Re: Theosis
Submitted by Compassion on January 20 2000 at 01:02:50
In reply to Theosis Submitted by F.O.D. on January 19 2000 at 23:07:30
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Yes FOD, we are being empowered by His Spirit to live a more holy life here. The Father planned, the Son provided, and the Spirit empowered us to become children of God. Although this may be the roles played by the person of the trinity, all equal in every way. Take a look at Romans 8:26 - 30. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Here we see that the Lord is intrinsictly involved in every part of our salvation. But our santification is direct result of two things. 1. The study of the word of God [our responsibility] John 8:31b,32. "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 17:17 "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" 2. The revelation of this truth to us by His Spirit [God's work in us] John 16:13,14 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." Then what is the purpose of the word of God. It is to do a work in our hearts to cause us to obey the Lord. Consider the following passage: John 15:9-17 "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." "These things I command you, that ye love one another." Of course this obedience is to Love God with all our heart and to love our neighbour as ourselves, for this fulfill the law and the prophets. Who are our friends, but the brethern [look up Matthew 25:31-46] in the Lord. Notice it is the least of these brethern. Least in who's eyes. Ours and how society views them. If there is a brother out there that the Lord is guiding us to reach, than it is our responsibility to do what the Lord is prompting us to do. Consider what James says [James 2] about some brother in need and we shut up our bowels to him/her. Or what John says in regards [I John 3:11-21] to if someone says I love God but hates his brother, than they are a liar. This is what I clearly believe is what the Lord wants us to understand in John 13:34 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." Here we are commanded to love one another. Why would this be so hard? Why would take the empowering of the Holy Spirit to cause us to love our brothers in the Lord? Simply because we usually offend one another eventually, which makes it difficult to want to lay down our lives for them. The least of the brethern us BLs have become in this day. Yet there are for us those who are truly our brothers that we consider lower yet. Everyone of us has been offended by a brother. God wants us to make things right and to seek his best. Love in Christ, Compassion....:+) PS. Hope you guys don't mind me using KJV here. It is just the bible I am most familiar with. |