epignosis2-3

ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS: or, {*A} "life and true religion." The world thinks of religion and daily life as being separate. In this view, religion is when you turn from the world to pay attention to an outside influence. But the Christian is already {*21} �translated into the kingdom of His dear Son,� and is in need of the proper equipment. It has been supplied (1), from the outside, to be put on, and (2), from the inside, to be worked out.

1)    Paul has advised us to {*22} �Put on the whole armor of God,� and he enunciates the parts in Ephesians 6, verse 14 on. Usually the list is considered ended at �the sword,� but here we wish to include �prayer� from verse 18 and shown how Jesus under-girds all. Thus �the whole armor� also is put on �through the knowledge of Him.�

a   TRUTH -                   �I am the way, the truth and the life.�    John 14:6

b   RIGHTEOUSNESS -   �Christ is the end of the law for everyone that believes.�        Romans 10:4

c   PEACE -                     �We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.�    Romans 5:1

d   FAITH -                      �Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.�   Hebrews 12:2

e   SALVATION -             �He became the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him.�
                                          Hebrews 5:9

f   THE WORD -               �and His name is called THE WORD OF GOD.� Revelation 19:13/ John 1:1

g   PRAYER -                    �In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in Heaven...�   Matthew 6:9

2)    But, praise God, as we take this armor and prove our readiness to fight the good fight, we are not left to our own strength. Especially as we exercise �f� (the Word of God) and �g� (Prayer) {*23} �the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.� And as the Spirit of God is encouraged to influence and rule our life, the fruit or results of this union will be worked to as:

                                    {*24} THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

                 LOVE                            JOY                             PEACE
                 LONGSUFFERING         KINDNESS                  GOODNESS
                 FAITHFULNESS            GENTLENESS              SELF-CONTROL

    It is so important to remember that these are not a gift, as in 1 Corinthians 12, which may be given at any moment, but a fruit, an effect, a consequence or even a harvest from walking in the Spirit. And so we may have �all things that pertain to life and godliness,� and have them �through the knowledge of Him who has called us by (or {*A,B} to His own) glory and virtue.�

THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM: Again, knowledge (epignosis) is the vehicle of the gift. The {*C} dictionary definition of knowledge mentions �familiarity, awareness, understanding gained through experience; the sum range of that which has been perceived.� Under Synonyms it adds, �enlightenment, possessing knowledge and truth.� If we remember that {*25) God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth� we will begin to that this knowledge consists of a total involvement with Him.

WHO HAS CALLED US BY GLORY AND VIRTUE: or, as most translations, �to His glory and virtue.� The Living Bible says, �He even shares His own glory and His own virtue with us.� What does it mean, in what sense do we share the Lord�s glory and virtue? In giving instruction for the temple in the wilderness God said, {*26} �And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my Glory.� Then, as God�s plan further unfolds, Paul tells us {*27} �Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the spirit of God dwells in you?� The mystery is completely unveiled then in this {*28} �God has from the beginning chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.� The �King of Kings� therefore, makes holy (sanctifies) His new temple, and furnishes it with all necessities for abundant life, by His own presence. {*29} �Even so, come, Lord Jesus.