Bible Math = Life Enhancing Formulas for Relationship with God

Bible Math Open Book is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta on MakersPlace

This art is the book cover image for Bible Math, the eBook, which can be read in its entirety below. Bible Math: The Open Book is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta on MakersPlace. This digital painting was created to graphically represent the Bible Math book project in one digestible image, merging art, science, and scriptures for the good of humanity. It's no coincidence that the cross and the plus signs are similar. Just as God wants to add goodness to our lives, so does Bible Math! Paint your future bright with this formula: God + You + Bible + Faith + Deeds = Resurrected Life. Please utilize "Bible Math" as a guide showing the many miraculous mathematics available to us once we open the mighty word of God.

Where Art, Science, and the Scriptures Converge... at the Intersection of Bible Math!

Bible Math is first and foremost a way of life that I hope everyone will follow. It's a multidisciplinary research project and an ongoing online book that merges creativity, calculation, and Christianity into one digestible collection of training materials. Where ancient wisdom meets modern technology, there you will find Bible Math. Take hold of the Bible, the brain, and the brushstrokes as a fresh picture is painted--pointing the way toward a brighter tomorrow for all humanity.

Introduction
The Greatest

Relationship with God

The Kingdom Is The Church

Church = 1 Family + 1 Mission

Unity

Wisdom

Conclusion

BIBLE MATH

INTRODUCTON: The Genesis of Bible Math

"Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you." - Deuteronomy 4:2

I used to be one of those cocky, impatient people who would brag about how I hated math and was indifferent to the Bible. Gratefully that was decades ago. Now, by the grace of God, I see that the life skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and so many other mathematics concepts (like responsible budgeting) are essential components of a healthy relationship with God. From the above verse in Deuteronomy, we can see that math priorities ("add... subtract") were vital in ancient times, and they are just as vital today.

In fact, mathematics is completely inseparable from the Bible. We need to know what addition and subtraction are in order to properly keep our understanding and application of God's word pure. That's why Bible Math is here; to help retrain our minds to see the math already in the scriptures. For example, from the above verse we can extrapolate the following embedded math formula: Commands of God + 0 Human Opinions - 0 Commands of God = Proper Way to Follow God. It could also be formulated as this: Bible + 0 - 0 = 100% Opportunity to Be Obedient People of God. While such math is basic, it is also unburdening, meant to free us from the confusion of the world. What God says counts (literally), so using the godly math of the Bible makes our lives "add up" nicely in the eyes of God.

Turning some basic math to my own career, if my count is correct, this is my 11th book. As a seasoned publisher and author in the industry since the 80s, I am also a formally trained artist, ministry leader, and appointed shepherd. However, I am not a trained mathematician. In fact, I struggle at math and even needed a math tutor to make it through college... which was a lifetime ago. So many of the math formulas in Bible Math take an extra stretch of my brain to construct and I have to carefully review them because math simply does not come naturally to me.

Nevertheless, through Bible Math, what I am grateful to have discovered is that meditating on the Bible and the math in the Bible actually makes math more exciting and (miraculously for me) easier to understand. Art, on the other hand, has always come quite naturally. It is like a very familiar second language that I just love to speak. So when I create a book, even if it is mainly all words, the art just can't help but come out.

Bible Math Greco Cover is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on Atomic Hub.

As such, the art in Bible Math is a labor of love. These pieces are also for sale as limited edition collector's items available through blockchain-powered art markets (and some of the art has already been sold). This book's illustrations are part of a category of artwork called rare digital art, also known by the more popular term: "NFT." In the rare digital art industry, original images are published and registered on global decentralized networks using blockchain technology to verify authenticity, scarcity, and art provenance. Bible Math is one of the first full-length free online books to have all of its illustrations turned into blockchain tokens for trading internationally. Just as the gospel must keep going to the ends of the earth, in similar fashion, the artwork in Bible Math is on that same trajectory. Its images are meant to help make the message more memorable, digestible, and even collectible.

Bible Math, as a book (and its accompanying artworks), came about in a riveting and spiritual way. For over two decades, I have been leading or overseeing weekly Bible Discussion Groups and studying the Bible with people on an individual mentoring level. In the course of these adventures, I am delighted to share the gospel with all who are willing to listen and put the word of God into practice.

Early in 2020, one of the invited attendees of our Bible Discussion Group, my friend and quantum mathematician, Dave D'Silva, asked me a pivotal question; "Can you think of any scriptures where the Bible talks about mathematics in a quantum or value-added manner?"

Bible Math is rare digital art and article by Joe Chiappetta

In addition to being an in-depth book, Bible Math is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta available at pixEOS Art Gallery. The base layer of this artwork is my teen daughter's Christmas wish list, which I later doodled over. I find it very fitting, that the wish list of my dear child is the underlying layer to artwork that represents the wishes of God in the form of Bible Math.

In my being asked by Dave about the Bible as it relates to mathematics, a literal treasury of scriptures were soon to be opened up for deeper discovery. Almost without hesitation, I said "Yes," with great excitement. And the rest was pure joy and discovery into the remarkable world of Bible Math. Intuitively, I knew this was going to become a rewarding nexus where science, scriptures, and creativity would converge into one heightened adventure.

Bible Math 2 is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta available at pixEOS Gallery. The art features a number of art, scripture, and science details, including a portrait of mathematician Dave D'Silva. The artwork also incorporates the Feynman Diagram, a quantum mechanics bridge to Bible Math.

At the start, Bible Math was just a few articles, written so I could simply study the Bible with my friend Dave, because that is what Christians like me do: help others apply God's word to our lives. Yet over time, Bible Math congealed into something much bigger, and in fact now has many useful purposes.

Qing Chang: Agent of Bio Energy Currency is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta on MakersPlace. Dr. Chang's contribution and advisory role on this project have been helpful for relating how quantum biology aligns completely with the scriptures in exciting and inspiring ways. This art is loaded with biology and Bible references, including how God designed all life with its own unique, powerful, and renewable energy currency system and that through Jesus we can have life "to the full" (John 10:10).

After doing art, science, and scripture research for a number of months, I came up with one loud and humbling conclusion: The Bible, which I already knew as entirely awesome beyond compare, is even more awesome in its radical, revolutionary, and reviving treatment of numbers! This means there are more ways to digest Biblical concepts in a memorable and even formulaic manner.

Bible Math Metropolis is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta available on SuperRare.

The mathematics of the Bible is not the typical math learned in most schools; it's better by far. Indeed, the math described throughout the scriptures is more empowering, more liberating, more inspiring, and full of more life-enhancing formulas than all the other math books combined. This is not to say that the Bible is merely a math book; the Bible is the way to know who we are, who God is, as well as how to love God and love each other.

The way the Bible touches on mathematics is soothing to the soul, giving light to the eyes, and even reviving the dead. This book contains some incredible examples of that. It should help us see that Bible Math not only adds up perfectly, it also is designed to multiply in each reader a faithful, joyful, healthy, and productive outlook on life, now and forevermore!

Yet the purpose of Bible Math goes even a few steps further. I wrote this book with the intention that you, as a conscientious reader, would do the following 4 things:

Experience a life-changing and godly awakening and...
Contact me (or fellow members of the Restored Church Worldwide nearest you) for the purpose of...
Personally studying the Bible with the intent to obey it in order to...
Become a fully committed follower of Jesus Christ (known in the Bible by the term "disciple") in our modern-day global revolution of faith, hope, and love.

THE GREATEST

Most things in life are not automatically numbered according to importance. A fresh carrot and a fresh donut do not have equal health value. Nor are they branded on their sides with numbers to clarify each food item's long-term health benefit. If they were, perhaps a carrot would have a number "10" etched into its skin, while a donut might have the number "0" written in red frosting on its top.

Yet when things are numbered according to true life value, it brings instant clarity and priority into our existence. God knows this, which is why he classifies certain things as greater than other things. Assigning such preferences a proper order in our day-to-day routine is an essential skill of life (or life skill). Studying what God calls "great" and "greatest" can help any person quickly adjust their values to align with what God highly regards.

Matthew 22:36-40

[36] "'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?'

[37] Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." [40] All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'"

The Greek word "megas" is translated as "greatest" throughout this passage. Megas means great, loud, splendid, big, and prepared on a grand scale.
Making Jesus' top 2 commands "megas" in our personal lives means that loving God and loving people becomes the biggest, loudest, most splendid focus of our daily existence.
The symbol ">" means "greater than" in math.
2 commands are designated by Jesus as greater than ">" the rest of the commands.
The greatest command describes the level of intensity that God's followers must have for him. That the greatest command is all about relationship with God shows how much God values relationships.
Learning to highly value what God highly values is a life skill.
Something that is "greater than" must become supreme in its importance and application for our lives.
The Loving-Relationship-with-God Command > All Other Commands.
The Greek word for "love" used here is the verb "agapao." It means to have a preference for, wish well to, regard the welfare of, to welcome with desire, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly, take pleasure in, prize above all others, and unwilling to abandon or do without.
Take extra note that this is a verb, implying action. Whenever a verb is used, doing something (action) is inherent in its meaning. Like most things we do in life, it takes deliberate practice and real-life application to improve in the action of love. In other words, love is a life skill that the Bible quantifies specifically and consistently.
Agapao love must be how we regard God.
Love God with 100% of our Heart, Soul, and Mind. That's from the 3 main centers of our life. Notice that just loving God from 1 area of your life is not enough to comply with this command. For example, the person who just loves God intellectually (with the mind) still needs to get the heart and soul into the relationship with God too.
Those who think they are loving God with a lower percentage of their heart, soul, and/or mind are violating the command and not pleasing God.
Heart in Greek is the noun "kardia." It's from the root word "to quiver or palpitate." kardia/heart is the organ in animal body which is the center of the circulation of blood. It is regarded as the seat of physical life as well as a central point of spiritual life, thoughts, character, intelligence, soul, and emotion.
Are you loving God with every beat of your heart?
Soul in Greek is the noun "psyche." It means breath of life, the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing. The soul is the seat of feelings, desires, affections, aversions. It's the essence that differs from the body and is not dissolved by death. The soul is regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life.
We must love God with all our immaterial yet animated life-force (soul).
Love God with 100% of our unseen parts.
The 2nd greatest command is to love your neighbor as yourself. Think about how you typically take good care of yourself and are very sensitive and responsive to your personal needs. Love others like that.
If you really love your neighbor as yourself, you'll be active in helping your neighbor apply these commands to their life, since you know how greatly God values these commands.
The implication of both commands is daily and throughout the day.
The rest of the Bible hangs on the number 1 and 2 greatest commandments. Therefore we must obey these commands so that the rest of the Bible will make more sense to us.
When we number other commands greater than these, proper priorities get skewed and the Bible hangs improperly. In other words, to have a clear perspective on what God calls for, the greatest commands must be followed. Then everything hangs in alignment.

Faith Walk is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on MakersPlace. I drew this artwork to illustrate the invisible characteristics of having a spiritual faith which leads to clearly defined results in the physical world. Only a few times in the Bible does Jesus commend specific people for measurably "great" faith. One such time is in Luke 7:1-10 when Jesus communicated with a Roman centurion who had a sick servant. In this passage, Jesus and the centurion never actually meet; yet by unseen faith and working through other people, the centurion gets his request filled by Jesus remotely. The interaction also resulted in Jesus becoming amazed at the centurion's great faith.

Luke 7:1-10 The Centurion's Great Faith

[1] "When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. [2] There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. [3] The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. [4] When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, 'This man deserves to have you do this, [5] because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.' [6] So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: 'Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. [7] That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. [8] For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, "Go," and he goes; and that one, "Come," and he comes. I say to my servant, "Do this," and he does it.'

[9] When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, 'I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.' [10] Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well."

The centurion exhibits a number of positive traits, which worked together to amaze Jesus. The centurion was (1) extremely humble, (2) compassionate, (3) very faithful, and (4) deeply respectful of authority from God as well as human authority.
The Greek word "tosoutos" is translated here as "such great." It refers to such a great quantity of something. Jesus measures the quantity of faith a person has (or does not have).
Faith can be measured. So as a personal reflection, ask yourself how would Jesus measure your faith this past week? If the centurion's faith is ranked at 10, what number would Jesus rank your faith?
Part of how Jesus measures a person's faith is how they respond to Jesus' authority as well as human authority. A faithful response to both is what the centurion had. Therefore it is what we need too.
The magnitude of the centurion's faith was greater than (>) the rest of the people in Israel. This must have been convicting to Jesus' disciples who were present with him during his interaction with the centurion's messengers. Jesus ranks the centurion's faith even above his own disciples' faith and all the rest of the people in Israel.
Centurion's Faith > All Others in Israel.
The centurion had faith in Jesus' word. Understand that Jesus can speak things and circumstances into action.
The power of God's word makes things happen. God's word is the driving force, or engine that creates results. Our prayers can be the influencer of those results.
When going through hard times, we must listen to Jesus' words, not merely emotions... and especially not selfish desires or unbiblical opinions.
Jesus has authority and ability to take us to results we can't achieve without his words.
Note that the centurion and Jesus were never face to face in this dialog. The communication was all done through a number of messengers. Yet Jesus was greatly impressed with how the centurion's faith worked through people to get to God.
The centurion understood the authority structure very well: not just Jesus' authority, but the whole chain of command. It takes faith to believe how a whole network of obedience can work.
Jesus "was amazed at" the centurion's faith because most do not trust much authority in their life, which is another way of saying that they really don't trust God.
Applying personal faith, clear initiative, and respect for authority, with God's word as the highest authority, is a life skill. The centurion had this life skill and it led to 1 miraculous result documented in the Bible.
Imitating this centurion can be a most basic and practical way to grow. In fact, you will become greater than your former self.
You Imitating the Centurion > Old You.

Pray is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub.

Ephesians 3:20-21 The Exceedingly Abundant Immeasurable Ability of God

[20] "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

God does immeasurably more than anything we can think of or ask.
However creative and bold we are in prayer, we cannot be more creative or bold than God. Use this fact as fuel to increase the intensity of your prayers.
God can imagine anything and do anything. Therefore God is the greatest thinker and greatest doer.
God is a doer at an infinite level.
The symbol ∞ means "infinity."
God's deeds = ∞
God's ability to answer prayer is infinite.
God's ability = ∞
The amount at which God is greater than us as a thinker and a doer cannot be measured. Therefore God is infinitely greater than us.
The math symbol > means "greater than."
As a thinker and a doer, God = ∞> People.
Expect incredible things from God.
God makes following Jesus infinitely exciting since his doing ability is infinite.
Such greatness of God should increase our faith.
Scale way up in your prayer time and prayer expectations. With infinity as the ceiling, pray and take action to improve specific areas of your life. This includes growing in your health, career, time management, money management, and most importantly, as a productive child of God.
The Bible shows us we should have immeasurable expectations of God.
We should have complete, and even immeasurable reliance on God.
While God's infinite greatness may be intellectually obvious, think of how often we rely on our own understanding and ability to get things done. We need to rely on God more for insight, strength and deeds.
God's ∞ power "is at work within" his followers!

Hebrews 4:15-16

[15] "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. [16] Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

All people are tempted in every way.
Jesus was "tempted in every way"--yet never sinned.
Jesus has 0 sin.
Sin means to miss the mark, to err, be mistaken, do wrong, wander from the upright path.
All people except Jesus = much sin.
Jesus = 0 sin.
Only Jesus has the greatest response to temptation: he never sinned.
Jesus' response to temptation is measurably much greater than all other people's response.
The math symbol ≫ means "much greater than."
Jesus' response to temptation ≫ all other people's response.
We are in the presence of Jesus: the only one who completely defeated sin.
Our king is not like other kings, who are sinners (just like us). Our king is perfect, with 0 sin, and exceedingly awesome.
Our king gives us the right to approach his presence and stay in him.
Go to Jesus to overcome sin.
Approach Jesus' throne of grace with confidence.
Tempted in every way, Jesus can sympathize with you.
Take courage; we are in the presence of a sympathetic God.
Learn to oppose your sinful nature like Jesus greatly and victoriously opposed sin.

Time with God is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta available on AtomicHub. This art was originally used as a digital invitation to invite people to one of the weekly Bible discussion groups that I led in the church.

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Jeremiah 29:11-14
[11] "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. [12] Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. [13] You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. [14] I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, 'and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,' declares the LORD, 'and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.'"

God has prosperous plans, hope, and a future for us. We don't know the exact details of the plan, but God "knows the plans." So we need to know God!
Receiving "hope and a future" from God is not automatic. It is 1 possible scenario out of an infinite ∞ other possible scenarios. Receiving hope and a future from God requires us fulfilling the requirements of relationship with God... which God defines in the Bible.
1 component of relationship with God involves praying to him.
God is a great planner and listener.
Finding God requires 100% of your heart.
In Hebrew (which is what most of the Old Testament was written in) the word "heart" (lebab) is the seat of the senses, affections, and emotions of the mind.
A person who is not in touch with their emotions, or emotionally detached, or emotionally unstable, or thinks they are too cool to be affectionate may have a really hard time with relationship with God, since it requires the seat of our inner self on a emotional level to connect to God "with all your heart." Therefore it is vital for us to talk deeply and daily about how we are feeling in our prayer times as well as with others who are spiritually mature enough to guide us through times of emotional turbulence.
God says the way to find him is through being a totally committed seeker: putting in 100% of our hearts into the relationship. That means finding relationship with God absolutely can be done, since God would not command us to do something that cannot be done.
Seeking God with 99% of your heart is not sufficient.
God has prosperous plans for those who seek him with 100% of their heart.
Seeking God with 100% of your heart = freedom from captivity.
A hopeful future and prosperity requires a specific spiritual velocity: 100% of your heart.
God has a way to bring banished people in captivity back to him.
Banishment + Seeking God with 100% of Your Heart = Freedom.

Detail from Victory of the Spiritual Mind art by Joe Chiappetta

Detail illustrating prayer from Victory of the Spiritual Mind by Joe Chiappetta, which is rare digital art available on MakersPlace.

