I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2
We are
told to 'present' our bodies as 'a livingsacrifice'
to God as a part of what is our "reasonable service" to him. In
this verse -- the word "present" is noted as a 'verb' (not a 'noun') BUT the
phrase of "a living sacrifice" is what makes me think of the idea of "an
exchange, in which we offer unto God (the sacrificial-gift) of a life of
repentance and obedience and He, in response provides (as a reward-gift) the
'power of His ’godliness and grace. In this salvation God fully expects His
saints to provide Him with the sacrificial-gift of 'repentance followed by a
life of holiness, which (after all that He has done for us) is really only our
reasonable service as His Willing bond-servants. Even the prodigal son
did not expect more from his dad than (possibly) being received
into the household as a mere servant and, when his dad saw that he had 'repented
and was also willing to live a 'righteous life, he was pardoned and restored
again to the family. .
What I have found is that due to false-teaching everyone seems to think of God
as being some type of Celestial Santa, who gives-and-gives and that He would
never think to expect anything in return not even obedience (which is utterly
preposterous as even the pagan-character of Santa expects his fabled
gift-receivers to live lives of being nice and not naughty.
THE GIFT OF GOD’S GRACE
People truly need to begin realize that the GIFT of God IS not
Repentance. In other words God does not give to nor does He provide as a
Gift’ the act of ‘Repentance. And this is because the act of ‘Repentance can
only occur through the impetus of
‘one’s-free-will-triggered-by-one’s-godly-sorrow’.
The GIFT of God IS actually both His MERCY (which is His
salvation) FROM a life/lifestyle of sin and is His GRACE
(which is the spiritual empowerment that God grants for us to resist
following-sin) both of which are provided (by God) again, as a Gift.
God gives His Gift” of Mercy and Grace as a result of or in exchange for
(much in the same manner as that of the act of a gift-giving or a
gift-exchange) one’s Faith in (which is one’s fidelity to / faithfulness
to) Christ (which is displayed-and-proven via one obeying His
commandments and laws)a person’s FAITH in (fidelity to) Christ is
INITIATED by their FIRST taking the
free-will action of true REPENTANCE.
Faith is triggered by Repentance and Repentance is triggered by
Godly-Sorrow. Repentance is making the choice, and taking the action, of
turning-away from the evil path of living an-ungodly-life-of unrighteousness to
the straight and narrow path of godliness, AND this act is also demonstrated in
an observable BEHAVIOR of:
humility->confession->repentance->amends->obedience”. It is through
REPENTANCE (on mankind’s part) followed by MERCY and GRACE (on God’s part) that
we are REDEEMED and RECONCILED TO God. AND it is by our CHOICE to continually
place our FAITH-IN (fidelity-to) Christ (empowered by God’s GRACE) that we
remain in communion-with God all the way until we reach the end of our life’s
journey. As, SALVATION can only occur with this act of REPENTANCE AND of a
continual-OBEDIENCE to (FAITH-IN / fidelity-to) Christ TO THE END!
That as sin
hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through
righteousness unto eternal life
by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5;21)
THE GIFT OF GOD (THAT PEOPLE LOVE TO MAKE NOTE OF FROM JOHN
3:16 AND EPHESIANS 2:8) IS ACTUALLY A TWO-WAY / GIFT-EXHANGE
AND IT IS *NOT*A *ONE-WAY GIFT TAKING
Humanity is to
offer the sacrificial-gift
(gift / dōron) of
Repentance (which is
displayed / acted-out / worked-out via continual-obedience to, i.e. faith-fulness
/ fidelity to God’s commands) proven by
deeds/behavior/action/ thoughts / words intentions/etc. AND God THEN
reciprocates with His sacrificial-gift of Mercy
(salvation) which is combined with Grace (empowerment).
For by GRACE are ye SAVED through FAITH; and
that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God:
Ephesians 2:8)
THE LAW OF
FIDELITY, i.e. the choice OF REPENTANCE and of Continuing Obedience IS NOT
THE LAW OF DEATH, i.e the act SELF-REIGHTEOUSNESS
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not
to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.2Cor7:10
FIDELITY / FAITH-FULNESS, VIA OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW IS WHAT CONNECTS US
TO
OUR JUSTIFICATION IN CHRIST. GOD’S LAW IS ESTABLISHED VIA OUR FIDELITY
THE ‘RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FIDELITY IS A FACT. OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S-LAW BRINGS
US TO-CHRIST’AND THIS FIDELITY JUSTIFIES US THROUGH-CHRIST
(FIDELITY ‘TO-CHRIST’ -- AND HIS LAW) THIS IS ACTUALLY WHAT DISPLAYS /
SHOWS / PROVES THAT WE ARE ‘IN-CHRIST OUR OBEDIENCE TO THE-LAW-OF-LIFE
FREES US FROM THE-LAW-OF SIN AND DEATH.
