3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.4 He that saith , I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected : hereby know we that we are in him.6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk , even as he walked . 1 John 2:3-6
When we stop keeping his commands we are no longer in him.
Paul said those who are Christs have crucified the flesh.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.Gal. 5:22-24
Last edited by Michael The Disciple; 10-12-2012 at 06:18 PM.
3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.4 He that saith , I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected : hereby know we that we are in him.6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk , even as he walked . 1 John 2:3-6
When we stop keeping his commands we are no longer in him.
Paul said those who are Christs have crucified the flesh.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.Gal. 5:22-24
3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.4 He that saith , I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected : hereby know we that we are in him.6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk , even as he walked . 1 John 2:3-6
When we stop keeping his commands we are no longer in him.
Paul said those who are Christs have crucified the flesh.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.Gal. 5:22-24
Exactly, MTD! You and I are on the same page, I think. We posted the same scripture. I would really like to know Him more, if only my work and the world in general didn't side track me so much and take so much of my attention. Of all those fruits, it is unadulterated joy that I'd like to experience the most. The closest I've come to is enjoying a really good New Orleans jazz album and dancing with full-on happiness to the joyous music spilling forth from my stereo. Both start with the same letter, which I think is no coincidence. Personally, I think the spiritual and cultural heart of America lives in New Orleans. Anyway, back to the topic at hand.
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Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:4)
Scripture is its own interpreter. Nothing can cut a diamond but a diamond. Nothing can interpret Scripture but Scripture" Thomas Watson.
Those have already been defined and Jesus has made these declarations.
They do not dress up like peacocks, nor do they collect big nice cars and properties, nor do they stand and howl in church, nor do they document every single dollar they give, nor do they impede others in their walk by adding their own restrictions and opinions, nor do they engage in commentary or judgement of others, nor do they advertise their "righteousness" and "personal standards" then raise them up as if these things make them better than others.
Below is what you have been taught to do.
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others
So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock
And finally:
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
NOTE: Take care that you do not waste life howling and prophesying and judging others and defining how to "look righteous" only to be turned away for it. Actions and deeds are what matters, not faith no matter what your car-collecting and property-gathering false prophets teach you.
Last edited by Walks_in_islam; 10-14-2012 at 09:08 PM.