Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?
Romans 8:24 CSB
https://bible.com/bible/1713/rom.8.24.CSB
The list of virtues (power and qualities) with which the believer has intimate connections is long indeed. The facets of Spirit-fruit are 8. The growth in grace brings us face to face with another 5 as we discover in 2 Peter 1:5-7
- knowledge
- steadfastness
- godliness
- brotherly affection
- love
From Paul in Colossians 3:12-13 we are given more coordinates for virtues
- compassionate hearts
- kindness,
- humility,
- meekness
- patience,
- Tolerance (bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another)
- forgiviness (forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive)
Obedience is not on any of these lists of nobility because it lends itself to the most famous fables or fibs. God knows what credit does to humans and that is why we (who know the Lord) are better off giving the Heavenly Father all the glory and dominion. Read Genesis 3, Exodus 20, and Deuteronomy 31:19 to, 29 and see why.
“Teach them to observe” is neither salvation nor holiness. It is the mandate relative to contention and security. The sayings of Yeshua are held only by believers, by the elect. So we can drop the Pharisee routine about converting an unbeliever or as in many cases a Christian.
People need something to hope for. People need room to grow. The idea that one can fill up a seeker with all the truth before and thereby make them believers or saints is false and malicious. The church has been there!
Life is Fun, But Not a Joke 