T. Austin-Sparks on the Local Church

T. Austin-Sparks could be maddening to some at times when it came to his insight and beliefs on the church - universal and local. If it wasn't for his his articles in "A Witness and a Testimony," we may have been left with the assumption Sparks didn't believe there could be a church as required by Jesus Christ.

As far as I've been able to see, in his books, Sparks kept the issue at arms length and revealed the Lord Jesus Christ, while primarily noting what a church wasn't, but not being willing to communicate what it was.

This comes from his understanding that anything he said could, and probably would, be taken out of context and used as a type of blueprint for a "New Testament" church; something he totally opposed.

As mentioned, fortunately he did offer up his thoughts on this in his bi-monthly newsletter, and we have his comments as to how he viewed the vital subject.

Maybe the despair of some of his listeners caused him to move out of his comfort zone. I don't know. But we'll now cover some of the things Sparks so as being essential to their being a local expression of New Testament churches.

First we'll begin with what he heard Christians of his day say on the topic.

Some of these are as follows:

1. A large section of Christians have answered definitely 'NO', and they base this upon what they term 'the total ruin' position. They say that the Church is in unredeemable ruins, and therefore a corporate expression is no longer possible. Of course, they especially relate this to the Church universal, but they bring it very close by arguing that at the end-time everything will be individual. The basis of this is that in Revelation 2-3, where the Lord directs His address "to him that overcometh". Well, that is argument No. 1.

2. Then there are those whose answer is that the only possibility now is an approximate expression of the Church. That is, there can be no full and complete expression, but something comparative, provisional, and partial. There can be some features, and we must build upon some things which we perceive to be in the New Testament. In large instances the major denominations represent this position. Presbyterians base their whole position upon one interpretation of New Testament Church order, as they conceive it. The same is true of Lutherans, Congregationalists, Baptists, Methodists, 'Brethren', etc. For each and all of these the term 'Church' is employed. But it is a concept which is a convenient solution to the problem namely, a partial approximation.

3. Then, there is the answer which is expressed by what is called 'Sublimation'. That is, that the Church is a sublime conception and idea. It is idealistic, and we must live in the abstract realm of a sublime conception and not try to bring that 'down to earth', be too practical and demanding in reality. This answer and interpretation is expressed in the term 'The Church Mystical:' but not practical.

4. There are those who have written off the whole idea of Church, either as impossible or unnecessary. They are definitely Christian Institutions and organizations, but not a Church or churches. To this category belong the Quakers, the Salvation Army, and a vast number of mission halls, and 'Missions.'

5. Finally for our purpose, there are those whose answer is a very positive one! Yes, we must return to the New Testament pattern 'and have New Testament churches!' They believe that the New Testament contains a definite 'blue print' for local churches, and they are committed to 'forming' such wherever possible. Unfortunately, they vary very much as to teachings, emphases, and practices, and some of them are characterized by excesses, abnormalities and exclusiveness.

Well, what are we going to say to all this?

As we see it, all are more or less wrong or right (we underline 'more or less', but we would say that some are totally wrong), because the true nature of the Church has been either lost or lost sight of.

As you can see, Sparks knew there was something in the Church God was after, but also understood a lot had to be cleared out concerning the matter so what was in the heart of God could be brought forth.

Next time we'll look at the attributes Sparks saw as necessary to be a "true" local Church.

The four articles below are the material drawn upon for this series. If you click on them you'll leave this website.

The Church -- Its Nature, Principles And Vocation
The Church -- Its Nature, Principles And Vocation (2)
The Church -- Its Nature, Principles And Vocation (3)
The Church -- Its Nature, Principles And Vocation (4)



Back to T. Austin-Sparks Channel

Lifestyle Channel

While we are zeroed in like a laser on the person of Jesus Christ with this website, issues and learning aren't the only thing of importance, as living and enjoying the Lord is vital a well.

With that in mind, the lifestyle channel will look at and report on things like family, home, gardening, food, entertainment, and many other things that make up our everyday lives.

Articles:

Healthy Lifestyle Equals Longer Life

Diet, Not Pesticides, Major Health Problem Says Scientist

Chocolate Reduces Heart, Stroke Risk

Daycare Bad for Children Says Top Psychologist

Hilarious Seniors Video

Wal-Mart Heiress' Art Museum

Bossy Wives Have Less Sex

FDA Attacks Asthma Sufferers

Mother with Cystic Fibrosis Gives Birth to Triplets

Business Channel

The Business Channel deals with all aspects of business, including management, specific companies, performance, and probably most importantly: economics.

