Christ Covenant Church

1. Orginal Sin 2. Moral Inability 3. Penal Substitution 4. Ontological Monotheism 5. Faith Alone Gospel

I (Rabbi Scott) have been saved and following Christ for 30 years. Here are some things I would tell myself if I could go back in time to the beginning.   1. Send thank you cards to those who persecute you. 1.1. Though 2Ti 3:12 makes clear that persecution is promised to those who attempt to preach and practice faithfulness to Christ, we nonetheless seem to be caught off guard when it happens. 1.2. Hence why Peter says what he does in (1Pe 4:12 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you”). 1.3. This “testing” in not only necessary to qualifying for the next life, it also promises to grant us and extra measure of blessing (Mat 5:10-12) = If the tests we faced in this life included being slandered and condemned as evil by false followers of Christ (the main antagonists of Christ’s words – Joh 16:2) we will receive a greater reward than those who faced no persecution (“your reward in heaven is great” - Or greater than the other blessings or rewards mentioned in the prior verses [3-9]). 1.4. Which means two things: 1) those who persecute us are actually doing us a huge favor! They are personally seeing to it that our eternal stay in Paradise be upgraded to first class. 2) the considerate thing to do in relation to such individuals would therefore be to send them a thank you card letting them know we appreciate the upgrade. 1.5. We could also offer to send them pics of all the awesome experiences we will be having – since where they are going will not be awesome – but awful. 1.6. PNTM: We should be overjoyed every time someone speaks evil about us (or our church) since what they are ultimately doing is increasing our stock value for the next life.   2. Focus on glowing over knowing. 2.1. Glowing = Becoming immortal; Knowing = Becoming omniscient. 2.2. As you continue to follow Christ, you will (of course) learn more and more of the Bible. The temptation that can arise because of such learning is the expectation that God or His Word will provide the answer to all things; that all your questions get answered and all your conundrums get solved – which is just another way of saying, “I demand to be omniscient or all-knowing like God.” And 2.3. This then becomes the requirement of your relationship with God: “For me to follow/obey Him, I need to know everything He knows.” This is not only a highly dangerous and sinful path to take in our walk with God, but the one tread by our first parents. 2.4. Adam and Eve demanded to know - and as a result, lost their glow (they lusted after omniscience and lost their immortality) (Gen 2:17 w/3:6-7) = The view within ancient Judaism and the early church was that the pre-Fall bodies of Adam and Eve were akin to the pre-incarnate body of Jesus or those of the righteous angels – they were glowing as though they were made of light (or fire) (Eze 1:26-28 “Son of Man” [Dan 7:13]; Dan 10:6; Consider also Moses’ face after dwelling in the presence of Jesus on Mt. Sinai – Exo 34:29). Their quest for forbidden knowledge meant not only losing these illuminated coverings which hid their otherwise naked bodies (hence the reason for the “fig leaves” – and later, God clothing them with garments of animal skins – v21), but also the protection this “forcefield of light” provided against Creation’s deadly forces (damage, disease and decay) (hence why God said, “in the day you eat of it you shall die”).[1]  2.5. God’s prohibition against eating from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” indicates that it was never His will that we would know all things – or that we would get all things right, during our earthly life. Our mission/test is not the pursuit of omniscience (knowing) but immortality (glowing) which requires knowing – or getting right, only one thing: the gospel (Gal 1:8-9) and trusting God (versus fretting over) those things we don’t yet understand or may never understand (Deu 29:29).[2]  2.6. Hence the reason: 1) the only thing we see the faithful people of the early church ever fighting to get right – or know with great precision, are things related to the gospel (Gal 2:11-12 w/Act 15:1-22). 2) we are to recognize as true brothers/sisters in Christ all those who possess and practice the right gospel – regardless of how ignorant/wrong they may be in relation to other things (Mar 9:38-40 “not following us” = Not believing or doing all of the same things we do as part of our discipleship and worship of Christ; “perform a miracle in My name” = They possess power/authority in agreement with My NIL which makes them members of a covenant community possessing the right gospel; e.g., the church in SC). 3) the emphasis in Scripture has always been trust and teachableness (e.g., Deu 8:2-3; Pro 3:5-7) (5) = Trust that what God says or does is right and righteous even when we don’t fully understand; (6) = Show that you trust Him by obeying what He says (once more, even when we don’t fully understand) (i.e., “in all your ways acknowledge Him”); (7) IOW: be teachable. 