2 Chronicles 16:9
"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him...."

By ourselves, we only have a limited amount of strength. On our own, we simply max out at a certain expenditure of power. Yet there is more power/energy/strength to be found. A huge part of growing in our life skills is understanding where and when extra strength comes from. Extra strength comes from God to the fully committed in heart.
Notice when the strengthening happens; it's not when a person is mostly committed. Godly strengthening comes only after a person gets fully committed.
When at full commitment (100%), more power is given.
100% capacity (with God) leads to 100%+ capacity.
100% + God = 101% (or more).

1 John 3:16
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."

Love is measurable; it can be tracked.
Love is quantifiable in who is willingly laying down their life to benefit others.
Prior to his resurrection, Jesus laid down his life for us; he became nothing.
1 - 1 = 0
1 - 1 = Love
Knowing about Jesus' selfless love should inspire us to love him and others more.
Subtracting self can be a demonstration of love; it can improve relationships.

Matthew 6:25-34 Do Not Worry

[25] "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? [26] Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? [27] Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? [28] And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. [29] Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. [30] If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? [31] So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' [32] For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. [33] But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. [34] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Jesus calls us to "not worry," he calls out our "little faith," and he calls us to the decision to "seek first" God's "kingdom and his righteousness." Can you see the characteristics that need to be subtracted (worry), measured (little faith), and become our new prime objectives (God's kingdom and righteousness)?
Jesus commands us not to worry.
Worrying is literally a waste of time.
A person cannot worry and be faithful at the same time.
Worry is a contradiction (⇒⇐) of faith.
Worry ⇒⇐ Faith
Worry is the opposite of faith.
Worry ≠ Faith.
Worrying will not gain us more time.
Worrying is a subtraction of time.
1 Time + 1 Worry = 0 Time.
Worrying = -Time
Since worry is the opposite of faith, time spent being faithful = time saved.
Time + Faith = +Time
To "seek" anything "first" means to make it the consistently top priority.
Seek first God's kingdom + God's righteousness.
God knows what we need. God delivers these needs to those who put first priority on his kingdom and his righteousness.
God's kingdom is the church that Jesus describes in the Bible (which, as detailed in a later section, is a church much different than what most in the world define as "church").
God's righteousness is his will, as in what is right according to God. We can find God's righteousness in the Bible.
Following Jesus is about setting new priorities: the priorities that Jesus specifies as greater than (>) other priorities.
Church + Bible > 100% of Other Priorities.
Relationship with God = Church + Bible as Top Priority.
Some think that all life is equally valuable to God. Yet God says differently. People are "much more valuable than" birds.
People > Birds.
Focus on what is "much more valuable" to God: helping people not worry while living out the godly life defined in the Bible.

Eyes of the Heart is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta on pixEOS Gallery. It is an illustration of what is described as the results of an incredibly empowering prayer which can give Jesus' followers extra enlightenment in Ephesians 1:18.

Ephesians 1:18-21 Enlighten the Eyes of the Heart

[18] "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, [19] and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, [20] which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, [21] far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."

This verse is addressed to those who are already Jesus' committed followers. Paul prays that these disciples who already know God will know him on an even deeper level.
Enlightenment is one of the many benefits of great relationship with God.
See the power for prayer; it can open up new abilities.
The first step is to know God and be in a great relationship with him. Then know the depths of the inheritance which God calls his disciples to see. God makes more things clear as the relationship deepens. Therefore a great relationship with God produces an even greater relationship with him.
In chemistry, the symbol → means "produces" or "yields."
Great Relationship with God → Greater Relationship with God.
Enlighten = to give light, shine, render evident, become clear, illumine.
God = Enlightener.
To know the depth of the inheritance which God calls his disciples to, God must first open up the eyes of our heart.
To reach full functionality, we must first see our need for God, have relationship with him, and ask for depth of relationship.
Disciple of Jesus + Prayer + God = Enlightened Disciple of Jesus.
Without God, the eyes of our heart stay closed, unenlightened.
For disciples to know God's incomparable power on a deep level, God must activate them on the inside.
To know more about our own abilities, we need to know God.
Know God = Access to God.
Relationship with God = Access to Human Bonus Features, Activated by God.
Don't know God = 0 Access to God.
See your need for relationship with God to give life deeper meaning.
Increasing relationship with God means increasing meaning.
The math symbol "^" means "raised to the power of."
Relationship with God^5 = Meaning^5.
Our perception of the meaning of life is proportional to (∝) our relationships with God.
Meaning ∝ Relationship with God.
God's power is described as much greater than (≫) all other powers.
Jesus ≫ Death, 100% of Other Rulers, Authorities, Dominions, Titles. This is for 100% of Time.

FULL LIFE

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

[19] "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live [20] and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."

We all have a choice. What we choose influences what we receive: "life and death, blessings and curses."
Choose God = Life + Blessings + Inheritance.
Listen to God's voice means to actually hear the words of the Bible without the filter of human opinion or religious tradition.
Disobey Bible = Choosing Curses + Death + 0 Inheritance.
The statement, "The LORD is your life," means LORD = Life.
God = Life.
Trying to define what life is without really knowing God is ignoring that life and God are inseparable.
To fully understand life, we need to have relationship with God.
Know Life = Know God.
Real living is about loving God and doing what he says.

John 10:10

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

The "thief" does not really respect God's word, and therefore uses God's people inappropriately.
Jesus came to show and give us "life to the full."
Life to the full = 100% Life.
Without receiving what Jesus gives his disciples, people operate much below 100%.
Other entities not aligned with Jesus ("the thief") rob and destroy life. So if a person is operating at 75% and is influenced by "the thief," they drop lower, even to 0.
Without Jesus, those at 75% Life may not even realize that there is so much more to life. They may falsely think their current percentage is 100%. But their math does not add up to the Bible.
Only with gifts from Jesus do we reach full capacity of existence, as in 100% Life.

Gift of Vision is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available in 1 randomized ArtVndngMchn Series 3 NFT pack.

Psalms 37:4-6
[4] "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. [5] Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: [6] He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."

Happiness does not come from serving self.
Happiness comes from delighting in the LORD.
Those committing their way to God's way experience incredible radiance and deep fulfillment. God's way is defined in the Bible.
Becoming sincerely delighted about the LORD results in receiving the deepest gifts.
Lasting success and justice are the byproducts of great relationship with God.
Repositioning your way to the LORD's way is the key to renewable, incredibly bright energy.
When directed at God (not self), Delight + Commitment + Trust = Radiant Victory.
Delight in God, the mighty one who reaches out to light up our lives!

Godly Touch is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta from ArtVndngMchn Series 2 on AtomicHub.

Acts 17:24-28

[24] "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. [25] And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. [26] From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. [27] God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. [28] 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.'"

God made 1 person (Adam) and goes on to create nearly 8 billion people.
God gives all people "life, breath and everything else."
100% of life comes from God.
God determines the times and exact places we live... for a specific reason.
God orchestrated our life so we would choose to "seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him." God does this for 100% of the people. Yet only some choose to seek him, and fewer still find him, "though he is not far from each one of us."
When a true disciple of Jesus meets you, it is not by accident. It is God's plan to encourage you to seek and find him.
Fulfilling the reason you were created must include seeking and finding God.
Even for those without good relationship with God, "in him we live and move and have our being." This is true for 100% of people.
Thinking we live outside of God's authority and creation is a lie. 100% of all people's lives are entirely dependent on God.
100% of people exist within a subset of God. Yet having a full life in God involves seeking and finding him.
People operate in a fabric that is not just created by God, but is also "in him." This alone does not make us Christian, yet it does give us access to choose a relationship with God and the fullness of life that comes with being close to God. A visual way to imagine this is to picture how people can go into the Statue of Liberty. They are literally "in" the statue, yet that does not make them US citizens. They merely move around and have their existence in the statue. To be US citizens they still need to fulfill the relationship requirements defined by the US government. Similarly, all people exist "in" God. Yet to have close relationship with him as sons and daughters, and to reap the benefits of that relationship, people still need to fulfill the relationship requirements defined in the Bible.
The math symbol ⋐ means "is compactly contained in."
{100% of Past People + 100% of Present People + 100% Future People} ⋐ God.
In other words, all people are bound in God. They cannot operate/exist/function any other way. They are compactly contained ⋐ in the fabric of God. God is life, so getting close to God is the key to having the fullest life possible.

Life Skills is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub.

1 Timothy 4:16

"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."

There are 2 areas we need to watch "closely."
Give close attention to Life + Doctrine.
Just as a car driver merging onto a busy expressway needs the skills to watch the car speed and position closely, something similar can be said of life and doctrine. All drivers need traffic skills. All people need life skills.
Life and doctrine are inseparable. How you live is the result of what you were taught (doctrine) and what teaching you continue (persevere) in.
Life here refers to self, as in behave yourself properly--according to the Bible. Pay close attention to the thoughts as well as actions that make up your life. This includes proper management of your time, health, money, career, and really everything you do, physically and spiritually.
Watching these areas "closely" means to monitor them. Think in terms of numbers, such as how much time do I spend helping people? How much of my debt has been paid off? How late in the evening do I stop eating? Is my career on track to increase my income greater than the rate of inflation? How many days of the week do I pray on my knees? Hold yourself accountable to leveling up in these areas. Basically, we can either fumble through life without productive aim, or we can monitor and measure what we do "closely." The later is a life skill: an essential discipline for living a full existence.
Doctrine means "teaching." Since the Bible is what we need to be taught and what we need to teach others, pay close attention to the Bible.
Pay close attention to how you live: your behavior.
Life + Doctrine must match up to how the Bible says to live and what the Bible teaches.
Continuing in this command is a salvation issue.
It will also lead to saving others who do this too.
Godly Life + Biblical Doctrine + Perseverance = Salvation.
Subtracting any 1 of the 3 elements in the above formula means no salvation.
For example, an Unrepentant Life + Teaching the Right Doctrine = 0 Salvation.
Live the Bible + Teach the Bible = Saved.
To lead a full, saved life, what you continue to think, do, and teach must align with the Bible.

Proverbs 3:1-2

[1] My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, [2] for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

Life + Obeying the Bible on a Heart-Level = Longer Life + Prosperity.
Forgetting the Bible = Shorter Life + Disadvantage.

FAITH

Creation from the Invisible is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on MakersPlace. The drawing started out as a static image I created on an arts community site called Dada.nyc as part of a larger artistic conversation focused on shadows. Since much of what shadows are is unseen, it got me thinking about how to represent the invisible aspects of faith using comics. Therefore the final animated image here is meant to illustrate one of my favorite Bible verses, which is Hebrews 11:3. That states "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." In the artwork I tried to visualize how the things which we cannot see can--and have--become part of our reality. This happens through faith, hard work, and the power of God. In fact, visualizing what we cannot see is half the battle when it comes to having an active, productive faith. May we all have such faith!

Hebrews 11:1-3 The Definition of Faith

[1] "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. [2] This is what the ancients were commended for. [3] By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible."

Faith = Hope + Certainty + 0 Visibility.
To understand how the universe was formed, faith is required.
The math symbol "⊂" means "is a subset of."
Faith is an essential subset that a person must have in order to properly understand the universe.
The study of the universe is known as "cosmology."
Faith ⊂ Accurate Cosmology.
Faith + God = Creation.
Faith in God = Commendation by God.

Proverbs 12:14
"From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward."

Just as God spoke life into existence from nothing, a person can speak good things (rewards) into existence.
0 good things + fruitful speech = many good things.
Go from zero to rewards with a change in attitude: faithful, joyful.
See the importance of encouraging words.

Holy Family is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub. Depicted as a giant blue dove, the Holy Spirit calls us ever onward toward a greater faith in that which cannot be seen.

Luke 1:31-37 The angel Gabriel speaking with Mary
[31] "'You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.'
[34] 'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?'
[35] The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. [36] Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. [37] For nothing is impossible with God.'"

We must have faith in the magnitude of who Jesus is.
Jesus, as the Son of God is the holy and eternal king of a never-ending kingdom. His kingdom goes on for infinity (∞).
Jesus = Son of God = ∞ King + ∞ Kingdom.
With God, nothing is impossible.
With God everything is possible.
With God, all typically "fixed" math formulas are not fixed; the formulas are fluid, the numbers are fluid. It is all variable--with God.
Aligning things entirely with God's ways creates new (and seemingly impossible) possibilities.
Faith + Jesus = Anything.

Matthew 9:27-30

[27] "As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, 'Have mercy on us, Son of David!'
[28] When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, 'Do you believe that I am able to do this?'
'Yes, Lord,' they replied.
[29] Then he touched their eyes and said, 'According to your faith let it be done to you';

Our faith influences what Jesus allows to happen.
Our faith is a catalyst that enables things to "be done to" us.
Jesus' statement "according to your faith," shows that faith can be measured.
What people believe matters and it can be quantified.
Reality is interactive, dependent upon Jesus and what people believe.
Faith creates new reality.
Creation, stagnation, and destruction are all relative--according to belief.
Those who get closest to Jesus reap the greatest benefits through their positive faith and relationship with Jesus.
The men in this passage saw their need for Jesus, aggressively pursued him, got close to him, believed specific, measurable good things were in store for them through Jesus, verbalized their faith in him repeatedly, and therefore through Jesus, "their sight was restored."
Don't think the "according-to-your-faith" principle is always to your personal benefit. Having a positive faith last week does not mean you have that faith today. Such a faith must be nurtured, maintained, and even expanded upon. If you've been close to Jesus yet you believe negative things will happen to you... your negative faith can influence a negative outcome. In other words, according to your lack of faith, your worries will actualize and "be done to you." See my book "Mental Health and Holiness" for much more on this topic.

Mental Health and Holiness book by Joe Chiappetta

James 2:14-26 Faith + Deeds

[14] What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? [15] Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. [16] If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? [17] In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

[18] But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. [19] You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

[20] You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? [21] Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. [23] And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God's friend. [24] You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

[25] In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? [26] As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

How important is action (verse 17, 22)?
What is it that completes our faith (verse 22)?
How many times is death associated with faith but no deeds? (Verse 17, 26)
Faith - Deeds = Dead Faith.
It takes deliberate effort to match your deeds with your faith. It is a skill of life.
Faith + Deeds = True Life.
What do Abraham and Rahab both have in common? They both leveled-up by faith + deeds.
Faith + Deeds = Life Leveled-Up
Since "faith without deeds is useless" (verse 20), and “useless” carries 0 utility, we can make this formula: Faith - Deeds = 0.
What’s the utility of your faith? Start counting your relevant deeds.
Will you surge or slump in faith + action?
How much will you fight for your faith plus your level of diligence toward the actions needed?
That's faith and deeds working in harmony. These 2 characteristics must work together, or they both become ineffective.
The life skills of Bible Math are about having the wholeness (integrity) of being reverently centered in our relationship with God while wisely managing our health, time, money, career, and any other area in a way that pleases God.
Time to level-up with faith and deeds!
To level up in life's skills, show your faith (verse 18) by what you practically do.
What will you show of your faith by what you do?

WORD OF GOD

Acts 17:10-12 Eager Bereans

[10] "As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. [11] Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. [12] Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men."

How the Bereans responded to the message is contrasted with how the Thessalonians responded.
In character, the nobility of the Bereans was greater than (>) the Thessalonians.
In character, Bereans > Thessalonians.
Nobility = High in Rank, Worthiness.
Eager Examination of the Bible Every Day = More Noble Character.
Studying and applying the Bible makes a person high in rank to God's eyes.
Nobility to God is not about your social, racial, national, economic, or celebrity status. It's about who is excited to apply God's word to their lives on an ongoing basis. This means any person can become noble to God.
With the Bible as this great equalizer, 100% of people can become high in rank before God when doing what the Bereans did.
Take the "3E" Challenge: Every Day, Eagerly Examine the Bible.
Measuring nobility, 3E People > Other People.
Consistent and enthusiastic Bible study and application arms a person with worthiness before God.
The Bereans didn't merely take Paul's word for it. They checked God's word to verify that the message was true.
Compare what religious leaders say to the Bible. That's high ranking before God.
Make decisions based on the Bible.
Be eager about the message, provided the Bible confirms the message.
Read and study the Bible daily.
This results in many people becoming believers from different genders and nationalities.
To level-up, you need to get fired-up about the Bible.

Word Alive and Active is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta

Word Alive and Active is art by Joe Chiappetta, depicting how the Bible shows Jesus' words to be living and active--as in completely relevant to our daily lives on a personal level. This rare digital art is part of ArtVndngMchn series 2 fine art pack release.

Hebrews 4:12-13
[12] "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. [13] Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Just as scientists rely on precise instruments for measurement, so does God.
God's instrument is the "word of God," which is the Bible.
God gives us this instrument (the Bible) to measure ourselves accurately, and then help others do the same.
The Bible is not a dead book. It is living.
Just as a person cannot look at a living being once and fully know all about that being, the same is true for the Bible. Since it is the only living book in existence, continual interaction with the Bible is needed.
The Bible is "active," which can also be translated as "effective." It's a living interactive tool that--when used properly--works powerfully.
The Bible is powerful: sharper than a 2-edged sword, it cuts both ways.
Like a surgeon's scalpel when removing cancer, the Bible hurts, yet also heals, as it removes the sinful behavior.
The Bible judges our innermost thoughts and attitudes.
Our life will be measured (judged) against the living Bible.
The Bible measures deeper than all other instruments.
The Bible is a living measurement tool.
We are accountable to God through his super-sharp living Bible.

Sharper Skateboard is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available in select ArtVndngMchn Series 3 NFT packs.

Matthew 15:1-9
[1] "Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, [2] 'Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!'
[3] Jesus replied, 'And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? [4] For God said, "Honor your father and mother" and "Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death." [5] But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God," [6] he is not to 'honor his father' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. [7] You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
[8] 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

[9] They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.'"

