“Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies; do not be afraid…for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” (Deuteronomy 20:3-4)
Before they entered the promised land Israel was told they would do battle with their flesh and blood enemies, but not to fear for the LORD would “save” them…and He did.
Today we are told that the struggle of mankind is with another kind of enemy…
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Again, however, mankind is not to fear the "forces of darkness" for the LORD has promised to save...and He will.
“In the world you have tribulation, fear not for I have overcome the world… put on the full armor of God…take up the shield of faith…take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. …it is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men…” (John 163; Ephesians 6:11-17; 1 Timothy 4:9-10)
Mankind can only "take up" the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation because it is our free gift from God.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
For my wife, children and grandchildren..and anyone else who may be interested!
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
He Who Wins Souls Is Wise - Oh Really, Who is That?
"Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all humanity. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God... And now I commend you to God and to the word of His GRACE, which is able to build you up and to GIVE you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." (Acts 20:26-32)
The revival was over. We had listened to a dynamic speaker for two weeks. During that time there were over 90 decisions for Christ and many other rededications. At one service, everyone there walked the aisle to make one decision or another or to pray at the altar, myself included. At the end of the last service, we had been challenged to "go win the world to Christ, one person at a time, bcause he who wins souls is wise". Everyone was saying Amen and left fully intending to be a part of a great renewal. The evangelist received a big love offering and off he went to his next scheduled revival.
Sound familiar?
WARNING!: Stop reading if you are a Christian prone to getting defensive when your views are challenged.
I asked an evangelical pastor WHY and his response was that God's people are disobedient to their commission from the Lord.
The gospel message being presented in our churches and on the mission fields is flawed. It has been changed from a glorious declaration of the Salvation of ALL sinful men to a mere "offer” to save "if" people jump through certain hoops. After 40 years of study, I cannot find anywhere in the bible that says we should go "offer" salvation or "win the world to Christ".
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious GRACE, which He has FREELY GIVENus in the Beloved One (Jesus)." (Epesians 1:3-6)
Salvation is a done deal for humanity. It will be complete at the end of the ages when sinful humanity have ALL become a new creation in Christ Jesus, old things will have passed away - all things will have become new.
"So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:16-18)
Those of us who realize we are saved have a commission and ministry to TELL people about their salvation and reconciliation, not play a game to WIN or LOSE their souls!
I know what some of you are thinking, the preacher told us "he who wins souls is wise" and he read it right out of the Bible.
Yep, and the last time I looked, Jesus is the ONLY wise man who has ever lived that had the power to win souls - and HE won them ALL at the cross. The first part of that verse is that the fruit of a righteous man is a tree of life. Jesus is also the only righteous man who ever lived - and his fruit is the "tree of life" for the souls he won - ALL SOULS...
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls." (Proverbs 11:30)
What we should be telling those who have never heard is "You have been saved by the Love and Grace of God through the wisdom and righteousness of His Son Jesus".
So, I am telling you now - believe it, rejoice, and go tell your family and friends the GOOD NEWS!
The revival was over. We had listened to a dynamic speaker for two weeks. During that time there were over 90 decisions for Christ and many other rededications. At one service, everyone there walked the aisle to make one decision or another or to pray at the altar, myself included. At the end of the last service, we had been challenged to "go win the world to Christ, one person at a time, bcause he who wins souls is wise". Everyone was saying Amen and left fully intending to be a part of a great renewal. The evangelist received a big love offering and off he went to his next scheduled revival.
Sound familiar?
Problem was that two weeks later no one was out "winning souls", and all was back to normal. This has been repeated over and over again in institutional protestant churches since the 1730's yet the percentage of the world's population that refer to themselves as "Christian" remains the same, maybe less.
WHY I asked myself?
WARNING!: Stop reading if you are a Christian prone to getting defensive when your views are challenged.
I asked an evangelical pastor WHY and his response was that God's people are disobedient to their commission from the Lord.
He was right, but he did not have a clue why he was right in my opinion.
So, here are my thoughts after meditating on the problem.
The gospel message being presented in our churches and on the mission fields is flawed. It has been changed from a glorious declaration of the Salvation of ALL sinful men to a mere "offer” to save "if" people jump through certain hoops. After 40 years of study, I cannot find anywhere in the bible that says we should go "offer" salvation or "win the world to Christ".
The Salvation of humanity is not a game we are playing which can be won or lost by hard work and obedience. Nevertheless, if you like the game analogy consider this - the GAME HAS ALREADY BEEN WON! And that pastor friend, myself, you, Paul, nor Billy Graham had any part in the victory. God guaranteed the salvation of humanity "before the foundation of the world".
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious GRACE, which He has FREELY GIVENus in the Beloved One (Jesus)." (Epesians 1:3-6)
Salvation is a done deal for humanity. It will be complete at the end of the ages when sinful humanity have ALL become a new creation in Christ Jesus, old things will have passed away - all things will have become new.
"So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:16-18)
Those of us who realize we are saved have a commission and ministry to TELL people about their salvation and reconciliation, not play a game to WIN or LOSE their souls!
I know what some of you are thinking, the preacher told us "he who wins souls is wise" and he read it right out of the Bible.
Yep, and the last time I looked, Jesus is the ONLY wise man who has ever lived that had the power to win souls - and HE won them ALL at the cross. The first part of that verse is that the fruit of a righteous man is a tree of life. Jesus is also the only righteous man who ever lived - and his fruit is the "tree of life" for the souls he won - ALL SOULS...
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls." (Proverbs 11:30)
What we should be telling those who have never heard is "You have been saved by the Love and Grace of God through the wisdom and righteousness of His Son Jesus".
So, I am telling you now - believe it, rejoice, and go tell your family and friends the GOOD NEWS!
