The Grace of God

The Amazing Grace of God places His Gifts within us. (Eph 4:7-8) We can access God's Grace by faith in which we stand and live. (Rom 5:2) Abounded "much more" of God's Grace overcomes all hindrances. (Rom 5:9-21) God's Grace provides and abounds for every good work. (2 Cor 9:8) Grace creates God's Workmanship in us before we were even born. (Eph 2:10) We are to minister and be good stewards of the Manifold Grace of God. (1 Pet 4:10-11)

The Love of God

Believers must begin in faith, then progressively grow towards the Love of God. (2 Pet 1:1-7) We must first grow in brotherly kindness (Strong's 5360: "philadelphia") before Love. (2 Pet 1:7) If these steps God has established are lacking in our walk, we are limiting the Spirit. (2 Pet 1:8-9) If we follow God's steps, we will know Jesus better and enter into His Kingdom. (2 Pet 1:10-12) God is Love (Strong's 26: Greek "agape") (1 John 4:8-16) and God's Love ("agape") has many fruitful characteristics that give Life. (1 Cor 13:1-13) Love ("agape") came to us by Jesus Christ coming in the flesh to complete the Cross. (1 John 4:1-18) There is no greater Love than to lay down our life (Strong's 5590: "psuche"-soul) for friends. (John 15:13) Jesus, our Example, laid down His soul ("psuche") in Garden of Gethsemane (oil press). (Matt 26:36-45)

Jesus Christ—Our Savior, Lord, and Friend

Jesus desires to be our Friend and we are His friends, if we do what He commands. (John 15: 14-15) All commandments of God are summed up by "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Rom 13:8-10) New commandment to disciples of Christ, is to Love one another as Jesus Loves us. (John 13:34) All others will know the disciples of Christ by their Love ("agape") for one another. (John 13:35) The world hates those who are God's, but world will "love" (5368: "phileo") its own (John 15:18-19)

The Grace of God Enables Us

We will have tribulations in the world, but Jesus has overcome the world. (John 16:33) We inherited Adam's tree and his sin nature, but now Christ offers His gift of Grace. (Rom 5:12-19) God's Grace (Strong's 5485), gifts, and influence are given to us to reflect Christ in our lives. (Eph 4:7-8) Believers can now choose for the tree of Life, because of God's Grace and gift. (Rom 5:20-6:2) God' Grace allows us to choose Christ and the tree of Life, instead of a slave to sin. (Rom 6:12-23) The Grace of God enables us to walk in Life, instead of walking according to this world. (Eph 2:1-7) By Grace we have been saved through faith, but now must choose to walk in God's Works. (Eph 2:8-10) Everyone who Jesus Loves, He will rebuke and chasten to be zealous and repent. (Rev 3:19-20)

Jesus Directs Us to Overcome

Anyone who overcomes, as Jesus overcame, will sit with Him on His Throne. (Rev 3:21) Only he who overcomes will inherit all the things of God. (Rev 21:7) Believers can show Love of God by keeping His commands and overcome the world. (1 John 5:2-5) Believers can overcome Satan, that serpent of old, by the Blood of Jesus, the word of our testimony, and laying down our lives ("psuche") for our Friends. (Rev 12:9-11) Jesus Christ provides the Way to the tree of Life for believers who overcome. (Rev 2:7)

Believers Now Choose Between Two Ways and Two Trees

Born again believers have two trees to choose between, as Adam had in the Garden. (Gen 2:8-17) Adam did not tend and keep (guard and protect) the garden, including God's Word. (Gen 2:15-17) After Adam's choice, fall, and curse, God prevented Adam from eating from tree of Life. (Gen 3:17-24) Man's curse will be removed with only the tree of Life remaining for eternity with God. (Rev 22:1-3) The way of Adam leads many to destruction. The Way of Christ leads to Life, but few find it. (Matt 7:13-14) Beware of false prophets, who will lead you astray. (Matt 7:15) False prophets and teachers will lead many astray from the Way of Christ. (2 Pet 2:1-3) We will know prophets and others by their fruits, as they will know us by our fruits. (Matt 7:16-20) God's precious fruits from the tree of Life are worthy of repentance, which we must bear. (Matt 3:7-12) We should learn to separate God's precious from the vile in our lives & He will deliver us. (Jer 15:19-21)

EXAMPLES of FRUITS of TWO TREES (For Our Discernment):

TREE OF KNOWLEDGE of good and evil TREE OF LIFE Spirit of Error Spirit of Truth Lies Word of God Flesh Holy Spirit Fear Love of God Rebellion Submission Pride Humility Accusation Rebuke/Chasten Blame Conviction Fault finding Fault correction Own opinions God's Will Self justification God's Justification Self protection God's Protection Unforgiveness Forgiveness Despair Hope Confusion Peace Hardness of heart Repentance Fleshly minded Spiritually Minded Earthly minded Christ Minded Defiled to God Pure to Go

God's Wisdom will Teach Us Discernment

God's Wisdom must be learned to gain discernment of God's Right from wrong. (Prov 1:2-7) Gaining God's Wisdom with His Understanding is far better than all the world's riches. (Prov 16:16) Solomon asked to receive Wisdom to discern above all else as one "Gift" from God. (1 King 3:5-14) The Wisdom of God is hidden in a mystery, which must be revealed by the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor 2:6-16) Believers can ask, as Solomon, to receive Wisdom and learn God's discernment by faith. (Jam 1:2-8) Worldly wisdom is physical, but God's Wisdom will be shown in life with Good fruits. (Jam 3:13-18) Jesus Christ is the Power and Wisdom of God thru foolishness of the Message of Cross (1 Cor 1:17-25)

Believers Must Learn to Bear Good Fruit

We should bear the fruit of God (tree of Life), not bear fruit to death (Adam's tree). (Rom 7:4-6) The fruit of death is evident in works of the flesh. (Gal 5:19-21) The fruit of the Spirit is the Love of God with all that is God. (Gal 5:22-23) Each believer has a battle of flesh vs. Spirit, but must choose to walk in the Spirit. (Gal 5:16-18) Mature believers have crucified the flesh with Christ and are able to walk in the Spirit. (Gal 5:24-25) We choose to be sanctified and useful to God, which brings deliverance to others. (2 Tim 2:19-26) First, we must learn to put to death the flesh and put off the old Man with his deeds. (Col 3:5-9) Next, we can learn to put on the new Man, Christ, and the bear fruit of the tree of Life. (Col 3:10-14) Believers now must bear the fruit of the Spirit and expose the fruit of darkness. (Eph 5:1-13) Jesus chose and appointed His Friends to go and bear good fruit as His disciples. (John 15:8-17)