Use it or lose it

If we do not give what we have received, our gifts stagnate, dry up, or rot. 

Why? God blesses us so we might bless others.

Why? Because this is who God is and he created us like Himself - in his image.

Giving and receiving are central to who God is. Both are fundamental to God as a community of love that freely and continuously gives and receives love and life between the Father and Son in, by, and through to Spirit.

 

To reflect God best, we must give as He gives. This is why He created us - to receive His love and give it out to others just like God does within Himself as a community of love.

The reason the world is broken is that we've abandoned our original design as God's image bearers. We no longer give, but we take. And when we take, we keep and cling on to what we have as if it is the ¹source of life. 

But we are not designed to be takers but receivers and givers, i.e. we are not created to be a stagnant pond but an overflowing stream fed by an endless, infinite spring.

We cannot give until we receive what is vital to who we are as bearers of God's image i.e. love from the Source and Giver of life, love, and all things. He is the infinite spring. 

"Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water (literal water from a well) will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” - John 4:13-14 

For a discussion on the joy of generosity, click here. 

For a discussion on giving what you have click here

For a discussion on giving as you have received, click here

For a discussion on sowing and reaping, click here. 

For a discussion on making money, click here. 

For a discussion on the difference between a legitimate and illegitimate business, click here. 

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¹Yet, everything that exists only exists because of the Creator and Sustainer of all things. If there were no God, nothing else would be, including us.

Power...from within or without?

There is much talk these days that we must look within ourselves to find the strength needed to "do life" well. We can't count on anyone else but ourselves. 

Is this true? Does the power to live life well come only from within or also from without? 

It is both, and it is neither. How?

Within

* If by "within" we mean we must find the strength to act solely from within ourselves, independent of God, this is inadequate. It works only short term and eventually leads to burnout and ultimately death. In this sense, it is not inward. 

* If by "within" we mean we must act from the heart, out of love for God and a desire to bring honor to him, then yes, in this sense it is inward. 

Without

* If by "without" we mean, we must look to creation and created things to gain, harness, and use these to derive our sense of value, meaning, and purpose for ourselves, then no, it is not outward.

* If by "without" we mean, we must look outside of ourselves and beyond our resources to God alone for true love, meaning, and purpose, in this sense it is outward. 

More than ever, we must define our terms to be sure we are saying the same thing. Using the same words is no guarantee. We could be saying exactly the opposite of what we are trying to convey with the very same words. 

This appears to be increasingly true the further we get away from an absolute and objective standard of truth, meaning, and morality. This is a by-product - "side effect" - of a postmodern view of the world where the reality of absolute or objective truth is rejected and morality is something we make up. The expression "my truth" is often used to convey this. 

Is there an objective and absolute standard for truth? If so, where do we go to find this standard? 

We can't be the standard ourself because we are not all-knowing, or all-powerful, i.e. we are not the absolute and just enforcer of morality, but we are finite i.e. limited. Therefore, we must go outside of ourselves to find the standard for right and wrong, i.e. morality. 

For a more extensive discussion of the power within Click here

For a discussion on the basis of morality click here. 

For a discussion on how we are designed and the dilemma it causes click here.  

For more on why we all operate by faith click here.

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The joy of generosity

Generosity ¹seems to be a ¹primary part of who God is and what makes Him tick, i.e. how he operates. He delights in giving. God so loved... He gave...

As His image bearers, we are designed the same way, but with a major difference. Only God has unlimited resources - i.e. He is the Source of all things. He is an endless overflowing fountain of love. We are not. 

Why? Because God is a community of infinite, endless love within and among Himself as Father and Son who continually gives and receives love in, by, and through the Spirit. God is love, and He is Spirit.

As bearers of God's image, we also find joy in giving. But we are not an unlimited, endless, overflowing fountain. Only God is a ⁵community of love and calls us to be a part of (plug in to) that community, so we will overflow with love in the same way He does. 

If we get love from another image bearer as a result of our giving them love (such as to a spouse or in other relationships), we may be able to maintain this kind of giving for a long time. But if we find ourselves giving more than we get, we become exhausted and the relationship withers and ⁶eventually dies.  

