The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
- Isaiah 61:1

Salvation

Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 25

Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 25

Romans 8:10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

How is giving your life, the life in your dead, sinful, fleshly body, going to profit anyone unto eternal life?

You need to give them the Spirit. “that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit.”

How do you give them spiritual life? You do it through righteousness!

 

Proverbs 10:2  Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Proverbs 11:19  … righteousness tendeth to life: …

 

To give people righteousness, is to give people LIFE – true life – ETERNAL LIFE.

Romans 5:21  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

If you give them grace, and they receive the gospel of grace, then they receive TRUE righteousness, and this righteousness (God’s righteousness) gives ETERNAL LIFE, in the Spirit.

 

But, YOUR LIFE (your fleshly life) is NOT what men need you to lay down for them.

 

Matthew 6:25,33  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, …  33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; …

We have no life in us, in our flesh. And we have no true righteousness, in this world.

So how can we give righteousness, and give our lives, to give LIFE to others???

We give them HIS righteousness!

 

To lay down “our lives” for the brethren…

to give people “the life” that is in us, is to give them Jesus!

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

This is “the life” that we ought to lay down for the brethren. The TRUE life.

 

Jesus IS the true ETERNAL life!

1 John 5:20 … Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

This is the true, eternal life that we must receive in us, and which also we ”OUGHT TO” lay down for the brethren.

 

You can’t save anyone with YOUR fleshly life. You have no life in you.

But you CAN SAVE someone with HIS LIFE!!!

Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

 

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: …

 

Colossians 3:4 …Christ who is our life …

So Christians ought to LAY DOWN Christ, for the brethren.

 

1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

How do we do that?

 

Laying down Christ

LAYING DOWN “our life” is laying down Christ.

Christians are able to do this LITERALLY!! … How?

What exactly should we “lay down”, to LITERALLY “lay down” Christ?

 

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, …  11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

To truly lay down our lives for the brethren, so that they live TOGETHER WITH US… we have to lay down Christ, as a foundation.

We do it, as Paul did it, by PREACHING DOCTRINE.

“LAYING DOWN” the DOCTRINE of the grace of God, by PREACHING Christ, is laying down “our life”.

 

As Christians, we “lay down our lives” when we lay down our “foundation”: when we lay down Christ.

And we lay down Christ, when we PREACH CHRIST!

Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

2 Corinthians 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

 

Preaching the gospel of Christ, “preaching Christ”…. is literally laying down a stone – a living stone – as a foundation!

1 Corinthians 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, …

When we preach THE GOSPEL (Christ crucified), we are “laying down”, “our life”, as a STONE. To some, the life that we lay down (i.e., the gospel that we preach) is a sure foundation. But to others it is a stumblingblock!

 

Romans 9:32-33  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;  [the gospel of grace without works!]  33  As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Notice that: the gospel of grace through faith, without works, is equated with Jesus Christ Himself. Preaching the doctrine of grace IS preaching Christ.

So… preaching the gospel of grace is “laying down” “our life”, as a ROCK; as a STONE!

 

Luke 20:14-18  But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.  15  So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?  16  He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.  17  And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?  18  Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

When we preach Christ to the lost, we lay down our life – we lay down Christ – as a foundation stone.

Men either believe it, and are saved by it, or they reject it, and are destroyed by it.

 

To truly lay down our lives for the brethren, so that they live TOGETHER WITH US… we have to lay down Christ as a STONE, that people can fall upon, sow themselves into (“other fell on good ground”), and DIE with Him.

John 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

 

Romans 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

 

To lay down our lives for the brethren, we have to give people the GOSPEL!

We have to PREACH CHRIST, so that people can DIE with him.

2 Corinthians 4:5 For we preach … Christ Jesus the Lord;…

 

But see… we don’t just preach a living, resurrected Christ. We also preach a DEAD, or DYING Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

 

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;

I am crucified. Not I WAS crucified.

Romans 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

And not only that, but…

Romans 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: …

And not only that, but…

Colossians 2:12  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

And not only that, but…

Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

 

Some part of Christ is in me, crucified, and is dying, and is dead, and is buried, and is risen, and is living in Heaven.

Do I understand how all of that works? No.

(Heb 5:11 “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered…”)

Do I know what part(s) of me and what part(s) of Christ is that true of? No!

 

But, I know that this operation required that I first be “crucified with Christ”.

HOW?!?!

There has to be a way for people today to be crucified with Christ.

 

I believe, I needed a preacher to come and “lay down” “Christ crucified”, so that I could go in and be crucified with Christ.

 

So when we preach, we preach “Christ crucified”!

1 Corinthians 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, …

 

Galatians 3:1  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

In preaching the gospel… we are LAYING DOWN our life, laying down Christ crucified, that men might go with Him, through death, unto life. To die with Him, and live with Him.

 

1 John 3:14 … we have passed from death unto life, …

If they choose to enter in, and REST in Christ, then they are crucified with Him, and immediately also die with Him, are buried with Him, and rise again with Him, and live together with Him.

 

This is what the laying down of our life, that is what the preaching of THE GOSPEL, allows:

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

 

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

By • Christian Doctrine, False Prophets/Doctrine, LHBC Core Beliefs, Problem Texts, Salvation, Soul Winning • 0

Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 23

Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 23

1 John 3:16-18  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17  But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

If you believe the love of God is seen in giving worldly things… but you ever DON’T give (love) earthly things, then how can you claim the love of God is in you?

The example might be earthy, but the love of God cannot be not seen in the giving of earthly, worldly things. But it IS seen, in the giving of TRUE heavenly things. Giving someone eternal food and clothing.

If a person doesn’t give, then we can’t know he has the love of God in him.

But when he GIVES, this is when we can perceive the love of God… we can KNOW him by WHAT he gives, WHEN he gives. Whether he gives this world’s things… or he gives God’s things.

James 2:14-18 – showing “my faith by my works”, the example being GIVING “those things which are needful to the body”.

Matthew 7:15-16 – “ye shall know them by their fruits”

If you don’t divide flesh from Spirit, you have a huge mess, and you will be ashamed.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

But I want to focus on this:

1 John 3:16  … we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

How do you do that??? Not, how do you “KIND OF LIKE lay down your life”, in a figure. Not how do you “live your life for someone else”. But how do you “lay down” your life, in TRUTH?!?!

Now, I have to apologize… because we’re about to go off on a bit of a tangent, in order to really understand loving others by LAYING DOWN OUR LIVES for the brethren.

But it is going to strengthen point # 14 here! Because I believe, the answer is…

For Christians, to “lay down our lives”, is to preach the gospel to win souls.

1 John 3:7—  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.  8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.  9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  10  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

This is absolutely NOT about fleshly good works. It CANNOT be.

We must DIVIDE it… flesh from Spirit! It must be about TRUE, SPIRITUAL good works.

1 John 3:11—  For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.  12  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.  13  Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

What is “to hate” the brethren? To reject their words!

1 John 3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

“WE KNOW… because we love”. You just have to love ONE TIME! One true good work. One “loving” of the brethren is undeniable EVIDENCE of having “passed from death unto life”.

For a saved person, that is preaching the gospel (receiving the brethren).

But for an unsaved person that is GETTING SAVED (receiving the brethren)

John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Loving the brethren is receiving their WORDS; receiving Jesus’ words.

Luke 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me;…

Loving the brethren is not a separate set of actions. Love of the brethren is accomplished when a person hears, and BELIEVES unto everlasting life!

1 John 3:15   Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

How can I KNOW someone is a false brother? By whether they hear me, or hate (i.e., reject) my WORDS!

That is the context. Knowing men by judging righteous, BINARY, judgment.

And this passage does not work without by dividing flesh from Spirit!

1 John 3:16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

“Hereby perceive we…” – Reference back to v10: This is evidence of salvation! Spiritual evidence! It cannot be perceived BY FLESHLY WORKS!

We understand/perceive the love of God, in that Jesus laid down his life FOR US. Why? To GIVE us eternal life with Him!

Now, we OUGHT to do the same thing. Lay down our lives… to GIVE others eternal life with us!

Then, John gives a worldly figure to explain this spiritual truth.

Here is where people can get SOOOO messed up, to be ashamed, if they don’t study to DIVIDE these things!

1 John 3:17  But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

The context is how we can KNOW that we are, or that a person is, saved; a Real Christian.

The example (though it is based in the fleshly things) is of being UNABLE TO PERCEIVE the love of God, because someone does NOT GIVE.

You can’t take the negative of the example and ASSUME that if he HAD given “the world’s goods”, then the love of God dwells in him.

Boys at school.

You can’t perceive the love of God in the giving of fleshly things. That just can’t be the truth of this.

I believe the Scripture-supported principle is that, in one single work, we can know when men give, but we can’t know when they don’t give.

You can’t KNOW what is in a well, until you draw its water out.

So, if after the carnal example, we instead look at this spiritually, we can see that, if someone has God’s good things, and doesn’t give them, then we can’t KNOW that he has the love of God in him.

But if he gives in TRUTH – if he loves in GIVING (Deu 10:18) true good things – then we can KNOW that the love of God is in him/us.

1 John 3:18-19  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.  19  And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

“let us not love in word” – meaning: not in vain; not in man’s wisdom, but in spiritual understanding – 1Co 1:17,2:4-5,4:19, 1Th 1:5,2:13, Jam 2:16. We should love in giving spiritual things; profitable things.

“hereby we know” – BY what? By loving IN TRUTH! We know WHEN we LOVE/GIVE to the brethren IN TRUTH.

v14: “We know … [we are saved] … because we love the brethren”

1 John 3:16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us…

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Well, how did Jesus love us?

1) By preaching to us. (Deu 33:3, John 5:20,15:9,15,17:26)

2) By laying down His life us.

And spiritually… I believe those are really the same thing.

How do we do #2, AS Jesus did?

John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

Jesus laid down His life… and took it right back up, so that He could live together with us. Can you?

Jesus didn’t lose his own life permanently. But if you try to do this “great love” in the flesh, won’t you?

If you jump on a grenade, and sacrifice YOUR FLESHLY LIFE so others don’t die… is that loving AS Jesus has loved you? Is that laying down your life AS Jesus laid down His?

Is that dying for others, AS Jesus “died for” you?

How do we love others as Jesus did… how do we to lay down our life for others, AS He did?

Well first, we should understand HOW Jesus died for us, and we should understand the EFFECT of His death FOR us.

1 Thessalonians 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

If we die for others as Christ died for us… it must allow them to:

  1. LIVE
  2. Live TOGETHER WITH US

How does sacrificing your FLESHLY LIFE accomplish both of those?

 

Here are a few other requirements to lay down your life AS Jesus did:

  1. Jesus died… and rose again!
  2. Jesus died FOR THE DEAD.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  15  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Jesus didn’t die for people who were ALREADY LIVING living.

He DIED FOR the dead so, “that they… should… live… unto him.”

Are you able to exchange your life for the life of your dead child? AND… if you WERE able to… would you also then afterwards both live TOGETHER?

 

He died FOR us, that we should LIVE UNTO (not “live FOR”) Him.

By • Binaryism, Christian Doctrine, Eternal Security, False Prophets/Doctrine, Good Works, Identifying False Christians, Problem Texts, Salvation • 0

Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 22

Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 22

Christians love Christians in how they JUDGE.

Philippians 1:9  And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

2 Corinthians 5:14  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

Judging with TRUE and RIGHTEOUS judgment… is TRUE LOVE! One vs. ALL.

Judging the world as dead and unclean, but those IN THE FAITH, as living and pure… not based on fleshly WORKS, but based on FAITH (Heb 11:1 – “faith… is the evidence”)… this judgment IS “the love of Christ”.

To love is to receive. But to hate is to reject.

Hebrews 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

So to receive the brethren, is to love the brethren. And to love the brethren, is to love Christ.

Matthew 10:40  He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.  …

That is how a person first loves the brethren. They receive their WORDS!

They receive the gospel from the mouth of a preacher!

In so doing, they love the brethren, and they love God… AT THE SAME TIME! In the SAME ACTION!

Luke 9:48  And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me:…

To receive a child of God PREACHING the gospel (not PHYSICALLY), is to receive Jesus Christ.

John 15:18-20 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  20  Remember the word that I said unto you, … if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

To LOVE the brethren is not to love anyone physically IN THIS WORLD!

To LOVE the brethren, you have to love someone who is OUT OF THE WORLD!

To LOVE the brethren is to believe their words! And to HATE the brethren is to reject their words!

Luke 10:16  He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

To become a Christian – to get saved – you have to love the brethren. Not in multiple actions. Not in your daily life. Not over and over. Just once!

To love the brethren is to receive their preaching and to get saved by it.

Notice another proof of this:

Matthew 10:40-42 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.  41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.  42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

This cup of cold water is the gospel (Pro 25:25, Jer 18:14), and is the Holy Spirit (Isa 52:7, Rom 10:15-16, Pro 15:30,25:25, John 4:14).

When I give the gospel to someone, I’m giving LIVING water and good fruit to them.

This is the true good work, the spiritual good work, for which I CANNOT lose my reward.

But not just me! Also the hearer, the receiver, HE also obtains an eternal reward, by receiving it, and confessing it.

Mark 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

When they receive my words and get saved (i.e., believe and confess), they produce the same living water and good fruit back to ME, who sowed it in them.

They brought forth fruit to God, and fruit to ME, and gave to ME, a cup of cold water, just like I gave to them.

It is an exchanging of the love of God, and of the love of the brethren.

He receives me, and I receive him.

I love him with the truth by preaching it, and he loves me by believing and confessing it.

I give him the love of God, and he gives me back the love of God.

You CANNOT get saved WITHOUT loving the brethren.

They say “faith without works is dead”… “a true faith works”.

Well yes. But that is all accomplished and sealed IN CHRIST… at the moment of salvation!

Galatians 5:6  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Putting people IN CHRIST… that is TRUE FAITH working by TRUE LOVE.

When a person receives the brethren preaching the gospel, true faith works them, IN CHRIST (1Pe 2:5), by true love.

Faith works… faith saves… by true unfeigned love, IN JESUS CHRIST.

Not in our fleshly lives! NOT by the worldly love of men’s sinful flesh! Not in sinners loving sinners.

In one action, at one time, you either love the brethren, and love Jesus, or you hate the brethren, and you hate Jesus.

All by whether you HEAR and RETAIN… the WORDS of the brethren!

  1. At salvation a man receives the love of God in him.

1 John 2:5  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: …

“The love of God” is not JUST a action that you must perform (i.e., to love God).

It is ALSO a substance that you must receive and KEEP.

Romans 5:5  … because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

John 5:38-43 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.  … 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.  43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: …

The love of God must be received IN YOU, by receiving, by BELIEVING His word, IN YOU.

This is what it truly means to love God, in spirit and in truth: to KEEP (i.e., to receive and believe) His words. If you have the word of God abiding in you, then you have the love of God abiding in you.

And it is the same thing with the love of the brethren…

  1. At salvation a man receives the love of the brethren in him.

1 John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

How do you love God? You KEEP His words! (Joh 14:21)

Well it’s the same with the brethren. You KEEP their sayings.

John 15:18-20 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  …20… if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

That is loving the brethren just like it is loving Christ.

John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

True love is a PLACE that we must abide in.

The place is IN CHRIST. The place is “in His love”.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

You cannot love God, and NOT love the brethren.

You cannot be saved and NOT love the brethren.

1 John 4:20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

You can’t love God unless you (seemingly first) love the brethren, and you can’t love the brethren unless you (seemingly first) love God.

One cannot come without the other. One cannot really even come AFTER the other.

These actions MUST happen at the same time. These substances (the love of God, the unfeigned love of the brethren) must be put in you AT THE SAME TIME: at salvation.

1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

“Grace… was… with… love… in Christ Jesus”!

These substances are both put in a man (not in his flesh, on Earth, but in his spirit, in Christ) when he is saved:

2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2 John 1:1  The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

ALL THEY who have KNOWN the truth, and RECEIVED the truth, and are IN THE TRUTH… love all others that are also IN THE TRUTH.

 

  1. The love of God is in Christ.

Romans 8:39  … the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Timothy 1:14 … with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

The true love of God, that every Christian has, is not in US – that is, in our flesh. It is IN CHRIST.

Philemon 1:6  … every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

True love is not present or possible on the Earth. True love is only present and possible IN CHRIST.

  1. A saved person loves the brethren, in Christ.

1 Corinthians 16:24  My love be with you all in Christ Jesus…

3 John 1:1  The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2 John 1:1  The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

This is where the true love of the brethren is. Not on Earth. Not in my flesh. But IN CHRIST.

  1. A saved person loves when he speaks, to wins souls.

Isaiah 38:17  Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

True love, the love that God had towards ALL the world… is DELIVERING SOULS!

Proverbs 14:25  A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

You need to PREACH the gospel! (Rom 10:14-15, 1Co 1:21)

Deuteronomy 10:18  He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.

A Christian loves lost people, in truth, by GIVING them spiritual food and drink. That is… by giving them the gospel.

John 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

By • Christian Doctrine, Eternal Security, False Prophets/Doctrine, Good Works, Identifying False Christians, Problem Texts, Salvation, Soul Winning, Spiritual Anatomy, Spiritual Circumcision • 0

Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 20

Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 20

Ecclesiastes 1:14  I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

Isaiah 57:12  I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.

“Yeah, I know our works can’t save us. But once we are saved then we do those works to get rewards.”

No… fleshly works will not profit men in eternity.

Psalms 73:12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

Good works in the flesh only prosper IN THE WORLD.

But SPIRITUAL good works produce a HEAVENLY, eternal profit.

Not only is a Christian now ABLE to produce a heavenly profit, but that is the ONLY thing that he is able to do:

Psalms 1:3-4  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.  4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Does EVERYTHING YOU DO… prosper?

Can you apply that to THIS WORLD???

Do you know anyone who NEVER loses money in the stock market?

NEVER labours in vain? NEVER fails to do something that they TRIED to do?

Go sow some apple seeds in your yard. Will every one of them prosper?

Go be a doctor and try to heal people. Will you always prosper?

Go be a lawyer, and try to put bad guys in jail. Will you always prosper?

Go try to negotiate peace in the Middle East. Will that prosper?

Try this… Go to a local church where there is gossiping, and fighting, and envy, and bitterness, and hatred in their midst… and try to fix that church. Good luck!

You don’t think the PASTOR of that church is trying to profit them???

Maybe, you eventually do help! But, not EVERY SINGLE THING that you do, or try, “shall prosper” that church, will it?

And… if a man’s GOOD works… don’t ALWAYS prosper… how much less “whatsoever he doeth”?

Do you prosper every time you sin??? Every time you lie, or steal, or commit adultery???

Psalms 1:3  And he shall be like a tree .. .that bringeth forth his fruit … and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

If your Earthly works (good or bad) don’t ALWAYS produce an EARTHLY profit, how can you say that earthy good works are the fruits of a good tree, producing spiritual fruit; spiritual profit?

Every single true good work that a Christian does produces true good fruit; EVERY SINGLE ONE!

So how can “whatsoever he doeth shall prosper”, POSSIBLY apply to men’s FLESHLY good works on Earth? It can’t!

This is ONLY true of a Christian’s spirit, in the Spirit.

ONLY a Christian’s works CAN prosper, and EVERY ONE OF THEM, DOES prosper, because they are worked in Heaven, IN CHRIST.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Good works done IN THE LORD produce true good things: heavenly good things. “Better things” than the things that can be seen on Earth.

Hebrews 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

There are things that ACCOMPANY salvation. There are FRUITS that come along with it.

But the things that accompany salvation are NOT men’s fleshly good works on Earth.

The things that accompany salvation, are not VISIBLE good things. They are SPIRITUAL good things.

When a Christian sows his seed, it ALWAYS produces an ETERNAL PROFIT.

And when it is quickened in another man, it always supplies that man with BETTER THINGS. (The same 100% profitable seed).

2 Timothy 3:15-17 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

To furnish is to supply. (Deu 15:14, 1Ki 9:11)

Before salvation, a man LACKS the supply/substance necessary to do even a single true good work.

But instantly, when a person is saved, their spirit is made PERFECT, and they are furnished (supplied) with His WORDS (His substance – His water/bread/oil/clothing/light/spirit/life).

Then that person is CAPABLE of working EVERY good work.

He has been created unto, and furnished unto, ALL good works.

But not a single one of men’s good works, in the flesh, under the sun, profits God at all.

Thus, every good work you do in the flesh, even every good one, is going to be rejected.

Titus 1:15-16 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.  16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Either everything is pure, or NOTHING is pure. No in between!

If you have ONE impure work/lust/thought, then NOTHING you do is pure!

Notice “BEING”, not DOING. It’s not what they DO that is the problem. It is what they ARE.

THAT is why their all their works… even the “good ones”… are reprobate.

What is “reprobate”?

Jeremiah 6:30  Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

I believe reprobate means, FAKE! To the unknowing, it looks good/valuable. But it is like FAKE silver!

God will reject EVERY good work of the flesh, as a FAKE. As impure! As corrupt! … Every one!

Mankind CANNOT do a TRUE good work in the flesh. He is completely incapable of it.

AND THAT… is EXACTLY why Jesus had to CREATE US… IN HIM… UNTO good works.

Ephesians 2:8-10  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Only those created IN CHRIST, as new creatures, are ABLE to do true, SPIRTUAL good works.

But if you believe fleshly works matter, then you are BOASTING, and you are NOT saved by grace.  You…

Hebrews 12:15 … fail of the grace of God …

Unto Unfeigned Love

1Peter 1:22 is yet another passage the false brethren use to justify their doctrine of, “good works are proof of salvation”.

I know we haven’t yet dealt with the problem texts in Hebrews 6 & 10, but I want to detour from “fail of the grace of God” one or two more times, before we really dive into Hebrews. I’ll try to keep them short, but I think its ESSENTIAL to really understand the true doctrine of salvation FIRST.

Hebrews 6 & 10 are used to teach works salvation, the same way as all these other passages that we’ve been explaining to this point. And 1 Peter 1:22 is yet another, used the same way.

“Well if you’re really saved, you won’t keep sinning on purpose! That’s what it says in Hebrews 10:26!”

“We’ll if you’re really saved, you WILL do good works! That’s what it says in Ephesians 2:10!”

“Well if you’re really saved, you WILL love others! That’s what is says in 1 Peter 1:22!”

1 Peter 1:22  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Just like the other passages we’ve been dealing with, you have to take this in BINARY, and you have to divide flesh from Spirit.

If a Christian is “purified unto” TRUE LOVE of the brethren (kind of like being “CREATED unto good works”), then we must conclude that before a person is saved, he is not CAPABLE of loving with TRUE, UNFEIGNED, LOVE.

If a lost person or an Old Testament saint could do it, then it can’t be TRUE love.

“Well my motivation is cleaner”, they think.

But that just isn’t true. Motivation isn’t the problem. Understanding is the problem, and men’s CAPABILITY is the problem.

So what is the explanation – the true interpretation of this passage?

Here is how TRUE love (unfeigned love) works:

  1. To LOVE God is to BELIEVE on Jesus.
  2. God’s commandments are to (1) love God and (2) love the brethren.
  3. To love God is to KEEP His commandments.
  4. We must KEEP God’s commandments to get saved.
  5. To KEEP is to retain (i.e., to hold, to guard, to preserve).
  6. God’s Commandments are His words.
  7. To KEEP His commandments is to RETAIN His WORDS.
  8. A person loves God when he believes the gospel unto salvation.
  9. A person loves the brethren when he believes the gospel unto salvation.
  10. At salvation a man receives the love of God in him.
  11. At salvation a man received the love of the brethren in him.
  12. The love of God is in Christ.
  13. A saved person loves the brethren, in Christ.
  14. A saved person loves the brethren AND his enemies, when he wins souls.
  1. To LOVE God is to BELIEVE on Jesus.

John 16:27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

(“X, and Y” doesn’t by itself prove the equality/parallel. But if it is made elsewhere, it strengthens it.)

1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

In terms of the doctrine, in terms of salvation: to believe on Jesus, is to love God.

1 John 2:5  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

  1. God’s commandments are to (1) love God and (2) love the brethren.

1 John 3:23-24 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.  24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

For all my preaching against the Old Covenant, I believe that the 2 commandments of the law of Moses (love God, love your neighbor), were a picture of the true requirements of the New Covenant. The New is pictured by the Old. In the NT, we DO need to do these two (2) things: love God and love the brethren.

The New law is spiritual, not carnal. So we must do these two things SPIRITUALLY.

By • Christian Doctrine, Christian Life, False Prophets/Doctrine, Good Works, Identifying False Christians, Problem Texts, Salvation • 0

Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 18

Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 18

 

In the past, I’ve struggled with this next passage in Colossians 2.

But dividing flesh from spirit, fleshly good things from true spiritual good things, has REALLY opened it up for me. And WOW… This passage is awesome!

Colossians 2:16-23  Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: [which were all requirements under the law!] 17  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.  18  Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels [What does that mean? Like… people trying to trick you into worshipping angels?!? That’s kind of what it sounds like at first, but that just doesn’t make any sense. No, it isn’t about anyone worshipping angels. Your reward is IN a worshipping of angels. Worshipping THE WAY that the angels worship! This passage is warning you, to not let any man trick you into trying to serve God, IN THE FLESH, thinking that that is what you will be rewarded for, instead of worshipping God in truth, IN THE SPIRIT, the same way the angels do: by ministering (giving food) to Him and His people SPIRITUALLY.], intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, [Men think they will be rewarded spiritually, for their FLESHLY service. But he has no idea what REAL Christian worship is. They’ve never even seen it! This lost man has no business telling Christians how to serve God. He intrudes into spiritual things, and beguiles Christians, who CAN and SHOULD serve God spiritually, into trying to serve God in FLESHLY things. Things in which there is NO REWARD!] 19  And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. [Ministering spiritual food to the body of Christ. Get people saved and teach them how to save others. That is true ministering, the same way the angels worship.] 20  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,  21  (Touch not; taste not; handle not;  [do fleshly good works, abstain from fleshly sin]  22  Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? [recall back to v16: ALL fleshly good things are SHADOWS of true good things]  23  Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

What does that mean? It means… fleshly good works and fleshly good lusts, are just a SHOW.

When you attempt to serve God, in the flesh… Abstaining from sin and loving others. Giving out clean water, food, clothing, and medicine. Even offering sheep, and goats, and bulls, under the law…

IT LOOKS like you are truly worshipping God, it LOOKS like you are truly humble. It LOOKS like you are neglecting the body. It LOOKS like you are not satisfying the flesh.

But it’s a SHOW!!! It is NOT TRUE worship.

If what you are doing is not resulting in SOULS BEING WON… getting wisdom and giving wisdom, then you are WASTING your time, and wasting your ABILITY to serve God IN TRUTH. All you are doing, is LOSING your REWARDS. You’ve been beguiled out of your rewards.

Acts 17:24-25 God that made the world … dwelleth not in temples made with hands;  25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, …

Your flesh can only do a figure of the true… it can only do a SHOW of true worship.

Colossians 2:23 Which things have indeed a shew of … neglecting of the body;

It LOOKS like you are NEGLECTING THE BODY. That is how it appears IN THE WORLD.

But truthfully, spiritually, you are not neglecting the flesh. You’re serving the flesh!

Colossians 2:23 … a shew of … not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Your fleshly good works are just a VAIN SHOW of not honoring the satisfying of the flesh.

You are not truly, NOT honoring the satisfying of the flesh. You’re satisfying the flesh!

It LOOKS like you are neglecting the flesh, because you are trying to neglect SOME of your fleshly lusts and desires. The ones you KNOW are evil. But you’re actually still just satisfying the flesh.

Sometimes you satisfy your flesh when you sin, and sometimes you satisfy your flesh when you don’t sin.

Sometimes an alcoholic satisfies his flesh when he drinks.

But when he cleans up his life, and gets sober, that is ALSO satisfying his flesh.

He feels better about himself when he doesn’t drink. His body is healthier. His life is better. His relationships are better. He gets recognition and praise. His flesh is getting satisfied!

Your flesh can lust for both good things AND bad things!

Sometimes you satisfy your flesh when you sin, and sometimes you satisfy your flesh when you do good.

Just think about bodily exercise…

Sometimes you desire to skip your exercise and just eat junk food on the couch. And that satisfies your flesh.

Sometimes you desire to exercise and eat healthy foods. That also satisfies your flesh.

Sometimes you desire to eat junk food. Sometimes you desire to eat healthy food.

Sometimes your flesh wants to be good, and sometimes it wants to be evil.

But either one you choose… it SATISFIES your flesh.

