So many interesting thoughts from all of you!
Kat, "it's a process" (sure is!) thanks for giving us 1Pet 2:2...
add to this also:
Isaiah 28: 9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. Kewl, ey? Answers: Those whom He is putting through the process, hmmm? Those that no longer need the milk but are able to chew a little meat (a mature action...) walk the walk, hmmm?
GOOD ONE! HA!
Chuck... "it's wacky, it's a conundrum..." And I'm with you!
And... it's a
paradox and a
dichotomy! Paradox: [I'll pick definition #3 in an online dictionary]: one (as a person, situation, or action) having seemingly contradictory qualities or phases.
Dichotomy: [Picking definition #4 of an online dictionary]: something with seemingly contradictory qualities.
I personally consider God dichotomous and paradoxal for several reasons. Just a few: He is obviously has both male and female in "Him" yet He apparently per His Word emphasizes only the [male] father/sonship part. Also, He is
Spirit yet comes down to man's level in His Word relating that He has rather fleshly "
emotions". Finally, He creates us (all) for eventual union with Him, the chosen first, and we really cannot do a good thing without His indwelling spirit, yet we are supposed to
try to reach His prize.
THIS IS OUR GOD!!! HOW CAN WE KNOW HIM?? RECEIVE KNOWLEDGE?? GROW??
I love Rocky's comments, sort of like, well why then do atheists perform some phenomenal good acts as fruits of His spirit?
WHO KNOWS? ONLY GOD!Eccl 3: 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.Chuck is right-on, all for His glory... and ours eventually as well as we are His family and He loves us.... ALL, each one, ALL.
Isaiah 43: 7b I created them to bring glory to me. I formed them and made them." I just can't put it all together in my head. To me, God is somewhere in like the 16th dimension... so I kind of wonder about Him a lot in my head.... and trust Him a lot.
I think of things like.... well when all is said and done.... when God is all in all....
how can there be the fruits of the spirts, how can there be love and peace, etc., when there no longer is any evil or contrast?? I DON'T KNOW!
But I trust there WILL BE some kind of all-enduring spiritual GOODNESS that TRULY IS GOD, and somehow we will
ALL be able to partake.
The best for last, Arcturus:
We need His power and Spirit to be able to obey and follow Him. We only have the conception in us of His Spirit.Oh happy day to come,
Joy,
Janice