Results 1 - 9 of 9
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | What does it mean to be Christ like? | 2 Pet 3:18 | rlopez | 106329 | ||
What does it mean to be Christ like? | ||||||
2 | What does it mean to be Christ like? | 2 Pet 3:18 | Makarios | 106330 | ||
Greetings RLopez! The real secret of an abundant, victorious Christian life in which one can be considered as "Christ like" is no secret at all! Just as one begins his physical life as an infant and then grows to maturity, so it is true with his spiritual life. One must simply "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ" (KJV, 2 Peter 3:18). The sustenance for spiritual growth is the Word of God. There is absolutely no short-cut and no substitute for systematic, life-long study of the Holy Scriptures. "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2). Of course, one must not only study the Bible, but also believe and obey it, or else he will remain a spiritual babe. "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22). Through prayerful, obedient study of God's Word, not only do we grow in the "knowledge" of Christ (and it is only there, of course, that such knowledge is found), but the Holy Spirit also is able to fill and shape our lives into 'likenesses of Christ', increasingly, with His grace. Blessings to you, Makarios |
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3 | What does it mean to be Christ like? | 2 Pet 3:18 | flinkywood | 106338 | ||
Makarios, Great answer: a prayerful, obedient study of God's word because Jesus Christ is the living word of God made flesh (John 1.14). But consider the following, puzzling mandate from Paul: "It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us." (2Th 2:14-15 NASB) Apart from diligent study of the word, what "traditions" must we stand firm in so that we may gain the glory of our Lord, Jesus Christ? Colin |
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4 | What does it mean to be Christ like? | 2 Pet 3:18 | Makarios | 106364 | ||
Greetings Colin! In 2 Thessalonians 2:15, Paul mentions 'the traditions', which includes all of the teachings that Paul had shared with the Thessalonians. Up until the New Testament was written and distributed among Christians, essential Christian teaching and doctrine was passed along by tradition, just as rabbinic law was handed down from generation to generation. During the time of Jesus, the rabbinic tradition was in oral form, since the traditions of the elders were not included in the Mishnah until around A.D. 200. Therefore, the 'traditions' that Paul speaks of here could be either oral or written, and they include all that he has directed the Thessalonians to do in his two letters. The word 'traditions' in this verse refers to instructions that are passed on from one person to another. Sometimes the word refers to human traditions, or people's opinions and speculations. But in this case Paul is referring to the revealed truth of God that contains no error. This is what Paul had passed on to them. He had communicated some of God's truth when he was preaching among them, further truth by his first epistle, and now he was communicating even more truth through a second letter to them. The New Testament had not been written, or assembled so as we know it today, and the essential truths of the Christian faith were being communicated through the apostles' preaching and letters. Having believed this truth, the Thessalonians are now directed to maintain the communicated truth and stand fast in their faith. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Paul reminds the Corinthian church of the tradition that they are to hold onto, that is, "that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,.." And that is the very same truth that we find ourselves preaching, being stewards of (ministering), and passing along to others this very day; passing it from one person to the next, until the Day of the Lord has come. How convenient the typed letter, the printing press, and crystalite pages of Scripture have become in helping us to stand fast and pass along that truth! Blessings to you, Makarios |
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5 | What does it mean to be Christ like? | 2 Pet 3:18 | flinkywood | 106371 | ||
Thanks, Makarios. Indeed, "traditions" must refer to oral and written instructions, as you say. I had first assumed this, but the word "traditions" here seems also to refer to some early liturgy, like communion, which Paul has duly mandated they hold fast to. I can't recall any epistolary mandate concerning communion (can you?), so where does communion derive if not from oral traditions? "Traditions" sounds not only like study of the gospel truth, prayer, evangelism, etc., but very much like liturgical practice. Can we make this reading here? If so, if Paul is indeed talking about congregational communion, how essential is this to the growing in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ? Colin |
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6 | What does it mean to be Christ like? | 2 Pet 3:18 | Makarios | 106395 | ||
Greetings Colin! I'm a bit confused now.. :-) Are you speaking of "communion" as in "The Lord's Supper", or the gathering of believers as a whole? Also, I believe that you are saying that you interpret "the traditions" to include liturgical practices? That is interesting, since I interpret "the traditions" in a much different way... Blessings to you, Makarios |
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7 | What does it mean to be Christ like? | 2 Pet 3:18 | flinkywood | 106528 | ||
Makarios, maybe it's easier to ask whether "traditions" could refer also to liturgical practices in this context. Do you think there is room for this interpretation? This would include communion, Roman Catholic style. Colin |
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8 | What does it mean to be Christ like? | 2 Pet 3:18 | Makarios | 106536 | ||
Greetings my friend, No, I do not believe that liturgical practices, such as "Roman Catholic style" communion, are being referred to within the context of 2 Thessalonians 2:15 ("the traditions"). Blessings to you, Makarios |
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9 | What does it mean to be Christ like? | 2 Pet 3:18 | flinkywood | 106542 | ||
10-4, Makarios. Colin. |
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