DIVINE DECREES, PART 13.

GRACE BIBLE CHURCH

PASTOR ROBERT R. MCLAUGHLIN

SUNDAY 10-23-2022

GBIBLE.ORG

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DIVINE DECREES, PART 13.

GREEK DRAMA, PART 4. ACTORS

2PE 1:5-7; ROM 8:31-39; ROM 5:3-4; 2PE 3:11-15.

 

 The Doctrine of the Divine Decrees.

 

We are now ready for the fourth member of the chorus line in 2PE 1:6.

 

So far, we have as our corrected translation;

 

2PE 1:5 Now for this very reason also, making every effort, by means of your doctrine supply [epichoregeo] virtue, and in or with your virtue [epichoregeo-supply] knowledge [gnosis-referring to biblical academic information.

 

 

 

2PE 1:6 and in your knowledge, [gnosis-referring to biblical academic information] supply [epichoregeo], self-control, and in your self-control, supply [epichoregeo] perseverance.

 

And that is where we left off last time.

 

The chorus line that we all have which is about to come up is mentioned in verses 5-7 described in the correct order.

 

They are:

  1. Moral excellence (Virtue).
  2. Knowledge.
  3. Self-control.
  4. Perseverance.
  5. Godliness.
  6. Brotherly kindness.
  7. Love.

We have now begun our fourth member of the chorus line in 2PE 1:6.

 

2PE 1:6 and in your knowledge, [gnosis] biblical academic information] supply [epichoregeo], self-control, and in your self-control, supply [epichoregeo] perseverance.

 

This is the fourth member of you chorus line;

 

Perseverance = the accusative singular feminine noun “hupomonen” meaning patience, endurance, perseverance, or persistence.

 

It actually connotes endurance.

 

It means that in spite of opposition or distractions, you are someone who is not influenced by others.

 

Hupomone also means courageous endurance in spite of all opposition.

 

It includes active and energetic resistance to hostile forces.

 

So, it means to persevere or to stand fast.

 

And therefore;

 

The fourth member of the chorus represents consistency.

 

Your first four members of your chorus line therefore should be;

 

 

 

 

  1. Virtue (includes respect, loyalty, devotion).
  2. Knowledge - perception of doctrine.
  3. Self-control - organized life.
  4. Perseverance - endurance or consistency.

 

Perseverance gives us momentum and progress.

 

The believer who becomes "more than a conqueror" is the believer who endures; ROM 8:31-39.

 

ROM 8:31   What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

 

ROM 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

 

ROM 8:33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;

ROM 8:34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

 

ROM 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

 

ROM 8:36 Just as it is written, "For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

 

ROM 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

 

ROM 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

 

ROM 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Perseverance or endurance only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.

 

When you refuse to quit and wait upon the Lord, you will receive fantastic blessings for doing so.

 

ISA 40:31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

 

Perseverance and self-discipline reveal that it takes a lot of self-control and consistent decisions to come to Bible class or to study doctrine on a daily basis.

 

The road to spiritual maturity is one where you have to keep driving.

 

You have to keep on keeping on.

 

In fact,

 

This word is used for the ability of the believer to persevere when being pressured, Jam 1:12.

 

Jam 1:12 Happy is the one who perseveres under trial: for once he has been approved he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

 

It is also used in LUK 8:15 for those believers who stick with doctrine in spite of all the pressure the kingdom of darkness tries to put on doctrinal believers.

 

Turn to LUK 8:15"And the {seed} in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

 

Our Lord also used this word in LUK 21:19 when He said "by your endurance YOU will gain your lives."

 

In other words, not quitting.

 

Here’s a treat for all of you about “not quitting.”

 

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile but you have to sigh,

 

When care is pressing you down a bit -

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns.

As everyone of us sometimes learns.

And many a fellow turns about when he

Might have won had he stuck it out.

 

Don't give up though the pace seems slow.

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than it seems

To a faint and faltering man.

 

Often the struggler has given up when he

Might have captured the victor's cup;

And he learned too late when the night came down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

 

 

 

 

Success is failure turned inside out -

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And when you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems afar;

 

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

 

There are so many distractions and so-called good reasons not to continue with the plan of God and the intake of doctrine and therefore, perseverance is desperately needed.

