are justified. The law isn't overthrown / abolished. It is upheld. Jesus is the telos, the culmination of the law to those who have faith:

Romans 3:20 - For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (ESV)

Romans 5:20 - Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, (ESV)

All of God's word is the Truth. The sum total of God's word is the Truth:

Psalms 119:160 - The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (ESV)

The Law and Prophets point to Jesus and speak of Jesus and so Jesus Christ in the flesh is the realisation of those prophesies. As Jesus said, He came to fulfill the Law, not to abolish it. So truth/reality is revealed in Jesus who did fulfill the Law perfectly. And Holy Spirit testifies that Jesus is God's Son because God raised Jesus from the dead. So truth/reality is reavealed in Jesus, wheras, the Law, while trustworthy and true, points to Jesus. Jesus still issued commandments and we need to abide in Jesus' commandments:

Matthew 5:17 - Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (ESV)

Romans 1:4 - and was declared to be the Son of God in power ascording to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, (ESV)

John 5:46 - If you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. (ESV)

John 1:45 - Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. (ESV)

John 6:57 - As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. (ESV)

The Law has a shadow of true realities:

Hebrews 10:1 - For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. (ESV)

Father God sent Jesus and Jesus obediently came to do God's will:

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:5-7 - Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book. (ESV)

Where John 1:17-18 has the word "alḗtheia", even though it accurately means "truth", all of God's word is the Truth, and so the other sense of the word "alḗtheia" which is "reality" is useful:

John 1:17-18 - For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth (G225 alḗtheia) came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (ESV)

Hebrews 1:1-2 - Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (ESV)

Romans 3:21-24 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (ESV)

• G225 alḗtheia: (from 227 /alēthḗs, "true to fact") – properly, truth (true to fact), reality. [In ancient Greek culture, 225 (alḗtheia) was synonymous for "reality" as the opposite of illusion, i.e. fact.]

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth (G225 alētheia), and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV)

Those who love God's Truth (not the world) and continue in the love of the Truth, those who persist in faith in Jesus Christ will have Jesus Christ manifest to them, they will see Jesus Christ and receive eternal life. And the world, not being grounded in a love of reality/truth will no longer see Jesus. We want to live so we want to not be cut off from Jesus, so we want to continue to trust and obey Jesus. So those who love Jesus, keeping His commandments will receive the Helper, Holy Spirit, who will come to live in them. But the world can't receive Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth:

John 14:19-21 - Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

I John 3:23-24 - And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

John 14:15-17 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (ESV)

We must not be like the lawless who do not love the truth, who are deceived because they don't love truth/reality:

II Thessalonians 2:9-10 - The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (ESV)

We must believe the Truth and we must receive the Truth. We must love the truth:

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

Luke 24:25 - And he said to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! (ESV)

John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (ESV)

John 5:26 - For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. (ESV)

God let Abraham know He would bless him because he was obedient to His voice and didn't withhold his son (Abraham's faith was tested to show that he agape loved God first before even his only son):

Genesis 22:15-18 - And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice. (ESV)

We are also tested as Christians, and the type of faith we ought to have is still modelled on Abraham's:

I Peter 1:6-9 - In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (ESV)

John 8:39-40 - They answered him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. (ESV)

Romans 9:6-8 - But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but Through Isaac shall your offspring be named. This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. (ESV)

Romans 4:11-12 - He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. (ESV)

Romans 4:16 - That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (ESV)

Revelation 2:10 - Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. (ESV)

By faith we obey the Truth (Jesus Christ) from the heart and our hearts and souls are sanctified:

I Peter 1:14-25 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (ESV)

Resting from our works doesn't mean resting from love (which is in the heart) and it doesn't mean resting from obedience (which is in the heart), since we have to hold our faith in Jesus in a law-abiding way (that is loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and and our neighbour as ourself). Without the law-abiding love, the type of faith one would be resting in would be an unlawful faith, a demonic faith:

Hebrews 4:8-10 - For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. (ESV)

We must not be insubordinate. We have to let Jesus be the one in charge of us that God may be in us:

I Corinthians 15:22-28 - For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it says, all things are put in subjection, it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. (ESV)

John 15:9-10 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (ESV)

Christians should be do good to all but be uncompromising with their faith. We should bring peace (peace not as the world gives, but peace in Jesus). People may receive or they may reject the follower of Jesus and the peace they bring. Christians don't spead their faith through violence, but if Jesus is not received and we are rejected then we shake the dust off our feet. The peace to be found in Jesus Christ doesn't remain with those who reject Jesus:

Luke 10:5-6 - Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house! And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. (ESV)

Luke 10:10-11 - But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near. (ESV)

John 14:19-21 - Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

Like Jesus, we should preach the peace of Jesus which is found in Jesus for those who abide in Jesus keeping His commandments:

Ephesians 2:11-17 - Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. (ESV)

I John 3:24 - Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

The peace Jesus gives is not "peace on Earth" with just anyone. Those who follow Jesus and those who do not follow Jesus are on different paths, like different currents. The gospel is divisive:

Matthew 10:32-38 - So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (ESV)

Even in the body of Christ there can be superficial divisions which we lament but will be dealt with. We can still sharpen one-another. Christ Himself isn't divided:

Proverbs 27:17 - Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. (ESV)

I Corinthians 1:10-13 - I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, I follow Paul, or I follow Apollos, or I follow Cephas, or I follow Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (ESV)

We must not be against Jesus or the teachings of Jesus. So that means we must learn from Jesus and be correctable by Him, trusting and obedient to Him with hope in God's promises:

Luke 9:50 - But Jesus said to him, Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you. (ESV)

The peace to be found in Jesus Christ is peace with God and between those who God is pleased with:

Luke 2:14 - Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! (ESV)

Philippians 4:6-7 - do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

It's peace "in Christ" with each other and with God's Kingdom in heaven and earth:

Colossians 1:20 - and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (ESV)

It's peace with God for those for those who have faith in Jesus Christ, who trust God's Word:

Romans 4:23-25,5:1-2 - But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (ESV)

Isaiah 26:2-4 - Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. (ESV)

It's peace for those who from the good treasure of their heart, do good:

Romans 2:9-11 - There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (ESV)

Luke 6:45 - The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (ESV)

God trains us through discipline for holiness to behave righteously and the fruit of that yields peace:

Hebrews 12:10-11 - For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (ESV)

So in resting from our works, we remain ready and prepared to do good works opportunistically (as they are given to us, as keeping a good conscience with God would require them to be done). So the rest is resting with a faith that is still maintaining a genuine agape-love for God and for one's neighbour, especially their family in Christ. But so long as we are keeping Christ's law lawfully trusting in Him and loving one-another as He has commanded and demonstrated, we are permitted to rest and are not duty bound to perform tasks that are not within Christ's law.

Since God has prepared the good works for us to walk in, God is ultimately in control of dispensing these good works, as we receive them, walking in them faithfully, lovingly and obediently!

What resting from our works means is that maintaining our law-abiding obedience and good conscience with God takes priority over just doing things habitually or under constraint. It doesn't mean habitual or religious tasks are evil. It just means that we are allowed to rest in a law-abiding faith in Jesus, and that when religion tries to rob you of that rest, that's when religion is unhelpful.

Now, a law-abiding faith doesn't close their heart to a brother in need. A law-abiding faith is still ready and prepared to love our family in Christ in word and deed and truth. But like Paul says, if he has not love, such good works profit him nothing. The heart attitude of law-abiding love and the works that come from that heart are different things. So even when resting from one's works, we must retain the law-abiding love.

I Corinthians 13:2 - And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love (26. agapé - treasuring, valuing love), I am nothing. (ESV)

So when we do rest from our works, it would be either because we have exhausted our current supply of good works, or because doing them would be unlawful (i.e. would be not done in faith, or not done in love). For example, if doing some "good deed" would at the same time break the 2 Great Commandments, then it would be unlawful.

And it's absolutely fine to continue doing good works as a Christian, in fact Jesus purchased us to be zealous for good works. And it's advised to do so as well, if we want to see good days:

I Peter 3:10-13 - For Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? (ESV)

Titus 2:11-15 - For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. (ESV)

Jesus disciplines us because He loves us and wants to best for us. So be zealous, even for good work, and repent, turn away from evil and do good!:

Revelation of John 3:19 - Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. (ESV)

So resting from our works is not about ceasing to do good, it's just about having faith in / trusting in Christ. Having put our faith in Christ, we enter His rest. We want to do that obediently, putting down idols, etc. ("Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience"). We must not misconstrue doing good and obeying God as opposing the cross of Christ. But it's perfectly fine to work out (perform) our salvation, taking every thought captive for obedience to Christ, and arrive at the point where it's not burdensome to keep Christ's commandments:

Luke 6:9-10 - And Jesus said to them, I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it? And after looking around at them all he said to him, Stretch out your hand. And he did so, and his hand was restored. (ESV)

Hebrews 4:3 - For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, As I swore in my wrath, They shall not enter my rest, although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. (ESV)

Hebrews 4:8-10 - For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. (ESV)

We enter God's rest while we are believing in Christ. The day is today. Every day is the Sabbath:

Hebrews 4:7-12 - again he appoints a certain day, Today, saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (ESV)

Abiding by Christ's law (Christ's commandments), which is a law of faith (we're not under the curse of the law of Moses) and is not a law of works (Romans 3:21-31), is not being under a curse, but, rather is being under grace:

I Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! (ESV)

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

John 1:17 - For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (ESV)

When contrasting being "under law" to being "under grace", Paul is takling about people who "rely" on the "works" (the exterior stuff) of the law, the Mosaic Law (which came in after Abraham), who are under law. But the law of Christ which we are 'under' (abide in) is a different type of law, and the kind of law that it is is a law of faith. It's about the heart. And like Abraham, we should believe in, trust in, trust, agape love and obey Jesus. And just like Abraham's faith, our faith may be tested and a person may be justified by works, like Abraham's faith and that wasn't "works of the law of Moses" which came in later (to increase the trespass). But we don't "rely" on the justification by works of faith in Jesus, though that type of thing may happen.

Abraham was tested to see if He had the fear of God in Him. Our faith must be like that. When we talk about "justification by works", it has to be on the basis of faith, on the basis of what's in the heart (in this case, the fear of God), rather than the external deed, otherwise it's no longer grace, but the exterior deed is an indicator of what is going on inside:

Genesis 22:12 - He said, Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me. (ESV)

This man thought it was some good deed he had to do. Jesus tells him to keep the commandments (stop doing evil from the heart) and follow Him (Jesus). But the man clearly coveted His posessions too much:

Matthew 19:16-26 - And behold, a man came up to him, saying, Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life? And he said to him, Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments. He said to him, Which ones? And Jesus said, You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said to him, All these I have kept. What do I still lack? Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

This makes it it quite clear that we must be law-abiding:

Matthew 13:38-42 - The field is the world, and the good seed is the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (ESV)

Fear of God and hoping in God's steadfast love are strongly associated. Hoping in God's steadfast love and having the fear of God (wanting to please God, not wanting to sin against God), are strongly linked together. And because the faith we have is one which loves the truth of God, having the fear of God and having a love for the truth and a hatred of evil are all strongly linked together:

Psalms 33:18-19 - Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. (ESV)

The Mosaic law (exterior action this, exterior action this, exterior action this) and you'll live is not of faith. But the law can be pursued by faith, even obediently. How do you pursue the law by faith? Do what Abraham did (John 8:31-47). By faith Abraham obeyed. It wasn't merely the external deeds but that the deeds were done in faith and it's the faith that's essential. It's what's going on in the heart that is essential. It's a here and now heart attitude thing, a justified by grace through faith thing. Faith, hope, love and obedience are all heart attitudes.

Romans 10:4-11 - For Christ is the end (G5056 telos) of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down) or Who will descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. (ESV)

Matthew 23:26-28 - You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (ESV)

If we're acceptable to Jesus, abiding in Jesus' commandments then we are acceptable to Father God. Jesus is our High Priest. Holy Spirit is our Advocate:

John 15:9-14 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (ESV)

Romans 14:17-18 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (ESV)

Have the love of God in you, the love of the Truth, the faith that loves and receives the truth: (John 5:37-42). Believing, trusting, hoping in God with the fear of God. God sees the heart:

Romans 9:30-32 - What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, (ESV)

"The one having completed all of these external deeds will live" is probably an accurate way to understand "the one who does them shall live by them", as if their entire future is dependent on the completion of all of these external tasks.

If God's commandments for us were merely about the external deeds then couldn't you just delegate someone else to do all of these 'tasks'? Or even more absurd, delegate them to a robot? No because God's commandments are not merely about external works. God wants your heart to be sanctified:

Matthew 5:28 - But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Being a "doer" of the Law is different. And "doing" is whether or not there is faith, love, obedience, fear of God, trust, hope in God in the heart. It's not the "works" that come out of that. Should we perform deeds in keeping with repentance? Yes. But we're not sanctified by the deeds. But we are sanctified through the faith and the obedience!:

Galatians 3:10-13 - For all who rely on works (G2041 ergōn: works, deed, action, task, labor) of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them. Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for The righteous shall live by faith. But the law is not of faith, rather The one who does them (G4160. poieó To make, to do, to act, to cause, to work) shall live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree— (ESV)

I John 3:23 - And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. (ESV)

Romans 2:13-16 - For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Judging the law is not the same thing as doing it:

James 4:11 - Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. (ESV)

God looks at the heart:

II Corinthians 5:10-12 - 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. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.

John 2:23-25 - Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. (ESV)

Psalms 139:23 - Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! (ESV)

Love and good works once again means that love is not strictly the works:

Hebrews 10:24-25 - And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (ESV)

I'm not judging people until the Lord Jesus Christ does (I Corinthians 6:1-20). There comes a day when God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus and when we are judged by Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 11:32) He disciplines us in advance that we may not be condemned with the world (I Corinthians 11:32).

Job 5:17-18 - Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For He wounds, but He also binds; He strikes, but His hands also heal. (engbsb2020eb)

I Corinthians 6:1-4 - When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? (ESV)

Deuteronomy 8:5-6 - Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you. So you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. (ESV)

I believe I've personally been going through this discipline after getting born-again.

There is a "last day" and we want to have put our faith in Jesus before the last day. But right now, not later, is the right time to put our faith in Jesus:

Hebrews 3:12-19 - Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. (ESV)

John 3:18 - He who believes (G4100 pisteuo) in Him is not judged; he who does not believe (G4100 pisteuo) has been judged (G2919 krino) already (G2235 ede), because he has not believed (G4100 pisteuo) in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (NASB)

Acts 17:30-31 - The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. (ESV)

So I hope this testimony can be an extra warning for people that they may come to the obedience of faith in Christ Jesus with a sincere agape love for God and their family in Christ. Lord Jesus Christ, come:

I Corinthians 4:5 - Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. (ESV)

It's the 'seeking' to, the 'intention' to (rather than the visible results that we might see) to do what pleases God, the desire to please God, the agape loving of the light in the heart that is key. What I mean is that it's about whether or not the person's heart is right. And if the heart is right then the law is "being done":

Romans 2:5-11 - But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (ESV)

We must focus on, look to Jesus:

Hebrews 12:1-2 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)

So let's imagine imagine Peter just looking at Jesus on the sea and by faith obeying Jesus to come to him, but Peter not even being aware that he is standing on water because he's so fixated on Jesus. That's how it should be with us where we "do not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing", where we don't focus on the visible results, but rather we focus on by faith obeying Jesus. Just by faith obey Jesus and focus on Jesus. Come to Jesus. As soon as Peter took his eyes off Jesus and onto the wind (maybe focusing on the results, such as, if he is floating, rather than on Jesus), rather than by faith obeying Jesus, he started sinking:

Matthew 14:28-29 - And Peter answered him, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. He said, Come. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. (ESV)

To inherit the Kingdom, we must be sanctified (I Corinthians 6:9-12), and that sanctification involves exercising Christ's love and it involves putting on incorruption. It involves sanctification, and putting a stop to sin.

