WHAT MANNER OF MEN

A Perspective of Christian Life

I think the less said by me and the more said by scripture the better for us. So there's a lot of scripture here. We should not read scripture with the attitude of, "Oh yeah, I know that verse...I've read it before, I know what it says." ....because then we will "skim" over it. That's not study....that's speed-reading. I continually learn something new from reading scripture I've read before, over again and S..L..O..W..L..Y.

“for in him all the fullness of the Godhead was pleased to dwell.” Col. 1:19

“For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Col. 2:9
This next passage I really only wanted verses 16-19 but there is so much more relevant context from vss. 1-15 that I include all from 1-19. It’s a MUST read…..
“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,  according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Eph. 3:1-19

fullness = Pleroma (Gr.)
Definition
that which is (has been) filled
1. a ship inasmuch as it is filled with freight and merchandise, sailors, oarsmen, soldiers.
2. in the NT, the body of believers, as that which is filled with the presence, power, agency, riches of God and of Christ.

…agency is an interesting word there….activity, action, work, intervention, help, support, assistance.

So……couple and “knit” together all that with other revelations and instructions in the Word such as…
…“crucify the old man” Gal. 5:24
…“walk in the Spirit” Gal. 5:16
…“even so we also should walk in newness of life” Rom. 6:4
…“that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us” Rom. 8:4
…“but you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Rom. 8:9-10
…“Go and sin no more.” Jn. 8:11
…“These things I write unto you that you sin not” 1 Jn. 2:1
…“They who are born of God do not commit sin” 1 Jn. 3:9
…“Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual   food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Cor. 10:1-12

Why could the Jews NOT enter the Holy of Holies in the temple? Because of the VEIL. What does the veil represent? The FLESH! It was ripped (rent) top to bottom symbolizing an act of God. Why did God the Son have to come in the flesh? Because the flesh had to be JUDGED...destroyed. That flesh (veil, Jesus) was crucified on the cross. THAT resurrected LIFE we must now live...in the Spirit. THAT is the Gospel! Not only that Jesus lived, died, was buried, and then resurrected... but that He did that FOR US!!! And not just for eternity, but for NOW!

So then....given all the admonishments, warnings and promises of scripture, what manner of men should we be? After 37 years in the faith, what manner of man should I be?