We are to make every effort to add to our given faith, goodness 2Pet 1:5;Rom 12; Isa 64; Mat 7; 12

We are to make every effort to add to our given faith, goodness 2Pet 1:5;Rom 12; Isa 64; Mat 7; 12

He has done all of this by his mercy and his grace - His goodness - having placed His goodness in us, that is His righteousness, which is His virtue, His character.  And as He as revealed HImself, His love to us, we delight in God because He is - love, He has loved, and he still does love - and His love has done, does, and will continue to do.

Therefore, God has made us good. We are good, not in and of ourselves, but in Jesus as Jesus is now in us.  As Paul said”...there’s nothing good in me, that is in my flesh.” (Roma 7)  But that same writer goes on to say in 2Corinthians 5:21 that Jesus is “my righteousness.”

Goodness: a virtuous course of thought, feeling,and action; moral good; a moral vigor - we are excited by goodness, virtue and what is right

• Moral goodness, virtue - excellence, moral excellence 

Romans 12:9-21 “love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good…, ...conquer evil with good.”

So, I thought our good works were “filthy rags”?

Isaiah 64:5-7 “6All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. 7No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins.”

Yes, but, no…

Isaiah 64:5 “5You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways.  But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry.  How then can we be saved?”

Good stored in the heart 

2Corinthians 5:2  We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Salvation, sanctification - justified and made, not just right, but righteous - good. 

Warning - 

Matthew 7:15-21  15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Therefore not everyone who says the believe is what they say they are…  it is not about our good works, but Jesus’ work in and on and through us… 

21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Salvation - Jesus in the heart of the believer 

Matthew 12:33-37 33“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit... 35A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Jesus said… “Make a tree good…” He has made the tree good. He’s exchanged are propensity for evil and sin, with a heart of flesh and given a spirit to incline us to Him and His word. 

Ezekiel 36:24-27 (John 14; Rom 8; Eph 1) 24“ ‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

Sanctified - Jesus set apart in the heart of the believer as LORD - as the maintenance of our relationship - from our side: Filling our heart with Jesus - Jesus will come out (to play).   Why?  Because we’re friends

Luke 6:43-45 43“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Proverbs 4 - the good work of storing good… 

• Fear of the Lord

• Make Jesus Lord 

• My Father and I will make our home in Him

Humility and Honor: Hebrews 13; James 1&2

Hebrews 13; James 1&2. Humility and honor, doing good to all without bias:

What is the humble circumstance for the rich? Could it be that they are not treated in a manner they anticipated or accustomed to?  That they are not seen for their status and position?

What is this way of honor that the poor are treated? Could it be that we just treat them as equals? That we don’t treat them as they might expect or are accustomed to - that we don’t treat them as others might treat them?

The fact is, we honor one and humble the other by the equal treatment of them - each and both. That we treat them both with grace and mercy, dignity and respect, based on their person not on their social status, their economic status, or their perceived position in the community.

Is this not how Jesus treats us? Does He not know how to approach each one of us according to who we are and our station of life to both humble and honor? Not as our outward appearance might suggest, but the true condition of our heart, our greatest inward need and heart’s desire?

Did God not do this from the beginning? In the making of man and woman equal and opposite, beautifully mutual and complementary (Gen 1:26-28; 2:7,15,20-25; Matt 19:4-6), to be and to live just like He is in His divine community – that the Father is equal to the Son, and the Son is equal to the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit being equal to the Father - and all of this in this beautiful expression of mutuality? 

And that is how we are to be, as we have been made from the beginning, and now being created in Christ.  That we would treat each other in the same manner…

As Jesus came here we are being created for the same purpose…

Hebrews 2:14-18 “14Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17For this reason he had to be made like them,  fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

...we are being created for the same purpose…

1Cor 9:19-23 “19Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”

Oh, to be like Jesus…

So, these two writings, Hebrews and James, written to the Jewish believers, to the formerly religious, to those who struggled with grace, and might still try to find their “righteousness” in what they know and the religious practices and activities – having grown up believing that their earthly lot is an expression of God’s divine favor, or not, still might be tempted to judge self and others and God’s love and blessings the same way.