I Corinthians 15:50-55 - I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? (ESV)

The righteous here are shown to be "doers" of the law in the heart and that they don't recall when they "[physically] saw Jesus hungry and fed him, thirsty and give him drink", but Jesus says they did, so they must have. This shows that they were not justifying themselves, but rather that God noticed that they were doers of his will and He commended them. They must have simply been led by the Spirit, practicing their righteousness, loving the Truth, (perhaps giving alms out of obeying Jesus by faith), and they served Jesus perhaps without knowing it, but God noticed. This person innocently asks, "When did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?" They would've been doing Christ's commandments, though, by faith obeying from the heart. And so it's not the exterior success which a person might see themselves, but God sees the heart and God also sees the outcome of the faithful obedience and the impact it has on others. The truly obedient person (God sees the heart and sees everything) might even not be sure of when they did these specific things for Jesus. But God sees.

Just be obeying Jesus by faith sincerely from the heart and walk by faith and not sight, not focusing on the visible results, but rather seeking to please God who seeks your heart and intentions:

Matthew 25:33-37 - And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? (ESV)

God can see what we're actually thinking and cares about the intentions of our heart, and He wants us to seek Him:

• G1963 epinoia: attention of the mind, i.e. (by implication) purpose:–thought.

I Chronicles 28:9 - And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. (ESV)

Acts 8:22 - Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. (ESV)

Jesus is the Word of God, and God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus:

Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (ESV)

John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (ESV)

Romans 2:16 - on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Revelation of John 2:12 - And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. (ESV)

Luke 2:34-35 - And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. (ESV)

I Corinthians 3:13 - each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. (ESV)

Genesis 6:5 - The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (ESV)

God wants our actions to be done with the right attitudes:

Romans 12:8 - the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (ESV)

Therefore, we should be obedient from the heart to Christ:

II Corinthians 10:5 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (ESV)

Hebrews 5:8-9 - Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, (ESV)

It's real truth-trusting, truth-loving faith in the heart which God commends. And a Christian's obedience to God is "from the heart". We should be trusting in Jesus Christ, hoping in Him for Him to save us while also purifying ourselves as He is pure:

Romans 2:13-16 - For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Romans 6:17-17 - But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, (ESV)

I John 3:2-4 - Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. (ESV)

We are trusting God when we Trust His words:

Psalms 18:30 - This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. (ESV)

Proverbs 30:5-6 - Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar. (engbsb2020eb)

Psalms 84:11 - For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. (ESV)

Those who serve God love His Word:

Psalms 119:140 - Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it. (ESV)

John 8:42 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. (ESV)

I John 5:1 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (ESV)

Loving, trusting in, hoping in the truth (God, God's Word) and having the fear of God, hating evil, not wanting to sin against God are strongly associated:

Psalms 147:11 - but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. (ESV)

Fear of God and hoping in God's steadfast love are strongly associated. Hoping in God's steadfast love and having the fear of God (wanting to please God, not wanting to sin against God), are strongly linked together. And because the faith we have is one which loves the truth of God, having the fear of God and having a love for the truth and a hatred of evil are all strongly linked together:

Psalms 33:18-19 - Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. (ESV)

With some amount of fear of God a person would have have some compunction about sinning against God; A person with the fear of God is adverse to sinning against God and so repentance from sin goes hand in hand with the fear of God:

Genesis 20:11 - Abraham said, I did it because I thought, There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife. (ESV)

Proverbs 16:6 - By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil. (ESV)

Ultimately, when we sin, we sin against God and we ultimately needed God to have loved us first in sending Jesus Christ while we were all still sinners in order that we might be cleansed from our sin as without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin:

Psalms 51:1-4 - Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. (ESV)

Hebrews 9:22 - Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

Our hearts and minds can be cleansed through faith and obedience to Jesus thanks to what Jesus has done:

Hebrews 9:13-15 - For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:7-10 - Then I said, Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book. When he said above, You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings (these are offered according to the law), then he added, Behold, I have come to do your will. He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (ESV)

Given Proverbs 16:6 which says that "steadfast love and faithfulness atones for iniquity" and Jesus saying that "greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends" and Him saying "You are my friends if you do what I command you" I believe that as Jesus was walking in love and faithfulness, perfectly obedient to Father God, Jesus' blood atones for the sins of those who abide in His commandments:

John 15:9-14 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (ESV)

We are absolutely supposed to be not committing sin. But if we do sin then we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ. That propitiation for sin is available to all people to be received through faith in Jesus Christ:

I John 2:1-6 - My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

There is a righteousness that we can have through faith (imputed righteousness) and there is propitiation for sin that we might commit even after coming to faith:

Romans 3:21-31 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (ESV)

We are sanctified through faith and obedience to Jesus Christ.

Faith in Jesus Christ looks like by faith obeying Him, just as Abraham did (Hebrews 11:8) and continues to agree with the same Jesus (II John 1:9-10).

Faith in the blood of Jesus looks like by faith obeying Jesus Christ as Abraham did (Hebrews 11:8), while also having faith in the passion (Isaiah 53:5), death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:20). We trust and obey God, trusting and obeying Jesus, not under the old code but in the new life of the Spirit, so we endeavour to please God, but if we sin then we confess them and we have an advocate with Father God, Jesus Christ, the Righteous, and if we abide in Jesus' commandments, we abide in Jesus and have access to propitiation. Jesus Christ's teachings and commandments for us are all spirit and life, grace and truth, and it's not going back "under law rather than grace" to believe we must be "doers of Christ's law", because it's a law of faith, not works. We trust and obey Jesus, but our faith isn't relying on us being able to carry out perfect deeds, but we still have a heart of obedience that desires, even tries to please God with our actions, but like Paul, sometimes what we end up doing isn't what we really want, and indwelling sin is not grounds for condemnation. Rather, those who abide in Jesus Christ, abiding in Jesus' commandments are not condemned. So the intention of the heart is important, even the intention of the heart to obey Jesus out of faith. And Jesus has commanded us to have faith in Him and to love one another as He commanded:

• Trusting that Jesus Christ's propitiation for sin is available to wash away one's sin. This is available even after we have first come to faith
  • Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (ESV)
  • I John 4:9-10 - In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (ESV)
  • Romans 3:21-31 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from (G5565 chōris: "alongside but distinct from i.e. isolated from" rather than "completely without", as used in Matt 14:21. So, "manifested alongside but distinct from. i.e. separate from") the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (ESV)
    • And by saying "apart from the law", it's talking about the law of Moses (which came in after Abraham). So in talking about the faith being distinct from the Mosaic law, it's not taking obedience out of the equation because by faith Abraham obeyed. We are to by faith obey Jesus Christ directly.
    • Matthew 14:21 - And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides (G5565 chōris) women and children. (ESV)
      • Specifying the number of men, it's not saying there were only men, but that the count is counting only the men.
      • So in Romans 3:21-31, the 'righteousness of God "apart from" the law' is not saying the law doesn't exist alongside the faith but that it's the faith in Jesus Christ that is counted, rather than the works of the law. We shouldn't rely on the works of the law, though good deeds do naturally come from good faith, and we should certainly strive to trust and obey God better, increasingly, with less failure. Paul himself said sometimes he doesn't do what he wants to do. So if he wants to do what is right, the heart is right, he has the right faith. Intentions matter. Heart faith, obedience, hope, love, fear of God matters.
      • Romans 3:28 - For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from (G5565 chōris) works of the law. (ESV)
      • James 2:26 - For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart (G5565 chōris) from works is dead. (ESV)
      • Galatians 3:10 - For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.” (NASB)
    • John 15:5 - I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from (G5565 chōris) me you can do nothing. (ESV)
      • So we must "abide in Jesus".
    • John 1:3 - All things were made through him, and without (G5565 chōris) him was not any thing made that was made. (ESV)
    • Romans 3:28 - For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from (G5565 chōris) works of the law. (ESV)
      • The faith (trusting, loving, obedient to, the truth) and the works (successfully carrying out intended actions from a desire to please God) are distinct though the faith does try (II Peter 1:5-10, Luke 13:24-27)
    • Romans 7:9 - I was once alive apart from (G5565 chōris) the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. (ESV)
  • I John 2:1-6 - My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)
  • John 13:7-11 - Jesus answered him, What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand. Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head! Jesus said to him, The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you. For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, Not all of you are clean. (ESV)
• Believing what is said by Jesus' Apostles regarding sanctification and doing the will of God:
  • That we are sanctified by faith (actively trusting in, hoping in) in Jesus Christ
    • Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (ESV)
  • That we are sanctified by obedience to the Truth for a sincere love of our family in Christ
    • I Peter 1:22 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)
    • I John 5:1-2 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. (ESV)
    • God has described what this love looks like in several places
      • Colossians 3:8-10 - But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (ESV)
      • Galatians 6:2-6 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. (ESV)
      • Romans 13:10 - Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)
      • Mark 10:17-21 - And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother. And he said to him, Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth. And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.
      • John 15:9-14 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (ESV)
        • Agape love is definitely valuing, treasuring, preserving

Jesus' sacrifice was done once for all (but we still need to recieve it through faith in Jesus Christ):

Hebrews 9:24-28 - For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:5-14 - Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book. When he said above, You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings (these are offered according to the law), then he added, Behold, I have come to do your will. He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (ESV)

We must trust in Jesus and not in this world:

I Corinthians 7:24-31 - So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (ESV)

So we should repent and come to love and trust (treasure and trust in, cling/cleave/adhere to and hope in) God and hate (forsake and distrust) sin and desire God in our minds and hearts and trust in, cling/cleave/adhere to God's promises, and keep doing that so that we are counted with the wheat and not the tares and go to the new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells (we want the good future):

II Peter 3:9-13 - The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (ESV)

Proverbs 8:13 - The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. (ESV)

I Corinthians 10:6-12 - Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. (ESV)

The true fear of God and true faith/trust in God go hand in hand, and so true faith and the hatred of evil are also strongly associated, and impossible to have apart from one another. And repentance needs the fear of God:

Job 4:6 - Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope? (ESV)

Hebrews 3:14 - For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. (ESV)

Exodus 14:31 - Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses. (ESV)

With the fear of God we should hate evil. Even as concerns the gospel, we should be repentant, seeking God's mercy:

Luke 23:40 - But the other rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? (ESV)

Psalms 36:1-4 - Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the LORD. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil. (ESV)

Psalms 115:11 literally reads "Those who fear Yahweh trust in Yahweh", but I notice that Bible translators have translated this as "Those who fear Yahweh, trust in Yahweh" as if to tell those who fear Him to additionally trust in Him. But the correct interpretation might actually say (and I lean toward this interpretation) that those who fear Yahweh are trusting Yahweh as if they go hand-in hand, and that if a person has the reverent fear of God then they have the trusting faith. Just like Hebrews 11:7 says with Noah:

• Psalms 115:11: You who fear Yahweh trust in Yahweh their help and their shield He [is] (Interlinear)

  1 3373 3068 982 3068 2 yir·’ê Yah·weh biṭ·ḥū Yah·weh; 3 יראי ､ יהוה בטחו – ביהוה 4 You who fear Yahweh trust in Yahweh 5 Adj‑mpc N‑proper‑ms V‑Qal‑Imp‑mp Prep‑b | N‑proper‑ms 6
  7 5828 4043 1931 8 ‘ez·rām ū·mā·ḡin·nām hū. 9 עזרם ומגנם . הוא׃ 10 their help and their shield He [is] 11 N‑msc | 3mp Conj‑w | N‑csc | 3mp Pro‑3ms

Nehemiah 7:2 - I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. (ESV)

So in the fear of God we should serve Him, keeping Jesus Christ's commandments faithfully with all our heart:

I Samuel 12:24 - Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. (ESV)

II Chronicles 19:9 - And he charged them: Thus you shall do in the fear of the LORD, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart: (ESV)

Hebrews 11:7 - By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. (ESV)

Abraham trusted God and it was counted to him as righteousness (Romans 4:20-25). And Abraham's works were not "works of the law" (Galatians 3:17), but were works of faith (Hebrews 11:8):

Hebrews 11:8 - By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. (ESV)

We can have and should have a faith that loves the truth, loves Jesus, even if we haven't seen Him yet. We need to prefer Jesus to sin. God will reward us with Himself. We must not keep on sinning in order to come to see Him and know Him. But Jesus knows His sheep, those who trust in Him and love Him, who prefer Him rather than prefer sin. So we kinda "gravitate" (in a sanctifying way) towards Jesus who we hold faith in and love, who's voice we trust:

I Peter 1:8-11 - Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time (G2540 kairós, appointed time) the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent (G3326 meta, contingent) glories. (ESV)

Psalms 37:4 - Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (ESV)

I John 3:1-11 - See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (ESV)

I Corinthians 8:3 - But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. (ESV)

"Kairós" is qualitative (i.e. a special occasion) and "xrónos" is quantitative (i.e. a length of time):

Galatians 4:4-5 - But when the fullness (G4138 plērōma) of time (G5550 chronou, xrónos, duration) had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (ESV)

• G2540 kairós: time as opportunity. 2540 /kairós ("opportune time") is derived from kara ("head") referring to things "coming to a head" to take full-advantage of.

• G5550 xrónos: time (in general), especially viewed in sequence (a "succession of moments"); time in duration in the physical-space world, sovereignly apportioned by God to each person.

In the ESV translation of I Peter 1:11, the word 'subsequent' represents the Greek word 'meta' (G3326 meta, contingent), but I think that an English translation would better translate 'meta' as "contingent" because that opens up to the reader the potential to be understood in a quantitatively chonological timelessness way as 'kairós' is also chronologically quantitatively neither here nor there. So in the original text, I think the Greek word 'meta' fits well alongside the word 'kairós'. It's not 'xrónos' which is in I Peter 1:11, but 'kairós' and so it's talking about the opportune moment in a qualitative way. The issue, I think, with using 'subsequent' is that it introduces into the text subliminally an idea that God had to "wait" for the "xrónos" time in order to commend the righteousness that is by faith, but that's evidently not true, and also in the very same verse, I Peter 1:11, it says there in the text that the Spirit of Christ was in them.

Even with regards the Gospel of the Lord Jesus, God's mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation:

Exodus 1:17 - But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. (ESV)

Exodus 1:21 - And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. (ESV)

God's mercy is for those with the fear of God, the repentant, those who hope in Him and do not want sin against Him:

Psalms 25:14 - The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. (ESV)

Psalms 33:18-19 - Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. (ESV)

Luke 1:50 - And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. (ESV)

We're not justified through the works of the law but we are through faith, and faith involves obedience to Jesus Christ. Being a "doer" of the law of Christ is whether or not a person's heart is right and "doing works of the Law" is different to being a "doer" of the Law:

Galatians 2:15-16 - “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

Romans 2:13-16 - For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Interestingly, James believes that a person is justified not by faith alone, but by works of faith (I Thessalonians 1:3), and the justification by faith 'alone' is fulfilled when they are justified by works.

So which comes first? Justification by faith or justification by working faith? Abraham's duty was simply to fear God and keep His commandments. The book of Genesis was written later. Abraham believed (trusted) God and obeyed Him. That's what we should do too and leave the doing of the justifying to God. Even though we believe that God commends faith, we don't commend ourselves for that faith.

As evidence we do not commend ourselves, but rather that God sees our hearts and commends us, take Matthew 25:31-40 where the righteous question when they "did what was required of them" and "saw Jesus and welcomed him", for instance. Now somebody who makes a clam such as "I have faith in the blood of Jesus" or "I have faith in Jesus" might make that claim without God's commendation:

Matthew 25:31-40 - When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.

It's our duty to have faith in God (I John 3:21-24). Our faith should be modelled on Abraham's. Abraham had not read the book of Genesis, nor the letter of James, nor the letters of Paul:

James 2:21-24 - Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with (4903. sunergeó) his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Galatians 2:16-19 - yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. (ESV)

Yes, God still judges impartially on deeds, but God cares about what was in our heart when we do a thing and Jesus Christ saves us as we hold our faith in Him and we start doing works that are done lawfully, the way God wants them done. While we keep Jesus' commandments, we abide in Jesus' love as He has kept His Father's commandments and abides in His Father's love. And Father God loves us if we have faith in Jesus Christ came from God and love Him:

I Peter 1:14-25 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (ESV)

Luke 3:16-18 - John answered them all, saying, I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. (ESV)

Jesus does use "figures of speech". Not everything should be taken literally but we should seek to understand, and put His word into action:

John 10:6 - This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. (ESV)

John 16:25 - I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. (ESV)

Matthew 13:9-15 - He who has ears, let him hear. Then the disciples came and said to him, Why do you speak to them in parables? And he answered them, To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. (ESV)

John 3:3 - Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. (ESV)

We must walk in Jesus' commandments and believe that He came from God:

John 16:25-28 - I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.

