Any other Gospel - Cursed                                                                                    

Twice Paul said that if any preach any other Gospel (other than the one he preached) let them be cursed.

Gal 1:8-9 -- 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

The New Testament says that Jesus^a, Phillip^b and Paul^c preached the gospel of the kingdom of God. 

See footnotes for scriptures:  ^aJesus: Mat 4:23; 9:35; 24:14; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 8:1. ^bPhillip: Acts 8:1 and ^cPaul: Acts 20:25; 28:31.

The kingdom of God is not physical but spiritual because it cannot be seen by natural eyes,  but only by "spiritual eyes" of born-again Christians (John 3:3).

John 3:3 --  3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Seeking the kingdom of God and God's righteousness should be the first priority for Christians.

Mat 6:33--seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

The kingdom of God is invisible to the natural eye because it is spiritual. It is a mater of the faith- in the heart. Not everyone can see it even if it's all around them.

Luke 17:20-21-- And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Whoever obeys the law and teaches others to obey will be great in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:19-- Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

The kingdom of God starts small (like a small seed or stone) and grows to be great (fill the whole earth).

Mat 13:31-32--31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest...

Dan 2:33, 35, 44, 45-- 34 Thou saw (in a dream) that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image ..... 35 and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.... 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.  45 ... and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

The kingdom of God started when Jesus was on earth proven by the fact that he cast out demons.

Luke 11:20--But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

The kingdom of God continues with believers who also cast out demons and seek His Kingdom and righteousness.

Mark 16:15-17--And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils (demons); they shall speak with new tongues;

The Lord's prayer starts with the petition, 'Thy kingdom  come, Thy will be done on earth.' The petition is for  God's will to be done now and in the future in an ever increasing way. We also petition God to provide our needs, forgive our trespasses,  and deliver us from evil and temptation as we forgive others. Note the word 'come' in the original Greek (erchomai) is both present and imperfect tense (see Concordance word #2064 in Strong's Concordance*). The imperfect tense of a verb denotes the continuance of an incomplete past action. Therefore we pray that the kingdom which has already come (in the past) will continue to come now and in the future.

Mat 6:9-13--9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Paul declares that we are receiving (present tense) a kingdom which was being received in Paul's time and continues to be received in our time and will continue for those who serve God acceptably.

Heb 12: 27-29-- 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Jesus gave His  Great Commission to Christians  to teach the nations in all the world to obey God's commandments.

Mat 28:18-20--18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Please read 2 Pet 1:2-11 which summarily says Christians need to apply diligence and faith to become partakers of the divine nature  of God, to escape corruption and lusts of the world, to be cleansed of sin, and to grow in love to have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of our Lord and Christ.

Please also read the parable in Mark 4:3-20 about the sower who sowed seed (the word about the KOG).

In this parable there are four types of Christians represented by four types of ground: 1. wayside, 2. stony, 3. thorny,  and 4. good soil.

Wayside:  birds that eat the seed represent the Devil that prevents understanding of the word of about kingdom.

Stony: the seed endures only until affliction or persecution comes because of the word of the kingdom.

Thorny:  the word is choked by worldly cares, love of riches, and lust of the world.

Good soil: the word is heard and received and it brings forth much fruit. Hearing and receiving is more than physical--it includes serious attention toward the word, strong faith, having hunger for righteousness, diligence, perseverance and a strong desire to grow and follow God-- and willingness to give up worldly cares and even suffer for the kingdom.

Questions to consider:  How do we  compare ourselves to the different types of soils identified in this parable? 
Wayside: Do we understand and seek the kingdom and His righteousness? 
Stoney: Are we willing to accept  persecution like Paul, who for preaching the gospel, was stoned and dragged out of Lyconium, he arose and went back into the city to encourage the disciples saying "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God' (Acts 14:19-22).  
Thorney: Do we love the things of the world more than the kingdom of God and His righteousness? 
Good soil: Are we growing and fruitful for God? If our understanding of gospel is not primarily about a growing kingdom of God here on earth, seeking His righteousness, obeying and teaching the nations to obeys God's commands, or casting out demons, it may not  be the gospel preached by Christ, Phillip and Paul. It may be different and cursed gospel (Gal 1:8-9).  Are we seeking the kingdom of God here and now on earth, and growing in his righteousness and God's divine nature?                  

