Grace is the unmerited favor of God, God's love, therefore a gift. A gift is free, grace is free. Grace has been given to all men by the Spirit of God being poured out on all men and women, since Pentecost, 2000 years ago. By grace, we are allowed to access the power of God to become righteous, whatever our sins of the past and whatever our current problems. This righteousness from God comes [but not instantly] through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Rom 3:22-24. Eventually, but only after the work of repentance energized by faith, we can all become righteous and become justified freely by grace; for we are not deserving of the help to change we get in the process of repentance - to the contrary, our unworthiness is only highlighted by grace's revealing of our sinful nature to us.
To believe you are saved, while still immersed in sin is to ignore, disregard, and treat with indifference all the commands of Jesus, while relying on a select four verses out of thousands to support an imaginary salvation; never bothering to question how those four verses must be interpreted in conjunction with Jesus' wonderful teachings and commands. And so people expect Jesus to be their excuse for not obeying the commands that he left his glory in heaven to come to the earth to teach; and then died a horrible death, to show the extent of the required obedience that we all must have to ever please God. He will not be their excuse. He will deny all who continue to sin. Only those who do the will of the Father enter the Kingdom of heaven. Mat 7:21. Jesus said he only did as he was commanded, not his own will; Jesus only did the will of the Father. The will of the Father is obedience to his commands. You must wait, watch, listen, hear, obey... wait, watch, listen,hear, obey..... seek, listen, obey to ever be able to do the will of the Father instead of your own will.
What Jesus made possible is: however deeply you have been immersed in sin, by faith in the name of Jesus, you have access through his imputed righteousness to the changing power of God to become pure, providing you are motivated to seek his teaching and changing grace. So everyone, through their faith in name of Jesus, can approach the throne; and through patient and persistent obedience to his spoken-to-you teachings and commands, (repentance), be changed by grace, to eventually be purifiedand become righteous. Just as Abraham had to be physically circumcised,we must have our hearts circumcised to be pleasing to God. As Abrahamexercised his faith to leave his home for a new land - so we must lose our fleshly life and forsake the world to enter God's Kingdom. As Abrahamexercised his faith by obeying God's voice, willing to sacrifice Isaac, so we too must be obedient to the voice of the Lord within. This web show you how
Ananias and his wife Sapphira were members of the Church in Jerusalem. Great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them who needed anything for many who possessed lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, to lay them down at the apostles' feet; and then distribution was made to every man according to his need. Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price; pretending they were donating the entire amount. Both Anianias and Sapphira were immediately slain by the Holy Spirit; in effect they were lying to God. Their death was an example that brought great fear on all the church. Acts 4:33-35, 5:1-11.
Now few would argue that these believers with great grace on them had been saved by grace if they were slain by the Holy Spirit for lying.
Grace does not make us instantly righteous, for we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Gal 5:5
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey,
whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Rom 6:16,19. Obedience leads to righteousness.
Peter said: whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. Acts 10:35
Jesus said, as a first priority in our life, we must seek (aim at, strive after) the Kingdom and Hisrighteousness. Mat 6:33
For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful;
but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11
So we do not become instantly righteous when we say we have faith in Jesus.
We have to seek (strive after) - be disciplined - obey God - work - and wait for the hope of righteousness.
Now few would argue that these believers with great grace on them had been saved by grace if they were slain by the Holy Spirit for lying.
Grace does not make us instantly righteous, for we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Gal 5:5
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey,
whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Rom 6:16,19. Obedience leads to righteousness.
Peter said: whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. Acts 10:35
Jesus said, as a first priority in our life, we must seek (aim at, strive after) the Kingdom and Hisrighteousness. Mat 6:33
For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful;
but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11
So we do not become instantly righteous when we say we have faith in Jesus.
We have to seek (strive after) - be disciplined - obey God - work - and wait for the hope of righteousness.
He who earnestly seeks after and craves righteousness, mercy, and loving-kindness will find life in addition to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) and honor. Pro 21:21.
As you previously yielded your body to the slavery of uncleanness and from wickedness to wickedness;
so now yield your body to the slavery of righteousness that results in holiness. Rom 6:19.
Without holiness, no one will see the Lord. Heb 12:14.
As you previously yielded your body to the slavery of uncleanness and from wickedness to wickedness;
so now yield your body to the slavery of righteousness that results in holiness. Rom 6:19.
Without holiness, no one will see the Lord. Heb 12:14.
Jesus told us how our righteousness must exceed the Pharisees: to avoid committing adultery is not enough, we must not even look at a woman with lust; to avoid murder is not enough; we must not harbor anger in our hearts; it is not enough to love our brother, we must love even our enemies; we must bless those who curse us. These requirements of righteousness exceed restraint of conduct; they require a changed heart, a purified heart.Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8. Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
In error the ministers of today say: "Because you have faith in Christ, even though you continue to sin, you are righteous and saved."
He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous;" him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him. Pro 24:24
You will eventually curse the all the ministers who have promoted this pernicious lie.
In effect they are telling you, don't seek, don't obey, don't fear, don't strive.
He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous;" him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him. Pro 24:24
You will eventually curse the all the ministers who have promoted this pernicious lie.
In effect they are telling you, don't seek, don't obey, don't fear, don't strive.
Jesus told five out of seven churches of believers in Revelation that they were lost, on the way to destruction. TheSmyrna believers were about to enter tribulation, whom he encouraged. Notice again! Jesus said that five out seven Christian churches of believers were on their way to Hell. Only the church of Philadelphia was doing well because they had kept [obeyed] his word with patient endurance. Massive error had already taken hold 2000 years ago, until today the false church is pervasive with grace supposedly being a license to continue to sin.
No comments:
Post a Comment