It might be short term satisfaction (like enjoying junk food) or long-term satisfaction (like enjoying being fit and healthy) … It might be short term satisfaction (like committing adultery and ruining your marriage) or long-term satisfaction (like not committing adultery so you can protect your marriage and your children) … but either one is satisfying the flesh.

Whether you desire the good, or desire the bad… whether you choose the good, or choose the bad… it is to satisfy the FLESH.

Whether you work an honest job to put food on the table, or you commit armed robbery to put food on the table… you do it to satisfy your flesh.

That is all that our flesh can do… satisfy flesh!

All the works that are in THIS world, whether evil OR good, are to satisfy THE FLESH.

Now, the accusation I EXPECT to get back is, “well that is just saying that everything that anyone ever does is selfish, and that is called psychological egoism and I don’t believe in that! I believe I can do good for others and it isn’t a selfish act.”

Google tells me “psychological egoism is a philosophical concept that suggests that all human actions are ultimately motivated by self-interest, even when they appear altruistic; essentially, claiming that even when helping others, people are doing so because it benefits them in some way, whether emotionally or socially.”

But that isn’t really what I’m teaching.

I’m not saying that “the satisfying of the flesh” is ONLY satisfying YOUR flesh.

Colossians 2:23 doesn’t say, “the satisfying of YOUR flesh”.

It says, “the satisfying of THE flesh”

OTHER people’s flesh is included. ALL FLESH is included.

To do fleshly good works, in this world, is satisfy FLESH.

Sometimes yours, sometimes OTHER MEN’S.

So truthfully, in doing good to others, at the expense of yourself… you are not neglecting “the flesh”… you are still satisfying “the flesh”, because you are serving the needs of THE FLESH.

It doesn’t matter if it is selfless. It matters that it is FLESHLESS.

Feeding flesh, saving flesh, healing flesh, honoring flesh… receiving honour of men, IN THE FLESH.

Even to sacrifice yourself to save others… It satisfies FLESH. You saved FLESH. You didn’t save anyone’s spirit.

And men honour you and praise you and memorialize you… because you satisfied FLESH.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

The common way this is taught… is that the fleshly part of a Christian really only desires to sin in this world, while the Holy Spirit in him only desires to do good in this world.

So the way the world teaches it is… Imagine you’re walking by a homeless man with a group of your friends. Your flesh wants you to… look away. Maybe, to laugh at him, spit on him. Maybe even kick him! But the Spirit in you wants to stop, and kneel down, and speak kindly to him. Maybe give him your money. Some food or clothes! (Maybe give him your job, or your house?)

So (again, they teach) if you’re REALLY a Christian, you’ll have those conflicting desires.

And then you will have to CHOOSE to do either what your flesh wants, or what the Spirit wants. But, if you are NOT REALLY a Christian, you really won’t have that push, that pull, that desire to do the good things.

But there are a number of problems with that (FALSE) interpretation:

  1. Its not binary. It doesn’t say “ye cannot consistently do”. It says “ye CANNOT do” the things that ye would. So how can you ever do ANYTHING? … Who is “ye”? … It makes no sense unless you completely divide the THINGS of the flesh and the Spirit.
  2. Unbelievers have those same conflicting thoughts. So is that the Holy Spirit in them too? Or maybe… is it just the lusts of the flesh?
  3. It assumes that the Spirit is lusting to satisfy flesh. That the Holy Spirit is lusting for, is hungry for, EARTHLY (good) THINGS!

Plant an apple tree in your backyard and offer its fruit to the Holy Spirit. Will it satisfy His lust?

Bake a loaf of bread and offer it to the Spirit. Will it fill him? No.

Then why would you think that any other EARTHLY things (works/fruits) can satisfy the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit in a Christian, is not lusting after things which can satisfy the flesh.

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

The things of the Spirit, are not the things of the flesh! They lust after different things!

1 Corinthians 2:13-14 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

It doesn’t say, “neither can he do them consistently”.

The things that satisfy the Spirit, are SPIRITUAL THINGS.

These spiritual things are:

  • Words (i.e. fruit)
  • Souls/Children (i.e. fruit)

The Spirit of God desires WISDOM! That is… people getting WISDOM, and people giving wisdom.

Galatians 5:17  … and these are contrary the one to the other: …

Here is the only other instance of “are contrary” in the Bible.

1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:  16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

How are they “contrary to all men”, if they aren’t killing and persecuting all men??

And the phrase “are contrary” is our link back to Galatians 5:17.

This is the real battle of the lusts of the flesh against the lusts of the Spirit.

Not in whether a man chooses to commit a sin, or chooses to do a “good work”.

And not in whether men generally love or hate other men in the FLESH.

It is in the doctrine of salvation! It is in getting people saved!

The battle is that the flesh wants to satisfy men’s flesh, while the Spirit desired to save men’s souls.

That is what the Holy Spirit lusts after: SOULS.

The Holy Spirit wants you to GET SAVED, and wants to use you to save others… by WORDS.

The Holy Spirit does not lust after WORLDLY things.

The Holy Spirit is not inside Christians, desiring for them to do worldly good works.

You can sell all your money and give away all your things to feed the poor in this world, and all it does… is satisfy FLESH. You didn’t satisfy the Spirit.

In choosing not to gamble and drink and fornicate, you are NOT TRULY honoring the neglecting of FLESH.

In choosing to give away your own food, to feed others who don’t have any food, you are NOT TRULY honoring the neglecting of THE FLESH, in favor of the satisfying THE SPIRIT.

You’re not honoring only the satisfying of the Spirit. It just LOOKS like you are, to men.

Fleshly good works are… “a shew of … neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”

I believe all fleshly works, are evil. All fleshly good works are SIN to God.

John 7:7  The world … I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

But men don’t even CONSIDER the possibility that their works and their sacrifices, are evil.

Ecclesiastes 5:1  Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

Sit and listen, because men speaking, men bringing forth what is in their hearts, is sin.

Psalms 14:3  … there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Micah 7:4 The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: …

You cannot produce good fruit. You can’t give anything good to God out of your flesh.

You only produce evil fruit. You are no different, and no better, than anyone who lived before Christ.

Your sacrifice is foolishness and evil. It doesn’t even matter that you offer it SINCERELY.

Proverbs 21:27  The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

Men think they are offering a clean thing. “I give my life to you, Lord”.

But if a sacrifice is not PERFECT, then it is evil. Leviticus 22:19-21. Malachi 1:8,14.

Man’s motivation isn’t the problem. Man’s NATURE is the problem. His flesh is the problem. There are no true good things in our flesh.

That’s why we need to repent of fleshly things (works, life, fruits, knowledge, etc.), and depart out of our flesh.

You need to REPENT of ALL your fleshly works: good and bad – they’re all sinful!

But the false brethren see it the exact opposite!

Proverbs 13:19  The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

“How dare you tell me my good works are sinful!

How dare you tell me to stop trying to do good works!

How dare you tell me to repent of doing good works!

I don’t do evil works, I do good works, and I’ll NEVER stop doing good works!”

Proverbs 14:16  A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

They will not “depart from evil” entirely… they will not get rid of all their evil works entirely.

They will repent of what they KNOW is evil. Cussing, Smoking, Drinking, Lying, Stealing, Gambling, Murder, Rape, Adultery, Fornication… those they will repent of… those they will depart from.

But they won’t depart from their “good works”. Why would they? They see too much VALUE in their fleshly works!

Proverbs 13:19  … it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

Because of the deceitfulness of sin, men THINK their good works are clean, and good, and right to God.

In their own eyes, they’re doing RIGHT.

Proverbs 21:2  Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

Proverbs 12:15  The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Man’s fleshly good works, are all sinful!

Surely, someone will accuse me of this:

Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

I know at first, it sounds like that is exactly what I am doing.

But, I hope you’re starting to see, that in truth, it’s the complete opposite!!!

By • Christian Doctrine, Christian Life, Eternal Security, False Prophets/Doctrine, Good Works, Identifying False Christians, Problem Texts, Salvation, Spiritual Circumcision • 0

Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 17

Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 17

The reason why so many people THINK they are Christians, when they’re not, is that the works of our own hands (really the works of Satan) are deceitful works:

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, …  9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,  10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Because men have “pleasure in unrighteousness”… because they love the works of this world… God is going to give them a man who is full of the deceivableness of unrighteousness, which is in them.

To men, he is going to do “good works”. The working of Satan comes to men looking like wonderful things… but they are lying wonders, deceivableness of unrighteousness.

All the very best works that men do (the good ones) are just the works of Satan, in disguise….

John 8:41  Ye do the deeds of your father. …

And that spirit of Satan is the spirit that works in all of mankind!

Ephesians 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

If you ever disobey, then that spirit is what works in you. Even when you do good!

All Satan’s works are evil… but many of them, ARE GOOD in this world. Satan doesn’t only do evil works in this world.

Luke 4:5-6  And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

Satan gives! Satan give good things to men (worldly things, fleshly things)!

John 8:41  Ye do the deeds of your father. …

To God, your flesh can do only 1 type of works: unrighteousness!

But within the works of unrighteousness, I believe there are 2 types: apparent unrighteousness, and DECEIVABLE unrighteousness.

Psalms 58:1-2  … Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?  2  Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

Everything you do in this world comes out of your wicked heart, which works the working of Satan.

But when it comes out, it doesn’t look so bad, right?

According to man’s judgment… Lying isn’t as bad a murder, right?

Stealing a dollar isn’t as bad as stealing someone’s whole bank account, right?

A person improving men’s lives is surely better than a person destroying men’s lives, right?

People who love others are good, while people who kill others are evil, right?

We think this is judging righteously, but our judgment (our weighing) is based on DECEITFUL weights.

Micah 6:11  Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?

Those weights… man’s judgment of good and evil… came from our father Satan.

If you think, “Christians aren’t perfect, but they’re better than before”, you are judging by deceitful weights. And… YOU are not counted pure.

If you think there is any true good work that men can do, they you’ve made that determination using deceitful weights. You weighed men’s works against the wrong thing!

Our works are going to be weighed against HIS works.

Proverbs 16:11  A just weight and balance are the LORD’S: all the weights of the bag are his work.

Your “good works” may deceive men’s judgment, but they won’t deceive the Lord’s judgment.

The Bible also says there are “deceitful lusts”: lusts that have disguised themselves, and deceived you into thinking they are good things.

If the deceitfulness of sin is that sin disguises itself as good things, so that men think they are doing good, while they are really sinning….

Then deceitful LUSTS, are when lusts disguise themselves, so that men think they have good desires, while they are really just evil desires.

Men think their “good” desires, come from God, but really they come from Satan.

Ephesians 4:22  … the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Think about the things that men desire in this world.

Sex, and money, and power, and fame, and drugs, and fighting, and warring, and killing, and winning.

Yes. Men desire those evil things.

But also(!) … Marriage, and children, and family, and friendships, and food, and clothing, and health, and education, and good and honest jobs, and rest, and peace, and love, and kindness, and happiness.

Man lusts for good things too!

The evil lusts… mostly those aren’t deceitful. Mostly, they’re apparent. Everyone knows they are evil.

But the “good” ones? When men desire those, they don’t think they are “lusting” . They don’t think they’re sinning. It is those “good” lusts, that are most deceitful!

James 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

When you lust, it produces sin. Whether after an evil thing, OR a good thing … it produces sin!

Now, when you lust after a GOOD thing in this world (like a happy and healthy life) … where did that desire to do good, and the KNOWLEDGE to do good come from? You say “it came from God!”

No… it came from “the tree of knowledge of good and evil”.

Genesis 2:8-9 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.  9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

God didn’t MAKE the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, nor did He plant it. God just made it “to GROW”.

So if God didn’t make the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, who did?

Satan did!  And planted it himself!

Matthew 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

A tree cannot produce both good and bad fruit. And that tree of the knowledge of good an evil, produced death. Adam died! So, everything that came from that tree, including man’s KNOWLEDGE OF good and evil, produce death.

Your KNOWLEDGE of good and evil… THAT is what you need to repent FROM: from believing dead works matter.

For a time, God winked at this, but now, God commandeth all men every where, to repent of their knowledge of good and evil!

2 Timothy 2:25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Your knowledge of good things, your understanding of how to do good things, and your DESIRE (i.e. lust) to DO good things … it all came from SATAN!

John 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do….

The lusts in your flesh are not only to do bad things in the flesh… you also have DESIRES to do GOOD things in the flesh.

The knowledge of good things, and the lusts to do good things – they both came from SATAN!

1st instance of “lust*” in the Bible:

Exodus 15:9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

That’s about Pharoah, chasing Israel into the Red Sea. And Pharoah, is Satan.

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, …

Ezekiel 29:3 … Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon …

Satan was the 1st being in the Bible to lust (Isa 14:14 – “I will be like the most high”). He is the father of it, and we do HIS LUSTS.

2nd instance of “lust*” in the Bible:

Numbers 11:4-6  And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?  5  We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:  6  But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

Those aren’t BAD things according to men. Those are fine things to desire.

Get an honest job and work hard, and feed yourself. Those are men’s “good desires”, right?

Psalms 78:27-30  He rained flesh also upon them as dust, …  29  So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;  30  They were not estranged from their lust. …

Man’s most clean desires, his “good lusts”, are for FLESH.

1 Corinthians 10:1-6  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;  2  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;  3  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;  4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.  5  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.  6  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

It might not seem fair, but just wanting fleshly good things… just fleshly food to eat, is lusting after EVIL THINGS.

If one were to lust after TRUE good things, he would have to lust after SPIRITUAL things!

God was giving them “spiritual meat” and “spiritual drink” (after a figure), but they wanted to mix in some FLESH!!!

“Jesus in the Spirit is great, but that heavenly stuff isn’t enough… I need some Earthly bread too! I need FLESH! Don’t just tell me my profit in salvation is all heavenly. I need some profit of flesh too! I need my flesh to be fed/profited too! I need to feel better and fuller! I’m not satisfied, here. I need something heavier than this “light bread”. I need something heavier and weightier… I need a profit of FLESH!”

Psalms 106:14-15  But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.  15  And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

He gave them their meat – their flesh – what they lusted after. But their SOUL had no food.

He gave them their worldly good things, but took away the spiritual good things.

Psalms 81:10-16  I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.  11  But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.  12  So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.  …  15  The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.  16  He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

The heart of man lusts after carnal things: not just carnal evil things, but carnal good things too.

1 John 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Everything that you desire in this world, ever work that you can work in this world, is not of God.

That includes all the desires, and all the works, of men’s flesh.

Christians are not the only people that desire good / to do good.

Muslims and Buddhists and Atheists have desires of good things too!

Are THEIR good desires from God? Not a chance! ALL the lusts of man, EVEN THE GOOD ONES, are from our father Satan. And the ones we consider GOOD, those are the DECEITFUL ones!

A man’s LUST produces SIN. And sin produces death.

Ephesians 2:3-5  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; …

Paul includes himself. “We all” he says. He himself who said he was, “touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless”, himself also said he fulfilled the LUSTS of the flesh, and of the mind. Why??

Because his lusts and desires INCLUDED the GOOD works of the law too!

False brethren think “Jesus have me a new MIND and now I want to do good things”.

Well, is it ONLY good, all the time?

Proverbs 11:23  The desire of the righteous is only good: …

If you ever think 1 evil thought, if you ever desire ONE evil thing, then you do NOT have a righteous mind (1Co 2:16). You have a fleshly mind.

Honestly, if you even desire a good thing in this world, you have a wicked mind.

You think “that’s crazy”. That’s because our lusts are SOOO subtle; so deceitful!

There are MANY false Christians in the world. And many of them have ASKED to be saved, praying a “salvation prayer”, in which they promise to turn from their sins and give their life to Jesus. To make Him “the Lord of their life”!

Well, if they asked God to be saved, then why didn’t they get saved?

Luke 11:10-13  For every one that asketh receiveth; … 13 … how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

You can’t say they weren’t sincere. You can’t say they didn’t mean it, or they didn’t want to be saved.

So why didn’t Jesus give them what they asked for, like He PROMISED He would?

Here is the reason… ready?

Their LUSTS!

James 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

The reason that people say a salvation prayer but don’t get saved, is because they are LUSTING for a profit in this world.

They are lusting after good things in this world.

They are lusting to do good works, and make themselves better, and have a better life, in this world.

“Are you suffering? Lonely? Depressed? Homeless? Addicted? Suicidal? Is your life a mess? Come to Jesus, friend. He’ll help you. He’ll fix your life! He’ll give you peace and joy, and completely change your life!”

“Come to Jesus, friends! He’ll take away your addictions and your evil desires. He’ll come into your life and help you live for Him. He’ll take away your desire to sin and He’ll give you a new desire to do GOOD works.”

“Come to Jesus, friends! He’ll give you the power to live a righteous life. He’ll help you put away your sins! He’ll help you do good!”

“You want proof? Just look at me! Look what He did for me in my life. I was a mess, and now look at me! He can do it for you too! If you’ll just give your life to Jesus, it will be a better life! Look at me, you can be like me! Clean and sober… healthy and well groomed… and on a stage with a microphone and a crowd… maybe have your own (lucrative) Christian podcast… and you can help other people fix their lives too!”

“Come to Jesus, friend. Don’t try to put away your sins and THEN come to Jesus! Don’t try to get off drugs and THEN come to Jesus! Don’t try to fix your life and THEN come to Jesus. Come to Jesus and THEN HE will fix your life!”

That is how Jesus is preached today by the false brethren. And the world eats it up! Why?

Because of our deceitful LUSTS!!!

All men LUST after a profit in THIS WORLD.

And we think that those desires are GOOD, and not evil, because our lusts are DECEITFUL!

We think “that isn’t lusting! Those are godly things!” No… they’re WORLDLY things. They’re just our same OLD man’s sinful lusts, in disguise.

Ephesians 4:22  … the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

The old man… that is what men are lusting to satisfy.

Romans 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

There is NO GOOD THING in our flesh. And that INCLUDES(!) our will to do good.

Our desire to do good is NO GOOD THING!

Why? Because it is just our flesh… TRYING TO SATISFY FLESH!

By • Christian Doctrine, Eternal Security, False Prophets/Doctrine, Good Works, Identifying False Christians, Problem Texts, Salvation • 0

Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 16

Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 16

Before the law of Moses came, people were sinning, but they didn’t KNOW they were sinning.

And they weren’t blamed for that sin, because the law had not yet been given.

Romans 7:8-9 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.  9  For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

Then the law of Moses came and said, “these things you’ve been doing are good, but these things that you’ve been doing, these are sin.” And the people at that time were like, “these things are sin? I didn’t know these were sin! I’ve been doing these my whole life!”

When the old commandment came, it identified SOME of man’s fleshly works as sins.

But now … the New commandment has come, and it identifies ALL of man’s fleshly works as sins.

And people now are like, “fleshly good works are sin? I didn’t know they were sin! How can these good works be sin?! I’ve been trying to do these things my whole life!”

Now… As quickly as I can I want to try to address this last passage. People use Romans 7:9 to teach an “age of accountability”.

I may not fully understand this passage, but I can’t believe that this passage, or any passage in the Bible, teaches an age of accountability.

1st: When “the commandment came” appears 2 other times, with a 3rd slight variation (2 Chronicles 31:5, Daniel 9:23, Esther 8:17), and NOT one of those instances means “when I grew to a certain age”. The phrase is not about when an individual person is made aware of the commandment, or understands the commandment. It is clearly a time when a commandment is first issued from God and is given to a person, or a people.

2nd: Someone who is “without the law” is not completely free from ALL laws, that is, unless they are truly saved, in Christ, and not in the flesh (Rom 3:21, Rom 7:5-6, Rom 8:9). See Romans 2 and notice that the Gentiles who “have not the law” (of Moses) were still able to “sin without law”, and see 1 Cor 9:21, which shows that someone who is “without law” with respect to man, is “not without law to God”, and is NOT innocent from sin, but is lost, and needs to get saved. Furthermore, even an Israelite, was not only “in the law”, or “under the law” once he grew to a certain age. The law is applicable to men from their birth (Luk 2:23, Num 18:15, Lev 12:3, Gal 4:3-5), not just when they are grown to a certain age.

Every human is born under the law (to God), and every human that has ever been born on Earth (minus 1) HAS sinned (Psa 51:5, Psa 58:3, Rom 5:12, Gen 8:21, Isa 48:8), even if he isn’t yet charged with guilt for particular sins. God can’t let sinners into heaven (Psa 101:7, Rev 22:14-15).

So if Paul had died physically before “the commandment came” (no matter if that is Old or New), he wouldn’t have gone to heaven. Neither if a child dies today dies before age 5-7, does that child doesn’t automatically go to heaven. A human child naturally, is not clean to God (Job 15:14, Job 25:4, Isa 64:6, Joh 3:36, Rom 3:19).

So I don’t believe Paul is saying that there was a time when no law AT ALL was against him. I think Paul must be talking about the coming of a specific law. I believe, the true application of this passage, is that of the New Covenant (the new law). I believe Paul is talking about before the gospel of Jesus Christ came to mankind.

The statements that Paul was “alive .. once” and “sin was dead” are not a reference to being saved, or innocent, or alive spiritually… They’re not a reference to being free from all sin.

Now, I do think that its possible that Paul COULD be talking about a time when we were all alive, in Adam, before Adam’s transgression. (Heb 7:10, 1Co 15:22) That is the only possible time where Paul could have been completely without sin. But truthfully, I don’t think Paul is talking about being innocent from all sin and free from ALL laws. I think the sin Paul is talking about not being guilty of, is sin against the new law; the sin of being in unbelief (John 15:22, John 3:18), after the gospel was made available to mankind.

When the new law came, when the gospel came to mankind, that is when men became immediately condemnable as guilty of unbelief; guilty of not being cleansed in the new law (John 3:17-19).

Now, I admit that I don’t fully understand Romans 7 (and Romans 7:9). I definitely need to study it more.

But for now, just know that, it is NOT teaching an “age of accountability” for individual people.

Paul says “For without the law sin was dead.”

That phrase, “For * the law sin was”, appears only 1 other time.

Romans 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

This is not about whether individual people KNOW the law, or understand the law.

Its about whether there IS a law, or no.

Paul saying “I was alive without the law once” is about BEFORE the law was given / in the world.

Before the law is issued from God, it wasn’t truly that men didn’t commit sin at all… it was that their sin, was not treated/counted/imputed as sin.

The law called all these things sin: having your period, having a baby, ejaculating, touching a dead body of man or of beast, marriage/sex with your fraternal sister, working on Saturday, eating unclean animals… and much more!

These things were always sin. But weren’t called sin, or counted against men as sin, until the Old law came.

Likewise, fleshly GOOD works were always sin. But they weren’t called sin, or counted against men as sin, until the New law came.

Sin, when disguised as good works, was not treated as sin, until the new law came and called it sin. But once Christ had came and spoken to mankind, THEN, ALL men died: they all became guilty of the second death.

John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. … 24  If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

Before Christ came, men had no ability to do any other type of works.

Once Christ came, men were commanded to repent of their works, and do the works of Jesus Christ (to build the house of God in Heaven: believe and confess/speak).

How do we understand, “they had not had sin”? I think, in 3 ways…

1 – they weren’t yet accountable for the sin of not having believed Jesus’ words.

2 – they weren’t yet condemned for not having done good works, because they never had the opportunity to do TRUE good before.

3 – they were covering their sin with “good works” (sin), and they hadn’t yet been condemned for those good works.

Before Christ came, men covered themselves with the works of the law. (Job 29:14, Neh 4:5, Pro 28:13, Eze 21:24)

But it was only a temporary disguising of an unclean thing.

Isaiah 59:6  Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.

For a time God winked at it. He not only allowed it, but commanded it.

Before Jesus came, men weren’t condemned for their fleshly righteousnesses. But now…

John 15:22 … but now they have no cloke for their sin…

Their cloke of good works, is now also called out as “works of iniquity”.

Isaiah 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

If you are not covered with true spiritual righteousness (Isa 61:10, Ps 132:9, Rev 19:8, Psa 32:1-2, Psa 85:2), then you’re just covering sin with sin.

For a while, men were allowed to cover their sin with lesser, better-looking sin.

But when Christ came and preached the new covenant, men were immediately made guilty of covering themselves with their WORKS.

Romans 7:9  … when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

When the new commandment came, it said that man’s works are evil, and that men need to be made righteous, like Jesus.

Should be simple… But men think, “oh, I get it… so I need to turn from my sins and live righteously”. Then SIN, takes occasion by the NEW commandment, to work death, deceitfully.

When men hear the gospel, and think, “oh, I need to give my life to Jesus and then Jesus will come into my life and I’ll start doing good, and getting better, and loving others more”… I believe, that is just SIN, deceiving them, and taking occasion by the NEW commandment, to work sin, deceitfully.

Since the old law came, man’s sin has been disguising itself with the good works of the Old Covenant.

But NOW, man’s sin is ALSO disguising itself as if it is the TRUE good works of the New Covenant.

Man thinks, “I’m doing the works of Christ now!”. But he’s still just doing sin; sin in disguise. And now, that disguise is no longer acceptable:

John 15:22 … now they have no cloke for their sin…

And because those fleshly good works are now condemnable as sin, we are now, all truly, spiritually, dead; guilty of the 2nd death!

Even when we don’t KNOW IT!

Romans 7:11  For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, …

Disguise is the root, and the power of deceitfulness.

Genesis 31:7, where Jacob refers to Laban giving him Leah instead of Rachel, was the 1st instance of “deceived me” in the Bible.

Here are the 2nd and 3rd instances of “deceived me”. Both of them are ALSO about DISGUISE!

1 Samuel 19:12-17 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.  13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. … 15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. … 17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? …

1 Samuel 28:8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: … 12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

This is how sin deceives a man. Sin disguises itself, using the law.

Either by works of the old law, or of the new law, man’s fleshly good works are just SIN, wearing a DISGUISE!

This is what sin does! It HIDES itself. It disguises itself. It COVERS itself.

In fact, that was the very first work of sin, in mankind!

Genesis 3:6-7 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.  7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

As soon as sin, in disguise as good fruit, entered into mankind, they immediately… COVERED themselves!

Sin’s very first work, after entering its new host, was to COVER itself, with the works of men’s hands.

And then, what did God do? He COVERED them even better!

Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Think about that: God covered them with SKINS: with DEAD FLESH!

And that is what the law was. An imperfect, temporary covering of sin. A covering of essentially, sin, uncleanness, dead things: DEAD WORKS!

And so sin uses the law to cover itself, with its own works! With fleshly good works: the works of the law.

Romans 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Which law is that? Maybe the Old? Maybe the New? Maybe both! Point is… if flesh is working, then evil is present!

When a sinner wants to do good, when he sincerely TRIES to do good, when he THINKS HE IS doing good… he’s doing evil. He just doesn’t know it!

Psalms 94:20  Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?

Sin works sin, USING THE LAW!

Sin uses the works of the law to work in you, deceitfully.

Romans 7:5  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

Whether you’ve done evil, or done good, if you’ve worked in the flesh, SIN has worked in you.

Romans 7:11  .. sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived ….

When the law says “stop sinning and do good works” … Sin says, “great, watch this, I’ll do fleshly good works”. Whenever you’ve done fleshly good works… it wasn’t truly good… it was sin working in you!

So sin works sin/death, in the disguise of “good works”. That is called, “a deceitful work”!

Proverbs 11:18  The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

Your works are either sowing true righteousness (1 Jn 3:7), or your works are deceitful works (sin in disguise). There is no in between with God.

A heart that trusts in deceitful works, that sees value in deceitful works… is a deceived heart.

Isaiah 44:20  He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

I believe that a deceived heart is in man from his conception, not just from 5-7 years old. (Ps 51:5,58:3, Pro 22:15, Is 48:8, Job 15:35)

If a man refuses to repent of his deceitful works, then he is cut off and unable to deliver his soul: he has the impossibility of salvation!

That’s why Satan works so hard to slander the doctrine of grace, and enforce his doctrine of deceitful works; fleshly good works.

“These hyper-gracers teach that you can live however you want, that you have a license to sin. But that’s just evil! If you’re a real Christian you’ll do good works, and you’ll desire to do good works!”.

Romans 16:17-18  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  18  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

A man who judges by fleshly works, believing that fleshly good works matter, is deceived, and is not be able to get saved.

“We Christians do good works now!”, they say. “Just look at me, as an example!”

2 Corinthians 11:13-15  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  … 15 … transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

If their good works ARE TRULY good, then their “end” would be nothing to fear.