However, when we ²plug into and reconnect with God, we become a conduit connected to that unlimited, overflowing fountain of infinite love again. 

This enables us to love others ³without receiving from them anything in return because ⁴God is our source of love, not others. i.e. other bearers of God's image.

Without being reconnected to the source of love and life, we run out of gas (love and life, etc.). 

But when we are connected and plugged into the Source of love, life, and all things, we can become an unlimited resource or conduit of love because we are plugged into the unlimited supply i.e. God - the only Source of endless love.

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich...

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (who gives out of joy, not duty).

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work..." 2 Cor 8:9, 9:6-8

For a more in-depth look into 2 Cor 8:9, 9:6-8 click here.

Related articles:

For more on how God is relationship, click here.  

For more on whether God is dependent or independent click here. 

For more on the life, love, and the Spirit of God click here.  

For more on how God is perpetual love click here

Are love and value the same? For a discussion, click here. 

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Footnotes:

¹I say "seems" only because we can't put God in a box and reduce him to something far less than he is. We are only scratching the surface of just one aspect of his character, though I believe a very central and foundational one. Maybe the most significant aspect of who God is.

We should approach God - at a minimum - with the same awe and mystery we approach the universe itself in all its infinite vastness. Not as some sort of object we can dissect to see how it ticks, but as a person and dynamic being of infinite beauty and depth, we will never reach the bottom or end of. God is an infinitely glorious being, who we will go through all eternity discovering more of, and should therefore be in total awe of. 

We can know different aspects about God only because - and when - He reveals them to us. And because God is infinite - and we are not - there is still mystery about what He is like and who He is that we will continually plumb the depths of throughout eternity with ever-increasing awe and joy! What we now know is only the beginning and a tiny speck of the depth, breadth, and width of the beauty and wonder of God.

Not because he's trying to hide from us, but because we are not humble enough for him to reveal himself more fully. We only see God clearly to the extent we humbly trust Him. 

The key to seeing more of His infinite beauty and mystery is humility. Without humility, we will never see Him clearly. 

Humility is a central part of the very character of God Himself.  How much more should this be true of us who are finite?

Because of arrogance - i.e. thinking we can be our own god and can make life work better without Him than with Him - we are blinded to seeing Him well, if at all. It takes a humble disposition (ours) to recognize a humble disposition (God's).

As finite beings, we can never fully plumb the depths of His being or His heart. We will spend all eternity increasingly discovering more about God and His infinite beauty and love. We will never be bored but increasingly enthralled the more we see and know Him.

²As bearers of God's image, we were originally designed to be in perfect union with our Creator. Through, by, and out of this union, everything else is meant to flow. When we rebelled and turned away to be our own god, we cut ourselves off from our infinite Creator, the only Source of life, love, and all things. We no longer partook of God, the endless fountain of love. Without Him, we are empty and left longing for love. It is this longing that creates all our problems because we go to anything and everything other than God - the true Source of all things - to fill that longing. 

³Unlike us, God is an endless source of love and does not need to get anything from us in order to give. He is perpetual giving because he is perpetual receiving within and between the Father and Son, in, by, and through the Spirit.

Whereas we may give short-term but can't sustain giving unless we get an equal amount or more love than we give... or at least feel like we are getting as much or more. 

⁴This is also why only a godly marriage is most fulfilling, successful, and flourishing. God is the center and source of love for each partner, vs each other.  

In fact, a successful and flourishing marriage is a picture of the community of our triune God as a relational being. 

⁵God is a community of perpetual love as Father, Son, and Spirit. We thrive in a loving relationship because we are designed for love i.e. we are Godlike, who Himself is infinite love. 

We cannot operate outside of love any more than God does. God is love. We are designed for love because we are like God - in His image. To assume we can operate properly without being in union with the Source of life, love, and all things is trying be someone that even God isn't i.e. the Father, Son, and Spirit do not operate independent of each other. They are interconnected and "interdependent."

