How do we follow Jesus?

[k4c]

Cribstyl, here's my tuppence, for whatever it's worth.

Following Jesus, for me, is a matter of both belief and faith. Belief comes first and has to do with acknowledging something as a fact. Faith is our relationship to that fact. For example, electricity is a fact, and we believe in it for several good reasons. But if we do nothing about it, we gain no benefit. It is faith that makes us act on our knowledge and actually flip a switch, trusting that there will be light.

Likewise, belief in Jesus is based on several foundational facts that establish that He is real. But just believing that there is a God is not sufficient. The devils also believe and tremble. Faith has to take hold of the fact of God's reality, trusting that not only does He exist, but that He is well able to relate to us, if we will let Him. Faith talks to God. Not about Him, but to Him.

So to answer "How do we follow Jesus", for me, it is believing (with good reason) that He is as real as the physical world around us and that there is a real world out there in the universe where Jesus/God lives -- not some ethereal cloud floating around somewhere in outer space, but a physical, tangible world surrounded by physical, tangible galaxies, many, if not all, of which are teeming with life and inhabitants, and which have all been created by God.

Once belief is established, then faith must follow if there is to be any benefit from this belief. Faith is trusting in the fact of God's reality to the point where you actually talk to Him, trusting that He is well able to hear you and is powerful enough to have found a way to pervade you with His Spirit so that you and He can have a closer and closer walk together from day to day. Trust Him (have faith) that He has heard you and is moving into action on your behalf. Do not rely on feelings. Thoughts and ideas will follow. The relationship is now between you and God. And let no one else come between.

I can't explain how it works. I just know it works when tried. Just as I can't explain exactly how electricity works, but I know it works when I flip a switch.

Awesome...

It's so easy a caveman can do it...

 

[Cribstyl]

Cribstyl, here's my tuppence, for whatever it's worth.

Following Jesus, for me, is a matter of both belief and faith. Belief comes first and has to do with acknowledging something as a fact. Faith is our relationship to that fact. For example, electricity is a fact, and we believe in it for several good reasons. But if we do nothing about it, we gain no benefit. It is faith that makes us act on our knowledge and actually flip a switch, trusting that there will be light.

Likewise, belief in Jesus is based on several foundational facts that establish that He is real. But just believing that there is a God is not sufficient. The devils also believe and tremble. Faith has to take hold of the fact of God's reality, trusting that not only does He exist, but that He is well able to relate to us, if we will let Him. Faith talks to God. Not about Him, but to Him.

So to answer "How do we follow Jesus", for me, it is believing (with good reason) that He is as real as the physical world around us and that there is a real world out there in the universe where Jesus/God lives -- not some ethereal cloud floating around somewhere in outer space, but a physical, tangible world surrounded by physical, tangible galaxies, many, if not all, of which are teeming with life and inhabitants, and which have all been created by God.

Once belief is established, then faith must follow if there is to be any benefit from this belief. Faith is trusting in the fact of God's reality to the point where you actually talk to Him, trusting that He is well able to hear you and is powerful enough to have found a way to pervade you with His Spirit so that you and He can have a closer and closer walk together from day to day. Trust Him (have faith) that He has heard you and is moving into action on your behalf. Do not rely on feelings. Thoughts and ideas will follow. The relationship is now between you and God. And let no one else come between.

I can't explain how it works. I just know it works when tried. Just as I can't explain exactly how electricity works, but I know it works when I flip a switch.

This is great reply from you , primarily because this Q&A had nothing to do with the law. Those who wanted to inject it into the equation did.

 

[Joe67]

Love God with all of your....

Love your neighbor as yourself.

The law of sin that is in our members prevents us from serving our neighbor as ourself. The law of the Spirit of life that is in Christ Jesus sets us free from the law of sin and its overpowering desire to save our lives.

Thus we are enabled to love others as he has loved us and the law is fulfilled.
Thus sanctification through the law of the Spirit of life is made manifest in the body of Christ.

Col 1:24
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: KJV

Joe

 

[k4c]

This is great reply from you , primarily because this Q&A had nothing to do with the law. Those who wanted to inject it into the equation did.

1 John 2:6 Whoever says, "I abide in Jesus," ought to walk just as He walked.

If I said following Jesus means to walk as He walked in that He didn't worship idols, didn't use God's name in vain, He kept the Sabbath, He honored His mother and father, He didn't commit adultery, He didn't steal, lie, murder or covet. Would you say I injected the law into following Jesus by what I just said?

 

[Joe67]

Loving my neighbor as myself is the fulfilling of the law.

Jesus was a man anointed of God who went about doing good.

When we are anointed of God by Jesus Christ, we are given a ministry to follow Jesus in good works under grace. He, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man. That which is behind of the afflictions of Christ are filled up in our flesh for Jesus' body, the church. These are the workings of God in his grace, not willingly on our part, but it is a dispensation of grace through faith.