I John 3:21-24 - Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

So we should be walking in obedience to Jesus to be ready for the day of the Lord!

I Thessalonians 5:1-10 - Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, There is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. (ESV)

We're disciplined in advance which means we're given the opportunity to get ready before comes judgement day, and what we need on judgement day is a love of the truth in our hearts rather than (G3123 mallon) a love of sin. Jesus Christ has come into the world from God in the flesh and He gave us His words of eternal life, and God humbled Himself and (Philippians 2:8) was obedient to God even to the point of death on a cross, light has come into the world, and people preferred darkness (evil, sin (I Corinthians 10:6-14)), to the light (Jesus (John 8:12)). The fruit of light is all that is good and right and true (Ephesians 5:5-12, Proverbs 13:5)). So we need to love and receive Jesus Christ and have a heart of love of the truth that produces the fruit of light:

I Corinthians 11:32 - But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. (ESV)

John 3:19 - And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. (ESV)

I Corinthians 10:6-12 - Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end (G5056 telē; ends i.e. multiple ends) of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. (ESV)

Psalms 52:1-5 - Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day. To the choirmaster. A Maskil of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, David has come to the house of Ahimelech. Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah (ESV)

In this life we are disciplined in this life to walk in faith, love and holiness. It's appointed for man to die once and then there is judgement:

Hebrews 9:27-28 - And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (ESV)

John 5:17-29 - But Jesus answered them, My Father is working until now, and I am working. This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come (2064. erchomai) into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (ESV)

Judgement begins with the household of God, but the household of God is disciplined in advance so that they are not condemned along with the world:

I Corinthians 11:32 - But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. (ESV)

I Peter 4:17-19 - For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (ESV)

I Corinthians 10:9-14 - We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (ESV)

At the end of the age, the weeds are actually gathered first:

Matthew 13:24-30 - He put another parable before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds? He said to them, An enemy has done this. So the servants said to him, Then do you want us to go and gather them? But he said, No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn. (ESV)

Matthew 13:40-52 - Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Have you understood all these things? They said to him, Yes. And he said to them, Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old. (ESV)

II Thessalonians 1:7-10 - and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (ESV)

Those who are raptured imperishable don't wither:

Psalm 37:1,2 - Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! Of David. For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. (ESV)

I Corinthians 15:50-54 - I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 4:17 - Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (ESV)

We still hope for the appearance of Jesus Christ, but we hope to be found among the wheat:

I Timothy 6:13-16 - I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. (ESV)

II Peter 3:13-14 - But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. (ESV)

I John 3:3 - And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (ESV)

God is the judge of the living and the dead. I think that it's definitely correct and to do as Peter advises here and put a stop to literally the list of things he's saying to put a stop to:

I Peter 4:1-5 - Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (ESV)

We need a righteousness sufficient to enter the kindom of heaven and we can have that righteousness by imputation through faith in the truth. We must abide in the teaching of Christ, though. We need to have faith in the real Jesus Christ:

Romans 4:11-13 - He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. (ESV)

II John 1:9-10 - Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (ESV)

But this faith must be a "lawful" faith. The commandment of faith must not violate the 2 Great Commandments. Jesus Christ has to be our greatest agape love:

I Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! (ESV)

Galatians 1:8-9 - But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (ESV)

Matthew 22:37-40 - And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)

II Thessalonians 2:9-10 - The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (ESV)

This is reiterated in the Apostle John's words:

I John 3:23 - And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. (ESV

Jesus Christ has to be our greatest agape love. We certainly must prefer Jesus to sin. But we must also prefer Him to everything else:

Mark 8:35 - For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. (ESV)

Colossians 3:4 - When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (ESV)

Revelation of John 2:1-5 - “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first (G4413 protos) love (G26 agape). Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place–unless you repent. (NASB)

John 3:14-19 - And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 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. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than (G3123 mallon, rather/more than, in preference to, instead of) light, because their deeds were evil. (KJV)

Matthew 10:32-38 - So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (ESV)

One must be born-again of water and the spirit and do the will of Father God to enter the kingdom of God:

Matthew 7:21 - Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

Matthew 5:20 - For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

John 3:5 - Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 30:6 - And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (ESV)

Ezekiel 18:31-32 - Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live. (ESV)

We must continue in the faith, even continue in the faith through "tribulation":

Acts 14:21-22 - When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

It's not possible to cheat Jesus over it. He can see the heart:

Matthew 18:3 - and said, Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)

So if a person agrees with Holy Spirit that Father God was just in justifying Jesus and raising Him from the dead for His perfect obedience to Father God while we were yet sinners (i.e. God loved us first before we loved Him), for fulfilling the entire Law and the prophets, for being good as Father God is also good, for practicing perfect righteousness, then that is a very righteous agreement a person is making in agreeing with God over it. I think that righteousness is the righteousness one requires to enter the Kingdom of God. I think that is where imputed righteousness comes from, or at least that is in agreement itself with the Truth. But that's the intuition of it, I think. If God made a very important judgement that affects the whole of humanity then we better be in agreement with it:

Romans 1:4 - and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, (ESV)

So trusting that Father God was in Jesus doing His works seems to be strongly linked to believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and also trusting that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is agreeing with Holy Spirit and Holy Spirit has testified of this by Jesus' Resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4):

John 14:10-15 - Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (ESV)

John 5:36 - But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. (ESV)

John 3:18 - Whoever believes in him is not condemned (G2919 krinetai: is judged V-PIM/P-3S), but whoever does not believe is condemned already (G2919 kekritai: has been judged V-RIM/P-3S), because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (ESV)

John 20:30-31 - Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (ESV)

So trusting in Father God involves trusting in His righteous judgement regarding Jesus Christ:

Romans 4:22-25 - That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (ESV)

However this faith that we must have is one which accompanies agape love for Jesus. So we also rejoice with the truth (I Corinthians 13:1-8) that God has judged justly and raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead declaring Him to be the Son of God, and we agape love Jesus Christ as we hold our faith in Him and in Father God:

I Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! (ESV)

Now some people distort this idea of "imputed righteousness" and make it sound like a person can do no wrong after coming to faith because Jesus "took their place", where I think that real faith continues (it's a doing word), and the love we must have for Jesus Christ is abiding in His commandments. So imputed righteousness is a righteousness which we hold while we have faith in and love for the Lord. Naturally, we must prefer Him to sin. We must be repentant from sin to have this imputed righteousness. And the faith is ongoing. Pisteuo is a verb, a doing word. We've got to "do" Christ's law of faith:

• John 3:16 (Interlinear): Thus so (Houtōs) (in this way) did God love (G25 agapaó - value,treasure) the world, that He gave His Only-Begotten (G3439. monogenēs - unique,only begotten) Son that (G2443 hina - in order that) everyone who is trusting/believing (G4100 pisteuo) in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting:

John 8:31-47 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (G4100 pepisteukotas: having believed 'V-RPA-AMP past tense') in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. They answered him, We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, You will become free? Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father. They answered him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing what your father did. They said to him, We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God. Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God. (ESV)

Persist in trusting and hoping in Jesus. Persist in being corrected by the Word of God. Persist in submitting to God and resisting the devil. Persist in obeying Jesus rather than sin. Persist in loving God and one another as God commanded and Jesus demonstrated:

I Timothy 4:10 - For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. (ESV)

I Timothy 4:16 - Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (ESV)

I will just say this here, I think that Father God was always pleased with Jesus Christ, His Son, and the chastisement He received is better viewed as God allowing Him to "take a beating", rather than God's wrath against Him. I don't think God was wrathful at all towards Jesus. But all the while, Jesus maintained love and faithfulness for His friends and perfect obedience to Father God.

Isaiah 53:5 - But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. (ESV)

Proverbs 16:6 - By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil. (ESV)

I also believe that it's totally biblical that if we do not go on abiding in Jesus' commandments then there is the real consequence of being "grafted out" of Christ.

Romans 11:19-21 - Then you will say, Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in. That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. (ESV)

We must continue on in faith in Jesus and not desiring evil:

Jude 1:5 - Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. (ESV)

Jeremiah 49:12 - For thus says the LORD: If those who did not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, will you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, but you must drink. (ESV)

Jeremiah 25:29 - For behold, I begin to work disaster at the city that is called by my name, and shall you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of hosts. (ESV)

I Corinthians 10:1-12 - I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end (G5056 telē; ends i.e. multiple ends) of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. (ESV)

Romans 11:21-23 - For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. (ESV)

So the "substitutionary sacrifice" of Jesus dying in one's place I think has to be seen still through the lens of how the Scriptures say it is appropriated, rather than trying to shoehorn everything else to fit the idea that Jesus took one's place. Salvation is still received through faith and obedience to Jesus Christ, abiding in His commandments. And we must continue to abide in His commandments:

Matthew 20:25-28 - But Jesus called them to him and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (ESV)

Getting born-again of the spirit, God's put a spotlight on my heart. Now the time for such "sensuality" is past. I think of everything being like day, all my thoughts and deeds are on full display to heaven, like Candid Camera. So rather than continuing on behaving as "children of the night", we should be walking as children of the day, soberly, focusing on the Lord Jesus Christ, forsaking sin, forsaking uncleanness, forsaking wastefulness (prodigal son like wastefulness), forsaking debauchery, and instead focus on doing what God wants us to be doing, using the time wisely, hoping in Jesus for that future salvation, for His coming, through the eyes of faith. So we are advised to change to be wise and walk as children of light:

Ephesians 5:8-21 - for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 5:5-10 - For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. (ESV)

Some people heed this advice and some people do not. And to connect with another passage, I want to be counted among the wise:

Matthew 25:7-12 - Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered, saying, Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. But he answered, Truly, I say to you, I do not know you. (ESV)

God is the Judge of the living and the dead. The Son will judge. But both the Father and the Son are God, they're both Jehovah:

Acts 10:41-44 - not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. (ESV)

John 5:21-25 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges (G2919 krinei: judges) no one, but has given all judgment (G2920 krisin: judgment) to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears (G191 akouó) my word (G3056 logos) and believes (G4100 pisteuó) him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come (G2064 erchomai) into judgment, but has passed (G3327 metabain) from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. (ESV)

There is a "last day" and we want to have put our faith in Jesus before the last day.

John 12 seems to articulate that when Jesus came He didn't come to judge. But that there remains a latter judgement if Jesus is rejected and those that reject Him or His words are judged by Him (Jesus, the Son of God) on the basis of what they rejected of Him. The Son of God does judge. So God is the Judge of the Living and the dead. But the Father does not judge but the Son does judge. But if in advance of "the last day" a person puts their faith in Jesus then they are saved by Him rather than judged. And following from that, sanctification would then involve ongoing trusting in the voice of Jesus, and that involves trusting in His words, coming into agreement with His words, as they are heard:

• ****John 12:44-47 (Interlinear): And if anyone [of Me hears] the words (i.e. hears Jesus' words) and not keeps [them] (G5442 phylaxē) I not (G2919 krinō: do judge [Tense: V-PIA-1S. i.e. presently judge]) (G846 auton: him) [.] not for I came that I might judge the world but that I might save the world

John 12:44-48 - And Jesus cried out and said, Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge (G2919 krinō: do judge) him; for I did not come to judge the world (G2919 krinō: I might judge) but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (ESV)

So it follows that if someone is trusting in Jesus and His words as they are heard, then they will be saved and not condemned and that is both a present reality and a later reality. God sees our hearts in advance of the last day.

John 3:18 - Whoever believes in him is not condemned (G2919 krinetai: is judged V-PIM/P-3S), but whoever does not believe is condemned already (G2919 kekritai: has been judged V-RIM/P-3S), because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (ESV)

• Polycarp 6:3: For every one who shall not confess (G3670 homologeó) that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is antichrist: and whosoever shall not confess (G3670 homologeó) the testimony of the Cross, is of the devil; and whosoever shall pervert the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts and say that there is neither resurrection nor judgment, that man is the firstborn of Satan.

Romans 14:10-14 - Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess (G1843 exomologeó) to God. So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. (ESV)

There is ultimately a total ending of this present heavens and earth and an entirely new creation, and we have hope for a good future in an entirely new heavens and a new hearth and we prepare ourselves for this by walking in faith, love and holiness. We're instructed to do the will of God. We trust in God's promises through the eyes of faith:

II Peter 3:10-14 - But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:8 - By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:37-40 - They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. (ESV)

I John 2:15-17 - Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

To use some computer science lingo, by the end/close of the age, we want to be "sorted" (Matthew 13:49) into (counted among) the wheat, not sorted into the tares because the tares are the ungodly people (the children of the devil, people who prefer sin to God) who are destroyed by fire. Annihilated is not the right word I think because the fire is eternal. The children of God go to a new creation where righteousness dwells. Until the day of the Lord where the heavens literally melt with heat, I do believe God does take care of and renew the earth. But there is an entirely new creation which we hope for. I truly think that there is ultimately an entirely new creation which we hope for, not a mere derivative. There is no good future without God. We want to have "forked" off with the wheat and not with the tares and so not experience the bad future. So we must not continue to desire evil (I Corinthians 10:6-12):

II Peter 3:5-7 - For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. (ESV)

Matthew 25:41 - Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels

II Thessalonians 1:5-10 - This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (ESV)

God wants us to accept correction from Him because He loves us. So God sent Jesus to us to instruct us (Matthew 28:19-20, Hebrews 12:25) so that we can remember Him (Luke 22:19), look upon Him and live (John 6:40):

Zephaniah 3:6-7 - I have cut off nations; their battlements are in ruins; I have laid waste their streets so that no one walks in them; their cities have been made desolate, without a man, without an inhabitant. I said, Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction. Then your dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you. But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt. (ESV)

Ezekiel 18:32 - For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live. (ESV)

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

Our hearts are circumcised in order for us to love God with all our heart and soul that we may live. So, yes, we must love God and continue to love God after the surgical operation that God does on our hearts in order that we may live:

Deuteronomy 30:6 - And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (ESV)

Ezekiel 11:19-20 - And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (ESV)

Ezekiel 18:32 - For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live. (ESV)

Ezekiel 18:30-32 - Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live. (ESV)

Colossians 2:11-14 - In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (ESV)

Yes, even after receiving Jesus, even after we first come to faith in Jesus, even after we are born-again of the spirit, whatever place we are in as Christains, we are certainly supposed to continue on in the love of the truth, and fulfill the law of Christ, and love who we are commanded to love in the way we are commanded to love:

Romans 8:3-4 - For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (ESV)

I Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! (ESV)

Galatians 6:2-6 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. (ESV)

I John 3:23-24 - And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

I John 5:1-2 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. (ESV)

We should bear fruit in keeping with repentance. We repent from sin to trust in God and stop desiring evil and we go to the good future:

Luke 3:8-9 - Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (ESV)

II Peter 1:5-10 - For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. (ESV)

Satan (the 'god' of this age) has been judged already and tries to stop others from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. Satan tries to mind-blind people from seeing Christ and understanding the gospel clearly and accurately and truthfully:

John 16:8-11 - And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (ESV)

II Corinthians 4:4 - The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (engbsb2020eb)

John 14:9 - Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, Show us the Father? (ESV)

We need to be sanctified (cleaned up, I Thessalonians 4:3-8) and thus acceptable to God:

Romans 15:14-16 - I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

While a person is loving God and their family in Christ, having their souls sanctified by obedience to the truth, they may and should also be walking in the good works which have been gifted to us to walk in. Chronologically, we may be being sanctified (by obedience to the Truth) at the same time as we are walking in the good works gifted to us. While the good works being done and our faith and obedience may all overlap, the works are not strictly the obedience (I Corinthians 13:1-8), and we're not sanctified by the good works, but rather by the faith and the obedience. We're sanctified by obedience to Jesus (I Peter 1:22). The blood of Jesus cleans us as we walk in the light (I John 1:7).

