GRACE BIBLE CHURCH
PASTOR ROBERT R. MCLAUGHLIN
SUNDAY 10-30-2022
GBIBLE.ORG
EPHESIANS - 0290-018
DIVINE DECREES, PART 15.
GREEK DRAMA, PART 6.
RESULTS OF GREEK ACTORS
2PE 1:5-7;
The Doctrine of the Divine Decrees.
Our corrected translation of 2PE 1:5-7.
2PE 1:5 Now for this very reason also, making every effort, by means of your doctrine supply virtue, and in or with your virtue supply biblical academic information.
2PE 1:6 and in your knowledge, biblical academic information supply self-control, and in your self-control, supply perseverance.
2PE 1:7 and in living the spiritual life supply brotherly love, and in your brotherly love supply impersonal unconditional love.
- Virtue (includes respect, loyalty, devotion).
- Knowledge - perception of doctrine.
- Self-control - organized life.
- Perseverance - endurance or consistency.
- Godliness - living the spiritual life.
- Brotherly love - love for members of the Royal family.
- Impersonal-unconditional love for all members of the human race.
We continue with principles concerning impersonal-unconditional love with personal love.
- Impersonal-unconditional love emphasizes the subject; personal love depends on the attractiveness, capacity, and response of the one object who is loved.
Impersonal-unconditional love emphasizes the subject while personal love emphasizes the qualities in the one being loved.
- Impersonal-unconditional love is a love that does not require intimacy, friendliness, or even acquaintance with the object of love.
- "Brotherly love" is simply the consistent function of your own impersonal-unconditional love and integrity toward other Christians as members of the Royal family.
In fact, it is a declaration to others that we are the students or disciples of the Lord.
JOH 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
- Personal love requires that you know the object with some degree of intimacy.
The object of personal love must be attractive to you, share basic values with you, and have capacity to love you in return.
- Phileo love is personal love which is mentioned before agape love, which is Impersonal-unconditional love in 2Pe 1:7.
The principle being is that first of all you should be closer to some members of the Royal family (philadelphia love) than members of your own earthly family, Mat 12:46-50.
We read this passage in another message but it also applies here once again.
MAT 12:46 While He was still speaking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him.
MAT 12:47 And someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You."
MAT 12:48 But He answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?"
MAT 12:49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold, My mother and My brothers!
MAT 12:50 "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."
So, as this point says;
You should be closer to some members of the Royal family than members of your own earthly family.
Also: If you cannot love your fellow-believer whom you can see, you cannot love God whom you have not seen, 1JO 4:20.
1JO 4:20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
If you do not love God than you cannot really love yourself properly, 1Jo 4:19.
1JO 4:19 We love, (not Him) because He first loved us.
If you do not have love for yourself, you cannot love your neighbor which is impersonal- unconditional love for all mankind, Mat 19:19.
MAT 19:19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
This is why phileo love which is personal love in the Bible is mentioned before agape love which is impersonal love.
Phileo love is personal love whereas agape love is impersonal unconditional love.
These are the two Greek words that is used
- Only a few people qualify as objects of your personal love whereas all mankind are to be the objects of your "impersonal love," MAT 5:43-45; LUK 6:20-38.
MAT 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.'
MAT 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you
MAT 5:45 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
And this is the passage we closed with last time.
LUK 6:20 And turning His gaze on His disciples, He {began} to say, "Blessed {are} you {who are} poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
LUK 6:21 "Blessed {are} you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed {are} you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
LUK 6:22 "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.
LUK 6:23 "Be glad in that day, and leap {for joy,} for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.
LUK 6:24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.
LUK 6:25 "Woe to you who are well fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe {to you} who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
LUK 6:26 "Woe {to you} when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets.
LUK 6:27 "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
LUK 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
LUK 6:29 "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.
LUK 6:30 "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.
LUK 6:31 "And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way.
LUK 6:32 "And if you love those who love you, what credit is {that} to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
LUK 6:33 "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is {that} to you? For even sinners do the same.
LUK 6:34 "And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is {that} to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same {amount.}
LUK 6:35 "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil {men.}
LUK 6:36 "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
LUK 6:37 "And do not judge and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.