Human tradition, even if coming from top religious leaders, can be wasteful ("in vain") when it takes Biblical teaching out of context.
Blending human tradition with the Bible can cancel out ("nullify") the true meaning of the Bible.
Using a Bible verse improperly leads to hypocrisy.
1 Bible verse + 1 human rule counter to the heart behind the Bible = 0 Bible verse.
Human rules that take scriptures out of proper context are contradictions (⇒⇐) to Jesus.
Mere Human Rules ⇒⇐ Jesus.
Not all traditions lead to growth. Some lead to great loss.
Worship by tradition (rather than the Bible in context) = worship in vain.
Religious tradition "zeros out" any scripture it gets combined with. Think of such tradition as an automatic 0 multiplier. Let's say a particular Bible verse gives the reader a strength of +2 in their faith. That 2 strength--when combined with tradition--becomes 2 x 0. This equation, of course, equals zero.
Tradition = x0.
Religious tradition, since it "zeros out" all scriptures it comes in contact with, must be avoided and opposed at all costs.

Proverbs 4:20-22
[20] "My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. [21] Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; [22] for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body."

Close listening involves careful attention and observation--like science.
Retained and obeyed words of God = life and bodily health.
Bible = Wellness.
Health requires personal attention and spiritual focus on a heart level.

Rock Solid Sword of the Spirit is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta available on AtomicHub. This piece started as a drawing on a 10 inch flat rock at El Matador Beach in Malibu, California, using ink and chalk, illustrating Ephesians 6:17. I find it extra-fitting that "matador" means "killer," in Spanish, as the Sword of the Spirit--which is the Word of God--is meant to help each of us put to death (kill) our own sinful behavior, using the Bible.

Ephesians 6:17-18

[17] "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [18] And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

Relationship with God gives tools of protection and power, including "the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit."
The sword of the Holy Spirit is the word of God: the Bible.
Sword of the Spirit = Word of God. The Word of God = Bible. Therefore, Sword of the Spirit = Bible.
There's only 1 particular book described as a spiritually good weapon: the Bible.
Main spiritual weapon of goodness = Bible.
To use a sword properly and effectively, it takes training.
Are you training in the Bible?
How well do you know the Bible? People who have fought with swords and survived know how that feels in their hands, body, and mind. A person won't know how to use the Bible well unless the spend a lot of time handling it properly. In other words, an existing disciple of Jesus needs to train you.
Fight to win spiritual victories using the Bible.
One of the main ways God makes himself known is through the Bible, which is measurable and verifiable, using written words in the most translated book of all time.
We are commanded to "take" the Bible and use it, as in "take hold of it, take it in hand, accept and learn it." Someone who does not know the Bible is spiritually at an extreme defensive disadvantage.
God, as the Holy Spirit, speaks to people today through the Bible.
Pray through the purifying filter of the scriptures. That's praying in the Spirit. In other words, know what the scriptures say so you can align your requests with Biblical wants and needs.
100% Time in Prayer + 100% Types of Prayer Requests + Praying for 100% of Jesus' Disciples = Biblical Prayer Life.
100% prayer and application of the scripture takes an alert mind.
Get strength from your relationship with God.
God, our designer, knows that the way to transform is to become a lifelong prayer warrior.

Bible Math Path is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta available on SuperRare. This illustration is a spiritual cartoon info-graphic and math formula of what Jesus says in John 8:31-32.

John 8:31-32

[31] "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. [32] Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'"

Jesus is speaking to those who believe him. Belief is essential, yet not the only requirement.
Holding to Jesus' teaching = Obey Jesus.
The word "disciple" means a student with an attachment to the teacher and what the teacher teaches.
To be Jesus' disciple, a person must believe and obey.
People who sincerely believes Jesus, yet do not obey, are sincerely wrong. Such people, even if devoutly religious, like the people in this passage, do not have "the truth." So religious people can be completely sincere about what they believe, yet sincerity does not equal truth.
Sincerity ≠ Truth.
Believe + Obey = Disciple.
A person can't hold to Jesus' teaching if that person does not know what the Bible says.
Many believe some of what the Bible says and just focus on a few of the popular promises of God. So they hold to Jesus' promises, yet not to Jesus' commands. In other words, too many of these people don't hold to what Jesus actually teaches; they don't obey. That's like an employee holding onto a catchy company jingle or slogan without knowing what the company actually is all about. Holding onto promises that are only applicable to Jesus' obedient disciples will not make a person into a student of Jesus. Therefore, under Jesus' definition, such disobedient people are not disciples, don't know truth, and are not free.
Everyone wants truth and freedom. Many think they have truth and freedom. Yet these only come to Jesus' disciples. The rest are deceived, as can be seen by reading the rest of John 8. Many think they are Jesus' disciples yet they are not "really" his disciples. Sadly such people also don't have the truth and are not free.
By itself, Belief ≠ Disciple.
Belief ≠ Truth
Belief ≠ Freedom
Believe + Obey = Disciple → Truth → Freedom.

Eve Reaches is rare digital art by Anna Chiappetta, available in 1 randomized ArtVndngMchn Series 3 NFT pack.

Genesis 3:1-3 Sin in the Garden of Eden

[1] "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God really say, "You must not eat from any tree in the garden"?'

[2] The woman said to the serpent, 'We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, [3] but God did say, "You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die."'"

The serpent--also known as Satan--commits the first documented sin by distorting the truth.
God's Word = 100% Truth.
Satan's Word = 50% Truth + Lie = Lie.
Not following God's word leads people away from the Garden of Eden, which is paradise.
Following God's word leads us back to paradise.

John 12:48

"There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day."

The words of Jesus are the judging agent in which our lives are measured against.
Bible = Judge.
The Bible "will condemn" those who don't obey it.
Regardless of scientific and medical advancements, Jesus definitively assigns a "last day" to human life.
Since there is a "last day," we can know that days are numbered in a finite set.
Where t = the number of days left until judgment day, we get this formula: Now + t = Judgment Day.
t < ∞
Rejecting the Bible triggers judgment, stored up for the last day.
Study the Bible now so you'll be ready.
Make the Bible your standard for life.

THE TRINITY

The Bible describes a remarkable principle about God that has come to be known as the Trinity. That's where God is made known (or manifested) as 3 beings: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit... while simultaneously God is completely also 1 unified being. These concepts may stretch our minds, yet that is what God intended. In fact, if one were to take a detour into scientific concepts such as quantum superposition, quantum tunneling, quantum coherence, and quantum entanglement, it could actually help a person to understand the Trinity even more.

That's because our observable physical world (with just the naked eye) behaves somewhat differently when peering deep and tiny into quantum levels. Energy, life, and things are more fluid and transferable in the quantum realm. The same can be said of the spiritual realm and the Bible has been revealing this throughout the ages.

Trinity Tricycle is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta on MakersPlace. The drawing is meant to illustrate powerful and mind-bending aspects of the Trinity principle from the Bible, where God manifests himself as 3 beings (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), yet these beings are all 1 totally united deity.Consider the following 3 verses together to get a clearer picture of the 3 = 1 God principle from the Bible.

2 Corinthians 13:14
"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

...Combined with...

Romans 5:9
"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ."

...Combined With...

Galatians 3:20
"A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one."

These verses show the nature of the Trinity: God is 1 and God is 3.
The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ are all mentioned here. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are 3... and they are 1.
The idea of being in many different places at once is central to the modern field of quantum mechanics, yet it's an ancient concept described throughout the Bible in the theme of the Trinity.
Trinity math is not typical math.
1 + 1 + 1 = 1 and 3 = 1 and/or 3 = 3.
Math formulas and outcomes are relative to God.

Feynman City is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta from ArtVndngMchn Series 2 on AtomicHub. The orbital city in this animation has a Feynman Diagram at its core because megacities of the future may be powered by the principles of quantum field theory. In this theory, one thing manifests as another thing based on observation. Specifically, subatomic particles become waves, and vice versa. This is similar to the trinity concept, where God the Father manifests as God the son, as well as the Holy Spirit.

LOVE

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
[1] "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. [3] If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."

The extreme importance of love is elevated above all other magnificent actions.
Great Linguistics - Love = Loud Repetitive Nonsense
Great Faith - Love = 0
Great Knowledge - Love = 0
Great Sacrifice - Love = 0
100 % Giving to the Poor - Love = 0
Worldly greatness in any area, if it is without love, is a 0 sum gain. In fact, that's a great loss.

Bible Math Love by Joe Chiappetta is rare digital art available on MakersPlace. This illustration started as a landscape Pacific Ocean scene that I drew at El Matador Beach in Malibu, California. It depicts a portion of the Bible Math project, where 1 Corinthians 13:8 shows that "Love never fails." This means that when applying the Biblical love that God defines, we can expect 0 failure, and therefore, 100% success. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
[4] "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

[8] Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."

Notice that the Biblical definition of love is not the typical definition of love made popular by many worldly movies and magazines, where love is highly correlated to physical beauty.
Love = Patience
Love = Kindness
Love + Envy = 0 Love
Love + Boasting = 0 Love
Love + Pride = 0 Love
Love + Rudeness = 0 Love
Love + Self-Seeking = 0 Love
Love + Easily Angered = 0 Love
Love + Record of Wrongs = 0 Love
Love + Delight in Evil = 0 Love
Love = Rejoice with the Truth
Love = 100% Protection
Love = 100% Trust
Love = 100% Hope
Love = 100% Perseverance
Since "love never fails," that means it has a 0% failure rate. With Biblical love, a loving person will always succeed. Conversely, those who are unloving quite often will fail quite often.
Someone who thinks they are loving, yet fails often is not practicing love as defined by the Bible. Therefore look at your current relationships; where you see the failures is where you'll likely find lack of Biblical love. In this way, the Bible is a tool to measure love through relationships.
Love = 100% Success

Rare Bible Math is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on MakersPlace. The loving principles in the Bible continue to be the most published, translated, and discussed principles of all time. Faith, hope, and love are central themes in most every book of the Bible. Nevertheless, in actual application of those principles in daily life, there is too much of a rarity... but it does not have to be this way. That's what this art is about. It is based on Luke 6:27 where Jesus says to love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. The math symbol "⇒⇐" means "this contradicts that." Clearly from the scriptures, Hater Behavior ⇒⇐ Jesus' Behavior. Therefore true followers of Jesus must apply this loving formula as well: Hater Behavior ⇒⇐ Christian Behavior. Think of this as a useful tool for humanity.

Luke 6:27-28

[27] "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

Jesus commands a radical form of treatment for those who are enemies and haters of his people.
Disciples of Jesus must use very specific tactics to meet their enemies who treat them with inequality: love.
Love always needs to be added and multiplied into the lives of people, not subtracted or divided away.
Enemies + Love = Obey to Jesus.
In math, the symbol "≠" means inequality.
≠ + Love + Good Deeds + Blessing + Prayer = Godly Response to Foes.
The symbol "⇒⇐" means "this contradicts that" in math.
Hater Behavior ⇒⇐ Jesus' Behavior.
Hater Behavior ⇒⇐ Christian Behavior.

SELFLESSNESS

Seed that Dies Produces Many Seeds is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub. This is an animation of John 12:23-26 where Jesus teaches powerfully on the Seed that Dies. It's a lesson on how selflessness is the godly key to massive growth.

John 12:23-26 Seed that Dies
[23] "Jesus replied, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. [24] I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. [25] The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. [26] Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.'"

No true multiplication without great sacrifice, selflessness.
Jesus (the kernel of wheat) died for our sin, only to resurrect and "produce many seeds," as in many disciples who are grateful for his sacrifice.
Die (become zero) to produce many.
1 - 1 (for God) = 0. Then 0 + God = Multiples.
0 → 1 → Many
0 → Many
This formula leads to a legacy of multiplication as well as "honor" and "eternal life."
We need to "die" to our old sinful life to become new in Christ and call others to this new life.
It is not enough to serve Jesus; disciples must serve Jesus + follow him too. Serving involves giving. Following involves imitation.
Serve Jesus + Follow Jesus + Selfless + Die to Sin = Honor + ∞ Salvation with Jesus + Same Opportunity for Many.

Resurrection Math is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta on MakersPlace.

John 13:14-17 Lesson of Jesus Washing His Disciples' Feet

[14] "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. [15] I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. [16] I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. [17] Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

Jesus sets the "example" for a blessed life.
Jesus = Lord (master) + Teacher + Servant. This formula is very different than most leadership math formulas in the world where the teacher/master rarely "lower" themselves to serve others.
Those who follow Jesus imitate his example, teach and serve. Jesus built humble leadership into true discipleship.
The below "less than" (<) formulas are in the Bible to remind us all to know our place: as humble servants of Jesus.
Servant < Master.
Messenger < Message Sender.
Appreciating that Jesus and his message (the Bible) are greater than us and our opinions helps keep our priorities rightly placed.
Knowing that Jesus and the Bible are greater than us can help us overcome prideful, selfish desires.
Follower of Jesus = Imitator + Teacher + Servant + Humble.
The way to "be blessed" (super happy) is to be a servant leader, teaching and doing as Jesus does.

Luke 9:23-25
[23] "Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. [24] For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. [25] What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?'"

Denying self is saying "no" to what you want and "yes" to what Jesus wants.
Just as Jesus carried his cross for our sin, we need to crucify our sinful behavior every day.
What do the following people typically have in common: a chronically late person, a heavily in-debt person, an overweight person, a person who cannot keep a job, and a person stuck in the same sin that they know is wrong? In every case, there is a gross lack of self-denial. Therefore, denying self is an essential life skill for eating healthy, proper exercise, being self-disciplined with our time, money, growing in our career/education, and most importantly, growing in our relationship with God. Put simply, denying self is an essential life skill.
Holding onto your own life/old ways is also a contradiction (⇒⇐) to spiritual salvation.
Old Life ⇒⇐ Salvation.
Losing your life (becoming 0) for Jesus is the way to save your life.
Becoming 0 is essential to salvation.
In opposite manner, gaining the whole world will lead to losing your soul and salvation. In this case, a positive can really be a negative. The worldly positive (+) becomes a spiritual negative (-).
Where N represents a non-Christian: N → -N
Where X represents Jesus' disciple: -X → X

The Blind Demon of Crypto Art is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta on MakersPlace. It touches on Jesus' call to "give up everything" (as described in Luke 14:33) and serves as an illustration to fight the worldly desire to be devoted to anything that gets in the way of worshiping God.

Luke 14:31-33
[31] "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? [32] If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. [33] In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."

Give up everything. Those are the terms of peace.
10,000 x 0 = 20,000.
Peace is found in becoming zero; full submission to God.
Giving up "everything" actually does mean everything. People (self included) have a history of making their careers, goals, and/or money the center of their life and these areas become what is worshiped. That is known as a false god which we must "give up" to follow Jesus. He must become the absolute solid center of our lives. This does not necessarily mean to quit your job. Yet stop making the job your god. Worshiping Jesus unifies people under 1 king in God's peaceful kingdom.

Bible Math Humility is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on MakersPlace. Humility is one of the centerpieces of good character. A core principle of being humble is to "consider others better than yourselves," as defined so powerfully in Philippians 2:3-11. As a visual aid to help me put this into practice, I made this art to double as a personal reminder about how I can be humble in day-to-day life. Considering others better than myself can be expressed mathematically using the greater than ">" and less than "<" symbols. So as an instant humility formula from the Bible, I can say "Others > Me" as well as "Me < Others." I am determined to live this way and I hope you will find peace adopting this same resolve.

Philippians 2:3-11 Imitate Jesus' Humility

[3] Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. [4] Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. [5] Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, [7] but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. [8] And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! [9] Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

To "consider others better than" ourselves (from verse 3), means to consider others greater than ourselves. The math symbol ">" means "greater than.
Others > Yourself.
A useful way to make this more personal is to say "Others > Me" as well as "Me < Others."
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit" means 0 selfishness.
The Bible commands humility. "Lowliness of mind" and "a deep sense of littleness" are definitions of the Greek word in verse 3 translated as "humility."
In verse 7 it says that Jesus "made himself nothing." How lowly did Jesus willingly go? He became zero.
Jesus → 0.
For Jesus to willingly become 0, it took great humility, selflessness, and servitude.
Another way to say that Jesus "made himself nothing" is that he took away self, as in Jesus subtracted self from his very being.
Jesus - himself = 0 = Selfless.
Verse 5 commands that our "attitude should be the same as" Jesus'. So Jesus is humble and selfless; therefore so must his disciples be.
Another way to say "the same as" is to say "equals to."
A True Disciple's Attitude = Jesus' Attitude.
Verse 6 explains that Jesus = God, yet many have not "grasped" that fact.
We do not serve a selfish deity. We serve Jesus, who is God, yet proved his selflessness by dying on the cross for us.
Because Jesus became 0 by dying for us, he is now lifted up "to the highest place" (verse 9) and "is above every name." So Jesus is much greater than any other being. The math symbol "≫" means "much greater than."
Jesus ≫ All Others.

DISCIPLE = PUPIL

Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus Speaking to the 11 Disciples
[19] "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Jesus wants people of all nations to have the opportunity to be made into his disciples. This is how to end racism. It is an international scope (all nations) becoming 1 unified group "in the name of" Jesus.
Making disciples of all nations also means a person cannot just focus on their family. Jesus commands that we focus on "all nations." Of course, help the willing members of your family become disciples, but also help other people outside of your nationality become disciples too.
Every member is "taught to obey." Therefore every member becomes a disciple-maker.
Disciple means pupil, which is a student in the charge of an instructor. These pupils also must teach to obey.
See the dual nature of discipleship: from angle 1, disciple is a student; from angle 2, disciple is teacher.
Lifelong student, lifelong teacher simultaneously.
Disciple = Obedient Pupil + Teacher of Obedience
Disciple = Disciple Maker
Disciple = Student Teacher
Using Jesus' model leads to exponential growth.
Using Jesus' model, if every committed disciple makes 1 disciple per year, assuming you start with just 1 disciple, in 33 years there will be 8.5 billion disciples (more than the current world population).
1 + 11 → 8.5 billion
This is the way to save the world: the way for Jesus to be "with you always, to the very end of the age."
Disciple = Saved (because Jesus is "with you always").

Acts 11:25-26

[25] "Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, [26] and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."

This is the first instance of the word "Christians" being used.
It takes place about 7 years after the church began in Acts 2.
The words "disciple" and "disciples" occur in the New Testament 297 times. Most of these occurrences refer specifically to the disciples of Jesus.
The term "disciple" means a "pupil." Remember that a pupil is a student in the charge of an instructor. If no Biblical instructor is in your life on a personal basis properly directing you in the scriptures, then you're not a pupil, and therefore not a disciple.
Disciple = Pupil.
The pupil does not set the agenda on what to teach. The instructor sets the agenda.
The word "Christian" occurs only 3 times in the Bible.
When referring to committed followers of Jesus "with the church," the term disciple and Christian describe the same type of person.
A person cannot become a Christian on their own just by reading the Bible. People need to meet "with the church" and have an Biblical instructor to become true Christians.
Merging the above 2 verses together gives us some useful spiritual equations.
Disciple = Pupil = Christian = Church Member = Saved = Disciple Maker
Since the term Christian is only mentioned 3 times, to learn how to become one we need to look at what a disciple is.
Let Jesus define what a true disciple is using the Bible. Then we will know what a true Christian is.

Mark 1:14-18

[14] "After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. [15] 'The time has come,' he said. 'The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!' [16] As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. [17] 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will send you out to fish for people.' [18] At once they left their nets and followed him."

Repentance and belief are some of the prerequisites for following Jesus.
Good News of God = Bible.
Disciples proclaim the Bible.
Response to Jesus should be immediate.
Disciples left their old ways; "At once they left their nets and followed him."
Drop your nets to become Jesus' disciple.
Jesus gives people true purpose (and new purpose) for living.
Following Jesus = Immersion in New Purpose Defined by Jesus - Your Old Purpose.
Following Jesus includes becoming a fisher of people. In other words, make disciples.
There's no "new way" to fish for people. The way is Jesus' way. Following Jesus is the way.
Following the Jesus of the Bible is the lesson plan and the method for doing things.
Christian Lesson Plan = Jesus.
Following Jesus = You + Number of Disciples You Make and Teach to Obey (Matthew 28:20).
True followers of Jesus will add people to their number.
Following Jesus = Personal Growth + Church Membership Growth.
We can tell who is really following Jesus by whether or not they are making Biblical disciples.
Disciple = Fisher of People.
Fishing Tools = Jesus + Repentance + Belief + Bible Proclamation + Following Jesus + Disciple-making Purpose + Visits to Lost People.

Luke 6:39-40 The Student-to-Teacher Relationship

"[39] He also told them this parable: 'Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? [40] A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.'"

A parable is an earthly story with a spiritual meaning.
All of the topics Jesus teaches in parables have at least 4 things in common: (1) they apply to every person who wants to become a Christian, (2) they are about the fundamentals of Christianity, (3) they require the memorable nature of a parable to highlight their extreme importance, and (4) they are universal in nature, designed to be constantly applied by every generation of people.
Jesus promotes the extreme importance of the student/teacher relationship because it is inseparable from true Christianity.
Many people are spiritually blind for 1 of 3 reasons: (1) they have never made the decision to allow godly teaching, accountability, and personal training into their life, (2) they don't yet have a true disciple in their life to teach them appropriately, or (3) they got tired of accountability. The outcome of all these scenarios is falling "into a pit."
The word for "student" in this passage is the same Greek word translated most other times as "disciple" in the New Testament.
Another way to say "a student is not above his teacher" is that a student is less than his teacher. The math symbol "<" means "less than."
Student < Teacher.
It takes humility to embrace the fact that God has prescribed an order to relationships in the church. Every person must become a student who is "not above his teacher." Meanwhile the teachers who are "above" others must lead as Jesus did: with love, concern, gentleness, humility, and authority to administer God's word faithfully. Following this model, everyone remains a lifelong student who also becomes a teacher to new people, perpetuating Jesus' plan so that the whole church becomes 1 unit of people imitating godly leaders who are imitating Jesus.
In an apprenticeship, the apprentice is "not above his teacher" because the apprentice does not have the training and experience of the master/teacher. Discipleship carries those same fundamentals.
The math symbol "~" means "similar to."
True Disciple ~ Teachable Apprentice.
The goal is to get fully trained so that each disciple "will be like his teacher."
Provided a teacher/disciple is following the Bible, the characteristic of imitation is essential to true Christianity.
The more a new student accepts teaching, training, and accountability from their teacher, the more they become similar to their teacher.
Fully Trained Godly Disciples ~ Their Teacher.
Discipleship ~ Apprenticeship.
It is said that discipleship and apprenticeship are similar (~), yet they are not the same thing. They start out as the same thing, yet there is 1 big difference. With apprenticeship, once the student has achieved "master" competency and status, they typically no longer require a teacher. However with discipleship, Jesus is the master, so we all need a human teacher "above" us in the Lord who will help us be accountable to what Jesus calls us to do. Put simply, in the course of our lifetime on earth, apprenticeships end, while discipleship never ends.
Accountability is essential to the godly teaching and training process.
Accountability is a subset of being a disciple. The math symbol "⊂" means "is a subset of."
Accountability ⊂ Discipleship.
Imitation ⊂ Discipleship.
If a person is not teachable and unwilling to be held accountable, they cannot be Jesus' disciple. Such a person is spiritually blind.
0 Teachability = 0 Discipleship.
0 Accountability = 0 Discipleship.
Christianity - Student Mentality ≠ Christian.
Teachable + Trainee + Accountability + Ongoing Apprenticeship + Imitation + Bible = Discipleship

GROWTH

Hand of God is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available in select ArtVndngMchn Series 3 NFT packs.

Isaiah 60:21-22 God's Hands-On Plan for Righteous People in the Light
[21] "Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. [22] The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly."

"All your people," as in 100% of the people who follow God, will be made righteous by him.
Godly people are the planting and work of God, not the work of our own planting. Don't take credit for God's work. Rather, in humility, call attention to the work of God's hands so more people can see God's splendor displayed.
With God, even the weakest person can multiply to 1,000.
1 + God + Time = 1,000.
As a character in chemistry, the symbol → means "produces" or "yields."
1 → 1,000.
1 Small Godly Person → 1 Mighty Nation.
Do you believe that God will plant you into becoming a productive person who will greatly grow during your lifetime?
God multiplies his people swiftly, yet it happens on his timetable, not ours. Nevertheless, because of the interactive nature of relationship with God, his timetable can be influenced by our prayer and deeds.

Mark 4:1-20 The Parable of the Sower
[1] "Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. [2] He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: [3] 'Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. [4] As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. [5] Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. [6] But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. [7] Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. [8] Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.'
[9] Then Jesus said, 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear.'
[10] When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. [11] He told them, 'The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables [12] so that, "they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'''
[13] Then Jesus said to them, 'Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? [14] The farmer sows the word. [15] Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. [16] Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. [17] But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. [18] Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; [19] but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. [20] Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.'"

Disciples of Jesus "produce a crop," meaning that they make more disciples and multiply.
1 seed + good soil → 30, 60, or 100.
1 person + understanding Bible + producing for God → 30, 60, or 100.
Forgiveness from God (verse 12) is also a byproduct of this formula.
Satan, worries, lack of perseverance, lack of depth, being deceived by wealth, and desires for other things block this formula, causing it to hold at only 1 or reducing it to 0.
Math in the Bible is highly interactive and variable, dependent on God plus what people do with his word.

Acts 5:38-39 Jesus' Apostles Defended by Gamaliel
[38] "Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. [39] But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

The phrase, "it will fail," is also translated as "come to nothing."
Activities merely "of human origin" eventually come to nothing: to 0.
When God is behind activities, they are unstoppable. They maintain a positive number.
Some fight against God, even when the math shows that they should not do so.
If you want your activities to stay positive (not going to zero), make sure God is behind what you do.

1 Timothy 6:3-10 Godliness and Contentment v Love of Money

[3] "If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, [4] he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions [5] and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. [6] But godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. [8] But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. [9] People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. [10] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Not agreeing "to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ" = 0 Understanding.
0 Bible Application = 0 Understanding
Godliness means piety toward God, reverence, respect, holiness, humility.
Contentment is a perfect condition of life in which no additional aid or support is needed. It is a sufficiency of the necessaries of life and produces a mind satisfied with its lot.
The way to be godly and content is found in the Bible.
Maintaining godliness while also being content is the formula for incredible growth and acquisition, also known as "great gain."
If we make a scale where "gain" is 50% growth, "good gain" is doubling (2x), and "great gain" is tripling (3x), then we get this equation: Godliness + Contentment = 3x Growth or more.
The catch is this: for "people who want to get rich," the entire equation falls apart, as wanting "to get rich" is the opposite of godliness as well as contentment. In fact, as a goal, wanting to get rich = falling into temptation, a trap, harmful desires, ruin, and destruction.
Money is neither evil nor good. However, loving money is the deepest (root-level) evil.
Love of Money = Root of all kinds of Evil.
Being "eager for money" can cause a person to "wander from the truth," and inflict self-harm, reflected in this formula: Godly Intent + Desire to Get Rich = Destruction.
Notice that this verse is not about actually having money. So a person can have very little money yet still have a "love of money" and this be ruined.
How we think about money completely dictates our level of contentment or destruction.
The way to grow in all areas of life is therefore to desire godliness and contentment, not money. Using and maintaining this model, in addition to gaining godliness and contentment, enough necessities (such as money) will be procured along the journey, simply as a byproduct of following God.

A Time for Everything is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta available on SuperRare. This artwork started out as a temporary sculpture made completely of found natural objects in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest in Altadena, California. The final digital animation is meant to illustrate Ecclesiastes 3:1-3, which describes so poetically how there is a time and a season for everything under heaven, and it all has so much to do with addition and subtraction. Related to what the scripture describes, the art is built from dead wood and leaves, uprooted flowers, and scattered stones to be reborn and transformed into something new.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 A Time for Everything

[1] "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: [2] a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, [3] a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build"

On this earth ("under heaven") many things can be classified as pluses and minuses: addition and subtraction.
To be born, planted, healed, and built can be classified as an addition to the earth.
To die, uproot, kill, and tear down can be classified as a subtraction from the earth.
Notice that there is a time for both addition and subtraction.
Addition (+) and subtraction (-) are essential to the seasonal life cycle. Those who think constant growth means uninterrupted numerical addition without any subtraction need to look closely at this passage. There is "a time to tear down." In other words, there is a time to subtract (-). Jesus expands on this further through his pruning metaphor in John 15 about the vine and its branches.
Something similar can be said for those who negatively focus on constant loss. This is also an error since there is "a time to build" (+).
People can be overly shocked or even mentally impaired over a big subtraction or addition in their life. So understanding that addition and subtraction are balanced plainly and perfectly into God's plan can help prepare us for life's seasonal transitions.
Despite often being seen in the negative, a subtraction is not automatically equated with loss--or even something bad. For example, foolish thinking patterns--in every person--need to die, be uprooted, and torn down.

Matthew 25:14-30 Parable of the Talents

[14] “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. [15] To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. [16] The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. [17] So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. [18] But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

[19] “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. [20] The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,' he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'

[21] “His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

[22] “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,' he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'

[23] “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

[24] “Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,' he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. [25] So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

[26] “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? [27] Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

[28] “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. [29] For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. [30] And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

The "talent" refers to a sum of money measured by a specific weight set by the local government. In the first century, a talent of gold in Israel weighed about 200 pounds. At today's prices, 1 talent of gold is worth about 6 million USD.
This is a parable, so the talents (measure of money) represents whatever resources and abilities God gives to you, both physical and spiritual.
At this time it would be helpful to make a list of all the things (resources and abilities) God has given you, both physical and spiritual. If we undervalue, or don't account for, what God has already given us, it will be harder to put that to work for multiplication.
God's expectation is to grow (as in, add to) what he entrusts to you.
While we all have been given a different amount of "talents," God expects growth in proportion to what we've been given.
Growth is an essential life skill.
What does God consider a job "well done?"
Put your money and resources (which really belong to God's) to work right away so they at least double.
It takes faith and work to double.
Put your abilities to work so you multiply. For example on a spiritual level, you start out today as 1 faithful productive Christian and you take the next 3 weeks to help 1 new person become a faithful, productive Christian. The 1 multiplies by 2. You've just doubled!
Lazy people sit too much on their abilities and resources: no growth, just maintaining. God calls this "wicked."
We are given responsibilities and God's resources. We should use them to multiply the kingdom. Note from verse 30 that this is a salvation issue.
A person who does not grow what God entrusts to them is called "worthless," meaning 0 value!
1 Person + 1 Ability Put to Work for God → 2 Abilities
1 Person + 1 Ability Not Put to Work for God → 0 Value
Take personal responsibility for measurable growth in God's kingdom.

SUBMISSION

Hebrews 5:7-10

[7] "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. [8] Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered [9] and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him [10] and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek."

Jesus "was heard because of his reverent submission." God hears and responds favorably to the prayers of the submissive. If God is not answering any of your prayers, the first place to look is at your personal level of reverence and submission to the Bible.
Jesus is the example of how and why to submit to the Father in heaven. We see Jesus practicing a lifetime of submission and consistent prayers, which opened up paradise to his followers.
Obedience is essential for relationship with God. It is impossible to obey God if you don't know the Bible.
Jesus' submission to God the Father led to him being "made perfect" by enduring the suffering of cross which culminated into the resurrection. This opened up "eternal salvation for all who obey him."
The type of submission Jesus displayed was "reverent," as in deeply respectful and awe-inspiring. This is what we need to have toward God too.
Those who have a hard time with submission often are not offering "up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears." Without a deep, respectful prayer life, true obedience to God will not happen. Prayer helps a person submit to God's will.
Heartfelt Consistent Prayer + Reverent Submission → ∞ Salvation.
100% of the Obedient, Prayerful People will be saved.
Jesus "became the source of eternal salvation" means Jesus = ∞ Salvation.
Get to Jesus to get saved.

Psalm 119:2

"Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart."

A statute is a written law. God's statutes = Bible
To keep God's statutes, a person needs to fully submit to what the Bible says.
Obeying God is a component of seeking him with all your heart. Yet it's much more than just doing what God says in the Bible out of a dreaded sense of obligation. It is getting to the point where our heart is 100% behind what God is calling us to do in the Bible.
The Hebrew word translated as "blessed" here mean happiness, as in superlatively happy, completely happy.
People are blessed (super happy) when they obey the Bible and fully pursue relationship with God.
"Seek him with all their heart" = 100% Heart.
100% Heart Seeking God + Submission to Bible = 100% Happy (Blessed) Relationship with God.
Many seek happiness with 100% of their heart and fail to find lasting happiness, never even getting near 100% happiness.
Shifting to the Biblical formula = 100% Happiness.
Seeking Happiness ≠ Seeking God. Yet 100% happiness is the byproduct of seeking God with 100% of your heart + Submission to the Bible.
The solution to many mental health issues, including many cases where people are depressed, is found in this verse: Seek God with 100% of Heart + 100% Respectful Obedience to the Bible.
People will fall short of this formula at times and God has amazing and graceful contingencies for that, as described in later sections. Yet make every effort now to seek God and submit at Biblical levels. It will result in happiness... and so much more!

James 1:22-25

[22] "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. [23] Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror [24] and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. [25] But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it--not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it--they will be blessed in what they do."

Merely Listening to the Bible = Self Deceit.
Many can agree with what the Bible says and even acknowledge that it is from God. Yet that will not make a person "be blessed in what they do."
Must do what the Bible says.
Must submit to the Bible.
Freedom comes from submission to the Bible.
The Bible is like "a mirror," helping a person see truth. Look intently into the Bible for the purpose of doing what God says and to see the mirror that shows you where you are really at spiritually.
Bible ~ Mirror.

THE KINGDOM IS THE CHURCH

Historically, the height of Israel as a kingdom was 1000 BC under the kingship of David and then his son Solomon. Thereafter, the worldly scope and power of this kingdom fell into cycles of decline. Yet scriptures also describe the coming and the establishment of a new kingdom under a new covenant with a new king.

Jesus the Bread of Life is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub.

This new kingdom came in 33 AD with the establishment of the church in the book of Acts. The word "church" in Greek is "ekklēsia." It means "the assembly of the called out," as in called by God out of sin's darkness to gather with Jesus and his fellow disciples in the light of God's kingdom. The following scriptures describe the church as God's kingdom in glorious detail.

Isaiah 2:1-4

[1] "This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

[2] In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.

[3] Many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.' The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

[4] He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore."

Written 750 BC, this is a prophecy describing the establishment of Jesus' church, as documented and fulfilled in Acts 2.
In ancient writing, mountains are a symbol to represent kingdoms.
Mountain = Kingdom.
"All nations will stream to" the kingdom is a prediction showing that all nations will be part of the God's kingdom, which is the church.
Mountain = Kingdom = Church.
King + Law + Subjects of the Kingdom = Any Kingdom.
God + Bible + Disciples = Church
The church is composed of people from every nation.
100% of the nations will have people in the church.
God + Members of Church + Bible → 0 Racism.
There may still be wars outside of the church, but all the members of the church will not be warring against each other in the church.
0 Physical War from Disciple to Disciple.
Swords → Plowshares.
Spears → Pruning Hooks.
Church = Peace among Members.
"The last days" refer to the end of animal sacrifices at the temple. Since Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for our sin in 33 AD, there is now no more need for animal sacrifices at the temple. Isaiah is describing "the last days" of these animal sacrifices and the end of the spiritual need for Judaism.
Acts 2 accurately fulfills Isaiah's prophecy: that all nations will be present at Jerusalem and Jesus' peaceful church starts, ending the need for animal sacrifices, replaced with Jesus' sacrifice at the cross for us.