God will judge those that continue practicing wickedness loving evil:

Hebrews 13:4 - Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. (ESV)

II Thessalonians 2:10-13 - and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

Also, we must love one-another:

Romans 13:8 - Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. (ESV)

I John 4:19-21 - We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (ESV)

I John 3:10 - By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (ESV)

Let it be true that we love Jesus Christ and believe in Him even before having seen Him:

I Peter 1:6-9 - In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (ESV)

Psalms 145:20 - The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. (ESV)

Blessed are those who have believed before having come to see and know for certain:

John 20:29 - Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. (ESV)

Blessed are those who have been taught Christ's doctrine and also practice it in that they love like Jesus Christ:

John 13:15-17 - For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (ESV)

I Peter 1:22 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)

Children of the Kingdom of God purify themselves, but children of the devil do not. The children of the devil are the weeds (they affirm (Psalms 52:1-5) rather than forsake sin). We must be cleaned by obedience to the Truth for a sincere love of our family in Christ that we may see Him. At the end of sanctification is having eternal life and not being able to lose that eternal life and the salvation of our souls. The "one born of God" (the new creation self) keeps himself (is mindful for obedience to God) and the devil does not harm him (I John 5:18, Proverbs 16:7, Psalms 115:11):

I John 3:1-11 - See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (ESV)

Hebrews 12:14 - Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. (ESV)

John 6:40 - For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (ESV)

Psalms 52:1-5 - Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day. To the choirmaster. A Maskil of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, David has come to the house of Ahimelech. Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah (ESV)

This is just a Bible study. I have just wanted to read the Bible for myself to understand and apply the Scriptures, come into agreement with God's Truth and share my understanding it with others for accountability purposes, and also affirm truth as I am renewed in mind by it. I don't presume to be always right. Also, just because I have quoted some pastors and authors does not mean that I affirm everything they have ever said, but I have selected quotes which I have found to be relevant and helpful. I want to let the Bible smash bad theology. I've also added parts of my own testimony. It's my hope that this Bible study helps other people to come to the obedience of faith in God through Jesus Christ.

Acts 20:25-32 - And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock ; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (ESV)

Psalms 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (ESV)

Job 42:7 - After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. (ESV)

• We are accountable to our Lord Jesus Christ for our actions and beliefs: youtube.com: Isn't Veganism Closer to God's Original Design?

Romans 14:4 - Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (ESV)

• youtube.com: Preaching The Gospel To The Homeless {@thebrycecrawford} @time: 7 min 44 sec: And when I look at the history and story of Jesus, Jesus laying His life down on the cross, his love, dying for someone like Gage right now. If I saved your life and shoved you out of the way of a car and I took the hit of a car and I died, would that show you that I loved you? It would. Even though we'd just met? Right. And so Jesus Christ died on the cross, a death that we deserve, because sin is wrong… Like sin, wrongdoing, separates us from God and Jesus Christ dying and resurrecting, He defeats death because He's God and He says, I died the death that you deserve so you can live for Me. So the redemption of the cross was to bring us back into relationship with Him.

• youtube.com: Preaching The Gospel To The Homeless {@thebrycecrawford} @time: 9 min 18 sec: Did you feel anything when we were praying for you? Yes. Describe it, what did you feel? Washed. Washed? That's biblical, bro. Because sin is washed with the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus washes our slate clean. So, actually, anything that we've ever done wrong, if we believe in Jesus' death and resurrection and confess that He is Lord, He wipes our slate clean and says, I see you as pure, holy, righteous and clean. That's sweet. How cool is that? Different. Different, right? Like what if I told you that God isn't just energy. What if I told you that He is a being and listen to this, because we're human and we're finite and our minds are limited in understanding, God took on the form of a human to show us how to live life. He doesn't just tell us how to do it, He showed us and He lived a perfect life and when He died on the cross He was a perfect human being, 100% man and 100% God, God in the flesh, dying for us to show us how to live and how to love Him, and showing us how to love us. And then He resurrected. Because if He just died and didn't come back to life then believing in Him would be worthless. But because Jesus resurrected from the dead and over 500 people saw Jesus alive after he had died, and walking around the earth, it shows us that He's God and that He loves us and He wants relationship with us.

AMEN!!

Receiving Jesus:

Matthew 10:40 - Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. (ESV)

Matthew 18:5 - Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, (ESV)

Luke 9:48 - and said to them, Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great. (ESV)

John 1:12-13 - But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (ESV)

Jesus isn't saying here that the one knocking is not a friend of the one who gets up, but Jesus is saying the friend is impudent/persistent in asking his friend. And so, we should certainly be friends with God, doing what Jesus commands us. And we should persist and ask God for Holy Spirit. So what I'd say is that we should be keeping Jesus' commandments and when we ask God for something, we knock on His door for it, at any time:

Luke 11:2-13 - And he said to them, When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation. And he said to them, Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him; and he will answer from within, Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (ESV)

Friends of Jesus do as He commands:

John 15:9-14 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (ESV)

John 15:13-17 - Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (ESV)

When we are called by God, what matters is keeping the commandments of God. I disagree with the added word "conversely" which the BSB translation inserts into I Corinthians 7:22 where it does not exist in the Greek. In fact, the Greek says "likewise" (G3668 homoiós, likewise, in a similar manner). Whether slaves to men or not, under the Mosaic Law or not, as a new creation in Christ we go on keeping God's commandments for us, and that counts for something for all of us (Galatians 3:28), not just some of us. We have to continue on abiding in Jesus' commandments. Everyone who is "in Christ" is both a freedman of the Lord Jesus Christ and a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus sets us free from slavery to sin to serve Him instead. Before we were "free in regard to righteousness" but no longer:

I Corinthians 7:17-24 - Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity. For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise (G3668 homoiós, likewise, in a similar manner) he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. (ESV)

John 8:34-36 - Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (ESV)

Romans 6:17-20 - But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. (ESV)

Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

We must accept that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, to not be condemned:

John 8:23-24 - 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. (ESV)

I John 2:22-23 - Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. (ESV)

I also believe, we must accept, we must trust that Jesus is Jehovah, I AM, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to not die in our sins. We must accept the truth. We must not reject the truth.

Jehovah is God Almighty:

Exodus 6:3 - I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. (ESV)

• biblehub.com: Exodus 6:3 Interlinear: and I appear unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty; as to My name Jehovah, I have not been known to them;

Exodus 3:14-15 - God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM. And he said, Say this to the people of Israel, I AM has sent me to you. God also said to Moses, Say this to the people of Israel, The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. (ESV)

Jesus Christ is I AM. That means that Jesus Christ the Son of God is Jehovah, just as Father God is Jehovah. Saying that Jesus Christ is I AM is still not saying that the Son of God is Father God. But they are both the one God.

• biblehub.com: John 8:24 Interlinear: I said therefore to you that you will die in the sins of you if for not you believe that I am (G1473 egō G1510 eimi I AM or I am He) you will die in the sins of you

  1 2036 3767 4771 3754 599 1722 3588 2 eipon oun hymin hoti apothaneisthe en tais 3 εἶπον οὖν ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀποθανεῖσθε ἐν ταῖς 4 I said therefore to you that you will die in the 5 V-AIA-1S Conj PPro-D2P Conj V-FIM-2P Prep Art-DFP 6
  7 266 4771 1437 1063 3361 4100 3754 1473 1510 8 hamartiais hymōn ean gar mē pisteusēte hoti egō eimi 9 ἁμαρτίαις ὑμῶν ; ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ πιστεύσητε ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι , 10 sins of you if for not you believe that I am [He] 11 N-DFP PPro-G2P Conj Conj Adv V-ASA-2P Conj PPro-N1S V-PIA-1S 12
  13 599 1722 3588 266 4771 14 apothaneisthe en tais hamartiais hymōn 15 ἀποθανεῖσθε ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ὑμῶν . 16 you will die in the sins of you 17 V-FIM-2P Prep Art-DFP N-DFP PPro-G2P

• biblehub.com 8-58.htm: John 8:58 Interlinear: Said to them Jesus Truly truly I say to you before Abraham was I am (G1473 egō G1510 eimi I AM or I am He)

  1 2036 846 2424 281 281 3004 4771 2 Eipen autois Iēsous Amēn amēn legō hymin 3 Εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ἰησοῦς , Ἀμὴν , ἀμὴν , λέγω ὑμῖν , 4 Said to them Jesus Truly truly I say to you 5 V-AIA-3S PPro-DM3P N-NMS Heb Heb V-PIA-1S PPro-D2P 6
  7 4250 11 1096 1473 1510 8 prin Abraam genesthai egō eimi 9 πρὶν Ἀβραὰμ γενέσθαι , ἐγὼ εἰμί . 10 before Abraham was I am 11 Adv N-AMS V-ANM PPro-N1S V-PIA-1S

John 4:25-26 - The woman said to him, I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things. Jesus said to her, I who speak to you am he. (ESV)

John 8:26-28 - 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 me. (ESV)

For salvation we should be unifying in heart and soul with other believers, with other people who are holding their faith in Christ Jesus. In Christ Jesus, we're all aboard the ark of Jesus Christ:

Acts 4:32 - Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. (ESV)

I John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV)

For salvation, we should be confessing with our mouth:

Romans 10:10 - For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (ESV)

• youtube.com: Faith must ABIDE in the HEART. The nature of faith. {@MarkHemans} @time: 3 min 44 sec: Don't be afraid to confess your faith to others.

If we are "in the Spirit" then what other people confess or refuse to confess identifies whether or not the spirit working through them is from God. The principle can and should be used to test dreams, visions, angels, demons and human beings to see if we can trust them. I would never trust someone completely who refuses to give me the testimony that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, as the Apostle John speaks of in I John 4:2-3.

I John 4:2-3 doesn't say that if a spirit speaks the name "Jesus" then it's from God. It doesn't say that at all. Rather, this word confess (G3670 homologeó) surely means that "confess Jesus" is agreeing with, agreeing with Jesus. The spirit must agree that Jesus has come in the flesh and the spirit must agree with Jesus. Now if a spirit does say to me that "Jesus Christ has come from God into the world in the flesh", then that gives me confidence that the message is from God:

I John 4:2-3 - By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. (ESV)

• Polycarp 6:3: For every one who shall not confess (G3670 homologeó) that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is antichrist: and whosoever shall not confess (G3670 homologeó) the testimony of the Cross, is of the devil; and whosoever shall pervert the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts and say that there is neither resurrection nor judgment, that man is the firstborn of Satan.

Romans 8:9 - You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (ESV)

I Corinthians 12:3 - Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says Jesus is accursed! and no one can say Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

Demons can mention Jesus' name. I John 4:2-3 doesn't say that if a spirit speaks the name "Jesus" then it's from God:

Luke 8:28 - When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me. (ESV)

And we should confess our faith to one-another, and confess truth to one-another, love one-another as Jesus commanded and pray for one-another:

Colossians 3:8-10 - But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (ESV)

We should even confess our sins to one another and repent before one-another:

James 5:16 - Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (ESV)

Acts 19:17-19 - And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. (ESV)

Mark 1:5 - And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. (ESV)

While our faith may waver, Jesus remain faithful, but we must not turn away forever from Jesus:

II Timothy 2:10-13 - Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. (ESV)

Luke 22:31-32 - Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. (ESV)

I Peter 4:19 - Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (ESV)

In Hebrews, we are also instructed to "not waver" in our confession. So what we are agreeing with and continuing to agree with certainly does matter. We should keep confessing what we are hoping for and hold fast to that confession and not waver. God is faithful and His promises are trustworthy and we should agree with and be corrected by and keep agreeing with God:

Hebrews 10:23 - Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (ESV)

I Corinthians 1:9 - God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 5:24 - He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (ESV)

We are instructed also to not doubt with our faith:

Luke 24:38-39 - And he said to them, Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. (ESV)

James 1:5-8 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (ESV)

Romans 14:23 - But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (ESV)

So we should not shrink back but be faithful, not doubt, continue living by and not waver in our faith, enduring the trials and tribulations and resistance to our faith so that we can receive. A person's resisting of sin done in faith is indeed an act of faith. Repentance from sin (fear of God. See Proverbs 8:13) and faith certainly go hand in hand (Hebrews 6:1):

Hebrews 10:32-39 - But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (ESV)

• Dr. Michael S. Heiser: Salvation is not gained by moral perfection. It is a gift that comes by grace, through faith (Eph 2:8-9). That in turn means salvation cannot be lost by moral imperfection (Galatians 2:17-21). What is not at all gained by performance cannot be lost by poor performance. Salvation is about believing loyalty - trusting what Jesus did to defeat Satan’s claim and turning from all other gods and the belief systems of which they are a part [See quote].

Hebrews 3:14 - For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. (ESV)

Hebrews 3:5-6 - Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. (ESV)

Galatians 3:22 - But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. (ESV)

It's necessary to separate from idolators in order to be received by God and to be sons and daughters to God. There's no partnership between righteousness and lawlessness. And being the temple of God involves turning away from false gods and separating from idolators. II Cor 6:14-8 makes it clear that faith, belief in Jesus involves repentance from sin and walking in God's commandments and including worshiping and serving one True God only. Being a son or or daughter of God involves turning away from false gods. God gives the promise and we respond to that promise by turning away from false gods and turning away from other forms of sin, and this turning from sin is necessary to be a child of the Most High God:

II Corinthians 6:14-18,7:1 - Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty. Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (ESV)

Exodus 20:2-3 - I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. (ESV)

Exodus 20:4-6 - You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (ESV)

Luke 4:7-8 - If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours. And Jesus answered him, It is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. (ESV)

I believe we have to remain faithful to Jesus:

Acts 11:23-24 - When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:37-39 - For, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; _but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (ESV)

Colossians 1:19-23 - For in him all the fullness of God 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. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now 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 heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. (ESV)

Jesus is the ultimate servant. When we say "we serve Jesus", the Truth is that He has served us, and we're endeavouring to imitate Him and have for others the same type of love He has had for us:

Matthew 20:25-28 - But Jesus called them to him and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (ESV)

Matthew 25:40 - And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. (ESV)

As Christians we endeavour to exercise the love that Jesus has shown us. Remember no servant is greater than their Master, so while we may fall short in serving Jesus and exercising this love, He's still our Master. And Jesus is pre-eminent, and we are only in this position of being able to serve others because of the grace we have received from God in Him:

Jesus is our Teacher and Lord. So we must trust Him and imitate Him as Teacher, and trust in Him and obey Him as Lord:

John 13:12-16 - When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. (ESV)

John 13:15-17 - For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (ESV)

Colossians 1:15-18 - 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. (ESV)

While we may fall short as concerns the law, we still serve Christ, abiding in Him while we hold our faith in Him, and abiding in His love as we keep His commandments, and Christ is not a servant of sin. We come under Jesus' banner, and are justified though our faith in Him. But there is a sin problem and sanctification (us being cleaned up) happens while we are holding faith in Him and keeping Jesus' commandments. We keep Jesus' commandments and must continue keeping His commandments:

Galatians 2:17-21 - But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 5:20-25 - Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. 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 of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. Brothers, pray for us. (ESV)

John 15:10 - If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. (engbsb2020eb)

I Peter 4:7-8 - The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (ESV)

Proverbs 16:6 - By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil. (ESV)

I Peter 1:22 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)

John 6:57 - As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. (ESV)

Jesus commanded us to have faith in Him, He commanded us to love one another as He loved us and He also taught people to forsake sin (John 5:14, John 8:10-11). As Christians we are told that we must continue on, abiding in Jesus' teachings (II John 1:9-10). Through Jesus' teaching and commandments we can draw near to God through faith in Him and be saved.

Zephaniah 3:2 - She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she does not draw near to her God. (ESV)

Proverbs 15:10 - There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die. (ESV)

Hebrews 7:25 - Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (ESV)

We must not refuse Jesus. We must accept His instruction and not turn away from Him:

• Hebrews 12:25 (Interlinear): Take heed lest you refuse the [One] speaking If for they not escaped on earth having refused the [One] divinely instructing [them] much less we - the [One] from [the] heavens ἀποστρεφόμενοι, turning away from (G654 apostrephomenoi)

Hebrews 12:22-25 - But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. (ESV)

The doing of the law and the actions are subtly different. People can be doers of the law (people who love God and their neighbour) who act (produce good works):

James 1:21-25 - Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (ESV)

James 4:8 - Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (ESV)

Hebrews 7:22-26 - This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. (ESV)

Proverbs 12:12 - Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit. (ESV)

We must continue on in Jesus' teachings, keeping His commandments to abide/remain in love and abide/remain in God:

I John 4:16 - So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (ESV)

Even Jesus Christ's commandments depend on the 2 Great Commandments, so as far as I understand we have to do Jesus' commandments lawfully and that means as we follow Jesus' commandments, that shouldn't violate the 2 Great Commandments. So in Christ we must also keep these 2 Great Commandments. That means we must agape-love God and agape love our neighbor as ourself. So even when we think about keeping God's commandments, such as to have faith in Jesus Christ, we must be doing this while at the same time agape-loving God and at the same time agape-loving our neighbour as ourself.

John 5:42-47 - But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words? (ESV)

Deuteronomy 30:6 - And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (ESV)

Agape love is a treasuring/valuing/preserving/compassion love and God the Father and Jesus God the Son should be our first agape love, and those in the family of Christ we must also agape love, and our spouses we must agape love and we are even called to agape all people, but we're supposed to have no agape for this world:

Matthew 22:36-40 - Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)

It's fair to say that Jesus is not merely a prophet but also the Son of God. Since all the Law and the Prophets depend on the 2 Great Commandments. This means that even Jesus' commandments depend on the 2 Great Commandments:

Mark 6:4-5 - And Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household. And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. (ESV)

• Read: gotquestions.org Jesus-prophet-priest-king.html: What does it mean that Jesus is prophet, priest, and king? | GotQuestions.org

I John 5:1-2 - Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. (ESV)

Since Jesus Christ's Law is within the entirety of the Law of God, and if our abiding in Jesus Christ's commandments is acceptable to Him, then we are also acceptable to Father God because Jesus Christ, our Master, was able to satisfy Father God's commandments perfectly:

I Corinthians 9:21 - To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law (G1772 ennomos) of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

• youtube.com: Are Christians Under the Law? Don Carson Explains 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 {@thegospelcoalition} @time: 5 min 15 sec: "I am not free from God's law in some sweeping sense. I am, rather under Christ's law." That is, he is under this New Covenant, this mandate from God that has been mediated through Christ and that will raise all the questions about how you have continuity and discontinuity between the Old Covenant and the New. But what does he mean when he says then "though I am not lawless", I am not antinomian, I am not utterly open to anything that comes along, I am rather under Christ's law, I am under His Lordship. All that the New Covenant of which Jesus Christ is the head secured by his own blood. Everything that He demands in the structure of the New Covenant, I am under that. I can't escape that.

John 15:9-14 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (ESV)

Gal 6:2-6 is saying that in bearing one-another's burdens a person fulfills the law/commandments of Christ. So the type of law-fulfilling love of God that those who are in Christ have involves abiding in Jesus' commandments and bearing one-another's burdens:

• Galatians 6:2 (Interlinear): One another’s burdens bear you and thus you shall fulfill the law of Christ

Galatians 6:2-6 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. (ESV)

Romans 15:1 - We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (ESV)

John 13:34 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (ESV)

Matthew 5:22,28,32,34-37,39,44-45,27-28,30-31,35,40 - But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, You fool! will be liable to the hell of fire. But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply Yes or No; anything more than this comes from evil. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. (ESV)

Luke 6:34-36,40 - And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. (ESV)

"The one having completed all of these external deeds will live" is probably an accurate way to understand "the one who does them shall live by them", as if there entire future is dependent on the completion of all of these external tasks. But in doing Christ's law of faith, we should be doing from the heart:

Galatians 3:10-13 - For all who rely on works (G2041 ergōn: works, deed, action, task, labor) of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them. Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for The righteous shall live by faith. But the law is not of faith, rather The one who does them (G4160. poieó To make, to do, to act, to cause, to work) shall live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree— (ESV)

Abraham was tested to see if He had the fear of God in Him. Our faith must be like that. When we talk about "justification by works", it has to be on the basis of faith, on the basis of what's in the heart (in this case, the fear of God), rather than the external deed, otherwise it's no longer grace, but the exterior deed is an indicator of what is going on inside:

Genesis 22:12 - He said, Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me. (ESV)

Fear of God and hoping in God's steadfast love are strongly associated. Hoping in God's steadfast love and having the fear of God (wanting to please God, not wanting to sin against God), are strongly linked together. And because the faith we have is one which loves the truth of God, having the fear of God and having a love for the truth and a hatred of evil are all strongly linked together:

Psalms 33:18-19 - Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. (ESV)

Abiding by Christ's law (Christ's commandments), which is a law of faith (we're not under the curse of the law of Moses) and is not a law of works (Romans 3:21-31), is not being under a curse, but, rather is being under grace:

I Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! (ESV)

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

John 1:17 - For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (ESV)

When contrasting being "under law" to being "under grace", Paul is takling about people who "rely" on the "works" (the exterior stuff) of the law, the Mosaic Law (which came in after Abraham), who are under law. But the law of Christ which we are 'under' (abide in) is a different type of law, and the kind of law that it is is a law of faith. It's about the heart. And like Abraham, we should believe in, trust in, trust, agape love and obey Jesus. And just like Abraham's faith, our faith may be tested and a person may be justified by works, like Abraham's faith and that wasn't "works of the law of Moses" which came in later (to increase the trespass). But we don't "rely" on the justification by works of faith in Jesus, though that type of thing may happen.

Paul in Galatians 3:10-13 is takling about people who "rely" on the "works" of the law.

Christian joy doesn't mean the opposite of sorrow. Christian joy is not merely "happiness":

Mark 14:32-36 - And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, Sit here while I pray. And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch. And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will. (ESV)

Hebrews 12:1-3 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (ESV)

When we talk about 'merit' or 'credit', we were enabled to even be able to have merit in suffering for righteousness sake because Jesus bore our sins on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. 'Live to righteousness' means walking in the light, walking in love and truth, practicing works that please God, making spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 13:1-8 says that without love (love that rejoices with the truth) we gain nothing. God loved us first and has chosen us to be a holy people for His possession, and we can now make spiritual sacrficies which God finds acceptable through Jesus Christ our Lord who we are holding faith in and who has loved us first, laying down His life for us first:

I Peter 2:15-25 - For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (ESV)

I Peter 2:4-5 - As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Jesus can read all people's hearts, whether good or evil:

John 2:23-25 - Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. (ESV)

Luke 9:47-48 - But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great. (ESV)

Matthew 9:4 - But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil in your hearts? (ESV)

Psalms 139:2 - You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. (ESV)

Psalms 139:23 - Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! (ESV)

It's interesting… Jesus' disciples also gave a reason for why they trust He came from God. I'm certainly a fallible person and can't read everyone's hearts as Jesus can:

John 16:25 - I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. (ESV)

John 16:29-30 - His disciples said, Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God. (ESV)

Luke 5:22 - When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, Why do you question in your hearts? (ESV)

John 1:48-49 - Nathanael said to him, How do you know me? Jesus answered him, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! (ESV)

John 17:6-8 - I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. (ESV)

All have died. Those who now live should live for him who for their sake died and was raised, therefore we no longer regard other people according to the flesh. All things are now new.

II Corinthians 5:14-15 - For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (ESV)

Believing in God and believing that He rewards those who seek Him, whilst holding our faith in Jesus Christ, we endeavour to do good out of obedience to Jesus Christ. We want to please God with our lives. God purchased our redemption with Jesus' blood and the blood of Jesus Christ washes us as we walk in the light as He is in the light. Just because God purchased us, that doesn't take away our free will to choose who we will continue to obey. God wants us to choose to continue obediently holding faith in Him, trusting Him and obeying Him, and we want to (John 5:6) do that too because we want eternal life:

I Peter 3:2 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (ESV)

If we choose instead to obey the flesh (the sinful nature) then that would lead to corruption (Gal 6:7-8). If we choose to obey sin instead of obey God then that would lead to death (Romans 6:23, James 1:12-15) as sin in the flesh has been condemned (Romans 8:1-6). If we choose to obey Christ instead of sin then we will be saved (Hebrews 5:8-9). If we obey the One True God then we'll receive the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 5:8-9). It's much better to have eternal life and nice rewards from God than it is to be overcome by sin, so we should sow to the Spirit (Gal 6:7-8).

James 1:12-15 - Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (ESV)

I believe that we have to love the light and hate the darkness. If people love their sin more than they love Jesus then I doubt that they would be washed from it. We have to agree with God over matters of sin in order to be cleaned from sin:

Romans 7:16-17 - Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (ESV)

John 3:19 - And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. (ESV)

I John 1:9 - If we confess (G3670 homologeó) our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

Psalms 52:1-5 - Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day. To the choirmaster. A Maskil of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, David has come to the house of Ahimelech. Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah (ESV)

I must have been tired last night <2025-10-08 Wed> as I misreferenced this saying Hebrews quoted Jesus. Rather Jesus quotes the Wisdom of God. But still, Jesus did speak it.

Jesus is the Wisdom of God though, particularly to those who are called by God:

Luke 11:49-51 - Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute, so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. (ESV)

Matthew 23:34-36 - Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. (ESV)

Ephesians 4:11-13 - And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, (ESV)

Jesus is the Wisdom of God to those who are called:

I Corinthians 1:23-24 - but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (ESV)

I Corinthians 1:30 - He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. (ESV)

Colossians 2:3 - in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (ESV)

As called people, we are to walk in holiness:

II Chronicles 7:14 - if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (ESV)

I Peter 1:14-19 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (ESV)

I John 4:17 - By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. (ESV)

Luke 8:15 - As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. (ESV)

Luke 3:8 - Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. (ESV)

And we're called to practice righteousness:

Acts 26:20 - but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. (ESV)

I John 5:4 - For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (ESV)

Finding the Wisdom of God, we find Jesus and find life. Not finding/missing/sinning against the Wisdom of God, we injure ourselves. Those who hate the Wisdom of God hate Jesus and love death:

Proverbs 8:35-36 - For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death. (ESV)

Proverbs 8:35-36 - For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. (KJV)

The reason we want to be righteous (John 5:6) is so we get God, not that we become God but that we abide in God. To treasure anyone or anything more than God is sin. God rewards us with Himself (I Corinthians 1:9, Hebrews 10:23), so it's righteous to want to be rewarded with God (Col 3:24, Heb 10:35, Heb 11:26, 2Jn 1:8):

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)

We must be seeking commendation from God:

John 12:41-46 - Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. And Jesus cried out and said, Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. (ESV)

We must do the will of God. The knowledge of the truth accords with godliness (which has a lot to do with having the love of God in us and to do with holiness), and our faith is in God in hope of eternal life. God is faithful (Hebrews 10:23) so we are trusting in someone who is trustworthy and who has made promises that we trust:

Hebrews 10:36-39 - For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (ESV)

Titus 1:1-2 - Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began (ESV)

The type of seeking for glory that is righteous is not a self-seeking seeking. Obeying the Truth, obeying Jesus Christ in actuality will involve making sacrifices, because, for example, Jesus calls us to not render evil for evil but love and do good towards those who hate us, and all of this while remaining faithful to Jesus Christ and holing onto the Truth of the gospel, because without justification through faith in Christ, we can't make acceptable sacrifices to God. And so true obedience to Jesus cannot be said to be self-serving, nor self-righteousness and the type of glory being sought is glory which glorifies Jesus, our Saviour:

Romans 2:4-8 - Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. (ESV)

God has works that we are able to work "while it is day":

John 9:4-5 - We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (ESV)

Trusting in Jesus we are labouring for this food which Jesus gives us, and it's God's work which He is doing in us, not our "own" work:

John 6:27-29 - Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal. Then they said to him, What must we do, to be doing the works of God? Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent. (ESV)

Luke 12:31 - Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. (ESV)

In Christ Jesus, we may boast of our works that Christ accomplishes through us:

Romans 15:17-18 - In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, (ESV)

I Corinthians 15:57-58 - But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (ESV)

It's right to affirm that we reap reward for doing good. After coming to faith in Jesus we are literally instructed to "do good", to do what is pleasing to God:

Galatians 6:7-10 - Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (ESV)

I Corinthians 6:11 - And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (ESV)

We are set free from sin including slavery to anything that is not God, and we become slaves of God:

Romans 6:22-23 - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

Galatians 4:7-8 - So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. (ESV)

The Bible says that having salvific righteousness before God in his sight (in his omniscient sight, he can see our hearts and deeds) and peace in our hearts doesn't take much time. We have to place our faith in Christ. Have faith in God. Have faith in Jesus Christ:

Psalms 78:21-22 - Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power. (ESV)

John 14:1 - Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (ESV)

Isaiah 26:3-4 - You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. (ESV)

Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ in the heart is how to get saved:

Romans 3:20 - For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (ESV)

Romans 10:4-11 - For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down) or Who will descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. (ESV)

Acts 16:31 - And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. (ESV)

Luke 8:12 - The ones along the path are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. (ESV)

God even hears the words we speak in our hearts:

I Samuel 1:11-16 - And she vowed a vow and said, O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head. As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, How long will you go on being drunk? Put away your wine from you. But Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation. (ESV)

Genesis 24:42-45 - I came today to the spring and said, O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now you are prospering the way that I go, behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say, Please give me a little water from your jar to drink, and who will say to me, Drink, and I will draw for your camels also, let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son. Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, Please let me drink. (ESV)

Romans 8:26 - Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (ESV)

Nehemiah 2:4-5 - Then the king said to me, What are you requesting? So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it. (ESV)

We also need to have the love of God in us. We need to desire God in preference to desiring what is not God. If people prefer praise and congratulations from men to praise and congratulations from God, then that is desiring what is not God over God. God is the Truth, the True reality, and we should not for fear of man withhold confessing Jesus:

John 12:41-46 - Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. And Jesus cried out and said, Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. (ESV)

If you are believing in your heart that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead and confessing that Jesus is Lord then you will be saved. God sees your heart and you have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

• So try to hold these two things together in your heart and make a vocal confession with your mouth if possible, otherwise "think" it becase God can hear our thoughts:: Believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and while believing that also confess Jesus is Lord.

In doing this, it should give a person relief and confidence that they have been heard by God. That message got through. When you do this, it's like putting out an SOS signal, or calling International Rescue (a reference to Thunderbirds), and knowing you've been heard by God and He is rescuing you. God sees the thoughts of our hearts. That's one reason why the Thunderbirds analogy is cool. In the Thunderbirds, they listen to radios worldwide on any frequency for distress calls. So if you're in slavery to sin and perishing and want hope for eternal life, then you call out to God like it says in Romans 10:4, believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confessing Jesus is Lord then your next thoughts can be "I'm OK. I'm safe. Jesus is saving me." because He is.