LUK 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
By the way,
For those of you who may say, well this passage is not for us, it is the future dispensation when the kingdom of God is on earth, the Millennial reign.
Well, you have a problem if you think that.
Because in the Millennial reign, there will not be believers who hunger as LUK 6:21 says because Christ will be on the throne and there will be universal prosperity.
LUK 6:21 "Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
In the Millennial reign, there will not be believers who are ostracized as Luk 6:22 says because Christ will be ruling.
LUK 6:22 "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.
This passage is not to serve as a cop-out for those who use dispensationalism to justify their rejection of a doctrinal concept.
By that I mean;
When they don’t like to obey a certain principle of doctrine, they will justify themselves by saying it is not from the Church-age.
This reveals their motivation and their lack of love for TLJC.
This passage is dealing with the mental attitude we should all have if we possess the mind of Christ.
So, Point 6 again, Only a few people qualify as objects of your personal love whereas all mankind is to be the objects of your "impersonal love,"
- Personal love is designed for interaction with a few. Impersonal love is designed to benefit the human race; JOH 3:16.
Personal love is conditional, impersonal love is unconditional.
- Personal love creates weaknesses, you bring your own problems into any personal relationship, as well as the problems of the one you love. (Double trouble)
The problems, shortcomings, and faults of two people are combined and multiplied by personal love.
This is why two people should become mature before they marry another member of the human race because when you get married, you have double-trouble, his and hers.
1CO 7:27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
1CO 7:28 But if you should marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin should marry, she has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.
Personal love can bring in subjectivity and mental attitude sins of jealousy, self-pity, and bitterness.
Personal love in the human race is complicated with unpredictable problems that personal love cannot control.
- Personal love is never stronger than the integrity of those involved in the relationship whereas impersonal-unconditional love is the integrity that alone can strengthen, stabilize personal love.
The most important function of impersonal-unconditional love is the control of your own mental attitude.
- Personal love may lead to compromise the norms and standards and values of the individual.
This is when you do things that are in direct violation of the word of God but you justify them because you say, "Well, we're in love."
Whereas, Impersonal-unconditional love never compromises its virtue and its integrity.
In fact, the only time "brotherly love" has true character and integrity is when it is the result of impersonal-unconditional love.
- In 1Co 13:13, impersonal love is proclaimed the ultimate Christian virtue.
1CO 13:13 But now abide faith [FRD], hope [confidence or SSE], love [agape or virtue-love], these three; but the greatest of these is agape love.
This is why impersonal love is commanded and why personal love is optional.
1CO 13:13 But now abide faith [FRD], hope [confidence or SSE], love [agape or virtue-love], these three; but the greatest of these is impersonal-unconditional love.
The greatest of these is impersonal-unconditional love.
Why?
Because As a member of the human race you can actually resolve every problem in your life with impersonal-unconditional love.
Impersonal-unconditional love gives the believer a relaxed mental attitude.
Impersonal-unconditional love does not think with evil thoughts, 1Co 13:5.
1CO 13:5 Impersonal-unconditional love does not act unbecomingly; impersonal-unconditional love does not seek its own, impersonal-unconditional love virtue love is not provoked, impersonal-unconditional love does not take into account a wrong suffered,
The primary reason why God gave impersonal-unconditional love to the human race was to solve problems.
- Personal love is virtue-dependent, hinging on the virtue of impersonal-unconditional love which represents the highest degree of integrity the soul can attain.
- Impersonal-unconditional love also produces independence by being spiritually self-sustained.
A believer with impersonal-unconditional love does not rely on the object of his love for strength and support.
He is sustained by the Bible doctrine in his own soul.
The believer who, over an extended period of time, learns to apply doctrine can solve or cope with the problems of personal love and maintain a marvelous relationship with others.
He functions consistently whether faced with hostility or admiration, or antagonism with others.
Why is this true?
- Answer - Because impersonal love does not depend on emotional stimulation or attraction.
The individual cannot be manipulated by flattery or approbation.
This is the genuine and honorable independence of the believer who is spiritually self-sustaining.
He does not depend on the advice of others or on a pastor's counseling.
Bible doctrine in his own soul gives him the strength and wisdom to live his own life before the Lord.
Although genuinely humble and teachable, he is not controlled by what anyone else thinks, says, or does.