*Strong's Concordance of the Bible.                                                                         last revision 8/11/16 hgk

Serving God Acceptably

Serving God Acceptably --Scriptures and comments  

(Abbreviation KOG = kingdom = kingdom of God)
                              

Hebrews 12:26-28 -- 'we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken' (it is on earth and it is unstoppable*)

"26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."

Comments--

1.  Let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably.  Grace is God's enabling power to do every good work  (2 Cor 9:8;  
  Eph 2:10; Eze 11:19; 36:24-27**)

2. with reverence-- Our minds need to "let God be God"--the absolute Almighty, Lord and Creator of all, above all.

3. godly fear -- We  must recognize that pleasing and serving God is the number #1  issue in all things. God is a consuming fire, and none can resist Him.  The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10;  Psalms 111:10**).

Haggai 2:6-9--(quoted in Hebrews 12) 

6 For thus says the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, says the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, says the Lord of hosts.

Comments-- God will shake heaven, earth, everything that is not built on Jesus Christ (Heb 12:27)  including all nations. Christ (the desire of all nations) will be revealed to all nations and  His glory and that of His house (the church) will be greater than the former.

We are not to hope to escape troubles or persecution by rapture-- 

John 17:15-- Jesus prays that God not take Christians out of the world--but keep them safe through difficulties.

John 6:39, 40, 44, 54-- All Christians will be raised up (resurrected or raptured) is on the last day, not before.

Mat 6:33-- "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God (KOG) and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you."

What is the KOG? It is His will being done on earth (Mat 6:9-13)--including our doing His will . It is not just going to heaven.

What does seeking the KOG and righteousness look like?    Generally -- the KOG and righteousness is not what we see in the world and  hear in the news. It is agape or divine love (1 Cor 13:1-8) of God working through Christians--putting the interests of God and others above self. The KOG includes spiritual warfare and casting out demons, and defeating Satan (Luke 11:20; Eph 6:10-18;  James 4:7). The KOG is seeking and hungering for righteousness in our lives (Mat 5:3-10). It includes the Great Commission:  making disciples and teaching the nations to obey His commands Mat 28:20; 5:19), and growing in love and the stature of Jesus Christ (2 Pet 1:11). Things (needed for life) will be added to you when you seek the kingdom and His righteousness (Mat 6:24-33)

Since we are receiving the KOG (Heb 12:26-28)-- what can we do to try to serve God acceptably?  The Bible says we should do the following:

1. We are instructed to  pray for the Kingdom to come, forgive and seek forgiveness and righteousness (Lord's Prayer, Mat 6:9-13**).

 ⁹ After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. ¹⁰ Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

2. Study diligently the entire Bible and give special attention to the parables about the KOG (Mat 4:4). ^" But he [Jesus] said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."

3. Obey and teach God's Law (Mat 5:19). ¹⁹ Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

4. Grow in love as in 2 Pet 1:2-14 (below).  

2 Pet 1:2-12**--Read these verses about how we become partakers of the divine nature of God  by His divine power to secure an abundant entrance in the KOG as it says in verses 10-11 below:

"10 ... brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

COMMENTS:  To serve God acceptably, we need faith to believe that with God's promises and His enabling grace [2 Cor 9:8--which comes by His spirit], we  can grow in stature and nature of Jesus Christ, bear godly fruit  and extend (enter abundantly)  the KOG-- which will  eventually fill the whole earth.  The growth of kingdom of God on earth is the unstoppable.** To extend the  KOG, God  plans to use His people--the Church.  We choose to be used in His plan by choosing to grow in the nature and love of Christ. The promise is that if we abound to become partakers of the divine nature of God, we will not be unfruitful or barren, but have an abundant entrance into the KOG.

8 Steps to becoming partakers of God's divine nature  and to serve God acceptably starts with faith (according to 2 Peter 1:2-12) --

1. Faith-- is being persuaded that  God is able to perform His promises (Rom 4:21) that we may escape the worldly corruption of our flesh nature God's enabling grace (divine power, 2 Cor 9:8) through diligence (v 5, 10) in seeking the knowledge of God and His grace.  Hosea (4:6) said, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Jesus said,  "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from God (Mat 4:4).       

        Grace (as described in 2 Corinthians 9:8)--"God is able to make all        grace  abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."  This grace comes through the power of the Holy Spirit (Ezek 36:24-27).

2. Virtue-- goodness, righteousness, morality, integrity, decency, worthiness, purity (according to the dictionary).
3. Knowledge -- We  need a good  knowledge of  the Bible and how it relates to the times we live in. Man shall live by every word that proceeds from God (Mat 4:4).

4. Self Control-- be not conformed to the world, but be transformed by renewing of the mind (Rom 12:1-2).  The flesh nature tries to replace God's ways with man's ways and natural human understanding.

5. Perseverance-- We can not give up too easily (if at all).  We must let God correct us and adjust our direction.

6. Godliness-- Trying to please God by doing what we think He would do. Not selfish.

7. Brotherly kindness --  Practice the many 'one-another' instructions in the Bible.

8. Love-- According to 1 Cor 13:4-6, love is kind, long-suffering, bears all things (not easily offended), not proud, hopes, rejoices in truth, and endures many things (turns the check) and more. We should love one another (even if others don't love us). Love serves God by loving to one another, both in word and deed.

Attitudes toward the Kingdom of God

Mat 5:1-10**- Read verses about the attitudes of the  people in the KOG

They are blessed, meek, poor in spirit, hunger for righteousness and make and peace when possible. They  may suffer for the KOG and receive special blessings from God.

Mark 4:3-20**-- Read verses about the Parable of the sower seed (word of God)  about the KOG.

Comments:  Four types of ground (souls or people) are:   wayside,  stony,  thorny,  and  good soil.
Descriptions of the four types of soil:

1. Wayside:  the seed is eaten by birds, meaning  it is nullified by the lies of the Devil.

2. Stony: the seed endures only until affliction or persecution comes because of the word of the kingdom.

3. Thorny:  the word is choked by worldly cares, love of riches, and lust of the world.

4. Good soil: Word is heard and received and it brings forth much fruit. Hearing and receiving is more than physical--it includes serious attention toward the word, strong faith, having hunger for righteousness, diligence, perseverance and a strong desire to grow and follow God-- and willingness to give up worldly cares and even suffer for the kingdom.  

Strong faith hopes in the word of God and His promises. Faith increases by repeated hearing of God's word (Rom 10:17). Faith without works is dead (James 2:20).  Without faith we cannot please God (Heb 11:6). Man shall live by every word that proceeds from God (Mat 4:4).

Footnotes

* The Kingdom of God is unstoppable: Dan 2:44-45, 7:13-14; Num 14:21; Heb 12:28; Mat 28:20; Ps 110; Ps 2:6-9; Ps 22:27-28.

** To save space, some scriptures are left for you to look up and read.  

Quotes come from the King James Version, with some changes from Old English to modern English  (i.e., saith --> says, etc).   

last revision:    2016-07-10 

Transformed by the renewing of your mind

Transformed by the renewing of your mind.              

Romans 12:2-- be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Psalms 1:1-2--How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!   But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.…

James 1:23-24-- Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

          COMMENT—We are naturally born and trained by the world to think and act worldly—that is, in ways not pleasing to God. Our old nature has a mind set, desires and ideas that should be rejected and abandoned if they are contrary to the Bible.  We are to be fundamentally transformed to develop new desires, new thoughts and adopt new ways to think and act. These new ways will be in agreement with the Bible and the Holy Ghost. So we ought to check to see if our every thought and desire agrees with scripture and what the Holy Spirit says. This is how we grow in love and in the nature and stature of Jesus Christ.

          We are bought and paid for, we are no longer our own. We owe all to God because of what Christ did for us. When we read the word of God, every word should have significance to our life, because Jesus said man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Mat 4:4). God wants us to live in unity and love one another.

Psalms 133:1-3 -- Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity...For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.

Eph 4:11-13 –

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

COMMENT: Our goal is the knowledge of God and to attain to the fullness and stature of Christ.

2Tim 3:16-17-- All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Proverbs 27:17 -- Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Colossians 3:12 -- Therefore, as elect of God (or God’s chosen people), holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:13 -- Be gentle to one another and having forgiveness for one another, if anyone has done wrong to his brother, even as the Lord had forgiveness for you.

Phil 4:4-5-–

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Colossians 3:16 --  Let the word of Christ be in you in all wealth of wisdom; teaching and helping one another with songs of praise and holy words, making melody to God with grace in your hearts.

Romans 15:14 -- I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.