⁶The exception would be a loving parent and their child. 

We are all believers...but in what?

When we make a statement of absolute certainty - such as God does or does not exist - how do we know if our ⁴claim is true?

To make such a statement with absolute certainty, we must have absolute (infinite) knowledge, i.e., we must be all-knowing. Otherwise, there may be information somewhere ¹yet to be discovered that proves our claim is wrong. 

We already know there is vast knowledge beyond our awareness for two reasons. 

The more we learn about our universe and ourselves, the more we realize 

1. How ¹little we know and 

2. How limited (finite) our understanding is of what we do know. 

And this is only regarding the physical realm. 

What about the spiritual? How can we be sure there isn't such a ³realm which is equally, if not, a far greater realm of knowledge and understanding than the physical/material world? 

What if the state of our present existence somehow prevents us from seeing this ³realm well, if not altogether? Without absolute knowledge, we can't know with complete certainty.

To be absolutely certain of any claim, we must be everywhere present at the same time - in every dimension - in order to observe everything there is to know about our claim. Then, we must have a perfect understanding of everything we observe to ensure we interpret everything correctly. 

In short, we must be infinite in knowledge, wisdom, presence, and power to know something with absolute certainty. 

Otherwise, we must know and trust someone who has all these characteristics. This is true of only one being and that being is not us.

Do we have such ability collectively? 

Since all humans are limited (even the brightest among us), we may discover a tremendous amount, but we can never have infinite knowledge collectively, either. Increasing the number of finite individuals to gather information still produces finite knowledge because individually we are finite and there is not an infinite number of us. 

Even AI cannot acquire this because its knowledge is based only on what finite minds have discovered and compiled to date, and made available and programmed AI to gather. And if there is bias in the programmers, vital information could be withheld that is necessary for complete knowledge on a subject. 

No doubt AI will come to the place where it will be able to learn and gather new information on it's own (and may already be there). But this will simply give us a greater knowledge of what is, which I suggest will only give us more evidence to support the existence of a Creator. 

The only way to have infinite knowledge is to have access to and trust in the infinite, i.e. trust someone with infinite knowledge.  

Yet we still prefer being our own god and trusting ourselves over God because...

1. We're under the illusion that we can control other things or persons well enough to get what we need - and we believe we don't need God to do this (though God would never control others to serve our ends).

2. That these other things or persons can give us what we need - purpose, meaning, fulfillment, and lasting life - if we can only acquire and control them.

3. We suspect (correctly) that God can not be controlled by us or anyone else (by definition, this is a significant part of what it means to be God). We prefer to trust ourselves over someone we have zero control over - which actually reveals that our distrust of others is a core part of our broken disposition.

Some assert they are agnostic about such things. But this also requires absolute knowledge. This is saying with 100% certainty we cannot be sure either way. But how do we know this without having absolute knowledge? We don't.

Ultimately, it comes down to whether we trust ourselves to make life work without (i.e., independent of) God or we trust God. 

²Every last one of us must operate by faith, not just "believers" i.e. Christians. We are all believers in something or someone simply

because we have to be since we are finite i.e. not infinite in knowledge or power or everywhere present, and we are dependent creatures. We simply don't know the far reaches of the universe and everything that is out there, much less the One who claims to have created it all and keep it all going. 

For a more in depth look into this click here.

Since we are designed to live, move, and have our being (existence) in God we cannot make life work as it was designed to without Him, no more than a fish can live on land out of water. It is simply a matter of ⁵our design as creatures and bearers of God's image. 

Yet most refuse (choose not) to acknowledge this or Him. This creates a major problem. Our refusal colors and distorts everything we see, hear, do, and understand, since we are cutting ourselves off from the source of all knowledge. i.e. if the Bible is correct about God and creation, this is a denial of reality i.e. what is. 

We interpret our world according to our beliefs. If our beliefs are wrong, so is our interpretation of the "facts." And everyone believes i.e. has faith in - something or someone. There are no exceptions. We must because we are not all-knowing. None of us.

We are also naturally inclined to believe our will is paramount over anyone else's, especially God's. We are all about self unless we are plugged into God. In short, we are selfish. Our "ishness" in our present disconnected state (by our choosing) from the ultimate Source of all things - and all truth - is about putting ourselves first,  when it is very possible and even highly likely that we are not the most important being in the universe. 

We can only be about others when we are plugged into the Source of life, love, and everything else as God designed us to be. Without Him, we are "running on empty."

We are set on being our own god unless and until we come to recognize being our own god will not and does not work, i.e. give us true and lasting life.

And what is the essence of life for us personally? 

We are important, significant, and valuable because we are in God's image. For more on this, click here.

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Footnotes:

¹We regularly hear of new discoveries made by the James Webb Telescope that regularly contradicts our previous understanding. Why? Our prior understanding was based on faith (theory), not facts. In science, it's called hypothesis, theory, or speculation (or presuppositions in philosophy) which are all fancy names for belief or faith. In science, the purpose of the scientific method is to prove or disprove theories because theories are not facts. They are statements of belief i.e. presuppositions.  

The irony is the scientific community criticizes "believers" who openly admit they operate by faith when they also operate by faith but try to hide it behind "scientific" words that sound more sophisticated than that "anti-intellectual" word we call faith.

Why are theories even necessary or used? Because we are not everywhere present and neither are we all knowing. Therefore, we operate by faith; every last one of us.

²Until we recognize there are no exceptions with faith - i.e. We all operate by it - we will not objectively and honestly look at all the evidence that does exist. We interpret our world - the "facts" - according to our beliefs or presuppositions. 

When we are honest in admitting our limitations, we can look at everything and see which belief system is best supported by the evidence we do have. When we do, we will be shocked to see how much the evidence points towards supporting the claims of the Bible and Christ himself and all that he is, said, and did. 

³As we develop greater tools to observe and study what is and gather more information, we are beginning to understand the quantum realm. This is more like science fiction than science. It's so mysterious it's almost a mixture of the spiritual and the scientific.

⁴Faith is so despised by the secular mind that we substitute what we call it with other flowery words to sound intelligent. But these are only substitute words for belief or faith e.g. hypothesis, theory, postulate, speculation, posit, presume, presupposition, assertion, claim, etc. are all expressions of what we believe before we have proof that they are true. 

⁵As a result, all of humanity operates like a fish out of water. This is also why the world is such a mess. To continue the analogy, fish are not designed to live out of water, no more than we are designed to operate without a conscious relationship with the Source of life, love, and all things, i.e. our Creator...

Except for those who already recognize that being our own god doesn't work. Even though they still have to deal with their limitations and the brokenness of humanity, they do so with God at the center of the equation. 

A primary role of pain:

A primary - possibly the primary role of pain:

The main question regarding pain (suffering) is not why we experience it, but what do we do with it i.e. what can we gain from it when we see it from God's vantage point - which is the only true (accurate) vantage point. 

We may not always know if the specific decisions/choices we made caused (or did not cause) our suffering, but we can always be sure that our pain can be a - maybe the - primary means by which we are drawn nearer to God. But only if we are willing to listen and learn i.e. humble ourselves. Was this not the outcome of Job's experience and lesson i.e. humility?

If we are the cause of our pain, it is good to know how, but only to help us avoid that same choice next time, so we might turn away from it if it presents itself again.

Regardless of whether we are or are not the cause, God's intended and desired outcome is the same… that we draw nearer to him. 

Our focus is not on the cause of our pain but on how we can learn from it and draw nearer to God in and through it i.e. What are those areas we can discover about ¹ourselves and ²God - in and through our pain - so we might grow in greater humility and trust in God.

Nothing occurs outside of God's good purposes, even our poor choices. Though we should always seek to make the best choices, we do not have to be fearful if we don't make the perfect choice. 

God - who loves us infinitely and enough to send his Son to restore us - is bigger than our choices and uses all of them - good and bad - to bring about His highest glory and perfect design for us.