Each writer, once having established that our relationship with God in Christ by grace and that our faith in Jesus is what consummated our relationship with God in Christ and saved us, it is only then that they call us to be sure that there faith expresses itself in good works and deeds of humble service, doing the good works we have been created  in Christ Jesus to do (Eph 2:8-10), chosen, saved and sanctified for obedience to Jesus  (1Pet 1:2) - that our works do not save us, but that our works are an expression, an outgrowth, fruit of our faith, so that our life of faith and goodness (our righteousness - 2Cor 5:21) is shown by our good works, as an expression of our faith (Ja 2) to the glory of our Father (Matt 5:16).

We see that our religion is useless without faithful obedience as our faith is expressed in good works

1Corinthians 7:19  “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.”

Galatians 5:6; 6:15-16  “...in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love...., 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule....”

Hebrews and James…

Making every effort to add, or supplement - by what we do…

Making every effort to add, or supplement - by what we do… 2Peter 1:1-5:  when we read this text, we might notice that the one thing to which effort does not apply is - faith.  Faith is a gift, received that we give back to the one who’s given it in trust that He will take care of me.  (to be effective, we must be confident in what is true, our assurance is a mark of our faith’s expression when our faith is exercised out of gratefulness and with joy of our eternal destiny - made right with the God of the universe - the maker and creator -  it is this love and our response to it in faith makes us more effective in our relationship with God - and His working through me. Which is what we ultimately want! – AND THIS HAPPENS WHEN WE OBEY! 

Make every...

• Using every aspect of self - 

...effort

• Haste, diligence, earnestness, enthusiasm - in accomplishing, promoting, or striving after 

Add to or supplement - your (received) faith:

• Show the truth of it, your faith, by your deeds

• Proving to others and self the reality of your faith (As it expresses itself in, to, and through you - as you obey its (God’s) promptings

Romans 12:11 “Never be lacking in zeal…”

·   Diligence, speed, haste, enthusiasm - swiftness to show zealous diligence - one’s best and full effort by making haste (getting after it)

·   Speedy diligence - quickly obeying what the Lord reveals is His priority

o The better over good

o The more important over the important

o And do so with earnest swiftness - intensity - with eagerness to serve

If you notice here, our effort does not apply to our faith itself - as it was given to you. (2Peter 1:2) Effort is an expression of our faith that is shown real and genuine by what you do, and that – earnestly, sincerely, with growing enthusiasm – in fact, our enthusiasm grows as we serve!! What we do is the expression of our faith. God, through, in, and by our faith, works in us, on us, and through us, as we do what faith compels, prompts us to do and we do it.  The effort is not in having faith, keeping faith, or having more faith. The effort is in exercising our faith, which, ironically builds, deepens, and enriches our faith - in that, we might say, increasing our faith - or - trust, as we express our faith, in faith, by faith. 

The disciples asked that their faith might be increased, which seems a reasonable request and one that Jesus would gladly respond to in kind, but, instead, Jesus responded by speaking to the effect of faith on the life of the one who has it (however seemingly small - as if it was small in any way)

Luke 17:1-6 (Matt 13:31-32; 17:20-21; Mark 4:31; Luke 13:19)

Romans 12:11 cont. but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Our service, our good works, what we do as we read, hear, and respond by doing - is in joyful and grateful response to having received that faith, through God’s love expressed by mercy and grace, giving us, me, eternal life and not “just” saved, though that be a miracle. But even more profoundly - adopted into His family as a child, a co-heir with Jesus and the privilege of being on mission with Him!

Our faith permeates us no matter how seemingly small (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21) and affects us profoundly from the inside out!  It is our faith that expresses itself in loving, trusting (the more and more) obedience.  Seeing God’s word, God’s commands, the truth (utterances) of the Truth – given to us in the scriptures

Faith is not the hearing of the word and believing or assenting to its being true, it is the obeying – exercising our faith in a way that reveals our faith – in God and His word.  Trust is built over time through the exercise of our faith as our present degree of trust permits – stepping out in faith, coming to more and more trust in God by His word and the Spirit’s leading, guiding, and comforting – our faith becomes more and more evident, and we trust it, and Him, more, by faith.

Add to your faith… that which is Jesus -Goodness: a gracious act, virtue, uprightness

• virtue ("moral excellence") which is displayed to enrich life.

• any excellence of a person (in body or mind) or of a thing, an eminent endowment, property or quality.

• a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action; virtue, moral goodness

• his excellences, perfections, 'which shine forth in our gratuitous calling and in the whole work of our salvation'

James 1:19-27 (Romans 4; Hebrews 10-11)

What are we to put our every effort into then?  Adding to our faith, that most basic thing, those things that enhance our looking and acting like Jesus – obedience.   Obeying is the expression of our faith, the working out of our faith, the working of our faith in and through us as God prompts us by our faith. Our faith is shown, seen, not by our speaking of it, but by what is done through our faith – our living in and through and by our faith.

