Paul says in Galations 2:20
I am crucified with4957 Christ:5547 nevertheless1161 I live;2198 yet not3765 I,1473 but1161 Christ5547 liveth2198 in1722 me:1698 and1161 the life which3739 I now3568 live2198 in1722 the flesh4561 I live2198 by1722 the faith4102 of(3588) the3588 Son5207 of God,2316 who loved25 me,3165 and2532 gave3860 himself1438 for5228 me.1700
The first death that we must experience before we qualify for the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed3107 and2532 holy40 is he that hath2192 part3313 in1722 the3588 first4413 resurrection:386 on1909 such5130 the3588 second1208 death2288 hath2192 no3756 power,1849 but235 they shall be2071 priests2409 of God2316 and2532 of Christ,5547 and2532 shall reign936 with3326 him846 a thousand5507 years.2094
Rom 8:9 But1161 ye5210 are2075 not3756 in1722 the flesh,4561 but235 in1722 the Spirit,4151 if so be that1512 the Spirit4151 of God2316 dwell3611 in1722 you.5213 Now1161 if any man1536 have2192 not3756 the Spirit4151 of Christ,5547 he3778 is2076 none3756 of his.848
By grace (chastisement) are we saved through faith.Eph 2:8 For1063 by grace5485 are2075 ye saved4982 through1223 faith;4102 and2532 that5124 not3756 of1537 yourselves:5216 it is the3588 gift1435 of God:2316
The fulness of truth (Christ), the Spirit of God and the experience of evil is what the Lord uses to mature His sons and daughters.
Heb 6:1 Therefore1352 leaving863 the3588 principles746 of the3588 doctrine3056 of Christ,5547 let us go on5342 unto1909 perfection;5047 not3361 laying2598 again3825 the foundation2310 of repentance3341 from575 dead3498 works,2041 and2532 of faith4102 toward19096 God.
Because you have had your senses exercised to know both good and evil;the first step to "becoming like God"
Gen 3:22 And the LORD3068 God430 said,559 Behold,2005 the man120 is become1961 as one259 of4480 us, to know3045 good2896 and evil:7451 and now,6258 lest6435 he put forth7971 his hand,3027 and take3947 also1571 of the tree4480, 6086 of life,2416 and eat,398 and live2425 forever:5769
Heb 5:12 For1063 when2532 for1223 the3588 time5550 ye ought3784 to be1511 teachers,1320 ye have2192 need5532 that one teach1321 you5209 again3825 which5101 be the3588 first746 principles4747 of the3588 oracles3051 of God;2316 and2532 are become1096 such as have2192 need5532 of milk,1051 and2532 not3756 of strong meat.4731, 5160
Heb 5:13 For1063 every one3956 that useth3348 milk1051 is unskillfull552 in the word3056 of righteousness:1343 for1063 he is2076 a babe.3516
Heb 5:14 But1161 strong meat4731, 5160 belongeth2076 to them that are of full age,5046 even those who by reason of1223 use1838 have2192 their senses145 exercised1128 to4314 discern1253 both5037 good2570 and2532 evil.2556
Now recieve strong meat, says Paul in the previous verse, but is just recieving the knowledge of "leaving the principals of the doctrine of Christ" and going on to maturity pleasing to God. No way! As a matter of fact scripture says it profits nothing --------
1Co 13:2 And2532 though1437 I have2192 the gift of prophecy,4394 and2532 understand1492 all3956 mysteries,3466 and2532 all3956 knowledge;1108 and2532 though1437 I have2192 all3956 faith,4102 so that5620 I could remove3179 mountains,3735 and1161 have2192 not3361 charity,26 I am1510 nothing.3762
As a matter of fact scripture shows that it can be a curse to many that have it. Knowledge1108 puffeth up,5448 but1161 charity26 edifieth.361(1Cor.8-1b)
With the abundance of revelation given to Paul,he was also given a thorn to protect him from getting puffed up.