2.7. Why God will - at times, hides the truth from His people (even as it relates to aspects of the gospel) = To protect/advance His church ([e.g., Luk 9:44-45 w/18:31-34 w/Luk 24:27; Joh 14:26 w/Act 11:1-3] = Joh 16:12; Gal 2:4). Is it possible that the reason neither Jesus nor the HS gave the early church the answer regarding the retirement of the OC signs was to save those Jews/Pharisees who otherwise would not initially come to Christ had they been rejected (e.g., God let us believe in the wrong doctrines of believer’s baptism and Calvinism to attract many of our current people to our church who otherwise may not have initially come)? (Psa 18:35) = Your condescension has saved me. 2.8. Why God made the mission (our test in this life) about learning to trust Him rather than seeking to possess all the answers: 1) the moral virtue of trust is not something God can give without violating our freewill. It is therefore something we must secure (through its faithful and regular exercise – especially in trials – Gen 22:16-18 w/Gen 18:19). 2) the moral virtue of trust is the key to guaranteeing we don’t sin in the Reboot when God rewards us with knowledge of all things (e.g., Satan and the fallen angels possessed all knowledge but not trust). It is important to note that the knowledge of all things is not the same as possessing the mind of God. Knowing all things is not the same as being wise to all things. Hence the need for securing trust to keep us from destroying the next world as we did this one.  2.9. PNTM: Though we are called to continue learning and growing in our understanding of Scripture, that does not mean we have the right to demand or do what Adam and Eve were prohibited from demanding or doing – nor does it mean that we could even if we tried. The Bible is not the tree of knowledge (i.e., it does not have the ability to make us omniscient like God). This was never God’s purpose for giving it to us. There are plenty of things that it does not give us the answers to – as well as plenty of things where it provides only snippets of information. It does however provide enough information to make us wise unto salvation and righteous living (2Ti 3:15-16) - and to reasonably put our trust in God regarding those things where it is silent or less than complete in what it reveals. And that (as mentioned) is where God wants us to place our focus. We are to focus on glowing (i.e., immortality through trusting God and getting the gospel right) – not knowing (i.e., omniscience or thinking we need to know the answer to everything). 2.10. The old hymn had it right all along, “trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.”   [1] See for example, “The Nakedness and the Clothing of Adam and Eve” by Jeffrey M Bradshaw or “The Garment of Adam in Jewish, Muslim and Christian Tradition” by Stephen D. Ricks [2] Two things not to miss here: 1) Though never revealing everything, God always gives us enough to make it more than reasonable to trust (and obey) Him if we remain teachable (i.e., keep seeking to learn and change when we learn). Hence the reason all people are without excuse (Rom 1:18-21). 2) This doesn’t mean it is wrong for us to seek to understand the more “secret” or “hidden” things (Pro 25:2 “It is the glory of God to hide a matter and the glory of kings to search it out”). There is however a difference between viewing such exercises as encouragement to our Faith (the idea behind “glory”) and essential for faith (i.e., my faith or trust in God is dependent upon knowing all things).

1. Baptism 1.1. What happens in baptism? 1) We take the sign which represents our life-long marital vow of faith/faithfulness to Christ as our Head/Husband necessary to establishing a saving covenant w/Him and becoming a part of His Bride, the church, - i.e., God’s family (Mar 16:16; 1Pe 3:21 “appeal” = A vow/pledge; “good conscience thru the resurrection” = God receives our vow of faith and applies the forgiveness secured thru Christ’s death and resurrection [giving us a good conscience before Him – i.e. we are now right w/God or justified]; Jer 31:31-34 “Husband…I will be their God and they shall be My people = Marriage”; “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it” = Similar to Sinai [Exo 24:7-8], a vow of faithfulness [to God and His Law] wb taken to secure the covenant and salvation/justification; Act 20:28 “church of God which [Christ] purchased with His own blood” = Jesus gave His life as the bride-price for the church [Eph 5:25]; Gal 3:26-27 “clothed” = You are now a part of Christ’s lineage/family, the lineage/family of Abraham/promise [v16], the lineage/family of the sons of God [v26] who do the deeds of Abraham [Joh 8:39] and the will of the Father [Mat 7:21 w/12:50] b/c they have traded their earthly family/loyalties for loyalty to God’s family [hence v28]). As such, we now consider ourselves not only dead to sin/flesh/the world (no longer trusting their judgment or seeking to fulfill their desire) but under the daily obligation to put them to death through trust and obedience to the Spirit - or Christ and His Law. IOW: we must flee what is familiar [our flesh/the world/blood family] and embrace what is foreign [the Spirit/Christ/His Law/God’s family/the church]) to maintain what we have gained (Rom 8:12-13 [w/Joh 14:26, 16:13-15]; 1Co 9:21[Gal 6:2]; Gal 5:16; 1Jo 2:15-17; Rom 6:1-18).   