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Noah was 600; and one could argue it is a typology of the 6000 years of the earth's existence before the Tribulation; followed by the 1000 years of the Millennium by 2 Peter 3:8.
In the time before the flood known as "Antidiluvian"; clearly men lived longer than afterwards. Thus; Adam and many of his progeny lived for 900 plus years; interestingly no one made it quite to 1000; which may be reserved to those who survive in the Millennium due to long life spans once again at that time with a paradise type of earth; albeit still with fallen men (see Isaiah 65:20). There was therefore the likelihood that many were only 2 or 3 generations from Adam by the time the flood came along; so that secondhand accounts of God's story of creation would leave wicked men without excuse. Enoch lived interestingly enough 365 years then was taken; perhaps somehow indicating a day symbolizing a year (although the old calendar was 360 days old); God also told Noah that He would only contend with men 120 years in Genesis 6:3 which could indicate their future lifespan limit; or the time left before the flood from that point.
In any case; God is longsuffering not wishing anyone to perish. ( 2 PEter 3:9). It is interesting that this verse is right after the one above that I quoted; and certainly explains why He waited so long to judge. Noah was a "preacher of righteousness" ( 2 Peter 2:5) but the narrative shows that only 8 were saved in the boat; and they were his immediate family. Sodom's destruction also followed a similar vein; in that case only Lot; his 2 daughters and wife came out of the city; and his wife turned back and was destroyed. In the flood; Nephilim would have contaminated man's bloodline as I see it from Genesis 6:9 that explains why no one else COULD be saved. His patience is seen with Sodom as well ( Gen. 18:32).
AN ABSOLUTE TRUTH.
"IF YOU "LOVE" ME KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS".
Let's put some emphasis on Love for a chance.
What manner of Love is this?
Is it not agape?
Can you generate this height of Love on your own?
Is it not a fruit of the Spirit given once one IS saved?
SO WHAT IS THIS SAYING?
To get the context you have to pick it up the from John 13 on through John 14:23.
John 13:34-35.
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YE ARE MY DISCIPLES, if ye have love one to another.
Jesus taught that those who follow Him will show love for the brothern ( John 13:12-15, 34).
That is the primary sign of faith to the outside world ( John 13:35). Here, he indicates that obedience to His command is the primary sign of our love for Him.
A person cannot claim to know Christ and hate other Christians
1 John 4:20.
Proceeding from John 14:15 on thru John 14:16-23 Jesus is telling them he was going and sending them the Holyspirit that will guide them.
Throughout this section, a person's love for Christ, their obedience to His teachings, and the indwelling of the Spirit are intertwined
All the law hangs on this.
Matthew 23:37-40.
AND THE MINISTRATION OF THE LAW COULDN'T PRODUCE THIS.
2 Corinthians 3:8-11 concedes that regeneration by the gift of the Holyspirit in those who believe in Christ exceeds the ministration of the law.
"How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of THE GLORY THAT EXCELLETH.
FOR IF THAT WHICH IS DONE AWAY WAS GLORIOUS, MUCH MORE THAT WHICH REMAINETH IS GLORIOUS.
It's the fruit that is on exhibit.
That's what James is also saying in his letter.
Also see
Titus 3:4-8.
God bless.
In more careful investigation of scripture; it appears that there are accounts that clearly delineate happenings that occur within a 24 hour day; and others that continue a narrative that may or may not encompass multiple days or perhaps longer periods of time. I thought therefore that a general study of the variety of challenges the Lord faced constantly; along with the spiritual giftings of all types apparent to be active simultaneously ( Colossians 2:9) would be interesting as He had all the "fullness of the Godhead bodily."
His example; therefore as our High Priest ( Heb. 7:25; etc) means that we can live by His example and thus be "imitators of Christ" ( 1 Cor. 11:1). This; of course is easier said than done; impossible in fact in our own efforts ( John 15:5).