James 2:18-26 (John 14)

Use Everything You've got to Enthusiastically Follow Jesus!

Making every effort to add, or supplement: notice the one thing to which effort does not apply is - faith. Faith is a gift, received that we give back to the one who’s given it in trust that He will take care of me.

2Peter 1:1-5

Make every...:

Using every aspect of self -

...effort

Haste, diligence, earnestness, enthusiasm - in accomplishing, promoting, or striving after Romans 12:11 “Never be lacking in zeal…

”Diligence, speed, haste, enthusiasm - swiftness to show zealous diligence - one’s best and full effort by making haste (getting after it)…”

Speedy diligence - quickly obeying what the Lord reveals is His priority

- The better over good

- The more important over the important

- And do so with earnest swiftness - intensity - with eagerness to serve

Add to or supplement - your (received) faith:

Show the truth of it, your faith, by your deeds

Proving to others and self the reality of your faith (As it expresses itself in, to, and through you - as you obey its (God’s) promptings

If you notice here, our effort does not apply to our faith itself - as it was given to you. (2Peter 1:2) Effort is an expression of your faith that is shown real and genuine by what you do, and that - earnestly! (in joyful and grateful response to having received that faith, through God’s love expressed by mercy and grace, giving us, me, eternal life and not “just” saved, though that be a miracle. But even more profoundly - adopted into His family as a child, a co-heir with Jesus and the privilege of being on mission with Him!)

What we do is the expression of our faith. God, through, in, and by our faith, works in us, on us, and through us, as we do what faith compels, prompts us to do and we do it.

The effort is not in having faith, keeping faith, or having more faith. The effort is in exercising our faith, which, ironically builds, deepens, and enriches our faith - in that, we might say, increasing our faith - or - trust, as we express our faith, in faith, by faith.

The disciples asked that their faith might be increased, which seems a reasonable request and one that Jesus would gladly respond to in kind, but, instead, Jesus responded by speaking to the affect of faith on the life of the one who has it (however seemingly small - as if it was small in any way)

Luke 17:1-6 (Matt 13:31-32; 17:20-21; Mark 4:31; Luke 13:19)

Our faith permeates us no matter how seemingly small (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21) and affects us profoundly from the inside out!

Faith is not the hearing of the word and believing or assenting to its being true, it is the obeying – exercising our faith in a way that reveals our faith – in God and His word.  Trust is built over time through the exercise of our faith as our present degree of trust permits – stepping out in faith, coming to more and more trust in God by His word and the Spirit’s leading, guiding, and comforting – our faith becomes more and more evident, and we trust it, and Him, more, by faith.

James 1:19-27

What are we to put our every effort into then?  Adding to our faith, that most basic thing, those things that enhance our looking and acting like Jesus – obedience.   Obeying is the expression of our faith, the working out of our faith, the working of our faith in and through us as God prompts us by our faith. Our faith is shown, seen, not by our speaking of it, but by what is done through our faith – our living in and through and by our faith.

James 2:18-26

God's mercy is not new - it was there in the beginning

God’s mercy, it is not new, it was there from the beginning: Romans 12:1; Genesis 3:21-24; Hebrews 10:1-25; Genesis 22:7; Romans 3:10-20; John 1:29, 36; Genesis 22:1-19; Exodus 29-30; Lev 14-16

God’s inestimable love was expressed by Grace - from the beginning - as He created and made, formed and breathed life and light in and to all creation, but most profoundly, in mankind - us.  His love expressed in mercy followed close on Grace’s heels, as man and woman fell violently from the perch of shared dominion with God and hurled toward death, in their futile attempt to be “like God”.  

Yet, God, in His mercy, did not snuff out the life of mankind immediately, but instead mercifully covered the sin and shame of their rebellion and His mercy increased when He sealed the way to eternal life gained by man’s reaching out, so that he and she, we, would not live forever in the current condition of sin and suffering - but instead - would, in time, be offered a return to bliss, to God’s delight, to eternal life in Him - released from sin and death by the most holy Covering, the body and blood of their, or our, Maker, now Creator (Eph 2), our Priest (Heb 2; 10) and King (Jo 18:33-37; Mat 26:53). 

God’s mercy has been there, from the beginning. 