Romans 15:7 -- Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

1 Cor 13: 3-8--3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.

Mat 6:33-- Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…

          COMMENT:   John 3:3 tells us we cannot even see the kingdom of God unless we are born again, which gives one imputed righteousness. So why should one who is born again seek a righteousness that was already imputed to him. It must be a different kind of righteousness, that of doing right.

1 John 3:10--- Whoever does not [practice] righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.           KJV [NJKV, NASB, MSG]

1 Cor 6:9-10-- Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

COMMENT: Those who do righteousness shall inherit the kingdom of God, but those that do not do righteousness will not (see also Matthew 5:19).

               

1 Timothy 6:11-- Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

1 Corinthians 15:33 -- Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Proverbs 27:6 -- Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

[COMMENT: Truth in love may hurt for a while but it helps prevent sin.]

Proverbs 18:24 -- A man that hath friends must show himself friendly:

Proverbs 22:24 -- Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go.

Phil 2:3-4-- Let nothing be done through *strife, selfish ambition or conceit;* but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  *NKJV  

Rom 12:10--Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.

1 Timothy 6:17-18 --

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy;

That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.

Hebrews 3:13  … encourage one another every day.

Colossians 3:13 -- Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Hebrews 10:24 -- And let us continue to consider how to motivate one another to love and good deeds,

Hebrews 13:1--  Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.

James 1:19 -- Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

James 4:11 – Do not slander one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law.

James 5:9-- Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.

James 5:16 -- Therefore, make it your habit to confess your sins to one another and to pray for one another, so that you may be healed.

1 Peter 1:22 -- Now that you have obeyed the truth and have purified your souls to love your brothers sincerely, you must love one another intensely and with a pure heart.

1 Peter 3:8 -- live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

1 Peter 4:8 -- Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:9  -- Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

Hebrews 13:2 --Be careful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unaware.

1 Peter 4:10 -- God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

1 Peter 5:5 -- You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Leviticus 19:11 -- Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.

John 13:14 -- Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.

Romans 12:10 -- Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:16 -- Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Ephesians 4:2 -- Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

John 13:34 -- A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John 13:35 -- By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Ephesians 4:32 -- Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Romans 13:8 -- Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.

Romans 14:13 -- Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

Romans 15:7 -- Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Romans 16:16 -- Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.

1 Corinthians 1:10 -- I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Ephesians 5:19 -- Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

Colossians 3:13  -- Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Ephesians 5:21 -- Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Colossians 3:16 --Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Jude 1:20 –- But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,

1 Thessalonians 5:11 --… encourage one another and build each other up.

Hebrews 10:24 --And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

1 John 2:7 -- Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before.

1 John 3:11-- For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

1 John 3:23-- This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded.

1 John 4:7 --Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God.

1 John 4:11 --Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:12 --No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

2 John 1:5 --Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

Rom 8:5-9 -- those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. To be carnally minded (or fleshly or wordly minded) is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

Jesus’ Prayer for His Church--John 17:20-23--  “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will[a] believe in Me through their word;  that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 

Gal 5:17-22-- 17 The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.

1 John 1:6-10 -–

6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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 Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

          COMMENT:  We have fellowship with God when we have fellowship with one another by walking in the light as He is in the light. We need to walk in obedience to the Word with the aid of the Holy Spirit.  We should not deceive ourselves about sin.

God’s Promises and Grace to Help us Become Transformed

2 Cor 9:8 -- And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

          COMMENT:  God’s grace is enablement (by His Holy Spirit) of Christians to do every good work. All things are possible to him who believes.

2 Pet 1:2-11--

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

          COMMENT:  God’s grace working with His promises enables us to become partakers of God’s divine nature by escaping from sin and corruption in the world. Partaking the divine nature is a step by step process of gaining victory over sin through exercising faith in His precious promises. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. I believe this is what Jesus spoke to the seven Churches in the Book of Revelation when he said “to him who overcomes I will give….”

        We need to work to overcome the world, no longer being conformed to the world (or the flesh or old nature). We are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we know and do that which is that good and acceptable will of God.

Last  revision-- March 6, 2016

Kingdom of God--Priority

Kingdom of God--Priority                     

Consider what Jesus said about what a Christian’s first priority should be.  Christ said God knows that we have many material needs for life, but He commanded us to…

                “seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;

            and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6: 31-33)

John 3:3 says that we cannot even see the kingdom of God unless we are born again. How do we seek what we cannot see unless we are born again?.  Being born-again (i.e., salvation or justification) is the doorway to seeing with ‘spiritual eyes’ and seeking the kingdom—which comes not with natural observation because it is within (Luke 17:20-21).  Besides seeking the kingdom we must seek his righteousness-- a righteousness that is sought after being born again – after having received ‘imputed righteousness’ or justification. This seeking his righteousness is sometimes called sanctification --living in obedience to God.