The word Dōrēma means “a gift, bounty, benefaction
The ROOT of the word Dōrēma is – the word Dōreomai
to present, bestow and it is found used in the following
verses:
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect GIFT is from above, and cometh down from
the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
2 Peter 1:3
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:
2 Peter 1:4
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.
The word dōrea
means a gift AND it is used in the following verses:
John 4:10
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the GIFT of God, and
Who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have
asked of Him, and He would have given thee living
water.
Jesus approached the woman with a REQUEST which
represents God calling-out to sinners to REPENT after
which He then provides (to the repentant) His own GIFT-EXHANGE of
‘The Living Water, SALVATION in Christ!
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the
GIFT of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:20
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought
that the
GIFT of God may be purchased with money.
Acts 10:45
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as
many as came with Peter,
because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the GIFT (G1431)
of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 11:17
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like GIFT as he did unto
us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could
withstand God?
The English word Believed as used in Acts 11:17 is from
the Greek word Pisteuō which means to entrust a
thing to / fidelity and it is based on the Greek ROOT
word of pistis which means fidelity to / faith-fullness to
Romans 5:15
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of
one many be dead,
much more the grace of God, and the GIFT ) by grace, which
is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Romans 5:17
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive
abundance of
grace and of the GIFF) of righteousness shall reign in
life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Ephesians 3:7
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the GIFF) of
the grace of God given unto
me by the effectual working of His power
Ephesians 4:7
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of
the GIFT ) of Christ.
Hebrews:4
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the
heavenly GIFT
and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
BOTH the word Dōreoma) AND the word dōrea) are based on the root word of dōron which means a present / gift; the offering of sacrifices and other gifts offered to God; presents offered in expression of honor; the offering or gifts of money cast into the treasury for the purposes of the temple and for the support of the poor and is used in the following verses:
Matthew 2:11
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his
mother, and fell
down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they
presented unto him
GIFTS gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 5:23
Therefore if thou bring thy GIFT to the altar, and there remember that thy
brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy GIFT
(G1435) before the altar, and go thy
way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer
thy GIFT
Matthew 8:4
And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself
to the priest,
and offer the GIFT that Moses commanded, for a TESTIMONY unto them.
Matthew 15:5
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a GIFT by
whatsoever
thou mightest be profited by me;
Matthew 23:18
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever
sweareth
by the GIFT that is upon it, he is guilty. Ye fools and blind: for
whether is greater, the GIFT or the altar that sanctifieth the GIFT
(G1435)?
Mark 7:11
But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that
is to say, a GIFT, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be
free.
Luke 21:1
And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their GIFTS into
the treasury.
Luke 21:4
For all these have of their abundance cast in unto
the OFFERINGS of God: but she of her
penury hath cast in all the living that she
had.
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the GIFTof God:
Hebewrs 5:1
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things
pertaining to God,
that he may offer both GIFTS and sacrifices for sins:
Hebrews 8:3
For every high priest is ordained to offer GIFTS and sacrifices:
wherefore it is of necessity that
this man have somewhat also to offer.
Hebrews 8:4
For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest,seeing that there are
priests that offer GIFTS according to the law:
Hebrews 9:9 Which was a figure for the
time then present, in which were offered both GIFTS and
sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as
pertaining to the conscience;
Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than
Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God
testifying of his GIFTS and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Revelation 11:10
And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry,
and shall send GIFTS one to another; because these two prophets tormented them
that dwelt on the earth.
THE INTER-ACTION
OF THE GIFT-EXCHANGE:
The INTIAL Offering of Repentance
(by a person)
AND the RESPONDING Receiving of Salvation (from God) is a type of an
Exchange and it is very much like Breathing, wherein TWO INTER-ACTIONS
OCCUR (via the act of BOTH inhaling AND the act of exhaling) and the
inter-change of these TWO ACTIONS result in BOTH bringing about
AND (also in continuing on in) the GIFT of LIFE to all.
The continuing ACT / ACTION of FAITH (fidelity) to God via His continuing GIFT
of GRACE (which is the POWER to reject sin and to live in godliness) is
similar to the way Vegetation provides / offers
Oxygen to a Living Creature AND the Living Creature also provides / offers
Carbon Dioxide to Vegetation as a type of a Gift-Exchange, much like God
offers GRACE (power) and His saints offer FAITH (fidelity) (i.e. BOTH
entities are WORKING-TOGETHER or SYMBIOTICALLY TO CREATE a
righteous-result) Thus, for a TRUE saint of God the desire,
willingness, determination; drive and action
to be OBEDIENT to God and His commands should truly be as
natural as breathing.
