“Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)
As I said yesterday, the calling of God is that sinful mankind is to be given the “free gift of eternal life”.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life…” (Romans 6:23)
Not just a few folks who make a wise choice, but all who die as a result of sin. The unmerited favor (grace) of God in doing so was such wonderful good news that Paul prayed that those who he told about it, and had believed it, would live in such a way that they would be "worthy" of such a free gift. They get it anyway, because it is "free" and based on the "grace" of God (unmerited favor). But Paul wanted people to show their appreciation to God by living a good life.
The problem now, after 2000 years, is that the calling of God has been changed by the institutional churches into a calling only for the few who bow down to the requirements of the institution. It is no longer the “free gift” to all sinners, but a mere offer that must be accepted together with the various creeds and covenants of those institutions. It is not the gospel of the grace of God, but a mixture of grace and works of men, which is NO GOSPEL AT ALL and is “accursed” (devoted to destruction).
“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” “... you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God..” (Galations 1:6-8; Jeremiah 23:36)
For my wife, children and grandchildren..and anyone else who may be interested!
Showing posts with label calling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label calling. Show all posts
Your Free Gift From God
“…live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called…” (Ephesians 4:1)
Our "calling" is to be a recipient of eternal life as a "free gift of God". Just for a minute or two try to forget all you have been taught in the church or at home. Assume for a moment that all you know about God and Jesus is what Paul tells you below…
“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life….As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…I tell you a mystery…we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 51-54)
Paul has just explained the "mystery" that death is the penalty for sin, but that death is not our final outcome. There will be "victory" over death for ALL mankind who are descended from Adam. And he says we should live life now in appreciation for that future victory. I like the Amplified Version of Ephesians 4:1...
“...live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation]” (Ephesians 4:1 AMP)
Got it? Salvation is a free gift to all – so try to live your life in such a way that it expresses gratitude to God for your salvation (eternal life after death). That is all that is required of you...
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you? to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God…For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” (Micah 6:8; Titus 2:11-13)
Our "calling" is to be a recipient of eternal life as a "free gift of God". Just for a minute or two try to forget all you have been taught in the church or at home. Assume for a moment that all you know about God and Jesus is what Paul tells you below…
“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life….As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…I tell you a mystery…we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 51-54)
Paul has just explained the "mystery" that death is the penalty for sin, but that death is not our final outcome. There will be "victory" over death for ALL mankind who are descended from Adam. And he says we should live life now in appreciation for that future victory. I like the Amplified Version of Ephesians 4:1...
“...live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation]” (Ephesians 4:1 AMP)
Got it? Salvation is a free gift to all – so try to live your life in such a way that it expresses gratitude to God for your salvation (eternal life after death). That is all that is required of you...
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you? to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God…For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” (Micah 6:8; Titus 2:11-13)
So forget, or ignore, the dogma and platitudes of religious institutions, and simply believe the good news expressed by our Apostle Paul in the Bible.
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