2) We receive initial cleansing[1] of our sins (justification/right standing/forgiveness/propitiation) by the Holy Spirit in regeneration (receiving a new spiritual heart/becoming a new creation) as well as His indwelling presence as Helper (Tit 3:5-7; Eze 36:25-27 [HS as helper not doer - Joh 14:16). Both our vow of faithfulness and the work of the HS are mentioned in (1Pe 1:1-2 “sprinkling” [w/2:24 “wounds…healed”] = The prescribed mode for baptism is sprinkling not immersion).   1.2. Who is Jesus Christ? 1) The promised God-Son (the Yhwh separate from Yhwh the Father) Who became the incarnate Son of David and Savior-Messiah (anointed priest, prophet and king) of the Jewish people (i.e., the children of Abraham) Whose life, death and resurrection secured eternal salvation and established the New Covenant with Israel as the eternal kingdom of God on earth (Dan 7:13-14; Heb 1:8-9, 13:20; Rom 1:3-4, 4:25; Mat 1:18; Jer 31:31 w/Joh 4:22; Heb 2:14-16; Luk 22:20).   2) The covenant-making God of the Bible (e.g., OC: Jud 1:5; Heb 9:15-16). Hence the reason the framework of salvation stays the same: it begins w/blood and water (Passover = Beginning of God’s salvific calendar and a burnt offering – a vow of faithfulness necessary to receiving the sin offering/atonement/forgiveness - Lev 1:4 [LBS!] w/Lev 16:3; hence 1Co 5:7-8; 1Co 10:1-4; 1Pe 3:20 w/Gen 8:20).   1.3. What does our baptism provide as our new identity? We are now among the saved children of Abraham – or spiritual Jews who are now a part of Christ’s covenant community or church, New Covenant Israel (Rom 2:29, 11:17, 19, 24; Gal 3:29, 6:16; Eph 2:11-22).   1.4. Who can baptize us? Only those possessing the keys to the gates of heaven/salvation as Christ’s covenant church or New Covenant Israel, the Kingdom of God/heaven on earth (Mat 16:17-19; Joh 20:21-23).   1.5. What must we do once we have graciously gained this saving covenant relationship with Christ and become a part of His church (or New Covenant Israel)? Fulfill our marital vows – or maintain the covenant through the faithful practice of equity and love (most especially to Christ and His church as defined by Him and the entirety of the Scriptures (Mat 5:17-20; Mat 28:18-20; Mat 7:12; Mat 22:36-40).   2. Our Covenant Commitment To Christ and His Church (Christ Covenant Church/CCC)   Do you promise before Christ on penalty of apostasy (Deu 29:18-20; Heb 10:26-30) if you fail or refuse: 1) to preach, faithfully practice and defend the aforementioned as the only truth and true gospel unto death?   2) to be loyal to CCC as Gods family above your blood/physical family (Mat 12:50)?   3) to trust and submit to Christ’s leading through the leadership of CCC (Heb 13:17)?   4) to never be unteachable but eager to learn and change as we continue to be shown new things by Christ from the Scriptures (Joh 8:31)?   5) to rejoice when counted worthy to suffer for what we believe (Mat 5:10-12)?   6) to seek counsel and understanding from rabbi Scott when there are questions or problems with the teaching or others in the covenant community - including yourself (Col 1:28)?   7) to stand on the truth of God’s Word regardless of the opposing voices (2Ti 4:2)?   8) to recognize as truth from God’s Word only what is coherent, consistent and equitable with the whole of Scripture (Psa 19:7-8)?   9) to use the courts of CCC to handle all grievances related to its members or the teaching which cannot be resolved by other means (Mat 18:15-20)?   10) to separate from all those who speak against this gospel, this leadership and church (2Jo 1:9-11)?   11) to believe nothing as coming from the Holy Spirit that is contrary to the teaching of this church which you cannot prove to its leadership and people (Act 15:22 w/28)?   12) to never cover up sin- no matter the member -including rabbi, yet never accuse anyone of sin without providing the evidence and following the process prescribed in Scripture (Lev 19:15-18)?   13) to denounce Christianity as defined by the FAG, the doctrines of original sin, penal substitution and moral inability as false, unjust and therefore entirely wicked (Eph 5:11)?       Signature of baptized member:   Date:   [1] This cleansing continues – especially through the sacrament of the Lord’s Table as long as we maintain the covenant through faithfulness (repentance [justice]/obedience [just living]) (1Co 11:23-32).