 

Perseverance is the attitude of willing to be victorious, and the will to excel are the things that endure.

 

These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur.

 

Notice how the apostle Paul used this same word in ROM 5:3-4, since we are in the book of Romans.

 

ROM 5:3 And not only this but we also delight in our tribulations knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

 

ROM 5:4 and perseverance proven character: and proven character hope or confidence

 

Trials, temptations, disappointments -- all these are helps instead of hindrances, if one uses them rightly.

 

They not only test the fiber of character but strengthen it.

 

Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.

 

In ROM 15:4, Paul also used this word to remind us about what the Old Testament saints had to endure.

 

ROM 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

 

ROM 15:5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus:

 

So, this is a word that is used for not quitting and enduring the pressure that comes from the devil's world.

 

In 2C0 6:4, the apostle Paul used this word as proof of the ministry when he said;

 

2CO 6:4  "But in everything commending ourselves as servants of God in much endurance. in afflictions it hardships in distresses."

 

Please notice how perseverance and endurance are closely related.

 

If you are ever going to be a part of a ministry from God, you must learn to endure.

 

So, 2PE 1:6 says;

 

2PE 1:6  and in your knowledge, [gnosis-referring to bi

academic information] [epichoregeo], self-control, and in your self control, [epichoregeo] perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness;

 

 

 

Now, The fifth member of the chorus line is godliness which is the accusative singular feminine noun from eusebeia which is eusebeian, a technical term for living the spiritual life.

 

It is a word that all of you need to be crystal clear on so that it will be very beneficial to your spiritual life.

 

This Greek word eusebeia is mistranslated in the English language "godliness."

 

One of the great Greek scholars in this generation is a man called Professor Gunther Bornkamm of Hiedelberg University who defines eusebeia as: "Christian faith and life, conduct in relationship to God, and manner of life."

 

In other words,

 

It does not mean godliness; it has to so with the Christian life or the spiritual life of the believer.

 

Professor Bornkamm goes on to say, in the pastoral epistles.

 

Eusebeia denotes a particular manner of life and then he said that eusebeia actually denotes the spiritual life of the believer.

 

One word and this one word actually is used in connection with the spiritual life.

 

And notice how much more sense it makes and how clearer the word of God is when eusebeia is translated the spiritual life.

 

And so let me read to you how the original language would sound.

 

For example, in 1TI 6:3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to the spiritual life,

 

1TI 6:4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,

 

1TI 6:5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that  living  the spiritual life, is a means of gain.

 

1TI 6:6 But the spiritual life actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.

 

In 1TI 6:11 But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, the spiritual life, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

Now, This spiritual life, eusebeia only functions by epignosis or metabolized doctrine circulating in your soul.

 

The trouble here is that if we were left to our own devices we would come up with a lot of different ideas as to what constitutes godliness.

 

Some people would say it means to be sweet.

 

Others would say it means to have brotherly love.

 

Or it refers to someone who goes to church all of the time.

 

Someone who looks up in the sky, and contemplates infinity.

 

Or it means that you always smile and say, "Praise the Lord."

However, what does it mean?

 

What is meant by eusebeia or the spiritual life?

 

Let’s summarize.

 

  1. Godliness is derived from the Greek word EUSEBEIA which connotes the duty and responsibility of the royal priesthood to God under operation grace.

 

  1. Godliness or the spiritual life is related to our Lord's residence in the PPOG for His life, 1Ti 3:16.

 

1Ti 3:16 And by common confession great is the mystery of the spiritual life for the believer: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Beheld by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.

 

  1. Godliness or the spiritual life refers to residence, function, and momentum inside of the PPOG for your life.

 

This is synonymous with experiential sanctification.

 

  1. Therefore, in the analogy of 1Ti 4:7-8, godliness or the spiritual life, is compared to physical exercise.

 

  1. Godliness or the spiritual life is related to your perception of Bible doctrine, Tit 1:1.

 

TIT 1:1 Paul, a bond servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the doctrine of those elected by God and the epignosis knowledge of doctrine which is pertaining to the spiritual life.

 

There is no godliness or spiritual life without spiritual metabolism.

  1. Godliness or what you do in the spiritual life is also indestructible, 2Pe 3:11-14.

 

2PE 3:11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

 

2PE 3:12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

 

2PE 3:13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

 

2PE 3:14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,

 

Everything outside of the PPOG will eventually be destroyed.