Their works look like righteousness, to men. But their works are NOT true good! They’re sin!

And because of THE DECEITFULNESS OF sin, men harden themselves in unbelief!!

By • Christian Doctrine, Eternal Security, False Prophets/Doctrine, Identifying False Christians, Problem Texts, Salvation • 0

Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 15

CORRECTION TO VIDEO:

“Sin* and decei* are only in the same verse 6 times. Obviously, Hebrews 3:13 is 1. But of the remaining 5 instances, Romans 7 is the only one in which sin deceives a person.”

Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 15

Someone who CAN sin is not “FREE from sin”.

Someone who CAN do good, is not “FREE from righteousness”.

What you do defines what you are, and what you are defines what you do.

1 John 3:7-10  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.  8  He that committeth sin is of the devil…  9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; … and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  10  … whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God …

That is BINARYISM! This not about your CHOICES, in life! This is absolutely 100% about your ABILITY!

Your BIRTH, defines what works you are ABLE to do, and what you are able to do defines your birth.

1 John 2:29  If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

Whoever does one true good work ever, that person IS just as righteous as Jesus Christ.

But, ii you can’t claim THAT, then you cannot claim that you do good, at all.

Let no man deceive you! This cannot be understood in degrees, or amounts of doing good.

Imagine two former atheists, who (after man’s judgment), before they believed in Jesus, did MOSTLY evil works.

But now, (again, after man’s judgment) they do MOSTLY good works.

What if one does 51% good, and 49% evil, and the other does 99.9% good, and only 0.1% evil?

Out of 1000 chances, the one does right 510 times and sins 490 times, and the other does right 999 times, and only sins 1 time out of 1000!

I want to know… which of them “doeth righteousness”?

Well… the question to ask is:  which of the two IS righteous, EVEN AS Jesus is righteous?

1 John 3:7 … let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

Is the one who sinned 1 time out of 1000, JUST AS RIGHTEOUS as Jesus???

Neither one of them “is … even as” Jesus!

So NEITHER ONE of them “is righteous”, and NEITHER ONE of them “doeth righteousness” at all.

They are both, OF THE DEVIL.

1 John 3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil…

All it takes is 1 sin to prove you are a sinner.

And all it takes is 1 TRUE good work, to prove you are righteous.

So if fleshly good works TRULY ARE good to God, then a man could just do 1 good work, one time, and have guaranteed eternal life, and have no need for Christ.

Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law [1-love God, 2-love your neighbor], then Christ is dead in vain.

The only logical, Scriptural conclusion is that…

Every work of men’s hands, and every thing that comes out of man’s flesh, is sin.

Man’s very best good works… are really just SIN!  Sin… but in disguise!

Sin in disguise. What do I mean by that? Let’s head over to Hebrews!

Hebrews 3:11-13  So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)  12  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.  13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

It is THE DECEITFULNESS OF sin that hardens people unto unbelief!

It does NOT say, “hardened through sin”. It does not say, “hardened through sinning”.

It isn’t SIN that hardens people unto unbelief.

The DECEITFULNESS of sin, is why people don’t believe the true gospel!

So what does that really mean, “the deceitfulness of sin”?

“Deceitfulness” only appears 2 other times in Scripture: both are in the Parable of the Sower:

Matthew 13:22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Mark 4:19  And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Understanding “the deceitfulness of riches” might be our most direct way to understand the deceitfulness of sin.  What is the deceitfulness of riches? How exactly are riches deceitful?

1st instance of the root word “deceit” in the Bible:

Genesis 27:12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.

How was Jacob able to deceive Esau?  By wearing a disguise!

2nd instance of the root word “deceit”:

Genesis 31:7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

Jacob is pointing back to a specific act, where he describes this deception with another word.

Genesis 29:25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

That is actually the 2nd instance of the root word, “beguile”.

And the 1st instance of the root word “beguile”:

Genesis 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Eve thought she was getting good fruit, but it was evil fruit (death) in disguise.

Isaac thought he was blessing Esau, but it was Jacob in disguise.

Jacob thought he was being given Rachel, but it was Leah in disguise.

Is lying to someone deceitful? Of course. But simply lying is NOT the primary method of deceitfulness.

Its DISGUISE! Disguise is the root/origin of the concept of deceitfulness.

The deceitfulness of riches is NOT that men think that money will satisfy them, but then later after they get money, they find out that they aren’t satisfied. No…

The deceitfulness of riches is that riches disguise themselves!

And because of the deceitfulness of riches, men are going after riches, and they don’t even know it!

Matthew 13:22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Luke 8:14  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Caring for your THIS LIFE, in THIS WORLD, is really just going after riches; riches in disguise.

Thinking you need to do good works, and love your neighbor in THIS WORLD, is just being deceived by riches; riches in disguise.

You THINK you are serving God, but you are serving FLESH.

Romans 8:5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

In doing good works in this life, you think you are laying up treasures in heaven, but you are really only caring for THIS WORLD. You are caring for THIS LIFE.

If you’ll watch my video on the Parable of the Sower, you’ll understand that the thorns are the worst ground. They are the worst place you could possibly be. These people are the MOST deceived!

And do you know what they’re going after, to have gotten so deceived??

Mark 4:19  … the cares of this world …

Luke 8:14  … cares and riches and pleasures of this life …

To the lost, being a Christian is all about improving men’s LIVES on Earth. Cleaning your life up. Cleaning your works up. Just getting BETTER than we were before.

Love others more than we did before. Serve the poor more than we did before.

Be kind and gentle and peaceful to strangers, more than we did before. JW.

Those aren’t NEW, spiritual things… those are OLD earthly things. The cares of THIS LIFE. THIS WORLD.

Cleaning up your life and your works in THIS world… is actually just going after riches.

But men have no idea, because… riches are deceitful! Riches disguise themselves as other things, as GOOD things!

The deceitfulness of riches, results in men THINKING they are going after true good things, while they are really just going after riches; riches in disguise.

The deceitfulness of sin, results in men THINKING they are doing true good works, while they are really just committing sin; sin in disguise.

The deceitfulness of riches is truly, VERY deceitful. It’s not easy to recognize.

People that directly and obviously go after money, they aren’t deceived. But with true deceitfulness of riches… You can be going after riches, and not know it.

And so is the deceitfulness of sin. Sin, when open, at face value, isn’t deceitful.

You aren’t deceived by sin when you KNOW it is sin.

Its when sin DISGUISES itself, so that you think a sin, is actually a good work, THAT is when you are being deceived by sin!

“The deceitfulness of sin”, is that men are sinning, without even knowing it! Quite the opposite, they actually think they are doing GOOD!

If you think your fleshly good works are GOOD to God, and NOT SIN to God, then you’ve been deceived by sin. Sin in disguise.

Sin* and decei* are only in the same verse 6 times. Obviously, Hebrews 3:13 is 1. But of the remaining 5 instances, Romans 7 is the only one in which sin deceives a person.

You could say that this only real, direct cross-reference for “the deceivableness of sin”. So this passage MUST be used to help us interpret our phrase!

Romans 7:10-13  And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.  11  For sin, taking occasion by the commandment [like, the commandment to “love God and love your neighbor”], deceived me, and by it slew me.  12  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.  13  Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

We typically understand this passage one way: that the law was given, so that when you break the law, you know you are a sinner.

I believe that is partly true. But I don’t believe that it is ONLY when we FAIL to do the works of the law… but also when we DO the works of the law… that then also, sin works in us, and reveals us to be sinners.

Notice in this passage: how does sin DECEIVE?

Not by obvious temptations. Not by obvious wicked works. But… “BY THE COMMANDMENT”!

Even when a sinner sincerely tries to do good, by the law, … sin, “by the commandment” (love your neighbor, “that which is GOOD”) deceives him, and produces death in him (“by it slew me”).

Sin, by the works of the law … by even THE GOOD WORKS of the law… sin deceives you into thinking you’ve done good… when all you’ve really done, was bring forth evil – the evil things that were already inside of you.

Romans 7:7 … I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Now, Paul didn’t just start sinning when he learned the law.

Before Paul knew the law, he was sinning (he was lusting), but he didn’t KNOW what he was doing was sin.

Romans 5:13  (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Before the law of Moses came, men were sinning, but they didn’t KNOW it.

The law of Moses says: don’t eat pork (unclean beasts)! Well eating pork didn’t just become a sin. It was always a sin. But now, it was declared to be a sin!

To God, men were sinning long before Moses’ law was given. But where there wasn’t a law yet given to mankind that said those things were sin, God didn’t condemn them for that sin. At least not yet … God “winked” at it, for a time.

Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. …

Men were committing sins that they didn’t know were sins, until the law came and pointed them out to be sins.

Now, you do need to understand, there is more than one “the law”.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

So when Paul says that…

Romans 7:7 … I had not known sin, but by the law…

… we can divide flesh from Spirit, and we can look at it two different ways:

1st: by the Old law of fleshly things/works, and

2nd: by the New law of spiritual things/works.

Before the Old Covenant Law came, men were committing sins (like eating pork), but they didn’t know it.

Then the Old Covenant law came, and identified a limited set of things (613?), as sin, and gave men a way to temporarily cleanse their flesh from those specific sins.

Likewise, before the New Covenant Law came, men were committing sins (like loving their neighbor), but they didn’t know it.

Then the New Covenant Law came, and identified ALL our fleshly works as sin to God… and gave men a way to permanently cleanse their spirit from ALL sins.

This is what the true light of the gospel does: manifests that ALL man’s works are sin. (See John 3:19-20, Ephesians 5:11-13.)

Now someone will eventually contend that this next passage says that this can’t be true, and there can’t be another law that is against doing good works:

Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

But notice the context: Spiritual fruit. True good things.

It does NOT say that there is no law against mankind doing earthly good works.

It says that there is no law against SPIRITUAL good fruit.

And unless you “live in the Spirit”, you have no access to TRUE love and joy and peace.

Those things are “in Christ”, and your FLESH cannot bring forth those true good things.

Your good works are NOT good, and your flesh only commits sin, and only brings forth death.

And that is what you need to understand in order to get saved!

Hebrews 6:1  … the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Hebrews 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ … purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Until you repent of your fleshly works (good and bad!) you cannot SERVE God.

What Paul realized was, “I thought I was worshipping God, but I couldn’t. I thought I was doing good, but it was just SIN to God. What God actually requires, is a whole different level of good: He requires perfection; the righteousness of God.

For a time, God allowed men to worship him with their sinful works. But now, no longer does He accept the figure of the true! He requires TRUE righteousness!

I think that is exactly what Paul was preaching on Mars’ Hill…

Acts 17:22-31  Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.  23  For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.  24  God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;  25  Neither is worshipped with men’s hands [Ultimately, all worshipped God with their hands, were the same to God. Jews and Gentiles were both worshipping IGNORANTLY, and not in truth!], as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;  26  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;  27  That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:  28  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.  29  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.  30  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: [from dead works!]  31  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; …

There was a time where God allowed men to worship Him ignorantly, with their hands.

There was a time where God allowed, and required, fleshly good works and fleshly sacrifices for sin.

But Paul said God had to “wink” – to shut His eyes – at those times where they ignorantly served Him with hands, according to the flesh.

Why? Because I believe, in truth, those fleshly good works, that service with flesh hands, was sin, and God couldn’t look on it.

Habakkuk 1:13  Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: …

Now that the New Covenant has come… now that the ability to get saved and do TRUE service to God has come… men are commanded to REPENT of the OLD, DEAD, FLESHLY good works, which had been winked at, as sin.

By • Christian Doctrine, Eternal Security, False Prophets/Doctrine, Identifying False Christians, Problem Texts, Salvation • 0

Intro to Spiritual Anatomy

 

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Intro to Spiritual Anatomy

By • Salvation, Spiritual Anatomy, Spiritual Circumcision • 0

The Keepers of the Law – Part 20

 

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The Keepers of the Law – Part 20

The Keepers of the Law – Part 20

Again, YOUR BODY is made up of 2 separate men.

The Outer Man (DEAD – my flesh, my members) and the Inner Man (BORN AGAIN – the hidden, spiritual man)

God is ONLY in the INNER MAN — although the INNER MAN IS IN THE BODY OF FLESH – in the temple.

I suppose you wanna see that in The Book?

His SPIRIT, THE HOLY GHOST, is “in the inner man”.

Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

ALL OF THE EFFECTS OF SALVATION HAPPEN TO THE INNER MAN – IN THE SPIRIT, NOT IN THE FLESH AT ALL!!!!

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, (it doesn’t LOOK detroyed, does it? It will be. It is just waiting for death/resurrection.) that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Col 1:26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 

 

Eph 3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts (not your FLESHLY heart, your SPRITUAL HEART IN THE INNER MAN) by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love

1Corinthians 6:20 For ye [your body too] are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 

 

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession,[your fleshly BODY] unto the praise of his glory. 

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together [it is ALLL DEAD and currently dying] until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body [the fleshly body]. 

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye [YE does NOT include the fleshly body] are sealed unto the day of redemption. 

 

Philippians 3:21 Who shall [hasn’t happened yet] change our vile body [the fleshly body], that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. 

1John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 

Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Ephesians 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Not the flesh!!! 

Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 

 

1Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

BUT NOT IN the FLESH – in the spirit!!!

1Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. …15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

Do YOU know/understand exactly how this “one flesh” works??? I didn’t think so.

1Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 

Our BODIES ARE MEMBERS, YES, BUT NOW ONLY IN THE SPIRIT. THE FLESH/BODY IS DEAD – UNTIL RESURRECTION!!

 

“body+temple” only twice in The Bible

John 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

1Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 

So, I promised you a picture…

By • Christian Doctrine, Salvation • 0

The Keepers of the Law – Part 18

 

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The Keepers of the Law – Part 18

The Keepers of the Law – Part 18

Act 15:23  And they wrote letters by them after this manner; …24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: …

Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.  (not ye will keep your salvation, but you will “do well”!)

This debate was SETTLED LOOOOONG ago.

Acts 15 is ASTOUNDING to debunk those that say Christians must keep the law.

Galatians is AWESOME to understand salvation without the law.

Hebrews 7-10 is CRAZY GOOD.

Romans 3 & 10 & Romans 7, all written by Paul, MAY BE even BETTER…

Heretick threw up Romans 7:1. Baaaad place to start.  Why? Well, glad you asked, I’ll show you. SOUNDS good for him at first, but doesn’t end well for him at all…

Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law[“torah”, he was quick to point out],) how that the law [“torah”, again, quick to point out] hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

I reponded with…

Romans 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

The point is the law only has power as long as we are ALIVE. Once we are DEAD, the law no longer has power.

Then with…

Romans 7:3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress:

but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

Again, death annuls the law.

But I responded with this, anyway, just for the sake of anyone reading it. (*Note-I never heard from him again)…

Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Hence, humans are DEAD TO THE LAW once they get saved. We are no longer adulterers or murderers or thieves or anything else. Not matter what our flesh does. How do we know?

Then I (and God and Paul) followed with…

Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins (how does humanity know sin?), which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death (evil fruit!). 

Romans 3:20 …for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 4:15 …where no law is, there is no transgression [sin]. 

Roman 4:18 Who against hope believed..19 And being not weak in faith,[right here, God defines faith as a level of belief. What does it mean to “doubt”, to have “unbelief”?]  he considered not [get this – what did Abraham NOT CONSIDER a part of this promise?] his own body now dead [Abraham didn’t consider his own BODY to be a part of this promise. He knew his “body” was “NOW DEAD”! Real Christians know the same thing. That OUR BODY IS NOW DEAD “TO THE LAW”. If not, and you “consider” your “own body”still alive and part of the promise of salvation, then you are “WEAK IN FAITH” and “in UNBELIEF”.], when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief;[had he considered that his own dead body was part of this promise, he would have been considered as DOUBTED!]  but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore[and ONLY therefore]  it was imputed to him for righteousness. 4 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 4 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. [If simple belief is enough, GRACE WITHOUT WORKS, then (and only then) righteousness is imputed to the believer. If there is DOUBT, defined by The Bible as considering THAT YOUR OWN BODY IS DEAD, then there is no grace and righteousness is not imputed].

Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

The saved WERE in the FLESH. The lost are still in the flesh.

The saved are no longer flesh. The saved ARE in the SPIRIT.

The Apostle Paul is STILL writing this…

Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 

Romans 7:15 For that    1 which I do –  I allow not:  2  for what I would, – that do I not;   3  but what I hate, – that do I.

Did you get that? The great Apostle Paul, writer of most of the NT. The things he HATES – he does those things!!

Think about what we hate? What do YOU hate? Homosexuality? Idol worship? Adultery? Denying Jesus?

Gotta understand “hate” here. I HATE Lima Beans. Easy. I don’t eat them. I HATE looking at other women besides my wife. Hard. My flesh wants to look. Eye candy. — This is how to understand Paul. Flesh vs Spirit.

What would the “keepers of the law” think of a guy that claimed to be saved but was doing the things THEY hate?

This is exactly what they would think of the Apostle Paul. Lost!!!

Romans 7:16 If then I do that which I would not (and he clearly says he does), I consent unto the law that it is good. (and I am not!!) 

Romans 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 

I don’t do it. Even if my flesh does the things it HATES, it isn’t me doing it. It is SIN that is in my flesh. I can’t help it. Nobody can.

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 

We need to READ THIS. READ IT. Understand. This is Paul!

We teach that at salvation the FLESH is unchanged. This is true.

By • Christian Doctrine, Salvation • 0

The Keepers of the Law – Part 10

 

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The Keepers of the Law – Part 10

The Keepers of the Law – Part 10

You can’t BE CONVERTED until you UNDERSTAND.

You can’t UNDERSTAND without REPENTING.

You can’t truly REPENT unless you REPENT FROM DEAD WORKS.

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

I am here stop 9

Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but [vs.] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

The LAW is the OLD COVENANT. GRACE AND TRUTH is the NEW COVENANT.

Acts 14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

1Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God [Jesus, full of GRACE and truth!], which liveth and abideth for ever.

Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

One can RECEIVE THE WORD OF GRACE – and “for a while believe” but “HAVE NO ROOT”. No Real Undertanding.

OT Prophecy of Jesus, the Messiah, the Saviour, THE ROOT!

Isaiah 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. 6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. 

 

Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. 

Romans 15:12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Proverbs 12:3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

JESUS IS THE ROOT OUT OF THE DEAD, DRY (unwatered, unfruitfil) EARTH.

Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe [because they have no real understanding], and in time of temptation fall away.

They don’t have Jesus. They are unsaved from the beginning – never saved. Not saved and then LOSE their salvation. They have NO ROOT. Unsaved. That simple.

What happens to them???????????   They “FALL AWAY”!!!!!!!!

“fall away” 2 times

Hebrews 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

“falling away” 1 time

2Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

By • Christian Doctrine, Salvation • 0

The Keepers of the Law – Part 9

 

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The Keepers of the Law – Part 9

The Keepers of the Law – Part 9

Isaiah 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. 

If you don’t or can’t UNDERSTAND you cannot get saved.

Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

NT

Matthew 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias (Isaiah 6:10), which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Then here is what follows…

Matthew 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 

Matthew 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Neither the stony nor the thorny is said to UNDERSTAND!

Matthew 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Mark 4:14 The sower soweth the word. 

Mark 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

V15 way side, v16 stony, v18 thorny … NONE of them are described as “understanding”

Mark 4:20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. 

You can’t bring forth fruit unless you UNDERSTAND. Refer back to…

Mark 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 

Matthew 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit

 

Luke 8:5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. 

 

Luk 8:10  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. 

V5 way side, v6 rock/stony, v7 thorny … NONE of them are described as “understanding”

Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. 

“keep” + “understand” 7 times in The Book

1Chronicles 22:12 Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel,

that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.

Psalms 119:100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

Proverb 2:11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

Proverbs 19:8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: [is equivalent to] he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

Repeated in ACTS…

Acts 28:26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

“with their heart”??????????? Ever heard that before?????

Romans 10:9 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. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

You can’t believe “unto righteousness” if you don’t understand that righteousness is what you are believing unto!!!

You can’t TRULY “believe with your heart” if you don’t TRULY UNDERSTAND!!!

 

Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain [KEEP!] God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 

v29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 

Stay with me here…

v31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 

 

2Timothy 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (understanding is mandatory in order to get saved) 

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

You can’t BE CONVERTED until you UNDERSTAND.

You can’t UNDERSTAND without REPENTING.

You can’t truly REPENT unless you REPENT FROM DEAD WORKS.

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

By • Christian Doctrine, False Prophets/Doctrine, Salvation • 0

The Keepers of the Law – Part 8

 

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The Keepers of the Law – Part 8

The Keepers of the Law – Part 8

So, can you actually “RECEIVE” Grace and then be FALLEN FROM GRACE??

This is where we started…

Last one we saw…

2Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

How can someone “RECEIVE” GRACE – IN VAIN!!!!????

Well, I would say that somebody GAVE them GRACE, they heard it (“received” it), but they still trusted in THE LAW (WORKS), which makes the receiving of grace (by faith alone) IN VAIN!!!!!

So, again, can you really “RECEIVE” Grace and then be FALLEN FROM GRACE??

Let’s see what Jesus says about it…

Matthew 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 

v20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 

v21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 

v22 He also that received seed [the word] among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 

v23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 

How do we connect the dots?

1st “understand..” 266 times

Job 17:4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them. 

What kind of understanding has HE hidden from them??

Job 17:5 He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

Do you think this has happened in EVERY case in history?

Proverbs 30:17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

Do you think this has happened in EVERY case in history?

Proverbs 20:20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. 

Do you think this has happened in EVERY case in history?

Exodus 21:14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die. 15 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. 16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. 17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. 

Do you think this has happened in EVERY case in history?

Do you think these things have happened in EVERY case in history?

Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

Mathew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

Do you think these things will happen in EVERY case in history?

Well, that depends on whether or not you believe God at His Word.

He says it is coming.

Do you UNDERSTAND? The WORLD does not.

1st mention of “understand..”

Genesis 11:7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

God made sure they did NOT understand. This is something that God did!!! God GAVE it to them.

I believe UNDERSTANDING is the KEY to being a REAL CHRISTIAN.

Why do I say that?

Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Isaiah 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

 

Isaiah 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. 

If you don’t or can’t UNDERSTAND you cannot get saved.

Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

By • Christian Doctrine, Salvation • 0

The Keepers of the Law – Part 7

 

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The Keepers of the Law – Part 7

The Keepers of the Law – Part 7

Who are they that “trouble you”??  They that add works of the law to Salvation!!!

Acts 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 

Galatians 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. … 7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? … 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you. 

I am here stop 6

Otherwise minded????????

2Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent [the devil!!] beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

 

Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh (fleshly works as PROOF)? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 

 

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised (works of the law!!), Christ shall profit you nothing.

 

Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 

 

Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 

“fallen” is in the NT 17 times. Most are like this…

Luke 14:5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

Acts 27:29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

Only 2 of them really deal with NT salvation doctrine at all, these 2…

Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent (Luke 13:3,5 – except ye repent), and do the first works (i.e. John 6:28-29 GET SAVED!!!); or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place (you will cease to be a real church with a messenger angel), except thou repent.

Think possibly they are related??????? I do. And I thinks me is right.

They STOPPED PREACHING GRACE ALONE and added WORKS. How do I know they added works??

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and [then, and ONLY then – Luke 13:3-5] of faith (the door to Grace is opened) toward God,

By • Christian Doctrine, False Prophets/Doctrine, Salvation • 0

The Keepers of the Law – Part 6

 

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The Keepers of the Law – Part 6

The Keepers of the Law – Part 6

Back to 2Cor5:20 Now then we/us/YOU in the spirit are ambassadors for Christ, (we are about winning souls! As was Paul!)

as though God did beseech you by us: what????

Beseech = BEG. God is BEGGING THEM – through the ministry of reconciliation – through Paul…

we pray you in Christ’s stead, what???? We are begging you in the ministry Jesus has given us… To do what??????????????????

be ye reconciled to God. They are NOT RECONCILED!!! In context, he isn’t asking them to re-dedicate their lives.

NOPE, He is begging them to GET SAVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then he tells them how it works!!!!!!!!

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

 

You see, they are NOT already “made the righteousness of God in him”. He is telling them how to get saved!!!!

Paul (through the Holy Ghost) uses the phrase in another place…

Romans 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 

So,,,

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

LEADS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS, LEADS IMMEDIATELY WITH NO BREAK AT ALL, TO…

2Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech (beg)  you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

This MIGHT lead one to believe they are connected.

Because they ARE CONNECTED! THEY GO HAND-IN-HAND.

Paul said… Galatians 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. 

1Thessalonians 3:5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. 

Who is the tempter??

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. … 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

What was Paul afraid of?????????

2Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent [the devil, the tempter!!] beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

He was afraid that his labour would be IN VAIN!!!!!

1Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 

How could one “believe IN VAIN”, something they “received”?????

Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

If YOU have to WORK for it – then Jesus is dead IN VAIN TO YOU!!

Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 

Who are they that “trouble you”??  They that add works of the law to Salvation!!!

Acts 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 

Galatians 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. … 7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? … 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you. 

By • Christian Doctrine, False Prophets/Doctrine, Salvation • 0

The Keepers of the Law – Part 5

 

Downloadable Word document:
The Keepers of the Law – Part 5

The Keepers of the Law – Part 5

BUT —– How can someone “RECEIVE” GRACE – IN VAIN!!!!????

Well, I would say that somebody GAVE them GRACE, they heard it (“received” it), but they still trusted in THE LAW (WORKS), which makes that receiving of grace (by faith alone) IN VAIN!!!!!

You say, where is THAT in The Book?

How’s about RIGHT IN THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT!!!!!!!

Look what is PERFECTLY, EXACTLY, IMMEDIATELY RIGHT BEFORE 2 Corinthians 6:1…

2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

v18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled (past tense) us/YOU in the spirit to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us/YOU in the spirit the ministry of reconciliation; 

We get reconciled/saved (get wisdom). Then we reconcile/lead others to Christ (give wisdom).

THE MINISTRY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST (IN THE SPIRIT-we ARE in the spirit) IS RECONCILIATION OF THE LOST (those still in the flesh!!!!!!) TO GOD!!!!!!!!!

v19 To wit, that God was (doing) — in Christ,(by using Jesus) — reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us/YOU, the YOU in the spirit – the word of reconciliation.

WE, the true body of Christ, are the ONLY people that can correctly utilize THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION.

WE, the true body of Christ, are the ONLY people that can LEAD OTHERS TO JESUS.

WE, the true body of Christ, are the ONLY people that can SHOW OTHERS HOW TO LIVE IN THE SPIRIT!

“live” + “spirit” on 5 times in the same verse in The Bible. Here are ALL 5…

Isaiah 38:16 O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.

Ezekiel 37:14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

Roman 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit (AND  WE ABSOLUTELY DO!!!!!), then… let us [i.e. WE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD – NOT we absolutely must] also walk in the Spirit.

1Peter 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

The only 5

Back to 2Cor5:20 Now then we/us/YOU in the spirit are ambassadors for Christ, (we are about winning souls! As was Paul!)

as though God did beseech you by us: what????

Beseech = BEG. God is BEGGING THEM – through the ministry of reconciliation – through Paul…

we pray you in Christ’s stead, what???? We are begging you in the ministry Jesus has given us… To do what??????????????????

be ye reconciled to God. They are NOT RECONCILED!!! In context, he isn’t asking them to re-dedicate their lives.

NOPE, He is begging them to GET SAVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then he tells them how it works!!!!!!!!

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

By • Christian Doctrine, Salvation • 0

The Keepers of the Law – Part 4

 

Downloadable Word document:
The Keepers of the Law – Part 4

The Keepers of the Law – Part 4

those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man

murders –

1John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer

You don’t have to actually MURDER – you just have to CONCEIVE IT IN YOUR HEART!!!

fornications –

You don’t have to actually fornicate. You just have to BE ABLE TO CONCEIVE IT IN YOUR HEART!!

Adam and Eve didn’t know they were naked – until they were sinners.

They ABSOLUTELY WERE naked. But they DID NOT UNDERSTAND.

They were naked BEFORE and there was no shame/sin. NOW, they were ashamed.

thefts –

Ever see something of value sitting by itself. You think “I could steal that”.

You don’t, of course, because you’re better than that, right?

But you THOUGHT IT, just for an instant. You CONCEIVED IT!

Of course, sometimes it doesn’t have to have much value for you to THINK IT.

You wouldn’t REALLY consider it then, because IT IN’T WORTH IT. It isn’t worth getting caught. But you thought it. Even if just for an instant.