Obama's Solar, Green Failure

Obama Retreats on Smog Regulation

Jim Rogers on Commodities, Swiss franc, Yuan, U.S. Dollar

Get Rid of National Parks

One World Order and Socialist Greece

Greece's Failed Socialist Experiment

Spain Downgraded by Standard & Poor's

Joni-Eareckson-Tada Ignorant on Economics and Medicare

Jim Rogers on European Crisis

Bernanke More Reckless Than Greenspan Says Schiff

Jim Rogers on Commodity Sell Off

Jim Rogers on Gold, Economy

Jim Rogers on Agriculture and Farming

Tea Party Channel

See Article Links Below

The Tea Party movement in America, and to a lesser extent, other countries, has been one of the most significant responses to out-of-control government in decades, if not since the formation of the republic.

With that in mind, and the Tea Party not going to go away, we'll talk of many of the issues associated with the concerns which birthed the Tea Party. We'll also look at those who have joined or identified themselves with the movement in hopes of co-opting it or using it to further their individual political career and power.

As to the Lord Jesus Christ in these matters, like the Church, His eternal purpose is to fill all things with Himself, so it is impossible to be a believer pursuing Christ and not be salt and light in various arenas of life, including government.

But it's who Christ is that matters, and even though there are outward manifestations of Christ in all areas of life, it must be kept in mind that it is what is being worked within us; that is of primary importance, and not the secondary practicalities emerging from Christ in us.

In other words, hopefully the Tea Party will keep its heart and soul and not focus primarily on the outward, but what it was that spontaneously launched it in the first place.

I'm not saying, by covering the Tea Party, that it is in any way, shape or form, something initiated by Jesus Christ. It's too early to tell what direction it's going to take, and it could very easily be derailed very quickly, causing it to lose much of its purpose, power, and attraction. What I am saying is it has potential, and we'll follow the ebbs and flows as events unfold.

What is the Tea Party?

Sarah Palin Entering Presidential Race?

Ron Paul Getting Media Blackout

Michelle Bachmann Expanding Base

Rand Paul Demands for Kreuger to Step Down

Michelle Bachmann on Obamacare

Marco Rubio Blasts Big Government

Ron Paul and Rick Perry in Texas Showdown

Ron Paul on Voluntary Giving

Michelle Bachmann on Obama's "Job Plan"

Bachmann Blasts Obama on Healthcare, Stimulus Spending and Debt

Michelle Bachmann, Sheriff Joe and Illegal Immigration

Ron Paul Blasts Big Government in California

Rand Paul Battles EPA on CSAPR Cap and Trade

Sarah Palin on Obama's Heels

House RINOs Unleashed

Rick Perry the Liberal?

Ron Paul Wins Orlando Debate says Fox News Poll

Ron Paul Beats Obama in Latest Harris Poll

Country Primed for Revolution says Ron Paul

Michelle Bachmann on Limited Government, Right to Life

Ron Paul on Pro-Life Stance

President Ron Paul Would Cut $1 Trillion in Spending

Ron Paul Supporters Confront Alec Baldwin

Michele Bachmann Educates 'Occupy Wall Street'

Tea Party and Economics

Tea Party Rising Up Against OWS

Rand Paul at Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition Event

Audit the Fed and Bernanke's Word Games

Ron Paul on Competing Currencies

San Bernardino and Need for Limited Government

Why Christians Must Oppose Big Government

Austerity, Children, and the Socialist Lie

Jesus and the End of Worldly Empires

Crackpot Liberal Millionaires

===============

News Channel

The News Channel deals with many issues of interest to Christians. Things like abortion, climate change hoax, evolution myth, homosexuality and other aberrations, government, educution, feminism, among many other topics.

We'll not only report the stories, but there will be commentary and insights added to more fully explore some of the stories which are of vital importance to Christians.

News Stories

Will EPA Rules Destroy Power Grid?

Transhumans Being Developed?

Global Warming, Climate Change Hoax

Women Who Abort Babies Develop Mental Health Problems

Progressives Attack "Paper or Plastic?"

Evolution Flavor of the Week

Global Warming Lie Results in Nobel Prize Winning Physicist Resigning

Slow Death of the European Union

Wind Turbines Destructive to Oyster Industry

Jews Abandoning Obama, Democrats?

