Let your past make you better…not bitter…What is written in the Bible about Christian Graces…let your past make you better…not bitter

Let your past make you better…not bitter…What is written in the Bible about being a better man not a bitter man…let your past make you better…not bitter…develop Christian graces…2Pe 1:3-10 KJV Give…All diligence…all your effort…all your resources…to be Godly men…and add these Christian graces to your character…

Christian graces…

2Pe 1:3-10 KJV  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:  4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  9  But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

All diligence…all your effort…all your resources…to be Godly men…

1. Faith…without faith it is impossible to please God… Heb 11:1 KJV  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…we have to believe God exist and we are trying to please Him with our conduct.

2. Virtue…moral excellence…holy character…purest intentions…the doing of good deeds…

3. Knowledge…knowledge of how to be Holy…knowing what to do in order to do good deeds

4. Temperance…self-control…self-discipline…self-will surrender…having a sound mind making sound moral decisions

5. Patience…the not growing weary in well doing…the bearing up under trials…the endurance of applying knowing with virtue and faith.

6. Godliness…the character of the Holy…the result of applying self-control with patience while exercising the virtue and faith needed to be of Godly character.

7. Brotherly Kindness…be kind to Christians…know how we treat others the Lord will treat us… Mat 7:1-2 KJV  Judge not, that ye be not judged.  2  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

8. Charity…love for all souls…if you treat everybody like Jesus then you will receive the same treatment as you gave… Eph 6:5-9 KJV  Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;  6  Not with eyeservice, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;  7  With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:  8  Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.  9  And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

1Co 16:13-14 KJV  Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you…(behave) like men, be strong.  14  Let all your things be done with charity (love).

Jesus said… Luk 14:26-35 KJV  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.  28  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  29  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,  30  Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.  31  Or what king, going to make war against another king, sits not down first, and consults whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?  32  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an ambassage, and desires conditions of peace.  33  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.  34  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?  35  It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Will you surrender to Jesus the Christ of Nazareth…yes or no? Will you render obedience to the truth and do what is right by your Creator…Yes or no? Jesus said…blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they will be filled…satisfied…do you want to be satisfied by Jesus and be right with God and your fellow man…yes or no?

Jesus said…

Joh 6:35 KJV  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst…All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.  28  Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Mat 11:27-30 KJV 

Will you agree to read the New Agreement given by the Author of Salvation so Jesus can teach you the truth and empower you to do right with God and fellow creation…Yes or no?

Jesus died and the cross and was raised from the dead so you could have a way of reconciliation with God…so you could understand the truth needed to do God’s will…so He could equip you with eternal life and show you how to live with God for eternity…Jesus died so all your wrongs could be forgiven and so He could teach how never to do a wrong thing again…sound like good news…yes or no?

Joh 3:5 KJV  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God… He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mar 16:16 KJV 

Have you ever been baptized to please Jesus…yes or no? Will you be baptized to obey and please Jesus who will reveal the truth to you so all you have to do is what is right with God and others…yes or no? Let your past make you better, not bitter…

Father please grant us repentance and mercy and these Christian graces so we may remain faithful and fruitful please meet our souls deepest needs and may we prosper as our souls prosper in Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen.