Being "Humble"... Faith... Wisdom...

Neogaia777

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What is being "humble"?

Well, it IS NOT complete brokeness, complete brokeness happens because of too much "pride"... "Humble" is a "Balance", an even keel attribute between the roller-coaster ride of life that is the ground between pride and complete brokeness, I'll admit a difficult balance to find, even harder to maintain and keep...

My best advice, from the Lord, and my personal experience with him, is that when you feel "pride" rising in you or are convicted of it, instantly, in that very moment, lower yourself, humble yourself, "fear" it, if anything for fear of becoming completely broken, for this is wise, pray and talk to God about it, immediately appollogize, say your sorry, ask forgiveness, this doesn't necessarily have to be on your knees or involve brokeness, tell him you'll do your best not to do it again, ask if he can help you with it, have Faith that he has and does forgive you, instantly at your asking, for he paid for it all, have faith that this is so... Lastly, give thanks and thank him... When you feel rid of the pride if only for the moment, close your prayer, get-up and continue on, repeat process as/when needed...

God Bless!
 

Neogaia777

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Being humble means having a heart that recognizes the truth of who God is.
God is Love, Agape Love, which we have yet to fully know or come to be able to define or understand in it's entirety... There is also truth about who are we, and who and what our enemies are...

Do you know this? Do you have the truth? I am coming to know it, but do not know it fully yet... If you know it, please, share...
 
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Greg J.

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A less good definition of humble, but perhaps helpful, is know who you are compared to who God is. (Ideally, we wouldn't compare ourselves with anybody.) Imagine how someone who knows himself and knows God would view everything. First impression is that you are wicked and less than nothing and God is good, pure, and great beyond comprehension. Second is a recognition is that you are not nothing, because He who is perfect in every way loves you. Thirdly you see that your only value is from God. Such a person cannot look down on any other person, idea, object, or himself. In place of thinking about yourself, you think about God and his love, and what his love is for everyone and everything else. You come to know his nature and that it is not he who rejects anything, it is others who reject him.

This verse starts an explanation of the full extent of God's agape love, starting with the intimate sharing of life, and ending with him dying so those he loved could live:

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. (bold mine, John 13:1, 1984 NIV)
 
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Neogaia777

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A less good definition of humble, but perhaps helpful, is know who you are compared to who God is. (Ideally, we wouldn't compare ourselves with anybody.) Imagine how someone who knows himself and knows God would view everything. First impression is that you are wicked and less than nothing and God is good, pure, and great beyond comprehension.

Is this point and purpose of the old law covenant, the first covenant, which is the necessary first step in realization of who we are and who God is?

Second is a recognition is that you are not nothing, because He who is perfect in every way loves you. Thirdly you see that your only value is from God. Such a person cannot look down on any other person, idea, object, or himself. In place of thinking about yourself, you think about God and his love, and what his love is for everyone and everything else. You come to know his nature and that it is not he who rejects anything, it is others who reject him.

Is this the point and purpose of the new covenant, the next step of the process (realization, recognition) after the first?

This verse starts an explanation of the full extent of God's agape love, starting with the intimate sharing of life, and ending with him dying so those he loved could live:

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. (bold mine, John 13:1, 1984 NIV)

Thanks for that,

God Bless!
 
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Greg J.

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Is this point and purpose of the old law covenant, the first covenant, which is the necessary first step in realization of who we are and who God is?
There are various covenants in the Old Testament (OT). By first covenant, I assume you mean the one given through the Law given through Moses ("Mosaic Law") because that is the one where humans had to fulfill their side of the "contract."

The Law reflects God's nature, and so we can know a lot about God from it, but its purpose was given so that (1) the Jews would know right from wrong—since the sins still cause death, whether a person knows about them or not (and regardless of whether God is passing judgment or not—Romans 5:12-14), and (2) so they would recognize their need for God's mercy, which would guide them to faith in God, rather than trusting their ability to keep the Law to be right with God (because it was impossible for anyone to do so from their hearts).

However, God also worked out the events of history (the Old Testament) to reveal the same thing to us today, to reveal himself, and reveal his plan of salvation (Romans 15:4).