Mark of the Beast in Oklahoma?

Student Suspended for Saying Homosexuality Wrong

Majority Distrust Mainstream Media

EPA in War Against Property Owners

Gospel Singer Jessy Dixon Dies

Dead Sea Scrolls Now Available on the Internet

Conservatives Applaud Ron Paul

Another Scientist Refutes Global Warming Hoax

Cancer and Peer Review Scandal

Rand Paul Endorses David Williams for Kentucky Governor

Global Warming "Science" Doesn't Exist

Climategate 2.0: EMails Reveal IPCC Corruption

"Curiosity" Rover on its Way to Mars

Eco Evil: Windfarms Causing Global Warming

The Church Channel

The Church Channel is for the purpose of looking at church history outside of the institutional church, as well as present the various elements and nature that a true church, specifically a local one, should have.

In the end, the church should be nothing less than a representation of who Jesus Christ is. Obviously there is growth and a journey involved, but the goal and purpose of a real church can be none other than that.

Understand, the church isn't a building, and you can't go there in that sense. It must be a spiritual, supernatural people, filled with the life of Jesus Christ via the interaction of individual believers. That sharing of the life of Christ together results in the building up of a living temple filled with the only God.

That will result in an overflow which ultimately reaches the world, which will respond to seeing Jesus Christ revealed in His people.

This isn't idealism, it was the purpose of God from before the creation to have a people that are filled to the utmost with Christ Himself; not in a general sense, but with the specific purpose of being changed into His image - individually and corporately. That is what will build up and attract to Christ and His people the truly hungry and needy of the world.

Church Outside the System

Priscillian

Silvanus Constantine

John Wycliffe

Peter Waldo

Waldensians

Paulicians

Albigensians

Iconoclasts

Moravians

Moravians - Centered in Christ

T. Austin-Sparks on Local Church

T. Austin-Sparks on Local Church - Part 2 - Seeing Christ

T. Austin-Sparks on Local Church - Part 3 - Supernatural

T.Austin-Sparks and Local Church 4 - Inclusive, Exclusive

T.Austin-Sparks and Local Church 5 - Features of a Local Church

T. Austin-Sparks and Local Church 6 - Functioning

Quotes from Gene Edwards

Church and Christianity without Christ

T. Austin-Sparks Channel

T. Austin-Sparks was a British man of God living mostly in the 20th century, who brought one of the more profound revelations of the Lord Jesus Christ as He is in heaven, that has ever been made What we do have of Sparks' works is voluminous, and we'll be going through it on this website in the years ahead, commenting and interacting with the enormous amount of material offered by Sparks to the body of Christ.

One thing you'll find out about Sparks, is he deals largely with the truths beneath the surface, and you can get frustrated over what at times appear to be very impractical teachings and revelation given by Sparks.

You've got to travel with Sparks to garner the more indepth meaning of the scriptures if you want to benefit from his teachings. I've found it's very much worth the journey, and you will discover practical usage once you grasp the enormity of Jesus Christ as revealed in the scriptures and through the ministry of T. Austin-Sparks.

In general, a helpful tip is to understand Sparks had an enormous burden to reveal the length, depth, width and height of Christ, and didn't focus primarily on the practical outworking but the spiritual apprehension of who Christ is. So to read and study the works of Sparks, that will help you in getting started, so you can not flounder around wondering what is is he's trying to say, and know it's Jesus Christ alone who is the center of Sparks' teaching.

In the end, Sparks wanted to unveil the greatness of Christ in a way that all the ancillary "issues" of the Church and believers would fall away in light of the magnificence of the person of Christ; to get His people once again fixated on Him so the things of this earth would fall away in the light and glory of the revelation of His life.

That's the first step to understanding the motivation of T. Austin-Sparks, and should help clear away some debris right away so you can dig right into what it is this man of God had to say.

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Articles on T. Austin-Sparks

Sparks on Eternal Purpose

Sparks on Local Church

T. Austin-Sparks on Local Church - Part 2 - Seeing Christ

T. Austin-Sparks on Local Church - Part 3 - Supernatural

T.Austin-Sparks and Local Church 4 - Inclusive, Exclusive
T.Austin-Sparks and Local Church 5 - Features of a Local Church

T. Austin-Sparks and Local Church 6 - Functioning

Quotes from T. Austin-Sparks

Austin-Sparks.Net

Tea Party, Jesus People and Being Taken Over

The Jesus People movement of the 1960s and early 1970s has some similarities to the Tea Party movement today.

