You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
10 But [de] thou [su] hast fully known [parakoloutheo] my [mou] doctrine, [didaskalia] manner of life, [agoge]
purpose, [prothesis] faith, [pistis] longsuffering, [makrothumia]
charity, [agape] patience, [hupomone] KJV-Interlinear
10 But you
followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, NASB
The word 'but' sets out a contrast between those whose spiritual lives are not functioning properly, and those whose spiritual lives are.
The dysfunctional spiritual person is an imitator of an unbeliever, and the spiritual life of the dysfunctional believer, other than being saved, does not amount to much, if anything.
Wicked is as wicked does, and when the individual picks and chooses the Biblical principles they will abide by, while rejecting those principles that they do not agree with, then their spiritual life is destined to failure from the get-go.
For those who reject outright, Gods mandates and principles, their destiny is rather obvious. Likewise it is with those who modify for their own definitions, various Biblical principles, as it is with those who compromise, or excuse, or are indifferent toward truth.
The written word on the page is of no use unless it is committed to ones daily life. And, you cannot commit to something unless you know and understand it, and then of course believe it.
You cannot be on both sides of the fence at the same time, and flip-flop in both places without repercussions.
And so, doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, are all terms that point to the life of the faithful believer who is in compliance with Gods will.
Doctrine begins the process. Doctrine is taught and doctrine must be learned. You cannot know anything unless you are first taught, and you cannot learn anything unless you want to learn.
Your manner of life is your mode of living. You learn doctrine and then you apply it to your daily life. You cannot preach freedom and then pursue socialism or some other form of non-freedom philosophy. You cannot promote the spiritual life and then pursue your own defined spiritual purpose. You cannot preach obedience and then reject authority. You cannot have a double standard where God is concerned.
Your purpose in life must be in accordance with Gods will, in accordance with truth, be in accordance with Gods purpose with your life. You cannot have a secondary agenda. You cannot reject your role, your function in life just because you do not agree with what God has placed in your life.
Your faith is based on facts and reality. Faith is not a wish or a hope based on chance or luck. Faith is based on knowledge and understanding and wisdom and confidence.
Longsuffering, looks at life and realizes that life in this devils world will throw lots of trash and curves and hard knocks at you. None of them are fair. But your objective is not in this life, but in the next. So you persevere, and stick to your spiritual guns, and you get through it all. If you get knocked down, you get up and you keep on getting up.
Charity here is identified by the Greek word, 'agape,' which refers to the principles of truth. And that is how your life should function. You cannot live by truth and some other philosophy simultaneously. There is no room for compromising truth, no room for bending the rules, no room for living on the grey or dark side, even if just for a little bit.
And patience is just that. You must be tolerant of all sorts of things that go on in life and in this world. Most people will not see life as you do. Most folks will not see the flaws of their own beliefs. But you cannot force them to see things your way, and you cannot make them learn their errors.
Unfortunately people have to learn the hard way, but you should not judge or condemn or use 'I told you so,' approaches.
The world has a great deal of latitude in morals and such. The Bible is the straight and narrow path of truth.
The world in its broad path has virtually no options or opportunity. The Bible with its straight and narrow path, has unlimited options and opportunities.
Bad decisions eliminate opportunities. Good decisions produce many opportunities.
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End Of Lesson
Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
