Let's try this again (Proverbs 3:1-8)

[Sola1517]

Preliminary questions:
1. What does it mean to trust?
2. Is there a connection between authenticity and humility?

Topic of the chapter is obviously wisdom.

(Verses 1-2) Obedience is better than disobedience. We are to obey the commands of God that are given to us in the Scripture not simply because they are there but because they benefit us. God wants to make our lives better by giving us grace with guidelines. If you want your life to be peaceful, obey the Bible. But there's one problem. Romans 3:17 says we don't know the path of peace because we cannot live up to the standard of the Law of Moses. (3:19) So, if no one lives up to the standard how do we embrace God's way effectively? Verses 3 thru 4...

(Verses 3-4) Look to God. His love and faithfulness will never forsake anyone. And he desires that all would come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) Once I look to God for him to define love and faithfulness for me I can better reflect the imago dei (the image of God) for others around me. And by that I obtain success in life. I may not be rich, but I am satisfied. But even a biblical definition is not good enough to embrace God's way effectively. There are plenty of "churches" out there with biblical views on life that teach people how to be successful and miss the point. So it's not even good enough to look to God. What is good enough? Verses 5 thru 8...

(Verses 5-8) Trust. To look at God from afar and realize you are a sinner is not good enough. You have to trust him, be drawn out of the sinfulness to him, and abide with him. Basically begin a relationship with God. Know him as father, redeemer, and friend. And reject yourself. Whatever draws you closer to God in worship is God's call. And notice, when you reject yourself, you become healed.

Conclusion
Wisdom is given through God's revelation, not through my intellect. (Proverbs 29:18) God's revelation to me is not based on my obedience, but upon his grace. Only through God's revelation can I be more like him, and I cannot control God's revelation by reading about him, although the Scripture testify about him. He must initiate the relationship. And thankfully he has through Jesus Christ.

 

[Halbhh]

Preliminary questions:
1. What does it mean to trust?
2. Is there a connection between authenticity and humility?

Topic of the chapter is obviously wisdom.

(Verses 1-2) Obedience is better than disobedience. We are to obey the commands of God that are given to us in the Scripture not simply because they are there but because they benefit us. God wants to make our lives better by giving us grace with guidelines. If you want your life to be peaceful, obey the Bible. But there's one problem. Romans 3:17 says we don't know the path of peace because we cannot live up to the standard of the Law of Moses. (3:19) So, if no one lives up to the standard how do we embrace God's way effectively? Verses 3 thru 4...

(Verses 3-4) Look to God. His love and faithfulness will never forsake anyone. And he desires that all would come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) Once I look to God for him to define love and faithfulness for me I can better reflect the imago dei (the image of God) for others around me. And by that I obtain success in life. I may not be rich, but I am satisfied. But even a biblical definition is not good enough to embrace God's way effectively. There are plenty of "churches" out there with biblical views on life that teach people how to be successful and miss the point. So it's not even good enough to look to God. What is good enough? Verses 5 thru 8...

(Verses 5-8) Trust. To look at God from afar and realize you are a sinner is not good enough. You have to trust him, be drawn out of the sinfulness to him, and abide with him. Basically begin a relationship with God. Know him as father, redeemer, and friend. And reject yourself. Whatever draws you closer to God in worship is God's call. And notice, when you reject yourself, you become healed.

Conclusion
Wisdom is given through God's revelation, not through my intellect. (Proverbs 29:18) God's revelation to me is not based on my obedience, but upon his grace. Only through God's revelation can I be more like him, and I cannot control God's revelation by reading about him, although the Scripture testify about him. He must initiate the relationship. And thankfully he has through Jesus Christ.

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

-- Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior in John chapter 10.

 

[com7fy8]

Once I look to God for him to define love and faithfulness for me I can better reflect the imago dei (the image of God) for others around me. And by that I obtain success in life. I may not be rich, but I am satisfied.

By obeying God who is all-loving, our success will be with all-loving good for ourselves and others. Abraham is an example of this > here is what God told Abraham after Abraham obeyed God >

"'In your seed all the nations shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.'" (Genesis 22:18)

He obeyed God all-loving; so there has been God's all-loving result.

There are plenty of "churches" out there with biblical views on life that teach people how to be successful and miss the point. So it's not even good enough to look to God. What is good enough?

obedience

Trust.

for salvation, yes > our Apostle Paul says "we" "who first trusted in Christ", in Ephesians 1:12.

1. What does it mean to trust?

We know whom we are trusting, and He has proven Himself; so we depend on Him to do what He wants to do with us. And we understand that what He wants is better than what we can want; so we seek Him for correction of our character so we can submit to Him and share with Him in His plan (Hebrews 12:4-11). We believe that God's correction will succeed because of how He is almighty and able and committed to changing us to become like Jesus > Romans 8:29, Ephesians 5:2.

2. Is there a connection between authenticity and humility?

Jesus is humble, and only Jesus is authentic. Being humble has to do with how Jesus is so superior, yet not at all conceited . . . so that Jesus left Heaven itself in order to reach us and save us and share God's own good with us. So, humility has to do with authentic love.

Jesus, though He is so superior to us, was so un-conceited that He cared about us and suffered and died like He did, sweetly, on the cross for us. So, Jesus is the definition of humble

 

[Sola1517]

obedience

I believe obedience does matter, but whose obedience?

for salvation

Okay, so true or false, does salvation begin and end with God?

 

[com7fy8]

whose obedience?

The obedience of Jesus on the cross > Romans 5:19, and however God in us has us obeying > Philippians 2:13, Galatians 2:20, and I think Romans 6:16 means how we with God obey Him, the way He in us has us obeying, "leading to righteousness". And James 2:24 means works which God has us doing, and so whatsoever God has us doing is essential.

does salvation begin and end with God?

yes . . . Romans 11:36, 2 Corinthians 3:5, 2 Corinthians 5:18, Hebrews 2:10.

 

[Sola1517]

The obedience of Jesus on the cross > Romans 5:19, and however God in us has us obeying > Philippians 2:13, Galatians 2:20, and I think Romans 6:16 means how we with God obey Him, the way He in us has us obeying, "leading to righteousness". And James 2:24 means works which God has us doing, and so whatsoever God has us doing is essential.

yes . . . Romans 11:36, 2 Corinthians 3:5, 2 Corinthians 5:18, Hebrews 2:10.

K, I get kind of concerned when Christians think their obedience is what saves them. We weren't saved to necessarily be better by worldly standards. Although that may be part of it.