A Recognized Display, Yet Without Fruit

‘And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: and seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.'

(Mark 11:11-14 KJV)

'For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body ON THE TREE, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.'

(1 Peter 2:21-25 KJV)

The fig tree had no fruit on it. The tree on which Jesus 'his own SELF bare our sins' was so fruitful in righteousness that mankind recognizes the display of His sacrifice always. 'For even hereunto were ye called' to be a fruitful display in Christ, not without.

Childish Things are part of Charitable Adulthood

‘Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.'

(1 Corinthians 13:8-13, 14:1 KJV)

Charity is the sum of these parts and its attributes are listed in verses 4-7, same chapter, leading to the testimony of Jesus Christ: God's charity manifested to all!

'But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 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.' (Jude 1:17-21 KJV)

Confidence in the Flesh

‘Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.' (Philippians 3:4-6 KJV)

Those who are not Jews by nature also come with confidence: in their foundation and equipping, the nobility of renowned names, the prominence of their occupations, their consideration of righteousness.

'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 through 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.' 

(Philippians 3:7-11 KJV)

We won't win Christ with confidence in the flesh.

Through Faith unto Salvation

‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God THROUGH faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the LAST time.' (1 Peter 1:3-5 KJV)

Strong's concordance defines 'through' as a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act. The act being the testimony of Jesus Christ, him crucified then resurrected by God. By faith we understand and through faith we believe, being called to continue toward, and into the channel of his actions. If I drive THROUGH a tunnel, there is an entrance and an outlet. Understand that 'through faith unto salvation' is a matriculation: the end result uncovered in the LAST time: the furthest, uttermost channel of his actions.

God gives more Grace to Our malintent

‘But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do you think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he sayeth, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.'

(James 3:17-4:6 KJV)

'And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.' (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV)

God's grace to our strong, futile desires! Ask God for more grace, making peace!

In THAT He Is MADE Low

‘Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 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 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 3:4-12 KJV)

'Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: but the rich, in THAT he is MADE low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.' (James 1:9-11 KJV)

Recognize, receive, and rejoice in THAT which we are MADE low, for the brother of low degree rejoices in THAT he is exalted!

Sanctify Them Through Thy Truth

‘For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them THROUGH thy truth: thy word is truth.'

through- continuing in time toward completion of (a process or period); so as to complete successfully; from beginning to end of

'As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified THROUGH the truth.'

(John 17:8-19 KJV)

What manner of sanctifying truth was yet to be completed by Jesus? The cross of Christ! How much of Jesus' willing sanctification through the truth do you lack?