There's a lot of directions from which all this can be described.
Is this the point and purpose of the new covenant, the next step of the process (realization, recognition) after the first?
The purpose of the new covenant was so that everyone could be saved, in spite of their (and our) inability to do anything to get right with God and merit salvation. It revealed once for all how great his love and goodness was and is for us. However, the way he chose to unfold it also made it much easier for us to understand what his plan of salvation was from the beginning (salvation by faith, not by anything we could do) which was hidden from the Jews until Jesus came.
 
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Neogaia777

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There are various covenants in the Old Testament (OT). By first covenant, I assume you mean the one given through the Law given through Moses ("Mosaic Law") because that is the one where humans had to fulfill their side of the "contract."

The Law reflects God's nature, and so we can know a lot about God from it, but its purpose was given so that (1) the Jews would know right from wrong—since the sins still cause death, whether a person knows about them or not (and regardless of whether God is passing judgment or not—Romans 5:12-14), and (2) so they would recognize their need for God's mercy, which would guide them to faith in God, rather than trusting their ability to keep the Law to be right with God (because it was impossible for anyone to do so from their hearts).

However, God also worked out the events of history (the Old Testament) to reveal the same thing to us today, to reveal himself, and reveal his plan of salvation (Romans 15:4).

There's a lot of directions from which all this can be described.

The purpose of the new covenant was so that everyone could be saved, in spite of their (and our) inability to do anything to get right with God and merit salvation. It revealed once for all how great his love and goodness was and is for us. However, the way he chose to unfold it also made it much easier for us to understand what his plan of salvation was from the beginning (salvation by faith, not by anything we could do) which was hidden from the Jews until Jesus came.
Thanks, Amen...

God Bless!

Oh, I have one more question, wasn't also part of the laws true purpose to "make transgressions (sin) abound" (faster and quicker) to get the first part over with as quickly as possible, so Christ (messiah) could come quicker and faster, and do what he needed to do to fix it quicker and faster, showing mercy, love, kindness and compassion? Only allowing to last only as long as it has to to fulfill it's purpose, to lessen the suffering as much as possible?

God Bless!
 
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Greg J.

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The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, (Romans 5:20, 1984 NIV)

This is what Paul said, but to understand it, the whole passage needs to be examined. Paul contrasted (1) the sins the Jews were committing without knowing what the Law said with (2) committing sins after they knew the Law. Because one is accountable for what he knows, disobedience under (2) was worse than under (1). In other words, the trespass of their sins increased. (See James 4:7)

However, God didn't give the Law so that the Jews' sins would be worse (that is, so they would earn greater punishment). Through the Law they became conscious of sin, and as a result, conscious of their inability to keep the Law, and as a result, their need for God's mercy. Paul paints this in a positive light ("grace increased all the more") because with the awareness the Jews then (should have) had that they couldn't do enough to be right with God, they (should have) sought God for mercy.

God granted this needed mercy through Jesus' death—which Paul is saying was good, because that would wipe out sin completely forever for a person, rather than the limited form of "righteousness" that came by obeying the Law. The "righteousness" that came through the Law required acts to be repeated over and over (and actually was not what gave a person righteousness). A lot of the book of Hebrews is about this. (Righteousness only comes by faith.)
 
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Neogaia777

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The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, (Romans 5:20, 1984 NIV)

This is what Paul said, but to understand it, the whole passage needs to be examined. Paul contrasted (1) the sins the Jews were committing without knowing what the Law said with (2) committing sins after they knew the Law. Because one is accountable for what he knows, disobedience under (2) was worse than under (1). In other words, the trespass of their sins increased. (See James 4:7)

However, God didn't give the Law so that the Jews' sins would be worse (that is, so they would earn greater punishment). Through the Law they became conscious of sin, and as a result, conscious of their inability to keep the Law, and as a result, their need for God's mercy. Paul paints this in a positive light ("grace increased all the more") because with the awareness the Jews then (should have) had that they couldn't do enough to be right with God, they (should have) sought God for mercy.

God granted this needed mercy through Jesus' death—which Paul is saying was good, because that would wipe out sin completely forever for a person, rather than the limited form of "righteousness" that came by obeying the Law. The "righteousness" that came through the Law required acts to be repeated over and over (and actually was not what gave a person righteousness). A lot of the book of Hebrews is about this. (Righteousness only comes by faith.)
As I come closer to being made aware of and get deeper revelations of the knowledge of sin, I get convicted, and I feel like the narrow road is becoming even narrower and more difficult to perform, that is, not be doing the sins I am being increasingly made aware of, I talked to the Lord about this, Told him that I feel like there is no room to breathe...