Both had no leaders attached to them when they got started, as they were both spontaneous movements. And both attracted those with ambition, looking for something to take over for their own ends.

Some have commented on the Jesus People movement concerning it being the first move of God initiated without human agency. I think that's accurate.

Not too long after the numbers grew, along with the influence, many men started to woo them, which ultimately resulted in the impact of the movement ending, and the drab old practice of having a pastor preaching to them every Sunday ending it all.

Of course that's not the entire story, as when the movement expanded, reaching out to more and more people, all sorts of representations and variations emerged, causing a lot of confusion, and in some cases - approved of immorality.

But for the core principles of loving Jesus Christ and sharing that love spontaneously with others, and freedom, that didn't change for those God moved on in the beginning. Quickly, who they were was overshadowed and undermined by religious leaders and media, who reported the excesses without mentioning those who had in fact remained true to their revelation of Jesus Christ, and continue to live it out to this day.

In other words, the reports were in relationship to the pretenders that were initially affected by the powerful move of God, and which the casual onlooker couldn't differentiate one from the other. Even those with some knowledge really never understood what was going on.

The Tea Party movement, as mentioned, also started spontaneously. Much quicker than the Jesus People movement, unprincipled men and women are already attempting to hijack it in order to create a base to work from, undermining the basic principles which caused the people to rise up in the first place, attempting to create the movement into their political image.

Some are still hanging on in light of the roaring battle over the budget, putting them in the crucible of conflict to see if who they say they are and what they stand for is real.

Just like the Jesus People, already there is much confusion as to what the Tea Party even stands for any more, as the equivalent of religious denominations is transforming it into their own system to attract the unknowing.

In other words, confusion is reining, and in that atmosphere the heart of the Tea Party is being fought for. There are enemies within and enemies without, and that is always going to be the way of life when something that has hope, but little foundation, spontaneously comes forth.

The point is when Jesus Christ moves among His people spontaneously (not referring to the Tea Party), people with ambition need to get out of the way and let Christ take charge as Lord of His people, and not attempt to take it over just because some people have come together in response to a revelation of Jesus Christ.

There is a lot of that in Christian history, and hopefully as we grow in Christ, the body will rise up and reject these hirelings and look to Jesus Christ to head the Church, just as it should be.

As to the Tea Party, hopefully the germination of what will eventually become permanent change will be the rule, and we'll see the country, and possibly many other nations, changed into freedom-loving people who aren't afraid to take some short-term pain for long-term gain.

If not, we'll just continue off from where we left off, and the alternative will be a disaster.

Either way, things won't be able to continue on as it has been, and either willingly or unwillingly, the necessity of shrinking the size of the government and its outrageous entitlement programs will happen. It's only the degree of pain we'll all have to go through. If we're able to do it through the Tea Party, all the better, as the pain would be shorter and somewhat manageable. A forced default from not being able to sustain the ballooning debt would make it far more painful, as most would be clueless and unbelieving right up until the day it happened.

Unfortunately, it'll almost assuredly be the latter, unless Jesus Christ Himself intervenes.

I think the best we can hope for is an embryo of people who have strong principles holding to them, and training, encouraging and helping to build out a long-term Tea Party army, committed to small government and freedom.

As for the Church of Jesus Christ, throughout history we've also experienced movements outside of the mainstream and status quo, which have dramatically affected the times they lived in. The hope there is also for an embryo to be birthed which will this time hold onto their foundations till the return of Jesus, and change the course of history forever.

I'm not talking about the so-called emergent church, which has already gone the way of some of those on the fringes of the Jesus people movement. Many excuse homosexuality, worship the earth through radical environmentalism, and are basically just another subset up political liberals under the guise of Christianity. They're socialists, without foundation, and don't consider the Bible as being authoritative or inerrant, except when they rip some verses out to justify their beliefs.

The emergent church is already dead, and it won't last the generation, other than the occasional exception, like the Jesus people in Chicago, one of the very few remnants of the Jesus people movement. They've pretty much been systematized and denominationalized; now only a weak shadow of their former selves. We need to do better than that.

Christ and Facing Sin as Revealed in the New Testament

We've been talking about some of the foundations and elementary aspects of Christ lately, as some that profess to be pursuing Christ to have a closer and deeper walk with Him, abandon that which forms the foundation of our faith in Him, and end up having their faith shipwrecked because you can't throw away part of who Christ is while pursuing other aspects of Him.