Following him by faith in his ministry in the sanctuary above wherein we are justified before God, in the presence of the Father, does precede the good works that come through grace that were ordained before time.

Eph 2:9-10
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.KJV

Joe

 

[Cribstyl]

1 John 2:6 Whoever says, "I abide in Jesus," ought to walk just as He walked.

If I said following Jesus means to walk as He walked in that He didn't worship idols, didn't use God's name in vain, He kept the Sabbath, He honored His mother and father, He didn't commit adultery, He didn't steal, lie, murder or covet. Would you say I injected the law into following Jesus by what I just said?

Great, then you're the next one up to be circumcized and to die on a cross.

1John is often abused by those who let their comments on words in this letter, rise above the context of these scriptures.
Truth is, John is primarily teaching about two commandments and here in 1John2:6 he talking about walking in love as Jesus walked in love.

Wisdom tell us that Jesus came "under the law" and died to seal the new covenant.

Gal 2:21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The question is how did Jesus walk? In obedience to the father's will for His life.

K4c, more often than not, your commentary does not unlock the wisdom of the word. It tends to use the word as a prop for your commentary.
May God have mercy on those who use the scriptures like you do.

We're not saying that sinful conduct is acceptable in the kingdom of God.
We're saying that walking by faith is how we taught to follow Jesus.

 

[k4c]

Great, then you're the next one up to be circumcized and to die on a cross.

1John is often abused by those who let their comments on words in this letter, rise above the context of these scriptures.
Truth is, John is primarily teaching about two commandments and here in 1John2:6 he talking about walking in love as Jesus walked in love.

Wisdom tell us that Jesus came "under the law" and died to seal the new covenant.

Gal 2:21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The question is how did Jesus walk? In obedience to the father's will for His life.

K4c, more often than not, your commentary does not unlock the wisdom of the word. It tends to use the word as a prop for your commentary.
May God have mercy on those who use the scriptures like you do.

We're not saying that sinful conduct is acceptable in the kingdom of God.
We're saying that walking by faith is how we taught to follow Jesus.

We do die with Christ and we are to pick up our cross and we are to be circumcised in the heart.

 

[Cribstyl]

We do die with Christ and we are to pick up our cross and we are to be circumcised in the heart.

The conclussion of "walking as Jesus walked" according to 1John 2:6 is in love, not as in how He kept the law....end of story.

Good luck with carrying the law arround in every thread.

 

[Joe67]

The law is spiritual.

I am carnal, in my body, sold under sin.

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus.

Joe

 

[k4c]

The conclussion of "walking as Jesus walked" according to 1John 2:6 is in love, not as in how He kept the law....end of story.

Good luck with carrying the law arround in every thread.

The Law defines sinful conduct.

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Listen to what a wise person once said.

Cribstyl: We're not saying that sinful conduct is acceptable in the kingdom of God.

You should take the advice of this very wise person.

 

[Cribstyl]

The Law defines sinful conduct.

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Listen to what a wise person once said.

You should take the advice of this very wise person.

Oh,I do....the scripture does not say that the law contains all that is called sin.
The text says clearly " if you do all what's in the law you will not be justified in God's sight, because the law only give a label to sin" (some sins not all).

The next verse Rom 3:21 teaches us the new way; we're justfied by faith in Jesus Christ not the law. Faith is not about keep the law, it separate from the law.

Here is a lighter version, (NLT).......
Rom 3:19Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses and to bring the entire world into judgment before God.
Rom 3:20For no one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it.
Rom 3:21But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight-not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago.
Rom 3:22We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.

Have you asked yourself or God; Why would God allow Paul to teach us about a different way of being made right with God than following the law?

 

[Joe67]

Luke 20:35
35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: KJV

Luke 21:34-36
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. KJV

Luke 17:9-10
9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. KJV

Joe

 

[k4c]

I do....the scripture does not say that the law contains all that is called sin.
The text says clearly " if you do all what's in the law you will not be justified in God's sight, because the law only give a label to sin" (some sins not all).

What is silent is the fact we're justfied by faith in Jesus Christ not the law.

Here is a Bud lite version, (NLT) take a sip.......
Rom 3:19Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses and to bring the entire world into judgment before God.
Rom 3:20For no one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it.
Rom 3:21But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight-not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago.
Rom 3:22We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.

Amen...the Law will not justify anyone. Justification has to do with a past wrong made right. The Law points out the wrong and the blood of Christ makes us right.

Let me explain, let's say you got a 500 dollar ticket for speeding that you can't pay. You stand before the judge and tell him that you will start obeying the speed limit. He will say that's a good idea but you still need to pay your fine for speeding. Why would he say that? Because obeying the speed limit (Law) will not remove (justify) a past violation of the law.

