[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I believe that Philip 2:12-13 presents us with the teaching that
God is the reason for our will to do the right thing and our ability
to accomplish such -------------- that this applies to all of
mankind since the Reconciliation (Col
1:17-24). When I read that "No man comes to me except the Father draws
him," I think of this Philip passage. And in John 3:21, I see this
thinking confirmed. In that passage, we practice the truth and (then)
come to the Light. Christ manifests or reveals that this practice of
truth was actually accomplish "in God." Before coming to Christ, I
have a relationship of sorts with God. This is why repentance is so
important. Before repentance, God is a work in me but I am not his
partner -- not a good thing. After repentance, I have
fellowship or "joint participation" with God (Philip 2:1).
Repentance is a change of mind - getting things right in our
minds -- a turning around. When I "receive the Spirit," I am
accepting a gifted presence already a part of who I am as a result of
reconciliation. In Christ, the works of God (done even before I
came into light) are manifested to be the works of
God, Himself (again--John3:21).
Read for yourself and see how this passage (John 3:21) is related to
John 3:3 and the other passages I have mentioned. .
JD
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Repentance is indeed important. Before you repented, you were an enemy
of God. God was angry with you every day. Now that you are on His
side, He is able to love you without the anger or the animosity
hindering His blessings He had planned for you. You were not
reconciled to God while you were serving Satan. Can't work that way.
Terry
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