God's Kingdom Rocks the World is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta on MakersPlace

God's Kingdom Rocks the World is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta available on MakersPlace. I drew this animation to illustrate a Bible passage in chapter 2 of Daniel. Even though that was written a very long time ago (about 550 BC), the words are still so relevant today. That chapter (and I hope this art) describes very powerfully how the church as defined in the Bible is the kingdom of God on earth, and it is a spiritual kingdom that will endure forever.

Daniel 2:31-45 The Babylonian King's Dream Describing the Coming of the Church

[31] "You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. [32] The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, [33] its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. [34] While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. [35] Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

[36] This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king.

[37] You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; [38] in your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

[39] After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. [40] Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron--for iron breaks and smashes everything--and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. [41] Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. [42] As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. [43] And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.

[44] In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. [45] This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands--a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy."

This was written 550 BC by Daniel while he was serving the king of Babylon.
4 kingdoms are described here and accurately predicted in successive order: (1) Babylonian: gold, (2) Medo-Persian: silver, (3) Alexander the Great: bronze, (4) Roman: iron and clay.
During the 4th kingdom (Roman Empire), a rock is cut out by God, "not by human hands." The church--as a new kingdom on earth--started "in the time of those [Roman] kings." This accurately describes the establishment of the church during the Roman Empire, as documented in Acts 2.
The rock "became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth." This means the church will spread over the whole world.
The other kingdoms are predicted as ending (and they have ended), yet the church "will itself endure forever." The church will never be destroyed.
Worldly kingdoms "will not remain united." If your spiritual hope is in an earthly government (kingdom), even if it is a reformed version of a government, you will be disappointed.
In verse 44, the church "will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever." While this is a controversial statement, it is in the Bible and must be properly understood. God is saying that the church "will crush" and bring other kingdoms "to an end." From the rest of the scriptures we can confirm Christianity as a nonviolent movement of multinational people working through God by loving, serving, and teaching people his ways. So this is not referring to human holy war utilizing physical weapons. The true church does not implement a physical crushing on other people. Yet spiritually, when compared to the Bible, the false religions of the world, as well as the many human-made traditions that water down the Bible, will be exposed as dead ends. Christianity as described in the Bible is so powerful by its truth and grace, that other kingdoms promoting a different gospel will eventually collapse on themselves.
Biblical Christianity is much greater than (≫) all other religions.
Christianity ≫ 100% of Other Religions.
If you want to endure forever (for infinity) learn how to follow Jesus and get in his church.
Church = ∞
God + Rock = Church → World Evangelism → ∞

Matthew 16:13-19

[13] "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?'

[14] They replied, 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.'

[15] 'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?'

[16] Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'

[17] Jesus replied, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. [18] And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'"

Used in back-to-back sentences, the church and the kingdom are synonymous.
Church = Kingdom of Heaven = Kingdom of God.
The church is built on the rock-solid truth that Jesus is the Christ, as in the anointed person whom the Old Testament describes as God in the flesh, the savior, and so much more.
Jesus tells Simon Peter that at a point in the near future, Jesus will give him "the keys of the kingdom of heaven." Since keys open up that which is closed, this refers to Peter opening up the church through the gospel message (beginning in Acts 2:14).
With Jesus' statement that whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, we see that heaven and earth are linked specifically through the church.
Jesus is the builder of his church.
Jesus' construction = Jesus' church.
Jesus' construction + construction using other people's teaching ≠ Jesus' church.
Hades, the realm of the dead, shall not overcome Jesus' church. Therefore the church of Jesus is much greater (≫) than death.
Church ≫ Death.

Luke 17:20-21

[20] "Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, 'The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, [21] nor will people say, "Here it is," or "There it is," because the kingdom of God is within you.'"

The church cannot fully be seen by the human eye, despite "careful observation."
The church is "within" the members of the church: those who become disciples the way the Bible says to do so.
There is no human instrument that can measure who is truly in the church and who is not. That's why an instrument made by God (the Bible) is needed.
The church is not a physical kingdom; the church is a spiritual kingdom.
Church ≠ Physical Kingdom.
Church = Spiritual Kingdom.
Combining the scriptures in this section together, God puts his church (his kingdom) inside of those who accurately follow the Bible. Such people are in the church because the church is in them.
Individual disciples of Jesus are subsets of his church.
{Disciple A, Disciple B, Disciple C} + 100% of the rest of the Disciples = Church.

Silly Daddy: Smart City is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available in the pixEOS gallery. This drawing started at Redondo Beach in Los Angeles County, California, and quickly turned into a Silly Daddy Comic. It touches on the childlike attitude we all should have, as described with great priority in Matthew 18:1-4.

Matthew 18:1-4 Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven

[1] "At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' [2] He called a little child and had him stand among them. [3] And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"

Jesus upholds characteristics of little children as "the greatest" in his kingdom... the church.
Little children are not ashamed to be close to their parents. Similarly, a child-like disciple is not ashamed to be close to our Father in heaven. Disciples need to see their completely dependent need for God.
To be part of God's kingdom, young childlike attributes are greater than (>) sophistication, worldly knowledge, trusting in self and experience.
Childlike humility > Trust in Self, Worldly knowledge.
Many adults trust in self, not God. This is opposite of a little child's attitude and therefore a barrier to entry into God's kingdom/church.
Jesus says that if a person does not change, they "will never enter" the church.
The word "change" is also translated as "convert," as in "turn quite around" or "reverse." Therefore attending a religious group does not mean a person is actually in Jesus' church.
Must change to enter the church.
Convert from Bad to Good Behavior → Enter Kingdom/Church.
Becoming like little children is essential for entry into the church.
Become Childlike = Entry into the Church.
Not Childlike = 0 Entry into the Church.
Self-reliant, prideful, jaded, sophisticated people will not make it... unless they change.
Self-Reliant, Proud, Jaded, Mistrusting, Sophisticated = 0 Entry into Church.
Child-like attributes required include being humble, teachable, innocent, pure-hearted, trusting, uncomplicated, parental dependence.

REPENT

Metanoia Man is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on NeftyBlocks. In all its volcanic drama, Metanoia Man just might be a self-portrait of us all. The word "metanoia" comes from the Greek, meaning to change one's mind, to repent. When we are not very self-disciplined in our minds, our own internal thoughts can too often become highly volatile and even toxic. Gratefully Jesus shows the way--and is the way--to change our minds... for the better.

Acts 26:20-21

[20] "First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. [21] That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me."

Turning to God and repentance go hand-in-hand. Can't effectively have one without the other.
Paul preached this to all types of people.
The word "repentance" is the Greek word "metanoeō" which later became "metanoia." These words mean to change one's mind, to repent. In the Bible, metanoia typically refers to changing one's mind for the better, to heartily amend with disgust for one's past sins, and to turn remorsefully from evil.
For repentance to be complete, the change of mind must lead to a change of action.
A person who has truly turned to God and repented must supply proof. As Paul writes, "prove" it.
Committed disciples show evidence of repentance by what they do.
If there is no proof of repentance, there's no real repentance.
0 Proof = 0 Repentance.
A person with no deeds has no repentance.
0 Deeds = 0 Repentance.
0 Proof of Repentance = 0 Deeds = 0 Repentance.
From verse 21, we find that preaching proof/deeds of repentance did not sit well with many people. In fact, "this is why" it can be life-threatening.
As Paul experienced firsthand, Bible Math can be dangerous. Yet despite any obstacles, repentance is how all people must to turn to God.

Psalm 66:18-20

[16] Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. [17] I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. [18] If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; [19] but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. [20] Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

Cannot repent if you still have affection for your sin. People return to the things they have strong feelings for.
If/then statements (verse 18) are conditional formulas where there is a hypothesis that, when met in truth, yields a definitive result.
The symbol → means "produces" or "yields."
Person cherishes sin → God rejects prayer.
This should produce a healthy fear of God (verse 16), which, in turn, produces a hatred toward our own sin, which, in turn, can produce repentance, which, in turn, produces a listening ear in God toward our prayer.
Fear of God → Repentance → God Hears Prayer.

DARKNESS

1 Peter 2:9-10

[9] "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. [10] Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

Each person is either in the light or in the darkness: positive (+) or negative (-).
There is no middle ground, no gray area.
Those in the Light = chosen, priests, holy, belonging to God, people of God, received mercy = Saved.
Those in Darkness = not chosen, not holy, not belonging to God, not people of God, have not received mercy = Lost.

Isaiah 59:1-2

[1] "Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. [2] But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear."

Sin separates us from God.
God + a Person + Person's Sin = Wall of Sin + Person in Darkness - God = Lost.
Picture a wall composed of giant bricks, where each brick = 1 sin. Sin puts a person in the state of darkness.
In order for a us to have a relationship with God, the wall must be broken down; sin must be forgiven. Sin must go from a positive number making up the wall of sin to 0... through God's forgiveness.
The point in time that God forgives the sin is the point in time a person is saved--in the light.

Darkness and Light Diagram is art by Joe Chiappetta

Darkness and Light Diagram is artwork by Joe Chiappetta available on MakersPlace. There is an incredibly powerful Bible study called Darkness and Light that I learned many years ago. In fact, it changed my life! Since then, whenever I do that study with new people, I picture a version of this chart in my mind. I finally took the time to draw it out. It's an illustrated and animated diagram that encompasses many scriptures about how a person goes from being Biblically lost (in darkness) to being Biblically saved (in the light).

Romans 3:23-25

[23] "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. [25] God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished--"

Who has sinned? All people. All fall short.
100% of people "sinned and fall short."
1 Person = 1 Sinner.
A person who sins a little and a person who sins a lot are equally lost.
1x Sinner = 100x Sinner = All Lost.
A good moral life, while helpful in many ways, cannot save a person spiritually.
A person cannot earn salvation by good deeds.
Good Deeds ≠ Salvation.
Through faith in the blood of Jesus a person can be saved... yet there are more components to being saved and some are discussed in a following section called Light.
100% of people need what Jesus offers.
People will not take part in "the glory of God" without going through Jesus' justification process.
God's grace, which means his favor, gift, and beneficial treatment, is available to those who deeply appreciate what happened at the cross.
At the cross, Jesus was punished for all of our sins. As "a sacrifice of atonement," Jesus paid the price for our sins.

Twitter Theology is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available in 1 randomized ArtVndngMchn Series 3 NFT pack.

Galatians 5:19-21

[19] "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; [20] idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions [21] and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

This list of sins is mainly about physical evils that people act out on.
Learn to define and identify the sin that puts people in darkness.
God has a standard of behavior. He defines what is sin.
Sinful Acts → 0 Inheritance in Kingdom of God.
Personally stop committing these sins.
There are additional lists of sins in the Bible.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

[1] "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. [2] People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [3] without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, [4] treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--[5] having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."

This list of sins has a lot to do with what is going on inside of people.
These sins are committed mainly through thoughts and attitudes.
Looking at these 2 lists of sins (Galatians 5 and 2 Timothy 3), people need to carefully watch what they do and what they think.
Personally stop committing these sins.
One of the sins is "having a form of godliness but denying its power."
A Form of Godliness - Power = Sin.
"A form of godliness" means acting partially reverent, respectful, and holy: as in only sometimes a person does things that appear to be Christian-like. Being a Christian in part, not in whole, is sin. Such a person's "form" of Christianity is incomplete. They don't live by the whole form--the whole formula.
Therefore partial Christianity = Sin.
90% Christian = Sin.
Partial Christian = 0 Christian
There's no spectrum of Christianity. There's only the 100% committed disciples of Jesus. The rest of adults are in darkness, lost.
Be fully a disciple of Jesus (100%), otherwise it is sin.
Disciples of Jesus are commanded to "have nothing to do with" those who have not repented of these sins. The context of who to avoid refers specifically to those who regard themselves as disciples yet are still willfully engaged in these sins.
Disciples must not allow such people to corrupt them in any way. Allow 0 corruption.
For those who are just reading this Darkness section alone, some may think that Christianity is too hard and some may even give up. Please don't do that. The scriptures have solutions for things that appear hard and are covered in other sections of this book. In short, they have to do with how to remove the wall of sin. That has everything to do with grace, love, the incredible power of God, close relationship with God, as well as getting in the light through baptism, and walking in the light with Jesus.

James 4:17

"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."

While other lists of sins have mainly to do with things we do through action or attitude, the sin described here is what we don't do. Therefore non-action can be a sin.
0 Good Deeds = Sin

Romans 6:23

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

When a person works, a paycheck is earned. That's what we have coming to us.
What have we earn because of our sin? Death.
Wages of Sin = Death, Darkness, Separate from Jesus.
Is there a way to avoid this eternal consequence of sin, which is death and darkness? Yes, provided a person learns how to receive the gift of God, which is eternal life in Jesus.

LIGHT

John 3:1-7 Jesus Teaching Nicodemus

[3:1] "Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. [2] He came to Jesus at night and said, 'Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.'

[3] In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.'

[4] 'How can a man be born when he is old?' Nicodemus asked. 'Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!'

[5] Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. [6] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. [7] You should not be surprised at my saying, "You must be born again."'"

Being born again must include a person decision as an adult (or mature teen).
Jesus is talking to a high-level religious leader who had great familiarity with the scriptures. Yet Jesus calls Nicodemus (and all people) to be "born again." This means spiritually die to your old life and start all over.
The wall of sin is removed at a proper Biblical baptism, because being born again means your old life dies at baptism.
Born Again = Born of Water and the Spirit.
Jesus requires all people of understanding to restart. It means to be reborn as a spiritual baby (not physical baby) able to understand, regardless of how much previous religious experience and expertise that person has. In essence, Jesus wants people to unlearn their religious traditions, become a teachable blank slate--like an infant--to learn what Jesus wants without the filter of false teaching, religious pride, or empty traditions. This is vital to the learning process for a new disciple who has just been born again. Think of it like a math efficiency comparison. Contrast a confused yet proud religious teacher (Mr. Pride) against a humble, blank-slate type of person (Mr. Humble). To teach Mr. Humble, who is at 0 knowledge, just add 1 unit of instruction. Compare this to Mr. Pride, who is at -5 knowledge because he has to first unlearn 5 false teachings. Therefore to get Mr. Pride to the same place where Mr. Humble is, 6 units of instruction are needed.
Summarizing the above Born Again point, Mr. Humble = 0 Understanding + 1 Lesson = Level 1 Teaching. Mr. Pride = -5 Understanding + 6 Lessons = Level 1 Teaching. See that it takes 6x as much effort to get Mr. Pride to the same level. Therefore always value the necessity of restarting at the born-again position.
A person cannot see or enter God's kingdom without going through "water and the Spirit."
Jesus is describing a specific type of baptism.
A person cannot be part of God's kingdom unless they enter the way Jesus says to enter.
Born Again = Rebirth = Born of Water and the Spirit = Baptism.
God's kingdom is in the light. Therefore a person goes from darkness to light at a proper Biblical baptism. In other words, a person should not just skip to the step of baptism without knowing and obeying the other aspects of relationship that Jesus calls for, described elsewhere in the Bible.
Born Again = Water Baptism = Being in the Light = Being in God's Kingdom.

Acts 2:22-24

[22] "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. [23] This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. [24] But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."

This is an essential part of the message a person must believe to be a candidate for baptism, to be in the light, to be saved.
Jesus is from God.
Jesus died for our sin.
Jesus physically raised from the dead.
Everyone is responsible for Jesus' crucifixion because "all have sinned" (Romans 3:23).
Jesus went from life to death to life, which mathematically and scripturally has exciting implications.
1 Life + 1 Death = 0 + Resurrection ≫ 1.
The final number in the above equation is (≫), as in "much greater than" 1, since Jesus conquered death (as also detailed in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Moreover, "once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him" (Hebrews 5:9).
In fact, when factoring in that Jesus' resurrection opens up eternity in paradise for his committed followers, the numbers get immeasurably exciting.
1 Life + 1 Death + 1 Resurrection = ∞ for Disciples.

Bright Light on Lite Brite is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub. The animated artwork is a reminder that through Jesus' dying for our sins and rising from the dead, he became the true bright light, calling us all into his incredible presence... into his light.

Acts 2:36-37

[36] "'Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.' [37] When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'"

There must be an appropriate response to the message of the cross.
Jesus is Lord.
Lord = Master.
Part of being born again is dying to a partial (or inconsistent) obedience to Jesus and instead living to serve Jesus and doing what he says as the complete Lord of your life. Someone who truly has Jesus as Lord obeys the Bible, his word.
Be cut to the heart = wounded at the core and motivated to heal.
Be humble, urgent, and willing to be taught what to do.
Believe + Make Jesus Lord + Cut to the Heart + Teachability = Ready to Hear Rest of the Message.
Jesus = Christ. It was well known from the scriptures that the Christ is the anointed and eternal king, rescuer, as well as God in the flesh.
The people found out they just crucified God in the flesh, and now he's resurrected. That's why the people were "cut to the heart." They just killed the Christ (God in the flesh) and now were being called to an account! This needs to create a sense of spiritual pain and urgency in us all.
Jesus = Lord + Christ.
Jesus = Master + God in the Flesh.

Acts 2:38-42

[38] "Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.'

[40] With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.' [41] Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. [42] They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

"The Lord our God will call" people through existing disciples. In this case, 1 disciple (Peter) calls many thousands of people. 3,000 responded to the God.
Once the people believed, what did the obedient believers do?
Repent (Greek = to turn)
Be baptized (Greek = to be immersed)
Sin forgiven. Therefore this is the point in time a person is saved.
The Holy Spirit is given to each who responded.
3,000 were added to the church, saved.
The Holy Spirit gives the disciples power to live as God commands.
Believe + Make Jesus Lord + Cut to the Heart + Teachable + Repent + Baptism = Saved, Forgiven, In the Light, Christian, In the Kingdom, In the Church.