Now, let’s say it is a billion dollars. And all u have to do is push a button. And nobody would ever know.

Would you be enticed???? “I would never!!!!”, the prideful say. Wouldn’t have to. But you considered it. U were enticed.

James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Not that it MIGHT bringeth forth sin. “IT BRINGETH FORTH SIN” ALWAYS, WITHOUT DOUBT!!!

Look at the progression…

  1. He is TEMPTED. (something pops up. An opportunity.)
  2. He is drawn away LUSTING. (I want that. Thou shalt not covet.)
  3. He is ENTICED. (Should I do it?)

2Chronicle 18:19 And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. 20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.

  1. THEN that lust is CONCEIVED. (Prevails!)
  2. THEN IT BRINGS FORTH SIN. (You did wrong)
  3. THEN when it is FINISHED it [always] brings death.

With this progression, once it has CONCEIVED – IT IS TOO LATE!!!!

Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 

Now, maybe, in another life, Ananias and Sapphira don’t do it. Maybe they just CONCEIVE IT.

But, even that “BRINGETH FORTH SIN”. ALWAYS!!!!

The point??????

If you CAN CONCEIVE OF SIN then whether or not you execute it ‘that time’ doesn’t matter. You will. Without doubt.

Someday. Sometime. Somehow. Someway. No chance you won’t.

Why??? Because you are CAPABLE OF SIN. That’s what your CONCEPTION of sin proves. There is your PROOF!

false witness –This is simple. Do you ever THINK about lying? Ever, for a monent, consider it?Of course you do. Even if you reject it.

Thus you are a false witness that CANNOT be 100% trustworthy, reliable and with the IMPOSSIBILTY OF SIN.

blasphemies – What does it take to commit blasphemy??

1Timothy 6:1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

2Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 

Let’s see the companion passage in Mark…

Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do (works). 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition (good works). …13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. 14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him (WORDS and thoughts of the heart!!), those are they that defile the man. 

v17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. 18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 

v23 All these evil things (which includes thoughts of ALL OF these things) come from within (the heart and out of the mouth), and defile the man. 

If you can even THINK TO DO these things, you are a SINNER and will NEVER be allowed into Heaven.

So, it leads to this…

VANITY!!! Pride. Worthlessness. In your SINFUL STATE you are worthless.

Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

1Corinthians 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Titus 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision (law):

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Last one…

2Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

By • Christian Doctrine, Salvation • 0

The Keepers of the Law – Part 3

 

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The Keepers of the Law – Part 3

The Keepers of the Law – Part 3

We are His FINISHED WORK!!!!!!!!

Colosians 2:10 And ye are complete in him (IN JESUS, IN CHRIST, IN GRACE – having gone through the door “of faith”), which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom (IN JESUS, IN HIS BODY)  also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh (Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you) by the circumcision of Christ (Hence, the Sprit of God is IN YOU, but IN YOUR SPIRIT YOU – NOT YOUR FLESH YOU!!!! That’s what circumcision does. It puts off the body. That aint you any more! Thank God!!!! Not until you and I get new SINLESS bodies someday.) 12 Buried with him in baptism (spiritual baptism, you WERE DEAD -, BURIED UNDER THE WATER!! NOW YOU HAVE RISEN!!!!!), wherein also ye are risen (past tense) with him through the (“door of” faith) of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being (currently in this state right now) dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened (raised, made alive, RISEN ALREADY!!) together with him, having forgiven you (where are YOU? Not in the FLESH, but in the SPIRIT!!!)  all trespasses (so, where are all of your trespasses ALREADY FORGIVEN??? In the SPIRIT, NOT IN THE FLESH!! That’s why we still ask forgiveness IN THE FLESH but NOT IN THE SPIRIT!!); 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us/”YOU”, which are in the spirit, which was contrary to us/”YOU”, which are in the spirit, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 THEREFORE, because of ALL of that which Paul just told you… Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink (the law), or in respect of an holyday (the law), or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days (the law): 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of [fallen] angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind

I am here stop 2

Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

I want to pause and look at this passage…

Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 

v10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 

v11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 

Well, let’s ask ourselves, what comes out of our MOUTHS??????  Carbon Dioxide (mostly), Spit, Bad breath.

Somehow, I don’t think that’s what Jesus was referring to.  What else comes out of your mouth?   WORDS!!

“that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man”

Matthew 12:35 A good man {how does one become “a good man”…  out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

 

Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. (what is this??) 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. 33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. And WHAT has Jesus been talking about???? WORDS!!!! Not works!!!!

“that which cometh out of the mouth (WORDS), this defileth a man”

Back to… Matthew 15:12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 

Yes they were. Because Jesus was denouncing their WORKS/

v13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 

v14 Let them alone: ——  they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. 

v15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 

v16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? We are going to get to “understanding”real soon 

v17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 

v18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 

v19 For out of the heart proceed… evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,blasphemies: 

v20 These are the things which defile a man (but they are WORDS???!!!): but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. (not WORKS!)

evil thoughts – There is a reason this is listed FIRST. It is about our THOUGHTS.

Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 

All of the sudden they COULD have EVIL THOUGHTS. They COULD NOT before. Didn’t even know they were naked!!!

Would you?

I switched the order a BIT to make my point…

adulteries –

Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 

those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man

murders –

1John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer

You don’t have to actually MURDER – you just have to CONCEIVE IT IN YOUR HEART!!!

By • Christian Doctrine, Salvation • 0

The Keepers of the Law – Part 2

 

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The Keepers of the Law – Part 2

The Keepers of the Law – Part 2

So did (The Lord through) Paul – deal with this works of the Law false doctrine

Saved by MERCY, Not by works I’ve done but works JESUS FINISHED! Im justified by GRACE–not WORKS of the law. Im free. Good works r profitable-not necessary. Tit3:5-8

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 

Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. 

“believe..” 318 times Let’s see what it means.

1st mention – Genesis 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

What is the story? What is the context?

Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 

Genesis 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. 

There was no OTHER action required. There was no other WORK required. None, right?? I mean, just believe what God said. God didn’t ask him to DO ANYTHING. Except believe.

But, get this…

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 

“faith” is in The Bible 247 times. 245 of them are in the NEW TESTAMENT!

That leaves 2 – and only 2 – for the entire OLD Testament. And, here they are…

Deuteronomy 32:20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

That’s it. The Jews, God’s chosen people, had NO FAITH!!!

Hence, they COULD NOT LIVE. THEY WERE DEAD AND COULD NOT LIVE. Why? Habakkuk 2:4!!!!

THEN, in the NT “faith” is there 245 times. That is a 122.5 to 1 ratio. That is a 12,250% increase.

In the OT faith is basically NON-EXISTENT.

It shows up BIG TIME in the NT.

“faith is”, the exact phrase is in The Bible 9 times…

2nd mention… (1st is not hurtful but not helpful – just inapplicable here)

2 – Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

And 6 of the other 7…

3 – Romans 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

4 – Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

What does this say??????

If it is “not of faith” IT IS SIN. “Of faith” is in The Bible 33 times…

1st 4…

Acts 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

Acts 14:27  And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

The door?????

John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. … 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Hence, “the door of faith” is JESUS, through which we get salvation.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through (the door of) faith (faith is the door to GRACE); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast (that would be pride). So, what of works?? 10 For we are his workmanship (we ARE HIS WORK!!), created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

We are His FINISHED WORK!!!!!!!!

Colosians 2:10 And ye are complete in him (IN JESUS, IN CHRIST, IN GRACE – having gone through the door “of faith”), which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom (IN JESUS, IN HIS BODY)  also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh (Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you) by the circumcision of Christ (Hence, the Sprit of God is IN YOU, but IN YOUR SPIRIT YOU – NOT YOUR FLESH YOU!!!! That’s what circumcision does. It puts off the body. That aint you any more! Thank God!!!! Not until you and I get new SINLESS bodies someday.) 12 Buried with him in baptism (spiritual baptism, you WERE DEAD -, BURIED UNDER THE WATER!! NOW YOU HAVE RISEN!!!!!), wherein also ye are risen (past tense) with him through the (“door of” faith) of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being (currently in this state right now) dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened (raised, made alive, RISEN ALREADY!!) together with him, having forgiven you (where are YOU? Not in the FLESH, but in the SPIRIT!!!)  all trespasses (so, where are all of your trespasses ALREADY FORGIVEN??? In the SPIRIT, NOT IN THE FLESH!! That’s why we still ask forgiveness IN THE FLESH but NOT IN THE SPIRIT!!); 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us/”YOU”, which are in the spirit, which was contrary to us/”YOU”, which are in the spirit, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 THEREFORE, because of ALL of that which Paul just told you… Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink (the law), or in respect of an holyday (the law), or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days (the law): 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of [fallen] angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind

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The Keepers of the Law – Part 1

 

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The Keepers of the Law – Part 1

The Keepers of the Law – Part 1

Romans 10:1  Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Romans 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Romans 10:5  For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Romans 10:6  But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7  Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9  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. 10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Can u KEEP THE WHOLE LAW, PERFECTLY, like Jesus did?

John 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

Galatians 6:13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Nope, YOU cannot keep the Law! In fact, u can’t even do a single good work. Rom3:10-12,Ps14:1-3

Psalms 14:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Psalms 14:4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.

Romans 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Here is a picture of mankind…

Romans 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

So, u r fallen from grace! Gal5:3-4.

Galatians 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

I am not under the Law. I am under grace!

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

I am saved by GRACE GIVEN TO ME, not by MY works 2Tim1:9 One has either Grace or Works. Not both. Never both. Rom11:6 Which do you have?

2Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

…………..

Jesus fulfilled the Law for me! But not for you!

John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who (do, by default) walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh [did!], and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

…

Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

…………..

The law is BONDAGE under the OLD covenant. From the Bondwoman Hagar. Thats u. I’m FREEEEEEEEE! Gal4:21-26. U’ll die in ur sins–in works of the law.

Galatians 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

The Apostles dealt with this works of the Law false doctrine

Acts 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

Acts 15:25  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

Acts 15:26  Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 15:27  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

Acts 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Acts 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

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The Lord’s Work – Part 55

 

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The Lord’s Work – Part 55

The Lord’s Work – Part 55

By the mouth of witnesses, shall a man that is worthy of death be put to death.

The last witness that will be called is the witness of your own mouth.

By your own words, without even knowing it, you will testify against yourself.

How does this work exactly? How does a man’s own mouth testify against himself? How does a man condemn himself? …  By judging other men.

Romans 2:1  Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

How do you condemn yourself? In that you have judged another based on the things he did, condemning him for his works, while you do the SAME THINGS, you’ve condemned yourself.

If you judge others worthy of death based on their sins/works, while you do the SAME THINGS… You have condemned yourself with your own judgment, proceeding of your own mouth.

You will be judged by your own mouth. You will be judged by your own WORDS.

Matthew 7:1-2  Judge not, that ye be not judged.  2  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

On that day, the Lord will reveal how you judged others in your heart. However you judged others, you will be judged. Whether you condemned your brother, or shewed him mercy, you will be judged with the same judgment.

Based on how you condemned them, you will condemn yourself with your own mouth.

After the judgment that you judge, you will be judged:

If your neighbor’s eternal life is based on HIS works…

If your neighbor can go to Hell based on HIS works…

If Jesus Christ is of no effect unto your neighbor because of HIS works…

If your neighbor has to put away all HIS sins to get into heaven…

If your neighbor has to live the rest of HIS life for the Lord and never turn back…

If your neighbor has to work to prove HIMSELF…

If your neighbor has to be good and without sin, and perfectly righteous in the flesh to ascend into heaven… then you will be held to that same standard/judgment.

If you condemn other men as sinners based on their works, you will be judged as a sinner based on your works. And because you do the SAME THINGS as those who you’ve condemned, you’ve condemned yourself.

He will take your own words, out of your own mouth, and He will try you with your own judgment.

Romans 1:32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death…

You knew, your own mouth said it, that God is righteous to judge the wicked, and yet you have been shown to be wicked.

You knew, your own mouth said it, that God was going to destroy sinners, and yet by the law, you’ve been convinced as a sinner.

You knew, your own mouth confessed it, that unbelievers were going to be destroyed, and yet by the NT, you’ve been tried by the gospel and found to be an unbeliever.

You knew, your own mouth testified it, that God was going to destroy those that do such evil things, and yet you do the SAME THINGS.

Your own mouth has testified against you. Out of your own mouth, The Lord will judge you.

Proverbs 17:15  He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

If you do either one of these, you are an abomination to the Lord.

If you justify a sinner based on his outward works, and if you condemn a righteous man based on the outward appearance of his carnal works, this is abomination.

The abominable looks at the outward appearance of UNSAVED man and says, “Oh what a RIGHTEOUS man, that there is a real Christian, a godly man!” And yet, within, he is a wicked sinner.

The abominable looks at the outward appearance of the SAVED man and says, “Oh what a SINNER, that there is a false brother, a wicked man!” And yet, within, he is a righteous son of God.

Some you justify based on works, and others you condemn based on works. And concerning the things you condemn BY (evil works, sins), you, and all those you justify, DO THE SAME THINGS.

The Bible calls this, “wrong judgment”. Its also called “accepting persons”, or having “respect of persons” in judgment.

–

James 2:9  But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

The Lord is going to convince the ungodly of their sin, and by the words proceeding out of their own mouths, their wrong judgment is going to condemn themselves. The law will convince them that they are guilty. Guilty of the same things for which they condemned others. Their own judgment will condemn them.

If you don’t judge all men equally, yourself included, and judge all men righteously, according to the truth of the law and the truth of the gospel, you have respect of persons, and are convinced, condemned as a transgressor.

Luke 19:22  And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. …

On what basis will the Lord condemn a man? Not based on works… Based on the words that come out of the man’s own mouth. A man will be judged based on what believes in his heart and speaks out of his mouth.

Titus 3:10-11  A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;  11  Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

Words. Doctrine. A Real Christian’s doctrine justifies Jesus Christ, and only justifies a man in Jesus Christ. But the DOCTRINE of an heretick CONDEMNS HIMSELF.

There will be 2 types of people on Judgment Day. The righteous and the wicked. The saved and the lost. The converted and the subverted.

By heretical doctrine, a man is subverted, and by his own doctrine, a man condemns himself.

Acts 15:24  Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

By their own doctrine, by a doctrine leavened with WORKS, they condemn themselves.

By the same words with which they condemn others, they trouble (subvert) others, bringing them into bondage… by the same words (their own doctrine) they condemn themselves.

By the same doctrine that a man is subverted, he is condemned.

2 Peter 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

By words, by heresies, men deny the Lord. What heresies specifically?

Titus 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

They are in works. They believe in works. They judge based on works.

And yet, not a single work they’ve done will be found to be a true good work. Every single one of their good works, is reprobate (fake).

In a heretical doctrine of WORKS, they deny Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 2:12  … if we deny him, he also will deny us:

The Lord will use your own words, your own doctrine, your own damnable heresies, to condemn you.

By your heresies, by trusting not ONLY in the Lord, but in the works of your own hands (your idols), you deny Jesus Christ, and condemn your own self.

The words of their own mouths, their own doctrine, a doctrine of works, condemns themselves.

These people don’t THINK that they’ve have denied Him, they THINK that they preach good tidings.

2 Samuel 4:10  When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:

2 Samuel 1:16  And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’S anointed.

The young man thought his works were good and right. He thought David would be happy with the works that he had done and the tidings (the gospel!!) that he had given. Instead, he testified against himself.

A doctrine of works salvation, or a doctrine leavened with works, is judging your brother, based on HIS WORKS. And …

Matthew 7:2  … with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: …

The man that preaches these doctrines (brings these tidings) is an heretick. And…

Titus 3:10-11  A man that is an heretick … 11 … is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

—

Sinners are going to witness against themselves in the judgment.

Acts 18:6  And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: …

With the same words that you spoke in your heart when you heard the word of God, you will oppose yourself at your judgment.

Acts 13:45-46  But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.  46  Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Your own mouth will testify against you, that you rejected eternal life.

By your own judgment, you judged yourself unworthy of everlasting life.

James 4:11  Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

If you judge according to the law, you have made yourself a judge. You will JUDGE YOURSELF.

You will judge yourself as NOT A DOER OF THE LAW. You will judge yourself as a BREAKER of the law.

Oh yes, right now you are excusing yourself. But in judging your brother, while you do the SAME THINGS, you have… BY YOUR OWN THOUGHTS, by your own WORDS, you have judged and condemned, YOUR OWN SELF.

Matthew 7:2  … with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: …

Thus, in judging your brother, you’ve made yourself “a judge” of yourself.

Here is how its going to work for the lost:

Deuteronomy 19:16-19  If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;  17  Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;  18  And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: [they are going to find out the truth] and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;  19  Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.

Under the law, whatever you accused your brother of, if he was found innocent, you would have to receive that same punishment that he would have received.

If you condemn a righteous man (a saved man) by his outward works, your own THOUGHTS will condemn you. What you THOUGHT he was worthy of based on the appearance, while he in truth was innocent, and justified by the blood of Jesus Christ, THAT, will YOU receive.

You will get the exact punishment that you accused others of deserving. And the wages of sin is death.

A false brother judges the innocent brother, those who have liberty from the law… as guilty of sin, guilty of death. He is a false witness. And a false witness gets the punishment of the false accusation that he made.

Luke 19:22  … Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. …

Titus 3:10-11  A man that is an heretick … 11 … [is] condemned of himself.

Every man’s own mouth, every man’s own doctrine, will either witness for him to justify him, or against him to condemn him.

The wicked will be judged by his own words, and will be condemned by his own mouth.

He will be condemned, and he will be punished according to what accusation he made of his brother.

Matthew 7:2  … with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: …

But for the righteous the Bible says…

1 Corinthians 11:31-32  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  32  But when we are judged [that is, when we judge ourselves according to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ; when we judge ourselves and all mankind as wicked, and only Jesus Christ as righteous, and we only count those who are IN Jesus Christ as righteous; when we RBC], we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

If we judge ourselves based on the words of Jesus Christ alone, we will not be condemned.

John 7:24  Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Righteous judgment is to judge the spirits of men based on words, not the flesh of men based on the appearance; based on what you see with your eyes; based on outward works.

If we judge ourselves with righteous judgment, we will be judged with righteous judgment. Our words, our judgment, will justify us.

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While a wicked man is condemned by HIS words, a righteous man is JUSTIFIED by HIS words.

Romans 3:4  God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Remember: You will be judged according to your works. But you will not be judged by works.

You will be judged BY words. If the judgment is BY WORDS, then a man can only overcome in the judgment, by being justified in his sayings.

Psalms 51:4  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

In order to be clear in the judgment, you must do two things: Judge and Speak.

JUDGE righteous judgment, and SPEAK right words.

1st – In order to be clear when you judge, you must JUDGE yourself. Let God be true, and yourself a liar.

2nd – In order to be justified in thy sayings, you must SPEAK the truth of the gospel.

Christians are justified by the words that they speak. By the judgment that they judge. That is, by the doctrine that they speak. BY WORDS.

By your words you will be condemned, OR.. by your words you will be justified.

Proverbs 12:6  The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

Remember: your mouth is a tree, and your words are your fruit. A wicked man’s mouth bears no fruit.

Proverbs 14:3  In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

The righteous and the wicked are divided by the WORDS that they speak.

Revelation 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; …

If you justify yourself by anything other than by Jesus Christ and His words, you are not justified.

Your own words will testify on that day. You own mouth will testify.

So… your testimony better be the testimony of Jesus Christ.

You better…

Revelation 12:17  … have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:6  Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

Revelation 19:10  … for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

This spirit is a saved man’s testimony in that day. What is this spirit of testimony?

John 6:63  … the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

The words of the gospel that we received in our hearts, they will testify for us, that we are righteous; that we are the sons of God. We will be justified by the words of this testimony.

Romans 10:6-13  But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)  7  Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)  8  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; [those that are justified by faith, what saith they? the word of faith which we preach, what saith it?] 9  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.

A righteous man speaks this truth in his heart. This is what he confesses.

And in these sayings, he is justified.

In faith, he does ONE THING. One Work. He CALLS on Jesus with His mouth.

Romans 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Those that are justified at the judgment, this is what they SAY, and what they do NOT SAY.

They are justified by believing and confessing the WORDS of eternal life.

When the fiery heat of the word of God, by the gospel of Jesus Christ, tries them on that day, they will STAND. They will STAND by WORDS. They will stand by the word of God. They will stand, they will be justified, ONLY because they believed and confessed His words.

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Summary

What is the Lord’s work? The Lord’s work is the body of Christ. Building His house – New Jerusalem. Growing the true vine (Jesus Christ). The Lord’s work is giving Eternal Life to as many as believe on Him.

What is man’s work? Evil. At best, a carnal work is a pattern of a true good work.

Why are man’s works not counted as true good works? Because they’re fake/counterfeit/reprobate. Because they are made with hands.

What is our work? Our work is the Lord’s work. To build the house of God with wisdom.

How can we prove ourselves and prove our works? By trying our hearts with hard questions.

Where must true works be done? Not on the earth, but in heavenly places. In the Spirit. In Christ.

How will we be judged? By words, and According to our works!

What are we justified or condemned by? Not by our works. By our words!

By • Christian Doctrine, Salvation, The Judgment • 0

The Lord’s Work – Part 25

 

Downloadable Word document:
The Lord’s Work – Part 25

The Lord’s Work – Part 25

So it is not the ABCs… Instead it is the RBCs: Repent. Believe. Confess.

Rev 5:2  … repent, and do the first works; …

Repent, and do the first works: Believe and Confess. But Repentance is first.

Matthew 21:32  For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Mark 1:15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

No Repentance, no Belief.

Repent… and do the first works: Believe and Confess. That is it. That is all there is to salvation. That is all the work… that is all that is required.

But repentance is first. Once you’ve repented, then you can do the works. The simple works of believing on Christ and confessing him out of your mouth.

John 6:28-29  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?  29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Believing is a work. It is one of two first works. The other first work, is the work of confession.

Romans 10:8-13  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;  9  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.  10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

RBC – Repent, Believe, Confess.

RBC – Repent, Believe, Call.

Those are Bible words. That is a Bible defined salvation plan.

I think I would even be okay if you wanted to say RBA – Repent, Believe, Ask (151 times in the NT)

Luke 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

But you must Repent Scripturally, and Believe Scripturally, and then Confess – send the gospel out of your mouth.

 

You take the gospel, hear through your ear, hide it down in your heart, and then send it forth out of your mouth.

That is making your first acceptable offering (after the pattern of Abraham).

Those first works bring forth your first fruit.

Those works bring forth good fruit: the words of God out of your mouth (your tree).

I’m not really ready to go there and teach this fully, but its only fair I make sure you have seen this:

Proverbs 15:4  A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

A tongue… is a tree! Your tongue is a tree, planted in your heart, bringing forth your fruit.

Whatever things are in your heart, good things or evil things, that is what your tree brings forth.

There is a spirit in the heart of man. And when a man talks that spirit comes out. Either the spirit of a man, or the Spirit of God. If any perverseness is there in the words? You’ve got the wrong spirit.

Your tongue brings forth your fruit. Your things. Your tree (tongue) brings forth the things in your heart.

Matthew 12:33-37  Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.  34  O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.  35  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. [What are these good things and evil things? What are these treasures? What are these fruits? What are these things that a mouth brings forth out of a heart, as a tree brings forth FRUIT?]  36  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  37  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

This is THE interpretation, this is THE understanding of this passage.

Its not what you DO that defines what you are, its what you are that defines what you produce.

And its what you produce, what you bring forth, what words you speak, that defines what you are.

Your words are your fruit. And your words (your fruits) are how God judges you – justified or condemned.

I know we are a little off track here – but it is for a reason. We are talking about “good things”.  And this is the understanding of true “good things” and evil things. True “good things” are good WORDS, the WORDS of eternal life. A man has never done a true “good thing” until he has brought forth good fruit, good words out of his mouth.

Hebrews 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Your lips bring forth your fruit. If your mouth is a tree of life, it brings forth fruit for others to eat, resulting in them have life in themselves. When you speak with your mouth, when you bring forth your wisdom, you feed others with your fruit.

Proverbs 10:21  The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

Your words are your fruit. Your words are your finished works.

Your words are your sacrifice. Your words are how you serve God. Your words are how you serve others. Your words give life, or your words give death. LITERALLY!!

Your words are what feeds others. Your words are your own food too. Your words will feed you for eternity.

Proverbs 13:2  A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

Proverbs 14:14  The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

Proverbs 1:30-31  They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.  31  Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

James 3:18  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

When you take your fruit and sow it in another man’s heart, what do you think it brings forth? Exactly what it is supposed to: It brings forth after its kind!

Isaiah 61:3  … that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Proverbs 11:30  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

That is what a good tree brings forth: other trees of life. Are you a good tree, or an evil tree?

What are you feeding men with? What is your sacrifice? What are your first fruits? What are your first works to the Lord?

We could go into this deeper, but that should be sufficient to introduce the topic and prove the point.

Man’s things are his fruits. Man’s things are the words of his mouth. The tongue is a tree bringing forth “things”. The words of eternal life are true “good things”.

And… in addition to the mouth being a tree… It is also a well:

Proverbs 10:11  The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

Proverbs 18:4  The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

The mouth, is a well! Your mouth is a well, dug down deep in your heart, bringing forth your waters.

Whatever sort of things (words, spirit, life (John 6:63), bread, meat, water, fruit) are in your heart, that is the sort that your mouth brings forth: good or evil.

Proverbs 20:5  Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

This is why we ask those 2 HARD QUESTIONS. We have to draw out their water, their spirit, their fruit, their “things”. Why? Because by their fruits ye shall know them. And your WORDS are your FRUIT.

The words of life proceeding out of your tree (mouth), this PROVES you a tree of life: a good tree.

But perverseness, confusion, or a false gospel, or a mixture of things, proceeding out of your tree (mouth), proves you a tree of death: a corrupt tree.

A sinner’s salvation prayer is good fruit (a “good thing”) proceeding from a good tree.

You never need to speak another good thing to prove yourself. The good fruit of a tree of life came out once. The tree produced good fruit. And if a tree bears good fruit,

1 – we know the sort it does produce,

2 – we know the sort it does not produce – it cannot bear evil fruit.

Good things.. are good fruits!

Romans 6:20-22  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.  21  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? [What things? Just the bad things? No. All carnal things. Good and evil.] for the end of those things is death. [evil fruit always results in sin, and sin when it is finished brings forth, and goes to, death. There was no fruit in the things ] 22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Before salvation, you could not bring forth good fruit. Because… You did not have the words of eternal life. You hadn’t yet believed them or spoken them (the first works). So before salvation, you could not have brought forth good fruit unto everlasting life. You were free from it.

You could never give eternal life: you never could do or bring forth a true “good thing”. You didn’t even HAVE “good things”.

None of your “good works” brought forth anything other than evil fruit.

None of your “good works” resulted in anything other than to death.

John 15:4-5  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

An OT saint, or any man outside of Christ, or any Christian’s outward man today, cannot produce good things / good fruit. Nothing he can bring forth will result in anything other than death and corruption.

Jude 1:12  …trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

What you brought forth before you got saved was fruit, but not good fruit.

What is a natural man’s fruit? Their fruit is NOTHING.

Matthew 21:19  And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

Hosea 9:16  Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.

The world brings forth things. The world brings forth fruit. But it is fruit that withers, it is called “no fruit”. Their fruit is called “nothing”.

The world brings forth things, but only in figure, in shadow. Certainly not GOOD things.

The world’s fruit is NO thing.

John 15:5  … for without me ye can do nothing.

In fact… Less than nothing.

Isaiah 40:17  All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

You didn’t think there was anything less than nothing did you? Well there is. And guess what?!?

You’re IT! YOU are it. YOU are less than nothing. Without Christ, you are less than nothing. You weigh less than nothing. You are lighter than vanity.

Psalms 62:9  Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

You are lighter than vanity, emptiness, nothing.

Job 35:7-8  If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?  8  Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

Our carnal righteousnesses cannot profit a spiritual God, or a spiritual man. Man has never given God anything by his works. He’s never brought forth good fruit for God. Not since Adam fell. What fruit has man brought forth for God? The Lord rejected Cain’s fruits of the earth.

If you are not saved, a spiritual new creature, you’ve never done one single good work that profited God. Never brought forth one fruit that profited Him. Not one “good thing”. Not one. You’ve done nothing. That is all man’s flesh can bring forth: nothing.

John 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

The Spirit profits. The words of God profit. But the flesh does not profit.

Nothing that proceeds from your flesh provides any profit.

Consider the parable of the talents and pounds. Men are judged based on what profit they make.

You can’t just give back what He gave you. You need to use it to gain more talent/pounds. God requires an increase. A profit.

Think of the parable of the Sower. You can’t just give back the seed. You must use it to grow a tree and bring forth fruit.

And what is the seed?

Luke 8:11  … The seed is the word of God.

You need to take the word of God, and use it to bring forth an increase, a profit.

You will be judged by how you handled the word of God, and whether you faithfully used HIS words (His fruit) out of HIS mouth, to bring forth a profit, an increase, a fruitful harvest of your own words (your own fruit) out of your own mouth.

John 15:4-5  … for without me ye can do nothing.

John 6:63  … the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Without Jesus Christ, without the true spiritual fruit, you cannot profit God.

You’ve profited him nothing. Less than nothing! You wasted his goods.

All you have to do to be saved is believe, and bring forth the words of eternal life out of your mouth.

That’s all: words. We are saved by WORDS. The only works are believing and speaking those WORDS.

Romans 4:6  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

2 Timothy 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Titus 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

True righteousness does not come from man’s flesh. Man has no ability to work true righteousness.

True righteousness only comes from Jesus Christ. And our works, outside of Jesus Christ, are nothing. Less than nothing to the Lord. Nothing we could work in our flesh could be counted righteous.

Thus, salvation is not by works, but by faith. Only faith in the Word of God can be counted for righteousness. And the only works are believing and confessing the Word of God, by the gospel.

After those (first) works are done, there are NO MORE WORKS.

Romans 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: … no more work.

The world is all about actions. Works. The doctrine of the false prophets is always based on WORKS. For them, words alone, are just not enough.

To the false prophets: Words alone are just not enough to be saved, to stay saved, to prove that you are saved. You have to do some MORE WORK!

By • Christian Doctrine, Salvation • 0

The Lord’s Work – Part 24

 

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The Lord’s Work – Part 24

The Lord’s Work – Part 24

It is … Repent Believe Confess.

Repent of your works.

Believe unto righteousness.

Confess the gospel record of the Lord Jesus Christ.

RBC.

You say, “Is it really that big of a deal? We are trying to make it simple here. Is repentance really that important?”

Luke 13:3  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 13:5  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

It doesn’t say Receive, or Accept. It says Repent. If you don’t Repent, you cannot be saved.

The problem with the ABCs is there is no Repentance. If you follow the ABCs then you haven’t Repented – changed your mind. If you haven’t Repented of your WORKS (not sins), you haven’t understood the truth. If you don’t Repent, then you cannot Believe the gospel. A doesn’t come before B. R does.

Well maybe we just say Accept or Admit, but we MEAN Repent?

Don’t do it. Don’t go there! Don’t allow it. Don’t allow yourself or anyone else to change God’s words and God’s requirements so they will sound better or fit into a more easily understood pattern.

RBC may not be catchy or cool, it may not fit man’s logic, but its what God requires. Its what is acceptable to Him.

What this results in is people not having changed their minds. They “accept Jesus”, but they didn’t repent. They didn’t understand or believe anything different, so all they are doing is turning from their sins, and trying Jesus. Dedicating their life to Jesus. Committing to live for Him.

They admit their sins, they confess their sins, they turn from their sins.

And they are “saved”… so long as they stay clean… so long as they maintain that “changed life” and stay the course on that “new journey”.

Ask them what happens if they turn back? “Oh.. I better not!”

Well that isn’t MY GOSPEL. That isn’t MY JESUS… They’ve accepted “another gospel”, “another Jesus”. We meet these people all the time. When we prove them (test them) with hard questions, they get the hard questions wrong! They believe a false gospel, and the reason is that they haven’t Repented of their works.

Romans 10:2-3  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  3  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

If you don’t Repent, you can’t be saved.

The problem with these plans is not that they don’t teach that you have to “repent”. Its that they take Repentance out as a FOUNDATIONAL part of salvation. If they put Repent in there, then people would search the Bible for “Repent”, and perhaps find out what the word “repent” truly means. To change one’s mind. To soften the heart. To soften the heart so that one CAN receive (hear, understand) and believe the gospel.

If they put Admit in there, then people either don’t get saved, or don’t really understand their salvation. How can they search the Scriptures, when “admit” is not in the Bible?

If they put R in there as a foundational part, then people would search the Bible for “Repent”, and perhaps find out what we are supposed to repent FROM, and what we are supposed to repent TO.

Hebrews 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 Timothy 2:25-26  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

We are told that repentance is to be FROM works, and repent TO the truth. To acknowledge the truth.

We ARE         NOT told to repent FROM sins, or repent TO a life of serving God and others.

Mankind is Satan’s prisoners. Turning from your sin doesn’t make you free from Satan’s snares of death. The truth is what MAKES (not just sets) you free.

You need to repent to understand the truth.

If you don’t Repent, it doesn’t matter what you pray – Accept, Admit, Acknowledge, Allow, or Agree with. It doesn’t matter what you confess. The Lord won’t hear you.

Psalms 66:18  If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

When they confess with their mouths, the Lord does not hear them.

No matter how sincere they are, or what words they pray, the Lord will not hear them. Why? They regard iniquity in their heart!

Well who regards iniquity in their hearts? Uhh… everyone does! False brethren do! They work iniquity, and they regard their own works.

Luke 16:15  And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Everyone thinks that they have at least some good things proceeding from their heart. Everyone thinks that they have good things in them. Certainly I have some good things to offer Jesus.

I’ll get rid of these sins, and I’ll just do the good things from now on.

Matthew 23:28  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

If we are filled (full), then logically, there is no room for anything else.  There’s no room for good.

If we regard the (evil) things in our heart as good, then the Lord will not hear us.

Job 35:13  Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

If you put your works (your iniquity) into your salvation, it leavens the doctrine. And if you put your dead works, vain works into your salvation prayer, it becomes sin:

Psalms 109:7  When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.

Proverbs 28:9  He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

“That’s not me”, nearly everyone will say. “Oh yeah, I don’t turn away from the law. I hear the law!”

Do you?? “Yeah, like when I hear the law say ‘thou shalt not kill’, then, I don’t kill!”

No, that is not hearing the law!

Galatians 4:21-23  Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?  22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid [the law], the other by a freewoman [NT Salvation in Christ].  23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

We have people ask, “… then why did Jesus say that we should obey the law?”

Tell me.. Do you not hear the law?? Clearly you don’t… Because the law is not eternal life. The law is bondage!

Hagar is the law – the bondwoman. Sarah is New Jerusalem – the free woman.

Which do you need to be born of? WHERE do you need to be born?

Galatians 4:25-26  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.  26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Galatians 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

It doesn’t matter one lick, if you “hear” the law and believe the OT and try to keep the 10 commandments, if you don’t understand what the law really is. The law is bondage! The law is a curse!

If you haven’t understood the bondage of the law, and the liberty of the gospel of Jesus Christ, how Jesus came to make us free from the law and free from sin, then you haven’t “HEARD the law!” You’ve turned your ear AWAY from the law.

And so, your prayer is become sin. Your prayer is not heard.

Proverbs 28:9  He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

Psalms 66:18  …the Lord will not hear [him]

You have got to reject EVERYTHING that is in your heart. You’ve got to be completely humbled.

Psalms 102:17  He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

If there is anything in your heart (full of iniquity) that you regard (value/respect/esteem), The Lord will not hear you.

Humility and rejection of self must be present with repentance. What are we repenting of? Of there being anything good in ourselves. We are repenting of our works. We are repenting of our selves.

We have to “change our mind” regarding who we are, and who Jesus is.

We have to “change our mind” from our works to His works.

1 Peter 5:5  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

If you can’t humble yourself to change your mind (repentance), you will not receive grace.

The #1 reason men don’t get saved is lack of understanding.

And the #1 reason can’t understand is pride. Pride in them, and pride in their teachers.

Job 22:29  When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

You say, “these people are humble. They are so sorrowful and broken when they prey.”

No. They may seem to be. They think they are. But they are retaining their pride. They think some of their works are good. So they’ve only confessed their evil works (their sins), not all their works.

Humility is not “I’m sorry for my sins, I promise to do better..”

Humility is “I am wicked. All my righteousnesses are as filthy rags.”

Understanding in humility is “I need to be given righteousness, born righteous, because all my works are abominations. I cannot do righteousness, I cannot be righteous. I repent of myself.”

Here is how Job said it:

Job 42:6  Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Not I abhor my sins. I abhor myself.

By • Christian Doctrine, Salvation • 0

The Lord’s Work – Part 23

 

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The Lord’s Work – Part 23

The Lord’s Work – Part 23

We have often used the analogy of setting a free gift down on the table, and then we say that all a man has to do is reach out and take it (receive it). But I don’t think that is Scripturally accurate. You cannot just receive the gift, its not available to just take it. One must first Repent Believe and Confess, and then it is GIVEN to you. But you can’t just receive/take it. You have to ASK for it.

Matthew 7:8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Luke 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

You must ask in faith, “nothing wavering”, or you won’t receive anything of the Lord.

James 1:5-7  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

Mark 11:24  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

But if when you ask for eternal life, if you don’t believe that you will receive it.. then you ought not think that you will receive anything of the Lord.

If you don’t believe that when you pray, that at that same moment you receive the Holy Ghost (eternal life, eternal security), then you won’t receive anything of the Lord.

You might receive something, but it won’t be from the Lord.

And how can you believe that you receive eternal life at the moment you ask in faith, if you haven’t repented? You can’t. You’ll believe something.. but the wrong thing. “another gospel”.

Matthew 21:32  For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Acts 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized [with the Holy Ghost – i.e. die with Christ, get saved] every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Repentance has to be first, or you won’t receive anything from the Lord.

We repent and get saved FOR the remission of sins.

We don’t repent so that we can have help against our sins.

We repent, so that we can DIE to sins. We are washed clean, then we die (with Christ), we are born again of God, in heaven, without the ability to sin.

Acts 19:2  He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Believing comes before receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.

But they had already “believed”. Well then what did they believe? They believed something else. They believed John’s baptism. But not the gospel of Jesus Christ. They hadn’t repented to believe that yet. They hadn’t even heard of it yet. So how could they receive the gift before they believed? They had already admitted they were sinners and believed SOMETHING. But they still hadn’t received the gift. Because you can’t receive the gift before you believe the gospel. R must come before B.

John 7:37-39  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  39  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

When the Holy Ghost is given, this is receiving the gift. But believing is before receiving (the gift), and repenting is before believing.

1 Peter 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Salvation is what we Receive AFTER we Repent and have Faith in Christ.

You can try to “Receive” Jesus all you want, and you may receive something, but nothing that you receive will be from the Lord until you RBC. You will receive “another Jesus”.

You can try to “Receive” the Holy Spirit all you want, and you may receive something, but nothing that you receive will be from the Lord until you RBC. You will receive “another spirit”.

You will not be given the gift, you will not receive eternal life, until you R-B-C.

An offering to the Lord has to be perfect to be accepted. If you change things, mix things, add things, or subtract things, then the sacrifice of your lips is not acceptable. You won’t receive the Holy Ghost.

If what you speak is your offering, and what you offer must be perfect to be accepted, then you better offer HIS words.

How can you add your own, or choose your own, and expect that it will be accepted of Him?

Receive/Accept/Admit… this is not the way the Bible teaches it.

The issue is not that if you teach it this way someone CANNOT POSSIBLY get saved.

I think if you were careful to teach salvation by grace through faith with the only works being believe and confess, with no added works, no living for God, no works as proof, someone could still get saved. But they would have to still Repent of works, even though you didn’t specifically tell them to Repent.

They would have to soften their hearts, change their minds to believe the RECORD of Jesus Christ.

The issue is that if you allow words like Accept, Admit, or Receive instead of Repent, then you can easily teach a false doctrine. And that is exactly how they’ve done it.

“Lets just agree that ‘accept’ is close enough to Repent… Agreed? So then, now we can say that ‘We have to ACCEPT Jesus as the Lord of our lives’.”

“Lets just agree that ‘receive’ is close enough to Repent… Agreed? So then, now we can say that ‘We have to RECEIVE Jesus into our hearts’.”

Neither of those is true. Jesus is Lord of all living things either way, whether or not you choose to give your life to Him. And a saved man has Christ in his heart regardless of whether or not he invited or asked Jesus to come into his heart.

But what have you done here? You’ve added another work. A work that, logically could be reversed, if desired.

I gave my life to Christ, but its my life, so what if I take it back? I could decide to live my life for myself instead of for Him.

I let Jesus into my heart, but its my heart, so what if I open the door and kick him back out?

If Repent means to turn from my sins, then what happens when I turn back to my sins?

That is what Satan did with the Bible, and its what he’s done with the gospel as well. Changed it into another gospel. Changed it into a lie.

I want to show you that I’m not exaggerating. I want to show you what happens when you begin to change the words that God uses.

https://teenmissions.org/ABCs%20of%20Salvation%20Teaching%20:%20Lesson%20Notes.pdf

So I hope you can see how that, if you begin to add, subtract, or change the steps, the requirements for receiving the gospel, accepting eternal life, it allows the whole thing to be corrupted.

By • Christian Doctrine, Salvation • 0

The Lord’s Work – Part 22

 

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The Lord’s Work – Part 22

The Lord’s Work – Part 22

James 2:21-23  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  22  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  23  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Abraham’s faith is the pattern of our faith. He is called “the father of all them that believe”.

Abraham didn’t have to commit his life to God and live his whole life serving others.  But He had to make a sacrifice.

A person is not saved until he makes this sacrifice to COMPLETE his faith. But once he makes that offering, he is done. He is “complete in Him” (Col 2:10). His faith is counted for righteousness.

You can’t just sacrifice YOUR sacrifice. It has to be HIS sacrifice.

You can’t just sacrifice YOUR words. They have to be HIS words.

You can’t just mix your words in with His words. God HATES mixing things that are not alike!

If you mix in your words with His words, then your sacrifice, your prayer, becomes SIN!

So, do you really think God is okay with it (do you think He accepts it?) if we DEFINE and teach salvation with a word like “Admit” or “Accept”, that God does not require? If you offer him words that are not right, how can He accept them?

And if what you offer to God is not the right thing, but a corrupt thing… will He accept it?

Malachi 1:13-14  … and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.  14  But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

Jeremiah 48:10  Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, …

What is this lesson / series titled? The Lord’s Work.

The only way a man can do “the work of the Lord” is the speak the words of God out of his mouth. To speak the gospel. That’s how you offer to the Lord. That’s how you give eternal life and health to men.

But if you do this work of the Lord (speaking the Lord’s words) deceitfully, if there is iniquity in your mouth, if you mix in your own words, if you mix in your own WORDS, you bring a curse upon yourself, and not a blessing.

You don’t understand how incredibly important your words are.

Proverbs 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

You can literally give eternal life or you can give eternal death, out of your mouth. Your words are your fruit. What you give to men will be rewarded to you again.

Proverbs 18:7  A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

Proverbs 12:13  The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

Proverbs 13:3  He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Proverbs 21:23  Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Proverbs 10:19  In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

Your words are how God judges you.

Matthew 12:37  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

The only thing that will determine your eternal destination, is your words.

A wise man will set a watch at the door of his mouth, so that no iniquity goes out of it.

Psalms 39:1  … I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

Psalms 141:3  Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

A man needs to VERY CAREFUL what words, what works, come out of his mouth.

A salvation prayer cannot have iniquity in it. If there is anything perverse in it, the prayer becomes sin. The prayer is not acceptable to the Lord.

Proverbs 10:32  The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

If your mouth doesn’t know what is acceptable, thus it does not speak what is ACCEPTABLE to the Lord, then you are not righteous.

If you speak frowardness (backward, wrong), then how can God accept it? If there is anything corrupt in your offering, it won’t be accepted.

Leviticus 22:24-25  Ye shall not offer unto the LORD that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land.  25  Neither from a stranger’s hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, and blemishes be in them: they shall not be accepted for you.

Leviticus 22:21  … it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.

It isn’t required that YOU accept Christ. It is required that HE accepts YOUR OFFERING… that He ACCEPTS YOU. You better learn what is acceptable, and speak THAT out of your lips.

And here is what is acceptable: PERFECTION.

Your offering must be JESUS CHRIST. Not yourself.

But if you Commit your life to Christ, you haven’t offered Jesus Christ to God, you’ve offered yourself to God.

2 Corinthians 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

There is a time and a way win which The Lord will accept men.

If the wrong man approaches unto God, or if a man approaches to God at the wrong time, or in the wrong place, or with the wrong sacrifice, or with any corruption in him (Lev 21:16-23), he is not accepted. He is rejected. Because he is not acceptable.

You are not commanded to “accept Christ” in Scripture. Rather, you need to be accepted of Him. You need to be acceptable to God. How do you make yourself acceptable to God? The answer is: You don’t!

Ephesians 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Jesus Christ makes us acceptable. He is the offering. We eat of Him, and we are made partakers of the offering. (1 Cor 10:18)

In His GRACE, we are made acceptable to Him. And now, the things we bring forth, the sacrifices we make, are acceptable to the Lord.

1 Peter 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Romans 14:18  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

You are never told to accept Christ. That is not a requirement to receiving eternal life.

The reason Satan wants men to “accept” Jesus. Is so that a man will “accept Him” into his heart. “Accept Him” as Lord of his life.

But when you accept Him, its you who holds the power. You are judging what is acceptable. You hold the authority to accept Him. And so then, since you hold the authority to “make him Lord” of your life, you can reject Him later. And then accept Him back again. It’s your home. It’s your heart. You can decide when you want to let Him in and when you want to kick him out. Its your life. You can decide when you want to live for Him, and when you want to live for sin.

Scripturally, God doesn’t need to ACCEPTED of you. YOU need to be accepted of HIM.

That is the problem with “The ABCs of how to become a true Christian”.

Their message is Accept Jesus and Commit to Him!

Their message is Admit your wrong doing and do right instead.

  • Admit? How can you Admit (Confess) before you even Believe? We might as well be sprinkling babies! How can you offer the right sacrifice if the first thing you do is confess? The word “admit”, and its variations, are not even in the Bible. That alone should tell you that this “gospel” is not acceptable to the Lord.
  • Accept? How can you Accept something before you Believe? What exactly are you accepting? You may be accepting ANYTHING. And that’s the point, isn’t it? To accept something… something else which is not the true gospel. The point is to accept.. another gospel!
  • Where is the Repentance from dead works?? That is the biggest issue with the ABC “gospel” message, there is no R

I told you to look, so I went back and looked to be sure. If you look at the word accept* in the Bible, and especially in the NT (28 times), you will see what I told you. There is no command to “accept Christ”. Regarding salvation, it’s all about what God accepts, not what you accept.

But, I did find two verses that caused me to pause initially. And I’d like to address.

–

There are 12 instances of “accept*” in the same verse with “God” in the NT, and none of them are about a man accepting God, but rather whether God will accept men or their works.

There are 5 instances of “accept*” in the same verse with “Jesus”, “Christ”, or “gospel”.

Romans 14:18  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Well that’s not about accepting Christ, its about Him accepting us.

1 Peter 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Again. God accepting us.

Romans 15:16  That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

That is not about accepting the gospel is it? No, rather, it is the gospel that makes us ACCEPTABLE to The Lord!

That was 3 of the 5. Clearly, in 3 of the 5 there is no commandment to accept Jesus or accept the gospel.

Well, there is no such commandment in the other 2 as well. But it’s a little more difficult to see at first.

But praise the Lord, that this holds true, and the false prophets who teach we must “accept Christ” into our hearts and lives, have no Scripture to stand on. They can use other words, but not “accept”.

1 Timothy 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

I saw this one and I paused, thinking, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe we do Scripturally have to “accept” the gospel.

Praise God, I am wrong all the time, but the Bible isn’t. Praise the Lord, the Bible doesn’t contradict itself.

If we take this verse by itself, then one may be inclined to think that God is saying that a man should accept or must accept this saying. But if you’re honest, you’ll admit that this is not a command to men to accept this. Well then what is it? It’s a statement on the acceptability of this saying. It is simply telling us what IS ACCEPTABLE.

So look at it like this… If what we learn from all the other instances of accept is that it matters not what a man accepts, but what the Lord accepts, then it likely applies here too! This is about what the Lord accepts.

This saying is worthy of all acceptation. This saying is worthy to be accepted. This saying is ACCEPTABLE. Not to men, but to the Lord! That is what we learn from Scripture. It matters what is acceptable to Him.

We better know what is acceptable to Him.

Proverbs 10:32  The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable …

Well… This is “what is acceptable” to the Lord.

If you want the sacrifice of your lips to be acceptable to the Lord, this is what you better offer out of your mouth: “Jesus Christ came to save sinners, of whom, I am chief.” Not Paul is chief. I AM CHIEF. YOU are chief. AM, not was. Not Paul WAS, Not you were. “I am Chief.”

That is an acceptable saying to the Lord. That is humility. That is repentance, if you understand it. That is understanding who you are. That is understanding that salvation is by grace through faith and not by works of righteousness which we have done. That is understanding that my works are an abomination, and as a sinner, I have no hope of salvation other than Jesus Christ. That is understanding that even NOW, I’m a sinner. In me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing.

That is the gospel. If we want to be accepted, all we have to do is to repent, believe, and confess – to offer what is acceptable out of our mouths.

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief”. This saying is worthy of all acceptation… to the Lord. But with no repentance, with no understanding, it STILL won’t be accepted.

That’s a pretty straightforward understanding of the verse, isn’t it. No contradiction with the rest of Scripture. No cause for concern. No need to pause or backtrack. That’s just “plain”.

Proverbs 8:8-9  All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.  9  They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

So we move on to the final of the 5 instances of “accept” and Jesus, Christ, and/or gospel.

2 Corinthians 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

This is the only one that seems to indicate that we as Christians have accepted the gospel, or have accepted Christ.

But let’s note a few things in this verse here:

First, this is not a commandment to “accept Jesus”.

So you can’t prove that we are required to “accept Jesus” to receive eternal life.

Second, it is not a commandment to accept Jesus “as the Lord of your life”. There is the real leaven.

Third, this is the only one that talks about men accepting the gospel, right? Well no actually, its not about us accepting the gospel, its about NOT accepting another gospel – a false gospel. Think about that!

The push to “accept” the gospel, is not from the Lord, it is from the enemies! If you hear men teaching then we must ACCEPT Jesus, ACCEPT the gospel.. well, you look for accept and gospel in the Bibel, and this is where you must go: 2 Cor 11:4

But this verse is not about how to get saved, its about how to get LOST!! Its not about accepting the gospel, its about accepting “another gospel”.

So if you go around preaching “accept Jesus” when the Bible never says to “accept” Jesus, but rather warns against “accepting” “another Jesus”, you’re going to be sorely mistaken.

Fourth, The order is wrong.

You cannot Accept, before you Repent.

This is exactly what Satan wants you to do.

Before you do anything else, before you change your mind to believe the truth, ACCEPT something.  Before you repent and believe, and then confess TO receive eternal life, Satan wants you to ACCEPT something. Accept something… accept another Jesus. Accept something that is not the gospel. It’s another gospel.

And another gospel, is not acceptable. But the lips of the righteous know what is acceptable with the Lord.

Well what about “Receive”?

Solly asked a really good question about “receiving the gift” of salvation.

I had to hit the pause, and study, and I still have more study to do.

I don’t want to go into this in huge detail, because I still have a number of questions myself. And the subject goes very deep. Where exactly does “receive” come into the plan of salvation?

But here is a quick summary of what I believe the answer is:

“Receive” is in the NT 263 times. Two uses of “receive” as it relates to Salvation:

  • To Receive is to hear the word of God. But you can receive without receiving, just like you can hear without hearing (understanding). You can receive things in a parable. Repentance must come first, such that the heart can hear/understand/receive in truth. This receiving is baked into repentance, and it must happen before salvation.
  • To Receive is to obtain. To obtain eternal life. To obtain the gift. The gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift of righteousness. One does this AFTER he confesses. RBC, then receive. This happens at the moment of salvation. But you don’t receive the gift of God, until you R-B-C.

By • Christian Doctrine, Salvation • 0

The Lord’s Work – Part 21

 

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The Lord’s Work – Part 21

The Lord’s Work – Part 21

“Good things” are the things which give eternal life. The Holy Spirit. Spiritual Bread, spiritual water. Spiritual good fruit.

To bring forth good things is to SPEAK the words of eternal life. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

That is the only way to know a good tree from an evil tree: by their fruits. Not by their works, deeds, actions, obedience, dedication, love, sincerity

By their WORDS. The words of eternal life by the gospel of Jesus Christ are the only “good things” that we can bring forth.

Carnal good works are just shadows and figures.

Words are what we are judged by.

Words are a man’s fruit.

Words are a man’s things.

Good words are good fruit.

Good things are good words.

Good things are good wisdom and knowledge.

Good things are the Holy Spirit.

Good things are the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Good things are the words of eternal life.

Good things (true good things) are the things that proceed from the Father and from the heavenly promised land.

WORDS are the fruit, not works.

If you want to know a man, whether true or a spy, you must prove him by his words. Don’t look at his works, but draw out his words.

There is a relationship between works and fruits: works bring forth fruits.

Titus 3:14  And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

Colossians 1:10  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Working is no the fruit. The fruit is the finished product of the working. A building. A house. A coat. A sword. Offspring.

Works are not fruits. Fruits are not works. Works bring forth fruits.

However, fruit can be called a “work” when it is finished. A FINISHED work can be called a fruit.

The wages of sin is death. Sin, when it is finished bringeth forth death. What does sin work? Sin works death. When sin works, death is the fruit. That is what sin brings forth.

Works are required to bring forth fruit. There was a time when no work was required. The Earth brought forth fruit of itself. The Lord did all the work to bring forth fruit. But now, the earth, just like mankind, is under a curse. Now, work is required to bring forth fruit.

Genesis 3:17,19  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;  …  19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

For the unsaved, sin is the work, death is the fruit.

For the saved man, righteousness is the work, eternal life is the fruit. But not our works of righteousness which we have done.

Titus 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

We are justified by works of righteousness. But they are not ones that we have done. Why? Because they are not works that we COULD do.

See, there are works in salvation. There is no fruit (eternal life) without works.

James 2:21-24  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  22  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  23  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.  24  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

But they are not our works. Jesus did all the works. He brought forth eternal life for man by his hard labour. He fulfilled the law. He went to death (the prison house). He took our sins and cast them into the Hell. He broke His body open and gave meat and drink to the hungry prisoners in death. He clothed the naked prisoners. He conquered death. He broke the gates of the grave asunder. He freed its prisoners. Then, He ascended to Heaven and made the atonement in the true temple (not the figure). He went into the most holy place and put His own blood on the mercy seat. That is work!

And think about this, when He was about to do all this: He sweated!

Luke 22:44  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

In the sweat of His face He brought forth life out of death. He did the work. He did the works of righteousness!

We are saved by works, but they are His works. He just GIVES us righteousness. He just GIVES us eternal life, by GRACE.

And the only work(s) that we have to do in order to be saved by His grace, is to believe and confess the words of God.

Its the same thing that Abraham did “when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar”. Believe God’s word and make an offering.

Deuteronomy 23:23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.

Hebrews 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

You make that same offering that Abraham made, after the same pattern, but in TRUTH, with your LIPS. That is exactly what a salvation prayer is: an offering, a sacrifice.

Not your words, but His words. But they have to be perfect, pure. You have to offer up His sacrifice, His son. Not your own.

The only work we have to do is believe and confess the words of God.

Work # 1: Believe

John 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

To believe the word of God is a work.

And to speak the word of God is a work.

Work # 2: Confess

John 14:10  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

To speak the words is to work and the words brought forth is the fruit.

To receive, and hold, and speak the words of God, this is the works of God.

The first works, bringing forth the first good fruits. The man that does these things is a good tree.

Believe and Confess. Believe the gospel of Christ and Confess it out of your mouth.

The Bible calls these “the first works”.

Revelation 2:5  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

But…. Before you CAN believe, there is one thing you have to do.

People talk about the ABCs of Salvation:

That is REALLY messed up. Its deceitful. Its Satanic.

But here is the one I’ve heard more:

Accept. Believe. Confess. Its almost right. But isn’t that exactly what Satan tries to give man?

But we are never told to “accept the Lord Jesus as our personal saviour”. Instead, our job is to be acceptable, or accepted, of HIM.

Accept* is in the NT 28 times in 27 versus.

Ephesians 5:10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

It doesn’t matter what WE accept. It matters what THE LORD accepts.

We need to understand what is acceptable unto the Lord. We are not told to make sure we accept the Lord. We are told to be sure that we, and our works, are acceptable to the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:9  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

We need the Lord to accept us! We aren’t required to accept Him.

You say.. “ahh what’s the big deal?!” ABC, its easy to remember. Maybe its not 100% the right words, but it’s pretty close!

You think the “right words” aren’t a big deal to God?

Being exacting and perfect with the word of God is a HUGE deal.

You are saved by the confession of your mouth, the fruit of your lips. And if there is iniquity in it, will it be accepted? Will YOU be accepted?

Genesis 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Cain was not accepted.

1st instance of “accept*” in the Bible. If you don’t offer exactly what God requires, you won’t be ACCEPTED.

If you have the wrong WORDS coming out of your lips, you won’t be ACCEPTED.

You don’t DOEST well. You sacrifice was sincere and wholehearted, but it is become SIN.

Psalms 109:7  When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.

Proverbs 21:27  The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

It doesn’t matter how clean his mind is. His motivation doesn’t matter. The sacrifice itself is sin.

Proverbs 15:8  The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

Your prayer is your sacrifice!! That is the WORK that you must do to perfect (complete) your faith, after the pattern of Abraham.

By • Christian Doctrine, Salvation • 0

The Lord’s Work – Part 20

 

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The Lord’s Work – Part 20

The Lord’s Work – Part 20

“Good things” appears in the Bible 19 times.

1st instance:

Genesis 45:23  And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.

2nd instance:

Deuteronomy 6:10-11  And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,  11  And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

Psalms 103:5  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Good things are the FRUITS of the earth.

Luke 1:53  He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

Good things are the best things that the earth brings forth. The things that men need and desire. Food, clothing, money. Good things are the things that feed a man, clothe a man, heal a man, enrich a man.

“Good things” is not always used spiritually. But there is a division between the good things of the earth, and the true “good things” in heaven.

Remember, man’s things are patterns, figures, and shadows of the true. The good things on the earth are patterned after the true good things in heaven.

True “Good Things” are not the things that carnal men can DO.

True “Good Things” are the things that only a good man (a saved man) can SPEAK.

Matthew 12:34  … how can ye, being evil, speak good things?

The true good things are the things that a Christian speaks, when he speaks the gospel.

Romans 10:15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

When you preach the gospel: you love your neighbor, you feed the hungry, clothe the naked, distribute to the poor, heal the sick, visit the prisoners. Those are the true good things.

Matthew 25:41-44  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  42  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.  44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

An unsaved man can go all these things after the flesh. The most evil man on the earth has done these things before. Every man alive has a case to be made for his own eternal life based on his works. If this is how God is going to judge man, He is an unrighteous judge.

Divide the true from the figure of the true. Its not about carnal works, which are the figures of the true. Its about the true: did a man give the true good things.

An unsaved man can do every work that I can do. He is no better, and no worse, than me.

What is the difference then? There has to be a difference, right? And it has to be fair, and clear, and consistent, or God is an unrighteous Judge.

An unsaved man cannot bring forth true “good things”, because he cannot SPEAK the gospel.

What are the TRUE good things?

Matthew 7:11  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

“Being evil” – the problem is not what they do, it is what they ARE.

“Being evil” – the problem is not what they do, it is what they bring forth – death and not life.

An evil man cannot give good things. He cannot speak eternal life.

The ONLY other time that Jesus says this is in Luke 11:13.

Luke 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Its nearly the exact same wording.

The phrases “know how to give”, “good gifts”, “unto your children”, “to them that ask him” are exact matches and Matt 7:11 and Luke 11:13 are the only two times these phrases appear in the Bible. Its like a fingerprint. Its like DNA. Its an exact match. There is not the like verse. Not in Mark or in John, not in any other book of the Bible. In these two verses, Jesus is saying the same exact thing. Therefore, the phrases “good things” and “the Holy Spirit” must be equivalent.

The Holy Spirit is the TRUE good things. True good things proceed from the Holy Spirit.

What are the true good things? The word of God, the blood of Christ, the living water, the bread of life, the milk, the butter, the honey, the wine, the oil. The good things that come forth from the true promised land, in heavenly places. Spiritual fruits, spiritual good things. Eternal life. The things which give eternal life are the good things. True good things are the Holy Spirit, and what things proceed from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 12:33-35  Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.  34  O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things [the Holy Spirit]? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.  35  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things [the Holy Spirit]: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

From a good man, a good tree, proceeds the Holy Spirit, the WORDS of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the TRUE good things. What things then, come from the wicked? If the good things are the holy spirit, the spirit of truth, what then are evil things?

1 John 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

When you speak, one of two sorts of spirit is coming out of your mouth.

The words (the fruit, the things) that come out of your mouth are a spirit. A SORT of spirit.

Isaiah 59:13  In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

You either speak the words of everlasting life, or you speak the words of falsehood.

This is the fruit that comes out of your heart. The Holy Spirit is good fruit, and the words of falsehood (false doctrine) is evil fruit.

When you speak the gospel (pure and undefiled, unleavened), you bring forth good fruit. You shew forth that you are a good tree. Not by your works, but by your words, your fruit.

But as we are carnal men, the power to do those things, to speak those words of life, is not in ourselves.

Romans 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

It is in the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Ghost speaks those things in us.

Acts 1:16  Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

Mark 13:11  But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Its nothing good in us (in my flesh dwelleth no good thing). Its not our power or our words. Its His Spirit and His words. And you either have those good things in you, or you don’t. This is what we are looking for. This is how we try a man. This is how we prove ourselves.

What comes out of the (heart’s) mouth, the Holy Spirit (words of life), or another spirit (words of falsehood)?

Words. This is a man’s fruit. This defines a man as good or evil. Not his works, but his fruits: his words.

It matters not what a man does, it only matters what a man speaks.

Because it is by his WORDS (his fruit) that a man will be judged.

Matthew 12:35-37  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. [what are these THINGS? Aren’t they works? NO!] 36  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  37  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

A good man speaks good things, and an evil man speaks evil things.

A good man cannot speak evil things, and an evil man cannot speak good things.

These things… are not carnal works. They are spiritual WORDS.

And how can you know them, the one from the other? How can you differentiate good things in a good tree from evil things in an evil tree? The same way that the Lord will judge them: by their words.

“Let me strengthen you today my friends. Let me preach to you today my brethren…”

Matthew 12:37 [NotKJV]  For by thy works thou shalt be justified, and by thy works thou shalt be condemned.

“My brethren, we must continue to follow Christ, we must walk as he walked, we must serve in righteousness and in truth, we must prove our selves with true good deeds, we must serve the Father as the Son served the Father, in sincerity and not in pretense, in truth and not only in word, we must flee from evil things and seek to do good things, for if we bring forth good things, good works, we are a good tree, and so we must love our brethren, not with mere words, but with ACTIONS, because we will be judged by our ACTIONS, because, saith he, by thy WORKS thou shalt be justified, and by thy WORKS thou shalt be condemned …” … Oops! Oh No. Ohhh boy. That was a whoopsy! I apologize. I just transformed myself into a false prophet. I think I got the wrong bible here. I must have one of those Satanic bibles.

Ole’ Satan, he deceiveth the whole world, he deceived me! It wasn’t hard. He just slipped in a little leaven. It was simple and subtle. Did you see it? Did you see how he did it?

.

.

.

He just changed one litter letter. ONE. LITTLE. LETTER.

Matthew 12:37 [KJV] For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

2 times, in one verse you are told that you will be judged “by thy words”.

“by thy works” does not appear in the Bible.

“by your works” does not appear in the Bible.

“by their works” does not appear in the Bible.

You know what does appear? “by THE works”. 6 times in 4 verses and they all teach the same thing.

Galatians 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

There is NO justification by works. There is also no condemnation by works. Its not your works that will condemn you. It is your WORDS.

We are justified by faith, without any carnal works. The faith of Christ, WORDS coming out of your mouth, this justifies a man. But “by the works … shall no flesh be justified.”

That was 3 of the 6 right there!

Romans 9:32  Wherefore? Because they sought it [the righteousness of God, salvation] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

A man is to be justified by WORDS. But one seeking to be justified by WORKS, will stumble and fall.. right into the pit, the Lake of Fire.

We are justified “not by the works”, for “by the works … shall no flesh be justified”.

The Bible NEVER says we will be judged by our works. It never says we will be justified or condemned by our works. But that’s the big lie: and its such a small one: one little change of a single letter.

Just a little added leaven makes a MASSIVE change of the lump.

Revelation 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

The Bible says we are judged ACCORDING TO our works. True. And we have touched on this, and will explain this in more detail later. But while man is judged ACCORDING TO our works, we are not judged BY our works. There is a difference!

We are not judged as innocent or guilty, by our works. Rather, we are judged, either justified or condemned, found guilty or found innocent, by our words.

“YE shall know them by their fruits (words)”. That is how we can know them, and that is how The Lord knows them too.

It’s the only way to know a true man from a reprobate – a spy – a false brother.

By their fruits you will know them. You have to check the fruit. The words!

John 6:67-68  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?  68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

A true man has the words (fruits) of eternal life.

Taste the fruit!

If it’s eternal life in the Spirit, it’s good fruit.

If it’s eternal death, or doubt and confusion in the flesh (if it be of carnal, fleshly works) it is evil fruit. It will result in corruption. All fleshly works result in that same fruit: death. All carnal fruit goes to the same place: death.

If there is grace through faith alone, without works, it is good fruit.

If there is carnal works involved, at all, even a little bit, it is evil fruit.

That is why we ask the questions that we do.

  • Can you tell me about your need for righteousness?
  • If you were to live the rest of your life as a serial killer, could that possibly hurt your chances of going to heaven?

Real Christians have the words of eternal life. And if a man speaks the words of eternal life, we know that that man is a good tree.

By • Christian Doctrine, Salvation • 0

The Election Count – Part 20

 

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The Election Count – Part 20

The Election Count – Part 20

Luke 9:3  And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

Luke 22:35-36  And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.  36  Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

People tend to focus on the sword, but all the other things are just as important! All those things are essentials.

It was not about a physical sword. Neither was it about a physical purse, nor physical money, nor physical clothing, nor physical bread:

So why now? What is different about NOW? Jesus was NOT saying it is NOW time to buy carnal things because I’m leaving you on your own. What He WAS saying was, NOW, it is time to buy, to take, and to carry something BETTER. NOW, there is something BETTER available.

Hebrews 10:34  For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

If Jesus was saying that it was so important to have those carnal things, why should we take joyfully the spoiling of our goods? But its not about the physical things.

Now, better things are available. Better things are heavenly things. Now, a better sword is available. NOW, its time to buy a better sword, a spiritual sword!

Now, the better things, the Spiritual things, the heavenly things are to be provided. Now, it is time to buy those spiritual things. To take a spiritual purse with money in it, to buy a spiritual sword, a 2nd coat, an additional pair of shoes. To put on the spiritual things. NOW, something is changing, and something NEW is available.

Luke 22:36-37  Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.  37  For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

Now, these things are to be accomplished. The END of His earthly ministry is here. The end of the law. The end of the carnal things, and the beginning of the spiritual things. The availability of the heavenly things is NOW.

Before this time, the better things, the heavenly things, were not available.

Now, after His crucifixion and resurrection, now, we need to buy a sword – THE sword – the sword of the Spirit, the word of God.

Ephesians 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

He wouldn’t have waited to say this until now if He didn’t have to. He would have told them to take these things before, had they been available. That’s why He didn’t say it before. That’s why He didn’t say it at the beginning of His ministry. That’s why He didn’t say it to Adam, or to Noah, or to Moses, or even to David. He never told any of His prophets or apostles something like this before. Why? Because it was never available before NOW. You couldn’t take these things before now because they weren’t available. But NOW, they are available, they are necessary, and it is now COMMANDED that we take them.

What things? A sword, a purse, a scrip, money, coats, shoes, bread. Those things aren’t different from each other. The sword doesn’t stand out against the rest. They are all necessities. God had provided those things – those physical needs to His own since the beginning, but the true things – the spiritual things – were not yet available, not yet made manifest.

But NOW, something has changed. New things are available. What things? Let’s talk about the things…

Thing #1 – Before, they didn’t need a sword, but NOW we need to buy a SPIRITUAL sword – the sword of the Spirit.

Ephesians 6:17  And take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Take that sword now, or be killed by it at the last day.

Before, they didn’t need to take a sword. But now, we do!

Thing #2 – Before, they didn’t need to take/buy their own bread. But NOW we need to buy spiritual bread – the bread from heaven.

John 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 6:51  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: …

They didn’t need to buy bread in the wilderness. It was rained upon them from heaven. But that was not the true bread, was it? No, but now it is time to buy the living bread.

Isaiah 55:1-2  Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  2  Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? …

Until now, all that a man could buy was not true bread. It satisfied not.

But now, that which was prophesied was come. Now, Jesus was breaking His body – the true bread which came down from heaven.

John 6:5-6  When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?  6  And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

This is how a man is proved. By his waters, and by his bread. Whence come your bread and your waters? Of what sort are they?

These things are your proof! Not your fleshly works or any of your carnal things.

These things are proof that you are true men, and not spies, because there is only one place to get these things. There is only one way to buy these things.

Before, they didn’t need to take a sword, or bread. But now, we do!

Thing #3 – Before, they didn’t need any other shoes. But now, we need to put on some new shoes – some spiritual shoes – shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel.

Ephesians 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Romans 10:15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Deuteronomy 29:5  And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.

Before, they didn’t need to take shoes, but now, some new shoes are available, and now, it is time to put them on.

Before, they didn’t need to take a sword, or bread, or shoes. But now, we do!

Thing #4 – Before, they didn’t need to take clothes. But now, we need to put on spiritual clothes – white raiment washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 3:17-18  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

You think you’re protected when you take a sword, but you’re defenseless unless you’ve bought the sword of the Spirit.

You think you’re clothed when you get dressed in the morning, but you’re naked unless you’ve bought of the Lord white raiment, and washed your clothes in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

This isn’t about physical clothing, this is about forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Zechariah 3:3-4  Now Joshua [the high priest] was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.  4  And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

Before, they didn’t need to take a sword, or bread, or shoes, or clothes. But now, we do!

Thing #5 – Before, they didn’t need any purses, scrips, or bags for their money. But now, we need to take spiritual bags – and to lay up silver and gold in our bags. Spiritual bags. Bags in heaven. Not bags on the earth!!

Luke 12:33  Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags [purses/scrips] which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Now, there are better bags to provide ourselves. Bags that are in a better place.

Matthew 6:19-20  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

We are talking about heavenly things in heavenly places. Those are the things we need to buy and take.

If it was so important for us to have physical swords why the Lord rebuke Peter for using them? If it was so important to buy a physical sword, why did Jesus command put it up into the sheath, warn not to take the sword, and then have Paul speak of taking a better sword?

And if it was so important to have bags filled with money, why would Jesus say, sell it all and give it away? Why would Jesus talk of laying up treasures in another place? Why did He talk of providing better bags? Bags in the heavens, which don’t have HOLES in them.

Haggai 1:6  Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

Unless you eat Jesus, you’ll hunger. Unless you put your money in a bag IN HEAVEN, you put it into a bag (a purse, a scrip) with holes.

If taking a bag of money was now all of the sudden so important… Why did the early Christians sell all that they had and lay the money at the Apostles feet? And why would the Apostles accept that money?

It’s because the purses/bags that you need to take and fill with gold and silver are not on earth – its not about physical bags. The bags that Jesus was talking about taking and filling with money.. are in heaven.

And likewise, the swords that they so DESPERATELY needed to buy for each of themselves was that better sword: sword of His mouth: the word of God.

He..

commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, … no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:  … neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves

We need all of those things listed. Those are necessities. And we should take all of those things listed. But all of those things must be taken spiritually. We need all of those things, spiritually. We ought to BUY all those things, spiritually.

Matthew 6:31-32  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

All these things are physical needs. They are not optional. If you don’t have them, you don’t have joy and life, but shame and death. But the Lord’s people never needed to worry about those things before, neither yet now do we need to.

Matthew 6:33-34  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

If you seek Him and serve Him, He provides all these things.

BUT NOW, something is different. Now, we need to get ourselves some THINGS. Well what is so different now?

Revelation 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. …

What is so different about NOW? Now, all things are new. The new things, the better things, the heavenly things are now available. Now, it is time to buy them, and take them.

And if you have been saved by grace, you have received all things.

Romans 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

2 Peter 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

1 Corinthians 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

Before, they didn’t need to take #1 a sword, or #2 bread, or #3 shoes, or #4 clothes, or #5 bags of money. But now, we do! We need to buy all the new things – the heavenly things that are NOW available.  These are the things that Jesus was talking about.

Luke 22:36  Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

So why is the SWORD any different than the other things listed? Why have you been taught that Jesus will provide the other things, but that you need to buy your own sword?! (Why? You know why.. Because Christians want a scriptural commandment to buy weapons, and defend themselves, THAT’S why!!)

You’re free to buy weapons, you have Christian liberty. You can own a weapon. You can fight with a weapon. It doesn’t mean you should. But you have the freedom, the right, to do so. Not that it IS right, but that you have “liberty”. You’re free to buy a sword.

But let’s be honest with the word of God: Luke 22:36 is not direction to buy a physical sword.

Carnally, we do NOT need to take/buy all these things. But spiritually, we DO need to take all these things.

Matthew 6:31-34  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

All these things will be provided… so why is the sword any different than all the other things? (Because Christians want it to be different – THAT’s WHY!)

We don’t want to not possess weapons for our carnal defense. (should, not must)

We don’t want to sell all we have physically and not lay up for tomorrow. (should, not must)

Physically, your needs will be met. Physically, if you serve Him and wait on Him, you will have need of nothing on the Earth.

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

And so Jesus commanded His disciples… Just go, and The Lord will provide “all these things”, “all your need.” The workman is worthy of his meat. You will have need of nothing! And that is exactly what He told them:

Mark 6:8  And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey…

Luke 9:3  And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey …

Luke 22:35-36  And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.  36  Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

His prophets, His disciples didn’t need anything before His crucifixion. You had need of NOTHING. He would provide all your need in the flesh. And He still will. “Take no thought for the things of tomorrow”. They had no need of providing themselves their physical needs (food, clothing, protection). And that hasn’t changed.

That hasn’t changed. But NOW, something has. Something is about to change, bigtime.

You never needed ANYTHING before. BUT NOW, something is different. NOW, you do have need of something. Now, you need to buy some things. Now, its time to lay up some things for a perilous time to come, to take the things you need for the journey to come. Now is the time to buy the spiritual things you have need of. You had need of NOTHING before. BUT NOW, you are in need of some things.

And the things you have need of are spiritual.

Revelation 3:17-18  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing [physically you have no need]; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: [spiritually you have great need] 18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

You had need of NOTHING before. BUT NOW, you are in need of something.

Buy of Me – “without money and without price”. It costs nothing, and yet everything.

BUY OF ME – If the Lord is telling men to buy something, its Spiritual. It’s a spiritual purse. It’s spiritual shoes. It’s spiritual bread. It’s a spiritual sword.

So why NOW? Why did Jesus say it NOW??

John 17:9-13  I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.  10  And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.  11  And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.  12  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.  13  And now come I to thee; …

He said it now, because He was no longer in the world. He was departing the world, and He counted Himself as already departed. He says He WAS in the world. But NOW, He is going, going, gone. He already counted Himself GONE.

So when He said “but NOW… buy a sword”, He was speaking as one GONE. He was speaking as if He was no longer in the world. He was speaking as the time we currently are in now, when He has died, risen, and GONE to heaven.

“But NOW”, since He is gone, NOW, things are different. Now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

NOW is the time to get saved! “Now”, was not the next few hours or days while He was crucified and buried. NOW, is the same present NOW that we live in: where Jesus has made His sacrifice, and is no longer in the world. NOW, is the day of Salvation. Now is the Church Age: the Age of Grace. Now, today, it is time to buy the spiritual things. Now it is time to buy the mighty, sharp, all-important, soul-saving Sword of the Lord.

By • Salvation • 0

The Resurrection Promise – Part 2

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Downloadable Word document:

The Resurrection Promise – Part 2

The Resurrection Promise – Part 2

Without the resurrection, we cannot be saved

2 Corinthians 4:14  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

If Jesus did not rise, there is no resurrection.

If Jesus did not rise, none of the dead will rise. The dead will stay dead.

And if Jesus did not rise incorruptible, the elect will not either. The elect would rise corruptible. The dead would rise guilty of sin.

Romans 4:25  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Jesus must have been resurrected or we are not justified.

He could pay for our sins with his death, but yet if we are not raised again / born again, there is no righteousness imputed, there is so justification.

We had to be born again, in heaven, as sons of God with that righteousness. Born in the Spirit.

1 Peter 1:3-4  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Without the resurrection, we are not born again, and made heirs with our father Abraham in heaven.

The resurrection is the promise of eternal life. We must have hope in His resurrection, and in our resurrection by Him, being fully persuaded that God’s promise will be kept.

Romans 10:8-9  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;  9  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.

Here is the gospel: The Lord, Jesus, died for us and rose again for us, and if we believe and confess Him, we are saved. Believe that, and only that, and you are saved. Is that all you have to believe? Yes, but you have to understand it:

Romans 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

There is an understanding of it. But the simplicity of the gospel of Christ is really simple:

Repent of works + Believe the resurrection promise + Confess the Lord Jesus = Saved (righteousness imputed)

This is how men are saved. If we cannot believe, if we cannot be fully persuaded of the promise – the resurrection, both His and ours – we cannot be saved.

The resurrection doctrine is as important as any salvation doctrine that a Real Christian holds, and we must not let it be leavened, or souls cannot be saved.

2 Timothy 2:17-18  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;  18  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

If you defile the resurrection doctrine, you defile the faith. And if some believe your false resurrection doctrine, those some will not be saved. They will not be trees of righteousness with good fruit, but they will be SPOILED. Their fruit STOLEN.

And it is those WORDS (false doctrine) that are the CANKERWORMS.

“Oh, the resurrection is just spiritual and not literal.”

“Oh, Jesus didn’t resurrect himself.”

“Oh, its not our physical bodies that are resurrected.”

These words eat like a cankerworm. There cankerworDs… are really cankerworMs.

It doesn’t take much to eat up the vine. Just a little cankerworm. It’s like leaven. Just add a little, and mix until the whole is leavened. Just add one canker  spoil the fruit. If there is just one canker, it will multiply and eat the whole vine. One cankerworD becomes an army of cankerworDs.

Nahum 3:15-17  There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts.  16  Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away.  17  … when the sun ariseth they flee away …

These are the words of false prophets. They are cankerworms: cankerwords.

This is what hirelings do: promise life to the flock, but when the wolf comes, they flee away, and cannot deliver. When the sun rises, they and all their trees wither.

Jonah 4:7  But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.

Beware of the cankerwords!

Jesus resurrected Himself, with His own power

2 Timothy 2:18  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Remember that we emphasized how critical the resurrection of Jesus Christ is. If you mess up the resurrection of Jesus, and/or you mess up our own resurrection by Him, and you overthrow the faith.

It is incredibly easy to ruin the doctrine of Christ. Just take a thing or two out, just add a thing or two in. Observe:

If Jesus is God, as some churches teach, who resurrected Jesus?

Jesus is not God​—whose name is Jehovah—​but he is the Son of God. Jehovah resurrected Jesus from the dead. (Romans 10:9) One Bible scholar comments: “It is unthinkable that anyone​—even Christ—​could raise himself.”

  • https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/wp20130301/resurrection-of-jesus/

This is incredibly dangerous. These words will eat as doth a canker. This is not a faithful saying. These words will overthrow faith. So I think its very much worth our time to strengthen our faith in the resurrection.

–

When Paul preached the resurrection, he had open resistance.

Acts 17:30-32  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  31  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.  32  And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

Jesus and His apostles dealt with those that outright denied, mocked the resurrection. In Jesus’ and Paul’s day, many Jews and Jewish converts didn’t even believe in a resurrection of the dead.

Paul preached to a the Jewish proselyte King Aggripa:

Acts 26:8  Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

The Lord put all this confusion to SHAME with his answers to the Sadducees.

Mark 12:24-27  And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?  25  For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; … 27 … ye therefore do greatly err.

And so now, no organization that I am aware of, that calls themselves “Christians”, still maintains that there is “no resurrection” of the dead or that Jesus did not “rise”. So we don’t encounter that doctrine very often when dealing with the false brethren. But, there are those that defile the resurrection in other ways. And here is one way: they take the power of resurrection away from Christ. If God raised Jesus, but Jesus is not God, then Jesus did not raise Himself.

“It is unthinkable that anyone​—even Christ—​could raise himself.”

It is unthinkable, incredible, to a JW, that Christ could raise Himself. I agree: it is indeed “unthinkable” that a JW would be able to comprehend that Jesus Christ could raise Himself, because the JW refuses to BELIEVE the words written of and spoken by Jesus Christ. The JW refuses to give Jesus the honour of God (John 5:23) or to give Him His own glory (John 17:5). And he refuses to give Jesus the wisdom and the power of God.

1 Chronicles 16:28-29  Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.  29  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: …

If we give Jesus the glory due Him, as the Creator, the Holy One that made the heavens and the earth by His wisdom and by His power, why is it “unthinkable” and “incredible” that He could conquer death of His own power?

Philippians 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

The resurrection is a power of God, and a power that Christ, as God, had in Himself.

Could the Father hold this power and the Son, Christ, not have it?

1 Corinthians 1:23-24  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;  24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Christ raised himself. Being the power of God and the wisdom of God, He raised Himself by His own power and wisdom.

You won’t get this from all the theorizings and reasonings, theology and philosophy, of the Watchtower cult. But from Scripture alone, we see that Christ very clearly has and had POWER to resurrect Himself.

John 10:17-18  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Nobody handed Jesus His eternal life. Jesus TOOK IT. He took His own life up again, by His own power.

John 5:26  For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

This is spoken before the crucifixion and resurrection, not AFTER. Jesus already had the power of eternal life in Himself.

Whatever power of life was in the Father to resurrect the dead, the same was in the Son.

John 2:19-21  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.  20  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?  21  But he spake of the temple of his body.

Jesus did not say, “it will be raised up” or “my Father will raise it up”. He said, “I will raise it up”.

So, if the JWs are right, and Jesus could not raise Himself from the dead, then Jesus was a liar. He took credit for the Lord’s work, which He Himself did not do. He did not sanctify the Father, but rather His own self before men.

If Jesus did not raise himself, then He committed the same sin as Moses did at Meribah, and should receive the same punishment as Moses: death, and rejection from the promised land.

Acts 2:24  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Who is “he”?

It was not possible that HE (Jesus) could be holden of death. Well then, you must admit that Jesus had power to conquer death, and raise himself. Death could not hold Him.

It was not possible that HE (God) could be holden of death. Well then, you must admit that Jesus is God.

Death had power to hold every man before Christ. But it was not possible that death would hold God himself. It is “unthinkable”, “incredible”, unimaginable, impossible, that it could.

—

Hebrews 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

It was Jesus who conquered death and destroyed the devil.

1 Corinthians 6:14  And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

Not God raised up the Son. But God raised up God. God raised up HIMSELF.

How could you know who Jesus is, and still think that Jesus could not raise himself?

John 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: …

Why should it be “unthinkable” that Christ, who IS the resurrection, could resurrect himself?

Unless Jesus is just a liar.

If you don’t believe in “the resurrection”, then you don’t believe in Jesus. Because that is who Jesus is.

And if you take the power of resurrection out of Jesus, you take away His own power and glory.

John 1:4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 5:26  For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

John 5:21-23  For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.  …  23  That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

But that is exactly what the JWs refuse to do: honour the Son with the same life and power that they give to the Father. They deny that Jesus has life IN HIMSELF.

To say that Jesus could not raise Himself is a denial of the record of Jesus Christ:

1 John 5:10-12  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.  11  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  12  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Do you see how just a little leaven, can leaven the whole lump?

Do you see how just a little cankerword, can destroy the whole tree of life?

To say that Christ could not raise Himself is to speak foolish, blasphemous cankerwords.

Matthew 22:28-29  Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.  29  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Mark 12:27  … ye therefore do greatly err.

They do err, not knowing Jesus, who is the power of God, and who is the resurrection!

They don’t understand Jesus, and they don’t understand the resurrection. They do greatly err.

But this is what happens when fools bring their own reason and logic and philosophy into Bible interpretation. They greatly err, and they overthrow the faith of some.

In his own body

2 Timothy 2:18  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Another defiling of the resurrection doctrine that Satan can do to “overthrow the faith of some” is to deny the bodily resurrection. JWs believe Jesus came back as a spirit / an angel and not as a man with a man’s body.

“When someone is resurrected to heaven, he is not brought back to life as a human with a human body. He is resurrected to life in heaven as a spirit person. … Jesus was not resurrected with a human body. The apostle Peter explains that Jesus “was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.”  (1 Peter 3:18) Jesus was brought back to life as a powerful spirit person!”

  • https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/bible-study/there-will-be-a-resurrection/

Is that so? Jesus was made alive “in the spirit”?

1 Peter 3:18  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Jesus was not quickened as a spirit, or in the spirit, but “by the Spirit”.

Not only is this a bold and clear lie. This is an incredibly dangerous lie. This is a big deal. A lie about the resurrection overthrows faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

IF you mess up the resurrection, you mess up the gospel: You mess up eternal life.

What I’m learning is that the JWs don’t change the Bible doctrines that are obvious and well-understood. What they rather do is more subtle. Like their father the devil: “yea, hath God said…?”

They are very good at seizing on the natural mind’s confusions and unknowns, they prey on men concerning the mysteries of Christ, and where men are uncertain or confused, where we just “see through a glass darkly”, THEN, they insert their own private interpretations and doctrines. And of course, they then must obscure and change the words of God to support their interpretation.

But here are a few quick thoughts to build up your faith and instill confidence in Jesus’ bodily resurrection, and thus also OURS.

Luke 24:36-40  And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.  37  But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.  38  And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?  39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.  40  And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

Nowhere in the OT do we have men touching and handling angels.

Maybe Jacob wrestling with the Angel? But this particular “Angel” was also called “a man”, and “God”. This WAS Jesus that Jacob wrestled with.

There was something very different about Jesus standing before them with flesh and bones, and saying “handle me”.

—

The JWs belief is that Jesus’ body was destroyed completely, and instead Jesus resurrected as a spirit, as an angel: the archangel Michael. Well, I believe that doctrine is completely proven a lie by this:

Acts 2:31  He [David] seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

Acts 13:37  But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

Jesus’ body was not completely destroyed. From this, I would say it didn’t even begin to be destroyed.

Why is that important? Because OUR bodily resurrection is dependent on His bodily resurrection.

Romans 8:11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Acts 2:25-26  For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:  26  Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

We say “RIP – rest in peace”, but for a Christian, it should be “Rest in Hope”.

Job 19:26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Philippians 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

We are not going to lose our body and it be replaced by a spirit. It is a body that Jesus has, and that we will have.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:  43  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:  44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

IT is sown and IT is raised. Not “it is sown and we are raised.” The same IT that was sown is the same IT that is raised.

It, is not just “a spirit”. It, is “a spiritual body”.

That is all I can tell you. Because this is all WE KNOW. I can’t explain it more because the rest of it… WE DON’T KNOW.

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

But where WE DON’T KNOW, and where men have not understood or been stablished, where we see things through a glass darkly, this is where Satan and the false prophets work subtilly to confuse Christians and leaven the doctrine (in this case the resurrection).

The Holy Spirit does not teach that Christ is come back NOT in the flesh. The spirit that teaches that Christ is risen NOT in the flesh, is a spirit of antichrist.

1 John 4:2-3  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

2 John 1:7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Is not just that Jesus Christ WAS come in the flesh, but that He also IS NOW come in the flesh.

We can be assured that Jesus resurrected in His own body, and through Him, we can be assured that we will be resurrected in our own bodies as well.

And we can be assured that the Jehovah’s Witnesses Watchtower organization is of the devil. It is a deceiver, and an antichrist.

You might say, “so what? I don’t care if I come back in this body or as an angel, so long as I am alive and conscious of myself and have no more pain, sadness, etc. etc.” But doctrinally, it must have been a physical resurrection, as a man, and not as a spirit.

God came to save man. So when The Lord came down from heaven to save man, He did not take on the form of an angel, but of a man. And when God resurrected from the dead and ascended on high as the true High Priest bearing His own blood to perform reconciliation for the sins of man, He did so again, as a man. God did not resurrect himself as an angel to atone for man, but as a man.

If Christ died and was resurrected as an angel, the fallen angels have redemption, and not mankind.

If Christ is not resurrected in a man’s body, mankind is not to be resurrected, and the elect of them are not to be saved. He did not come as a spirit, nor go as a spirit, but as a man with flesh and bones.

Jesus didn’t come to raise spirits. He didn’t come to redeem the devils, or any fallen angels.

He came to redeem mankind. He came to resurrect Adam’s mankind: who are made of flesh and bones.

It had to be the physical body of Jesus resurrected. Our faith is in the resurrection of Jesus’ physical body, because our resurrection and eternal life depends on it.

2 Corinthians 4:14  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

By • Salvation • 0

The Resurrection Promise – Part 1

 

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The Resurrection Promise – Part 1

The Resurrection Promise – Part 1

We preach the resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:1-8  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  2  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:  5  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:  6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.  7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.  8  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

We often take it for granted. Its so foundational that we don’t often teach on it. But the resurrection is the singular most important event in the past, present and future of mankind’s existence.

There are other things that we often focus on when we preach and teach the gospel, and when we divide truth from error and the pure gospel from the leavened bread. But the resurrection of Jesus Christ is singular the most important part of our gospel.

It is essential, it is required. It is required to have happened, and it is required for us to believe.

If you don’t believe in the resurrection, you don’t believe the gospel of Jesus Christ..

Acts 4:1-2  And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,  2  Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

The Sadducees held the doctrine there is no resurrection, and subsequently after He rose they denied His resurrection. And when they infiltrated the churches, they held that we will not rise.

That is why they were “sad, you see”!?

We don’t encounter many modern day Sadducees, so we don’t often feel the need to preach against these errors on resurrection doctrine. But nonetheless, there are those that defile the doctrine, so we do need to strengthen ourselves, and be sure we divide truth from error on the resurrection.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most essential, critical piece of the gospel for a Christian to understand and believe. I don’t think that is unfair to say.  Our salvation, our gospel, stands or falls based on the truth of, and one’s belief in, that singular event.

Acts 17:18  Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

Paul preached the resurrection. All the Apostles preached the resurrection. When we preach the gospel, we preach the resurrection. But the resurrection is not just a part of the gospel. It IS the gospel.

2 Timothy 2:8  Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

The resurrection is a required thing to believe and to confess to be saved: to be a Christian.

Romans 10:9  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.

The resurrection is foundational: it is part of the foundation of the Church, and it is a required doctrine to understand and confess as part of one’s salvation.

Hebrews 6:1-2  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

When the writer lists the foundation principles, the foundation stones, the resurrection is there.

It is a foundational stone of the Church. Its so foundational a piece of the gospel that I believe it is fair to say, the resurrection is the chief and very first stone of the foundation.

Mark 12:10  And have ye not read this scripture; The stone [Jesus] which the builders rejected [killed] is become [resurrected and ascended] the head of the corner [the foundation – the chief corner stone]:

The rejection of Jesus, and His resurrection WAS ITSELF the laying of the chief corner stone. The foundation of the doctrine of Christ, the foundation of the Church, the foundation of New Jerusalem is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without the resurrection (the laying of the chief corner stone), there is no house of God, there is no Church, there is no eternal life.

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It is a foundational doctrine (THE foundational doctrine) of the Church. And it is not a new doctrine. It is not a new thing at all. It was a mystery, it was hidden, but it was ordained and prophesied from the beginning.

Acts 26:21-23  For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.  22  Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:  23  That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

It was kept secret since the world began, but it was prophesied and it was promised. And if Satan had known and understood it, he would never have killed Jesus. (1Co 2:7-8)

Promise of Resurrection

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is much more than a historical event that Christians believe happened. I The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a promise.

Acts 13:29-33  And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.  30  But God raised him from the dead:  31  And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.  32  And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,  33  God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; …

Belief in the resurrection of Jesus is crucial to our faith. It is required for true belief unto salvation. If you don’t believe the resurrection, you are not saved.

Why is that? Because the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a promise. It is THE PROMISE that God made to Abraham. It’s the promise of eternal life that God made to all of mankind in Abraham Isaac and Jacob.

Acts 2:31  He [David] seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.  32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

What was the promise Jesus received of the Father? The Holy Ghost. The Spirit of Life. Eternal life. The promise was the resurrection. The resurrection is the promise that was promised to Abraham, fulfilled in Jesus, the seed of Abraham. Jesus received the promise of resurrection. He had to become a man to receive the promise for men. (Psalms 68:18)

Titus 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

1 John 2:25  And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

The resurrection of Jesus is a PROMISE. The resurrection of Jesus was a fulfillment of God’s promise, and also a sign to all men that God has kept for Abraham, and will keep for all Abraham’s children, His promise of resurrection and eternal life. And He will keep it through the Seed of Abraham: God’s Son Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 9:15  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

It’s a promise of eternal inheritance, and you don’t get an eternal inheritance without eternal life. The promise to Abraham was that His seed, and HIMSELF included would inherit the earth in the resurrection.

Gen 17:8  And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

Romans 4:13  For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

The promise to Abraham was eternal inheritance, eternal life, through his own Seed: Jesus Christ.

The promise to Abraham and to his Seed was an eternal inheritance in the resurrection.

This is the promise that we must believe to be saved: the promise of eternal life in the resurrection.

And this promise is to us, if we are of faith.

Romans 4:16  Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law [Jesus – the lawful Seed], but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

If we are “of faith”, “of the faith of Abraham”, then we are counted as the children of Abraham, and are also inheritors – heirs of the world.

Galatians 3:7  Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

They who are “of faith” are counted for the seed and SURELY receive the promise of Abraham.

We receive the promise of Abraham (the resurrection) through faith. But notice: “of the faith of Abraham”. It must be the same faith that Abraham had.

Romans 4:11-12  And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:  12  And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

That’s a big deal. We have to walk in the steps of that faith of Abraham or we do not receive the promise of Abraham: eternal life: the resurrection.

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Romans 4:3  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

So what are the steps of this faith of Abraham that we must walk in to be counted children of Abraham and receive the promise of eternal life in Abraham?

Firstly, what did Abraham believe? Abraham believed God’s promise. The promise that God would make of him, by his own Seed proceeding out of his own bowels, and also out of Sarah’s womb, a son, a Seed. And all the promises of God to Abraham (“an everlasting possession”) would be through this Seed.

“In Isaac shall thy seed be called.”

But there are two times / events concerning which Abraham is said to have believed God’s promise.

Romans 4:19-22  And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:  20  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;  21  And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.  22  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

The First event – Abraham believed that God would bring life out of his own (possibly dead) body and out of a dead place (Sarah’s womb). Jesus is called “the first begotten of the dead”, and also “the firstborn from the dead”. Isaac (as a figure of Christ) was born of the dead – life out of death. Abraham believed in the resurrection (the promise) before Isaac’s birth: that God would cause Isaac to be born of the dead: Sara and himself.

The Second event – Abraham believed in the resurrection (the promise), when he offered Isaac. Abraham believed that God was able to resurrect Isaac from the dead. He believed that Isaac would be raised from the dead.

Hebrews 11:17-19  By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,  18  Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:  19  Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

And this is when the Scripture was fulfilled which saith “Abraham believed God.”

Abraham believed no matter if he was dead, or Sarah was dead, or Isaac was dead, God’s promise would be kept IN ISAAC. Abraham had to believe in the resurrection of the dead: the promise of God.

Abraham had to believe in the promise (the resurrection) to receive the promise (the resurrection).

And we, walking in these same steps of the faith of Abraham, must believe that God will keep His promise to us: the promise of eternal life in Jesus. We must believe in the resurrection (being fully persuaded) to receive the resurrection.

To receive the promise, we must be fully persuaded that God is both able to, and will raise us from the dead to an eternal inheritance. But, if God is not able to resurrect this mortal body from the dead, if God cannot keep His promise through my death, if my body, or my sins, or my works or my own death could make void His promise, then I have not believed God according to the faith of Abraham, and thus I am not a child of Abraham.

Like Abraham, I must believe in the resurrection and life of Jesus (Isaac), and that I will partake of that promise of inheritance and life in Jesus, NO MATTER WHAT.

We must believe that the dead will be raised. We cannot be Sadducee.

1 Corinthians 15:12-18  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?  13  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:  14  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.  15  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.  16  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:  17  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.  18  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

If there is no resurrection, then Christ is not raised, and if Christ is not raised, then there is no resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus is not just about whether Jesus rose from the dead. It is about whether we will rise from the dead. The resurrection of Christ is our only hope for resurrection.

If you don’t believe the resurrection, you are not saved. If you don’t have this hope (expectation) in you, you are not saved.

John 11:23-25  Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.  24  Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.  25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Jesus IS the resurrection. There is no one rising without Jesus. The dead cannot rise without Jesus. There is no resurrection at the last day without Jesus.

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John 5:28-29  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,  29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

If Jesus did not rise, then NO ONE will rise. If Jesus, who is the resurrection, did not conquer death, and him that had the power of death, that is the devil, then there can be no resurrection and there can be no ending, and final judgment and giving of eternal life.

Revelation 5:3-5  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.  4  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.  5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Without the resurrection of Jesus, the end cannot come; and the dead cannot rise, but all the dead would stay in the grave. And if Jesus did not rise incorruptible, the saved will not rise incorruptible.

If you don’t believe the resurrection of Jesus Christ, then you don’t believe you will be raised, and if you don’t believe that you will be raised, you don’t believe in eternal salvation. You neither understand nor believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you don’t believe in your own eternal salvation, if you don’t have an assurance of your salvation in the resurrection, you don’t have it.

The Sadducees could never be saved holding their doctrine. Thus Jesus told them:

Mark 12:26 … ye therefore do greatly err.

Because the resurrection of Jesus is the assurance of OUR resurrection.

Acts 17:31  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

The resurrection is a promise. And the resurrection of Jesus was an assurance to us that God has kept and will keep His promise. The promise that we have life in Christ. A promise that we, in Christ have, and will have, conquered death.

2 Timothy 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 3:6  That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

The promise of Abraham, which promise we must believe to obtain, is the promise of resurrection and eternal life in Jesus Christ, obtained by faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:10-12  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.  11  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  12  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

This is the record of Jesus Christ. This is believing on Jesus. I must believe that God gave His Son Jesus to be my resurrection and eternal life.  If I have Jesus, I have the resurrection, and if I don’t have Jesus , I will not have the resurrection.

You either believe this promise, the promise of resurrection in Jesus, or you don’t have eternal life.

Owen asked me, what if you die with Him, but you don’t come back to life with Him?

That CANNOT happen. Unless God is a liar. But if God keeps His promises, we cannot stay dead.

Romans 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

2 Timothy 2:11  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

Not only can it not happen, but we cannot believe that it will happen.

“Yeah, well I gave my life to Jesus, so I died with him, but if I became a serial killer, uh yeah, that would probably hurt my chances…” THAT is NOT a faithful saying.

The resurrection of Christ, and our future resurrection in Him, is what our whole faith stands on.

2 Timothy 2:18  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

IF you mess up the resurrection, you overthrow faith. You defile up the gospel. You hinder your salvation. You reject your eternal life.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event that ever has or ever will take place. It was the fulfilling of the promise of eternal life to Abraham, and it is the assurance to all men that God will keep His promise to all those that be “of faith”.

The resurrection of Jesus is the promise of life that we must believe. If it did not happen, or if we do not believe it happened, then we cannot believe that WE will have eternal life, and thus we CANNOT one day have it.

By • Salvation • 0

The Election Count – Part 3

 

Downloadable Word document:

The Election Count – Part 3

The Election Count – Part 3

The Election Count: Only those born in heaven, born of God by faith, are counted righteous, are counted for the seed of Abraham, and will be counted among the Elect on that day.

In order to be of that election count, you first need to count something…

Philippians 3:5-6  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;  6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Paul was talking about his birth, his family, his righteous people, his zeal, his obedience, his knowledge. All his things. All his righteousnesses. All his justification. All his trust. All his works! All his life!

Philippians 3:7-8  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss [all carnal things & all things of the law] for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, [you need to forsake all things] that I may win Christ [if you count any of those things gain, you can’t win Christ], 9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

You need to count all things but loss – POO POO. Nothing can help you, but Jesus alone!

If you add anything in or you keep anything back (Ananias and Saphira), you will not get Christ.

Luke 14:28  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? … 33  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

This is how one gets saved. You need to count all your things loss for Christ.

Jesus told the young rich man, sell all that you have, give it away, else you cannot follow Christ.

You need to count the cost of following Christ. Count the cost of gaining Christ – winning Christ.

The cost is not a life of good works. The cost is your whole life. The cost is death. The cost is all your things. All your riches. All your teachers. All your family. All your friends. All your carnal things. All your knowledge. All your works. All your righteousnesses. They CANNOT profit. They are but a LOSS. If you have any of them, you LOSE. If you want to WIN Christ, you have to get rid of the losses. Paul had to get rid of HIS gains.

True repentance is the rejection/forsaking/losing/counting as dung of all your things. You can’t value, trust in, any of it. If you do, you lose… Christ!

By this is our election made sure. Lose your life. Die. And be Born Again, in Zion!

2 Peter 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Somewhat difficult passage. And I think that in its context, “to make your calling and election sure” means to strengthen yourself in Christ and gain/ensure your eternal REWARDS of the inheritance. The passage is definitely talking about rewards for bringing forth fruit. But, in relation to the election of the Bible, I think it also means to ensure that you ARE saved, that you are elect; chosen. That you have brought forth fruit! To prove yourself.

And how is this done? Not by works, but by fruit! Not by deeds, but by bread. By proving yourself with hard questions of salvation doctrine.

How do you make your election sure? How do you become the election? By COUNTING the cost. Counting your things. What things are you counting? Are you counting spiritual things or carnal things? What works have you counted? Are you counting your works or His works. What have you counted as your fruit? What righteousness have you counted? What have you counted your righteousness as? As valuable, or as dung? Which things are you counting as gain, and which are you counting as loss?

If you want to be a part of The Election Count… you need to count the cost. The cost is all your things, all your works, all your life. You need to count the cost, and you need to count it all loss.

We are the Election. And one day the Lord will count His Elect.

This is the only Election and the only Election Count that matters. That is the only count we should be worried about. Secure your name in that book of life and write in as many others names in that book as you can, by winning souls! That is your job and that should be your only concern, your only focus! Not the American election. The Lord’s Election!

Government

I could sit here and tell you how the American election was legal and fair and there is no evidence of fraud. I could tell you how if you can’t personally prove it with irrefutable evidence, then accept it!

I could sit here and tell you that the American election was illegal and there is plenty of evidence of fraud. I could tell you how if a man takes power by fraud and cheating, we have no responsibility to recognize his authority or submit to his government.

Those are the arguments of both sides of the aisle right now. Both sides of the war. … Which should I choose? Which side should I take? The answer for a Christian of course, is…

Neither. To take either of these positions would be wrong. I should choose neither side of this war.

Get our minds out of this world!

The truth is, I can be absolutely convinced there was cheating, and still preach that the result is good and acceptable. HOW, you say??? How can that be Christian values based on the Bible!?!?!

Romans 13:1  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

There is no power but of God. God ordains powers. God chooses rulers.

Let’s be clear: Joe Biden does not become President of the United States without the Lord giving it to him.

Assuming the courts and the judges do not reverse the election results, Joe Biden will be the President of the United States of America.  If that happens, there will be no, “That’s not my President” from us Christians. There will be no, “I will never accept his Presidency as legitimate!” from us Christians.

If Joe Biden is sworn in, he is America’s President. And as Americans, he is our earthly ruler. Whether truthfully, or through deceit, how he came into that office DOES NOT MATTER TO US!!!

It doesn’t matter to us as Christians if we think the American election was done unlawfully.

If the election was cheated, or stolen, then God allowed it to be stolen. America’s election may have been stolen from one political party, but America’s presidency was not stolen from God. God cannot lose the election! God will put the exact person he has chosen in that office. If the election was legitimate, the Lord enabled the result. If the election was stolen, God enabled it to be stolen. If there were cheaters, The Lord put those persons in those positions necessary to cheat. He enabled them, authorized them to cheat. If He didn’t, then they couldn’t have cheated. If Joe Biden was not given the presidency, he would not have it. No matter how it came to be.

John 19:10-11  Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?  11  Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

This was not a special thing for Jesus, nor does it only apply to Israel.

God sets up kings and rulers in the earth. There is no authority, no power, but of God. Not a single person has power which God did not give that power to.

If someone has power over you, God gave them that power. If they oppress you, the Lord allowed them, authorized them to do so.

Don’t think God doesn’t set up wicked kings and oppressors to have power over His people.

We can think of Pilate over Jesus, think of Potiphar’s wife over Joseph, think of Pharaoh over Israel, think of Eglon king of Moab, and of Sisera captain of the host of Canaan, and many other oppressors over Israel. Think of King Jeroboam, King Omri, and King Ahab over Israel, think of Queen Jezebel over Naboth the Jezreelite, think of Queen Athaliah over Judah, think of the lying spirit over Ahab, think of Haman over the Jews, think of Satan over Job, think of King Herod over the children of Judaea, think of the high priests over Jesus. Think Nebuchadnezzar over Shadrach Meshach and Abednego. All these were given power over those more righteous than themselves… by God!

Sometimes The Lord’s people are delivered, and sometimes they are allowed to be slaughtered.

But nobody (whether righteous or wicked) can have power over you unless it is given them from above.

So if Joe Biden takes the Presidency by subtilty and force, IT DOES NOT MATTER TO US. Once he is sworn in and given that power, He is our President. And we are to honour him and submit to him, as the President.

Not because America elected him and gave him power, but because The Lord gave him power!

A man would have NO POWER over us AT ALL, except it were given Him from above! A man can fight and strive, and campaign and flatter. He can deceive, cheat, or attempt to take authority by force. But he cannot attain power, unless God gives it to him. Setting up powers, is not of man… God sets up kings!

Daniel 4:17  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

You need to know this! These things happened and were written that you may know this.

If the American election was fraudulent, you’ve no need to fear that some evil thing is happening in America contrary to God’s will. He giveth America to whomsoever he will!

Psalms 75:6-7  For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.  7  But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Promotion doesn’t come from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or Green Bay, Wisconsin, or Detroit, Michigan, or Atlanta, Georgia. It doesn’t come from the blue states, the red states, or the swing states. Promotion doesn’t come from the east, the west, or the south. Promotion comes from the north! From on high.

If Joe Biden unseats Donald Trump, it will not be some secret back-room scheme, nor some middle of the night secret truckload of fraudulent ballots, nor the authentic will of the American people that ejected President Trump and installed President Biden. It was your Lord GOD!!

Biden could not have, and cannot now win that office without the Lord promoting him to it. Winning the presidency has nothing to do with merit or campaigning or big money! The Lord “giveth it to whomsoever He will”.

If the Lord loved America and wanted to prosper her, He would give it a wise president, and wise governors and wise judges. If the Lord wanted America to have the very best possible, most righteous man in America to be its President, the Lord would set him up. And no amount of cheating or fraud would stop Him. And if the Lord wanted America to have the very worst possible, most wicked man in America to be its President, the Lord would set him up. And no amount of honest and true voting, no amount of money or targeted political ads would stop Him.

Rest assured, whoever attains that office will be the exact one that The Lord chooses. There will not be another in that office contrary to His will.

So whether Biden or Trump or any other man (or woman), that power is ordained of God.

We are under that authority that God ordained, and we MUST NEEDS BE SUBJECT.

Assuming nothing changes before January 20th… Joe Biden will be the President.

Not because the people of the United Stated of America chose to give the presidency to Joe Biden, but because The Lord God chose to give the presidency to Joe Biden.

Maybe he will be a good President. Maybe he will preserve our rights and make this country a safe space for us and our children to learn and to preach the gospel. Maybe…

Maybe he will be an awful President. Maybe he will remove our rights, take away our money and threaten our jobs, take away our freedom of speech, take away the guns out of the hands of the people, and make this country an unsafe place for us and our families to learn and preach the gospel. Maybe…

And maybe, if he is an awful, horrible, detrimental President, who is the destruction and downfall of the safe and prosperous America we know… maybe, that is exactly why God chose Him!

And if so, will you resist the power that God ordained? Will you be found to fight against God? Will you fight against the will of God?

Are we going to resist the ordinance of God? Are we going to resist who God has chosen? Are we going to resist him who God gives power over us to?

You say, “oh that’s all Old Testament. God doesn’t interfere with men and their kingdoms anymore.”

No, that is not true. This is absolutely New Testament, Church-Age doctrine.

Romans 13:1-7  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.  2  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God [will we resist who God sets up?]: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.  [You think you’re making a better life, you’re wrong] 3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. [well what about wicked rulers like Ahab, you ask? I respond, what good works? I think you get the king your works deserve. Ahab was a TERROR to evil workers] Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:  4  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.  5  Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.  6  For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.  7  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

THERE IS NO POWER BUT OF GOD! This is New Testament doctrine, written to the church. God didn’t stop being God.

By • Christian Life, Salvation • 0

The Election Count – Part 2

 

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The Election Count – Part 2

The Election Count – Part 2

Romans 11:5-7  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.  6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. [i.e., the reward is not deserved]  7  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

The election is of the grace of God. No works! And why were they blinded??

Romans 9:32  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

The Election hath obtained salvation, BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH. And the rest, which all have sought salvation by the works of the law, were blinded. Jews are especially blind. They have a veil over them.

But all are blind and our job is to open their eyes to the righteousness of God by FAITH, by giving them the gospel of the grace of God.

There are only 2 kinds of people: The righteous, and the wicked!

There are only 2 kinds of people: Those that work good, and those that work evil!

There are only 2 kinds of people: The elect, and the blind!

We are the election. We are the elect.

But the only reason we can be elected is because Jesus is Elect:

Isaiah 42:1  Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

When you get right down to it, we are not directly elected of God. We could not be elected without being in that perfect man. He is elect, and we are elected in Him.

1 Peter 2:6  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Our “president”, our king Jesus was not voted into office, either fairly or unfairly, lawfully or unlawfully. Our king was elected, chosen of the Father. He was chosen, elected, appointed of God the Father.

Hebrews 1:1-2  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,  2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

He has by birth, and by His Righteousness, and by obedience unto death, been appointed heir. He will inherit all things. And we by grace, and thus also by birth, have been made “joint-heirs with Christ”. He was chosen, and we are chosen, in Him.

If there was any reasoning in the choosing of Jesus Christ it was not by His campaigning. Not by being popular among the people. Not by long speeches in front of large adoring crowds. Not by promises made. Not by flatteries … The election of Jesus was a choice based on the foreknowledge of God the Father that Jesus Christ would feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, open the deaf ear, open the dumb mouth, give sight to the blind, and obeying unto death give life to the dead. He knew He would please Him well. He would submit unto death, and conquer it. He is our elected king.

He is the Elect. And in HIM, the Elect Lord Jesus, we are elected. Chosen in Him.

He is elect, and we are His elect. Not because of any works of righteousness which we have done. But only because Jesus is Elect, and we have been chosen (elected) IN HIM, by grace.

Ephesians 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Ours is a GOOD election.

Romans 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

The President of the United States is disliked or hated by roughly half the country. The elected officials of the United States are under constant assault, accusation, and attempted defamation by their enemies. But not us! Not in our election!

How would you like to be elected for a high position of honour, and in it, never be called unqualified or incompetent of anyone! Never charged with ever doing a poor job, or breaking the law, or doing anything wrong. No matter what you do, you cannot be accused of wrong-doing! Well, we have been so elected. That is our election of God! And it’s a high honour! Few receive it. Many are called, but few chosen.

There are only two kinds of people: The Elect, and the Rest; the Blinded!

This is the Election. This is the true Election. This is the Election of the Bible. No other “Election” matters to God. Not even the most important election in American history! We like to think this is God’s nation, or at least a Godly nation… but it’s not, and it never was! America is not God’s nation, and this was not God’s election!

God’s nation is a holy nation, a peculiar nation, a spiritual nation, and Jesus Christ and Christians are His “election”.

No other “Election” matters to God. So why should any other election matter to us – His children?

If your candidate won, rejoice not. God doesn’t care! Truth and love has not prevailed.