The danger of unrealistic expectations is that it can lead to: 1) failure, anger, depression and being deceived (Pro 19:3; Gen 4:3-5; 1Th 3:1-4 “disturbed” = deceived). 2) apostasy and hell (Gen 4:6-14 “from your face I will be hidden” = No longer able to bring sacrifice for forgiveness; Pro 11:7).   1. If we have the truth/true gospel, then it will not cause problems with blood family. 1.1. (Mat 10:34-37; Luk 2:34-35; Luk 12:51-53). 1.2. (Mar 3:20-21 w/31-35) = Rabbi Jesus (the One Whose life we must imitate for Him to be our Savior) chose God’s family over His physical family – including His mother. This BTW is the same Jesus Who gave us the 5th commandment (“honor your father and mother”). 1.3. Hence why (Luk 9:59-62) = The agenda of God’s family/kingdom trumps even the most sensitive or important of blood family traditions/demands. 1.4. As we should expect, the disciples followed Jesus’ lead by choosing God’s family over their blood family (Mat 19:27-29).   2. If we have the truth/true gospel, then we will be in the majority (or at least there wb others around like us). 2.1. (Rev 2-3) = Along with the Jerusalem church, only two of the seven churches in Asia minor were not on the brink of losing their lampstands (becoming false churches). 2.2. (1Pe 3:20) = There were only eight saved people when God destroyed the world the first time. 2.3. (Rev 20:7-9) “surrounded the camp of the saints” = What is left of Christ’s true followers at the time of His return will be a singular camp [or congregation] small enough to be surrounded (hence why - Luk 18:8). 2.4. (Act 1:15) = 120 people were left after Jesus’ earthly ministry. They were the only ones on planet earth still following Him. 2.5. Hence why they referred to the early church as a cult (Act 24:14 “sect” being used in a derogatory sense). 2.6. Jesus’ popularity was short-lived and He never controlled the majority.[1] The Pharisees were the dominant religious party/group (i.e., the group wielding the most influence and power over the Jewish community – including over the priests). In Jesus’ day, they occupied most of the seats in the Sanhedrin – the Jewish version of our three branches of government (legislative, executive and judicial: they were who created new laws, enforced the laws and were seen as the law’s experts in interpretation). The Pharisees were who the nation listened to and believed were the curators of their religion. 2.7. In reality however, they were hypocrites and counterfeits. They could not defend their positions from Scripture (hence the reason it says that when Jesus preached it was different than them – He possessed authority – i.e., He could defend His position from Scripture- whereas they could not). Which is why they resorted to bullying: to threats, manipulation, slander and blasphemy (e.g., Mat 12:22-32). 2.8. In many ways the Pharisees were the first Evangelicals: 1) they preached a FAG (Joh 8:31-39 w/Mat 3:7-10). 2) they embraced many wicked, unethical, Scripture-violating traditions (Mat 15:1-14; e.g., Evan: grape juice for the LT [leavened grapes versus unleavened grapes or wine; Original Sin, Penal Substitution and Moral Inability]). 3) they practiced unjust justice (Joh 8:1-11; e.g., Evan: church discipline w/o discipline – or the discipline prescribed by God). 4)  they possessed embarrassingly bad theology (Mat 12:1-21; Mat 22:41-46; e.g., Evan: monotheistic view of the Trinity). 2.9. Hence why Jesus’ entire ministry was a direct attack against the Pharisees (e.g., His first public address – SotM is directed at them – they are the ones whose horrible teaching He is correcting in Mat 5, who He is referring to as “hypocrites” in Mat 6, and the false teachers paving a broad path He warns against following in Mat 7). 2.10. Jesus stood up to the Evangelical bullies of His day. And He didn’t need to be in the majority to do it (or to be the One possessing the truth). If the Bible’s history teaches us anything, it is that the truth is most often found among the very small minority.   3. If we have the truth/true gospel, then nobody claiming to follow God will persecute us or accuse us of evil. 3.1. The previous point should have made it abundantly clear that this too is an unrealistic expectation. 3.2. Jesus promised we wb presecuted and accused of all kinds of evil (Mat 5:10-12, 9:3, 11 w/[11:19], 10:16-22, 12:24, 24:9-11; Luk 4:28-29; Joh 8:41, 48, 9:22, 28-29, 10:20, 15:25, 16:1-3; Rev 2:9-10). 3.3. Paul also spoke about this so we should not be surprised – especially as we enter the last days (2Co 11:26; Phi 1:29-30; 2Ti 3:12 w/1-11).   4. If we have the truth/true gospel, then nobody in our church will ever disturb, deceive or betray us, or go apostate and leave the church. 4.1. This too is highly. unrealistic thinking. Didn’t Jesus have the truth/true gospel – yet He and the early church faced all kinds of internal trouble or problems (Mat 26:24-25, 45-46; Joh 6:66 [w/Act 1:15]; 2Co 11:3-4 w/13-14; Gal 1:6-7; Phi 3:18-19; 1Jo 2:19) 4.2. Jesus (and again the apostle Paul) warn us that this wb the norm in those churches with the truth/true gospel (those who are the true kingdom of God on earth – especially once more as we get closer to the end of history (Mat 10:21, 13:18-23, 36-43, 24:12-13; Rom 16:17-18; 2Ti 3:13, 4:1-5, 16).   CLOSING CONTEMPLATION: 1Pe 5:12-13 [1] See Kent Yinger, The Pharisees: Their History, Character, and New Testament Portrait

