Don't miss this... Looking at previous posts and passages I noticed:
I- God charges (an attainable directive) believers to...
A. "follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life," (1 Tm. 6:11-12);
B. "... keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:" (1 Tm. 6:14)...
II- Paul testified that he had...
A. finished the course (2 Tm. 4:7),
which requires
B. keeping the rules (2 Tm. 2:5; 1 Co. 9:23-27);
C. kept the faith, literally this means that he had not deserted the faith (2 Tm. 4:7);
D. would receive the crown of righteousness (2 Tm. 4:8), which is given to those who love Christ's appearing,
E. Those who love His appearing have availed themselves of the grace that makes them pure, even as He is pure (1 Jn. 3:3).
This is the plan of God for all believers (Ti. 2:13-14).
CHRISTIANS CHARGED TO BE HOLY, LIVE HOLY LIFE
1 Timothy 6:11-14
(11) But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
(12) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
(13) I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
(14) That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
PAUL TESTIFIED TO A FAITHFUL LIFE
2 Timothy 4:7
(7) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
ONLY THE FAITHFUL ARE CROWNED
2 Timothy 2:5
(5) And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
(24) Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
(25) And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
(26) I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
(27) But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
2 Timothy 4:8
(8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
THE PURE, HOLY, RIGHTEOUS LOOK FORWARD TO HIS RETURN
1 John 3:2-10
(2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
(3) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
(4) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
(5) And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
(6) Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
(7) Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
(8) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
(9) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
(10) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
THE LIFE OF A TRUE BELIEVER
Titus 2:11-15
(11) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
(12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
(13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
(14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
(15) These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