Paul; of course is a great; if not THE penultimate example of a surrendered life; and in many ways mirrors Christ in self sacrificial love and service to the church; through many trials; persecutions; and sufferings. These studies should convince anyone who isn't in a coma that today's mushy view of Christ as embodying some sort of feel good; crowd pleasing charisma that everyone loved is far off from reality. This study is greatly challenging to myself; and I assume anyone reading these scriptures as to what is truly required to be His Disciple. Ultimately; I believe this will be a characteristic of every true believer in some aspects; but in reality few surrender their lives enough to truly live in this manner. It is more than an inconvenient truth; the challenges Christ gives to all His followers but of course is as process in some ways as well. The Spirit sanctifies us; conforming us into His image ( Romans 8:29). Philippians 4:1 and some other verses shows us how His church was Paul's crown. This makes our rewards to be based on building up brothers and sisters in the Lord; and to focus attention there keeps us from focusing on our own issues.
When did Christ, eternal God Himself, the Lamb of God, complete the payment required for the sins of every True Believer, those whom God would save throughout time?
When was Christ, eternal God Himself, the "Son of God", eternal God Himself Begotten of the Father, eternal God Himself?
Is there any difference in God's Salvation of Old Testament Believers versus New Testament Believers?
How does what we read in Revelation 13:8 that Christ is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" and Hebrews 4:4 "For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did REST the seventh day from ALL his works."influence our understanding about these questions?
My purpose in raising these questions is the Hope that God might cause us all to search the scriptures afresh regarding God's Judgment and Salvation plan for mankind, praying constantly that God Himself would open our understanding and lead us into truth.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9) NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.
10)For we are his workmanship, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS "UNTO GOOD WORKS", which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
11)Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12) That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13)But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off ARE MADE NIGH BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
THIS IS MARVELOUS SAYING! HERE'S WHERE YOU SEE THE CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART AS MENTIONED IN ROMANS 2:26-29.
"Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. ( In these verses Jew is not mentioned to describe an ethnic group but rather to describe the performance and seal of the cutting away the flesh.)
WE GENTILES ARE BROUGHT NEAR BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, NOT CIRCUMCISION OF THE FLESH THAT RESPRESENTS THE JEW AND ALL OF THEIR WRITTEN ARTICLES WHEREBY THEY WERE COMMANDED. ( We're joined by the promise given to Abraham
Galatians 3:14-18.
Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: FOR IF THERE HAD BEEN A LAW GIVEN WHICH COULD HAVE GIVEN LIFE, VERILY RIGHTEOUSNESS SHOULD HAVE BEEN BY THE LAW.
God bless.
Part 1.
Romans 7:1-6
Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
WE HAVE BEEN FREED FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW WORKED IN OUR MEMBERS TO BRING FRUIT UNTO DEATH.
BEFORE WHILE UNDER THE LAW AND DOING THE LAW MAY HAVE BEEN GRIEVOUS TO US IN THE FLESH.
NOW we do what we do with a new heart and by the Spirit of God that wars against the flesh.
7:6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
This is a heart change taken place.
Before we didn't have a heart that wanted to please God, and we were without strength.
Now we have a heart that desires perfection but a sinful flesh that is warring against the new heart.
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
And make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss.
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life -
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart -
His wounds have paid my ransom.
(Steward Townend)
I don't think I can add much to these lyrics. Let us all pray for MORE music of this calibre (this was written in 1995). There are only a few I can think of today which are this scripturally saturated; and this meaningful; in SHORT; worthy of TRUE worship of the Lord; Master and King of Glory.
51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
This section shows the fourth error of the Disciples. What could have been an honest misunderstanding (such as a similar situation when Christ after He was resurrected acted as He would go further on the road to Emmaus) turned into another lesson from the Lord as to the role of Christ. Jesus would come as judge; but for the time was only there to save men. Those He did condemn were the ones who saw the miracles and didn't believe (Bethsaida; Capernium; and Chorazin)
57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Lack of shelter; and family commitments before God held back these three individuals.
37 And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.
38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.
40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.
41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
These verses demonstrate how Jesus was besieged by crowds whenever He appeared. The request is from a man in regard to his only child requesting healing (v. 38-40). The upbraiding by Christ in verse 41 was unclear in whether it represented the lack of faith of the Disciples; the man himself or the crowd in general (perhaps all three). He cast out the demon; and other cross references in Mark 9 and Matthew 17:21 states that prayer and fasting were needed to perform this casting out. Perhaps we see how the previous experience in the beginning of the chapter wasn't enough to make the Disciples proactive; or it made them think that success was guaranteed without proper preparation in prayer (where God may have revealed that He wanted them to fast).
Matthew 9:16-17 gives a distinction between the old covenant and the new covenant.