In Matthew 16:24 Rabbi Jesus communicates what is necessary to possess Him as Savior. In so doing He also invites us to discover the key to securing its goal – eternity with Him in Paradise. 1. If you want Jesus to be your Savior then you must live the rest of your life rejecting the belief that the most valuable things in this life are those that advance/promote self-image or pleasure (24a). 1.1. When Jesus says “Come after Me” He is alluding to OT Messianic texts such as (Isa 55:1-4) which means He is referring to possessing Him as Savior (or coming to Him to receive salvation). 1.2. What Jesus means by “deny himself and take up his cross” is the making the choice to permanently reject the pursuit of my image (self-image) and those things which advance it as the most valuable things in this life. Even people who live for – or are infatuated with – or find most valuable, the lives of others and therefore try to imitate them are still people living for the advancement of their own self-image. The reason they associate with that person is because of what they believe it does to advance how they feel or look to others (e.g., fans [fanatics] of celebrities [sports, music, movies, social media etc.; devotion to a particular brand [sunglasses, shoes, etc.]). This same example can be multiplied many times over when one considers the number of things people will devote themselves to because they believe it will promote their self-image (meaning the image of themselves they want to promote) (e.g., growing a beard; tattoos; clothing, cosmetic or shoe brands; physical fitness; the kind of car they drive; their hobbies). 1.3. What (then) Jesus is not talking about: becoming “the navy seal of ‘no’”. IOW: the key to getting to heaven is not growing in self-discipline (Col 2:23; 1Ti 4:8). It is instead about changing whose image we are attempting to advance from self to God – which means believing that the most valuable things in this life are those things that promote that – His image (not ours). 2. Possessing Jesus as Savior will also mean adopting His belief that the most valuable things in this life are those that advance/promote God’s image and pleasure (24b). 2.1. By “Follow Me” Rabbi Jesus means imitate Him. Not, “become a clone”, but “be the best Christ-version of yourself” – which ultimately means we live not for our own glory but the glory of the Father. That we – like Jesus, see as most valuable in this life those things that advance/promote God’s image (Joh 8:29). This then is what replaces our former life pursuit (the advancement/ promotion of my self-image or pleasure). We stop living for the glory of self and start living for the glory of God – which again means that the things we now see as the most-valuable are those that achieve that goal (i.e., those things in life which advance/promote God’s image or glory and not our own). 2.2. The promotion of image is at the core of our design (Gen 1:26-28) = We were created as image-bearers (or image-promoters) which means this is our “modus operandi” – our hard-wired purpose in life (e.g., animals). As such every single person lives to promote either their image or the image of God- which means this is the test that determines where we spend eternity (Paradise or hell). On Judgment Day, our deeds will show whether we promoted our image or God’s image  during our earthly life (Rev 20:11-15) 2.3. Why will those who chose to live for self rather than promoting God’s image and glory go to hell instead of Paradise? 1) because you become what you do (i.e., you are permanently/eternally shaping the moral state of your spirit by your choices/who you choose to live for; 2Co 4:16-17 w/5:9-10; Eph 4:17-19; 2Pe 2:20). 2) those who chose to live for self are the destroyer of worlds (all this world’s problems and coming destruction is due to people living for self). 3) letting such people into Paradise would turn it into hell. 4) God is equitable and so will give to each person the world that best fits their spirit (the world they deserve/ordered based on their deeds) and not allow them to destroy the world that best fits the spirit of others. 