Proverbs 18:10 - The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. (ESV)

If a person is holding faith in Jesus Christ with a real faith, one that loves Jesus with agape love then they presently hold eternal life:

John 3:36 - Whoever believes (G4100 pisteuōn - is believing (verb)) in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (544. apeitheó) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

Romans 14:23 - But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (ESV)

Just keep in mind that we still continue in hope for future salvation, right until we are with the Lord Jesus:

Acts 15:11 - But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will. (ESV)

I Peter 1:3-5 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (ESV)

Jude 1:19-21 - It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (ESV)

Romans 8:9 - You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (ESV)

God has given some assurance to us (by raising Jesus Christ from the dead) that there is a day coming when He will judge the world in righteousness. We should believe this in our heart that God has raised Jesus Christ from the dead. There's plenty of evidence for it. If we want to (John 5:6) be saved, would should believe what God has done. But certainly, we must repent from sin and trust in God, we must come to the love of the truth (that is, love the truth of God):

Acts 17:30-31 - The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. (ESV)

To be saved, we must trust in what is true, we must agape love the truth:

II Thessalonians 2:9-12 - The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (ESV)

Luke 8:12 - The ones along the path are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. (ESV)

To be saved, we must be sanctified by the spirit and trusting in the truth:

II Thessalonians 2:13 - But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. (ESV)

To be sanctified and thus saved, we must obey the truth for a love of our family in Christ:

I Peter 1:22 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)

To be sanctified and thus saved, we must hold faith in Jesus Christ:

Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (ESV)

A lot of English translations insert the words "at the present time" into Romans 3:26, but I don't see it in the original text. But it's clearly linked to and understood better alongside I Peter 1:8-11. We must continue abiding in Christ's teachings. Yes, we believe that God has put forward Christ Jesus as a propitiation by His blood which is to be received by faith. God has full sovereignty (because He is the justifier) to determine and justify and commend whoever He deems has faith in Jesus Christ. What must we do? What is our duty? Fear Him and keep His commandments. He commanded faith. We must have faith in Jesus Christ. God tests our hearts. The righteousness in the actual doing of the law above (even doing it whilst not having necessarily heard it) is still upheld but there is now the righteousness that is by faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, keeping the commandments of God and following Jesus are not mutually exclusive. And the law still describes what good behaviour looks like and what bad behaviour looks like. But through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, as we follow and place our faith in Jesus, obeying Jesus to repent from sin and to do good and to pass forward love and forgiveness, etc., we can be justified by our faith in Jesus. As we go on living, we keep our obedient believing faith in Jesus, and no longer want to rebel against God's law. Perfect compliance to the law is no longer the basis of our justification but we seek to not break the law. One of Paul's points here is that the Gentiles did not have the Law given through Moses. So the works of the Law that Paul is talking about are the works of the Mosaic Law:

Romans 3:21-31 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (ESV)

We can have and should have a faith that loves the truth, loves Jesus, even if we haven't seen Him yet:

I Peter 1:8-11 - Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time (G2540 kairós) the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent (G3326 meta, contingent) glories. (ESV)

"Kairós" is qualitative and "xrónos" is quantitative:

• G2540 kairós: time as opportunity. 2540 /kairós ("opportune time") is derived from kara ("head") referring to things "coming to a head" to take full-advantage of.

• G5550 xrónos: time (in general), especially viewed in sequence (a "succession of moments"); time in duration in the physical-space world, sovereignly apportioned by God to each person.

In the ESV translation of I Peter 1:11, the word 'subsequent' represents the Greek word 'meta' (G3326 meta, contingent), but I think that an English translation would better translate 'meta' as "contingent" because that opens up to the reader the potential to be understood in a quantitatively chonological timelessness way as 'kairós' is also chronologically quantitatively neither here nor there. So in the original text, I think the Greek word 'meta' fits well alongside the word 'kairós'. It's not 'xrónos' which is in I Peter 1:11, but 'kairós' and so it's talking about the opportune moment in a qualitative way. The issue, I think, with using 'subsequent' is that it introduces into the text subliminally an idea that God had to "wait" for the "xrónos" time in order to commend the righteousness that is by faith, but that's evidently not true, and also in the very same verse, I Peter 1:11, it says there in the text that the Spirit of Christ was in them.

Sincerely, in the sight of God, I am seeking to speak the truth about Jesus accurately, and let people know that we should be faithfully waiting for a future salvation, and not trying to give people false comfort with a false gospel:

II Corinthians 2:14-17 - But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. (ESV)

I believe that Jesus will judge according to the Truth. Even though my theology has imperfections, I think that ultimately, Jesus will judge according to His word and I'm at His mercy.

I recognize that I am a sinful person and still need God to justify me through faith in Jesus Christ, not of my own works. I think that "sinful" (i.e. having indwelling sin) is more accurate than saying "sinner" for someone who God has given a new heart and spirit.

Luke 5:8-10 - But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men. (ESV)

I do not believe that 'works' exactly equals 'obedience', but I believe that Jesus has commanded us to have faith in Him, and to put faith in Him and His blood is obedient to the commandment of faith in Him:

Romans 3:3-6 - What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged. But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? (ESV)

Romans 3:21-28 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it — the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (ESV)

This is a short preview of where I'm at with my theology. I don't claim to know everything or to have perfect theology:

  1  If we trust God, believing on Yeshua's (Jesus's) name, it's 'typically' but
  2  not necessarily the initial act of obedience of a Christian, but it is a
  3  vital act of obedience, Jesus having commanded us to trust Him, and believe
  4  Him, especialy concerning His name as Son of God, Christ, Messiah as foretold
  5  by the prophets, and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit when we do this.
  6  
  7      Acts 10:43 - To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who
  8      believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
  9      (ESV)
 10  
 11  Then we call on Jesus to save us, (usually out of desperation).
 12  Noone calls on a law to save them. We call on Jesus to save us. This is
 13  another act of obedience to the Gospel.
 14  
 15      Romans 10:12-16 - For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the
 16      same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
 17      For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how are
 18      they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to
 19      believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear
 20      without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are
 21      sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach
 22      the good news! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says,
 23      Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us? (ESV)
 24  
 25      II Timothy 2:22 - So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness,
 26      faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure
 27      heart. (ESV)
 28  
 29      Ephesians 1:7-12 - In him we have redemption through his blood, the
 30      forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which
 31      he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the
 32      mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in
 33      Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him,
 34      things in heaven and things on earth.
 35      In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according
 36      to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his
 37      will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the
 38      praise of his glory.
 39      (ESV)
 40  
 41  Trust, obedience, belief and faith are not really separate things when it
 42  comes to believing the Word of God in the heart, and if a person has put their
 43  trust in Jesus then they've done something which is in the will of God.
 44  
 45  Our faith and obedience are supposed to continue as we are sanctified and are
 46  taught by Christ, especially by the teachings He taught while walking the
 47  earth even before His crucifixion.
 48  
 49  Trust, belief and obedience, and even agape and knowledge of God when they are
 50  settled in the heart is what God sees and God is our justifier, and He
 51  justifies the one who puts their faith/trust in Jesus Christ, and we continue
 52  trusting Him so we are teachable by Him - we accept His sayings and believe Him
 53  and are corrected by Him.
 54  
 55      Zephaniah 3:2 - She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She
 56      does not trust in the LORD; she does not draw near to her God. (ESV)
 57  
 58      Hebrews 7:25 - Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those
 59      who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make
 60      intercession for them. (ESV)
 61  
 62  We believe by faith that we are justified by the blood of Jesus and just get
 63  to serving God with agape love proceeding from a good conscience having
 64  believed the Gospel and placed our faith in Christ.
 65  
 66  We must continue to hold the faith and endeavour to maintain our good
 67  conscience with God, and that includes forsaking sin (e.g. blasphemy):
 68  
 69      I Timothy 1:18-20 - This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in
 70      accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them
 71      you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By
 72      rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are
 73      Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may
 74      learn not to blaspheme. (ESV)
 75  
 76  Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, He was
 77  raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and He appeared to many
 78  eye-witnesses.
 79  
 80  In this way did God agape love (treasure/value) the world, that He gave His
 81  Only-Begotten Son that everyone who is trusting/believing in Him [may] not
 82  perish, but [may] have life everlasting which is to be reconciled to our Creator
 83  and His Son, in relationship with God forever, never perishing nor being cut
 84  off from our source of life and all that is good.
 85  
 86  Even Jesus Christ's commandments depend on the 2 Great Commandments, so as far
 87  as I understand we have to do Jesus' commandments lawfully and that means as we
 88  follow Jesus' commandments, that shouldn't violate the 2 Great Commandments. So
 89  in Christ we must also keep these 2 Great Commandments. That means we must
 90  agape-love God and agape love our neighbor as ourself. So even when we think
 91  about keeping God's commandments, such as to have faith in Jesus Christ, we
 92  must be doing this while at the same time agape-loving God and at the same time
 93  agape-loving our neighbour as ourself.
 94  
 95      Matthew 22:36-40 - Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?
 96      And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart
 97      and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and
 98      first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor
 99      as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the
100      Prophets.  (ESV)
101  
102  Agape love is a treasuring/valuing/preserving/compassion love and God the
103  Father and Jesus God the Son should be our first agape love, and those in the
104  family of Christ we must also agape love, and our spouses we must agape love
105  and we are even called to agape all people, but we're supposed to have no
106  agape for this world.
107  
108  Agape-loving our neighbour as ourself necessitates not bearing a grudge against
109  our neighbour and not taking vengeance - there is no fear or grudge or
110  vengence in agape love because agape love is selfless and compassionate and
111  agape love gives everything and holds nothing back to have a chance to
112  preserve and protect, to save. God would have sent Jesus even if there was
113  only one more person to save. Agape comes from God. God loved us this way and
114  paid the price for us for sin to be defeated that we may be reconciled back to
115  Him through Jesus. And we pass this type of love, agape love, forward to
116  others.
117  
118  We move forward serving God with hope to see His glory:
119  
120      Hebrews 9:27-28 - And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and
121      after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear
122      the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to
123      save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (ESV)
124  
125  As we hope for His glory we renounce ungodliness and defend with authority and
126  without hyprocrisy that this grace is for us to be purified. This purification
127  of the heart leaves us with a "desire" to do good works:
128  
129      Titus 2:11-15 - For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for
130      all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and
131      to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
132      waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God
133      and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all
134      lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who
135      are zealous for good works. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with
136      all authority. Let no one disregard you. (ESV)
137  
138      II Corinthians 10:5 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised
139      against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey
140      Christ, (ESV)
141  
142      I John 4:8 - Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is
143      love. (ESV)
144  
145      I John 5:2 - By this we know that we love the children of God, when we
146      love God and obey his commandments. (ESV)
147  
148      II Corinthians 10:11 - Let such a person understand that what we say by
149      letter when absent, we do when present. (ESV)
150  
151      I Corinthians 9:24-27 - Do you not know that in a race all the runners
152      compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain
153      it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to
154      receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run
155      aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body
156      and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should
157      be disqualified.  (ESV)
158  
159  Obedience is in the heart, along with belief in the Truth and understanding of
160  the gospel.
161  
162      Romans 6:17-17 - But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of
163      sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to
164      which you were committed, (ESV)
165  
166  Obedience to God, doing the will of God, can exist without work - a
167  willingness of the spirit.
168  
169      John 5:39-40 - You search the Scriptures because you think that in them
170      you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are
171      unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. (NASB)
172  
173      Isaiah 1:19 - If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of
174      the land; (ESV)
175  
176      Titus 3:1-2 - Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to
177      be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to
178      avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all
179      people. (ESV)
180  
181  This is obvious when we see the commandment to not work on the Sabbath. But
182  obedience neither strictly means working nor does it strictly mean not
183  working. But rather doing the will of God.
184  
185      Luke 6:9 - And Jesus said to them, I ask you, is it lawful on the
186      Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it? (ESV)
187  
188  Jesus said, "The spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak." The law can
189  also be followed by faith where it's a matter of seeking praise from God and
190  not from men.
191  
192      Matthew 26:40-43 - And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping.
193      And he said to Peter, So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and
194      pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is
195      willing, but the flesh is weak. Again, for the second time, he went away
196      and prayed, My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will
197      be done. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were
198      heavy. (ESV)
199  
200  Our faith should be modelled on Abraham's faith.
201  By faith Abraham obeyed God out of trust. By faith Christians obey Christ out
202  of trust while submitting to His righteousness, not trying to establish our
203  own righteousness.
204  
205      John 14:1 - Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe (trust) in God;
206      believe (trust) also in me. (ESV)
207  
208      I John 3:23 - And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name
209      of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded
210      us. (ESV)
211  
212      John 15:10 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love,
213      just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (ESV)
214  
215  We're supposed to have joy in our obedience to God, as we obey Christ.
216  
217  We're supposed to go from agapeing darkness to agapeing God's light, and into
218  walking in the light, walking in God's will, and we're supported by God's
219  Spirit as we are doing this.

We serve the Only True God, the Most High God, Jehovah and Jesus Christ who He has sent - the same God, and we are found in Christ Jesus:

I Corinthians 8:5-7 - For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth — as indeed there are many gods and many lords — yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 10:17 - For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. (ESV)

• youtube.com: How to Exercise Real Authority over sickness & demons {@MarkHemans} @time: 12 min 16 sec: When you use the name of Jesus, when that name is given to you from heaven, and not just when you want to use it, when it's given to you from heaven, there's authority and Jesus Christ is there. When Jesus Christ, when the Holy Spirit gives you the words to say and you speak them, Jesus Christ is present. Why? Because the words that you speak are from above. They're God's words for the moment and Jesus Christ is the Word of God and you are speaking Him, and He comes on the scene. So authority comes from Jesus Christ, not from you. That's a very fundamental basis. So Jesus said, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations." Because all authority has been given to Him, you can therefore go with authority. It's got nothing to do with you. It's His authority upon you as His disciple. A disciple comes under the Master. The disciple follows the instructions of the Master. You have been sent. "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them" And then it says, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Where does authority come from? Total obedience to the commands of Jesus Christ. Go and teach them what I have commanded you. That is the key to authority. It's total surrender to His authority. His authority comes upon you as you obey and surrender to Him. Praise God. So turn to the person beside you and say, "Just do as you are told."

At the end of the day, Jesus can do it, even if a person is demonised or struggling with sin. If a person in trouble calls out to Jesus or uses Jesus' name to cast out a demon, I believe that God can save them. If they confess the sin, or rebuke the demon and they really mean it then that helps massively. But godliness and holiness and lots of faith and walking in the ways of the Lord in obedience all help a huge amount in deliverance and helping others be delivered. If you love the same sin another person is dealing with then there seems to be far more resistance to turning others away from it:

I Corinthians 9:27 - But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (ESV)

Luke 6:42 - How can you say to your brother, Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye, when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye. (ESV)

II Timothy 2:21 - Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. (ESV)

Acts 3:12 - And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? (KJV)

Matthew 7:2 - For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (ESV)

Jesus is preparing us to be able to stand before Father God blamelessly. Now blameless is an interesting word. It shows that while we might fall short, God sees everything, and is going to bring us to the point where we can stand before Him with hearts that are blameless in holiness:

I Thessalonians 3:11-13 - Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord 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, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. (ESV)

An established heart is one which has been put on the right track:

II Thessalonians 2:16-17 - Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (ESV)

For reassurance, we should be practicing love:

I John 3:18-19 - Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; (ESV)

I Thessalonians 3:13 - so that he may establish (G4741 stérizó: To establish, strengthen, fix, set firmly) your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. (ESV)

An established heart is one which has become dedicated:

I Corinthians 7:37 - But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. (ESV)

James 4:8 - Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (ESV)

This blamelessness involes approving of what is right/excellent. So if we still have issues, but confess our sin, and we know what is right, and know we still need God's grace and are still holding to our confession of faith in Jesus (and I am still holding to it), and haven't turned away from Jesus, I think we might still be in a position of blamelessness. I think it's looks like a transformed life, transformed into Christ's love, keep His commandments, and agreeing with God and walking in the light, walking in the love of the truth, and as we do that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. So there's justification first which is the breastplate of faith and love, loving the truth, and there is sanctification which is being cleaned up:

Philippians 1:9-11 - And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (ESV)

Philippians 1:9-11 - And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. (KJV)

I believe that blamelessness involves not being deceitful. We must be cleaned up to no longer be deceitful. We should then lean on God's Word because His word is reliable:

Psalms 32:2 - Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. (ESV)

Revelation of John 14:4-5 - It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. (ESV)

Ephesians 5:25-27 - Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (ESV)

Our relationship with God is based on our purity, not just our forgiveness:

II Corinthians 6:16-18 - What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty. (ESV)

Father God is pleased with showing love for people, especially those who the world neglects. Father God is pleased when we keep ourselves unstained from the world, and not in love with the world and not in love with the lusts of the world. We should have agape love for people (treasuring people) and no agape for the world:

James 1:27 - Religion that is pure and undefiled (283. amiantos) before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (ESV)

Being 'philos with (friends with, allured by, attracted to)', money , self, pleasure, rather than ((G3123 mallon: rather [Adv])) being allured by God (wanting to be around God) is bad. But we should avoid those who are attracted to such things rather than/instead of God. We want to be attracted to God, and certainly must be attracted to God moreso than by pleasure, money, self, etc. And we are instructed to avoid such people who are drawn to such things in preference to God. We are to avoid enemies of God:

II Timothy 3:1-5 - But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self (G5367 philautoi: lovers of self [Adj-NMP]), lovers of money (G5366 philargyroi: lovers of money [Adj-NMP]), proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good (G865 aphilagathoi: without love of good [Adj-NMP]), treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure (G5369 philēdonoi: lovers of pleasure [Adj-NMP]) rather than (G3123 mallon: rather [Adv]) lovers of God (G5377 philotheoi: lovers of God [Adj-NMP]), having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (ESV)

James 4:4 - You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (ESV)

This morning (<2024-09-14 Sat>) I had this running through my head during my sleep and as I was waking up - I love it when God does that. I feel much cleaner today. This morning <2024-09-18 Wed> (4 days later) I was hit with some spiritual attack (including strange dreams) so I purposefully stayed up singing this song in my heart and mind and as I did, trying to 'will from the heart' to desire to do God's will and I was able to beat the spiritual attack back this morning :):

• youtube.com: Purify My Heart {Refiner's Fire} | Jeremy Riddle - Worship Moment: Purify my heart. Let me be as gold and precious silver. Purify my heart. Let me be as gold, pure gold.

