Love Fulfilled Ministry

  New Testament Growth in Christ: From Foundation to Fullness The New Testament presents a vibrant and multifaceted picture of spiritual growth, not as a static event but as a dynamic, lifelong journey for the believer. This journey, with emphasis on a strong foundation, progresses through a transformative process of maturity forged by endurance, ultimately aiming for the profound goal of experiencing the "fullness of God in Christ." The Foundation: A New Creation The inception of growth in Christ is marked by a radical spiritual new birth, a foundational shift that defines the Christian experience. It is not merely a moral reformation, but a divine act of creation. The apostle Paul declares this truth in 2 Corinthians 5:17 : "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." This new creation is initiated by faith in Jesus Christ, where believers are justified and reconciled to God through His sacrifice. Th...

The Tripartite Nature of Humanity: Spirit, Soul, and Body in Biblical Understanding The human being, as depicted in the Bible, is a multifaceted creation, often understood through the distinct yet interconnected components of spirit, soul, and body. While some theological perspectives lean towards a bipartite view (soul and body), which we do see in the Old Testament, a careful examination of the New Testament scripture reveals a compelling case for a tripartite understanding, where each is divided into or composed of three parts. Let’s explore the biblical distinction between spirit, soul, and body. The Body: Our Earthly Vessel The body is the physical form that interacts with the material world. From the very beginning, Genesis 2:7 states, " Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being ." This verse clearly establishes the body's origin from the earth, emphasizing its connec...

The Gospel Preached Beforehand Faith exists hope, assurance, and proof of things not seen. *  In the Old Testament and New we see that faith guides the children of the promise. *  A profound truth Paul states in Galatians 3:8, " And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'In you shall all the nations be blessed. '"  The promise " In you shall all the nations be blessed " was given to Abraham before circumcision and the Law thus does not rest on earthly birth and lineage, nor the Mosaic Law, but is according to grace so that it comes to people of all nations (Romans 4:15-16). In the Old Testament the chosen people were of earthly descendants, of Israel, but even then Paul writes not all were of the children of the promise, some were unbelievers as they were destined to be. *    "the ones from belief, are blessed together with Abraham, of faith" -- Galatians 5:19 In t...

 The Gospel of the Grace of God But I make my life nothing, a message precious than myself which I fulfill, that my task and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24) The Gospel of the Grace of God is a central theme in Christian theology. It is the gospel or good news of the gifts that come from the riches of God's grace in Christ. It is the good news of adoption as his own through the Spirit "to the praise of his glorious grace which he highly favored us in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:5-6). It is the good news of redemption through the blood of Jesus "according to the riches of his grace," Ephesians 1:7, the forgiveness of sin. From the riches of God's grace in Christ Jesus we receive all the spiritual blessings from the heavenlies (Ephesians 1:3-14).  The gospel message is that salvation is a gift from God, freely given by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, rather than something from hum...