You can't put new wine into old bottles or new garments on to old garments.
We are Identified with Jesus Christ finish work on the cross.
We're given a new heart whereby a new inner man is created. We have been given an earnest of the spirit.
However, we still have this body of sin that wars against our nature. This is what Paul is saying in Romans 7:20-25.
Sin should not have Dominion over you, (Meaning, it should not rule over or dominate you).
This is not just your outward actions that we focus so hard on trying to control.
This also speaks on your thoughts and temperament, your lusts in your members, desiring to want.
The lust of the eyes and so on.
Our blood washed garments are made perfect, "by the cross",
THIS IS WHAT PAUL IS TELLING US IN ROMANS 6.
Paul is saying you have been joined with Christ.
Does that make you perfect? NO.
The payment was perfect, but the purchase has yet to be perfect.
Paul is saying recognize that sin has no rule/dominion over you.
Our position in Christ remains forever. This is what 1 John 3:1-9 is saying.
So, do we sin outwardly? Answer; 1 John 1:7-10 is the sum of it all.
Your best effort to keep them clean is like cleaning with filthy rags. That's all our righteousness is!
Our righteous deeds may build on the already set foundation, but it won't "add to the foundation.
We are imperfect vessels looking for the mercy of Christ.
Jude sums it up in vs 21-24 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.
GOD BLESS
The apostle John tells us:
1 John 3:4
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
The apostle Paul tells us:
Romans 3:31
"Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."
Romans 7:7
"What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."
The wages of SIN is DEATH! We should not fool ourselves - Jesus didn't come here to die on the Cross so that we can KEEP SINNING! He wants us to repent and strive to live sin free. He tells us to Stop Sinning! John 5:14
The gift that God gives us in the salvation of Christ is to empower us to break free from the sin cycle, and repent of sin through conscious effort. When our own efforts fall short, His power is strong enough to help us succeed, but we must make the effort!
As Christains we should be encouraging each other to Not Sin, instead, I continually hear the opposite - stating we are sinners, and we can never stop sinning. That is a deafest attitude, and an assurance that we will continue to wallow in sin.
Read and Believe
Forgive me if I'm understanding what you are saying incorrectly. But perhaps you could explain how the Salvation of those whom God saved in Old Testament times, like Abel, like Noah and his family, like Moses, like Abraham, like David, like the Ninevites, like the Queen of Sheba, like the 7000 at the time Elijah confronted the 450 profits of Baal, how their Salvation was different from the Salvation of any New Testament Believer. Does God apply that Salvation to the hearts of True Believers differently during different times in history?
It is true that God uses different means to communicate the Gospel and also provided additional information about the Gospel as He continued to write the Bible. And He also further explains and even modifies His Law to some degree until the Bible was completed. But the Gospel is the Gospel through out the history of the world. This is why we MUST compare scripture with scripture, the Whole Bible, to get the True and Complete Picture. And the Nature of Salvation throughout history has not changed in any sense. Abel and Noah and Abraham and Moses were saved exactly as any New testament True Believer. And the only basis for their Salvation was and is that Christ paid the full penalty, required by the Law of God, for each and every sin that they would ever commit. And He applied that Salvation to their Life by giving them a new Resurrected Soul.
So when we say that the Decalogue, the 10 Commandments, are not for us today, that is a False Teaching. These commandments like most in the old testament have never been set aside. God has explained more fully these basic statements of His Law as He has other aspects of His Law, but they are as applicable today as they were during the time of the Old Testament.
The Whole Bible from Genesis through Revelation is God's Law Book for Mankind. It is God's Rule Book for the Kingdom of God.
Clearly we are no longer to observe the Ceremonial aspects of the Old Testament.
Clearly any obedience to the Law cannot contribute to our Salvation in any way whatsoever.
But where do you read that all other aspects of the Law have been set aside and no longer apply to us today?
How do you understand Romans 3:31? "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."
How do you understand 1 John 2:4,5? "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."
How do you understand Psalm 119, which is a beautiful passage in scripture speaking to the Nature of God's Law, the Bible?
Psalms 119 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
How do you determine what is sin and what is not? And as a Believer how God expects you to live?
Continued....
Moses and Aaron went before the Lord at the entrance to the tabernacle and the glory of the Lord appeared to them, instructing Moses to take the rod (of Aaron) and SPEAK to THE rock before them. Was this a natural rock that was already in this wilderness or was this a rock that they carried with them throughout the wilderness journey? ( 1Cor. 10:4 says that the spiritual rock followed them; which was Christ)
Moses and Aaron then went out to the people. Moses derides the people angrily and strikes the rock twice. Water flows from it miraculously. God disciplines Moses for sinning in the way he carried out God's instructions. God did not tell Moses to strike the rock, just speak to it. Perhaps Moses had thought that since he had struck the rock the first time ( Exodus 17) that that is the way he was to always do this. God did not tell Moses to scold the people in anger. Unfortunately, Moses sinned by not following the exact instructions of God, but added to what God had told him to do. Moses credited himself to be the one to bring water out of the rock rather than give God the credit and glory for it alone. He did not sanctify God in this instance before the people fo Israel.
The result of this sin was that Moses would not enter the promised land. Moses did not argue with God. He did not bargain with Him. Nor did he intercede for himself. He accepted the will of God. He knew that there was an eternal promised land (like Abraham) he would enter that was better than the physical land. ( Hebrews 11:39-40) Moses knew of the Messiah, the gospel that that would come from Him, and the salvation that he would receive from Him ( Gal. 3:8).
So here, as in Exodus, the waters of Meribah were bitter-sweet. Bitter because the people received discipline from God, but sweet, because God was merciful towards them and provided the water they sorely needed.
Moses must have known that his life was coming to an end soon.
In this chapter we hear of the deaths of both Miriam and Aaron. They did not enter the promised land as they were of the generation that came out of Egypt that were to wander in desert for 40 years.
The Israelites came into the Wilderness of Zin (again) in the first month (the beginning of the year in Spring). 40 years earlier they were there where the twelve spies were sent out and the people sinned in disbelief of God and His promises due to the evil report of the spies. As a result, the generation that left from Egypt was to die in the wilderness and not enter the promised land.
Once they had settled in this wilderness (Kadesh) Miriam died She was buried and the people mourned for her.
Now, forty years later, they come again to the Wilderness of Zin, the place of great rebellion against God, and the people grumble against God, Moses and Aaron again because there was no water for them. They were sure that God had brought them out of Egypt here to die of thirst. Again, they distrusted God and doubted His benevolence towards them and His power to sustain them in this situation. Once before ( Exodus 17) there was no water and the people grumbled against God an Moses. God instructed Moses to strike a rock and when he did water flowed out of it plentifully. God had provided water before, why would they think He would not do so again?
The land was barren. No place was found for seed or fruits or vines to grow. This area was a deep cleft in the terrain with high cliffs on all sides. It was very rugged territory. The people called it an evil place. Did they not know how close they were to the Promised Land that the spies had explored 40 years earlier? Did they not know that if they believed God and trusted in His goodness they would soon go into the land promised? If God had miraculously given them manna and quail all of these years without fail, why would they think He would not also give them water miraculously again?
JESUS SAID:
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Mat.5:5
And has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. Rev. 5:10
Question:
How can the meek inherit the earth?
The answer is here: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts- Zechariah 4:6
Zechariah 4:1-6
1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a MAN that is wakened out of his sleep.
2 And said unto me, What seest thou?
And I said, I have looked, and
behold (1) a candlestick all of gold
with (2) a bowl upon the top of it,
and (3) his seven lamps thereon,
and (4)seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
Interpreting the above Scriptures:
1 Candlestick is the Church(Rev.1:19)of the LORD- His body;
2 with a bowl upon the top of it: -the bowl is for storing and conserving the oil produced by the two olive trees to the Candlestick-that is for the anointed Church of the LORD;
3 and his seven lamps thereon:-the seven lamps are the seven Spirits of God-Rev.4:v.5;
4 and seven pipes to the seven lamps which are upon the top thereof: the 7 lamps -7 spirits of GOD- are placed on the top of the pipes to enlighten the Church of the LORD mainly in this time of Apocalypse -the END of the times and establishment of GOD's Kingdom Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts, and confirmed by Mat.5:5 combined with Revelation 5:10, among other biblical references.
4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these my lord?
5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No my lord.
6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying,This is the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
Romans 3:10,12 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:there is non that seeketh after God.
Psalms 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Mark 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
1 Corinthians 1:27,28 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: