After Salvation, We Are Here To . . .
consistently reside in the divine dynasphere by maintaining the filling of God the Holy Spirit
take in the Word of God, which is found in the Holy Bible, and take in Bible Doctrine, which is communicated by gifted Bible teachers
As a new creation in Christ, our primary objective, our principal activity, our predominant area of concentration, our ultimate goal, our sole purpose for living as spiritually regenerated born-again believers in this present parenthetical dispensation of the Church [we are living in the Age of the Local Church inside the Church dispensation (see diagram)] is to consistently reside in the divine dynasphere by maintaining the filling of God the Holy Spirit, which can be maintained by keeping short confession accounts with God whenever we sin [commit a personal sin] and fall out of spirituality into carnality. Our consistent residency in the divine dynasphere not only provides us with power and protection from the onslaught of Satan’s cosmic system but allows us to effectively inculcate [impress on the mind] the entire content of the Word of God and the entire realm of Bible Doctrine, the process by which we grow to spiritual maturity.
“But He [Jesus] answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ” ” (Matthew 4:4, NASB)
We Are Here To Ingest The Word Of God
We are here to ingest, digest, metabolize, and assimilate the Word of God and Bible Doctrine. The Word of God coupled with Bible Doctrine is the spiritual food that sustains our soul. Just as physical food is vital for our body, our physical nourishment, our physical growth, our physical life, so spiritual food is vital for our soul, our spiritual nourishment, our spiritual growth, our spiritual life.
“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk [elementary doctrines] of the word [of God], [so] that you may grow [spiritually] thereby” (1 Peter 2:2, NKJV, emphasis added)
“How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalms 119:103, NASB)
“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty.” (Jeremiah 15:16, NIV)
Ingestion of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine is more important than ingestion of physical food. Our soul is more important than our body. Nourishment of our soul is more important than nourishment of our body. Spiritual growth of our soul is more important than physical growth of our body. Our spiritual life is more important than our physical life.
In stressing the greater importance of spiritual sustenance over physical sustenance, Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well:
“Whoever drinks of this [physical] water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the [spiritual] water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of [living] water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:13-14, NKJV, emphasis added)
In another instance, Jesus debased the importance of physical food over spiritual food during His conversation with the people who followed Him on a boat to Capernaum after being physically fed by Him. The day prior, they had witnessed the miraculous sign when Jesus turned five barley loaves and two small fish into many loaves and fishes. Now they were following Him hoping to acquire additional physical nourishment, but He said to them:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” (John 6:26-27, NASB)
Jesus was referring to Himself as the food which endures to everlasting life by further explaining:
“For the bread of God is [Me] who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:33, ESV, emphasis added)
Jesus declares:
“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35, NKJV)
The bread of life to which Jesus referred Himself is the Word of God since Jesus is the Word (John 1:1, 3; 1 John 1:1).
“[Thus] do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your [Heavenly] Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God [seek an understanding of God’s Word], and all these things shall be added to you.” (Luke 12:29-31, NKJV, emphasis added)
Even Job understands the greater importance of spiritual nourishment over physical nourishment by making the personal statement:
“I have not departed from the command of [God’s] lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary [physical] food.” (Job 23:12, NASB, emphasis added)
God declares to Samuel that He sees only the inner beauty in man by peering into his soul while man sees only the outer beauty in himself by gazing at his flesh:
“For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7b, NKJV)
Paul debases the value of physical nourishment by stressing the mortality of the body:
““Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other” (1 Corinthians 6:13a, ESV)
He later elevates the value of spiritual nourishment by making the command:
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2, CSB)
The reason being? While the body is mortal, the soul is immortal. The mortality of the body is reflected in its content: biological components that decomposes with time. The immortality of the soul is reflected in its content: the Word of God that stands apart from time. The body is created from dust [biological components] in a moment of time through the process of reproduction and will return to dust [biological components] at the point of physical death through the process of decomposition . . . both of which are subject to time. The Word of God is timeless: it has always existed, is presently existing, and will always be in existence. We must nourish that which is immortal with that which is timeless. We must nourish that which will endure forever with that which will stand forever. We must nourish our soul with the Word of God.
“Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” (Psalms 119:89, NIV)
“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8, NKJV)
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but [God’s] words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35, KJV, emphasis added)
We Are Here To Inhale The Word Of God
We are here to inhale the Word of God and Bible Doctrine so that we may exhale life, virtue love, perfect happiness, joy, contentment of soul, a relaxed mental attitude, sharing the happiness of God (+H), occupation with Christ, spiritual maturity, divine favor in the form of supergrace [escrow] blessings, consistent residency in the divine dynasphere [an invisible, spiritual sphere of divine power and protection energized and sustained by God the Holy Spirit], proper functioning of the unique Christian way of life, and a robust spiritual life full of confidence, stability, virtue, and vitality dictated by the consistent thinking of divine viewpoint and the consistent expression of Christ-like behavior and attitude.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23a, NASB)
Inhalation of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine is critical to maintaining vitality in the spiritual life. Just as the inhale and exhale process of breathing vital for our physical sustenance, so the inhale and exhale process of taking in the Word of God and Bible Doctrine vital for our spiritual sustenance. When we physically stop breathing, we physically die. When we stop taking in the Word of God and Bible Doctrine, we become spiritually asphyxiated. In our state of spiritual asphyxiation, we cease to operate in the power of God the Holy Spirit and cease to function as ambassadors for Jesus Christ and as agents of His glorification. While we are spiritually asphyxiated, we cannot continue to advance in the spiritual life; we cannot continue to advance toward the higher ground of spiritual maturity. As a result, we are likely to become casualties in the angelic conflict, neutralized as witnesses in the angelic appeal trial. In addition, we risk forfeiting our temporal and eternal blessings and rewards that come from holding firm to our high-ground position. As regenerate believers in this present dispensation of the Church, we still possess eternal salvation, a human spirit, the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit, and still are members of the Body of Christ regardless of whether we are in a state of spiritual vitality or spiritual asphyxiation for these things are irrevocable as they are received permanently at the moment of non-meritorious faith in Christ.
Without the consistent inhalation of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine to maintain our spiritual momentum, however, we become stagnant in the spiritual life. In our idle condition, we become vulnerable to reversionism, i.e. backsliding in the spiritual life. We may fall into relapse and revert back to our old nature, our old lifestyle, our old pattern of human viewpoint thinking. In our state of reversionism, we are preoccupied with self, circumstance, the details of life, a frantic search for happiness, and the three arrogance skills [self-justification, self-deception, self-absorption], which may bring about divine discipline, self-induced misery, and the sin unto death. Without the consistent inhalation of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine to remain spiritually awake, we lose spiritual vitality and cease to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23a)—the pinnacle of the spiritual life. Therefore, we must continue to inhale the Word of God and Bible Doctrine in order to exhale a life of meaning, purpose, and definition.
““It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread [on physical sustenance] alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God [on spiritual sustenance].’ ” ” (Matthew 4:4, NKJV, emphasis added)
We Are Here To Saturate Our Soul
We are here to saturate our soul [mind] with the Word of God and Bible Doctrine so that we may maximize our time under occupation with Christ while minimizing our time under occupation with self or circumstance. While ingestion and inhalation of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine is paramount to becoming spiritually awake, robust, and satiated, saturation of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine is paramount to remaining spiritually awake, robust, and satiated. Just as a stomach saturated with wholesome food will in that moment not crave unhealthy food, so a soul saturated with the Word of God and Bible Doctrine will in that moment not think ‘unhealthy’ [carnal] thoughts.
“My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,” (Psalms 63:5a, NASB)
“For He [the LORD] has satisfied the thirsty soul,
And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good [Bible Doctrine].” (Psalms 107:9, NASB, emphasis added)
The Word of God and Bible Doctrine must continuously permeate and fill our soul. Having a saturation of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine in our soul maximizes our time under divine viewpoint thinking while minimizing our time under human viewpoint thinking. Having a saturation of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine in our soul protects us from the insidious intrusion of Satanic and false doctrines creeping into our thought pattern. Having a saturation of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine in our soul enables us to resist the influence of Satanic and false doctrines projected through human viewpoint thinking. Having a saturation of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine in our soul enables us to resist the influence of Satan’s cosmic system projected through the legalistic ritual of religion and the arrogant thought pattern of secular humanism. Having a saturation of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine in our soul allows us to repel ‘the flaming missiles of the evil one’ [constant enemy fire by Satan and his demon hordes in the form of direct attack [demonic influence] and indirect attacks [distraction and deception]].
“And do not be conformed to this world [under cosmic influence or human viewpoint thinking], but be transformed by the [daily] renewing of your mind [through the daily intake of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine], so that you may prove what the will of God is [through the consistent thinking of divine viewpoint], that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, NASB, emphasis added; cf. Ephesians 4:23, NKJV)
“For our struggle [our spiritual combat] is not against flesh and blood [against human beings], but against the rulers [highest ranking demon generals], against the powers [authorities of the demon officer corps], against the world forces of this darkness [demon ambassadors], against the spiritual forces of wickedness [the rank-and-file demons] in the heavenly places [the stellar universe, even heaven itself].” (Ephesians 6:12, NASB, emphasis added)
We Are Here To Renovate Our Mind
We are here to renovate our mind or thinking through the daily inculcation of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine. Inculcation of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine is an activity of the will, and, just like any other activity, requires positive volition: the desire to perform the activity; discipline to concentrate on the activity while eliminating distractions from people, circumstance, or another activity; determination to fully commit to the activity despite opposition from self [the flesh or the sin nature], family members, relatives, friends, acquaintances, or other people; patience to wait for the overcoming of any hindrances that may delay the progression or completion of the activity; endurance to continue to carry out the activity even when the benefits or results are not clearly seen or when the end is not in sight; perseverance to overcome all obstacles, setbacks, diversions, hindrances, delays, distractions, circumstances, and opposition from self [the flesh or the sin nature], family members, relatives, friends, acquaintances, or other people in order to fully engage, commit to, and complete the activity.
Jesus Christ Himself stresses intake of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine as the most important activity in life while He was at the home of Mary and Martha:
“Now it happened as they [Jesus and the disciples] went that He [Jesus] entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed [intake of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine], and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” ” (Luke 10:38-42, NKJV, emphasis added)
We must continue to inculcate the Word of God and Bible Doctrine on a daily basis until it becomes habitual or second nature to us. The process of inculcation is a gradual process that becomes easier with repetition. The more we do it, the easier it gets. The more we do it, the less contrived it feels. The more we do it, the more comfortable we are at doing it. The more we do it, the more likely we are to do it again. The more we do it, the more likely we will adopt it into our daily routine. The more we do it, the more it becomes a part of our modus vivendi or manner of living. Our daily inculcation of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine will result in the progressive transformation or gradual renovation of our old pattern of human viewpoint thinking with a new pattern of thinking—Christ’s pattern of thinking also known as divine viewpoint thinking.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed [renovated] day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16, NKJV, emphasis added)
As the Word of God and Bible Doctrine gradually permeates all of the compartments of our soul, it changes our thinking. Christ’s thinking or divine viewpoint thinking becomes the reality of our thinking. Divine viewpoint thinking will dictate what we say and do as God would have it. Divine viewpoint thinking will orient our will to God’s Will. Only by operating under God’s Will can we orient to His overall, unique, and individual plan for each of us.
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ [the Word].” (2 Corinthians 10:5, KJV, emphasis added)
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:17, ESV)
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3a, NASB)
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing [renovation] of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, NASB, emphasis added)
We Are Here To Replace Our Human Viewpoint
We are here to replace our human viewpoint thinking with divine viewpoint thinking.
Human viewpoint is the native or default viewpoint that every human being expresses the moment he begins to utilize his mental cognition to develop his own pattern of thinking.
Doctrine of Human Viewpoint:
Human viewpoint is grounded on the premise that all people after Adam [except Jesus Christ] are born with a distorted worldview from their inherited sin nature and from the prevailing influence of Satan’s cosmic system.
Human viewpoint is unique to each person, reflecting the unique expression of his mental cognition with his pattern of thinking.
Human viewpoint establishes a subjective or biased worldview that is always limited in scope and distorted by self or circumstance.
Human viewpoint constitutes a pattern of thinking that deviates from the omniscience of God reflected in divine viewpoint.
Human viewpoint is the antithesis of divine viewpoint.
Human viewpoint is derived from Satan’s viewpoint.
Human viewpoint is a representation of Satan’s worldview—a projection of Satan’s arrogant pattern of thinking, his worldly wisdom, and his diabolical genius.
Human viewpoint establishes a worldview that departs from absolute objective truth since Satan is the author of lies.
Human viewpoint produces a distorted view of reality.
Human viewpoint originated at the deception of the woman in the Garden of Eden after Satan implanted his own viewpoint into her blank-slate mind.
Human viewpoint materialized when the woman expressed negative volition toward God’s Word [reflected in her disregard for God’s prescribed law and His expressed will forbidding the eating of the forbidden fruit] while expressing positive volition toward Satanic doctrine [by believing, digesting, metabolizing, and assimilating the lie that Satan promoted—that man can be like God].
The source of human viewpoint is always negative volition toward the absolute truth of God’s Word and positive volition toward doctrines of demons.
Human viewpoint stands on the basic premise that man can be like God, which was the very lie Satan disseminated in the Garden of Eden.
Since it stands on the basic premise that man can be like God, human viewpoint projects an aura of pride and arrogance at its very core.
The pattern of thinking behind human viewpoint is the same pattern of thinking behind the concept of evolution: that man can evolve to godhood.
An individual under human viewpoint thinking is unaware that he is thinking human viewpoint.
An individual under human viewpoint thinking cannot detect another individual under human viewpoint thinking.
An individual under human viewpoint thinking cannot detect an individual under divine viewpoint thinking.
Human viewpoint cannot be detected by individuals who are under human viewpoint thinking.
Human viewpoint can only be detected by individuals who are under divine viewpoint thinking.
Antithetical to human viewpoint is divine viewpoint.
What is Divine Viewpoint?
Divine viewpoint is God the Father’s viewpoint and is also Jesus Christ’s viewpoint.
Jesus says:
“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30, CSB)
“All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine [divine viewpoint] and will disclose it to you.” (John 16:15, NASB, emphasis added)
“All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” (Matthew 11:27, NKJV)
As the viewpoint of Jesus Christ and God the Father, divine viewpoint is infinitely superior to human viewpoint by every measure of thought and pattern of thinking. The remedy for human viewpoint, therefore, is its displacement by divine viewpoint. By assimilating the entire content of the Bible and the entire realm of Bible Doctrine, we may replace our human viewpoint thinking with divine viewpoint thinking. Assimilation of the entire content of the Bible to the right lobe of our soul [heart—kardia] will enable us to think from the Biblical viewpoint. Assimilation of the entire realm of Bible Doctrine to the right lobe of our soul will enable us to think from the doctrinal viewpoint. Our overall viewpoint or the viewpoint that we use to perceive the world is the sum total output of two mental processes: our mental cognition [thinking process] and our pattern of thinking. Our overall viewpoint is the reality from which we see, perceive, and experience the world. At any moment in time, our overall viewpoint is expressed as either human viewpoint, Biblical viewpoint, doctrinal viewpoint, or both Biblical and doctrinal viewpoints combined [which is divine viewpoint]. In other words, at any moment in time, we either see, perceive, and experience reality from the human viewpoint, the Biblical viewpoint, the doctrinal viewpoint, or the divine viewpoint.
To summarize:
Mental cognition + pattern of thinking = overall viewpoint
Overall viewpoint is expressed as either human viewpoint, Biblical viewpoint, doctrinal viewpoint, or both Biblical and doctrinal viewpoints at the same time [divine viewpoint]
Biblical viewpoint + doctrinal viewpoint = divine viewpoint
The Word of God coupled with Bible Doctrine is the source of divine viewpoint.
Divine viewpoint thinking is the reality of the Word of God in our life. We are what we think!
“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7a, NKJV)
Divine viewpoint is the basis of revelation of God’s will for us. Divine viewpoint is our source of divine guidance.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.” (Psalms 119:105, NASB)
Divine viewpoint is the mind or thinking of Jesus Christ.
Divine viewpoint will supplant [supersede and displace] our human viewpoint, lifting the veil of Satan’s cosmic system and allowing us to see the world through God’s lens.
“So Jesus was saying to those . . . who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”” (John 8:31-32, NASB, emphasis added)
We Are Here To Inherit The Mind Of Christ
We are here to come to a complete understanding of Jesus Christ, to revere His Person and His Work, to be continuously occupied with Him, and to inherit His thinking. The more we take in the Word of God and Bible Doctrine, the more we will come to know Christ both personally and intimately. The more intimately we know Christ, the more we will come to respect both His Person as eternal God and perfect humanity in hypostatic union and His Work as our Substitute, Savior, and Redeemer Who died for us. The more we come to revere the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, the more steadfast and persistent we will become occupied with Him. The more tenacious we are occupied with Christ, the more we will think like Him.
The Word of God coupled with Bible Doctrine is the mind or thinking of Jesus Christ.
As the mind of Christ, we are commanded to firmly plant the Word of God and Bible Doctrine in the right lobe of our soul [heart—kardia] so that we may inherit the mind of Christ.
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5, NKJV)
“For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16, NASB)
We Are Here To Expedite Our Spiritual Advance
We are here to maximize our intake of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine in a minimum amount of time so that we may expedite our advancement to spiritual maturity. As the number one priority in the postsalvation Christian life, intake of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine must take precedence over all other routine or non-routine activities in life. Prioritizing entails setting aside activities that are lower in priority to focus on activities that are higher in priority—setting aside activities that are less important to concentrate on activities that are more important. Prioritizing does not entail disregarding the less important activities altogether but only to set them aside until the more important activities are accomplished. Nothing is more important than intake of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine for the believer in Jesus Christ. Intake of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine, therefore, must be the central focus of our life; it must be our foremost desire, passion, and zeal in life. We must build our daily routine around intake of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine. Since reaching spiritual maturity is our number one objective in our postsalvation Christian life, all other activities should be set aside for the sake of fulfilling our number one priority: to take in the Word of God and Bible Doctrine.
“I will worship toward Your holy temple,
And praise Your name
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You [God] have magnified Your word [and Your doctrinal teaching] above all Your name [reputation].” (Psalms 138:2, NKJV, emphasis added)
“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11, NASB)
Advancement to spiritual maturity is a life-long process that requires a life-long commitment to taking in the Word of God and Bible Doctrine. For the new believer in Jesus Christ, initiating the first steps of spiritual growth is most difficult. Since no momentum has yet been developed, initiating the first steps of spiritual growth requires a direct act of the will, usually against the wind of habit. The new believer would have to make a conscious decision to actively form the habit of taking in the Word of God and Bible Doctrine. When starting out habit formation, persistency is key. When momentum has been developed, consistency is key. We must inculcate or impress on the mind the Word of God and Bible Doctrine on a daily basis until it becomes a habitual, unconscious, and reflexive activity in our daily life—i.e. until the activity becomes second nature to us. Once the habit is formed, the activity no longer becomes a chore but a part of our daily routine. The result of persistency and consistency is a transformation of thought.
“that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:22-24, NASB)
Intake of the Word of God AND Bible Doctrine is an activity unique to believers living in this present parenthetical dispensation of the Church. Intake of the Word of God AND Bible Doctrine is the divine economy given to believers living in this present dispensation. Intake of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine is not just an activity but a way of life. That way of life revolves around the daily study, perception, and application of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine. When the Word of God and Bible Doctrine become the believer’s constant frame of reference through his consistent intake and study, the believer can apply it to any exigency in life.
In this present dispensation of the Church, all believers are commanded to take in the Word of God and Bible Doctrine regardless of race [whether Jew or Gentile], status [whether scholar or layman], or circumstance [whether idle or busy].
“Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him-a renewal in which there is no distinction between [Gentile] and Jew, . . . slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.” (Colossians 3:9-11, NASB, emphasis added)
Temporal and eternal blessings and impact are exclusively reserved for those who have heeded the call to expedite their spiritual advance through the daily intake, digestion, metabolism, assimilation, and perception of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine.
“But He [Jesus] said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it [guard it in their soul]!”” (Luke 11:28, NKJV, corrected translation)
We are here to render service to both unbelievers and believers.
“Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.” (1 Corinthians 10:24, NASB)
“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.” (Romans 15:1-2, NASB)
Service to unbelievers is rendered through the presentation of the Gospel.
“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23, NASB)
“Give no offense either to Jews or to [Gentiles] or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:32-33, NASB, emphasis added)
Service to believers is rendered through the communication of Bible Doctrine.
“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” (2 Timothy 4:1-2, NASB)
Before these two services can be rendered effectively, spiritual advance is necessary. The prerequisite to presenting the Gospel to unbelievers and to communicating Bible Doctrine to believers is advancement to spiritual maturity. Only at spiritual maturity will we have the full knowledge capacity required to comfortably and succinctly communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ to unbelievers and Bible Doctrine to believers.
The greatest service a new believer can render to his neighbor is to personally advance to spiritual maturity through the daily inculcation of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine. The greatest service a mature believer can render to his neighbor is to present the Gospel to him if he is an unbeliever and to communicate Bible Doctrine to him if he is a believer.
When each believer has assimilated a maximum amount of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine, we will have attained continuity of mind.
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” (1 Corinthians 1:10, NIV)
“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous” (1 Peter 3:8, NKJV; cf. Philippians 2:2, NKJV)
“That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:6, KJV)
Thereby, fulfilling the ministry of reconciliation given to us, as the Body of Christ, in this present parenthetical dispensation of the Church as we eagerly wait for the Rapture event [the appearing of our Lord in the air to take us to heaven].
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18, KJV)
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age [by means of the daily inculcation and application of the Word of God and Bible Doctrine], looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed [human good (dead works)—work performed under one’s own control; has no eternal value], and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession [the Body of Christ], zealous for good deeds [divine good—work performed under the control of God the Holy Spirit; has eternal value].” (Titus 2:11-14, NASB, emphasis added)
That is the objective of remaining on this earth!
