Today, points are shared on believing and being fruitful as followers of Christ. Even though, during times of celebration cautions, reminders, and warnings often are dismissed as unwelcome, those who are born again must continue discernment, sound judgment, and vigilance in all places, at all times. Because sinners want to speak “after the flesh” (i.e., according to what we know and understand by using carnal reason and our senses of hearing, seeing, touching, etc.) using secular knowledge, they think and speak of sin as being only disobedient actions, bad behavior, and forbidden conduct. However, mature Christian believers acknowledge that sin also must be understood in terms of the attitudes, desires, and thoughts that proceed from a person’s inner nature. Thus, transgressing the law of GOD includes applying definitions that are incomplete and unbiblical; embracing false assumptions; indulging hopes that are false and vain (lacking sacred content); lying and practicing deceit; “taking things for granted;” and presumption. At a time when many are expressing heartfelt thanks with family and friends, we are to consider again the divine motives, sacred operations, and eternal purposes that make us who we are: Proverbs 23: 6-8, King James Version (KJV): 6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. 8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words. The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Tyrone” (Level 5 with 5,200 points, a member since January 13, 2016) posted the following:
Does belief in God make a difference in a person’s life?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalms 100: 1-5, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Who Will See GOD? (10/04/2016); Presumption, Pride and Sin? (11/24/2015); Judged For Acts and Thoughts? (08/14/2014); Sin in Mind not Deed? (01/06/2014); We Shall Behold Him (10/17/2013); Angels, Law and Sin (10/18/2013); Jesus Lives! (05/04/2013); Experience Is Not Evidence? (05/05/2013)
“Tyrone”, many say they “believe”, however, what they are speaking of only makes a difference as a personal and private concern focused upon “me, myself, and I.” The kind of belief in GOD that makes a difference to others (we also say, makes a believer fruitful) is what we probably should call “continuing awareness.” There are other names for it, including alertness, commitment, exclusive devotion, discernment (i.e., the ability to recognize and respond to spirit substance from the makeup of GOD as it appears within events, oneself, other persons, prophecy, the holy writings, etc.), dutifulness, faithfulness, fidelity, integrity, unselfish service, vigilance, and zeal. The operations of sin may dominate awareness and self-will in created beings and living creatures. Sin opposes the continued existence of divine law, the Law Giver, and all divine order generated through sacred law.
Many people, today, would describe “belief” and “faith” as what you exercise when you drive the car while your gas gauge is on empty. Saying this another way: the choice to ride an elevator to the 15th floor might not be deliberate (we say, can be made unconsciously). We get into the car without a thought of falling or getting stuck between floors. We might silently wait for the door to open, and never doubt or question that our foot will land on a solid platform of flooring. In that and many similar situations, we “assume” that there’s no risk, and that we are safe (i.e., use an untested idea as though it were true; do not identify the connected and hidden ideas that also are active, present, and “unseen”; suspend requirements for formal evidence, examination, and proof to establish facts). Many also call such unthinking acceptance “trust”.
Correctly understood, “belief” appears as an outcome or result from permanent changes made by divinity within a person’s character, makeup, and substance. Through the ministries of Jesus Christ upon the earth, and from the heaven, sinners may receive a fresh endowment of the same life essence (we say, breath, spirit, word) that was granted to Adam and to Jesus living Incarnate (in flesh) as the Son of Man. For Christian belief to appear in the life, inseparable aspects from the divine makeup of GOD must be in place such as faith, forbearance, forgiveness, gratitude, holiness, humility, longsuffering, lovingkindness, meekness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, such finite human tools as emotion, imagination, intellect, logic, philosophy, science, and technology have not been enough to eliminate sin as an influence in a person’s life. Only a solution from GOD may completely, correctly and permanently end the problem of sin.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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