 

But anything developed in the PPOG you take with you forever into eternity.

 

As 2PE 3:11 says Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, or living the spiritual life.

 

  1. Godliness is the Christian way of life in the PPOG, 2Pe 1:3-6.

 

2PE 1:3 seeing that His divine power has graciously given to us everything pertaining to life [logistical grace] and godliness or the spiritual life, [how?] through the epignosis doctrine of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

 

2PE 1:4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

 

2PE 1:5 Now for this very reason also, making every effort, by means of your doctrine supply [epichoregeo] virtue, and in or with your virtue [epichoregeo-supply] knowledge [gnosis-referring to biblical academic information].

 

2Pe 1:6 and in your knowledge, [gnosis-referring to biblical academic information] [epichoregeo], self control, and in your self control, [epichoregeo] perseverance [endurance or consistency], and in your perseverance, godliness [living the spiritual life];

 

Your first five members of your chorus line therefore should be;

 

 

  1. Virtue (includes respect, loyalty, devotion).
  2. Knowledge - perception of doctrine.
  3. Self-control - organized life.
  4. Perseverance - endurance or consistency.
  5. Godliness - living the spiritual life;

 

2PE 1:7 and in your godliness, or living the spiritual life, [epichoregeo, supply or furnish] brotherly kindness,

 

Brotherly kindness is the sixth member of the chorus line which is the accusative singular feminine noun Philadelphia meaning brotherly love.

 

And, of course you know;

 

Philadelphia represents the city of brotherly love.

 

Now "brotherly love" is one of the most important functions in the spiritual life.

 

Without it, you will never be happy or have capacity in life.

 

"Brotherly love" is not this phony type of love where everyone runs around calling each other brother this or sister that.

 

And it's not standing up and turning around to tell people you love them in church.

 

It is not a stereo-type Christian.

 

What is the stereo-type Christian?

 

 

The Stereo Type Christian allows his old sin nature to rule his soul as a counterfeit spiritual nature which produces pseudo-spirituality.

 

By pseudo spirituality, I am referring to the carnal believer or the stereo-type Christian.

 

Let’s notice some principles concerning the stereo-type Christian:

 

  1. (All The stereo-type Christian is a believer filled with the mental attitude of fear, worry, anxiety, and bitterness; Heb 12:15.

 

Are you a stereo-type believer?

 

  1. The stereo-type Christian also tortures himself with self-induced misery especially in the realm of fear, which the includes worry and anxiety, and guilt and condemnation.

What about you?

 

Are you a stereo-type believer?

 

  1. The stereo-type Christian is also filled with hatred, which includes anger, even violence at times.

 

  1. The stereo-type believer can murder either mentally or physically; 1JO 3:15.

 

1JO 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

 

Are you a stereo-type believer?

 

  1. The stereo-type Christian loves to feel sorry for themselves and fall into sins related to self-pity or sins related to guilt. (Like Jonah; Elijah).

Both with the “I wish I were dead syndrome” as they were filled with so much self-pity and feeling so sorry for themselves that they wanted to die.

 

  1. The stereo-type also gets involved with cleaning up the devil’s world which includes arrogance, pride, jealousy, implacability, bitterness, vindictiveness, and   all motivational sins, and sinful thoughts.

 

  1. The Stereo type Christian is filled with verbal sins which include gossip, maligning, slander, judging, lying, and verbal deception.

 

  1. The Stereo Type Christian often gets involved with partying and usually their sins include chemical sins, sexual sins, criminal sins.

 

  1. Will you be influenced by doctrine and testify of TLJC as a member of the RFOG or will you be influenced by evil and become what 1JO 3:10 calls “a disciple of the devil.”
  2. Doctrine always exposes the plastic pseudo-stereo type Christian who lacks individuality and lays prey for the popular evangelists.

 

Again, after all these first ten principles, I ask you.

 

Are you a stereo-type believer?

 

  1. The stereo-type Christian Loser is someone who personally has believed in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

 

  1. The stereo type Christian Loser is totally ignorant of God's plan even though he is a member of the Royal Family of God, he doesn’t know what to do.

 

  1. The Stereo Type Christian substitutes what he assumes or feels must be God's plan for his life.

 

  1. The Stereo Type Christian concludes that the goal of the Christian life and spirituality is living moral.

 

Are you a stereo-type believer?

