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If God had not allowed Satan and his counterfeit versions (evil per definition by God) to run its course, then maybe all the angels and mankind would have fallen eventually. Why? Because then God would never have been able to demonstrate and prove His Law and character based on Divine Love : 1. Love for God 2. Love for creation (neighbor). 1/3 of all the angels fell due to Satan's ability to persuade and manipulate them. These were, and still are, highly intelligent angels who had existed in the atmosphere and society of heaven for thousands, if not millions of years. We would then not have seen and experienced the true nature of Satan and the consequences of his law of this world. This is a real and very brutal contest, because he claim that his methods and ways are better and will make people happiest, and this world a better place. We find it most profoundly in modern spiritualism and energy work, and for people to focus primarily on the here and now and this life, this earth, and not God and heaven first and foremost. "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Ephesians 3:7-11 it continues... "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, *to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge*—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Eph 3:14-19 In other words the mystery has to do with how great and powerful God's version of love, justice, joy and grace is. It is of an everlasting nature And that God has promised to recreate us in His image, so we can be reconciled with Him and be able to fit in to the society in heaven. While this counterfeit version of this world is limited and too focused on all the outer factors that are not very important to God. But Satan try to convince you and the world that his limited versions are far more powerful and more beneficial to creation and the Universe. So, God is testing all of us to see how we judge things, what we value and prioritize higher. Who we truly worship, not just whom we say we worship. But what we truly believe in. Because we are not stagnant, and we develop our tastes and faith, at least if we truly walk the path of sanctification, so God has to keep testing us to see how we respond in the present time. God is represented by His law and character (the inner values, His Love, His wisdom) more than any other outside factor. His law is built on the character of God. So His character, consist not so much of the things we see, but in the unseen, the innermost and sacred, the heart and mind. Hence the new law and covenant is about His law of divine love being written on our hearts and minds, by grace through faith. (Hebrews 8:10). "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1 "for we walk by faith, not by sight." 2. Cor 5:7 The creation represent the seen, the temporary. The creator and the heavenly and everlasting is represented by the unseen. "Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2. Cor 4 16-18 Character development is to have the law of God written on our hearts, in the sanctification, by the holy spirit of God, through faith. That means that we will receive His character and His truth more fully, gradually if we mature in the path towards righteousness, and obey Him. To receive the character of God is the same as receiving the righteousness of the Son of God, Christ. The same as being sanctified and recreated in the image of God. CHARACTER = the law of God written on our hearts and minds (inner nature), by grace through faith Hence our faith, our character, will, if we receive it more fully. Meaning to go from immaturity to maturity and in the end, victory. To be better able to stand the tests and storms that hit us in life. Hence it would mean that we have built our house/temple on the rock, and not on sand. But know also, that in order to face the trials that we need, we must be willing to walk the narrow path and not just run from every trial that come our way. Because we can always choose to stop walking and flee to the broad path, and gather preachers, philosophers and people that tickle our ears, and only present the smooth and flowery things to suit our conscience. But no, we must be willing to take up our cross and follow our master and Lord, Jesus Christ. By His atonement (forgiveness for past, repented sins by the blood of Christ) and grace (undeserved power) which involve obedience and cooperation, we can conquer. Entire series: "Character of God. Defended"
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