Jesus said that 'seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness' should be first priority. That means they should come before seeking material things in life. God promises to provide for us the money, food, drink, clothes and all the material things that we need -- if we put seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first – making that our priority--as it says in Mat 6:24-35 (also  Luke 12:31-32).  

The kingdom of God is not life after death. It is here on earth, and it is now as we are taught to pray in the Lord's prayer (Mat 6:9-12):  "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”…and deliver us from evil and temptation…and so on .... so Christians become more righteous and less sinful.  That is how the kingdom grows. The kingdom of God involves God's people obeying God's commands and teaching others and the nations to obey and do His will on earth (Matthew 5:19;  28:18-20).  The kingdom of God is His will being done on earth, obeying all His commands. The gospel is the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 9:35; Mark 1:14; Luke 16:16; Acts 14:22).

Clarification about the use of  kingdom terms: The ‘Kingdom of God’ and the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ both refer to the same kingdom (here on earth).  Even though the original Greek  words for God (theos: Concordance  word #2316*) and heaven (ouranos : Concordance  #2772*) are different,  they refer to the same kingdom  as shown in two parables taught by Jesus.  Logic says “two things equal to the same thing are equal to each other.”  Matthew uses “the kingdom of heaven” while Mark uses the “the Kingdom of  God” to describe the same kingdom in the parables about the ‘mustard seed’ and the parable of the ‘sower.’  This can be confirmed by comparing words (heaven vs  God) used in the parable of the mustard seed in Matthew 13:31-32  and Mark 4:30-32 and in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:3-11 and  Mark 4:3-11.  Therefore, even though different words (God or heaven) for the kingdom are used, they refer to one and the same kingdom of God here on earth.

*Strong’s Concordance of the Bible:

     New Testament Greek Words:

            #2316—theos--God, godly, godward.   

            #3772—ouranos--air, heaven. heavenly, sky.

Reading these parables of the Kingdom of God show that the kingdom is like a seed that starts small and gradually grows to become large, and the kingdom has both godly and ungodly people in it. The kingdom of God (or heaven) is here on earth and it is not a perfectly heavenly place or a perfected existence as in the life after death for Christians. The kingdom grows as Christians obey the Lord’s Great Commission commandment to spread the gospel to all nations and teaching them to obey all of His commands (Matthew 28:18-20).  

The Kingdom is a spiritual kingdom.  It is a spiritual kingdom that is not seen unless born again; it comes without natural observation. (Luke 17:20-21; John 3:16).  It is here on earth now as Jesus said "if I cast our demons by the finger of God, the kingdom of God is come" (Luke 11:20; Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:29-36).  And it started small (like a seed or a rock), and it will continue to grow and eventually fill the whole earth (Matthew 13:31-32; Daniel 2:44).  The Kingdom of God is spiritual because it is a matter of: Who reigns in our hearts and whose will do we perform?  Is it our own will or God's will?  It grows with obedience.  As  Jesus said: “whoever breaks the least of these commandments and teaches men to do so shall be least in the Kingdom of heaven, but whoever shall do them and teach them, shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven”  (Matthew 7:19).  The Apostle John confirms the importance of obedience saying “hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.  He that says, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3-4). To know God is to keep His commandments.

Sources:  King James Bible and Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (with Greek and Hebrew Dictionary) by James Strong, Crusade Bible Publishers, Inc, Nashville, TN.

last revision:  02/19/16 

Two Kinds of Life in Bible

Two kinds of life ‘zoe vs psuche’ – ‘fleshly vs spiritual’ life according to the original Greek

                                                 

Overview:  Here we will refer to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible to see the original Greek words used in the New Testament concerning two kinds of life. God sent Jesus to bring us a new kind of life—eternal life, called zoe in the Greek (Concordance word #2222) completely different from our old flesh nature life that we receive through our natural earthly birth. This earthly birth life is called psuche in the Greek (Concordance word #5590). It is biological life.  If we remain in psuche life, we remain separated from the full heavenly blessings of eternal life with God.  Therefore the original scriptures used very specific Greek words to make clear distinctions between the old biological life and the new life in Christ.