Now, remember that the Lord said in;
JOH 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Why is this called a NEW commandment?
The reason is this love is impersonal-unconditional love that requires the omnipotence of God the Holy Spirit enabling the believer to love - impossible with man, but possible with God.
TLJC loved the disciples with impersonal unconditional love.
And the reason why it must be impersonal is because some Christians are admirable while others are among the most arrogant self-righteous, obnoxious, people on the face of the earth.
Even a wonderful, mature, believer can have a personality, background, lifestyle, or combination of interests that makes him utterly incompatible with you.
But "brotherly love" demands that you love all believers and treat them as you would the Lord.
MAT 25:40 "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, {even} the least {of them,} you did it to Me."
Obviously, your exclusive personal love cannot be given to rude, arrogant, believers.... nor should you burn up your nervous energy trying to do the impossible, which is "love all Christians” with a personal love."
The only love you can possess for most individuals is based not on their weaknesses or incompatibility with you but on the strength of your own character.
Through " impersonal-unconditional love" your "brotherly love" toward everyone will be basically the same.
It will be manifested by courtesy, thoughtfulness, sensitivity to the feelings of others, including tolerance and flexibility in non-essential areas of disagreement or dispute.
Such attitudes can be consistently maintained toward any believer regardless of how incompatible your personalities may be.
Real virtue-love is not hypocritical or self-righteous.
ROM 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
Impersonal-unconditional love is not an artificial emotionless facade but rather a gracious attitude consistent with the doctrine in your soul.
The policy of impersonal-unconditional-
love is simple "integrity toward all."
This is the love that honorably represents Christ in the devil's world.
The key to this virtue-love is when you as a believer priest have personal love for God for that is where real virtue begins.
You do not begin by adjusting to mankind.
You begin by adjusting to the Justice of God.
In our term book we describe it as;
Adjusting to the Justice of God reveals that all blessing or discipline from God to us must be filtered through His justice.
As goes the justice of God, so goes blessing or cursing to us.
You do not solve the problems with people and interaction with mankind from psychology or philosophy or any other new gimmick.
It has to come from your personal love for God.
If you're going to have true virtue it has to come from truth, which is learned from your "personal love for God."
It is only "personal love for God" that will ever develop the "inexpressible happiness" of 1Pe 1:8.
1PE 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1PE 1:4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
1PE 1:5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1PE 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
1PE 1:7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1PE 1:8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
Without "personal love for God," the believer will react to injustice and unfair treatment.
And the very fact that you have reacted to some injustice or some unfair treatment means that you have not yet acquired this love from virtue.
Apart from occupation with the person of Christ, the believer is going to react to things in life.
He's going to react to man.
He's going to discover man makes him miserable.
Once you react - you enter into the cosmic system.
People make you unhappy.
People disappoint you.
People upset you, etc.
A stranger can cut in front of you on the road and make you unhappy
Why?
Because your happiness or unhappiness depends upon how people treat you and therefore can depend upon a stranger.
However, your happiness and unhappiness depends upon your relationship with the Lord.
If you do not have "personal love for God" that means you will not have impersonal-unconditional love for man.
And anyone can get the best of you and make you miserable.
That means a husband or a wife, children, strangers, or friends, etc.
Anyone can disappoint you and make you unhappy.
And life is too short to be running around reacting to everything in life.
Reacting in life is simply the result of preoccupation with self.
"Arrogant subjectivity" divorces people from reality.
They lose any wisdom they have.
Discernment and common sense go.
Happiness depends upon virtue manufactured from your personal love for God.
All of you have had some experience of some mal-adjustment in life.
You married the wrong person.
You have friends that have disappointed you.
You have children that have disappointed you.
You have parents that have disappointed you.
You have had some misery from it simply because you lack virtue.
For virtue overcomes all these things.
Virtue depends upon your personal love for God and the doctrine in your very own soul.
Virtue does not depend on what others might say or think.
Happiness depends upon whether or not you have virtue.
Happiness does not depend on your success or you fame, your money, etc.
This impersonal-unconditional love" manifests itself by the integrity of the subject exceeding the repulsiveness and obnoxiousness of the object.
We are now ready for the reason of the importance of the chorus line.