2.4. By changing our focus/goal from promotion of self-image to the promotion God’s image and glory, our affections (love, loyalty and passion) will automatically change to align with our new-found focus/goal (Mat 6:21): this principle works both ways (self or God) – which is why you can always tell whose image a person is truly attempting to promote by simply looking at who/what they love, who/what they are loyal to and who/what they are passionate about. 2.5. That seeking to advance/improve/promote God’s image rather than our own is at the heart of Rabbi Jesus’ call to follow Him is confirmed in how He taught His disciples to pray (Mat 6:9-10) “Hallowed (i.e., glorified, advanced, promoted) be Your Name (i.e., Your Name/Image/Likeness [e.g. NIL])…[which means] Your kingdom come, Your will be done (i.e., the things associated with your Kingdom and will – not my own, will be the things most valuable in my life).” = This is what we are to commit ourselves to every day through prayer as the disciples of Rabbi Jesus – which means every day (assuming we pray this) we end up showing ourselves to be true disciples or total hypocrites. 2.6. The one thing Rabbi Jesus pursued above all others as most valuable to promoting God’s image - and as a result, loved or was passionate about (most loyal to and lost without): the practice of equity toward others (Mat 7:12) = The establishing of equity (fair treatment) to others is the primary purpose behind God giving the OT Scriptures (“for this is the Law and Prophets” = This is the OT’s primary purpose). 2.7. How we know this was the thing most valuable to Jesus during His earthly life: because Jesus was the embodiment of the OT Scriptures (Joh 1:14) = The expression “full of grace and truth” (v14) is the LXX rendering of God’s memorial name – most specifically the last portion (Exo 34:6 “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth”) confirming Jesus to be the God encountered by Moses while in the cleft of the rock.[1] Jesus however was also “the Word [which] became flesh.” IOW: He was not only the fleshly embodiment of the OT God, but the OT Scriptures (their principles in perfect practice). Considering this - along with what Rabbi Jesus teaches in Matthew 7, means that equity (i.e., treating others fairly – or in the same way as we want others to treat us) was indeed the thing most valuable to Jesus. As the living example of the OT Scriptures (and therefore their primary purpose), His concern was the fair treatment of others. And this (once more) He did as the means to advancing/promoting God’s image. 2.8. Why is equity the thing most valuable (or the best way) to advance/promote God’s image? Because God’s Word (the book which defines it) also represents the character or person of God. His Word is His self-expression (or as the old saying goes, “He is what He does”). Hence why John can say that Jesus - as the Word which became flesh “explained Him (God the Father)” (Joh 1:18). The manifestation of God’s Word through Jesus’ earthly life also meant the manifestation of God (His character and Person). By promoting equity we are therefore promoting what God Himself lives for (what He is and does). 2.9. This also (then) is at the heart of what it means to love God and love others –since this too is how Jesus summarizes the purpose/goal of God’s Word (Mat 22:36-40 “On these two…depend the whole Law and the Prophets”). To love (whether it be God or humans) means (then) to be equitable in our treatment of them (which is only accomplished through obedience to the principles established in God’s Word). This is seen most explicitly through the second love command, the command to love our neighbors (Lev 19:11-18) = Love equals equity (and that especially toward our covenant brothers and sisters [“neighbors” refers to those in the covenant community]). This obligation however is expected in relation to all people – evil or righteous (Mat 5:43-44) = This is what it means to “be perfect” -or complete, in our love like God – who likewise shows equity to all people – whether evil or righteous. 2.10. Having equity as my life’s mission (or most valuable thing) is what Paul calls living for the whole in (Phi 2:1-4) “regard one another (or the whole) as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also the interests of others (or the whole).” IOW: the fair treatment of others is always more important than getting what I want – which means if getting or doing what I want requires that I take advantage of others, or violate – or ignore their rights, then I forgo getting - or doing that thing. That by the way, is the definition of selfishness: behavior that is willing to violate the rights of others to get what I want. Hence the reason Paul contrasts what he is saying with “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit ([Grk., kenedoxia] = Self-glory or for the glory of self [image]).” Notice he identifies “living for the whole” as the attitude of Rabbi Jesus during His earthly life (vv5-8) = Even though He was God and the riches of heaven already His, Jesus responded to His incarnation as a man in the same way we are required to respond. He “emptied Himself” and He “humbled Himself.” He rejected living for the advancement of His self-image and instead focused His attention on God and the advancement or His image. And He did this through a life epitomized by obedience to the Law (the code book on equity to god and others) which He maintained even when He was being unfairly tried, tortured and killed by others (1Pe 2:21-24 = Jesus did not let the inequity of others cause Him to be inequitable in His treatment of them; e.g., Luk 23:33-34). 