Concordance Words for Live and Life

2222: zoe --(from 2198); life (lit or fig.):  life, lifetime   [a noun]

Usage in New Testament —

John 1:4 --  In him was life (2222); and the life (2222) was the light of men.

1 John 5:11-13 -- And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life (2222), and this life (2222) is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life (2222); and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life (2222). 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life (2222), and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Mat 19:29— And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life (2222).

John 3:15—  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life (2222).

John 14:6 --  Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life (2222): no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

2198:  zao —to live (lit or fig.):  life, lifetime, alive, live, lively, quick.    [a verb]

Usage in New Testament—

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived [2198; zao] and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

1 John 4:9—In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live (2198) through him.

COMMENT:   Two Greek words in the New Testament zao (Concordance word 2198) and zoe

(Concordance word 2222) are the verb and noun forms of a lively type of life also called a quick, quickened  life that comes only from being renewed or regenerated spiritually by union with Christ.  

5590: psuche—breath spirit, (the animal sentient principle only): heart, life, mind, soul.

Usage in New Testament--

Mark 8:35-- For whosoever will save his life (5590) shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life (5590) for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

Luke 12:22-23--  “²²And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life (5590), what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. ²³ The life (5590) is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.”

John 13:37—  Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life (5590) for thy sake.

COMMENT:   The Greek word psuche (Concordance word 5590) refers to a type of biological life, i.e.,  life in the flesh without Christ. That is the condition of life that is of the animal sentient principle only, as opposed to ‘quickened’ as in people who are  born again  by having received the Holy Spirit to me us a new creation—inside..

326: anazao—to recover life, (lit or fig.), be alive, live, live again, revive.

Only  used once in New Testament --

Rev 20:5a  ‘But the rest of the dead lived [326: anazao] not again until the thousand years were finished.’

COMMENT:   The Greek word anazao (Concordance word 326) refers to reviving of life (as to live again), implying the reviving of the previous life. It is a physical resurrection of life reviving of the previous condition in life--likely either zoe or psueche (i.e., life with or without Christ).

2227: zoopoieo:  make alive, give life, quicken.

Usage in New Testament --

John 5:21-- For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens (2227) them; even so the Son quickens (2227)  whom he will.

John  6:63—It is the spirit that quickens (2227); the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (2222: zoe—as in eternal life in Christ).

1 Pet 3:18-- For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened (2227) by the Spirit:

Ephesians 2:1-6  --

 And you hath he quickened (2227), who were dead in trespasses and sins;….5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

COMMENT:   The Greek word zoopoieo (Concordance word 2227) refers to making alive  (or quickening) people who are dead in sins (un-saved or un-regenerated) to having eternal life with Christ. This would be a spiritual resurrection of life—going from being dead in sins (yet biologically alive) to being ‘quickened’ or alive spiritually by being born again. This is like a spiritual resurrection in which biologically living people who are dead in sins are raised up by faith in Christ to newness of eternal life by the Spirit of God.

CONCEPT OF SPIRITUAL LIFE IN CHRIST

1 Cor. 15:42-50 –

35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body…….

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living (2198) soul; the last Adam was made a quickening (2227) spirit.                                           [COMMENT: A living (2198: zao) soul refers to quickened  life with Christ.]

46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.

48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

COMMENT:  God sent Jesus to bring us a new kind of life—eternal life, called zoe in the Greek (Concordance word #2222) completely different from our old flesh nature life that we receive in our natural earthly birth. This earthly birth life is called psuche in the Greek (Concordance word #5590). It is biological life.  If we remain in psuche life, we remain separated from the full heavenly blessings of eternal life with God.  Therefore the Bible uses very specific Greek words to make clear distinctions between the old biological life and the new life in Christ; however, modern English translations loose these distinctions that can be found by researching  the original Greek words in Strong’s Concordance to the King James Bible.  There, the distinctions between the kinds of life are made clear. Psuche life reproduced biologically by the flesh is life of merely in the flesh, not spiritual eternal life in Christ. Psuche life represents spiritual separation from God, and eventual damnation. To have zoe life or eternal life, everyone must be born again (be quickened) by faith in Christ. As John 3:3  says: ‘Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’

Sources:  King James Bible and Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (with Greek and Hebrew Dictionary) by James Strong, Crusade Bible Publishers, Inc, Nashville, TN.

Last revision: 2016-02-25 hgk