Hello there SimpleGardener thank you for your greeting and your perseverance here. I pray that the Lord God of Heaven and be with you like He has never been before. That you can't but help do those things through him that is pleasing in His sight. I pray His Spirit fall on us all like this that we may all stand in His righteousness that the world may believe.
Greetings lightbearer,
Glad to see you back. Thank you for your love of truth and justice. It is sad that so many here cannot see themselves and their behavior. I have been trying to avoid their attitudes reference my pasture comment.
Sadly, many of these rise to the level of persecution. Gods people are not persecutors, but we were given many comforting words for when we are;
Mat 5:10-11 NIV Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (11) "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Isn't it strange and sadly interesting how the persecution is usually around "righteousness"
G1343
δικαιοσύνη
dikaiosunē
Thayer Definition:
1) in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God
1a) the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God
1b) integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting
2) in a narrower sense, justice or the virtue which gives each his due
Part of Speech: noun feminine
So the verse above Mat 5:10 would read:
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Thank you fro bringing my attention to this. I have Thayer's work in My library praise God. Do you have access to Vines compilation? He states this on the word:
<1,,1343,dikaiosune>
is "the character or quality of being right or just;" it was formerly spelled
"rightwiseness," which clearly expresses the meaning. It is used to denote an attribute of God, e.g., Rom 3:5, the context of which shows that "the righteousness of God" means essentially the same as His faithfulness, or truthfulness, that which is consistent with His own nature and promises; Rom 3:25-26 speaks of His "righteousness" as exhibited in the Death of Christ, which is sufficient to show men that God is neither indifferent to sin nor regards it lightly. On the contrary, it demonstrates that quality of holiness in Him which must find expression in His condemnation of sin.
Rightwiseness, I like that!
Jesus said in Luke 18:19, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. And later in John 14:10 He says, "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."
And then He continues and says,
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him;
for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless:
I will come to you.
(John 14:11,12,,16-18)
Even further, He says,
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
(Joh 15:3-5 KJV)
And then the culmination in respect to this in His prayer,
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee,
that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
(Joh 17:20-23 KJV)
True Rightwiseness, Christ in us the hope of Glory that the world may believe that You Father God Has sent your Son and Loved us as You have Loved Him! For it is You that works in us both to will and do Your Good pleasure.
You are a precious brother, and our Redeemer has given you His love for Justice and for what is true! How amazing is that!?
Thank you, Amen and likewise!
God is Love and as He is so are we in this world! The Lord is gracious to us all! For HE has said, For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
(Heb 8:10; Rom 10:8)