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Genesis 1:21-24

Hebrews 10:1-25 

Genesis 22:7-8,13 7Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together… 13Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.

Romans 3:10-20; 5:6-8

John 1:29, 36  29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!   36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

1Corinthians 11:23-29

When is there too much? Discernment and patience in the waiting...

Making every effort, to make the most of every opportunity (Eph 5:1-21), cultivating our souls (Phil 2; 2Pet 1), calibrating our heart’s - ears, eyes , hands and feet (Ps 119:18; Is 6; 29:18; 52:7; 58; Mat 7:4; 25; Ro 10:15; Eph 6:15; 2Tim 2:20-21; 1Jo 3:17; Rev 3:18) - we are now rising above the corruption of this world and participating in the divine nature…

• Corruption: Moral decay, that which is perishable or ruined 

Participating in the divine… 

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

The work and fruit of cultivating, planting, reaping, and pruning… 

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:43-45)

And with that, being a messenger of hope who’s life reflects more and more God’s grace… 

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!” (Rom 10:15; Is 53:7)

Too much salt - growing in discernment - when to do what, when to say what.

• Noah’s 100 year build - work of righteousness (Gen 5-8; 1Peter 3)

• Matthew 5:16 (John 15:8; Titus 2:7; Eph 5; Phil 1:27; 1Pet 2:12

Jesus lived and loved in a way to be asked...

1Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” (John 3:1-2) 

We too, ought then to live and love in such a way as to be asked...

13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats b ; do not be frightened.” 15But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (1 Peter 3:14-16)

We are to go… as representatives of Jesus’ work in us... Cultivating, planting, reaping: You may not see the fruit until the end (Mark 4:12; Ez 2:7)

Luke 8 One of the first “Go’s” Jesus sent the man in where He could not go or might not be received…. Jesus is asked to leave, so He sends in the man/woman (John 4)…  We are that man/woman…  We may not be received, but that does not mean the work has not been done, the seat has not been planted… (see: Jonah vs. Jeremiah) 

Are there those for whom the seeds of the gospel are a waste? Or on whom the declaration of, the seeds of, the gospel are wasted? It is hard to discern whether one is contemptuous enough that is not (yet) good to share the actual gospel. But instead, to live a life of righteousness before them, and take the potential abuse of their present unfriendly response. (Prov 9:8; 11:22; 23:9; Matt 5:11-12; 7:6; 10:25; 24:9; 1Pet 4:14)

So, we ought to live our lives quietly before them, reflecting the good nature and works of Jesus we are being created (in Christ Jesus) to do (Phil 1:27-29; 1Peter 2-3)

From L. B. we are always cultivating and planting seeds, whether we realize it or not. 

• We can help plant something that grows without us knowing. Are you speaking Jesus' heart for others to see. Let them glean! 

• Are we living our lives so that people can glean from us even though we don’t know it?

• Planting the seeds for others to grow. 

• If you think you are not seen you are nuts. We are always seen, nothing is hidden. 

• We are planting seeds whether we know it or not. With however we are living.  Galatians 6 you sow righteousness you reap righteousness you sow to your flesh reap to or of your flesh. 

• Whatever you do you are under the microscope! 

• Do you trust God enough to give?

Go and make disciples… go, go, go... as a light

Go and make disciples… go, go, go... as a light Matthew 5:13-16: the privilege of Gardening with God: Matthew 28: cultivating, planting, tending, reaping: making disciples.  The soils of souls Mark 4:1-8, 14-20 In the beginning was our being, walking, working with God, and in Jesus is it restored – all of it - the Farmer, the seed (the Gospel), the soils - salvation and sanctification - it is our works, good works, works of righteousness, when they are seen and experienced, that display our Father’s glory and our love for one another. 

But, but… you will say to me “...when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” (Matt 6:3)

Matthew 5:13-16 

My good works, work as a testimony of God’s grace and an invitation to the Kingdom of heaven

• Nothing good in me?  That is in my flesh! 

  • Romans 7; 8

    • 7:18 “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature - that is my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.”

    • 7:25 “Who will save me from this body of death?!  Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”

  • John 3:3,6 “...unless you are born again… Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.”

  • Romans 3; 8:1-15 (John 6:63)

    • Rom 3:24  We “… are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

    • Rom 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...”

