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Archive for the ‘Faith’ Category

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, [Jesus] expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. – Luke 24:27

Two travelers on the way to a town called Emmaus, seven (7) miles from Jerusalem, picked up a stranger. Though unrecognized until the last, he took them through the Bible from a new perspective — Christ in every Book, Letter, and Psalm. “Did not our hearts burn within us!”, they said!1

The Bible really is a book about just one man — All the apostles saw it that way. Here is just one (1) example:

Paul, quoting a very familiar passage about Adam and Eve but with a new twist:

“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh … I speak concerning Christ and the church.” – Ephesians 5:30-32

Neither we nor Jesus are any longer just ourselves, but eternally linked in covenant like a husband and wife! Him taking my sinfulness, me taking his righteousness,2 becoming one new man,3 the last Adam4 (male and female 5). We, together, approach God with nothing owing and all debts paid, God’s grace working is us (Christ and me) in all circumstances to bring about our good and God’s glory.6

Wow, what a book, what a savior, what a God, what a privilege!

— fritz@langgang.com
1 – Luke 24:32
2 – 2nd Corinthians 5:21
3 – One new man (not referring to Jew and Gentile but us and Christ) – Ephesians 2:14-15
4 – Last Adam – 1st Corinthians 15:45
5 – Adam, male and female – Genesis 1:27
6 – See Post from July 11, 2010 – “Where is God’s Blessing”

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“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;…For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ…for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” – 2nd Peter 1:5,8,10b (KJV)

Peter tells believers their faith, as much like his and as good as it was, needs additives1 , and first on the list is “Virtue”.

The word Peter used literally meant “excellence”, having with it the notion of living up to full potential. It was applied by ancient Greeks to things like a job well done or something in tip-top shape.2

Those who have faith in Christ should strive for excellence in what they do. It is our calling3 , it is what we are to think about4 , and it is seen in Jesus5

Adding excellence to how we live will keep us from being unfruitful and barren, and will keep us from falling.

Today’s focus: “How can I add excellence to what I am doing right now?”

1 – “Faith Additives…”
2 Wikipedia
3 2nd Peter 1:3
4 Philippians 4:8
5 1st Peter 2:9 “praises” (KJV/NIV) uses the same Greek word.

– Fritz

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I enjoy the old Monk TV series. In one episode police chief Stottlemeyer is told by Mr. Monk that a guy still in a coma for four weeks is the perpetrator of a bombing the day before.

In spite of the airtight alibi and in spite of being ridiculed by his peers, Chief Stottlemeyer goes on record choosing the coma guy as the primary suspect. Adrian Monk had always been proven right in the past and, as difficult as it was for even himself to believe, the Chief puts his reputation on the line.

The Bible sometimes tells us things that don’t fit our paradigm and we have a choice to make. Men and women of faith believe the Bible not because they are scientifically uninformed, uneducated, or stupid but because the Bible has turned out to have been right every time it has been able to be tested.

Believe is a choice one makes based on the evidence and who is presenting it.

Mr. Monk was right, by the way; the police chief’s choice was a good one!

– Fritz

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