According to Knowledge

‘Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not ACCORDING to KNOWLEDGE. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.' (Romans 10:1-3 KJV)

'That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the KNOWLEDGE of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may KNOW what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.' (Ephesians 1:17-23 KJV)

'But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the KNOWLEDGE of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may KNOW him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.' (Philippians 3:7-12 KJV)

'This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we HAVE FELLOWSHIP with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we HAVE FELLOWSHIP one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.'

(1 John 1:5-7 KJV)

'I will therefore put you in REMEMBRANCE, though you once KNEW this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.' (Jude 1:5 KJV)

Good to Know!

'He hath done All Things well'

‘And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; and were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done ALL THINGS well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.' 

(Mark 7:36,37 KJV)

'And we know that ALL THINGS work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.'

(Romans 8:28,29 KJV)

'But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know ALL THINGS. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.'

(1 John 2:20,21 KJV)

'The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Beloved, I wish above ALL THINGS that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.' (3 John v.2,3 KJV)

'For ALL THINGS are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.'

(2 Corinthians 4:15 KJV)

'So likewise ye, when ye shall have done ALL THOSE THINGS which are commanded you...' (Luke 17:10 KJV)

So, likewise ye!

Separated FROM What?

‘Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, SEPARATED unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: by whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: to all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.' (Romans 1:1-7 KJV)

'According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood hay stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; YET SO as by fire.'

(1 Corinthians 3:10-15 KJV)

(Read the entirety of Philippians 3 KJV)

'But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is THROUGH the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.' (Philippians 3:7-12 KJV)

Separated from confidence in the flesh to be apprehended of Christ Jesus.

His Righteousness: Our Undeniable Part

‘For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.' 

(Matthew 5:20 KJV)

'That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.' (Romans 10:9,10 KJV)

'If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.' (1 John 2:29 KJV)

'Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.' (1 John 3:7 KJV)

'In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.' (1 John 3:10 KJV)

'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.' (Romans 12:1,2 KJV)

Be of Those that Shall

‘Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without (in the absence of), and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence (from which, where) ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence (from which, where) ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.' 

(Luke 13:23-30 KJV)

'Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.' (Romans 10:1-4 KJV)

'But what saith it (the righteousness which is of faith)? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.' (Romans 10:8-11 KJV)

Begin your daily devotion by confessing with your mouth the Lord Jesus, not to someone else, but to the God that raised him from the dead.

More than Conquerors!

‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he did also predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:28-39 KJV)

'Beloved, I wish ABOVE all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.' (3 John v.2 KJV)

'But ye, beloved, building UP yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from FALLING, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 1:20-25 KJV)

In Christ Jesus, higher than those things meant to conquer those who would inherit eternal life in Him: more than those conquerors.

The Door of the Sheep

‘Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me; even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.' 

(John 10:7-18 KJV)

Jesus clearly separates his calling from that of the hireling: which falls prey to the wolf (deception, violence, greed, spiritual danger). The sheep are scattered until they hear his voice and enter in at the door. We should ask the Father, each of us, in the name of Jesus Christ, for wisdom to understand this good shepherding principle!