  • 1Corinthians 1:26-31 “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”

    • 1Cor 6:11 “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

    • 2Cor 5:21 “21God made him who had no sin to be sin b for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

• Salvation - grace through faith - this is God’s work

  • Ephesians 2:5-10 “...it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

• Here’s where God’s effort and our effort walk in stride 

  • Phil 2:12-13 “...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

• He’s made and is making His effort, doing the work, works, good works - now it is ours to join Him in “making every effort” 

• 2Pe 1:3, 5 “3His divine power has given us everything we need…, 5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith…”

The beginning of making every effort 

• 2Cor 3:17-18  “17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

  • behold as in a glass.

• to show in a mirror, to make to reflect, to mirror: to look at oneself in a mirror; to behold for oneself as in a mirror, the glory of Christ (which we behold in the gospel as in a mirror from which it is reflected)

• Behold as in a mirror, to contemplate. 

What are we to behold? What are we contemplating?

• Working with God - this was God’s intention for the beginning - tending, working His garden - me, you, me and you together, us - the Church - is, now, the Garden in and for which we work (Rom 12-16; 1Cor 12-14)) – and, He has already established that this is all “very good” (Gen 1:31)

  • Genesis 2:5-9 “5Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground…”  

    • Hired hands and servants, ambassadors and priests (Matt 9; 20; 25; 1Cor 5; 7; 1Peter 2)

The work continued, me and him, Him and me; me, us and you, all of us, together

• Sanctification - ongoing tending to and of the garden 

  • God’s role - purification - 

Isaiah 6:5-9  5“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”  6Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”   And I said, Here am I. Send me!”  9He said, “Go and tell…”

• Our role - cleanse ourselves, choosing righteousness by denying ourselves - our flesh’s desires - 

2Tim 2:20-21 20In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

• Dig into God’s word - spoken, read, and prayerfully meditated on and do it… (Ps 119) 

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

James 1:22-25 “22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

• And tap into God’s Spirit - (John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7, 13-14; Acts 11:16; 1Cor 2:10-11; 2Cor 1:22; 5:5; Eph 1:14; 4:30)

Galatians 5:13-14,16-18  “13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

• Aid one another in growth and holiness 

Galatians 6:1-5 1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5for each one should carry their own load.

• James 5:20  “...consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

• 1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

• Proverbs 17:9 “Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.”

Go and make disciples… go, go, go... as a light Matthew 5:13-16: the privilege of Gardening with God: Matthew 28: cultivating, planting, tending, reaping: making disciples

The soils of souls 

• Mark 4:1-

  • Salvation - grace through faith - this is God’s work

  • Ephesians 2:5-10 “...it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

• Here’s where God’s effort and our effort walk in stride 

  • Phil 2:12-13 “...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

• He’s made and is making His effort, doing the work, works, good works - now it is ours to join Him in “making every effort” (2Pe 1:5): 

  • Working with God - this was God’s intention for the beginning - tending, working His garden - me, you, me and you together, us - the Church - is, now, the Garden in and for which we work (Rom 12-16; 1Cor 12-14)

    • Genesis 2:5-9 “5Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground…”  

    • Hired hands and servants, ambassadors and priests

    • Sanctification - ongoing tending to and of the garden 

      • God’s role - purification - Isaiah 6

      • Our role - cleanse ourselves, choosing righteousness by denying ourselves - our flesh’s desires - 2Tim 3 

      • And tap into God’s Spirit - Galatians 5:13-14,16-18  “13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

    • Aid one another in growth and holiness 

      • Galatians 6:1-5 1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5for each one should carry their own load.

Bearing fruit from the beginning, God continues to plant seeds: Soil, seeds, fruit, more fruit: a seed must first die to make more seeds  

We have heard that our salvation is precious, that it is by God’s righteousness that we are saved and ourselves made righteous; that we have been given everything we need to live a life of godliness - that is to see God and come to know him - and as we hold Him in awe (Prov), to grow in wisdom, and, not merely knowledge, but the knowledge of God, and receiving from Him the wisdom of God (Romans 11:) - Jesus, in essence, the tree of life, from whom we gain eternal life (Gen 2:9; 3:22; Pr 11:30; Ro 6:23; 2Ti 1:10; Jude 1:21; Re 2:7; 22:2,19); that God is generous in His creating and making, His abundant and lush provision for life and intended protection from death, that Hod’s work is not static, but made to, intended to multiply, and bear fruit - and that fruit is both for life (ongoing provision for life) and manner of life (righteousness, character - the fruit of the Spirit the nature of Christ. Gal 5:22-23)