Then live your life like you appreciate what God through Jesus has done for humanity. Do what God requires, not what some priest of pastor requires. Here it is...
"What can we bring to the LORD? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of ramsand ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:6-8)
There you have it, 1) Do what is Right 2) Love Mercy, and 3) Walk Humbly with your God
If you want to play games that is OK, but play golf or some other game.
"But the angel said to them, do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a SAVIOR has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord." (Luke 2:10)
"But the angel said to them, do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a SAVIOR has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord." (Luke 2:10)
The Worst Sinners Saved
“…Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst…” (1 Timothy 1:15)
How did Jesus get the worst sinner to believe in him?
“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul!” (Acts 1:6)
OK, that would do it - and Paul believed. Sooo, how is God going to get the rest of the really bad sinners to believe?
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened…” (Revelation 20:11-12)
That should do it! It is at the great white throne when all the worst sinners "confess" that Jesus is Lord and "believe" that God did indeed raise him from the dead - and are "saved".
"If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved..." (Romans 10:9-10)
To summarize: Those who die unbelievers in this age will be "saved" before the "great white throne"- where the worst sinners of this age will "confess that Jesus Christ is Lord"...how do I know? The bible tells me so...
"...every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11)
Paul eventually died after his experience and is sleeping until the return of Jesus to resurrect him from the dead.
"It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers." (1 Timothy 4:9-10)
How did Jesus get the worst sinner to believe in him?
“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul!” (Acts 1:6)
OK, that would do it - and Paul believed. Sooo, how is God going to get the rest of the really bad sinners to believe?
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened…” (Revelation 20:11-12)
That should do it! It is at the great white throne when all the worst sinners "confess" that Jesus is Lord and "believe" that God did indeed raise him from the dead - and are "saved".
"If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved..." (Romans 10:9-10)
To summarize: Those who die unbelievers in this age will be "saved" before the "great white throne"- where the worst sinners of this age will "confess that Jesus Christ is Lord"...how do I know? The bible tells me so...
"...every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11)
Paul eventually died after his experience and is sleeping until the return of Jesus to resurrect him from the dead.
"...we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable." (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
If the unbelievers die the SECOND death after confessing before the great white throne it will be a swift death, by means of the Lake of Fire, and they will remain asleep in this second death until being "made alive" when death is finally "abolished" so that "God may be all in all".
"As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive...The last enemy that will be abolished is death...so that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15:22, 26, 28)
It is amazing what you can learn from studying Scripture rather than the opinions of religious men.
"It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers." (1 Timothy 4:9-10)
We Are Not Consumed - Yet
"God is a consuming fire...Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, because His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, the LORD is my portion, therefore I will wait for him...it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD!'" (Hebrews 12:29; Lamentations 3:22-26).
Mankind's only hope is in the great love and compassion of the Lord. We have His perfect Law but cannot keep it, bringing condemnation instead of blessing.
Mankind's only hope is in the great love and compassion of the Lord. We have His perfect Law but cannot keep it, bringing condemnation instead of blessing.
We do have the assurance in Scripture that although flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, God will still save us as a gift of His grace ...
"...I declare unto you...that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God...It is by grace through faith you are saved, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God" (1 Corinthians 15:50; Ephesians 2:8-10)
Just as all descendants of Adam die, all will be "made alive"...
"As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22).
Why? Because we are God's "offspring" and he loves us...
"From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, We are his offspring." (Acts 17:26-28)
According to Scripture God's plan is to make His children into a new creation like His Son Christ Jesus. Not with a body of mortal flesh and blood but with a transformed body of pure immortal spirit just like Jesus now has...
"...the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body...So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body...for the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality..." (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44; 53)
This transformation to a powerful "spiritual" immortal body is so certain that Paul speaks of it as a "new creation" that has already occurred...
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
God is a "consuming fire", therefore, our sinful body of flesh and blood will be "consumed" at our death, but in its place a spiritual body will and become "like his glorious body".
"Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is" (1 John 3:2)
"...I declare unto you...that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God...It is by grace through faith you are saved, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God" (1 Corinthians 15:50; Ephesians 2:8-10)
Just as all descendants of Adam die, all will be "made alive"...
"As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22).
Why? Because we are God's "offspring" and he loves us...
"From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, We are his offspring." (Acts 17:26-28)
According to Scripture God's plan is to make His children into a new creation like His Son Christ Jesus. Not with a body of mortal flesh and blood but with a transformed body of pure immortal spirit just like Jesus now has...
"...the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body...So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body...for the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality..." (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44; 53)
This transformation to a powerful "spiritual" immortal body is so certain that Paul speaks of it as a "new creation" that has already occurred...
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
God is a "consuming fire", therefore, our sinful body of flesh and blood will be "consumed" at our death, but in its place a spiritual body will and become "like his glorious body".
"Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is" (1 John 3:2)
The Truth of the salvation of all does not receive many Amens in this present age, but in an age to come all will shout "Hallelujah"!
"Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, Hallelujah! for the Lord our God the Almighty reigns." (Revelation 19:6)
Behold I Tell You A Mystery
"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel… they all shall know Me...For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (Jeremiah 31:31, 33-34)
This of course is a promise to ISRAEL. Remember them? They are the ones who delivered Jesus their Messiah to the Romans to be crucified. I cannot think of a greater sin than this. However, God says He will "forgive their iniquity" and their sin He will "remember no more".
"Father forgive them, they do not know what they doing" (Luke 23:34)
Jesus said this from the cross and his request included both ISRAEL and the ROMAN empire who conspired together to crucify Jesus. Jesus asked God to forgive them because the cross was God's plan to save sinners. Christians think God is going to put them in hell and torture them forever unless they repented and accepted Jesus as their Savior before they died, because that is what they would do to them. But God delivered Jesus up "for us all"...
"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered him up for us all......this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again" (Romans 8:32; Acts 2:23-24).
All those "godless men" who had part in the crucifixion of Jesus died for their sin, just like Jesus did, and we will all eventually die for our sin. The amazing thing about God, and what separates Him from men, is he is going to save those "godless men". This truth had remained a mystery until revealed to the Apostle Paul...
”...we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people...Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable...thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Timothy 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57)
Now that should get a standing ovation for God and Christ Jesus, the Savior and Redeemer of the whole world!
This of course is a promise to ISRAEL. Remember them? They are the ones who delivered Jesus their Messiah to the Romans to be crucified. I cannot think of a greater sin than this. However, God says He will "forgive their iniquity" and their sin He will "remember no more".
"Father forgive them, they do not know what they doing" (Luke 23:34)
Jesus said this from the cross and his request included both ISRAEL and the ROMAN empire who conspired together to crucify Jesus. Jesus asked God to forgive them because the cross was God's plan to save sinners. Christians think God is going to put them in hell and torture them forever unless they repented and accepted Jesus as their Savior before they died, because that is what they would do to them. But God delivered Jesus up "for us all"...
"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered him up for us all......this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again" (Romans 8:32; Acts 2:23-24).
All those "godless men" who had part in the crucifixion of Jesus died for their sin, just like Jesus did, and we will all eventually die for our sin. The amazing thing about God, and what separates Him from men, is he is going to save those "godless men". This truth had remained a mystery until revealed to the Apostle Paul...
”...we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people...Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable...thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Timothy 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57)
Now that should get a standing ovation for God and Christ Jesus, the Savior and Redeemer of the whole world!
"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2)
What is the Truth?
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him." (John 18:37-38)
What truth did Jesus come into the world to testify to?
“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins…Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord….” (Matthew 120-21; Luke 2:10-11)
The truth is that Jesus came into the world to save sinners, all of them, including Pilot.
That mankind cannot be trusted to deal with this truth is quite obvious. Pilate found no fault with Jesus but had him crucified anyway.
What truth did Jesus come into the world to testify to?
“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins…Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord….” (Matthew 120-21; Luke 2:10-11)
The truth is that Jesus came into the world to save sinners, all of them, including Pilot.
"Trustworthy is the saying and worthy of all welcome, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..." (1 Timothy 1:15)
He will either do so, or that saying is not trustworthy. In my life I have encountered two negative responses to this truth. One comes from those who consider themselves saved by their free will choice of Christ. Some of these wish it were true but many are indignant that God would save sinners who have not made the same choice and perceived sacrifices for him. The others are those like Pilate who are indignant that someone would think they needed to be saved at all.
I suppose it remains to be seen whether the Truth that Jesus testified to actually happens. But if all sinners are not saved, his testimony was false. He has promised to deliver all sinners from death and I trust and find comfort that He can and will do so. Love motivates me to share my faith and my hope in the Truth, in spite of those who ignore or oppose it.
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:3)
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:3)
I Never Knew You
“Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Matthew 7:22-23)
Jesus is talking to the Jewish religious leaders who went to Synagogue every Sabbath and revered the Law of Moses. They did not think much of the "sinners" who Jesus spent most of his time with.
"When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" (Matthew 9:11)
The Church should be slow to condemn sinners for whom Jesus ate with and died for.
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:17)
The bible speaks of a time in the future where Jesus returns to establish once again the Kingdom of Israel on this earth to last 1,000 years.
"And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection." (Revelation 20:4-5)
When Jesus said "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers" he was referring to the Jewish religious leaders who had rejected him as their Messiah and the Savior of the world. Those unbelievers will not be among the "first resurrection" who reign with him for 1000 years.
Jesus is talking to the Jewish religious leaders who went to Synagogue every Sabbath and revered the Law of Moses. They did not think much of the "sinners" who Jesus spent most of his time with.
"When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" (Matthew 9:11)
The Church should be slow to condemn sinners for whom Jesus ate with and died for.
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:17)
The bible speaks of a time in the future where Jesus returns to establish once again the Kingdom of Israel on this earth to last 1,000 years.
"And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection." (Revelation 20:4-5)
When Jesus said "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers" he was referring to the Jewish religious leaders who had rejected him as their Messiah and the Savior of the world. Those unbelievers will not be among the "first resurrection" who reign with him for 1000 years.
No one gets to heaven by following those who "drive out demons" and "perform many miracles" in the name of the Lord. Nor do we get there by joining a church, being baptized, tithing, praying or dancing in the spirit. We all get saved the same way - by the Love, Grace and Mercy of God!
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4-5)
Jesus is the "Savior of the World". The outcast Samaritans recognized this and rejoiced.
"Jesus said to her, You are correct to say that you have no husband. In fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband...Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony...when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed two days. And many more believed because of His message. They said to the woman, We now believe not only because of your words; we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man truly is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:25-42)
Outside the Synagogue a promiscuous women met Jesus and introduced her Savior to her friends. Those inside the Synagogue did not believe Jesus was the "Savior of the World" and got mad at anyone who said he was.
Some things never change.
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4-5)
Jesus is the "Savior of the World". The outcast Samaritans recognized this and rejoiced.
"Jesus said to her, You are correct to say that you have no husband. In fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband...Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony...when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed two days. And many more believed because of His message. They said to the woman, We now believe not only because of your words; we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man truly is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:25-42)
Outside the Synagogue a promiscuous women met Jesus and introduced her Savior to her friends. Those inside the Synagogue did not believe Jesus was the "Savior of the World" and got mad at anyone who said he was.
Some things never change.
Repentance that Matters
"...Christ Jesus... from whom we have received GRACE ...." (Romans 1:1-7)
"...do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance" (Romans 2:4)
The repentance of religion comes from the fear of the doctrines of men who tell us to repent or be damned. However, that kind of repentance does not save anyone from the penalty for sin, which is death - and we all die.
"For all have sinned...the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 3:23; 6:23)
The repentance of religion comes from the fear of the doctrines of men who tell us to repent or be damned. However, that kind of repentance does not save anyone from the penalty for sin, which is death - and we all die.
"For all have sinned...the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 3:23; 6:23)
The "repentance" referred to in Romans above comes AFTER we realize that God is far better to us than we deserve and is not the angry god worshipped by many Religions. The real God, the one of the Bible, will save all sinners out of death by his grace. He sent His Son to die "for the ungodly" 2000 years ago, and will send Jesus again to free us from sin's penalty - death.
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God...upon this rock I will build my ecclesia, and the gates of hades (death) shall not prevail against it...You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us..." (Matthew 16:16-18; Romans 5:6-8)
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God...upon this rock I will build my ecclesia, and the gates of hades (death) shall not prevail against it...You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us..." (Matthew 16:16-18; Romans 5:6-8)
We can depend on what God, through Jesus, has DONE and will DO for sinners. "At just the right time" God will once again send Jesus for all sinners and Jesus will "raise them up at the last day".
"And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day...Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive..." (John 6:39; 1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Corinthians 15:22)
The result of true repentance is to humbly thank him for the salvation we did not earn, and to humbly wait for our certain death to be "swallowed up victory" at the return of Jesus!
"Behold I show you a mystery...the dead shall be raised...for the corruptible must put on incorruption, and the mortal must put on immortality...then shall be brought to pass the saying, death has been swallowed up in victory." (1 Corinthians 15:51-54)
Comfort one another with these words.
"Behold I show you a mystery...the dead shall be raised...for the corruptible must put on incorruption, and the mortal must put on immortality...then shall be brought to pass the saying, death has been swallowed up in victory." (1 Corinthians 15:51-54)
Comfort one another with these words.
Good Works Follow Faith
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you... I will save you from all your uncleanness... I want you to know that I am NOT doing this for your sake... I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it." (Ezekiel 36:26-36)
The above was written to Israel who was promised a New Covenant where God would save them by his GRACE after they learned they could not save themselves by doing the WORKS required in the Old Covenant.
The above was written to Israel who was promised a New Covenant where God would save them by his GRACE after they learned they could not save themselves by doing the WORKS required in the Old Covenant.
God saves ALL people the same way…by His Grace. When he gives us the FAITH to realize we have been saved, our hearts are "established" by His grace, and we experience the peace and joy of the salvation freely given us by GOD through CHRIST JESUS.
"…it is good that the heart be established by GRACE." (Hebrews 13:9)
Salvation does not follow good works…but what tends to follow the realization of our Salvation is good works done in appreciation to God.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves,it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Salvation does not follow good works…but what tends to follow the realization of our Salvation is good works done in appreciation to God.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves,it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Sinners Made Righteous
"For by GRACE are you saved..." (Ephesians 2:8)
“So then, as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:18-19)
Is the sin of men greater than the grace of God?
Christianity seems to think so. They teach that the one sin of Adam put all men under "condemnation", yet deny that the "one act of righteousness" done by Jesus resulted in the "justification of life to all men". Doing so denies the very gospel Christianity is claiming to evangelize it seems to me.
Again, what does the Bible say above? It says that "all men" who received "condemnation" are the same "all men” who received "justification of life". When you read all of Romans Chapter 5 this truth becomes abundantly clear. I suppose the confusion occurs because of the word "many" in the above verses. But it clearly says that the same "many" who "were made sinners" are the same "many" who "will be made righteous".
"...but where sin increased, GRACE abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so GRACE would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21)
That may not be good news for Christianity but it is the really good news for sinners.
“So then, as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:18-19)
Is the sin of men greater than the grace of God?
Christianity seems to think so. They teach that the one sin of Adam put all men under "condemnation", yet deny that the "one act of righteousness" done by Jesus resulted in the "justification of life to all men". Doing so denies the very gospel Christianity is claiming to evangelize it seems to me.
Again, what does the Bible say above? It says that "all men" who received "condemnation" are the same "all men” who received "justification of life". When you read all of Romans Chapter 5 this truth becomes abundantly clear. I suppose the confusion occurs because of the word "many" in the above verses. But it clearly says that the same "many" who "were made sinners" are the same "many" who "will be made righteous".
"...but where sin increased, GRACE abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so GRACE would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21)
That may not be good news for Christianity but it is the really good news for sinners.
Enemies of the Cross - Righteous Men
"The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord...For it is by GRACE you have been SAVED through FAITH, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift from God..." (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8)
Being "SAVED" refers to what happens to people after they die. Jesus, the Son of God, became a mortal man to SAVE the world. So Jesus died as the "wages" for our sins (since he had none of his own) and was buried. Yet three days and nights later God raised him to immortal life. This salvation from death was a "gift from God" his Father, God's righteous reward for one sinless life sacrificed to save "all" sinners, not just a few.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are JUSTIFIED FREELY by His GRACE through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24)
The Greek word for "JUSTIFIED" is "dikaioo" and literally means "I regard as righteous". By the Grace of God, sinners are regarded as righteous (pronounced not guilty) by God as a result of "the redemption that is in Christ Jesus".
The salvation from death because of our justification, granted freely to all sinners, is also a "gift", but "not of yourselves". It is only by the "GRACE" of God and "the redemption that is in Christ Jesus". We deserve to stay dead but God is going to save us anyway. This is the gospel, the good news we are to teach and place our "FAITH".
"Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep...For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all be made alive...so that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)
We should believe what God says. The cross of Christ was sufficient. Those requiring sinners to become righteous men in order to be saved are "enemies of the cross".
"For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weaping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on early things." (Philippians 3:18-19)
Those "enemies" think the cross was insufficient, teaching that sinners must DO something righteous, by their own free will, and should join in the activities of the local congregation of righteous people. They should beware that their genuflection does not identify them as an enemy of that cross...
The righteousness of men is not a bad thing. We need good people doing unselfish things, both inside and outside of church. But the praise of men for such righteousness will be "their reward in full".
Being "SAVED" refers to what happens to people after they die. Jesus, the Son of God, became a mortal man to SAVE the world. So Jesus died as the "wages" for our sins (since he had none of his own) and was buried. Yet three days and nights later God raised him to immortal life. This salvation from death was a "gift from God" his Father, God's righteous reward for one sinless life sacrificed to save "all" sinners, not just a few.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are JUSTIFIED FREELY by His GRACE through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24)
The Greek word for "JUSTIFIED" is "dikaioo" and literally means "I regard as righteous". By the Grace of God, sinners are regarded as righteous (pronounced not guilty) by God as a result of "the redemption that is in Christ Jesus".
The salvation from death because of our justification, granted freely to all sinners, is also a "gift", but "not of yourselves". It is only by the "GRACE" of God and "the redemption that is in Christ Jesus". We deserve to stay dead but God is going to save us anyway. This is the gospel, the good news we are to teach and place our "FAITH".
"Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep...For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all be made alive...so that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)
We should believe what God says. The cross of Christ was sufficient. Those requiring sinners to become righteous men in order to be saved are "enemies of the cross".
"For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weaping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on early things." (Philippians 3:18-19)
Those "enemies" think the cross was insufficient, teaching that sinners must DO something righteous, by their own free will, and should join in the activities of the local congregation of righteous people. They should beware that their genuflection does not identify them as an enemy of that cross...
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven...Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full." (Matthew 6:1-5)
The righteousness of men is not a bad thing. We need good people doing unselfish things, both inside and outside of church. But the praise of men for such righteousness will be "their reward in full".
In seeking God with all our heart we find "the righteousness of God" only in what the sinless Jesus has done, not in our own righteous acts.
"God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them...He made him who know no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)
Believers in this age are "justified freely" in His righteousness, not in what they do, and...
"God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them...He made him who know no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)
Believers in this age are "justified freely" in His righteousness, not in what they do, and...
"...He is a rewarder of those who seek HIM..." (Hebrews 11:6)
God has a plan for sinful mankind, all of us. Our only "hope" is in His plan, rather than any of the noble plans conceived by political or religious men...
"For I know the plans that I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart..." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
Few seek him in this present evil age, but after the resurrection, all mankind will seek and find God, and when found they will glorify Him as they realize they are saved and reconciled to God, not by any righteous decision or acts that they have done, but by God's unmerited favor - "GRACE" - and they will joyfully confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and give the glory to God our Father.
"...at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11).
Trust God and "beware" of Righteous Men.
God has a plan for sinful mankind, all of us. Our only "hope" is in His plan, rather than any of the noble plans conceived by political or religious men...
"For I know the plans that I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart..." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
Few seek him in this present evil age, but after the resurrection, all mankind will seek and find God, and when found they will glorify Him as they realize they are saved and reconciled to God, not by any righteous decision or acts that they have done, but by God's unmerited favor - "GRACE" - and they will joyfully confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and give the glory to God our Father.
"...at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11).
Trust God and "beware" of Righteous Men.
Why Does God Save Sinners?
"...so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His GRACE in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:7)
Because the salvation of a sinner is by the GRACE of God, good works can have no part in their salvation.
"And since it is through God's kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's grace would not be what it really is--free and undeserved." (Romans 11:6 NLT)
Yep, "free and underserved", a "gift" from God.
"For by Grace are you saved...the free gift of God is eternal life..." (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 6:23)
Because the salvation of a sinner is by the GRACE of God, good works can have no part in their salvation.
"And since it is through God's kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's grace would not be what it really is--free and undeserved." (Romans 11:6 NLT)
Yep, "free and underserved", a "gift" from God.
"For by Grace are you saved...the free gift of God is eternal life..." (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 6:23)
Questions Questions
Is your faith in the "wise men" of your particular religious faith? And when what they say does not seem right are you reluctant to speak about it among your family and friends?
1. If one must confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in their heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, can anyone who died prior to the death and resurrection of Jesus be saved?
2. Can a child be saved before being able to confess and believe?
When read in the context of the whole book of Romans I learned that the above verses relate to the condition of ISRAEL, and what God will do for ISRAEL on this earth when they finally accept Jesus as their Messiah. This subject runs from Romans Chapter 9 through Chapter 11. God has blinded them for now but eventually all Israel will be saved:
An example of this from my experience comes from wise men in my church who teach that Romans 10:9-10 tells us what we must do to be saved. They even label it the "Roman road to salvation":
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10 KJV)
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10 KJV)
Assuming that the above is what one must do to be saved, here are two questions I asked myself:
1. If one must confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in their heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, can anyone who died prior to the death and resurrection of Jesus be saved?
2. Can a child be saved before being able to confess and believe?
When read in the context of the whole book of Romans I learned that the above verses relate to the condition of ISRAEL, and what God will do for ISRAEL on this earth when they finally accept Jesus as their Messiah. This subject runs from Romans Chapter 9 through Chapter 11. God has blinded them for now but eventually all Israel will be saved:
"...blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, there shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." (Romans 11:25-29)
As for the answers to my above questions, I learned from the letters of the Apostle Paul that salvation is not a matter of what we do, but a matter of what God through Christ Jesus has done. All Israel and all Gentiles are beneficiaries of what God has done.
"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men...For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not)" (1 Timothy 2:1-7)
License To Sin - Conditional Salvation
"...ungodly persons who turn the GRACE of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." (Jude 1:4)
These "ungodly persons" were the Jewish religious leaders of Israel who apparently had embraced Jesus as the Messiah but were denying that his death, burial and resurrection was the "atoning sacrifice" for the sins of all Israel and the "whole world".
"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins (Israel), and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world...a gift by His GRACE through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as an atoning sacrifice..." (1 John 2:2; Romans 3:24-25)
These "ungodly men" ridiculed those Jewish believers who trusted solely in the "GRACE of our God" for salvation, apart from the works of the Law. They preferred the Conditional Salvation provided under the Law of Moses. In denying salvation by grace alone, these religious men are called "ungodly" because they have turned "the GRACE of our God into licentiousness" thereby denying "our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ."
I have been warned by religious men that if people are told they have been saved by the "GRACE" of God without repentance of sin and a free will choice, they would have an unrestrained License to Sin. Paul was warned about this in his day...
"Why not say, as some slanderously claim we say, let us do evil that good may come? Their condemnation is deserved" (Romans 3:8)
I respect their concern but would remind them that adding repentance and a free will choice, or any other work as a condition to salvation looks a lot like the teaching of those "ungodly men" Jude was condemning. Paul clearly states...
"...there was an introduction to The Written Law that sin would increase, and wherever sin increased, the GRACE superabounded. That as sin reigned by death, in this way GRACE shall reign by righteousness to eternal life by our Lord Jeshua the Messiah...and sin has no authority over you, for you are not under The Written Law, but under GRACE" (Romans 5:20-21; Romans 6:14 Aramaic Bible in Plain English)
Regardless of any license to sin, my personal experience is that the ones who come to believe that salvation is a free gift of the "GRACE" of God do not deny the "atoning sacrifice" of our Lord Jesus Christ "for the whole world" thus "bringing salvation to all men". All of them live in this age according to instruction of the "grace of God"...
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present age…” (Titus 2:11-12)
We are told in Scripture that Salvation is not "a result of works", but by the "GRACE" of God. Not religious faith, but the faith "OF Christ".
“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works…that we might be justified by the faith OF Christ, not of works." (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16 KJV)
Finally, we are instructed by God not to mix grace with our own faith and works in order to qualify for salvation - that is no gospel at all…
"...if it is by GRACE, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace..I am astonished how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is not even a gospel.." (Romans 11:6; Galatians 1:6-7)
These "ungodly persons" were the Jewish religious leaders of Israel who apparently had embraced Jesus as the Messiah but were denying that his death, burial and resurrection was the "atoning sacrifice" for the sins of all Israel and the "whole world".
"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins (Israel), and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world...a gift by His GRACE through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as an atoning sacrifice..." (1 John 2:2; Romans 3:24-25)
These "ungodly men" ridiculed those Jewish believers who trusted solely in the "GRACE of our God" for salvation, apart from the works of the Law. They preferred the Conditional Salvation provided under the Law of Moses. In denying salvation by grace alone, these religious men are called "ungodly" because they have turned "the GRACE of our God into licentiousness" thereby denying "our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ."
I have been warned by religious men that if people are told they have been saved by the "GRACE" of God without repentance of sin and a free will choice, they would have an unrestrained License to Sin. Paul was warned about this in his day...
"Why not say, as some slanderously claim we say, let us do evil that good may come? Their condemnation is deserved" (Romans 3:8)
I respect their concern but would remind them that adding repentance and a free will choice, or any other work as a condition to salvation looks a lot like the teaching of those "ungodly men" Jude was condemning. Paul clearly states...
"...there was an introduction to The Written Law that sin would increase, and wherever sin increased, the GRACE superabounded. That as sin reigned by death, in this way GRACE shall reign by righteousness to eternal life by our Lord Jeshua the Messiah...and sin has no authority over you, for you are not under The Written Law, but under GRACE" (Romans 5:20-21; Romans 6:14 Aramaic Bible in Plain English)
Regardless of any license to sin, my personal experience is that the ones who come to believe that salvation is a free gift of the "GRACE" of God do not deny the "atoning sacrifice" of our Lord Jesus Christ "for the whole world" thus "bringing salvation to all men". All of them live in this age according to instruction of the "grace of God"...
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present age…” (Titus 2:11-12)
We are told in Scripture that Salvation is not "a result of works", but by the "GRACE" of God. Not religious faith, but the faith "OF Christ".
“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works…that we might be justified by the faith OF Christ, not of works." (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16 KJV)
Finally, we are instructed by God not to mix grace with our own faith and works in order to qualify for salvation - that is no gospel at all…
"...if it is by GRACE, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace..I am astonished how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is not even a gospel.." (Romans 11:6; Galatians 1:6-7)
It appears to me that the religions of the world who teach some form of Conditional Salvation are the ones dishing out the proverbial License to Sin.
We Should Not Bring God Down To Our Level
"For you know the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9)
God wants us to "know" about His Grace. Grace is what sinful people need and what God provides them as a "gift".
“For by Grace you are saved…and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8)
God loves His "enemies" and is "gracious" to those who are "ungrateful and evil".
"But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil." (Luke 3:35)
God would like for us to love our enemies - but we don't...only God does! We want to argue with our enemies or worse. That is the norm in this age, for we just cannot measure up to God in character. However, we should not bring our loving, gracious and merciful God down to our level with doctrines of self righteous men. Instead, we should rejoice that He intends to raise us up to His level - not now but in those ages beyond this "present wicked age".
God wants us to "know" about His Grace. Grace is what sinful people need and what God provides them as a "gift".
“For by Grace you are saved…and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8)
God loves His "enemies" and is "gracious" to those who are "ungrateful and evil".
"But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil." (Luke 3:35)
God would like for us to love our enemies - but we don't...only God does! We want to argue with our enemies or worse. That is the norm in this age, for we just cannot measure up to God in character. However, we should not bring our loving, gracious and merciful God down to our level with doctrines of self righteous men. Instead, we should rejoice that He intends to raise us up to His level - not now but in those ages beyond this "present wicked age".
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gives himself for our sins that he might extricate us out of this present wicked age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for the ages of the ages. Amen" (Galatians 1:3-4 CLNT)
Be Perfect - Santa Is Coming To Town
"Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)
There we have it from Jesus himself. All we have to do to have a Merry Christmas is "be perfect".
Oops! Guess Santa may not be coming to town after all!
Anyone know any perfect people? Neither does Jesus.
"There is no one righteous, not even one...all have sinned" (Romans 3:10; 23)
I don't know about you but I am counting on the gift of GRACE again this Christmas!
"...the grace of God given to you by Christ Jesus..." (1 Corinthians 1:4)
Gifts from God are not rewards for good behavior…that is only required by Santa Clause. Gifts coming to us from God are free - and grace is just the beginning."Grace" is not all we get for free, here is a few other things...
“For by grace you have been saved…it is a gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“My peace I give to you…” (John 14:27)
“…the free gift of God is eternal life…” (Romans 6:23)
A Father’s love requires disciplining his children on occasion and this discipline is to correct bad behavior. It is a blessing when it comes from a good Father...
"Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” (Job 5:17)
There we have it from Jesus himself. All we have to do to have a Merry Christmas is "be perfect".
Oops! Guess Santa may not be coming to town after all!
Anyone know any perfect people? Neither does Jesus.
"There is no one righteous, not even one...all have sinned" (Romans 3:10; 23)
I don't know about you but I am counting on the gift of GRACE again this Christmas!
"...the grace of God given to you by Christ Jesus..." (1 Corinthians 1:4)
“For by grace you have been saved…it is a gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“My peace I give to you…” (John 14:27)
“…the free gift of God is eternal life…” (Romans 6:23)
A Father’s love requires disciplining his children on occasion and this discipline is to correct bad behavior. It is a blessing when it comes from a good Father...
"Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” (Job 5:17)
When God "corrects" His children, it is always remedial and balanced and is a blessing, not cruel and unusual punishment.
Merry Christmas!
If I Am Lifted Up
“I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me will not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.” (John 12:46-47)
There are multitudes of Christians and others who do not believe Jesus came to save the world. They believe he has commissioned the church to do so. They spend countless hours and millions of dollars trying to do what Jesus has already promised to do…“save the world”…he does not need help. I do not believe he will judge us for not getting people saved, he will judge us for not believing he would save them. And when he does save them, his word will judge us for our unbelief.
There are multitudes of Christians and others who do not believe Jesus came to save the world. They believe he has commissioned the church to do so. They spend countless hours and millions of dollars trying to do what Jesus has already promised to do…“save the world”…he does not need help. I do not believe he will judge us for not getting people saved, he will judge us for not believing he would save them. And when he does save them, his word will judge us for our unbelief.
“He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.” (John 12:48)
Whatever you have heard this means in a church, forget it, it most likely is wrong. The judgment he is talking about is the shame that will accompany those who do not believe Jesus will “save the world”. I did not say believe IN Jesus, I said believe his words… ”I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world”.
One judgment from God is already on this world. That judgment is death and “it is appointed unto mean once to die, and after that the judgment.” But the judgment of “the last day” will be the words of Jesus. It will judge those who do not believe what he said.
The fire will consume that unbelief and they will then become believers.
“Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (John 12:31-32)
Death is the judgment now on this world. Death's rule over mankind is to be "cast out" and Jesus will "draw all men" to himself.
When Jesus returned to life after dying on the cross the deal was done. In being “lifted up” from the grave, he was given all power power and authority to “draw all men” to himself when he returns to lift us up from the grave.
I know, I know, your church taught you that he was referring to being lifted up on the cross. But being lifted up on the cross did not save Jesus or anyone else. If he had not been resurrected the cross would have no value at all. He was lifted down from the cross and put in a tomb, but it could not hold him. He was “lifted up” out of the tomb and waits at the Father’s right hand for the command to go “draw all men” to himself when he returns to “save the world”.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16-17)
There is no greater darkness than what one finds in the churches of the world. Professing themselves to be wise, they deny the word of the very Savior they worship and adore. And the message of the "reconciliation" of the world is nowhere lifted up in the pulpits of those churches. But here it is "the message of reconciliation" we have been commissioned as ambassadors to share...
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 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. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-21)
“Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (John 12:31-32)
Death is the judgment now on this world. Death's rule over mankind is to be "cast out" and Jesus will "draw all men" to himself.
When Jesus returned to life after dying on the cross the deal was done. In being “lifted up” from the grave, he was given all power power and authority to “draw all men” to himself when he returns to lift us up from the grave.
I know, I know, your church taught you that he was referring to being lifted up on the cross. But being lifted up on the cross did not save Jesus or anyone else. If he had not been resurrected the cross would have no value at all. He was lifted down from the cross and put in a tomb, but it could not hold him. He was “lifted up” out of the tomb and waits at the Father’s right hand for the command to go “draw all men” to himself when he returns to “save the world”.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16-17)
There is no greater darkness than what one finds in the churches of the world. Professing themselves to be wise, they deny the word of the very Savior they worship and adore. And the message of the "reconciliation" of the world is nowhere lifted up in the pulpits of those churches. But here it is "the message of reconciliation" we have been commissioned as ambassadors to share...
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 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. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-21)
Stop bragging – You had nothing to do with it!
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB)
After studying the Greek I think the Aramaic Bible in Plain English captures the truth better than some of the other English translations…
“For it is by his grace that we have been saved through faith, and this faith was not from you, but it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8 Aramaic Bible in Plain English)
So from where does this saving faith come if this faith “was not from you”? Glad you asked...
