The More Excellent Way

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Axehead

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The last day of 2012 is 12/31. The day before the New Year. 1 Cor 12:31 is the last 12:31 in the Bible. It is the lead-in verse to the "more excellent way."

1 Cor 12:31
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Jesus Christ is the central theme and focus of the Bible and He is the "more excellent way."

He also has the more (most) excellent name in all of the Universe. Much better than angels.

Heb 1:4
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

And it is because of His "more excellent ministry" that He has provided much better things for man.

Heb 8:6
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Jesus: the Better Revelation of God
Hebrews 1:1-4

Jesus: the Better Man for Mankind
Hebrews 2:5-18

Jesus: the Better Ground of Faithfulness
Hebrews 3:1-19

Jesus: the Better Rest of God
Hebrews 4:1-13

Jesus: the Better Divine-Human High Priest
Hebrews 4:14 ­ 5:10

Jesus: the Better Hope of Inheriting the Promises of God
Hebrews 5:11 - 6:20

Jesus: The Better Hope of Man
Hebrews 7:19

Jesus: the Better Mediator between Man and God
Hebrews 7:20-28

Jesus: The Minister of a Better Covenant
Hebrews 8:6

Jesus: The Minister of Better Promises
Hebrews 8:6

Jesus: The Better Sacrifice for Forgiveness
Hebrews 9:23

Jesus: The Better Way of Access to God
Hebrews 10:19-39

Jesus: The Better Guarantor of Promises Received by Faith
Hebrews 11:1-40

Jesus: The Better Country
Hebrews 11:6

Jesus: The Better Resurrection
Hebrews 11:35

Jesus: The Better Example of Faithful Endurance
Hebrews 12:1-13

Jesus: The Better Example of Holiness and Worship
Hebrews 12:14-29

Jesus: The Better Example of Suffering and Bearing Reproach
Hebrews 13:1-25

May we all continue to grow up into Him in all things (which is the Head, even Christ) as He fitly frames us together growing unto an holy temple in the Lord. (Eph 4:14 and 2:21).
 

IanLC

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I agree with you. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are of some profi and value but the discipline and work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is of more value. A pure heart and spirit by which the gifts may flow easily and purity. Holiness in lifestyle and godliness in spirit are an essential part to maturing in the faith in Jesus the Holy Christ.
 

Axehead

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UHCAIan said:
I agree with you. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are of some profi and value but the discipline and work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is of more value. A pure heart and spirit by which the gifts may flow easily and purity. Holiness in lifestyle and godliness in spirit are an essential part to maturing in the faith in Jesus the Holy Christ.
Very nicely put, Alan.
 

dragonfly

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Apr 19, 2012
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Hi Axehead,

That is a great study. (I think Jesus the Better Country should be Hebrews 11:16, not v 6. But v 6 is a great starting place, :)

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing. 4 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; 6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoice in the truth; 7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Charity never fails ... '


Alternative rendering from http://studybible.info/interlinear/1%20cor%2013

If I speak with the languages of men and of the angels, but I have not love, I have become brass resounding, or a cymbal sounding loudly.

And if I have prophecy, and I know the mysteries - all, and all the knowledge, and if I have all the belief, so as to remove mountains, but I have not love, I am nothing.

And if I should distribute all my possessions, and if I should deliver up my body that it should be burned, but I have not love, not one benefit do I derive.

The love is lenient, is kind.
The love is not jealous, the love is not rash, not inflated, not indecent,
does not seek the things for itself, is not provoked, does not consider the bad, does not rejoice at the injustice
but rejoices with the truth.

All things it sustains,
all things it trusts,
all things it hopes,
all things it endures.

The love at no time falls off.



Amen.
 

Axehead

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May 9, 2012
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dragonfly said:
Hi Axehead,

That is a great study. (I think Jesus the Better Country should be Hebrews 11:16, not v 6. But v 6 is a great starting place, :)

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing. 4 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; 6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoice in the truth; 7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Charity never fails ... '


Alternative rendering from http://studybible.info/interlinear/1%20cor%2013

If I speak with the languages of men and of the angels, but I have not love, I have become brass resounding, or a cymbal sounding loudly.

And if I have prophecy, and I know the mysteries - all, and all the knowledge, and if I have all the belief, so as to remove mountains, but I have not love, I am nothing.

And if I should distribute all my possessions, and if I should deliver up my body that it should be burned, but I have not love, not one benefit do I derive.

The love is lenient, is kind.
The love is not jealous, the love is not rash, not inflated, not indecent,
does not seek the things for itself, is not provoked, does not consider the bad, does not rejoice at the injustice
but rejoices with the truth.

All things it sustains,
all things it trusts,
all things it hopes,
all things it endures.

The love at no time falls off.



Amen.
Hi dragonfly,

Yes, I see I messed up citing that one verse and left off a 1. Glad you could figure it out and thanks for posting the correction so everyone would know it was Hebrews 11:16.

I too, just love all the "Betters" in Hebrews. It is really instructive in showing us that Jesus is ALL that we need.

Thank you also for the other rendering of 1 Cor 13.

Axe
 

jiggyfly

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Good thread, great comments. I use 1Cor. 13 to check my interpretation of all other scriptures and of what Father is speaking. If it doesn't fit here then I have to adjust my interpretation until it fits because God is love.
When reading 1Cor. 13:4-7 we should see ..

God is patient and kind. God is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. He does not demand His own way. He is not irritable, and He keeps no record of being wronged.6 He does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.7 God never gives up, He never loses faith, He is always hopeful, and He endures through every circumstance.
1 Cor 13:4-7 (NLT)

If our teachings, doctrines and thoughts of God and what He is doing or will do doesn't line up here then we need to allow HolySpirit to adjust our thinking until it lines up.
 

Axehead

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May 9, 2012
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jiggyfly said:
Good thread, great comments. I use 1Cor. 13 to check my interpretation of all other scriptures and of what Father is speaking. If it doesn't fit here then I have to adjust my interpretation until it fits because God is love.
When reading 1Cor. 13:4-7 we should see ..

God is patient and kind. God is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. He does not demand His own way. He is not irritable, and He keeps no record of being wronged.6 He does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.7 God never gives up, He never loses faith, He is always hopeful, and He endures through every circumstance.
1 Cor 13:4-7 (NLT)

If our teachings, doctrines and thoughts of God and what He is doing or will do doesn't line up here then we need to allow HolySpirit to adjust our thinking until it lines up.
Thanks, Jiggy. I use 1 Cor 13 and many other passages, too. For instance, Hebrews 12 shows me another facet of God's love. God is not an irresponsible Father who lets His sons do anything they want. Love also confronts and speaks the truth because it cares more for the other person than for their own "feelings".

Thank you for weighing in. Truth is like a prism, with many facets. All equally important and complementary that together make up a beautiful diamond.
 

jiggyfly

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Absolutely agree with you here Axehead, love must involve discipline when needed. I think many misunderstand why God disciplines but a little time spent with Father can correct the misunderstanding.