You are about to see why we spent so much time on Greek drama and the importance of learning about your Chorus line.
2PE 1:8 For if these qualities are yours
What qualities?
The Chorus Line.
- Virtue
- Knowledge.
- Self-control
- Perseverance
- Godliness
- Brotherly love
- Impersonal-unconditional love
2PE 1:8 For if these qualities [the dramatic seven chorus line] are yours
The verb to be translated "are yours" is the pres-act-part of huparcho which means to keep on existing or to keep on being present.
2PE 1:8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing,
“are increasing”is the pres-act-part of pleanazo which means to keep increasing, or to keep on existing in abundance.
Then Peter says;
2PE 1:8 they [the dramatic seven chorus line] render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
They render is the pres-act-ind of kathistemi which means to prevent.
The dramatic chorus line will prevent you from being neither useless (ineffective) nor unfruitful (unproductive).
They render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Kathistemi is futuristic present tense = If the dramatic seven chorus line is presently in you it will lead you to a future action, which is the fact that you will neither be useless nor unfruitful.
The active voice, the dramatic seven chorus line produces the action of the verb which is to prevent you from being useless and unfruitful.
The indicative mood is used for a dogmatic statement of fact.
So, this verse is saying that the dramatic seven chorus line will prevent you from being useless and unfruitful.
Useless is the adjective argous which means useless, lazy, inefficient, inactive.
(Worse thing to say to a wife – you are useless a wife.)
It means to shun the labor which one ought to perform which is a procrastinator; PRO 19:15.
PRO 19:15 Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger.
In the spiritual realm, a spiritual procrastinator.
They will make you neither useless nor unproductive.
Akarpous means that the believer doesn't produce what he ought to produce.
In 1Co 14:14 it means to contribute nothing to the support and comfort of others.
1CO 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
In Mat 13:22, it means that the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches cause the believer to become unfruitful.
MAT 13:22 "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
In Jud 1:12, those who are minus water or Bible doctrine are those considered to be akarpos which is without fruit.
JUD 1:12 These men are those who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted;
So far, the passage is saying;
2PE 1:8 For if these qualities [the dramatic seven chorus line] are yours and keep on increasing [keep your momentum going], they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now what does it mean to be useless or unfruitful?
Tune in next time.
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Title = The Doctrine of Divine Decrees; (part 14) The results of the seven Greek actors. 2PE 1:5-7;
_________________________________
The Doctrine of the Divine Decrees.
Our corrected translation of 2PE 1:5-7.
2PE 1:5 Now for this very reason also, making every effort, by means of your doctrine supply virtue, and in or with your virtue supply biblical academic information.
2PE 1:6 and in your knowledge, biblical academic information supply self-control, and in your self-control, supply perseverance.
2PE 1:7 and in living the spiritual life supply brotherly love, and in your brotherly love supply impersonal unconditional love.
- Virtue (includes respect, loyalty, devotion).
- Knowledge - perception of doctrine.
- Self-control - organized life.
- Perseverance - endurance or consistency.
- Godliness - living the spiritual life.
- Brotherly love - love for members of the Royal family.
- Impersonal-unconditional love for all members of the human race.
We continue with principles concerning impersonal-unconditional love with personal love.
- Impersonal-unconditional love emphasizes the subject; personal love depends on the attractiveness, capacity, and response of the one object who is loved.
Impersonal-unconditional love emphasizes the subject while personal love emphasizes the qualities in the one being loved.
- Impersonal-unconditional love is a love that does not require intimacy, friendliness, or even acquaintance with the object of love.
- "Brotherly love" is simply the consistent function of your own impersonal-unconditional love and integrity toward other Christians as members of the Royal family.
In fact, it is a declaration to others that we are the students or disciples of the Lord.
JOH 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
- Personal love requires that you know the object with some degree of intimacy.
The object of personal love must be attractive to you, share basic values with you, and have capacity to love you in return.
- Phileo love is personal love which is mentioned before agape love, which is Impersonal-unconditional love in 2Pe 1:7.
The principle being is that first of all you should be closer to some members of the Royal family (philadelphia love) than members of your own earthly family, Mat 12:46-50.
We read this passage in another message but it also applies here once again.
MAT 12:46 While He was still speaking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him.
MAT 12:47 And someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You."