Romans 6:1-4 Baptism's Intimate Connection to the Cross

[1] "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? [2] By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? [3] Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

Baptism is the sharing (a participation) in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
Baptism is not just a symbol.
1 Person Dies to Old Life at Baptism → 0 Person (because dead to sin) → 1 Born Again Christian, Resurrected with Jesus in the Light.
Baptism = Burial + Die to Sin + Resurrection.
Proper Biblical Baptism = Participation in the Cross + Resurrection = New Life.

First Clean the Inside is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available in select ArtVndngMchn Series 3 NFT packs. The artwork is a surreal and abstract representation of Jesus' famous words from Matthew 23:26 "...First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean." Regardless of how old and worn the cup gets, this truth endures in every kitchen of the soul.

Matthew 23:25-26

[25] “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. [26] Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."

With God's mathematics, subtracting sin from the inside also cleanses the outside.
This demonstrates a wider scope of impact than traditional mathematics, where one local equation typically applies only to that one area. For example, gathering and removing 1 bag of trash from the inside of a house does not automatically remove 1 bag of trash scattered about that home's front lawn.
God's math hits the core and radiates outward with the same impact.
If we want to be clean on the outside, we must make an accurate account of what is going on inside first.
Practically speaking, if we personally get stuck in one outward area of life (such as debt), first we need to look at what is going on inside of ourselves. Is there something we need to repent of inwardly (like greed), which in turn will move God to remove whatever outward barrier where we were stuck?

TRANSFORMATION

Dust into Gnats is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta on pixEOS Gallery. It illustrates the miraculous plague of gnats from Exodus 8:16-19. My daughter Anna wisely pointed out that the miracle of God using Aaron to turn dust into gnats in ancient Egypt is entirely relevant to so many transformational elements of Bible Math formulas.

Exodus 8:16-19 The Plague of Gnats

[16] "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Tell Aaron, "Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground," and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will become gnats.' [17] They did this, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground, gnats came upon men and animals. All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats. [18] But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not. And the gnats were on men and animals. [19] The magicians said to Pharaoh, 'This is the finger of God.' But Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the LORD had said."

For God, reprogramming objects to become alive is simply a matter of speaking it into existence. This event is also mentioned in Psalm 105:31, where the LORD "spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country."
Dust + God = Life
Creation is still happening.
Without God, there is no life.
0 God = 0 Life
Seek God's favor. Those unified with God benefit from his ongoing creations. Those opposed to God are more susceptible to plagues.
Start believing that with God, you can be reprogrammed to manage time, money, your body, your career, and your spiritual life more effectively.
Dust can be defined as bits of the earth or dead skin. Therefore it is possible that God resurrected dead skin (dust) to make the gnats. If the dust used by God was dead skin, then it is a foreshadowing of the resurrection. Death + God = New Life.

Spiritual Skateboard is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta

Spiritual Skateboard (detail) is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available in ArtVndngMchn Series 3 NFT packs. The artwork is a colorful and surreal reminder to glide through life more conscious of getting to know people in a spiritually sense.

2 Corinthians 5:16 How to Think about People

[16] "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer."

A worldly point of view refers to the flesh, the physical, the sensuous nature of people.
Look beyond the physical. Get to know people (regard them) from a spiritual perspective.
Regard 0 people in worldly (fleshly) way. If you are striving to follow Jesus, how you think about all people will radically change.
Doing this transforms how we think about all of humanity.
Regard 100% of people as spiritual beings who need Christ.
It takes constant mental discipline to transform how we see people.
Start seeing 100% of people as spiritual souls who need Jesus.
See yourself as a spiritual person who can be transformed by God, even in areas you have been previously stuck within.

All Aboard for Stellar Transformation on the Cosmic Climate Craft

Cosmic Climate Craft is rare digital art by Joe and Anna Chiappetta

Cosmic Climate Craft is rare digital art by the father/daughter team of Joe and Anna Chiappetta, available on MakersPlace. The initial sketch that turned into this artwork had very techie and Trekkie origins. The drawing started as a super-quick black and white portrait of a leading climate researcher. This occurred during a meeting with said researcher, myself, and Dave D'Silva of Intelligent Market Solutions Group (IMSG). In that meeting Dave outlined a few relevant business model components of the smart city in development known as Energy Cloud City. Some of the principles of the business model to make the smart city plan successful are actually inspired by a number of positive Star Trek themes. Therefore the plan is affectionately called a Star Trek business model. The final artwork animation became a whimsical overview of that real-world smart city model. The art is all about positive change, depicting a leading climate researcher aboard his trusty Cosmic Climate Craft, poised to improve the environment in more transformational ways than one. For climate historical inspiration, the ship displays an illustration of the water cycle, first described with complete accuracy in the ancient book of Job. On the ship's instrument panels are climate monitoring sensors as well as climate control instruments. Through the windows can be seen the orbital smart cities known as Energy Cloud City installations. These tech centers of high innovation and ethics all are equipped with climate monitoring and modification sub-satellites. The craft also has a quantum climate change simulator running blazing fast data analysis. Of course, the ship would not be complete without the stellar soundtrack of the Star Trek inspired musical made by Caltech students called "Boldly Go!" playing in a continuous loop.

Job 36:27-28 The Water Cycle

[27] "He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; [28] the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind."

The Bible describes transformations built in to the water cycle accurately in 1700 BC.
In 1580 AD, an engineer named Bernard Palissy wrote accurately about the water cycle from evaporation into invisible steam, to cloud formation, to rain, but it was rejected by mainstream scientists.
This water cycle was not widely understood and accepted by scientists until the 1800s AD.
Invisible steam, floating clouds, and flowing streams of liquid water are all forms of H2O. While 3 distinct manifestations are described here, they are also all 1. This scientific 3 = 1 reality can help us visualize the Trinity as well, where 1 God takes the form of 3, as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Think of the person you were 10 years ago. The transformation is ongoing and you influence the process too.

Ecclesiastes 1:7

"All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again."

In 950 BC, the Bible consistently and accurately describes the reusable nature of the water cycle.
The Bible is not primarily a science book, yet when it touches on the subject, it is reliable.
The streams are giving (subtracting) and receiving (adding) in the cycle of life.
Similarly, we transform for the better when we are generous to others as well as when we subtract the waste from our lives while also adding the good and godly actions to our lives. Note the plus and minus. In this way, just like the sea, we are "never full." In other words, we are not toxic or bloated: rather we are at the scale God designed for us.

Matthew 19:30

"But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."

Order changes instantly to the extreme opposite.
1 shifts to 100.
100 shifts to 1.
Positioning is relative and with God.
This is why we need to be close to God, because he can shift us from a losing position (last) to a winning role.

Mark 10:7-8
"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife. And the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh."

Referring to marriage between man and wife.
1 husband + 1 wife = 1 married flesh.
Two people "are no longer two, but one."
See new patterns when looking at numbers from God's point of view.
1 + 1 = 1

Matthew 25:31-46 Sheep and Goats
[31] "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. [32] All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. [33] He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
[34] Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. [35] For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, [36] I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
[37] Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? [38] When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? [39] When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
[40] The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
[41] Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [42] For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, [43] I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
[44] They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
[45] He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
[46] Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Helping others transfers to helping Jesus.
Service jumps from person to person (to the person of Jesus).
Same is true for neglect of people.
Neglect jumps from the neglected person to Jesus.
Lifestyle of pouring yourself out to help others leads to God filling you up with eternal life.
Subtraction of self results in addition to eternal life.

Galatians 6:15-16

[15] "Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. [16] Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even the Israel of God."

While circumcision had meaning in the Old Testament to physically mark which males were in a covenant with God, under the New Testament, that meaning is not applicable to people today.
Circumcision = 0 Meaning.
Uncircumcision = 0 Meaning.
Being a new creation is "what counts." It has positive value that matters to God.
Being a New Creation = Meaning + Value.
God wants us to live in the newness and refreshment that comes from following his Holy Spirit and his word daily.
Becoming and continuing as "a new creation" refers to being "born again" as described in John 3:1-7. It is nothing less than radical transformation by giving up your old life, and old sin to become a Christian... and stay a Christian.
New Creation = Born Again = Christian.
Obedience to the Command of Being Born Again → Peace + Mercy.
For those with 0 peace, 0 mercy, or very little of either, the transformative solutions lie in becoming and staying born again. To be clear, being born again is not a metaphysical slogan. Being born again is radical repentance of sin, being made into a pupil of Jesus, baptism in water for the forgiveness of sins to receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, continuing in repentance, and total commitment to Jesus' ways--internally and publicly.
Since being a new creation results in "peace and mercy," we can now define the specific value of becoming a new creation. The value is equal to the price of peace and mercy.
Value of Becoming New Creation = Value of Peace + Mercy.
An enduring peace and mercy come specifically though becoming a new creation--by becoming a Christian.
Christian Life → Peace + Mercy.
Non-Christian Life → 0 Peace + 0 Mercy.
The act and practice of being a Christian = transformation into a state of spiritual peace with God.

Bible Quantum Fusion is artwork by Joe Chiappetta

Bible Quantum Fusion is digital artwork by Joe Chiappetta drawn on Dada.nyc. With immense effort, humankind slowly makes advances in discovering good ways to make new forms of energy. Meanwhile "God is light" (1 John 1:5) and functions powerfully by "making everything new" as he says in Revelation 21:5.

Revelation 21:5

"He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' Then he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'"

Permanence in the physical world is an illusion, since God is "making everything new."
A number of formulas that people think are fixed may not actually be so fixed, since renewability is embedded into what God does.
Renewing is the business of God.
God can turn anyone and anything into a completely new creation.
God is a transformer with 0 limits.
The words of God, the most powerful being, "are trustworthy and true."
Bible = Trustworthy + True.
Since God's power makes "everything new," we can have confidence that the power of his words can renew us as well... in ways that are glorious.

RESURRECTION

Holy Wheels is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on NeftyBlocks. Not everyone is going to believe that Jesus rose from the dead, leaving behind an empty tomb. I know that because I spent my first 30 years mostly either oblivious to the resurrection, indifferent to it, doubting it, or even denying it. Yet now I completely believe, trust, and rely on what the resurrection means. For myself and many others, that has directly led to a resurrected life of our own. Join with us, and most importantly, with Jesus, on the "Holy Wheels" ride of a lifetime.

Matthew 28:1-10

[1] After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

[2] There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. [3] His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. [4] The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

[5] The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. [6] He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. [7] Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you.”

[8] So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

[9] Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. [10] Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The resurrection starts at the very beginning of the day and the week: daylight hour 1 and weekday 1. Numerically it comes first.
What will it take for the resurrection to become the number 1 event in your life?
The scene is extremely intense: a violent earthquake, a lightning-looking angel, and guards shaking--scared nearly to death.
For those not on-board with the resurrection: get some "scare" in your prayer.
God knows who/what you are looking for (verse 5). Will God find you looking faithfully to be close to Jesus?
After a brutal death, Jesus really resurrected. He went from being 0% alive to 100% alive.
Since death means 0 life, we can mathematically say of any person who has died that 1 Death = 0 Life. Furthermore, any one person who is alive can be written in a formula as 1 Life. In the miraculous case of Jesus, who had "risen from the dead," we find that 0 Life + 1 Miracle → 1 Life.
This passage is an eyewitness account, as Matthew was one of the apostles who walked with Jesus before and after the resurrection.
This true event is unlike fictional action movies, where a dead hero rises with a hot vengeance to destroy people.
Jesus is not bitter at all those who hurt him. Instead, Jesus provides relief: a way of redemption.
Jesus calls people to action: to assemble.
A resurrected life does the same: call people to assemble, to action, to share the good news.

TIME

Joshua 10:12-14 More Daylight Hours Given to Joshua
[12] "On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: 'O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.'
[13] So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. [14] There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!"

Since we know the earth rotates on its axis, causing the sun's position to appear to be moving, this account is likely a telling of what it looked like from the earth's point of view when the earth's rotation was stopped or slowed: that the sun stood still. So most likely, what actually happened is that God stopped or slowed the earth's rotation for a period of time. This also means God had to temporarily suspend or modify some of the typical mechanics of gravity so the world would still function.
God gave the Israelites more daylight hours so they could have a thorough victory.
God disrupts the typical flow of time.
The normal mechanics of the earth's relationship with the sun and moon was changed by God--at the request of a human being.
Joshua's prayer was very bold. He understood that God commands the mechanics of the universe: that things that are usually fixed are in fact, pliable under God.
This cannot be one of the cyclical eclipses because it says "there has never been a day like it before or since...."
"About a full day" refers to either a full 24-hour period, or a full daytime period of 12 hours.
Therefore when attempting to calculate time and the lengths of years, factor in that God added at least 12 hours to our historical timeline.
In context, we see God answer the time-bending prayer of the man courageously leading God's people with faith and action. For those who pray to God without seeing the desired results, imitate Joshua by add faith, godly actions, and consistent efforts in leading people to be faithful to God.
God is much greater than (≫) time.
God ≫ Time.

God Is Greater than Time is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta available on MakersPlace. This animation has been created to celebrate how God, as the creator of time, is supremely greater than (≫) time. The art is inspired from a number of Bible verses about God's power over time, including Joshua 10:12-14 where the sun stands still as well as 2 Kings 20:8-11, where a shadow moves backwards up a stairway for 10 steps. In this illustration, the 2 Bible scenes are loosely merged into 1; time stands still, moves forward, and backward. The leaves around the clock are symbolic of the healing that God brings to King Hezekiah after manipulating the very fabric of time itself.

2 Kings 20:8-11 The Shadow Moves Backwards for Hezekiah
[8] "Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, 'What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the LORD on the third day from now?'
[9] Isaiah answered, 'This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?'
[10] 'It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps,' said Hezekiah. 'Rather, have it go back ten steps.'
[11] Then the prophet Isaiah called upon the LORD, and the LORD made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.

Either God bent the light from the sun to make the shadow move backward without altering time, or God reversed the rotation of the earth, modified gravity, and then allowed the earth to resume its typical rotation. This means he altered time.
If the later is true, our timeline has been altered by however long it took for the shadow to move backwards 10 steps. It is unknown if he moved the shadow backwards more quickly or at the same rate of a typical rotation--yet in reverse.
Calculating all time on earth and factoring in this incident gives us this formula: Time + (-10 steps) = Actual Time.
This account is another of many examples where God shows complete control over creation, with typical mechanics being easily disrupted and altered by God for the benefit and inspiration of the people he has relationship with.

2 Peter 3:8
"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day."
1,000 years = 0.0027 years

Time is relative to God.
When you are "with the Lord," time can also become relative or even variable for you.
Since time is measured in numbers, with God, numbers are also relative.

Time Corresponds to Jesus is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta on MakersPlace. Using a blend of AI technology and hand-drawn digital art, this is an illustration depicting a Biblical reality described in many scriptures, including 1 Peter 3:15-16. The concept of time--for the totally committed followers of Jesus--completely corresponds to the actionable lordship of Jesus in each follower's life. Notice the symbol "≙" in the artwork, which means "corresponds to" in math language. "Time ≙ Jesus" is an essential formula for all Jesus' followers to make a reality in their personal lives. Put simply, a true Christian's time revolves around doing what Jesus says to do.

1 Peter 3:15-16

[15] "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, [16] keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

Setting apart (sanctifying) Christ Jesus as Lord in our lives takes intentional, ongoing effort since too often things and people "set apart" can quickly become "set aside" and neglected.
The term translated as "set apart" means sanctify, which means to make holy, render sacred.
Jesus Christ must be the Lord (master) of us... not merely as a superficial religious title, but in our inner-most being as the chief person to obey.
The passing of time to a disciple is 100% relative and corresponding to the complete and uncontested lordship of Jesus in each disciple's life.
The math symbol ≙ means "corresponds to."
For Jesus' disciples, Time ≙ Jesus.
To be effective, lordship starts in the heart.
Looking inside energy and matter at the smallest (quantum) level (which is also the level most difficult to see), scientists discover much more about the building blocks of life. In similar manner, looking spiritually at the inside of a person (the heart), we can see the core of Christianity: that the lordship of Jesus is the building block of effective relationship with God and effective ministry.
100% of the time, a disciple is called to "be prepared to answer" regarding their faith in God's word, and why they gladly live as Jesus' disciples.
The word "answer" is also translated as "give a defense," as in "verbal defense." Disciples defend Christianity through preparing reasoned statements stated in hopefulness and good behavior which must be 100% rooted in the Lord Jesus' words.
Being Jesus' follower requires daily and continual preparation. Be an "always-on" disciple. Where 1 = prepared time, while 0 = unprepared time, the life a disciple should look like this: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1.... However, in actuality, because we "all fall short," as it says in Romans 3:23, there may be an occasional 0 interrupting the flow of 1s, but that must not be not the norm. By contrast, the life of non-Christians, which includes uncommitted people improperly calling themselves Christians, looks more like this: 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0....
Christianity is not a passing hobby or one of many nice things we do. True Christianity is a 100% lifestyle change where Jesus is the master leading us from the inside out--on a heart-level.
For people to be asking "you to give the reason for the hope that you have," the implication is that you have an attractive hope that your discuss publicly and this hope is genuinely evident by how you spend your time.
Be prepared to share the hope of your faith 100% of the time.
The word "hope" here means joyful expectation.
Hopefulness is an essential component of discipleship. All Jesus' followers need to make ready, or prepare a hopeful lookout on life with Jesus every day. This takes consistent mental discipline.
Remaining sarcastic, detached, depressed, cynical, bitter, grumpy, angry, or impatient is not compatible with Christianity. True disciples of Jesus retool their mind daily for well-prepared, hopeful communication about their relationship with God.
Hope is a subset (⊂) of Christianity.
Hope ⊂ Christianity.
0 Hope = 0 Christianity.
Ongoing "good behavior" (such as gentleness and respect) is also an expectation (and subset) of discipleship.
Good Behavior ⊂ Christianity.
0 Good Behavior = 0 Christianity.