How do we discover God's love in our pain? click here

For a further discussion of how God uses evil for our good click here...and here.

The greater the evil the greater the opportunity for healing/

grace click here.

For a discussion on the key lesson from the book of Job, click here.

For a discussion on the value of paradox, click here.

For a discussion of how big is our God click here

For a discussion on the necessity of humility click here.

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¹ourself - how and where we don't trust him

²God - how and why he is trustworthy

Is making a lot of money legit?

Is it legitimate to pursue making a lot of money as an end in itself? No.

However, note the above says the love of money is the problem, not money itself.

If we diligently pursue doing things with excellence for the glory of God, it is not only totally legitimate to be as productive and fruitful as possible, but what we are called to do. 

From the beginning in Genesis and throughout the New Testament, God's mandate to humanity was to be fruitful and multiply i.e. bear much fruit. This honors God.

This may result in financial success (and sometimes does, particularly if God gave you the temperament and skills to be an effective business person). But it's not automatically a guarantee. 

Since making money is not the focus (though it can clearly be a legitimate measuring stick of success under the right conditions), but the pursuit of excellence for Christ's sake is i.e., doing everything - including "business" - for God's honor (glory) regardless of whether we see a significant financial reward or not. 

We should always strive for excellence and never back off from being as fruitful as possible, both spiritually and materially. Doing things with excellence has more to do with effort and intent than outcome. Backing off from doing all things for God's glory is not optional. Honoring God in all we say and do is the calling of every believer.
 

What about our skills?

What if our skills and abilities, energy, stamina, strength, and mental sharpness have considerably dropped off with age or for some other reason, such as overall health or injury? Is this a legitimate reason to slow down? 

Because money is not the final measuring stick of a legitimate endeavor but intent to honor God is, we are still to pursue things with excellence regardless of our skills i.e. being excellent for Christ's sake always remains the ¹same even though our abilities change over time (some for better - like increased wisdom through increased life experience - and some for worse, like declining physical and mental stamina). 

Doing everything with excellence for the glory of God should ²always be our goal and modus operandi, regardless of the resources or skills we may or may not have; whether those resources change, decline, or increase.

What about excellence vs doing just enough to "get by?"

Excellence in the marketplace, in contrast to the lack of excellence, provides a greater opportunity to put God on display; to demonstrate that living for God is a more excellent and productive way than not living for him and living only for self-advancement. 

This is exactly why Joseph excelled in every circumstance he found himself in and was entrusted to oversee things wherever he went. He was eventually promoted to second in command in Egypt, probably the greatest nation on earth at that time. This led to great prosperity, which in turn was used to save many lives, including his own family. 

Truly knowing and living for God makes us more productive, resourceful, and excellent, resulting in greater honor to God and service to humanity made up of fellow bearers of God's image.

Excellence in attitude.

We are not only to be excellent in our effort but excellent in attitude e.g., humble, diligent, caring, grateful etc., which usually, though not automatically, leads to an excellent outcome. In fact, the right attitude leads to the right outcome. Therefore, knowing God is more excellent in the work environment (or any area of endeavor) than not knowing Him.  It is the superior way of living life. 

But we must distinguish between truly knowing God versus knowing about God. They are not the same. 

Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Ecc 9:10  Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. 

Col 3:23  Whatever you do G4160, work G2038b heartily G5590, as for the Lord and not for men, 

Do – G4160

ποιέω - poieō - poy-eh'-o

Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct): - abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do (-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare G4238.

Work – G2038b

ἐργάζομαι - ergazomai; from G2041; to work, labor: — accomplish (1), accomplished (1), accomplishing (1), achieve (1), committing (1), do (1), do...work (1), does (3), doing (1), doing...work (1), done (2), make...living (1), perform (4), performed (1), performing (1), practice (1), produces (1), traded (1), work (9), work be done (1), work do...perform (1), working (7), works (1), wrought (1).

Heartily – G5590

ψυχή - psuchē; of unc. or.; breath, the soul: — heart (2), heartily (1), life (36), lives (7), mind (1), minds (1), person (1), persons (3), soul (33), souls (14), suspense *(1), thing (1).