“Because we know that a man is not justified by works of The Written Law, but by the faith of Yeshua The Messiah, we also believe in Yeshua The Messiah, that we should be made right by the faith of The Messiah, and not by the works of The Written Law, because no one is made right by the works of The Written Law.” (Galatians 2:16 Aramaic Bible in Plain English)
Did you catch that – it is not YOUR faith, but the faith “of Yeshua The Messiah”.
After studying the Greek I think the Aramaic Bible in Plain English captures the truth better than some of the other English translations…
“For it is by his grace that we have been saved through faith, and this faith was not from you, but it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8 Aramaic Bible in Plain English)
So from where does this saving faith come if this faith “was not from you”? Glad you asked...
“Because we know that a man is not justified by works of The Written Law, but by the faith of Yeshua The Messiah, we also believe in Yeshua The Messiah, that we should be made right by the faith of The Messiah, and not by the works of The Written Law, because no one is made right by the works of The Written Law.” (Galatians 2:16 Aramaic Bible in Plain English)
Did you catch that – it is not YOUR faith, but the faith “of Yeshua The Messiah”.
We are not saved by our faith IN Christ, but we are both saved and justified by the Grace of God as a result of the “faith of Jesus Christ”.
Claiming to be saved as a result of a decision we make, or our baptism, or our repentance of sin, or our profession of faith, or our good works, or our membership in a church, yada yada yada….is to “boast”. We had nothing to do with our salvation. On the contrary, our decisions inevitably result in sin and death.
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God...the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 3:23;6:23)
One of the reasons that Salvation is by the Grace of God bestowed freely on sinners is to prevent us from bragging about it...or working for it.
But we should rejoice in it and brag on God for His free gift.
Claiming to be saved as a result of a decision we make, or our baptism, or our repentance of sin, or our profession of faith, or our good works, or our membership in a church, yada yada yada….is to “boast”. We had nothing to do with our salvation. On the contrary, our decisions inevitably result in sin and death.
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God...the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 3:23;6:23)
One of the reasons that Salvation is by the Grace of God bestowed freely on sinners is to prevent us from bragging about it...or working for it.
But we should rejoice in it and brag on God for His free gift.
Four Dreadful Judgments
“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says...I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments—sword and famine and wild beasts and plague—to kill its men and their animals!" (Ezekiel 14:21)
DEATH by various natural phenomenon are God's four dreadful judgments. Note that there was not even a hint of eternal conscious torment after death.God has and will continue to send those four judgments ending in death during this present evil again which we live.
At the Cross, however, God through Christ Jesus revealed His plan to save all from the DEATH caused by His judgments. This salvation is the result of the LOVE of God for the "ungodly", all of whom are "powerless" to save themselves from His "wrath" - DEATH.
”You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life…” (Romans 5:6-11)
In the days of Ezekiel the Jewish religious teachers were falsely testifying that God IS NOT ANGRY and will not bring judgment. And now, after the Cross, religious leaders of all professions are saying God IS ANGRY and in His wrath He will not only bring DEATH through His Judgments, but will add ETERNAL conscious torment in hell thereafter.
Religious men are getting worse. They have always been wrong about what God has said, adding to what God actually says, or denying what God says. Jesus might say - "of what Spirit" are they?
"And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him...his disciples James and John...said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them...But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save." (Luke 9:54-56)
God has "justified" sinners to Himself by the "blood" of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his death "we were reconciled" to God. That is the gospel...the good news...the opinions of religious men notwithstanding.
DEATH by various natural phenomenon are God's four dreadful judgments. Note that there was not even a hint of eternal conscious torment after death.God has and will continue to send those four judgments ending in death during this present evil again which we live.
At the Cross, however, God through Christ Jesus revealed His plan to save all from the DEATH caused by His judgments. This salvation is the result of the LOVE of God for the "ungodly", all of whom are "powerless" to save themselves from His "wrath" - DEATH.
”You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life…” (Romans 5:6-11)
In the days of Ezekiel the Jewish religious teachers were falsely testifying that God IS NOT ANGRY and will not bring judgment. And now, after the Cross, religious leaders of all professions are saying God IS ANGRY and in His wrath He will not only bring DEATH through His Judgments, but will add ETERNAL conscious torment in hell thereafter.
Religious men are getting worse. They have always been wrong about what God has said, adding to what God actually says, or denying what God says. Jesus might say - "of what Spirit" are they?
"And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him...his disciples James and John...said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them...But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save." (Luke 9:54-56)
God has "justified" sinners to Himself by the "blood" of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his death "we were reconciled" to God. That is the gospel...the good news...the opinions of religious men notwithstanding.
The Word Became Flesh
"The Word became flesh...the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of GRACE and truth...The law was given through Moses; GRACE and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:14-17 NIV)
As righteous as the Law of Moses was, it came to us through Moses and the result was that it put us in bondage and we all die as sinners.
"For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the Law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death. But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the Law, so that we serve the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code...the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death" (Romans 7:6-11 NASB)
Jesus came to earth with the GRACE of God, to save all sinners with the free gift of eternal life.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord...as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:22NASB)
As righteous as the Law of Moses was, it came to us through Moses and the result was that it put us in bondage and we all die as sinners.
"For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the Law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death. But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the Law, so that we serve the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code...the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death" (Romans 7:6-11 NASB)
Jesus came to earth with the GRACE of God, to save all sinners with the free gift of eternal life.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord...as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:22NASB)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
Paul declared… “I am crucified with Christ…” (Galatians 2:20) “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those wh...
-
"...there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the righteous and the unrighteous ." (Acts 24:15) So, who are these peop...
-
God said... " By Myself I have sworn; Truth has gone from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow to Me, every t...