BOTH the Greek word Doma and the Greek
word Dosis are derived from the base of the Greek word
Didōmi which
is a VERB (ACTION word) that means (to) give, grant,
put, make, show, deliver; (to) give give something to someone; of
one's own accord to the other’s advantage, to bestow a gift; grant;
let have (to one asking) / permit / supply / furnish (necessary things; give
forth from one's self; endure / reach out / extend / present / cause
to come forth (as the sea, death and Hell are said to give up the dead who
have been engulfed or received by them) give over, deliver, entrust, commit
to one's care (a writing / something to be administered / something to be
religiously observed) , give what is due or obligatory / to pay:
wages or reward; hand out lots / appoint to an office; commission give
one to someone (as his own, as an object of his saving care; to follow him as a
leader and master; to give one to someone to care for his interests; to whom he
already belonged, to return.
1 Corinthians 3:10
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 build thereupon.
1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to
God, which GIVETH us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:22
Who hath also sealed us, and GIVEN the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
2 Corinthians 5:5
Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God,
who also hath GIVEN unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
Ephesians 1:17
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may GIVE (G1325) unto
you the spirit of
wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Hebrews 8:10
For this is the
covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the
Lord; I will PUT my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I
will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Hebrews 10:16
This is the
covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will
PUT (G1325) my
laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them
James 1:5
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that GIVETH to all men
liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be
GIVEN him.
James 4:6
But he GIVETH more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but
GIVETH grace unto the humble.
Revelation 2:7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To
him that overcometh
will I GIVE to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of
God.
Revelation 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of
you into prison,
that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful
unto death, and I will give GIVE thee a crown of life.
Revelation 2:17
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To
him that overcometh will I GIVE to eat of the hidden manna, and will GIVE him a
white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he
that receiveth it.
Revelation 2:26
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I
GIVE power over the nations:
Revelation 3:21
To him that overcometh will I GRANT to sit with me in my throne, even as I also
overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Revelation 19:8
And to her was GRANTED that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and
white: for the fine linen is
the righteousness of saints.
Revelation 21:6
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
end. I will GIVE
unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
CHARISMA
(Grace)
the gift of divine grace; the gift of faith, knowledge,
holiness, virtue; grace or gifts denoting xtraordinary powers,
distinguishing and enabling to serve Christ, the reception of
which is due to the power of divine grace operating on souls by the Holy
Spirit
Romans 1:11
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual GIFT to the end
ye may be established;
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death;
but the GIFT of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Timothy 4:14
Neglect not the GIFT that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the
laying on of the
hands of the presbytery.
1 Peter 4:10
As every man hath received the GIFT
even so minister
the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
The ROOT word of the Greek word CHARISMA is the word
CHARIZOMAI,
which means to
do something pleasant or agreeable (to one), to do a favor to,
gratify; to give graciously; to bestow; to give freely; to show one's self
gracious, kind, benevolent; to (grant) forgive(-ness) / pardon; to graciously
restore one to another; to preserve for one a person in peril
Romans 8:32
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?
1 Corinthians 2:12
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of
God; that we might know the things that are freely GIVEN to us of God.
Galatians 3:18
For if the inheritance be of
the law, it
is no more of
promise: but God GAVE it to
Abraham by promise.
Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, FORGIVEING one another, even as
God
for Christ's sake hath FORGIVEN you.
Philemon 1:29
For unto you it is GIVEN in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him,
but also to suffer for his sake;
The ROOT word of the Greek word
Charizoma”
is the Greek word CHARIS
which means Grace
Titus 2:11
For the GRACE of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Titus 3:7
That being justified by his GRACE we should be made heirs according to the hope
of eternal life.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of GRACE that we may obtain mercy,
and find
GRACE to help in time of need.
Hebrews 10:29
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath
trodden
under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith
he was
sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of GRACE
Hebrewsr 12:15
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the GRACE of God; lest any root of
bitterness springing up trouble you,
and thereby many be defiled;
Hebrews 12:28
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have
GRACE whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Hebrews 13:9
Be not caried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it
is a
good thing that the heart
be established with GRACE not with meats, which have not profited them that have
been occupied therein.
Jude 1:4
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to
this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the GRACE of our God into
lasciviousness, and denying
the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.