MAT 12:48 But He answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?"
MAT 12:49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold, My mother and My brothers!
MAT 12:50 "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."
So, as this point says;
You should be closer to some members of the Royal family than members of your own earthly family.
Also: If you cannot love your fellow-believer whom you can see, you cannot love God whom you have not seen, 1JO 4:20.
1JO 4:20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
If you do not love God than you cannot really love yourself properly, 1Jo 4:19.
1JO 4:19 We love, (not Him) because He first loved us.
If you do not have love for yourself, you cannot love your neighbor which is impersonal- unconditional love for all mankind, Mat 19:19.
MAT 19:19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
This is why phileo love which is personal love in the Bible is mentioned before agape love which is impersonal love.
Phileo love is personal love whereas agape love is impersonal unconditional love.
These are the two Greek words that is used
- Only a few people qualify as objects of your personal love whereas all mankind are to be the objects of your "impersonal love," MAT 5:43-45; LUK 6:20-38.
MAT 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.'
MAT 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you
MAT 5:45 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
And this is the passage we closed with last time.
LUK 6:20 And turning His gaze on His disciples, He {began} to say, "Blessed {are} you {who are} poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
LUK 6:21 "Blessed {are} you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed {are} you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
LUK 6:22 "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.
LUK 6:23 "Be glad in that day, and leap {for joy,} for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.
LUK 6:24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.
LUK 6:25 "Woe to you who are well fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe {to you} who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
LUK 6:26 "Woe {to you} when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets.
LUK 6:27 "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
LUK 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
LUK 6:29 "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.
LUK 6:30 "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.
LUK 6:31 "And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way.
LUK 6:32 "And if you love those who love you, what credit is {that} to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
LUK 6:33 "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is {that} to you? For even sinners do the same.
LUK 6:34 "And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is {that} to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same {amount.}
LUK 6:35 "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil {men.}
LUK 6:36 "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
LUK 6:37 "And do not judge and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.
LUK 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
By the way,
For those of you who may say, well this passage is not for us, it is the future dispensation when the kingdom of God is on earth, the Millennial reign.
Well, you have a problem if you think that.
Because in the Millennial reign, there will not be believers who hunger as LUK 6:21 says because Christ will be on the throne and there will be universal prosperity.
LUK 6:21 "Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
In the Millennial reign, there will not be believers who are ostracized as Luk 6:22 says because Christ will be ruling.
LUK 6:22 "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.
This passage is not to serve as a cop-out for those who use dispensationalism to justify their rejection of a doctrinal concept.
By that I mean;
When they don’t like to obey a certain principle of doctrine, they will justify themselves by saying it is not from the Church-age.
This reveals their motivation and their lack of love for TLJC.
This passage is dealing with the mental attitude we should all have if we possess the mind of Christ.
So, Point 6 again, Only a few people qualify as objects of your personal love whereas all mankind is to be the objects of your "impersonal love,"
- Personal love is designed for interaction with a few. Impersonal love is designed to benefit the human race; JOH 3:16.
Personal love is conditional, impersonal love is unconditional.
- Personal love creates weaknesses, you bring your own problems into any personal relationship, as well as the problems of the one you love. (Double trouble)
The problems, shortcomings, and faults of two people are combined and multiplied by personal love.
This is why two people should become mature before they marry another member of the human race because when you get married, you have double-trouble, his and hers.
1CO 7:27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
1CO 7:28 But if you should marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin should marry, she has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.
Personal love can bring in subjectivity and mental attitude sins of jealousy, self-pity, and bitterness.
Personal love in the human race is complicated with unpredictable problems that personal love cannot control.
- Personal love is never stronger than the integrity of those involved in the relationship whereas impersonal-unconditional love is the integrity that alone can strengthen, stabilize personal love.
The most important function of impersonal-unconditional love is the control of your own mental attitude.
- Personal love may lead to compromise the norms and standards and values of the individual.
This is when you do things that are in direct violation of the word of God but you justify them because you say, "Well, we're in love."
Whereas, Impersonal-unconditional love never compromises its virtue and its integrity.
In fact, the only time "brotherly love" has true character and integrity is when it is the result of impersonal-unconditional love.