Matthew 25:1-13 Parable of the Ten Virgins

[1] “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. [2] Five of them were foolish and five were wise. [3] The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. [4] The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. [5] The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

[6] “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

[7] “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. [8] The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

[9] “‘No,' they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

[10] “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

[11] “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!' they said. ‘Open the door for us!'

[12] “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'

[13] "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

In the kingdom--the church--there are wise and foolish members.
The foolish lived by the seat of their pants: very little planning, undisciplined, and impulsive.
The wise took time to make extra preparations.
Fine sounding excuses don't matter to the final outcome.
Trying is not enough. Late intentions are not sufficient. Must obey the timing of the plan.
The wise are ready at the proper time. In fact they were ready early.
Some lost salvation because they failed to prepare.
People get cut off from God because they did not manage time well.
Time is a finite number for us on earth. Must learn the life skill of managing time effectively.
Prepared people take concrete measures to be early hours beforehand.
Keep watch of the time and where God calls you to be.
Chronically late and unprepared people disobey Jesus. They don't "keep watch."
The late people here are not ready for Jesus.
The door (from verse 10) gets shut in the face of late people.
There is a "truth" (verse 12) about late people that the world tries to minimize: Late people don't have relationship with Jesus. He doesn't "know" them.
Some numbers (from verse 13) are designed to be impossible for humans to calculate.
The time period and the exact hour of judgment day are deliberately left unknown.
Some numbers we just have to trust God with... and be ready.
This should compel people to always be ready.

BREVITY

Brevity means shortness of duration as well as concise and exact use of words. It is a measurable discipline of communication that is associated with wisdom and effectiveness. As a concept and a practice, we see brevity used throughout the scriptures. Implementing Biblical brevity in our own lives can not only save time, but also win people over to the plan of God.

Succinctly Silly Daddy is a rare digital art comic by Joe Chiappetta

Succinctly Silly Daddy is a lighthearted way of introducing what the Bible says about the measurable and mentally disciplined characteristics of brevity. This cartoon was released as rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta on MakersPlace. An earlier version of this also appeared in the giant-sized comic book "Silly Daddy Forever."

In Ecclesiastes 3:7 we see that there is "...a time to be silent and a time to speak." For those who tend to talk a lot, or talk for too long at a time, it is important to understand that God is calling for Biblical timing in our lives. In fact, there is "a season for every activity under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1), which means these activities are cyclical: they keep reoccurring. This clearly includes "a time to be silent."

For illustration purposes, let's look at this as a set of math numbers. Since silence equals no talking, let's say silence = 0. Similarly, since speaking is literally the addition of words, let's say speaking = 1. Remember that the Bible calls for both speaking and silence in a seasonal order. So if your interaction with people is mostly 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 (as in all speaking), then it is not Biblically aligned. The same would go for a person who is mostly 0s. The fact that there is a season for everything means that, on average, our numbers should look more like this: 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, or even this: 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1.

However if your speaking pattern is more like 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, then it is likely that you need some help in the brevity department. In fact the people in your life may even cringe a bit every time you start to speak, wondering how long this speech will go on. As can be seen from this number set, brevity can help improve relationships.

Conversely, if your speaking pattern is 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, that's a problem too. You may be surrounded by insecure, prideful, and impatient people who love to hear themselves talk without letting you get hardly a word in. Such a discouraging predicament may also influence you to lack the care or courage to take your "time to speak," as the Bible describes.

God knows we all need instruction as well as times of quiet reflection--and specifically silence. Therefore if a person rarely uses brevity, it is likely that they have not been trained in the Biblical vitality of being brief and to the point. It is either that or the long-winded person does not have the mental discipline to measure their words and keep to a digestible schedule of speaking.

Therefore leadership is needed in helping people learn how and when to be silent, as well as when to be brief and then go silent so that others can have time to reflect on the power in the brevity of our words. May the following Bible study on brevity empower us all to wisely know when to speak, and when to be silent. In a world where communication is essential to unity, the solution lies in the beauty of brevity.

Ecclesiastes 5:2

"Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few."

We are commanded to let our "words be few."
The word "few" here is more often translated as "little."
We are all called to use a small amount of words. This can only be accomplished through the discipline of brevity.
Basically, human words need to become "little" while God's word becomes massive in importance. Only then can we communicate in a way that pleases God and is helpful to others.

Ecclesiastes 5:7

"Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God."

The Bible teaches that many words are devoid of meaning!
For leaders who traditionally run long meetings, think of how much lasting meaning you can bring to your group when you start practicing God's Biblical model for brevity.
Plus brevity adds hours of time saved for the whole group, resulting in grateful, more productive, refreshed people.
The more words a person adds to their speech, the more the meaning is likely to go to 0.
Many words = 0 meaning.
It is better to be in awe of God than to be a person of many words.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

"The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?"

There is a direct relationship between increased words and decreased meaning.
(+ Words) → (- Meaning) = 0 Profit.
Brevity is essential to the depth of meaning as well as profits.
The Hebrew word translated here as "profit" can also be "better."
In most cases, less words are better.
Talking longer is not better: not advantageous.

Ecclesiastes 10:12-14

[12] "Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. [13] At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness [14] and fools multiply words."

Multiplying words is a sign of foolishness.
If something can be said in 5 minutes, don't multiply it by 3 to take 15 minutes.
When the wise speak it is "gracious," as in a gift. This implies such words are valuable, measured carefully, and rare--as most gifts are. Wisdom and brevity are directly correlated.

Ecclesiastes 12:10

[10] The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

Finding "just the right words" shows an efficiency and frugal, disciplined choice of words. A good teacher does not merely say whatever comes to mind. That leads to rambling, long-winded speech with unnecessary tangents.
It can be very effective to write down what you want to say first. Then ask: (1) Does this need to be said? (2) Does it need to be said NOW? (3) Does this need to be said by you?
Brevity, for most, does not come naturally. Even teachers need to search for it.
Searching is a process of elimination, covering a wide variety of areas until the right area is found. Searching is therefore similar to the editing process, eliminating what should not be said, leaving only what should be said.
Upright Words + True Words - The Wrong Words = Just the Right Words = Godly Brevity

Proverbs 10:8

"The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin."

One of the characteristics that make people wise is their ability to listen first so they can accept the commands of godly authority.
The wise listen and accept while the fools keep talking when they should be listening.
Just because a person has the time to talk, does not mean they should take the time to do so.
Foolish words → Ruin.

Proverbs 10:19

"When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise."

Many Words = Sin!
Brevity = Wisdom.

Proverbs 11:12

"A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue."

Being long-winded is harmful to those around you.
Brevity is a sign of understanding.

Proverbs 11:13

"A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret."

It is risky to trust someone who talks a lot.
A long-winded person is more prone to betray others.
Brevity and discretion are signs of trustworthiness.

Proverbs 12:23

"The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool's heart blurts out folly."

Prudent means careful, sensible, wise forethought and being cautious about unnecessary risk.
There is restraint in how much knowledge a prudent person chooses to share.
Fools just keep on talking.
We see where the urge to talk much comes from; it comes from an undisciplined feeling in the heart.
Being led by our feelings when we speak can be foolish.

Proverbs 13:3

"He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin."

Brevity is a guard for our lives.
Brevity = Protection
Speaking Rashly = Ruin

Proverbs 14:23

"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."

Some think that they are working hard because of how long they speak to people. Yet "mere talk" is not classified as "hard work."
Talking "leads only to poverty."
If we assign the number 1 to incidents of talking and 0 to poverty in this proverb, do the scary math of a long-winded talker: 1 + 1 + 1 +1 = 0

Proverbs 17:27

"The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered."

NKJV says "He who has knowledge spares his words..."
The wise will have more to say, but they will not pour it all out at once.
Learn to give people digestible portions of wisdom.
Talking too much, the talker can get carried away by their temper, which can frustrate the listeners. Yet those using brevity can keep their emotions in check and be a positive influence.

Proverbs 20:19

"A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much."

The Bible directs us to stay away from those "who talk too much."
If you are known for long-windedness and don't have close relationships, this may be the reason. People avoid you because you don't practice brevity. They may also avoid meetings where you are likely to be speaking.

Matthew 12:36

"But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken."

A careless word is inactive, useless, empty.
The Greek word used here for careless is "argos," meaning inactive, lazy, no profit, without work.
Unprofitable words are counted against us.
We will be judged for such words.
God takes an account of our words. We need to self-measure the carefulness of what we say.

Quick to Listen is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub. This artwork illustrates James 1:19-21, which is a passage that highlights the moral importance of being "quick to listen" and "slow to speak."

James 1:19-21

[19] "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, [20] because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. [21] Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."

100% of Jesus' followers are commanded to increase our listening and decrease our speaking.
+ Listening Skills.
- Impulsive Speaking.
The urge to listen must become greater than (>) the urge to speak.
Listening > Speaking.
While being quick to listen is the priority over being quick to speak, from the rest of the Bible we can be assured that there are still many appropriate times to speak. Someone needs to speak/preach/teach the Bible to people so they can learn and apply it. Such speaking times must be done without anger, moral filth, and evil.
When people become humble, they realize that listening to God's word is the priority over their own words. This is how God's word gets "planted in" us. Then we can more effectively listen to others and appreciate what God wants us to understand before responding... yet with brevity.

James 3:8

"...no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

The longer most people speak, the greater chance for evil to come out.
People are not capable of taming the tongue. Don't be prideful and think you are the exception. Be wise and short with your words.

James 4:14

"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

This verse is meant to keep us humble. Humble people are not long-winded.
Since impermanence is the state of our physical life, and since we do not know what will happen tomorrow, be very selective and brief about what you say, particularly regarding the future.

1 Peter 1:24-25

"All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever...."

Our "glory" will decline and "fall" along with our worldly ideas. This too should help us be humble.
Meanwhile God's word is eternal.
We all need to be considerate of other people's words. That's like respecting the "grass" and "flowers" of others. Yet instead of overly focusing on our human words, which "wither" and "fall," let's speak with more brevity, while our main focus is anchored on "the word of the Lord," which "stands forever."

LIFESTYLE WELLNESS

Romans 5:1-5

[1] Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, [2] through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. [3] Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; [4] perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Notice that there is a cycle to the Christian lifestyle. It starts with faith and leads to so much more!
As covered in previous sections, a proper faith will produce a desire to start obeying Jesus, become a disciple of Jesus, make him the lord of our lives, and get baptized. The point in time a person is baptized Biblically is when a person is saved--also known as justification.
Addressed to disciples who are already saved, this passage shows the process God has set up for all disciples to grow in character, hope, and an even greater faith and appreciation of God's love.
There's no way to take an amount of unpleasantry out of God's plan, because maintaining the lifestyle of a disciple all comes down to what a disciple does when they start to suffer.
When we follow God's lifecycle for our own existence, a certain degree of suffering is essential to our future wellness... if we don't give up.
This passage applies the term "produces" to a number of Christian growth points. The symbol → means "produces" or "yields," and much of this passage can be turned into a math formula.
Faith → Justification + Peace + Grace + Joy
Justification + Peace + Grace + Joy → Suffering
Suffering → Perseverance
Perseverance → Character
Character → Hope
Hope → 0 Disappointment
0 Disappointment → God’s Love in Our Heart
Going through the full cycle of these formulas is a life skill. Whenever this cycle is interrupted, growth is stifled. When the cycle is completed, growth is mathematically and Biblically guaranteed.

Prayer Mobile is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub.

Philippians 4:3-7
[3] "Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. [4] Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! [5] Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. [6] Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

In context, the full benefits and blessings of this verse are for Jesus' "co-workers, whose names are in the book of life." So these benefits apply to Jesus' disciples: those who work for Jesus.
Rejoice means to be cheerful, calmly happy, and glad.
Rejoicing "always" is a decision.
Rejoice because you know your name is "in the book of life." In other words, you have an eternal luxury resort reservation booked for you when you die and get to heaven. That's something to be completely and constantly joyful about, as this physical life is impermanent.
Constant rejoicing is a command. It's not based on whether you feel like rejoicing or not.
100% Time = Rejoicing.
Commanded is also to "not be anxious about anything." Pursue a state of 0 worrying. So we need to subtract worrying and anxiety from our lifestyle.
The act of constant rejoicing triggers the peace of God in your life.
Since gentleness is also commanded, and it must be "evident to all," see the very high standard expected. Our attitude cannot simply be "I am gentle on the inside and if people don't see it, too bad." The Biblical command is for every person we interact with to very clearly and consistently see our gentle behavior. That's 100% gentleness.
Pray in every situation. That's 100% prayer.
Thanksgiving is an essential component within prayer. So 100% praying with gratitude is needed.
Constant rejoicing is a catalyst for God to guard your heart and mind.
100% Rejoicing + 100% Praying with Gratitude + 100% Gentleness = Peace + Security + Spiritual and Mental Health.
Factoring in the command to not worry and that this verse is specific to Jesus' disciples, here is a more complete formula: 100% Rejoicing - 100% Worry + 100% Praying with Gratitude + 100% Gentleness + Following Jesus = Peace + Security + Spiritual and Mental Health + Salvation/Heaven/Paradise.

Rock Solid Biogenic Bible Math Metropolis is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta available on SuperRare. It started as an ink drawing on a small rock from Zuma Beach in Malibu, California. Purification, which is essential to both spiritual and physical life, is the main theme of this artwork. Science, smart cities, scriptures, faith, and a renewable circular community and economy are additional themes in this tiny, yet larger-than-life artwork for the soul.

1 John 1:7

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

Being part of Jesus' spiritual fellowship involves walking in the light.
Darkness is isolating. Jesus' light is communal and cleansing.
Being transparent with your life is part of walking in the light. This brings us closer together: having "fellowship with one another."
One of the byproducts of walking "in the light" is that we can see opportunities that were otherwise dark, shrouded, and elusive. This includes communal opportunities (like a healthy family network) as well as individual opportunities (such as an internal drive to be generous, productive, and healthy).
Walking with Jesus (as in doing what he calls us to do) serves as a renewable circular purification system.
Jesus cleanses his disciples from sin. He purifies them continuously.
Since Jesus "purifies" disciples from "all sin" (as in 100% of sin), we get this equation: 100% Sin + 1 Purifying Sacrifice of Jesus + People Walking in the Light = 0 Sin.
Jesus' 1-time sacrifice + Following Jesus' Walk in the Light = Community + Forgiveness + Purity + Godliness.

LEADERSHIP

1 Samuel 14:1-14 Jonathan and His Armor-Bearer

[1] "One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, 'Come, let's go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.' But he did not tell his father.

[2] Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men, [3] among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod's brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.

[4] On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez, and the other Seneh. [5] One cliff stood to the north toward Micmash, the other to the south toward Geba.

[6] Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, 'Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.'

[7] 'Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.'

[8] Jonathan said, 'Come, then; we will cross over toward the men and let them see us. [9] If they say to us, "Wait there until we come to you," we will stay where we are and not go up to them. [10] But if they say, "Come up to us," we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has given them into our hands.'

[11] So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. 'Look!' said the Philistines. 'The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.' [12] The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, 'Come up to us and we'll teach you a lesson.'

So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, 'Climb up after me; the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel.'

[13] Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. [14] In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.

[15] Then panic struck the whole army--those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties--and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God."

King Saul does nothing with 600 men.
Jonathan does much with just 1 armor bearer.
2 took down 20 opponents using unity.
2 Unified > 20 without Unity.
Jonathan believed he was chosen and therefore had confidence to lead the armor bearer.
Jonathan trusted God.
"Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few." Jonathan already believed the victory in his mind, by faith and trust in God. The battle is fought first in the mind.
A person of God lives on the edge with partners in the gospel.
Unity existed even in a questionable and very risky plan.
The armor bearer shows his eagerness to be led: "Do all that you have in mind. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul."
Godly leadership inspires people to have unified "heart and soul" relationships.
A sign that you are a godly leader is that you have a unified armor bearer. Who is your armor bearer, "with you heart and soul" in the battle?
If you want to be a leader yet don't have an armor bearer, start by becoming the armor bearer to a godly leader. You will learn much.
Jonathan's faith led the way.
A godly leader is one who leads by example. The dangerous, or challenging work was not delegated to others.
After the 2 acted in unity, in essence, they became 1. Then God sent panic on the enemy.
2 + Unity → 1 → Victory
Some aspire to lead by focusing on many people, yet end up actually leading 0 people. Jonathan focused on leading 1 person and it resulted in great victory.

1 Samuel 14:20-23

[20] "Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords. [21] Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. [22] When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. [23] So the LORD rescued Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven."

Disunified people turn on each other in crisis.
People in Disunity → Confusion/Panic → Harming Each Other
The unity of Jonathan and his armor bearer inspires the 600 Israelites to join the battle.
Unity inspires the masses, yet is forged person to person: 1 by 1.
Unity inspires deserters and cowards to return to God, restoring courage and security.

John 10:14-17

[14] "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- [15] just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. [17] The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again."

Jesus is the good shepherd. He knows how to lead people well.
The good shepherd has great relationships with his sheep. They know each other.
People are described as sheep. Sheep need the shepherd. We all need to be led.
One of the reasons Jesus is the good shepherd is that he lays down his life for the sheep. In other words, he's not selfish.
Shepherding and leadership = 0 selfishness.
There is 1 flock and 1 good shepherd, with 1 voice.
All people must align with this 1 shepherd in his 1 flock, following his 1 voice.
If there are leaders who shepherd people in ways counter to Jesus, then such leaders, sadly, are not in the true flock and their people are in danger of not being under the leadership of Jesus.
The way to measurably confirm that you are listen to Jesus' voice and are part of his 1 flock is if you do what the Bible says.

Ephesians 3:7-9 Paul Administers God's Grace through Humility

[7] "I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. [8] Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, [9] and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things."

Paul is "less than the least of all God's people."
Paul < All Other Disciples.
This took humility on Paul's part to say and accept.
God wants us to learn from the most humble: the least, the lowliest.
God chooses humble leaders to administer his grace to others.
Leaders should aspire, not for a worldy high status, but to be humble--like Paul.