All of this - given by grace! (2Peter 1:3)

A planting - God has bearing fruit from the beginning…

Replenishing, re-working the Garden…

Jesus is the first seed, the first fruit, we then are the fruit of that seed, now ourselves, being that same seed Jesus spreads throughout the world… 

• Gen 1:11-12, 29-30 vegetation throughout the earth for sustenance 

• Gen 2:8-10 God planted a Garden for our delight

• Gen 2:15 God placed us in the Garden to work, to be nourished, to enjoy and delight

• Gen 1:28 God gave man dominion over, to rule and care for with God over all that had been made

As God caused vegetation to grow on the earth and planted a garden in the fertile soil of the Garden, so He has planted the seed of the Kingdom in the fertile soil of the hearts of men and women to bear the seed of life, the seeds of life. Jesus began the new planting, when he declared... 

John 12:23-26 

24Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

That bringing back is a continued planting of seeds...

• Planting seeds, the Garden of God’s delight - the Church, us, me and you

  • Matt 13:1-11, 18-23 

  • John 10:17-18 “17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

• Matt 9:38 Work the harvest - join Him in the garden, His planting (John 4:36)

35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

That we would bear much fruit - first of righteousness, then of the seeds of righteousness planted

• Matt 28 all authority has been given to me, you, go! 

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

His precious planting is now the church, drawn out of the world grafted into the “cultivated” (Rom 11) olive tree - planted, the vineyard, God’s planting, to bear fruit, the seeds of Jesus’ righteousness and life and love, mercy and grace - the gospel - the good news of eternal life in Him. 

He has bid us to remain here, to work with Him, to join him in the cultivating, the planting, and the reaping.  To, as Jesus died and was buried, die to our self and live in and to, Jesus, and His mission. 

Matthew 16:24-26

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Mark 8:34-35

34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Luke 14:25-27

25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Romans 6:4-8

4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, and that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

Galatians 2:20; 5:24

20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me… 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

God has been giving life from the beginning: Genesis 1:1-25; John 1:1-5; Mark 4:1-20

God has been bringing life from the beginning, giving life, sustaining life, celebrating life.

As the Spirit hovered over the chaos, the void, what was the earth prior to life and light, so it is with the souls of men.

God scattered the seed of life, and around the globe came vegetation, and in the garden came lush fruit abundantly bearing (God’s) beauty.

Again, so it is with the souls of men. God scatters the seeds of life, the seeds of the kingdom of heaven, all over the earth. There is soil, hearts, that will receive it, but a little, then there are hearts that will receive it and bear the lush fruit of the garden, of life, of the delight of God.

And from this lush garden, the planting of the Lord (Isa 61:3), others will see, perceive, want it, and reach to take it, to ingest it, and, having received it, will themselves receive life in abundance, become lush, and will also then bear the fruit of the kingdom of heaven - life and righteousness.

Therefore, in the beginning, God… caused His making, His creating, to bear fruit (Gen 1&2). And we now, in Christ Jesus, are the making and creating of God, our Father, filled with the righteousness of Jesus, bearing the fruit of God, the fruit of righteousness, the fruit of life (Prov 10:16; 11:30; Isa 3:10; 32:17; 54:17; 61:10; Rom 8:23; Gal 3:22; Eph 2:8-10; 5:9; Phl 1:11; James 3:17; Heb 12:5,6,10-11).

Gen 1:1-25; Gen 2:1-2, 5-8, 22-23; Gen 1:29-31

John 1:1-4

Mark 4:1-20

Today, let us focus on the good soil, the soil that receives the seeds of the kingdom with joy and in that joy, which is the very strength of the Lord, loves life, bears fruit, with the vigor and abundance of Jesus promised. (John 10:7-11; 1John 1:1-4)

Galatians 5:22-23

And what do we do in response?

Be thankful and grateful; be joyful and at peace; love our good Father with all your heart, mind, body, and strength… making every effort to abide in Him and love your neighbor and yourself with the strength, the fruit that provides! Attribute the good things to God, our good and loving Father, our gracious and kind Savior and Brother; The Spirit of power, encouragement, and comfort who bears in us the fruit of righteousness - the privilege of being the children of God, our Father in heaven. (Matt 6:9-15; Rom 5&8; Eph 5:1-2) and make every effort to believe and receive the promises of our God, and live and love Jesus, as Jesus, and in so, bearing the fruit of (the life of) Jesus.

Matthew 22:37-40 “Jesus said: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.