  Refiner's fire, My heart's one desire is to be holy, set apart for You, Lord. I choose to be holy, set apart for You, my Master, ready to do Your will

• Sermon: youtube.com: Unstained from the World: The Battle for Purity - Tim Conway

To let go and let God purify us is generally incorrect. The Bible teaches that we should cleanse our hearts, and it also teaches that God will cleanse our heart. I like the phrase "let go of darkness and trust God" more. See: youtube.com: Billy Graham Messages 2024 | LET GO & TRUST GOD:

James 4:8 - Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (ESV)

Zephaniah 3:2 - She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she does not draw near to her God. (ESV)

Acts 15:9 - and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. (ESV)

Romans 16:19-20 - For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (ESV)

Christ is reigning until all things are subjected to Him. We must come under the Lordship of Christ Jesus. I consider any so-called god which is in rebellion to Christ to be a demon:

I Corinthians 15:25-28 - For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it says, all things are put in subjection, it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. (ESV)

Luke 4:8 - And Jesus answered him, It is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. (ESV)

Daniel 7:13-14 - I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (ESV)

• Quote by John Piper: So if I were to put a title on this message it would be "No neutrality. [There is] nothing in-between for and against (i.e. there are only two options: for and against) - No neutrality. If you're not for Him, [then] Jesus says you're against Him.

  And I can imagine a person coming into this room and saying, "I'm not against Jesus. I don't even think about Jesus most of the time."

  To which I would respond, "You need to think about what you just said, because to be against Jesus is to be against his purpose for your life, and his purpose for your life does not mean you should spend 99% of your time not thinking about him. That's not his purpose"

We have no other Lord, King, no other Master than Jesus Christ, but we serve Jesus in serving each other:

Matthew 23:8-11 - But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor (2519. kathégétés), the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. (ESV)

Matthew 12:28-30 - But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. (ESV)

II Corinthians 4:5 - For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. (ESV)

We don't worship foreign gods. We don't worship other servants of God, angels or demons. We worship Jehovah God, and most Christians worship Jesus Christ as God the Son, reigning as God with His Father - that's totally all good:

Revelation of John 22:8-9 - I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God. (ESV)

John 4:21-26 - Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. The woman said to him, I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things. Jesus said to her, I who speak to you am he. (ESV)

In Christ Jesus, we can worship Father God in Spirit and in Truth. We In Christ Jesus, we can worship Father God in reality, the way Father God desires us to worship Him:

John 4:23-24 - But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (ESV)

And we can worship Christ, the Son of God in Spirit and in Truth as well because Jesus Christ is also God, the Son of God:

• youtube.com: Jesus Lover of My Soul {worship video w/ lyrics} {@pastorloran}: Jesus, lover of my soul, Jesus, I will never let you go. You've taken me from the miry clay and set my feed upon the Rock and now I know I love You. I need You. Though my world may fall, I'll never let You go. My Savior, my closest friend, I will worship You until the very end.

John 10:30 - I and the Father are one. (ESV)

Revelation of John 22:8-9 - I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God. (ESV)

Hebrews 1:6 - And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, Let all God's angels worship him. (ESV)

John 20:28 - Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God! (ESV)

• youtube.com: Jesus Generation: A "California Will Be Saved" Revival Campaign {@cawillbesaved}: There's a window. You feel it. I feel it. A window of time to swing the pendulum in our nation from rebellion to revival. Young people are coming to Jesus in ways we haven't seen in decades. Could we be stepping into a third great awakening in America? Throughout the last four years, we have taken a bold stance through worship and proclamation, opposing the enemy's plan to corrupt our generation. We have witnessed God save hundreds of lives, bring healing to families, restore purpose to dormant hearts, and free those in bondage. But we sense that there is still a bigger wave of his spirit coming to California and America. We got to be doers of the word. How do we do it? It's simple. When Jesus is enthroned, false gods are dethroned.

I'm trying to side with Jesus over issues regarding the evil which is still present in the world and "hate the sin (Revelation of John 2:6), not the sinner (Ezekiel 18:23)" but rather mourn for them (I Corinthians 5:1-13, II Corinthians 12:21), and starting by first taking a look at my own problems but by no means endorsing sinful things even things I consider I do which are sinful, I don't endorse them for myself either:

John 7:6-8 - Jesus said to them, My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come. (ESV)

Revelation of John 2:6 - Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (ESV)

What's imperative is that we have agape-love for our family in Christ:

I John 4:20 - If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. (ESV)

I Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! (ESV)

I John 4:21 - And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (ESV)

John 15:9-14 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (ESV)

Where loving your family in Christ (the children of God) is absolutely mandatory, the same level of committment to "do good" is not given to those who are in opposition to God:

Psalms 139:19-24 - Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain! Do I not hate (H6962. quwt, loathe) those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (ESV)

Galatians 6:10 - So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (ESV)

Mark 9:40 - For the one who is not against us is for us. (ESV)

God will judge those that continue practicing wickedness loving evil:

Hebrews 13:4 - Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. (ESV)

II Thessalonians 2:10-13 - and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

Psalms 82:1-8 - God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: A Psalm of Asaph. How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. I said, You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince. Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations! (ESV)

• youtube.com: Deuteronomy 32 World View - There are Principalities That Rule over Nations @time: 17 min 56 sec: Here's just one observation from I John 3 and John 1. You go back in the Old Testament. Who are the holy ones?

  Overwhelmingly, like 98% of the time, it's members of the heavenly host, the Divine Council. In the New Testament, holy ones, your English Bible will have 'saints'. That title is never used of the heavenly host, the angels, it's only used of you - of believers. Why the switch? Because we are the new sons and daughters of God. We are going to replace what was lost in all these rebellions both on Earth and ultimately in heaven, or the new Earth, the new Eden. You go to Hebrews 2 where this is the passage where Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers, siblings. Where does that scene take place? If go read the passage? Before the congregation. Before the council. It's right there in the text. Paul in 1 Corinthians 6 tells the Corinthians who are basically doing everything wrong, he says "Look, will you stop taking each other to court. Don't you know that you're going to rule or judge angels.

  What it means is: How are we going to judge angels? If you keep reading Revelation 2, Revelation 3, in the new Eden we are put over the nations. To him that overcomes I will put him over the nations. To the one that overcomes I will let him sit on my throne and rule the nations. Who rules the nations now? The fallen gods, the principalities, the powers the rebellious sons of God. Who gets to replace them? Who judges them? Who will ultimately rule over them and displace and replace them? That would be us. This is not a throwaway line in Paul.

• Quote from Mari Mari Emmanuel: So fear nothing, love everyone, but be firm when it comes to speaking the truth. Truth cannot be compromised. It cannot be sold.

God's way is best. We should learn what God wants of us:

Proverbs 1:28-31 - Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. (ESV)

We are not seeking to please those who of the world. We are not seeking to please God-haters. God-haters might congratulate someone on denying being a disciple of Christ. God-haters might say you did the right thing by ignoring your family in Christ's needs.

We have to love our family in Christ especially, even called to lay down our own lives for our family in Christ, as Jesus did for us. That's the type of love we must have for one another in Christ. In Christ we are united in the truth and in agape love. True, selfless, agape love which loves Jesus our family in Christ in the truth:

I John 3:13-16 - Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 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. (ESV)

I John 3:15-21 - 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. 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 us, we have confidence before God; (ESV)

John 15:9-14 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (ESV)

John 15:18-19 - If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (ESV)

• Amen: youtube.com youtube.com: Day 9: Repent New York City | Phillip Blair

I agree whole heartedly with Keith Green here:

• youtube.com: Keith Green 1978 : Make My Life A Prayer to You {live}

I agree whole heartedly also with MP Nick Fletcher:

• youtube.com: Christian MP: "A life in Christ is the most wonderful thing"

I agree whole heartedly with John Piper in these videos. I've been watching some sermons from Desiring God:

• youtube.com: The Blazing Center by John Piper
• youtube.com: God's Delight in Obedience
• youtube.com: His Voice in Yours: How Christ Wins the World
• youtube.com: God is the Gospel
• youtube.com: How to Seek the Holy Spirit @time: 48 min 13 sec
  • AMEN!!

I agree whole-heartedly with David Mathis also:

• youtube.com: What Is It Like to 'Know Christ'?
• youtube.com: Work Out What Christ Has Won: The Christian Life as Gift and Duty

Evangelist Philip's preaching is very faithful to the gospel of Jesus and very down-to-earth:

• youtube.com: You can't climb out of the pit all by yourself | Jacksonville, FL preaching {@TorchofChristMinistries}

I affirm this man's message:

• youtube.com: The most eloquent, well spoken street preacher I've ever heard! | Preaching Times Square, NYC

I appreciated hearing about Tucker Carlson's journey here and I also appreciate Living Waters' very straight-forward gospel message:

• youtube.com: Recent Demon Attack Leads Tucker Carlson to CHRIST?
• youtube.com: Tucker Says Supernatural Beings Are Taking Physical Form. Here's What He Means.

This video has so much amazing content. I'm feeling much better today as I've been listening and it led me to this this prayer and I feel so much better after amening after reading it! Also I love Tucker Carlson's faith journey with Jesus! Seems to have come really far in his faith!:

• youtube.com: Bishop Barron: The Reality of Demons, How to Fight Them With Prayer, & Debunking the New Atheists {@TuckerCarlson}

• Acknowledgement: To be able to have affection for God and treasure God, and have a desire for God is such a gift…. Thank you John Piper for helping me to see that, and lead me into that truth… It makes so much sense in hindsight. Nothing in this world could replace the gift of being able to know God Himself and have an affectionate, treasuring, obedient, believing, desiring love for God.

Where we used to be disobedient, we are brought into obedience, accepting the gospel, and as we are sanctified by continued obedience to Jesus Christ, we have the hope of eternal life:

Titus 3:3-7 - For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (ESV)

I Peter 1:2 - according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (ESV)

Titus 1:1-4 - Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. (ESV)

Romans 6:2-3 - By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (ESV)

Mark 1:8 - I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

Mark 16:16 - Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (ESV)

Acts 1:5 - for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. (ESV)

Romans 6:17-17 - But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, (ESV)

Sanctification is the salvation: We are sanctified while having faith in the Truth. This sanctification is the salvation. We are saved through sanctification and faith. This sanctification is sanctification of the heart and soul:

II Thessalonians 2:13 - But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. (ESV)

By faith in Jesus we are justified and saved through sanctification while holding faith in Jesus. This justification by faith is required for us to continue being sanctified. We're saved through sanctification:

Romans 5:9-10 - Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (ESV)

The type of faith we need is loving the truth, (i.e. loving Jesus, God's Word). The type of faith we need is faith which loves our family in Christ:

James 2:14-17 - What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (ESV)

I John 4:19-21 - We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (ESV)

I John 3:10 - By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (ESV)

A person with a heart with the right faith, one that loves the Truth, will produce the right fruit:

Matthew 12:33-35 - Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. (ESV)

John 14:15 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (ESV)

Obeying sin leads to death, but we are sanctified to instead serve God:

James 1:14-15 - But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (ESV)

I Corinthians 6:11 - And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (ESV)

Romans 6:22-23 - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

I John 2:23-29 - No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything—and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you—abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. (ESV)

We have family in the Lord which is different to our family of the flesh:

Philemon 1:15-16 - For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. (ESV)

Romans 9:3 - For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. (ESV)

We are family in Christ through abiding in Jesus' commandments, having faith in Jesus and agape loving one another as He commanded:

Luke 22:31-32 - Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. (ESV)

I John 3:23-24 - And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

We are brought to the point where we do not hate our family in Christ (i.e. God is sanctifying us, and at the end of this sanctification is eternal life):

I John 3:15 - Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (ESV)

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (ESV)

Which commandments must we keep? Jesus' commandments - Jesus' sayings and commandments which Father God commanded Him to speak. Also, it's worth learning from the Apostles who were with Jesus. Some commandments of Jesus are divulged and better understood from their writings.

Jesus kept Father God's commandments including the commandment of what to say and speak to us. Jesus' words and sayings and commandments which God gave Him to speak to us are what we should keep. His commandments are eternal life for us:

John 12:44-50 - And Jesus cried out and said, Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me. (ESV)

Jesus Christ (God the Son) is commanded to give eternal life to those who Father God has given Him:

John 17:1-3 - When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (ESV)

From infants in Christ to maturity, people who keep Jesus' commandments are found in Christ who is in God:

John 15:10 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (ESV)

Philippians 3:8-12 - 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 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. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (ESV)

III John 1:11 - Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. (ESV)

Ephesians 5:1-5 - Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (ESV)

Luke 6:35-36 - But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (ESV)

To be sure that we are in Christ, we should be abiding in Jesus' teachings and practicing Jesus' commandments and such a person ought to be walk in the same way Jesus walked:

I John 2:4-6 - Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

If anyone agape loves Jesus Christ, they agape love the Word of God, apage-loves the Truth, he will keep the Word of God's words. God's word is Truth. The sum of God's word is the Truth. When the Bible mentions "keeping" Jesus' word (I John 2:4-6), it's really stressing not only holding onto/being mindful of his word but doing His word:

John 14:23 - Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (ESV)

Yes, we have faith, confess Jesus to others, and hold the faith, but we also progress into sanctification through faith in Jesus and obedience to Jesus, with Him as our first agape love:

Matthew 10:32-38 - So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (ESV)

God has loved us. Jesus has loved us. Now we must love Him back, keeping His commandments, loving Him and one-another:

I John 4:6-19 - We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (ESV)

If you love Jesus, keep His commandments. The one who keeps Jesus' commandments is the one who loves Jesus:

John 14:15 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (ESV)

John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (ESV)

I John 3:2-4 - Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. (ESV)

Because God loved us first:

• The Apostle Paul endeavours to know Jesus ('makes it his own'. See Php 3:9-13) because Jesus made Paul His own
  • To be found in Jesus is what Paul describes as the righteousness from God that depends on faith
    • Philippians 3:8-12 - 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 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. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (ESV)
    • I Thessalonians 5:8 - But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. (ESV)
    • I John 3:23-24 - And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)
    • Ephesians 6:14 - Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (ESV)
    • James 1:19-23 - Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. (ESV)
  • We know Jesus by believing in Him and obeying His commandments, and when we love and forgive we know God loved us and forgave us first
    • I John 2:3-6 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)
• We must love because He loved us first for God to abide in us
  • Romans 5:7-8 - For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)
  • I John 4:9-12 - In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (ESV)
• We must forgive as we have been forgiven
  • Colossians 3:12-14 - Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (ESV)
• We must be conformed to holiness
  • I Peter 1:14-16 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. (ESV)

Children of God:

• Do not make a practice of sinning
• Love their family in Christ
• Practices righteousness