Is the point that we are unable to perform and need God's mercy and grace and love to cover our sin, or should we try our best to perform because it is what is best for us all, out of Love for him, ourselves and others?

I feel unable to perform fully, for I am not perfect, I feel I can make quite a bit of progress in NOT sinning as much as, or like I used to, but feel unable to do away with it all... Do we do it, or does God do it in us? If that is even the point? (doing away with as much sin in us as possible, or maybe even all of it) How should I feel about this?

Thanks for any advice or words or counsel you can provide,

God Bless!
 
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Greg J.

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As I come closer to being made aware of and get deeper revelations of the knowledge of sin, I get convicted, and I feel like the narrow road is becoming even narrower and more difficult to perform, that is, not be doing the sins I am being increasingly made aware of, I talked to the Lord about this, Told him that I feel like there is no room to breathe...

Is the point that we are unable to perform and need God's mercy and grace and love to cover our sin, or should we try our best to perform because it is what is best for us all, out of Love for him, ourselves and others?

I feel unable to perform fully, for I am not perfect, I feel I can make quite a bit of progress in NOT sinning as much as, or like I used to, but feel unable to do away with it all... Do we do it, or does God do it in us? If that is even the point? (doing away with as much sin in us as possible, or maybe even all of it) How should I feel about this?

Thanks for any advice or words or counsel you can provide,

God Bless!
Everyone who chooses to follow the Lord must work out the tension between the freedom we have in Christ and obedience. The answer is found only through God working in your heart. What's practical and most beneficial for you in the long run is to do your best to be obedient in every way at all times, but if/when you sin, repent then accept that you are forgiven.

Remember that God has promised to be with you at all times and will help you. As a result, it is safe to say that God doesn't expect you to do anything that he does not prepare you for (although some things are incredibly difficult or painful). Also, he doesn't expect you to be instantly perfect. We fight to do the best we can. It needs to be a habit and a lifestyle. Eventually, the road will still be narrow, but it will get easier and easier to stay on it, rather than harder. Jesus loves you much; keep him as the main thing in your life.
 
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Neogaia777

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Everyone who chooses to follow the Lord must work out the tension between the freedom we have in Christ and obedience. The answer is found only through God working in your heart. What's practical and most beneficial for you in the long run is to do your best to be obedient in every way at all times, but if/when you sin, repent then accept that you are forgiven.

Remember that God has promised to be with you at all times and will help you. As a result, it is safe to say that God doesn't expect you to do anything that he does not prepare you for (although some things are incredibly difficult or painful). Also, he doesn't expect you to be instantly perfect. We fight to do the best we can. It needs to be a habit and a lifestyle. Eventually, the road will still be narrow, but it will get easier and easier to stay on it, rather than harder. Jesus loves you much; keep him as the main thing in your life.
Thanks for that, really, truly...

He just told me after posting this:

http://www.christianforums.com/thre...ven-to-be-untrue.7916612/page-3#post-70027558

"if you would only "believe" it, believe it is easy, that it is not only possible, but is so... through me, by faith in me, it would become so..."

God Bless!
 
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Neogaia777

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Greg J.

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You appear to have understood him correctly.

I have read a verse over and over and, believing Scripture is all true, and yet not really believing the verse in such a way as it immediately transforms my thinking and actions (which means I don't actually believe it). When this happens people are predisposed to believe they don't understand the verse correctly, but sometimes that is not the case.

However, God uses people's efforts to be faithful to him to grant them greater understanding and faith, even when they misunderstand the verse they are putting into action. It's also why it is important to keep struggling to understand—because God may act even though we misunderstand and we might wrongly take that as confirmation we understand correctly. A correct interpretation of Scripture always trumps even the voice of God. Sometimes he tests us in this.

Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:36, 1984 NIV)

"Just believe" from this verse comes to mind regularly. It is my experience that after I have wrestled with a verse long enough (years, usually) and eventually do understand it, I find that it means exactly what Scripture said, and I often can't rephrase it to be simpler.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6-7, 1984 NIV)
 
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