"The Christian Life"

[Netchaplain]

.Pegg, I guess it's how you look at the meaning. Personal failers causes us to depend on God for everything and not on ourselves. Imitating or following Christ is inferior to being in Christ, like a disciple or follower isn't as close as being in Him. In this way He uses us like a puppet, to do as much as possible that which He causes us to do. Also like a father teaching his child to dance by putting the feet on his own feet, that way they do it while he's doing it because he is causing it.

"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." 1 John 2:6.

 

[Prentis]

.Pegg, I guess it's how you look at the meaning. Personal failers causes us to depend on God for everything and not on ourselves. Imitating or following Christ is inferior to being in Christ, like a disciple or follower isn't as close as being in Him. In this way He uses us like a puppet, to do as much as possible that which He causes us to do. Also like a father teaching his child to dance by putting the feet on his own feet, that way they do it while he's doing it because he is causing it.

"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." 1 John 2:6.

That is well stated. There is a difference between our serving God in our own strength, which is good, it is obedience (when it flows from the heart), and being crucified with Christ, that he would live through us.

 

[Netchaplain]

I believe the phrase "the first and the last refers to Christ being the first cause of everything in this life and the last end of all in this life.

Concerning His existence He had no beginning. "Having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God." Heb 7:3.

God Bless Us