Now a friend (Jesus) shows up in court, and by his grace, he pays your fine and your free to go. Does this now mean that you can now go out and speed again? No way...

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!

Does the fact that your friend paid your fine now remove all the speed limit signs? No way...

Romans 3:31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

The Law will daily point out sin and will always point us to Jesus.

Now don't get me wrong, the Ten Commandments are not the end all for identifying sin but every sin and crime in the world has its root in the Ten Commandments either by letter or by spirit. The Spirit of God will direct us in the spirit of the Law, which is where true relationships are built without doing away with the letter.

In other words, the letter says we are not allowed to commit adultery and the spirit of the Law says we are not allowed to lust in our heart. The fact that we are not allowed to lust in our heart does not give us right of way to commit adultery.

 

[Joe67]

Justification has two distinct revelations from God.

The first revelation from God is toward Abraham and it is apart from any personal misdeed on Abraham's part. It is a crediting of righteousness. This is the key over death. There was a command to do something. Abraham obeyed the positive command. This is grace.

The second revelation from God is toward David and it is toward an act of transgression of law on David's part. David had done wrong. He had gone against the restraint of both written code and spirit. Justification as given to David is a forgiving and cleansing and restoring back to harmony. This is the key over hell. This is mercy.

Rom 4:1-8
:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. KJV

Heb 4:16
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. KJV

Joe

 

[k4c]

Justification has two distinct revelations from God.

The first revelation from God is toward Abraham and it is apart from any personal misdeed on Abraham's part. It is a crediting of righteousness. This is the key over death. There was a command to do something. Abraham obeyed the positive command. This is grace.

The second revelation from God is toward David and it is toward an act of transgression of law on David's part. David had done wrong. He had gone against the restraint of both written code and spirit. Justification as given to David is a forgiving and cleansing and restoring back to harmony. This is the key over hell. This is mercy.

Rom 4:1-8
:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. KJV

Heb 4:16
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. KJV

Joe

Mankind overall needs to be justifed or made right. God was revealing, through Abraham, the way He was going to accomplish this. This is why Abraham is called the father of faith. God was teaching us through Abraham how He was going to use faith as the means to receive justification of which all mankind needs. You have to be declared jusitifed before you can be declared righteous.

The same faith Abraham used to obey God is the same faith we will use to be saved through Jesus. It's this same faith that we use daily to live by and confess our daily sins.

 

[Cribstyl]

Amen...the Law will not justify anyone. Justification has to do with a past wrong made right. The Law points out the wrong and the blood of Christ makes us right.

Let me explain, let's say you got a 500 dollar ticket for speeding that you can't pay. You stand before the judge and tell him that you will start obeying the speed limit. He will say that's a good idea but you still need to pay your fine for speeding. Why would he say that? Because obeying the speed limit (Law) will not remove (justify) a past violation of the law.

Now a friend (Jesus) shows up in court, and by his grace, he pays your fine and your free to go. Does this now mean that you can now go out and speed again? No way...

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!

Does the fact that your friend paid your fine now remove all the speed limit signs? No way...

Romans 3:31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

The Law will daily point out sin and will always point us to Jesus.

Now don't get me wrong, the Ten Commandments are not the end all for identifying sin but every sin and crime in the world has its root in the Ten Commandments either by letter or by spirit. The Spirit of God will direct us in the spirit of the Law, which is where true relationships are built without doing away with the letter.

In other words, the letter says we are not allowed to commit adultery and the spirit of the Law says we are not allowed to lust in our heart. The fact that we are not allowed to lust in our heart does not give us right of way to commit adultery.

Justification is a judicial process, whereby God declare us as rightoeus. It's base on what God declares as His standard of judgment.............(tbc)

Here is a good study on Justification,,,,,,,,,,
<http://www.blueletterbible.org/Search/Dictionary/viewTopic.cfm?
type=GetTopic&Topic=Justification&DictList=2#Easton's>

 

[Joe67]

Mankind overall needs to be justifed or made right. God was revealing, through Abraham, the way He was going to accomplish this. This is why Abraham is called the father of faith. God was teaching us through Abraham how He was going to use faith as the means to receive justification of which all mankind needs. You have to be declared jusitifed before you can be declared righteous.

The same faith Abraham used to obey God is the same faith we will use to be saved through Jesus. It's this same faith that we use daily to live by and confess our daily sins.

k4c,

God works in us to will and to do of his good pleasure. The excellency of the power is of the Lord, that no man may boast. For us to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

He sprinkles our hearts and he washes our bodies.

He uses us. Faith is his work in and through us, that no man may glory in his faith. We are an earthen vessel.

2 Cor 4:6-7
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. KJV

Joe