 

  1. The Stereo Type Christian assumes that the key to the Christian life is a sweet personality.

 

  1. The Stereo-type Christian has no idea or concept about the plan of God.

 

Much of the love that is found today in churches is phony, hypocritical and insulting to the character and nature of God.

 

If people are coming to church to wait for someone to tell them that they love them then they have no concept as to what church is all about.

 

The church is not a lonely-hearts club.

We are here to learn doctrine.

 

The church is not a "pick up joint" for lonely people who are frustrated with the club scene or who have tried "find-a-mate.com" and have not succeeded.

 

Now, In the perception and metabolization of Bible doctrine, real impersonal love is developed and this is love for all believers.

 

It is an objective, unbiased love that emphasizes the subject who is doing the loving rather than the object.

 

Illustration – When you say "I love you," you love them because of who and what you are.

 

1JO 4:21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother [fellow-believer].

 

Once a believer metabolizes Bible doctrine, they will receive the power and the motivation to love God as well as believers.

 

Believers who are minus Bible doctrine can sing about God, talk about God, and yet not love God at all.

 

Now, notice that 1JO 4:21 says that the one who loves God should love his fellow believer also.

 

The Bible teaches that your love for your fellow believer is to be even greater than your love for members of your family.

 

Why?

 

I didn't invent that.

 

This does not originate with me.

Our Lord laid the ground work for this in I am not against families, they are a part of divine institution #2, and “3 number two and three.

 

Now, in Mat 12:46 While He was still speaking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 

 

The background here is important.

 

Our Lord's mother and brothers apparently came to Him for reasons noted in Mar 3:21.

 

Mar 3:21 And when His own family heard of this [that He claimed to be the Son of God], they went out to take custody of him; for they [members of His family] were saying, He has lost His senses." 

 

His own family, including His mother, thought that He had lost His senses and that He was out of His mind.

They did not come to believe on the Lord and to follow His teachings, they came because they thought He was going nuts and taking this thing a little too serious.

 

In fact, His own family did not believe that he was the Son of God.

 

Joh 7:5 For not even his brothers were believing in Him. 

 

In fact, they did not come to believe in Him until after His resurrection when He appeared to His brother James.

 

Even His mother was mistaken at this particular time.

 

So, in Mat 12:46 While He was still speaking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 

 

Notice that they were standing outside, they didn't want to even come in and listen to Him.

 

This verse also tells us that they didn't want Him to speak to them, they wanted 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." 

 

And it doesn't say "are standing".

 

We have a per-act-ind of the verb hestekasin, and in the perfect tense it means that they have been waiting outside for Him for a long time.

 

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! 

 

TLJC taught that His followers are even closer to Him than His natural family and closet relatives.

 

In fact, We are told that His disciples took the place of His earthly family because they had believed in Him.

 

And so, in verse 50 He says, Mat 12:50 "For whoever does the will of My Father Who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother." 

 

And remember the will of God is summed up in one verse for us in the New Testament; 1Ti 2:4 He wills all men to be saved and to come to the epignosis knowledge of the truth. 

 

  1. Relationship with God must have priority over relationship with people.

 

  1. Relationship with members of the royal family of God must have priority over relationship with family.

 

If you don't believe me than believe the apostle Paul.

 

GAL 6:6 And let the one who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches.

 

Don't worry, we won't even touch this morning but I am   thankful for many of you who do fulfill that doctrinal principle.

 

By the way, giving to the church is not giving to the one who teaches.

 

But let's go on before some of you get the wrong idea.

GAL 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

 

GAL 6:8 For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.

 

GAL 6:9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.

 

GAL 6:10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

 

So, notice the importance of brotherly love.

 

In fact, look at what the apostle John said in 1JO 3.

 

1JO 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

 

1JO 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

 

1JO 3:16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

 

1JO 3:17 But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

 

1JO 3:18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

 

Now what type of love is this brotherly love in 2Pe 1:7?

Well, it is not personal love.

 

Personal love is minus virtue.

 

There is no virtue in personal love.

 

MAT 5:46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax gatherers do the same?

 

You see, There is no virtue involved in loving those who love you, the tax-gathers, the criminals, the unbelievers, do the same.