- In 1Co 13:13, impersonal love is proclaimed the ultimate Christian virtue.
1CO 13:13 But now abide faith [FRD], hope [confidence or SSE], love [agape or virtue-love], these three; but the greatest of these is agape love.
This is why impersonal love is commanded and why personal love is optional.
1CO 13:13 But now abide faith [FRD], hope [confidence or SSE], love [agape or virtue-love], these three; but the greatest of these is impersonal-unconditional love.
The greatest of these is impersonal-unconditional love.
Why?
Because As a member of the human race you can actually resolve every problem in your life with impersonal-unconditional love.
Impersonal-unconditional love gives the believer a relaxed mental attitude.
Impersonal-unconditional love does not think with evil thoughts, 1Co 13:5.
1CO 13:5 Impersonal-unconditional love does not act unbecomingly; impersonal-unconditional love does not seek its own, impersonal-unconditional love virtue love is not provoked, impersonal-unconditional love does not take into account a wrong suffered,
The primary reason why God gave impersonal-unconditional love to the human race was to solve problems.
- Personal love is virtue-dependent, hinging on the virtue of impersonal-unconditional love which represents the highest degree of integrity the soul can attain.
- Impersonal-unconditional love also produces independence by being spiritually self-sustained.
A believer with impersonal-unconditional love does not rely on the object of his love for strength and support.
He is sustained by the Bible doctrine in his own soul.
The believer who, over an extended period of time, learns to apply doctrine can solve or cope with the problems of personal love and maintain a marvelous relationship with others.
He functions consistently whether faced with hostility or admiration, or antagonism with others.
Why is this true?
- Answer - Because impersonal love does not depend on emotional stimulation or attraction.
The individual cannot be manipulated by flattery or approbation.
This is the genuine and honorable independence of the believer who is spiritually self-sustaining.
He does not depend on the advice of others or on a pastor's counseling.
Bible doctrine in his own soul gives him the strength and wisdom to live his own life before the Lord.
Although genuinely humble and teachable, he is not controlled by what anyone else thinks, says, or does.
Now, remember that the Lord said in;
JOH 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Why is this called a NEW commandment?
The reason is this love is impersonal-unconditional love that requires the omnipotence of God the Holy Spirit enabling the believer to love - impossible with man, but possible with God.
TLJC loved the disciples with impersonal unconditional love.
And the reason why it must be impersonal is because some Christians are admirable while others are among the most arrogant self-righteous, obnoxious, people on the face of the earth.
Even a wonderful, mature, believer can have a personality, background, lifestyle, or combination of interests that makes him utterly incompatible with you.
But "brotherly love" demands that you love all believers and treat them as you would the Lord.
MAT 25:40 "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, {even} the least {of them,} you did it to Me."
Obviously, your exclusive personal love cannot be given to rude, arrogant, believers.... nor should you burn up your nervous energy trying to do the impossible, which is "love all Christians” with a personal love."
The only love you can possess for most individuals is based not on their weaknesses or incompatibility with you but on the strength of your own character.
Through " impersonal-unconditional love" your "brotherly love" toward everyone will be basically the same.
It will be manifested by courtesy, thoughtfulness, sensitivity to the feelings of others, including tolerance and flexibility in non-essential areas of disagreement or dispute.
Such attitudes can be consistently maintained toward any believer regardless of how incompatible your personalities may be.
Real virtue-love is not hypocritical or self-righteous.
ROM 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
Impersonal-unconditional love is not an artificial emotionless facade but rather a gracious attitude consistent with the doctrine in your soul.
The policy of impersonal-unconditional-
love is simple "integrity toward all."
This is the love that honorably represents Christ in the devil's world.
The key to this virtue-love is when you as a believer priest have personal love for God for that is where real virtue begins.
You do not begin by adjusting to mankind.
You begin by adjusting to the Justice of God.
In our term book we describe it as;
Adjusting to the Justice of God reveals that all blessing or discipline from God to us must be filtered through His justice.
As goes the justice of God, so goes blessing or cursing to us.
You do not solve the problems with people and interaction with mankind from psychology or philosophy or any other new gimmick.
It has to come from your personal love for God.
If you're going to have true virtue it has to come from truth, which is learned from your "personal love for God."