CHURCH = 1 FAMILY + 1 MISSION

Colossians 1:15-18 Supreme Jesus

[15] "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. [16] For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. [17] He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."

Church = Body of Jesus.
The body needs the head.
Church is essential to Christianity.
As creator, Jesus is the father of us all. He is the head of the household--the family.
Jesus has supremacy, which means first place in rank, preeminence, above all. So Jesus is clearly the greatest in deeds and in description.
The symbol "≫" means "much greater than" in math.
Jesus ≫ Everyone and Everything.

Hebrews 10:24-25

[24] "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. [25] Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

To "spur one another" literally means to provoke or incite one another.
Members of the church are commanded to provoke fellow members "toward love and good deeds."
The first step in this is for each church member to "consider how" they will personally influence more church members to be more loving and involved in positive actions. To consider these things, disciples need to think deeply about how to do this. "Considering" is expending mental energy focused on the spiritual growth of fellow church members.
The only way a disciple can "consider how" to incite others in the church "toward love and good deeds" is for that disciple to be in another disciple's life and know what areas need improvement.
Don't "give up meeting together" = Don't miss church.
A person cannot have true Christianity without meeting with and being part of daily encouragement in the church.
Commands for Church Members include provoking actionable love in other members, attending ongoing in-person meetings, and giving ongoing encouragement directed at other members.
In healthy families, the members have a strong influence over each other for the sake of the greater good. Members can even get pushy and "provoke" other members to do what they think is best. It should come as no surprise then, that God designed his church to be the healthiest of families. In fact, the church is the family of God with him as the Father and all his sons and daughters motivating each other to be more like Jesus on his mission "to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). The more anyone looks at the scriptures and actually does what the Bible says, the more it will be evident that the true church of Jesus is 1 family with 1 mission.

Bible Math City Rising is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on MakersPlace. No art can ever come close to accurately depicting what God has planned for those who love him. Yet let this art serve as an animated and colorful reminder that whose who walk with God on this earth through his church will walk with him forever in his holy city. The artwork was created using a blend of AI tools as well as hand drawn digital art. It takes inspiration from a number of verses, including Ephesians 2:19-22. Therein, the church of the Bible is described as God's household, his building, his temple, and his dwelling, founded solely on Jesus and God's word.

Ephesians 2:19-22

[19] "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. [21] In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. [22] And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."

The passage is addressed to disciples already in the church and explains that in Jesus, the church members are part "of God's household"... "being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." In other words, the building process and family fellowship with God is ongoing, provided the disciple stays with Jesus in his church.
Church = Household of God.
Church = Family of God.
Leave Church = Leave God.
Chief Cornerstone of the Church = Christ Jesus.
Church Foundation = Jesus + Apostles + Prophets.
Apostles = New Testament.
Prophets = Old Testament.
The church is based solely on the Word of God.
The church is not a physical building. The church is similar (~) to a building in that it is a spiritual "building;" specifically it is a gathering of Jesus-led disciples/family members where the Holy Spirit dwells.
Church ~ Building.
Togetherness with Jesus and his disciples is essential to the church.
Jesus joins disciples together. Jesus is the glue, the nails, the connecting beams that binds the whole church together.
Joining adds disciples together to form the church.
Jesus is the addition component.
Jesus = +
Church = Holy Temple in the Lord.
Church = Cooperative Human Dwelling in which God Lives by His Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:12-13

[12] "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. [13] For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."

The body of Christ is a unity, as in 1.
Church = Body = 1.
There is 1 body.
There is 1 church (not 2, 5, 10, etc.).
Entry into church is through a proper Biblical baptism.
When a person is baptized the Biblical way (after being made into a disciple), they are baptized into the body of Christ and therefore baptized into the church.
Church members must be led by, and have unity with 1 Spirit: namely the Holy Spirit.

Romans 6:3-4

[3] "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

Disciples are those who have been baptized into Christ Jesus and into Jesus' death.
Baptism = Burial of Old Life = Die to Old Life.
Raised into new life in Christ.
Baptism = Burial + Resurrection + Church Entry.
A proper Biblical baptism is the precise point in time when a person who has been in the process of being made into a disciple (Matthew 28:19-20) actually becomes a Christian, a disciple, a son of God, and at that same point, a member of Jesus' church, the family of God.

The Great Banquet is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta available on AtomicHub. This animation depicts a portion of Jesus' powerful parable from Luke 14:15-24 about what God has prepared for those who want to be with him. We can see in heaven an angel is in flight, the streets of gold are shining, and the river of the water of life (from Revelation 22:1) flows from the tree of life. In the salad at this feast is an edible Feynman Diagram, which in quantum mechanics traditionally represents how meeting electrons transfer photons. Yet at this special and eternal meal, it shows how disciples meeting one another transfer love, encouragement, wisdom, and so much more!

Luke 14:15-24 The Parable of the Great Banquet

[15] "When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, 'Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.'

[16] Jesus replied: 'A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. [17] At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, "Come, for everything is now ready."

[18] But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'

[19] Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'

[20] Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

[21] The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

[22] 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'

[23] Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. [24] I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'"

The master, Jesus, has prepared a great banquet. All are invited.
The master wants his house and banquet to "be full."
Master = Jesus.
The servants are those who work for their master. That describes the disciples of Jesus.
Servants = Disciples.
Invited Guests = Non-Christians, regardless of ability or economic class.
Know the role of a true disciple: to "go out" and invite more people to join Jesus' banquet by becoming disciples in the church. That's the mission.
Jesus directs his disciples to "make them come in," as in use the Bible with sincere love to teach, mentor, and influence the invited guests into becoming disciples too so they can be part of the church as well.
"Come, for everything is now ready" means what God has prepared is ready now.
God has taken care of all the details--everything--to ensure that his church and heaven are perfectly awesome and ready, now and forever.
The Church + Heaven = 100% Ready.
God's holy invitation is in our hands now.
People make excuses as to why they cannot drop everything and participate in what God has perfectly prepared.
These excuses can even sound reasonable and responsible at first glance.
Those with excuses end up being rejected by God. They "will not get a taste of my banquet."
Excuses become the barrier to entry into the church... and later, heaven.
1 Holy Invitation + 1 Excuse = 0 Church, 0 Access to Heaven, 0 Salvation.
Excuses to become part of God's spiritual kingdom (his church) are in opposition (⇒⇐) to true Christianity, also known as discipleship.
Spiritual Excuses ⇒⇐ Discipleship.
0 Spiritual Excuses = Party with Jesus Forever (∞)
1 Holy Invitation + 1 Servant of Jesus = Access to Church, Heaven, Salvation, Party with Jesus ∞.
Invitation + Servant → ∞
When we fix our eyes on ∞ (the eternal), it is much easier to put pleasant, yet temporary things like food, homes, art, economics, and everything else in its proper place.

Body of Christ Diagram is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on MakersPlace. While studying the Bible with a new friend from China, I wanted to create a visual learning tool that would sum up a number of Biblical concepts that we had covered together. This includes that the church is the body of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:15-18), that there is only 1 true church, AKA 1 body (Ephesians 4:4-6), and only 1 head over that church: namely Jesus Christ. Also as the scriptures describe, I wanted to illustrate in pictures how the church is essential to Christianity, as seen through the whole book of Acts. So a person cannot really have Jesus without also being active in Jesus' church and following Jesus' words. Some of these concepts may be confusing to many people since most religious groups that classify themselves as a church do not actually follow the Bible in its full proper context. Consequently, Christianity is often misrepresented by unaware pretenders who, sadly, are not actually operating in the body of Christ. That's one of the reasons why I study the Bible with people: so they can see the truth directly for themselves and make a decision to follow the Jesus of the Bible.

Ephesians 4:4-6

[4] "There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism; [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Just as there is only 1 God and 1 Lord, there is only 1 body.
Since the church is Jesus' body, and since there is only 1 body, then there is only 1 church where Jesus = 1 Lord.
Biblically, the Lord Jesus has only 1 church.
Other religious groups who call themselves "church," or "Christian," yet are not completely unified with Jesus' 1 church as described in the Bible, are not actually part of the Lord Jesus' church.
Lord = Master.
The members of the body, the church, are led by the 1 Lord of the church, Jesus: not tradition, human wisdom, feelings, opinions, etc.
The phrase "one baptism" refers to the 1 proper way to be baptized for entry/membership into Jesus' church. Those who claim to have been baptized prior to being made into totally committed disciples have not actually been Biblically baptized and need to do things in the manner and order that the 1 Lord describes in the Bible. In other words, many religious people may think they have been baptized when all that actually happened was that they got wet.
There are 43,000 different denominations and organizations that consider themselves "Christian" in the world today (Source: Christianity in its Global Context, page 85, June 2013, Center for the Study of Global Christianity, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary). These findings show the extreme disunity in the religious world, which is full of various Christian-themed traditions that "nullify the word of God" (Matthew 15:1-9).
These tens of thousands of so-called churches in the above research demonstrate a complete contradiction (⇒⇐) to the Bible, which teaches that there is only 1 church.
Biblical Christianity ⇒⇐ Worldly/Tradition-filled Christianity.
1 Church ⇒⇐ 43,000 Churches.
1 Body + 1 Spirit + 1 Hope + 1 Lord + 1 Faith + 1 Baptism + 1 God + 1 Father = 1 True Christianity.
Person with 0 Membership in the 1 True Church = 0 Christianity = 0 Salvation
The 1 Hope and 1 Faith of the 1 Church is to help as many as possible have great ongoing relationship with the 1 Lord and therefore be saved by our 1 God, beginning with each members 1 Baptism, which makes each person a family member of Jesus' 1 Body, where through the 1 Spirit, the 1 God is our 1 Father. That's the 1 mission of this 1 church.

UNITY

Brother and Friend is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta available on SuperRare. The artwork touches on the great importance of godly unity, and how people need to intentionally strive to be unified on a heart and soul level.

Matthew 18:19-20 Jesus Speaking to His Disciples about Unity
[19] "Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. [20] For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."

Unity is a catalyst for prayers being answered.
Note the context; this is a promise specific to Jesus' disciples. So becoming a disciple of Jesus is essential to receiving these benefits.
Jesus wants to be with people unified with him and with each other.
Jesus becomes present when 2 or 3 disciples are gathered in his name.
2 agreeing disciples + Jesus = 3 beings + answered prayer
1 + 1 = 3
1 + 1 + 1 = 4

Galatians 3:27-28

[27] "for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

God's desire for us is to all be 1, and his solution to make it so is found in Christ Jesus.
Jesus makes oneness happen for 100% of his baptized disciples.
Race, Gender, and Economic Barriers + Christianity = 0 Barriers = Unity = 1.

1 Corinthians 1:10-13 Perfect Unity, Not Division

[10] "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. [11] My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. [12] What I mean is this: One of you says, 'I follow Paul'; another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas'; still another, 'I follow Christ.' [13] Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?"

God expects perfect unity "in mind and thought" among members of his church. The only way for this to happen is when all disciples are in complete agreement with what the Bible teaches and putting it into practice, first in the mind, and then outwardly. That means the church needs to be 1 healthy family with 1 unified mission defined by "our Lord Jesus."
No divisions in the church = 0 Racism + 0 Grudges + 0 False Teaching + 0 Favoritism + 0 Counter-missions.
Perfect Unity = 0 Church Divisions.
Division from the Bible = Sin.
Separating even a little from what Jesus teaches is complete opposition (⇒⇐) to Jesus' church.
Division from the Bible ⇒⇐ Jesus' Church.
Sadly, the sin of division happens on very large scales when believers follow personalities and their writings, which are typically a toxic mix of scripture and tradition, as denounced by Jesus in Matthew 15:1-9.

Luke 12:51-53

"Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. [52] From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. [53] They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

Jesus is preparing his disciples to understand that a certain kind of division is necessary. When following Jesus, disciples need to escape/split/divide from evil and corruption.
Disciples need to divide from the false teachings of the rest of the religious world.
Jesus calls for such division on every level, including at the physical household family level. For example, if dad teaches a watered-down, opinion-heavy version of the Bible, while the children still need to respect their dad, these children need to divide from dad's teaching to follow the whole Bible.
Persecution can come from within a disciple's own home from anyone not unified with Jesus' words.
The only way to be unified with Jesus and his church is to divide from any group--even if they call themselves a church or Christians--when said group has perverted Jesus' teaching by blending it with human opinions/traditions.
Godly division occurs when people leave their old ways to completely align and unify with the Bible. For example, in John chapters 18 and 19, the Jews considered themselves God's people, yet Jesus' words (the truth) divided them into 2 groups: those who opposed Jesus and those who obeyed him.
Jesus "came to bring... division."
Jesus' Words = Divide (÷) between Good and Evil.
Bible = ÷

Bible Math City Calling is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta on SuperRare

Bible Math City Calling is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta available on SuperRare. It's a high-tech, family-focused depiction of what Jesus says about unity in John 17:20-21.

John 17:20-21 Jesus Prays for Unity Among All Disciples
[20] "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, [21] that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

Jesus is "one" with the Father. Therefore 1 + 1 = 1.
Jesus calls for oneness for those following him throughout all ages.
Complete unity is essential to the church members and a mark of true Christianity.
Assigning "X" to represent the total number of Jesus' disciples throughout all time, we can extrapolate this formula: 1 God + X = 1
1 God + All Disciples = 1
When combining the selflessness principles from John 12:23-26 about the seed that dies to produce many seeds (previously discussed), we get this equation: 0 = 1.
Therefore Many = 1. And simultaneously, 0 = 1. Therefore 0 = Many.
The fluidity of these spiritual formulas show God's power to fit the numbers to what is needed for his people to benefit from his creation.

WISDOM

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 God's Wisdom v Human Wisdom

[18] "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. [19] For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.'

[20] Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? [21] For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. [22] Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, [23] but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, [24] but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. [25] For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

[26] Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. [27] But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. [28] He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised thing--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, [29] so that no one may boast before him. [30] It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. [31] Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.'"

Understanding what happened to Jesus at the cross is the key to tapping into the power and wisdom of God.
Even though the world is greatly impressed by "the wisdom of the world," those who merely have worldly wisdom do not know God (verse 21). Moreover, God frustrates and destroys such wisdom (verse 19).
Nothing we come up with will outsmart God (verse 25). This is true even for the smartest people on the planet because "the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom."
Since machines are built from human wisdom, this is also true even for the smartest computer that humans can make. Therefore there is no artificial intelligence that can compete with God's supreme intelligence.
Foolishness of God is greater than man's wisdom.
Foolishness of God > Human Wisdom.
Weakness of God is greater than man's strength.
Weakness of God > Human Strength.
The wisdom of "Christ crucified" is greater than all other wisdom.
Christ Crucified > 100% of Other Wisdom
Verse 26: By human standards, most people who become disciples of Jesus are not wise, influential, or noble prior to becoming disciples of Jesus.
God chooses such people to become his disciples.
Life is not about how talented and influential we are. It is about being chosen by God. Seek God's favor to be chosen by him.
The wise and strong in a worldly sense--yet not spiritually wise and strong--will be shamed by God (verse 27).
God chooses low rated people to reduce the high rated people to zero (verse 28).
Zeros of the world become disciples of Jesus.
Disciples of Jesus expose the worldly wise, influential, and noble as spiritual zeros.
0 ranking person + God becomes higher ranking spiritual person.
High ranking worldly person (such as a level 10 influencer) measured against a disciple of Jesus reveals the worldly person as a spiritual 0.
It is God's greatness we must boast about.
The way to tap into enduring wisdom is to be close to God through Jesus at the cross.
Verse 30 talks about the "redemption" of those who hold onto the wisdom of the cross. Redemption is a very math-oriented term. It means "a releasing effected by payment of ransom." When something or someone is redeemed, it is bought back. Those who get redeemed by Jesus and maintain the wisdom of the cross gain access to so much in this life, and the life to come in paradise!

Approaching the Heavenly City is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available in select ArtVndngMchn Series 2 NFT packs. Drawing spiritual concepts, we often fall so short of what we want to express. Yet still we strive to communicate that which is unseen, yet completely real: namely the wisdom of the cross that leads to the nearly indescribable, yet wonderful paradise of God.

CONCLUSION

Just as in quantum physics, things at the smallest level (such as electrons) don't always work the way they typically do for larger scale things, the same can be said for Bible Math. At the spiritual level, things do not always work the way they typically do as compared to how things typically operate in the physical realm. Since these spiritual and physical realms are connected under 1 God, and since we are all physical and spiritual beings, a greater understanding for who God wants us to be can be gained by seeing the unity in God's design for all realms.

There are so many more scriptures that can be added to this Bible Math study. This is not at all intended to be an exhaustive list. In fact, this book only scratches the surface of Christianity. Whole books could be written (and have been written) on each of the life-changing topics in this volume. My hope and prayer is that more people will read this, be compelled to dive head first into the words of God to see what else the Lord has in store for us to discover, apply, and grow from.

Specifically, reading Bible Math should serve as a catalyst to wet your spiritual appetite. Bible Math is not the end; it's just the beginning. It should urge you to get into individual Bible studies with me or my fellow church members nearest you for the purpose of becoming the kind of Christians whom Jesus commends with "...well done, good and faithful servant.... Come and share in your master's happiness" (Matthew 25:23). Those who follow that course of action will tap into the opportunity of a lifetime: to know God and to make him known.

In fact, the Bible is the only written guide to knowing God and knowing who God wants us to become. While the Bible was never intended to be a math textbook, it does clearly show that with God, mathematics has a more diverse set of possibilities and use cases than what most people initially grow up understanding. The scriptures help us see that the principles of the universe are putty in the hands of our creator, God.

Since God is the "author of life" (Acts 3:15), that means he is the author of math too. Just as God created the world and modifies it (and the math in it) to his will, God can also modify us for the greater good--especially for those who are willing. I have seen this time-and-time-again in the Bible, in the people around me--and most gratefully--in my own life too. As Mark 9:23 explains because of our incredible Creator, "all things are possible" for those who believe!

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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