Developing a Heart to Understand!

[JLB]

“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Matthew 13:18-23

• But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Building a strong foundation of understanding within us, within our heart, involves “applying ourselves” to understanding, to study, to purposely involve ourselves in the diligent practice of studying to show ourselves approved unto God… that we would be a competent co-laborer with Christ that needs not to be ashamed of what we teach.


So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
And find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:2-5


Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV


Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV


Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 NASB



In this thread I want to show the importance of understanding biblical words as they relate to building a solid foundation on which we grow up into Christ; becoming a complete man or woman of God, according to the pattern of His Son.


By understanding the meaning of key biblical words and terms, we will be able to accurately understand the doctrine of Christ.


Misunderstanding a word could lead us to misunderstand the doctrine of Christ.


Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9



JLB

 

[JLB]

Believe: - pisteuō Strongs # G4100 - verb


The KJV translates Strong's G4100 in the following manner: believe(239x), commit unto (4x), commit to (one's) trust (1x), be committed unto (1x), be put in trust with (1x), be commit to one's trust(1x), believer (1x).


I. to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in
A. of the thing believed
i. to credit, have confidence
B. in a moral or religious reference
i. used in the NT of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul
ii. to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving faith
iii. mere acknowledgment of some fact or event: intellectual faith
II. to entrust a thing to one, i.e. his fidelity
A. to be intrusted with a thing


Believe carries the meaning of obey… and is used interchangeably with obey in the Bible.


He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36 NKJV


He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36 NASB



It is noteworthy to understand that unbelief and disobedience are the same Greek word and are used interchangeably in the Bible based on translation.


Example: Unbelief = Disobedience


Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Hebrews 4:6 KJV


Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, Hebrews 4:6 NKJV


The word “believe” as it relates to Christ and His gospel, commandments and doctrine should be understood as follows.

Believe - Trust, commit to obey.





JLB

 

[JLB]

Continuing with the concept of developing a heart to understand is the word grace. Understanding the word grace and what it means to our salvation and how we live our lives on earth is of the utmost importance.


Grace is the God-given ability to do what we can not do, without it; grace is the power granted to us unmerited (unearned) to believe and therefore obey His Gospel, His Commandments and His doctrine.


Grace is the Holy Spirit; the Spirit of grace.


Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
Hebrews 10:28-29


Without the Spirit of grace, the Holy Spirit, we would not be able to believe and therefore obey the Gospel; obey the truth


Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
1 Peter 1:22-23

• Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit…having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.

It is through the Spirit we are enabled to obey the Gospel.


Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:5-6


It is by the Spirit we are born again; born of the Spirit of grace.


For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, Ephesians 2:8


Without the grace of God, the enabling power of the Spirit, we are helpless to obey our Lord.


And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, Hebrews 5:9


Grace, the Spirit of grace, teaches us…


For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, Titus 2:11-12



Grace is not a license to sin, whereby we as Christian’s can live a life of sin and God just kinda ignores it.


Grace is the living power of the Spirit, to live our lives being enabled to practice righteousness, rather than being a slave to sinful cravings of our flesh.


It all begins at the cross, by the blood Jesus Christ shed for us, so that we can be forgiven and cleansed of sin, and having been given a new nature, one that is compatible with the Holy Spirit to dwell in.





JLB

 

[for_his_glory]

Very purposeful thread as it's all about God's grace given to us through that of His only begotten Son Christ Jesus that all who believes and obeys His commands will have eternal life with the Father.

 

[Dorothy Mae]

JLB Grace is the living power of the Spirit, to live our lives being enabled to practice righteousness, rather than being a slave to sinful cravings of our flesh.

This is the grace we need to seek once the entry into His service begins, once we have become His.

How do obtain grace? The scriptures tell us. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore…”

Grace goes beyond believing but is available to help us make choices in our interactions with people that reflect that which pleases him (righteousness.)

 

[JLB]

JLB Grace is the living power of the Spirit, to live our lives being enabled to practice righteousness, rather than being a slave to sinful cravings of our flesh.

This is the grace we need to seek once the entry into His service begins, once we have become His.

How do obtain grace? The scriptures tell us. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore…”

Grace goes beyond believing but is available to help us make choices in our interactions with people that reflect that which pleases him (righteousness.)

Amen. Well said!




JLB

 

[JLB]

Continuing with the theme of “developing a heart to understand”, I would like to introduce another ”building block” to our foundation of understanding, in this thread.


This “building block”, or concept is word is repent.

Repent is the command of the gospel that must be obeyed in order for a person to become ”saved“. Repent is the call of God’s kingdom to all nations for the obedience of faith.


Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: Romans 16:25-26

• according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

Again, I want to re-emphasize the importance of understanding key biblical words and terms, (understanding from God’s perspective; the way He understands…) as they relate to building a solid foundation of understanding on which we grow up into Christ; having our mind renewed unto the mind of Christ, thus becoming a complete man or woman of God, according to the pattern of His Son.


When we repent, we are making an eternal commitment to serve Jesus Christ as (our) Lord. Repent is the way by which we are transferred out of the domain (dominion) of darkness, more specifically the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God; the kingdom of His dear Son.


He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. Colossians 1:13

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. Colossians 1:13 NIV




Repent, as it relates to the Gospel, the Gospel of our salvation, simple means; turn to God.

If we are called to “turn to God”, then by default we are called to “turn away from Satan as our lord.

• The way we repent is to confess Jesus Christ as Lord.

To confess Jesus as Lord, or to call upon the name of the Lord, is to declare or confess with our mouth Jesus Christ as Lord; our Lord we have committed to submit to obey as the King of the kingdom of God.


Again, this is an eternal commitment to submit ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ; in order to be transferred into the kingdom of God from the domain of darkness; from Satan’s kingdom to the a kingdom of God.

• if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Romans 10:9-13

• For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

To be continued…




JLB