It is only "personal love for God" that will ever develop the "inexpressible happiness" of 1Pe 1:8.
1PE 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1PE 1:4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
1PE 1:5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1PE 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
1PE 1:7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1PE 1:8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
Without "personal love for God," the believer will react to injustice and unfair treatment.
And the very fact that you have reacted to some injustice or some unfair treatment means that you have not yet acquired this love from virtue.
Apart from occupation with the person of Christ, the believer is going to react to things in life.
He's going to react to man.
He's going to discover man makes him miserable.
Once you react - you enter into the cosmic system.
People make you unhappy.
People disappoint you.
People upset you, etc.
A stranger can cut in front of you on the road and make you unhappy
Why?
Because your happiness or unhappiness depends upon how people treat you and therefore can depend upon a stranger.
However, your happiness and unhappiness depends upon your relationship with the Lord.
If you do not have "personal love for God" that means you will not have impersonal-unconditional love for man.
And anyone can get the best of you and make you miserable.
That means a husband or a wife, children, strangers, or friends, etc.
Anyone can disappoint you and make you unhappy.
And life is too short to be running around reacting to everything in life.
Reacting in life is simply the result of preoccupation with self.
"Arrogant subjectivity" divorces people from reality.
They lose any wisdom they have.
Discernment and common sense go.
Happiness depends upon virtue manufactured from your personal love for God.
All of you have had some experience of some mal-adjustment in life.
You married the wrong person.
You have friends that have disappointed you.
You have children that have disappointed you.
You have parents that have disappointed you.
You have had some misery from it simply because you lack virtue.
For virtue overcomes all these things.
Virtue depends upon your personal love for God and the doctrine in your very own soul.
Virtue does not depend on what others might say or think.
Happiness depends upon whether or not you have virtue.
Happiness does not depend on your success or you fame, your money, etc.
This impersonal-unconditional love" manifests itself by the integrity of the subject exceeding the repulsiveness and obnoxiousness of the object.
We are now ready for the reason of the importance of the chorus line.
You are about to see why we spent so much time on Greek drama and the importance of learning about your Chorus line.
2PE 1:8 For if these qualities are yours
What qualities?
The Chorus Line.
- Virtue
- Knowledge.
- Self-control
- Perseverance
- Godliness
- Brotherly love
- Impersonal-unconditional love
2PE 1:8 For if these qualities [the dramatic seven chorus line] are yours
The verb to be translated "are yours" is the pres-act-part of huparcho which means to keep on existing or to keep on being present.
2PE 1:8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing,
“are increasing”is the pres-act-part of pleanazo which means to keep increasing, or to keep on existing in abundance.
Then Peter says;
2PE 1:8 they [the dramatic seven chorus line] render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
They render is the pres-act-ind of kathistemi which means to prevent.
The dramatic chorus line will prevent you from being neither useless (ineffective) nor unfruitful (unproductive).
They render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Kathistemi is futuristic present tense = If the dramatic seven chorus line is presently in you it will lead you to a future action, which is the fact that you will neither be useless nor unfruitful.
The active voice, the dramatic seven chorus line produces the action of the verb which is to prevent you from being useless and unfruitful.
The indicative mood is used for a dogmatic statement of fact.
So, this verse is saying that the dramatic seven chorus line will prevent you from being useless and unfruitful.
Useless is the adjective argous which means useless, lazy, inefficient, inactive.
(Worse thing to say to a wife – you are useless a wife.)
It means to shun the labor which one ought to perform which is a procrastinator; PRO 19:15.
PRO 19:15 Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger.
In the spiritual realm, a spiritual procrastinator.
They will make you neither useless nor unproductive.
Akarpous means that the believer doesn't produce what he ought to produce.
In 1Co 14:14 it means to contribute nothing to the support and comfort of others.
1CO 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
In Mat 13:22, it means that the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches cause the believer to become unfruitful.
MAT 13:22 "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
In Jud 1:12, those who are minus water or Bible doctrine are those considered to be akarpos which is without fruit.
JUD 1:12 These men are those who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted;
So far, the passage is saying;
2PE 1:8 For if these qualities [the dramatic seven chorus line] are yours and keep on increasing [keep your momentum going], they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now what does it mean to be useless or unfruitful?
Tune in next time.