> General Discussions
The Progression to Charity
Redbird:
Yes, God loves us regardless of who we are today, because he knows what we are to become....I heard someone once say,
"That we are who we have been waiting for".
TODAY IS YESTERDAY'S TOMMORROW
Love, Lisa
hillsbororiver:
Darren & all that responded,
Thanks for your input, I am currently seeing this as an outlined progression because growing in His Spirit first requires the gift of faith in the Truth that is our Lord.
Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Once faith(4102) is is given to us we have the foundation to put in place virtue(703), knowledge(1108), temperence(1466), patience(5281), godliness(2150), brotherly kindness(5360), charity(26).
G4102
πίστις
pistis
pis'-tis
From G3982; persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
G703
ἀρέτη
aretē
ar-et'-ay
From the same as G730; properly manliness (valor), that is, excellence (intrinsic or attributed): - praise, virtue.
G1108
γνῶσις
gnōsis
gno'-sis
From G1097; knowing (the act), that is, (by implication) knowledge: - knowledge, science.
G1466
ἐγκράτεια
egkrateia
eng-krat'-i-ah
From G1468; self control (especially continence): - temperance.
G5281
ὑπομονή
hupomonē
hoop-om-on-ay'
From G5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).
G2150
εὐσέβεια
eusebeia
yoo-seb'-i-ah
From G2152; piety; specifically the gospel scheme: - godliness, holiness.
G5360
φιλαδελφία
philadelphia
fil-ad-el-fee'-ah
From G5361; fraternal affection: - brotherly love (kindness), love of the brethren.
G26
ἀγάπη
agapē
ag-ah'-pay
From G25; love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.
His Peace and Wisdom to you,
Joe
joyful1:
Joe--
What do you believe Jesus was getting at in the verse that follows?
Luke 18:16-17
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
I see them (the children) possessing that pure, completely trusting, innocent LOVE....that I once took to be "agape" love, and indeed it may be...I just don't know....
but my point is this: if we are to RECEIVE the KINGDOM of GOD AS A LITTLE CHILD....we must be LIKE them in some way....what WAY would that be? ???
Joyce
hillsbororiver:
Hi Joyce,
I believe this is more an admonishment to come to Him without preconceived notions and to approach our spiritual development with a childlike dependence on Him. As a young child eagerly learns at the feet of his/her parents we should be learning and desirous of His Wisdom in the same manner.
As a child we need milk for growth, as believers we need the milk of His Word to grow and add to our faith, give a toddler steak and he will either starve or choke on it.
Christ is speaking how we first enter into the process of spiritually growing into His Kingdom with faith (in Him) as the foundation, does a small child display virtue? Or knowledge? Temperence? Patience? Perhaps in tiny doses but not consistantly. They certainly can display love to their provider and caretaker, their nurturer but can a child have a true empathy for humanity at this stage of their development? They do not have the knowledge or life experience to draw from to attain this yet.
The apostles for the most part knew they had little to no knowledge and were childlike in their devotion to Jesus, the Pharisees thought they knew it all or enough to get by without Him.
Remember the apostles spent over 3 years with Jesus as He ministered, where were they when Jesus was being beaten and tortured, were they displaying agape love, willing to suffer with our Lord as He suffered because of their undying love for Him?
No, they ran like children. They were on their way to the Kingdom but surely had not arrived yet.
Once they received the Spirit at Pentecost they truly began to grow spiritually, but not suddenly, not overnight, read the Acts of the Apostles and you can see rapid development but not a total transformation. Their growth was also in steps and stages.
His Peace and Wisdom to you,
Joe
joyful1:
Thanks, Joe--
I'd never quite looked at it that way before! Sorry if I am taking up too much time on the BASICS!! I know that I have so long a road to walk....your patience and the patience of all of those here is greatly appreciated!
Joyce :)
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version