Children of the Kingdom of God purify themselves, but children of the devil do not. The children of the devil are the weeds (they affirm (Psalms 52:1-5) rather than forsake sin). We must be cleaned by obedience to the Truth for a sincere love of our family in Christ that we may see Him. At the end of sanctification is having eternal life and not being able to lose that eternal life and the salvation of our souls. The "one born of God" (the new creation self) keeps himself (is mindful for obedience to God) and the devil does not harm him (I John 5:18, Proverbs 16:7, Psalms 115:11):

I John 3:1-11 - See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (ESV)

It's evident that if we're not obedient to in some area, for example, if we're committing willful sin or not agape loving our family in Christ then it's possible for the devil to "outwit us". I think that's the case because the person who hates their family in Christ walks in darkness. True faith in Jesus Christ agape loves the Truth and continue to abide in Christ's teachings:

II Corinthians 2:9-11 - For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. (ESV)

Justification works together with salvation. A person is able to be saved if they are justified. So we need that heart which loves the truth:

Romans 10:10 - For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (ESV)

The faith that saves is the faith that agape loves (treasures) the truth of God:

II Thessalonians 2:9-12 - The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (ESV)

Justification is a state of righteousness which we don't commend ourselves for (God commends people for their faith), but which is dependent on us having faith in the truth and dependent on us having love for the truth. True agape love is for the truth (the light). True faith agape loves the truth (the light). A demonic love is for the darkness (for sin. see John 3:19). A demonic faith is a hatred of the truth, and though a demon might know who Jesus is, would not want to be around Him (Mark 5:7). We must remain in the love of the truth (walk in the light) to remain able to receive sanctification by the blood of Jesus Christ. We must want to be healed (John 5:6) to have purified consciences (Hebrews 9:13-15) to serve God:

Hebrews 11:1-2 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. (ESV)

II Corinthians 10:18 - For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (ESV)

Philippians 3:8-12 - 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 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. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (ESV)

I Thessalonians 5:8 - But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. (ESV)

Ecclesiastes 12:13 - The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (ESV)

Matthew 22:36-40 - Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)

I Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! (ESV)

As more evidence that justification is a state of righteousness which we don't commend ourselves for (God commends people for their faith), Jesus talks about those who humble themselves. The tax collector here remained in a place of knowing they still need mercy from God. So I have an issue with those who treat justification through faith in Jesus' blood as though now they cannot do any wrong, nor need to continue seeking to please God, nor need to forsake sin, nor need to keep Jesus' commandments because such assumptions are prideful. Similarly, the Pharisees described here also didn't remain humble. But humility continue to endeavour to be commended by God:

Luke 18:9-14 - He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get. But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. (ESV)

• youtube.com: The Whole of the Christian Life Is Repentance {@ligonier}: Most of you know the story of Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg. The first of those theses was this: When our Lord Jesus said 'repent', He meant that the whole of the Christian life should be repentance.

  Who heard somebody say, "Well, I I repented, you know, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, 10 years ago. It's done and dusted." No, it's not done and dusted for Jesus. It is the whole of the Christian life. This transformation, this newness, this difference that is the Christian life takes place only when we find ourselves bowing down to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ongoing repentance, I believe, means continuing on in prefering God to sin (we love God (G3123 mallon, rather/more than, in preference to, instead of) than evil). And the most core issue we need to confess (G3670 homologeó: i.e. speak the same thing as God about) is that Jesus Christ is God's Son (perfectly obedient, monogenes Son).

I John 4:15-16 - Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (ESV)

If God made a very important judgement that affects the whole of humanity then we better be in agreement with it:

Romans 1:4 - and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, (ESV)

If a person agrees with Holy Spirit that Father God was just in justifying Jesus and raising Him from the dead for His perfect obedience to Father God while we were yet sinners (i.e. God loved us first before we loved Him), for fulfilling the entire Law and the prophets, for being good as Father God is also good, for practicing perfect righteousness, then that is a very righteous agreement a person is making in agreeing with God over it.

Confessing that, we have access to propitation:

I John 2:1-6 - My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

It's prideful to think that a person does not need to continue on in faith and abide in Jesus Christ's teachings including confessing and forsaking sin after coming to have faith in His blood:

Romans 11:20-25 - That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (ESV)

Matthew 18:21-35 - Then Peter came up and said to him, Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything. And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, Pay what you owe. So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, Have patience with me, and I will pay you. He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. (ESV)

John 15:10 - If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. (engbsb2020eb)

John 8:34-35 - Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. (ESV)

Commendation from God certainly involves "endeavouring", even if it's a "faith alone" endeavouring. We don't commend ourselves. We seek to do what God has required of us: Have faith in Him and love one another as commanded (I John 3:23-24):

Genesis 4:7 - If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it. (ESV)

Romans 6:11-12 - So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. (ESV)

Galatians 2:17-21 - But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. (ESV)

Hebrews 11:4 - 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. (ESV)

We should not turn away from humility, but remain humble before God with respect to commendation, even if it's commendation for having faith in Jesus's blood, and be obedient to God, endeavouring to keep the commandments God has given to us:

Hebrews 10:37-39 - For, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (ESV)

Ezekiel 18:20-24 - The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die. (ESV)

Philippians 2:8 - And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV)

We must rule over sin. I believe that as Christians we're still supposed to do this. And God has given us the power win the fight:

Genesis 4:7 - If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it. (ESV)

Romans 6:11-12 - So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. (ESV)

Romans 7:20-22 - Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right (John 5:6, we must want to), evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, (ESV)

We must have desires that are the desires of the Spirit and set our minds on the things of the Spirit:

John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (ESV)

Romans 8:5-6 - For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (ESV)

Galatians 5:16-17 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (ESV)

Romans 7:18 - For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. (ESV)

Romans 13:14 - But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (ESV)

I Peter 3:10 - For Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; (ESV)

II Timothy 3:12-13 - Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (ESV)

Colossians 3:5 - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (ESV)

Galatians 5:24 - And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (ESV)

The patience of the Lord Jesus in saving us while we hold our faith in Him for eternal life involves repentance from sin:

II Peter 3:15 - 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, (ESV)

Revelation of John 2:21 - I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. (ESV)

I Timothy 1:16 - But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (ESV)

Romans 2:4 - Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (ESV)

I Peter 3:18-20 - For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. (ESV)

II Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (ESV)

So we should repent and come to love and trust (treasure and trust in, cling/cleave/adhere to and hope in) God and hate (forsake and distrust) sin and desire God in our minds and hearts and trust in, cling/cleave/adhere to God's promises, and keep doing that so that we are counted with the wheat and not the tares:

II Peter 3:9-13 - The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (ESV)

Proverbs 8:13 - The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. (ESV)

Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. (ESV)

We need to have escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. We need to be producers of good fruit:

II Peter 1:3-8 - His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Luke 3:8-9 - Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (ESV)

Matthew 7:16-23 - You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. (ESV)

Proverbs 12:12 - Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit. (ESV)

We must love our family in Christ:

Luke 8:21 - But he answered them, My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it. (ESV)

Good deeds come out of sincerely obeying Jesus Christ out of faith in Him. Jesus commanded us to love one another as He loved us and He commanded us to love our family in Christ as a must. We must love our family in Christ. The deeds will come from a genuine love from the heart:

I John 3:14-20 - We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love (agapōmen) 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. 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. (ESV)

Proverbs 12:12 - Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit. (ESV)

It's got to be a genuine apape love in the heart where there is a "desire" to love which, if true (I John 3:14-20), should translate into action to see the needs of family in Christ and neighbours being met. I find it very difficult to believe that a genuine love of God abides in a person who closes their heart against other family in Christ who need help in order to, say, overcome obstacles they have to living in a way that is pleasing to God. If there is someone, particularly a brother in Christ, in need of the world's goods who is genuinely with the fear of God, wanting to live a godly life but struggling, because, for example, the devil has been pillaging and plundering and destroying and making things difficult for that person, and Christians turn a blind eye to that person, then a genuine saving faith and love for God probably does not even abide in those so-called Christians who knowingly turned the blind eye:

II Corinthians 8:8-11 - I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. (ESV)

II Chronicles 19:2 - But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the LORD. (ESV)

Keep in mind that if Jesus is in that person and you don't really love them, then you could at the very least use further sanctification and at the worst don't love Jesus:

I Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! (ESV)

I John 4:19-21 - We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (ESV)

I John 3:10 - By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (ESV)

All of us have a duty to keep God's commandments for us, (notably Christ's commandments). The strong [of faith, of obedience, at keeping God's commandments] are obligated to bear with the failings of those who are weak [of faith, of obedience, at keeping God's commandments]. So we should be supporting one another to live in a way that is pleasing to God:

Romans 15:1-4 - We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me. For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (ESV)

Romans 13:8-10 - Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)

Let's just say there is a person who used to work in a drug cartel and they get born-again and they repent from their sin, and they want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus, but nobody will hire them for a job, say, because of their past, or because of a criminal conviction, and they're being pressured into going back into their criminal way of life because it's the only way they can get money to survive. As Christians, we don't want to be complicit with the devil in pushing this person back into a life of crime, so we should be supporting them to live a godly life in Christ, supporting them to walk in holiness. We must love our family in Christ. We must be the good Samaritan to our family in Christ.

Christians are not commanded to support each other to sin.

The Samaritan here proved to be a neighbour. We must be supporting our family in Christ in their endeavour to live pleasing to God. Are Christians compelled to give to secular charities and to people who are against Jesus? Firstly, Christians are not compelled to give but are instructed to give willfully. Secondly, we can prove to be a neighbour to people who we may help. But if they're not our neighbour, then its not our duty. But we can prove to be a neighbour and if we prove to be a neighbour then it's our duty to agape-love/value/treasure our neighbours. Christians are duty-bound to love fellow Christians and whoever else is their neighbour:

Luke 10:25-37 - And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said to him, What is written in the Law? How do you read it? And he answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. And he said to him, You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live. But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? Jesus replied, A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back. Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? He said, The one who showed him mercy. And Jesus said to him, You go, and do likewise. (ESV)

II Corinthians 9:7 - Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (ESV)

No joke, we must take care of our family in Christ who are in need. It's mandatory. Be the good Samaritan to our family in Christ when they need our help. If a person knows what good he ought to do and doesn't do it then for that person it is sin. If we are to love in truth then when we know what good we ought to do, we should then be doing it:

James 2:14-17 - What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (ESV)

I John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV)

We ought to be supporting one another walk in the truth and work for the truth:

III John 1:4-8 - I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. (ESV)

I think Jesus wants us to "prove to be a neighbour to others", to show mercy to others, even for the sole reason that they're a fellow human being, without necessarily knowing anything else about them, particularly people who have been afflicted by evil (in this case, robbed, beaten and left for dead):

Luke 10:25-37 - And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said to him, What is written in the Law? How do you read it? And he answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. And he said to him, You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live. But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? Jesus replied, A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back. Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? He said, The one who showed him mercy. And Jesus said to him, You go, and do likewise. (ESV)

We are able to have faith and love for Jesus Christ even before having seen him. Our souls are saved while holding faith and agape love for Jesus Christ. But it's very important to put a stop to willful sin that we may come to know Jesus and arrive at rest in Him:

I Peter 1:8-9 - Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (ESV)

According to Justin Martyr, we need to have come to "know" Jesus, and according to the Apostle John, that means we need to have put a stop to willful sin to have arrived at rest in Him. So we find rest at the end of sanctification, or at some point in that process of sanctification where we stop committing wilful sin:

I John 3:5-6 - You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

And in light of what Jesus said here, it's also important to stop committing sin, because if someone willfully commits sin then that means means that sin in their master. Rather, our will should be to do Father God's desires, to do what pleases God. We should trust and obey God, and trust and obey God from our heart, desiring to please God:

John 8:31-47 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (G4100 pepisteukotas: having believed 'V-RPA-AMP past tense') in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. They answered him, We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, You will become free? Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father. They answered him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing what your father did. They said to him, We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God. Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God. (ESV)

According to Jude this willful sinning is like denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ:

Jude 1:4 - For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (NASB)

In a very real way, Jesus leads us by example. He cleans us up, and we are suppost to go on seeking to please God, and helping others come to the obedience of faith in Christ Jesus:

John 8:29 - 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. (ESV)

John 13:12-16 - When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. (ESV)

I Corinthians 11:1 - Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (ESV)

Ephesians 5:1-3 - Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. (ESV)

I John 2:3-6 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)

Matthew 5:48 - You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV)

I John 3:24 - Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (ESV)

Justin Martyr says, "Wherefore those who follow Him, and know Him, having faith in Him as their proof, shall rest in Him.":

• Saint Justin Martyr: Fragments of the Lost Work of Justin on the Resurrection {Roberts-Donaldson}: And God, the Father of the universe, who is the perfect intelligence, is the truth. And the Word, being His Son, came to us, having put on flesh, revealing both Himself and the Father, giving to us in Himself resurrection from the dead, and eternal life afterwards. And this is Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. He, therefore, is Himself both the faith and the proof of Himself and of all things. Wherefore those who follow Him, and know Him, having faith in Him as their proof, shall rest in Him. But since the adversary does not cease to resist many, and uses many and divers arts to ensnare them, that he may seduce the faithful from their faith, and that he may prevent the faithless from believing, it seems to me necessary that we also, being armed with the invulnerable doctrines of the faith, do battle against him in behalf of the weak.

John 8:34-35 - Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. (ESV)

• youtube.com: Chris Tomlin - I Will Follow {@ChrisTomlinVEVO}: Who You love, I'll love; How You serve I'll serve; If this life I lose, I will follow You; I will follow You

Believing in Jesus Christ, that is with true faith, faith which loves the truth, we have the right to become children of God. We are given the right to be sanctified, delivered from sin, to be able to love our family in Christ and practice righteousness:

John 1:12-13 - But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (ESV)

This right is not for everyone, but only for those who receive Jesus Christ, who God has given Jesus Christ:

John 17:9 - I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. (ESV)

John 17:8 - For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. (ESV)

John 17:17 - Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (ESV)

Even Simon the magician believed and was baptised but it is evident that even the Apostle Peter recognised that Simon might perish. As far as I can tell Simon had not yet received Holy Spirit. His heart still wasn't right. Just like Simon, we must receive the love of the truth in our heart to be saved. Simon was instructed to repent from sin. While true agape love is the bond of perfection, I think the bond of iniquity might mean a love of darkness. Simon had to relinquish his sinful desire. Likewise, the rich young ruler (in Mark 10:17-27) had a love of worldly possessions. We need to agape love the truth and fall out of love of darkness. Even as believers, we need to continue on in the teachings of Christ to be saved:

Acts 8:13-23 - Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. (ESV)

Jesus' words are true. As I understand it, probably Simon Magus "had" salvation when he believed and was baptised but salvation is a process and as Jesus says, the devil steals the word from a person's heart so that they do not believe. So a person must continue in true faith. As I currently understand it, we also must not "fall away". We must endure in our faith. Simon Magus needed to repent from sin to receive Holy Spirit and in order to continue on in true justifying faith in Jesus, as I understand it:

Mark 16:16 - Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (ESV)

Jesus said to these believers that if they abide in His word (and I believe that means keep His word, even in obedience), they are His disciples - so a person can be a believer before they are a disciple. But we're supposed to make this transition:

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (4100. pisteuó, pepisteukotas) in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (ESV)

• youtube.com: Post from Ruben Solorzano: Hulk Hogan has passed away at 71. Here is a picture of him getting baptized only a year ago, which he said was "the greatest day of his life." He said, "Knowing of Jesus and knowing Him are two different things. Come to Him, He'll clean you up. He's the only thing that really matters." Our prayers are with his family.

I believe that Simon the magician after initially believing the gospel and being baptised needed to continue in obedience to God, continue trusting in Jesus, turn away from wickedness, purify his heart, draw near to God and receive Holy Spirit and be sanctified. We're instructed to "draw near to God through Jesus Christ" to be saved:

James 4:8 - Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (ESV)

Hebrews 7:23-28 - The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (ESV)

II Thessalonians 2:10 - and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. (NASB)

I think this reads that we are set free from everything which the law of Moses condemns as sin. So we become able to put the sin to death:

Acts 13:38-39 - Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. (ESV)

Hebrews 9:13-15 - For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. (ESV)

Romans 1:29-32 - They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit,