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1. Context: Exhortation not to fall away from the faith.
2. Text: positive reinforcement - persuaded of better things and things that accompany salvation.
- The figure continues from verse 8 - plan that produces good or evil. Our choice.
1. The natural outcropping of being saved. - What God expects of us.
2. Like a tree producing what is nature for it, saints must produce what is natural to them.
3. Be careful to see that what accompanies salvation is of the nature of the salvation which it
accompanies.
1. Fruit of the Spirit
Gal. 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
2. Things in the general category (no law against. . .") NOT RESTRICTRED
a. SANCTIFICATION - what is it? (Heb. 12:14).
14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
KJV = "HOLINESS"
ARE YOU SEEKING HOLINESS?
BE HOLY BECAUSE HE IS HOLY (1 Peter 1:15-16)
We are called to be a Holy Priesthood (1 Peter 2:5)
Holy Nation (1 Peter 2:9)
3. Another Thing in the general category (no law against. . .") NOT RESTRICTRED
b. Unselfishness (Phil. 2:1-4).
2:1-4 If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Another Thing in the general category (no law against. . .") NOT RESTRICTRED)
c. Evangelistic enthusiasm (Acts 4:20; 1 Cor. 9:16).
Acts 4:19-20 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard."
1 Cor. 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.
Another Thing in the general category (no law against. . .") NOT RESTRICTRED)
d. Benevolence (Eph. 4:28; Jas. 1:27).
Eph. 4:28 Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.
Jas 1:27 This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
C. Unnatural products of salvation:
Sin: (1 John 2:1-3).
My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
Specifics:
a. Fornication (1 Cor. 6:18).
1 Cor. 6:18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.
b. Evil Companions (1 Cor. 15:33; 2 Tim. 3:5).
1 Cor. 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."
2 Tim 3:2-7 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
c. Col. 3:8-10 - Things to put off . . .
But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him
People may not understand theology - they can understand our actions
Matt. 23:1-4 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them. "And they tie up heavy loads, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.
1 John 1:17-19 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? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before Him,
Jas. 2:18 But someone may well say, "You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
B. Adorn the doctrine
Rom. 13:14, But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Col. 3:12-15 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Rom. 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
1 Cor. 3:13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.
2 Cor. 13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test?Gal. 6:4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.The emphasis is on the work.
It is his "own" work he must prove.