Grace and Truth
Bible Ministries

Paul's prayer for belivers to be Grace Oriented part 2 Phil 1:11 Gal 5:22


In the context of our study of the mandate for believer's prayer in the PPOG. . Phil 4:6; 1Thes 5:17;

We are considering Paul's prayer for the spiritual growth of believers recorded in Phil 1:9-11;

In verse 11 Paul is praying for believers to be filled with the "fruit of righteouseness."

Phil 1:11; having been completely filled up with the production of righteousness [which is the total fulfillment of spiritual progress] which comes through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God


We are examining the phrase "fruit of righteousness" translated from the Greek words (karpon dikaiosune) which is produced in the believer through TLJC under the ministry of God the Holy Spirit.



We have seen that in the Phil 1:11; passage the production is viewed with regard to the quality of it's character as the “fruit of righteousness,” and in Gal 5:22, the same production is viewed with regard to it's source as the “fruit of the Spirit.”and it's characteristics are also described.



We have looked at the first (4) facets of this production of Righteousness which are Integrity Love (Agape) , The Happiness of God (Chara) , Inner Peace and Overt Prosperity (Eirene) and Patience and longsuffering (makrothumia).



We are presently examining the fifth facet of the fruit of righteousness which is the production of the Spirit is described by the Greek noun "chrestotes", which means kindness, graciousness, generosity, and sensitivity to others.

This is the characteristic of Grace Orientation which is PSD #4.

Grace oriented believers understand that have the ministry of reconciliation to unbelievers. 2Cor 5:18-21;

Grace oriented believers understand that they have a ministry of restoration toward believers who have failed. Gal 6:1-5.

If believers are to function in Grace they must be living in cognizance of their position. Remember in God's economy Position preceeds Function, Capacity preceeds Production. The believer cannot give or express what has not been received.

When believers perceive through the PMA of Bible Doctrine that God the Father has made them complete in Christ in their position, then they are able to have the confidence and assurance to trust in Him as He develops that completeness experientially in their life.

Even though every believer in their position is "complete in Christ" Col 2:10; there is nothing automatic about the believer's experience .

The responsibility that believers have concerning their union with Christ and their position in Him is simply to believe it, rest in it and walk in it. Heb 4:9-11;

(The word translated "complete" is the perfect passive of pleroo which means that the believer has received the action of being completely filled up in the past...at the point of their salvation by faith alone in TLJC alone... with results that go on forever into eternity future.

For example, when the believers are experiencing adversity they must believe, rest in, conduct their lives with and advance with cognition of scriptures such as Rom 8:31b "If God is for us, who is against us?" and Rom 8:32 "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"

Believers are saved by grace through faith, live and walk by grace through faith and grow in grace by faith .Eph 2:8;--> Col 2:6; --> 2Pet 3:18;

The word translated walk, the Greek word ( ðåñéðáôÝù peripateo), means to conduct one's life, to make progress, to advance or to live.

The word translated grow, is the Greek word ( áὐîÜíù auxano ), means to increase, to augment, to become greater.

The spiritual life of the beliver is appropriated the same way that salvation was appropriated.... by grace and through faith...

The believer's union with Christ, their position in Him and the resources associated with that position Eph 1:3; , which is the doctrine of positional truth, is God's "full provision" for the believer's Christian life and service.

Consequently, believer's cannot live the adult spiritual life without understanding their union with Christ and position in Him.

The cross is God's grace provision for the beliver's identity. Gal 6:14; Gal 2:20;

Positional truth is the God's grace provision for the believer's spiritual life 2Pet 1:3-4; Titus 2:11-14;

 

 

 

© Copyright 2007, Michael Lemmon Bible Ministries. World Rights Reserved.  This document was created on  4/29/2007