2Co 12:7 And2532 lest3363 I should be exalted above measure5229 through the3588 abundance5236 of the3588 revelations,602 there was given1325 to me3427 a thorn4647 in the3588 flesh,4561 the messenger32 of Satan4566 to2443 buffet2852 me,3165 lest3363 I should be exalted above measure.5229
2Co 12:8 For5228 this thing5127 I besought3870 the3588 Lord2962 thrice,5151 that2443 it might depart868 from575 me.1700
2Co 12:9 And2532 he said2046 unto me,3427 My3450 grace5485 is sufficient714 for thee:4671 for1063 my3450 strength1411 is made perfect5048 in1722 weakness.769 Most gladly2236 therefore3767 will I rather3123 glory2744 in1722 my3450 infirmities,769 that2443 the3588 power1411 of Christ5547 may rest1981 upon1909 me.1691
2Co 12:10 Therefore1352 I take pleasure2106 in1722 infirmities,769 in1722 reproaches,5196 in1722 necessities,318 in1722 persecutions,1375 in1722 distresses4730 for Christ's sake:5228, 5547 for1063 when3752 I am weak,770 then5119 am1510 I strong.1415
Bottom line God is love and that is what we must learn and become.
Yes, 08 Knowledge1108 puffeth up,5448 but1161 charity26 edifieth.3618
Mat 25:15 And2532 unto one3739, 3303 he gave1325 five4002 talents,5007 to(1161) another3739 two,1417 and1161 to another3739 one;1520 to every man1538 according2596 to his several2398 ability;1411 and2532 straightway2112 took his journey.589
Any talent that we have is a GIFT and we should never exalt ourselves over others. The talent we have is given by God and He will judge us by what we do with what we where given.
In closing : Nothing is of us and all is of God. From the greatest blessing to the biggest disasterous desructive happening all is of the Lord.
Eph 1:11 In1722 whom3739 also2532 we have obtained an inheritance,2820 being predestinated4309 according2596 to the purpose4286 of him who worketh1754 all things3956 after2596 the3588 counsel1012 of his own848 will:2307
Phi 2:13 For1063 it is2076 God2316 which worketh1754 in1722 you5213 both2532 to will2309 and2532 to do1754 of his5228 good pleasure.2107
I do believe scripture clearly shows us that God consistantly uses evil and the the master tool satan He created to carry and accomplish its purpose in bringing us into completion.
Pro 16:1 The preparations4633 of the heart3820 in man,120 and the answer4617 of the tongue,3956 is from the LORD.4480, 3068
Pro 20:24 Man's1397 goings4703 are of the LORD;4480, 3068 how4100 can a man120 then understand995 his own way?1870
Eph 2:10 For1063 we are2070 his846 workmanship,4161 created2936 in1722 Christ5547 Jesus2424 unto1909 good18 works,2041 which3739 God2316 hath before ordained4282 that2443 we should walk4043 in1722 them
Ecc 3:1 To every3605 thing there is a season,2165 and a time6256 to every3605 purpose2656 under8478 the heaven:8064
Ecc 3:2 A time6256 to be born,3205 and a time6256 to die;4191 a time6256 to plant,5193 and a time6256 to pluck up6131 that which is planted;5193
Ecc 3:3 A time6256 to kill,2026 and a time6256 to heal;7495 a time6256 to break down,6555 and a time6256 to build up;1129
Ecc 3:4 A time6256 to weep,1058 and a time6256 to laugh;7832 a time6256 to mourn,5594 and a time6256 to dance;7540
Ecc 3:5 A time6256 to cast away7993 stones,68 and a time6256 to gather stones together;3664, 68 a time6256 to embrace,2263 and a time6256 to refrain7368 from embracing;4480, 2263
Ecc 3:6 A time6256 to get,1245 and a time6256 to lose;6 a time6256 to keep,8104 and a time6256 to cast away;7993
Ecc 3:7 A time6256 to rend,7167 and a time6256 to sew;8609 a time6256 to keep silence,2814 and a time6256 to speak;1696
Ecc 3:8 A time6256 to love,157 and a time6256 to hate;8130 a time6256 of war,4421 and a time6256 of peace.7965
Mat 4:1 Then5119 was Jesus2424 led up321 of5259 the3588 spirit4151 into1519 the3588 wilderness2048 to be tempted3985 of5259 the3588 devil.1228
And if Mathew 4:1 be the case then 1 John 4:17 is our witness:
Herein1722, 5129 is(3326) our2257 love26 made perfect,5048 that2443 we may have2192 boldness3954 in1722 the3588 day2250 of judgment:2920 because3754 as2531 he1565 is,2076 so2532 are2070 we2249 in1722 this5129 world.2889
Keep enduring, Tim