The Standard By Which We Will Be Judged

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Aquila

When we stand before God every thought, word, deed, and intent will be judged as to if it demonstrates a love for God and a love for others.

If we walk in the Spirit, bearing the fruit of love, we will be found to be "perfect" in Christ Jesus, His perfection being our own.

This is true and very good.

Here is another good perspective.

14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Rev.22:14

If we keep the commandments of Christ (out of a pure heart of course) we shall enter into the gates of that city.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

This is true and very good.

Here is another good perspective.

14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Rev.22:14

If we keep the commandments of Christ (out of a pure heart of course) we shall enter into the gates of that city.

I believe His commandments are:

1. Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.
2. Love your neighbor as your self.

As Paul wrote, love fulfills the Law (Romans 13:8-10).

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I believe His commandments are:

1. Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.
2. Love your neighbor as your self.

As Paul wrote, love fulfills the Law (Romans 13:8-10).

There are commandments on practically every page of the New Testament writings. They can be SUMMED UP by comprehending love, nevertheless there are many things commanded by Christ. The way you prove you love the Lord your God with all your heart is by doing his word/will.

If one desires eternal life let them know it is only given to those who DO THE WILL OF GOD.

17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:17

[houston]

It all comes down to "love."


He said, "if you love me...."

My my.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

There are commandments on practically every page of the New Testament writings. They can be SUMMED UP by comprehending love, nevertheless there are many things commanded by Christ. The way you prove you love the Lord your God with all your heart is by doing his word/will.

If one desires eternal life let them know it is only given to those who DO THE WILL OF GOD.

17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:17

I see many teachings, admonishments, and a few commandments. However, their substance is love for God, spouse, brethren, and others. Most who draft out "commandments" all disagree on what they are, how many there are, and often the essence off the commandment. So, I have concluded from Paul (Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:14) that the Christian life is actually very simple and spiritual. We are to love God with all our being. And demonstrate that love by loving others as our selves.

We are perfected in love. The greater our love, the greater our perfection. For the more our love, the more we are like God. For God is love.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect. Matt. 5:48

One of satans wiles is to bewitch the children of light to think they need not be free from sin to enter Heavens gates. Altho overcoming sin is not all there is to the Christian life it certainly is very important.

Most Pentecostal groups now espouse Evangelical teachings, one will never in this life overcome sin. This is very deadly thinking.

Christ Jesus will not marry a bride with sin in her life.

25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27

I think one of the passages of scriptures that just about as clearly as possible outlines the life of a Christian after the initial work of repentance/salvation is this one:

Col. 3:5-17
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

We see Paul here admonishing to put off the sins of the flesh (fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil passions, covetousness/idolatry), and not stopping there, but continuing to address the putting way of sins of the spirit (anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, and lying).

So we understand from this passage that sins of the flesh, and of the spirit are equally concerning to a disciple of Christ.

Paul then admonishes us to put on the bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing, and forgiving. So here we see that if disciples have abstained from flesh/spirit sins, but are not manifesting charity (love) in their life, they have not reached perfection. (vs. 14).

This is not a cut and dry - once saved always saved - kind of teaching, but instead it is a lifestyle of constant soul searching, honesty, and striving to manifest the fruit of righteousness and holiness each and every moment of our lives.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

I think one of the passages of scriptures that just about as clearly as possible outlines the life of a Christian after the initial work of repentance/salvation is this one:

Col. 3:5-17
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

We see Paul here admonishing to put off the sins of the flesh (fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil passions, covetousness/idolatry), and not stopping there, but continuing to address the putting way of sins of the spirit (anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, and lying).

So we understand from this passage that sins of the flesh, and of the spirit are equally concerning to a disciple of Christ.

Paul then admonishes us to put on the bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing, and forgiving. So here we see that if disciples have abstained from flesh/spirit sins, but are not manifesting charity (love) in their life, they have not reached perfection. (vs. 14).

This is not a cut and dry - once saved always saved - kind of teaching, but instead it is a lifestyle of constant soul searching, honesty, and striving to manifest the fruit of righteousness and holiness each and every moment of our lives.

Amen!