2.11. Unfortunately, far less than what Jesus suffered causes many people to turn back and start serving self again (Gal 1:6-7) = The Galatians were deserting simply because they were being “disturbed ([Grk., tarasso] = To disquiet the mind through soliciting fear and doubt).” Notice Paul makes their problem an image issue (vv8-10; the unpopular nature of Paul’s gospel proved his motives were not the promotion of self through the praise of others).   2.12. Jesus’ entire ministry and teaching was devoted to securing equity (or the fair treatment of God and others) through a correct understanding of God’s Law (e.g., Joh 8:1-11). 2.13. Given what immediately follows Rabbi Jesus’ call to equity, it would seem that this is also at the heart of how we discern the true gospel from the false, and the true shepherd from the wolf (Mat 7:13-20) = Those possessing the true gospel will care about equity whereas those who don’t [the false gospels and prophets] - won’t - as demonstrated by their actions (“fruit”) (e.g., they think it’s okay to slander others – i.e., to condemn our church as a cult or me as a false teacher without providing the evidence – Deu 19:15-19 states that their punishment will be the same as those they falsely accused). 2.14. Seeing equity (or the fair treatment of God and others) as our most valuable mission in this life is therefore what the disciples of Jesus – those following (or imitating) Him must live for. This is how we advance/promote God’s image – and protect against promoting our own. It is impossible to live for equity and promote your own image (the two are diametrically opposed) – which means this is also the key to securing Paradise since a person truly living for equity will not only be a person living for God’s image and not their own, but also a person without a price (in respect to sin) (e.g., the only way you can convince me to cheat on my wife is if you can show how it is equitable to her). 2.15. Understanding this from the perspective of Genesis 1 means that all Jesus is doing by His call to follow/imitate Him in this way is restore us to what God intended when He created us as image-bearers. We were created to bear (advance/promote) God’s image not our own. It means also that this is the path of abundant life (or blessing) (and why Jesus can say what He does in Joh 10:10). As mentioned earlier, all of humanity’s problems stem from choosing to promote self over God. This includes even those things that seem more dubious (e.g., PTSD or psychological issues related to trauma; people who fail to rise above their circumstances or use their circumstances as an excuse/means of debilitation; quitters and cowards) (Joh 8:12 w/31-32) = According to Rabbi Jesus, following Him - i.e., imitating Him in pursuing the promotion of God’s image and glory through the practice of equity toward others is the “light of life” and the “truth” that sets us free from the debilitating darkness which defines the lives of so many – and the reason so many will fail to see Paradise. 2.16. Final note: Pursuing the promotion of God’s image/glory through practicing equity is not only how we become the best Christ-version of ourselves, but also live up to Jesus’ expected ROI of 100% (Mat 25:14-23 = Take self and turn into the best Christ-version of yourself [not somebody else]- that is a 100% ROI [how you double what He gave you]).   CLOSING CONTEMPLATION: Am I a disciple of Rabbi Jesus? A couple of questions that may help you discern the answer: Can you live with yourself knowing your choices create inequity in relation to others (e.g., a double-standard)? When you consider the things most valuable to you, are they the things that promote your self-image or pleasure (e.g., are you more concerned what others think about you than you are what they think about God [whether they have the right gospel])? If your answer is “yes” to either or both, then you are not Jesus’ disciple and He is not your Savior. [1] “‘Abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness’ (ESV) becomes ‘full of grace and truth’ in John’s Gospel.” - Lester J. Kuyper (“Grace and Truth: An Old Testament Description of God, and Its Use in the Johannine Gospel”)