 

Love that has virtue is love that loves for no personal reasons.

 

Impersonal love requires virtue because the person doing the loving is loving from virtue within, not reasons without.

Personal love is directed toward a few with whom you are compatible, while impersonal love is directed toward all.

 

When you say. "I love you."

 

If you have virtue, then the subject, YOU are emphasized.

 

But if you say, "I love you" and you mean I love your beauty, your personality, your sense of humor, your MONEY.....then there is no virtue in that.

 

Or I love you as your husband because you obey me.

 

There's no virtue in that.

 

Virtue is found in "impersonal love" and a person who has virtue also has a capacity for personal love.

But there is no virtue in personal love toward a human being.

 

Virtue love is found in Rom 5:5.

 

ROM 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the virtue-love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

 

It is the power of God the Holy Spirit which enables the believer to have the virtue needed for "brotherly love."

 

The only personal love that has any real virtue is personal love for God, which is the function of your royal priesthood.

 

All love for God must be personal.

 

 

Virtue love toward God is personal.

Virtue love toward man is impersonal.

 

Personal love toward God is the function of your royal priesthood.

 

Impersonal love toward God is the function of your royal ambassadorship.

 

"Brotherly love" is the function of your royal ambassadorship rather than your priesthood.

 

Your priesthood is personal.

 

Your priesthood is private.

 

Your priesthood is your relationship with God.

Your ambassadorship is your relationship with man.

 

And the only way you can love mankind with virtue is to love all mankind.

 

This requires "impersonal love and virtue" in the one doing the loving.

 

All true motivation in the spiritual life comes from our personal love for TLJC; 2CO 5:14.

 

Personal love for God is motivational virtue.

 

It is mentioned in 2Co 5:14 For the love for Christ motivates us.

 

All true motivation in the spiritual life must be love for Christ.

 

People want to be honored and esteemed.

 

So, their motivation was arrogance.

 

The Stoics (so-called intellectuals) rejected Bible doctrine and biblical teaching but taught that God wants you to perform good deeds and have reverence toward Him.

 

They were legalistic to the core.

 

You cannot love God from your priesthood unless you have metabolized doctrine.

 

You can have great morality and be minus "brotherly kindness."

 

Legalistic believers always persecute, yet they usually are very moral.

 

1JO 2:9 The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother fellow believer is in the darkness until now.

 

1JO 2:10 The one who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

 

1JO 2:11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

 

Or in 1JO 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

 

In 1JO 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

1JO 3:16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

 

1JO 3:17 But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

 

In 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.

 

1JO 4:21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

 

Paul was persecuted by believers and Paul was the greatest believer that ever lived.

 

And these legalistic believers were sincere.

 

They were arrogant and they persecuted Paul, the greatest believer who ever lived.

 

They had no virtue.

 

They had no personal love for God revealed by no metabolized doctrine and no virtue-love toward their fellow believer.

 

They had no "unconditional love" for all mankind.

 

Now, Those with "virtue love" tolerate and love the legalists.

 

They don't love the legalism but they love the legalists.

 

Just like they don’t love prostitution, but they love the prostitute.

 

They don’t love homosexuality, but they love the homosexual.

 

The principle is this:

 

Prin: Whenever we have individuals in our life that we disagree with their lifestyles, do you have true virtue- love toward them, inspite of the way they live, do we still have impersonal love toward them?

 

AndTheir love is revealed by not judging, criticizing, or putting down other believers.

 

In fact, This is where the legalist appears to be the strong Christian when in reality it is the legalist who has the tragic flaw.

 

The legalist always wants to do something for spirituality.

 

He wants to observe some system of works.

 

"Virtue love" or brotherly love offsets the entire concept of legalism.

 

2PE 1:5 Now for this very reason also, making every effort, by means of your doctrine supply [epichoregeo] virtue, and in or with your virtue [epichoregeo-supply] knowledge [gnosis-referring to biblical academic information.

 

2PE 1:6 and in your knowledge, [gnosis-referring to biblical academic information] [epichoregeo], self control, and in your self control, [epichoregeo] perseverance [endurance], and in your perseverance, godliness [spiritual living];

 

2PE 1:7  and in your godliness [or spiritual living], brotherly kindness.,

 

So, let's pick it up at brotherly love next time. )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

 

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