From G5594; breath, that is, (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew [H5315], [H7307] and [H2416]: - heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.

Thayer Definition:

1) breath

1a) the breath of life

1a1) the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing

1a1a) of animals

1a1b) of men

1b) life

1c) that in which there is life

1c1) a living being, a living soul

2) the soul

2a) the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.)

2b) the (human) soul in so far as the right use of the aids constituted it that offered it by God it can attain its highest end and secure eternal blessedness, the soul regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life

2c) the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death (distinguished from other parts of the body) i.e. put your heart into it. Do it with passion, spirit, and energy.

As a believer in business for over 45 years, I have wrestled with what is legitimate and what is questionable in "doing business." 

The following links are some conclusions I have come to so far, based on scripture first and my own experience, failures, struggles, and successes. 

For those who have wrestled with these same things, I trust you will find the below helpful. 

For a discussion on the fallacy of the health and wealth gospel, click here.

For a further discussion on excellence, click here. 

For a discussion on sowing and reaping, click here. 

For a discussion on legitimate vs illegitimate business, click here 

For a discussion on giving what you have, click here.

For a discussion on being diligence vs undisciplined, click here

For a discussion on resting in God, click here

For a discussion on whether competition is good or bad click here

For a further discussion on being diligent, click here

For a discussion on what is more important, great effort or great faith, click here

For a discussion on the fallacy of the health and wealth gospel, click here.

For a discussion of what exactly is money/currency click here.

For a discussion how faith is hard work click here.

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¹And as we mature, our walk with God should strengthen, so this becomes a more consistent and common part of our life, not less common.

²Whatever you have, no matter how much or how little, use it with all the faith, strength, and energy God gives you for his glory.

Work out your own salvation

Because our lack of humility and our inclination to be our own god has continued since our initial rebellion in Eden, everything we do tends to be performance-based i.e. We are naturally inclined to take everything that God says - His directions or commandments - and turn them into a performance based approach to God i.e. a way of earning God's approval and acceptance. 

Why? 

We feel compelled to prove our worth and counter our sense of inadequacy that resulted from our abandoning God, the source and only true basis of our identity. 

Why? Because we were created for glory but are no longer connected to the Source of glory, life, and meaning i.e. we are missing what we were designed to partake of; the beautiful (glorious), all-wise, and loving God. 

Since we are designed to experience our greatest identity and sense of worth in God, without him, we seek to regain this outside of and apart from him. 

We no longer do things to honor God but try to "save ourselves" through doing "good deeds." Even as His Children, we are ¹naturally inclined this way if we do not operate in and by His Spirit. 

True humility recognizes I can't (and never will) follow and pursue God perfectly in my natural strength, i.e., by simply willing it. God must be the energy and driving force behind my actions. I must recognize my weakness in living as God intends before I can be strong (in His strength) in faithfully pursuing Him.

The paradox of the "upside down" Christian life is when I am weak I am strong. 2 Cor 12:7-10

"Therefore, my beloved... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." - Phil 2:12-13

This passage does not say work for your salvation but work out your salvation that is already yours i.e. live out who you fully are - who God has made you to be in and through Christ - i.e. act as someone who is perfectly righteous (and loved) because of Christ's efforts on your behalf, not as someone trying desperately to make yourself righteous to win the acceptance and approval (and love) of others... starting with God.

Who we are in Christ ("our own salvation") is what gives us the will (desire) and power to live for God's pleasure. But we must fully believe and embrace what God declares about us in Christ if we are to experience His strength in and through us.

For a further discussion on the difference between being righteous and living righteously, click here.

For a discussion on the difference between being spirit-driven vs works-driven click here.

For a discussion on being loved, vs experiencing his love click here.

For a discussion on becoming who we already are in Christ click here.

For a discussion on how we are created for glory click here, here, and here.

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Footnotes:

¹This is why the Galatians reverted back to performance based salvation after Paul initially had clearly presented the gospel to them, resulting in him writing his letter to get them back on track.