In this post we're going to look at sin, as many so-called Christians or carnel Christians seem to think because of the pursuit of the deeper things of God, or in wanting to see things change to the better in Christianity, that somehow the New Testament doesn't deal with the issue of sin.

The apostles beg to differ, and below are several lists of sins from Peter, Paul and John.

The point in listing them in this post is to keep you from being conned and lied to as to what the New Testament has to say about sin after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Keep in mind that these lists of sins were written to the Churches, and not to unbelievers.

This isn't for the purpose of dwelling on these too much, but for the purpose of occasionally reading them to understand what Christ isn't like, and if these are manifesting in your life, you need more of Christ and the cross to deal with them.

You also need to be around godly Christians in order for them to help you in your times of weakness.

The apostles never shied away from calling sin sin, and neither should we. We need to stare it right in the face and confess and admit to that which so easily besets us.

So many have attempted to make it appear as if sin no longer exists or it's not in fashion to even mention that which is in the old man which is always trying to reassert itself as alive, when Christ has taken him to the grave with Him.

Nonetheless. Don't be deceived by those attempting to make it appear as if Jesus Christ doesn't expose sin for what it is. After all, that's one of his attributes of being light in the world.

Don't call evil good and good evil as many are doing, and in reference to sin, we always need to call upon the Lord Jesus Christ together for Him to have mercy on us; not just when falling into sin, but in strengthening us to resist it.


Galations 5:19-21 NAS

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

NLT

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NAS

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the
kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

NLT

Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the

Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that.

But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.


Eph. 4:31 NAS

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

NLT

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.


Eph. 5:3 NAS

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

NLT

Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you.

Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.


Col. 5:5-10 NAS

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

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-

NLT

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

1 Pet. 2:1-3 NAS

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

1 Peter 2 (New Living Translation)


So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

Rev. 21:7-8 NAS

He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and
murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

NLT

All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”


Revelation 22:14-15 NAS

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.

Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

Revelation 22:14-15 NLT

Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.

==========

Going on in Christ by Leaving Elementary Teachings

In seeking out the Lord Jesus Christ and desiring more of Him, there have been tendencies by some to throw away foundations learned as a young Christian; apparently with the idea one doesn't take those things along on the journey.

Hebrews 6:1 says:

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. (NAS)

Leaving the elementary teachings about Christ doesn't mean dropping them, it means we don't linger there for the entirety of our Christian walk, while not growing deeper into the things that are Christ.

It's like any type of training we may receive in sports, a job, parenting, etc. You learn the basics, but retain them as you move on to excellence. It's not like you can throw the foundational things away just because you're learning more about what you're applying yourself to.

They're where you start, and are stepping stones to where you're going. You hold onto them while you continue on the journey, but don't allow them to keep you from progressing further by never building upon them.

With that in mind, I want to throw out some other elements of Christ we are to embrace and hold onto while traveling through this life in Christ.

These are things we need to continue to embrace in our walk with the Lord, and we never let them go, but rather, in some cases, learn more the depth, heigth and width of Christ within them. For example - love.

What I've done is taken some of the lists provided by the Apostles throughout the New Testament and placed them below; one using the New American Standard version, and the other the New Living Translation.

Keep in mind that whatever it is Jesus Christ is doing in our lives, these will remain a part of us, as they are in essence, a revelation of Christ Himself.

I would recommend printing these out and using them on a consistent basis as points of reference; reading them and asking the Lord to build them into your life: individually and corporately as a body of believers.


Fruits of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22-26 - NAS

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Galatians 5:22-26 - NLT

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

The Excellence of Love (NAS)

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.

When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.


1 Corinthians 13 (New Living Translation)

Love Is the Greatest

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless.

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.



2 Peter 1:3-7 - NAS



Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.


2 Peter 1:3-7 - NLT

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

Phillipians 4:8 NAS

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Phillipians 4:8 NLT

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.



1 Timothy 6:11 - NAS

For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have (U)wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

New Living Translation

10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Paul’s Final Instructions

11 But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.


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In this post we'll focus only on the postive side of life in Christ, and not on the negative of sin that can so easily beset us.

With another post we'll look at the various descriptions of sin the New Testament shows in order to keep you from being deceived as to what is of Christ and what isn't.

For now, if we focus on the scriptures describing Christ and walking in Christ above, we'll find ourselves turning above from the lure of sin and this world toward the amazing Jesus Christ.