And if your candidate lost, weep not. God isn’t troubled! Darkness has not prevailed against a true election. The election has not been stolen! There’s no fraud in God’s election. The wrong individuals have not, and will NEVER get elected.

God’s election stands unaffected! Our election of God stands firm! The election of God is secure!

The Election Count

Let’s talk about the count. What count? Why did I call this “The Election Count”? Because I want to talk about how ballots are counted? Because I want to talk about how the count of the Presidential Election was fraudulent and how there was a high-up coordinated attack on America’s democracy? Or I want to talk about how it was actually fair, and there is no real evidence of widespread fraud?

No? Then what do I mean? Why did I call this “The Election Count”?

Because we are the elect, and we as the election will be COUNTED!

Numbers 23:9-10  For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.  10  Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!

Who can count Jacob? No one can count Israel but the Lord.

Not just in accuracy, but in size! No man can quantify Israel. No man can count that high.

Some things are unsearchable, uncountable, without number, unknowable, except… to the Lord.

The Lord alone can count uncountable things: the stars of the heaven, the dust of the earth, the depths of the sea. All uncountable. Unknowable. And Israel is one of those things.

Revelation 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

This is the elect. Those called out of all the nations of the Earth to live in Christ, and to not be counted among the nations.

We will not be counted among the nations of men. Why? Because we are not OF MAN. We are a different species! We were not born here among the nations. We were not born in America, we were born in heaven. We were not born of man, we were born of God. We were not born of the flesh, we were born of the Spirit. We will be counted among the sons of God! We will be counted among Israel… among Zion.

Psalms 87:5-6  And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.  6  The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.

A Christian is born again… in New Jerusalem. In Zion. In heaven.

In the Election Count, when the election are counted, the only people that God will count, are those that were born in heaven. They are the election, and they alone will be counted.

Galatians 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

At the last judgment, right before the Exodus, the Lord is going to count up His children. Count off!

Romans 9:8  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: [they are not counted!] but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

The Lord is going to count His own children! He isn’t going to count Israel after the flesh. These things are not spoken of Israel after the flesh. Israel after the flesh is not uncountable. The promises were not made to Israel after the flesh. Israel after the flesh is not the inheritor of the promise made to Abraham.

We, Israel after the Spirit, are the heirs of that promise. We are counted among the elect!

And how is He going to count? No software, no machines.

He’s going to do it old school: He’s going to use written records.

Luke 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

In heaven, all ready for the count. It was ready long ago.

Isaiah 4:3  And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:

We who have been born again, have a certificate of birth, safely and securely written in heaven.

He’s going to do it old school: He’s going to use books!

Revelation 20:11-12  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  … 15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The names of all the Elect are written there in heaven. Records in a book! And on that day, the Lord will COUNT each and every one of us according to what is written in that book of life. It will be a roll call. He will count his people. He will count His elect! Those that were BORN IN ZION.

The Lord will separate the righteous from the wicked, using that book of life. He will count up his children using what is written in the pages of that book.

Are you worried about tampering? I wouldn’t be. That’s why we are told to lay up our treasures in heaven, “where thieves do not break through nor steal”.

No one is tampering with that book. I’d guess that its seal. I’d guess that it is shut (another book was opened)! And what He shuts, none opens.

We are the Elect. And This is the Election Count. The Count in Heaven. The counting of the Election. The counting of the Children of Zion.

We have a count in heaven that none can cheat. My name is written there. It will not and cannot be blotted out, nor discarded, nor deemed fraudulent, or nor overruled. My name is written there clearly, with the finger of God. There will be no hanging chads.

To be a part of that count you must be a citizen in heaven. You must be born there.

There will be no names of dead people. It’s the book of the living.

There will be no names added to the count in the middle of the night.

There will be no dishonest or biased counters. The Lord Jesus will be the one counting.

He will not be fabricating the count. It will be a perfect count! He won’t grow tired and slip up. His eyes won’t grow weary and cause Him to commit an error. He will not make an honest mistake. He won’t commit a ‘human error’.

The count will not be done with men’s hands. It will be a perfect and a fair count!

He knows whose His are. I believe the names have already been written. Maybe they are written again when the confession is made and the soul is saved, but He already knows who will be born again.

1 Peter 1:2  Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, …

He already knows who will be born on THIS Earth. He knew from its foundation! So is it any wonder that He knows who will be born in Heaven. Of course He knows. So on the Lord’s day, its more of a roll call. Let’s Count Off! Everybody here? Good! All the rest, any extra persons here that were not legally counted? They’re fraudulent! They’re reprobate! Throw them out! It will be the smoothest and most fraudulent-free count to ever occur.

In an American election, can you be sure that fraud has or has not occurred? Can you say that it is “basically impossible” to cheat an American election? Like, with a straight face!?  …  If so, I’ll hand it to you: you’re a good liar!

American election systems aside (some say secure, some problematic)… Any system that man can create, man can cheat. But there will be no cheating God’s count. Its made without hands. It is written in a book that is secure in heaven. He alone can open the book, and He alone can close it.

Revelation 3:7  … he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

There are no illegitimate names getting into the count, into that book. No one is slipping in at 3am to write in a few fraudulent names! There will be no software glitches, where a few names are changed.

The Lord counts His own elect. But, my theory, He does not count the unrighteous.

Isaiah 2:22  Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?

Psalms 144:3  LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

God doesn’t count (account of – sum up) wicked mankind. He counts His own children. But the rest (the blind), which are not elected, they are not any thing accounted of. They are not worthy to be counted. He’s not counting those up!

Jeremiah 17:13  O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

Who writes them in the earth? God? Or maybe not! Themselves, Satan?

This is the only count that God cares about. The election count. We need to get our heads out of this world. Get our minds off the things of this world.

Colossians 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

A Christian has been given a new mind – the mind of Christ. Let it be in you, put it on!

A wicked man does not have a new mind – he only knows how to mind earthly things.

Philippians 3:19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Don’t worry about the earthly election count. Concern yourself with the heavenly election count.

For you to be counted you must be elect. Only 2 sorts of people.

The elect, are the righteous. The righteous are counted. Not that we are righteous of ourselves. But those that are MADE righteous by faith, after the pattern of Abraham.

Genesis 15:6  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Who are counted? The seed of Abraham, the children of God, by faith!

Romans 9:7-8  Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac [he who was born by promise] shall thy seed be called.  8  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

The seed of Abraham (by faith, by promise, by the Spirit) are COUNTED for the children of God. But not those according to the flesh! They are not counted for the seed. They are not counted!

Galatians 3:7  Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Isaac was the child of Abraham, the son of the free woman. Ishmael was the son of a bondwoman, and thus NOT counted as the son of Abraham.

They who are of the works of the law are NOT COUNTED among the sons.

They who are of the faith of Jesus Christ… they are COUNTED for the seed of Abraham. They are counted as the dust of Jacob. They will be the Election, counted of the Lord in that day.

By • Christian Life, Salvation • 0

The Lord’s Work – Part 15

 

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The Lord’s Work – Part 15

The Lord’s Work – Part 15

Carnal ordinances, carnal things, and carnal man himself, are (like) shadows.

Hebrews 8:4  For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

In other words, if Jesus was earthly, carnal… If His ministry was according to the flesh, if His sacrifice/atonement/service was earthly instead of heavenly, He should not be a high priest… Because God already had earthly high priests. High priests…

Hebrews 8:5  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

The things of the law – earthly things – are the example and shadow of heavenly things.

This is what man’s good works are: unto examples and shadows of heavenly things.

This is what the whole world serves unto: examples and shadows of heavenly things.

When man does a good work, it is according to a pattern, an example shown to him. A shadow shown to him. Maybe shown by God, maybe shown by their father the devil, or maybe by other men (Adam?).

Moses built the tabernacle according to a pattern shown to him in the mount. A mere description of the form of the true tabernacle.

Israel was working according to a pattern shown to them in the mount: the ten commandments. A mere description of the form of a perfect man. A shadow of a perfect man!

Man’s good works are unto an example. Unto a shadow. And as long as they are carnal works in carnal things, which things are done unto (to look like) an example given to us, they are a shadow.

All of man’s works are attempts to do what can only be truly done, or build what can only be truly built, or look like what can only be truly observed in the Spirit, and in the truth. We’ve seen shadows of good things, and we try to do those same things shown to us. We pattern ourselves after those works. We are acting like true men, because we are spies, and we have been shown a pattern. But our works are reprobate.

Our works are unto a good pattern.  It’s a good pattern. Nothing is wrong with the pattern. But it is JUST a patter. We’ve been told what a good man looks like, and we build ourselves according to that pattern. We tell ourselves, “God says a good man must be righteous, and love, give, and don’t lie, and don’t steal, don’t hate your neighbor, don’t commit adultery, don’t sin. So, we will establish ourselves as that! We will build ourselves according to that pattern!” We go here:

Psalms 15:1-5  … LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?  2  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.  3  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.  4  In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.  5  He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Here are the things! Here are the doings. Here is the pattern, the shadow! Here is the outline of a true man.  Here are the markings of a perfect man!

Psalms 37:37  Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

A perfect man will have peace. He will ascend to heaven. Man says, “Aha, here I have marked his pattern. I will establish myself as that!”

But you have not seen a true perfect man. You’ve only seen his shadow. You’ve marked the shadow!

You say, “I will establish myself as a perfect man!” But you can’t be that!

Ecclesiastes 7:20  For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

You can mark that perfect man’s shadow, but with your eyes you have not marked a true perfect man.

You cannot be a true perfect man. You cannot NOT sin.

Now, man can work according to that shadow, and according to that pattern. But man can’t do these things IN truth. You can’t do the pattern perfectly, without iniquity.

You cannot perfectly emulate a perfect man.

And even if you could, even if you stopped sinning and only did good things… you would STILL only be established as the shadow of a perfect man. You would not be a true perfect man. You would just have a similar shadow! One shadow can look like another, but that does not mean the true things that control the shadows are identical.

Job was called a “perfect man”, but I must believe it was only in shadow, under whatever carnal ordinances / law was given to him for the time then present. According to the shadow, he was a perfect and upright man. I have to believe that because there is only one true perfect man, but He is not upon earth:

–

Ephesians 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

He and His body are the perfect man. We, by knowledge of Him and faith in Him, will one day, in flesh as in spirit, dwell in Him and BE that man. That man will forever be the ONLY perfect man. You must live in Him, or you are not a true perfect man.

We’ve marked His shadow, but there is only one way to be a perfect man: to be IN Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

You cannot be perfect outside of Jesus. But you CAN be outside of Him and serve unto the shadow of that perfect man.

Men are working to build fake (shadows of) good works. Man brings forth fake fruit. Shadows of real good fruit.

Even the high priests serving the Lord in Israel were not doing true good things. They were doing a shadow of good things. They were serving unto a shadow of the true heavenly things.

Hebrews 8:5  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, …

Is there a better carnal work than that? Is there a better vocation? If being a minister of God is not true good, then what carnal work/vocation is? If making offerings and sprinkling blood to cleanse the house of God is not true good, then what offering is? If entering in to the most holy place once a year to atone for the sins of others was not true good, then what carnal work/vocation is? None! If those things were not true good, then there is no true good in this world. They are ALL fake – at best, goodly looking shadows!

Hebrews 9:19-21  For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,  20  Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.  21  Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

What things did He sprinkle with blood? He sprinkled the people, and all the things of the service of the Lord. All the good things. Those are the very best of the good things that this world offers!

Hebrews 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.  23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens [that is, the things on the Earth] should be purified with these [carnal sacrifices]; but the heavenly things themselves [the true things] with better sacrifices than these [i.e., heavenly things].  24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Jesus Christ was the true high priest who entered into the true tabernacle in heaven with His own pure spiritual blood. If his sacrifice was carnal (a shadow), it would not have profited in heavenly places.

There is (rather was) a way to be clean, under the law. BLOOD and water. Jesus came, not by water only, but by water and blood. Without blood and water, there is no remission of sins.

These carnal sacrifices under the law cleansed one’s flesh, but could not clean one’s spirit. One was still guilty. One was still alive in the flesh, and dead in sins. One’s nature was unchanged. One’s conscience was unchanged as well. After an OT sacrifice, one was still completely carnal.

If all Jesus did was an earthly sacrifice, death, and resurrection, we would have no eternal life. Those are the shadows, the figures of the true. He needed to do the true! He needed to atone for sins in the true tabernacle in heaven itself! That was required to atone for sins in truth! That is the only way a soul could be cleansed, spiritually: by a spiritual, heavenly sacrifice.

There is a cleanliness that can be achieved, there is good that can be done… under the law!  But those things are not the true. Those are the figures of the true. Carnal things, carnal works are the shadows, figures of the true. The things made with hands are figures, shadows, of the true. Moses’ tabernacle. Solomon’s temple. Jerusalem. The giving of the law, the good works of the law. All shadows.

The things we do, the good things man works in this world, are shadows, figures.

The best that man can work is a figure of the true. Talk about idolatry! The good things that we work are idolatry.

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The law is good. But the law is not TRUE good. At least, it does not give man the ability to work true good. The best that a man can work under the law is a shadow, a pattern of righteousness.

Galatians 3:21  Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

If the natural/carnal laws could give eternal life, righteousness would have been by the law.

If righteousness were by the law, we would be able to make ourselves righteous by obeying the law.

If a man can work true good, he IS good, and he will have eternal life.

If a single work of the law was TRUE good, we would be able to do it and thus have TRUE righteousness.

And we could save ourselves with our righteousness! With our true good works!

But the law does not have true good, it only has a shadow of true good, and thus true righteousness – God’s righteousness, eternal life – is not by the law.

There is a righteousness which is of the law, but it is “mine own righteousness, which is of the law” and the Bible says “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”. So the righteousness of the law is a shadow, made of filthy rags. It is not true righteousness. The law was a shadow of true good, and not the very true good itself.

Galatians 3:15  Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

Yes it was given by God, written by His hand. But it was OF man, FOR man, to be seen of MEN. It was fleshly, worldly. It stood in carnal things. It stood in carnal, fleshly sacrifices. Thus, it was temporary, and thus it was WEAK!

Romans 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Obeying the law does not constitute true good. But this is man’s hope. This is his justification. This is his proof. Carnal works. Weak carnal laws. There is weakness in his hope! Man is trusting a shadow, that will flee away when the sun rises. A flower that will wither, a vapour that will vanish when the heat of the Son comes on that day.

Figures

Man’s works are fake!

FAKE? How are they fake? What are they, if not true?

They are figures.. figures of the true!

Hebrews 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens [that is, the things on the Earth] should be purified with these [carnal sacrifices]; but the heavenly things themselves [the true things] with better sacrifices than these [heavenly things].  24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

“Heavenly things” are the true things, and earthly things are the figures.

Things made with hands are the figures of the true!!!!

You saw these 2 of 3 occurrences of “heavenly things”:

Hebrews 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Hebrews 8:5  …  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things …

There are “heavenly things” which are the true things, and there are earthly things which are figures.

Heavenly things are the true good things. Earthly things, man-made things, things made with hands, man’s works, our good works, our good things, they are examples and shadows of the true good things; they are patterns of the heavenly things.

Earthly things are a shadow of heavenly things. Earthly things are not THE TRUE.

And this is the 3rd and ONLY other instance of “heavenly things” in the Bible.

John 3:6-12  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  7  … Ye must be born again. … 12  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

Whatsoever things are born of flesh, are not the true things.

It is the spiritual things that are the true things. One must be born spiritually to be accepted as a true man, and not a spy.

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Heavenly things are “the true”, and earthly things …

Hebrews 9:24  … are the figures of the true; …

Let’s talk about “THE TRUE”. (14 times) Those things under the law were figures of THE TRUE. But there is one body, one vine, one building, one tabernacle that is THE TRUE.

Hebrews 8:2  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

THE TRUE is what the Lord builds (works), and not man. Nothing we work is THE TRUE. No matter how accurate the pattern! Heavenly things are THE TRUE, and earthly things are NOT the true. THE TRUE must be built spiritually IN HEAVEN. New Jerusalem is THE TRUE temple.

Luke 16:11  If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

The saved souls of mankind, and the substance that feeds them in eternity, are THE TRUE riches.

In this world, people are the real riches are they not? Possessions can be replaced, but not people. Power, Money, Fame will not make you happy. People, friends, family, are what we should, and often do, most value.

Has anyone ever gotten to the end of their lives and said, “Man, I just had too many children… I had too big of a family”? “I just spent too much time with my family.”

To man, people are the true riches. People are what really has true value.

And yet, carnal, unrighteous mankind are not THE TRUE riches. True riches are spiritual people. God’s family, His friends, His loved ones.

“The True” is spiritual!

John 6:31-32  Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.  32  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

The Scripture was not wrong. God indeed gave them bread from heaven (angel’s food)… so how can Jesus say that He did not?!?!

Because carnal things are not THE TRUE. Moses truly gave them bread from heaven, but Moses did NOT give Israel THE TRUE bread from heaven. That bread was a shadow, a figure of the true. That bread was corruptible. To eat that bread did not give eternal life, and to eat that bread did not count as having eaten THE TRUE bread from heaven. Moses gave them water out of a rock. But Moses did not give them THE TRUE water out of the Rock. Having drunk of that Rock, as long as the water was carnal and not spiritual, did not count as having drunk THE TRUE living water from the Rock.

Carnal things are not the true. The true is the spiritual. The true is the body of Christ. True good works must be done in THE TRUE. Do your works in THE TRUE. Work good in THE TRUE! How??

John 15:1  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. … 5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Jesus is the true. Only in that vine – THE TRUE vine can one produce good fruit. Abide in that vine, or there is no ability to work TRUE good. Without (outside of) Christ, ye do NOTHING. Unsaved, natural man, abiding outside of THE TRUE vine, can do nothing!!

This is where we must draw the line! Your works are in the flesh or in the Holy Spirit. Divide! Flesh vs. Spirit. The True vs. the figure of the true.

The law is light the Bible says… but that light was like a little candle in darkness…

It, the law itself, as it stood in carnal, natural things, was a shadow; a figure.

It could guide you. It could keep you near to where the Lord wanted you to be, it could keep you humble and prepare you to hear the truth. But the law was a temporary candle. A figure of the true. The law was not THE TRUE light of God.

1 John 2:8  Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

The Gospel is the TRUE light. Jesus is THE TRUE. Jesus is the only way for us to do THE TRUE.

Jesus is the only way for us to do the true will of God.

Jesus is the only way for us to do the true works of the Lord.

Jesus is the only way for us to do the true good works.

Jesus is the only way for us to bring forth the true good fruit.

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The Lord’s Work – Part 14

 

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The Lord’s Work – Part 14

The Lord’s Work – Part 14

Fake Good Works

1 Corinthians 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

What sort is your work? There’s only two sorts that it could be. What did you work? What did you bring forth. What is your finished work? What is your fruit? What sort is it?

Good or evil? Heavenly or earthly? Carnal or Spiritual? Will it abide the fire of God, or no?

No one can work some good and some evil. No one can work good sometimes and evil some other times. Your work is of one sort.

Romans 2:6-10  Who will render to every man according to his deeds:  … 9  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, … But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, …

You will receive according to your work. We teach that one cannot go to heaven, not because he did evil, but because he is evil; because he CAN sin. Because he is a sinner.

There can’t be a middle ground. There are only two sorts. Man himself is all good or all evil. The work of a man is all good or it is all evil.

What a man is and what he has in his heart comes out of his heart. You know that right?

Well then how do you get out of this?

Ecclesiastes 9:3  … yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

We are full of evil. What comes out of our hearts is evil. You say, “that CAN’T apply to ME!”

These things are hard for us to hear and believe. Because we are mad with Satan’s blood-lusts-lies.

If a man can sin, he is a sinner and will receive according to his deeds (sins). If a man can work good, he is one that “worketh good” (none do!) and will receive according to his righteousnesses.

If a man CAN sin, he is a sinner, and he cannot go to heaven.

Alternatively, if a man CAN work good, he is righteous, and he cannot go to the lake of fire.

It has to be that black and white. No gray!

A man cannot do both good and evil.

1 John 3:7  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

Don’t be deceived by this. There is no gray area!

If a man CAN do true good works, if he CAN make good fruit, the Lord cannot be just to put him in the Lake of Fire. IF a man has worked good in his life, then:

  • He is righteous and the Lord cannot be just judge to send him to Death
  • The Lord cannot be just to withhold eternal rewards.

Matthew 10:42  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Hebrews 6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

If one can work good, he cannot justly be denied. The Bible says, “he that doeth righteousness is righteous”, and “he that doeth good is of God”. So if one can truly love his neighbor, truly give to the poor, truly raise children, truly wash the saints feet, truly visit the prisoners, truthfully give a cup of water to a thirsty little one, and if in fact he has done it….. He is righteous, he is born of God, and he cannot be denied, and he cannot be unrewarded. Otherwise, God is unrighteous to judge so.

John 5:28-29  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,  29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

But, if we can do good things and thus deserve a good reward, yet we can also do evil things and thus deserve an evil reward, then how can God judge righteously? He can’t.

2 Corinthians 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

God is not going to judge on a curve (no percentages, no extra credit). 100% Good or 100% Evil. He’s not going to judge in grey area (no partiality, no mixed motivation). He’s not going to add and subtract the good and evil things.

He’s not going to give good things to those that do evil things, or vice versa!

He’s not going to give good things to those that go to the LoF, and he will not give evil things to those that dwell in New Jerusalem.

If we can do both good and evil, we have a big problem! God is found an unrighteous judge. Or, God is found a liar. Which is exactly Satan’s goal – Prove God a liar, or prove Him an unjust judge!

If we allow that man’s good works are true good works, we are in this quagmire of unrighteous judgment. We all do the same things! I doest the same things as others! And if some get life and others get death, when we all do the same things.. there is a problem with the judge!

I have determined that the only way to reconcile this is to admit that our carnal works are not TRUE.

I have determined that mas has done evil, and man has never once done good.

I have determined that man’s work… IT BE bad.

Man’s works LOOK righteous, but they are counterfeit.

Man’s works LOOK good, but they are ALL evil.

Man’s works LOOK true, but they are fake.

Man appears to work good, but he is a reprobate… a spy, an actor, a liar.

We’ve touched on the “WHY?” man’s works are not real, but fake.

  • Because they are done in the flesh. They are carnal, to be seen of men.
  • Because they are not done IN the Spirit, IN Christ.

Let’s talk about the HOW!?

How are they fake? What are they, if not true?

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They are:

  • Shadows, Figures, and Patterns
  • Vanity
  • Idols

Shadows

The wicked does FAKE good works.

FAKE? How are they fake? What are they, if not true?

They are shadows!

Psalms 144:4  Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

Psalms 102:11  My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

1 Chronicles 29:15  For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

Job 14:1-2  Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.  2  He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

For what is your life? It is even a vapour/shadow.

Job 17:7  Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.

Man is like a shadow. Our lives are like a shadow. Our bodies are like shadows. They are like a flower, and all the glory of man (and his great and beautiful works) flees away like a shadow.

Song of Solomon 2:17  Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, …

Our works looks good. They look real… But we’re in the night, in the dark. We have (outside of Jesus) no light. And we don’t realize we are like shadows, shadows in the dark! Shadows in the dark don’t stand out. In the night, you can’t tell what they are: real or not. We can’t see the true, because there is no light. Plato’s Cave?

When the day breaks, the shadows flee away! We as shadows, will continue to look good and true, until that day of the Lord when the sun rises, and the shadows (all flesh / all carnal lives) flee away. Then the true will be manifested.

James 1:10-11  But the rich, [let him glory] in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.  11  For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

That is what a flower does – withers in the sun. That is what a shadow does – FADE AWAY in the light.

Hebrews 9:1,10  Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. …  10  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

The first covenant (the old testament, the law) was made of carnal ordinances.

ORDINANCES: laws, rules, commandments, ceremonies, services, signs… works.

The old testament, the first covenant, the law, had carnal works. It stood in carnal things. Thus it was temporary – only for a time. It was a shadow.

For a carnal man to abstain from sin and do the service of the Lord… in truth… it’s just a carnal ordinance. It’s a carnal shadow. It’s just a CARNAL SHOW.

How do I know that? How can I say that doing good according to the law is just a worldly show?

“How can you say that?” What about Moses? What about David and Daniel? What about all their works?

Because the Bible says it. Of those carnal ordinances, Paul says they are a SHOW – shew.

Colossians 2:20-23  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,  [of the law of Moses and all ordinances of the natural law in the world – that is: works of the flesh]  21  (Touch not; taste not; handle not;  22  Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? [not just those ordained by men, but also those carnally ordained by God of the first covenant, for men in the flesh] 23  Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Abstaining from sin and doing the services (ordinances) of the Lord… they are like a show of shadows – shadow puppets!

Its just an empty, vain SHOW. They look like true worship, but they are a SHOW.

You say, “no, not the things written in scripture!” Yes, even the OT law. If it is an ordinance/work in the world, it is a show.

Worldly ordinances, whether natural or divine, whether of man, or of Moses and God, are really no different. Blasphemy!?!

That’s how the Bible puts it: the Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law unto themselves. They had the work of the law written in their hearts. By nature, they were no different. By nature, “there is no difference” between Jews and Gentiles. The nature of their ordinances are the same: carnal. They are shadows!

Colossians 2:16-17  Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:  [ordinances, works, laws – these are all the “good things” under the law] 17  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Everything under the law of Moses was a shadow of things to come. They were figures of the true.

There will be TRUE meat, drink, holy days, new moons and sabbaths in heaven and eternity. But those here are shadows of these future true ordinances.

Man’s “good works”, all carnal good works, all works of the law (whether of the law of nature or of the law of Moses) are a mere figure – a shadow – of true good works.

The ordinances of the OT law given by God were more complete shadows than man’s, but shadows, nonetheless!

What about Moses? What about David and Daniel? What about all their works? “How can you say that?”

Because the Bible says it:

Hebrews 10:1  For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

My shadow has my pattern, but not my very image.

Our good works, those defined by the natural law, they are patterned after God’s works. Like a two-dimensional shadow of a man. Sure, it has the form of a man, but its not true. How can you even be sure that what is making the shadow is even a true man?

Our good works are a shadow of true good works. Like a two-dimensional shadow of your mother. It looks good, but it can’t make you soup when you’re sick. Like a two-dimensional shadow of a police officer. It looks good, but it can’t help you when you’re being robbed.

Ultimately, they are useless shadows, images, patterns. They look great! Maybe they make you feel good. But they’re fake.

The true body, the true works which will be rewarded good, are not done on Earth, under the laws of nature, according to carnal ordinances, but are done in the body of Christ, in heavenly places.

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The Lord’s Work – Part 13

 

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The Lord’s Work – Part 13

The Lord’s Work – Part 13

Because if you do what the Pharisees do (after their works), which ALL that are in the flesh do ALL their works to look like… ye have no reward.

Matthew 6:1  Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Their works are not counted good, and they are not rewarded good according to their works. ALL their works (the good ones and the justly motivated ones too!) they do to be seen of men. And by nature, ALL our works that we ALL do are the same: to be seen of men.

Thus all our works are reprobate – false, not true – and unrewarded.

… I didn’t say it.. the Lord did!!

I believe it’s not about their motivation at all. I think it’s only because man’s works CAN be seen of men, and not rather of the Lord only. Because man’s work is BEFORE MEN, and not before the Lord. I think it’s because it is a carnal work, instead of a spiritual work. I think if the works can be seen of men (i.e., if they are fleshly works out of a fleshly heart), they are not TRUE, and thus they are unrewarded. A carnal work does not receive an eternal reward.

Galatians 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

If you sow to the flesh, you shall of the flesh reap… If you do carnal works, you will have carnal rewards (which will corrupt).

A carnal work, of the flesh, in the flesh, is to be seen of men. It will be rewarded of men, but it will not be rewarded of God. It will be rewarded in this earth, but will not be rewarded in the new earth.

I don’t understand everything, and I have many questions of my own, but this makes sense to me, and I believe this is the truth: All man’s works are to be seen of men, and unrewarded, because they are carnal. I don’t know that I have fully proved this for you Scripturally, but I would say its likely. All their works they do for to be seen of men.

It’s not about the motivation. It’s about the sort of work it be. A carnal work is not a true work. A good work in the flesh is not a true good work.

But I could be wrong. And if I’m wrong about this, no matter how hard it is to believe, it very well could be that every work that an unsaved man does IS motivated to be seen and praised of men, and of self (a man), and not of the Lord only. Maybe, if even a tiny little bit is for to be seen of men, its rejected. Maybe… I know I can’t claim my motivation is ever pure. Maybe all of man’s never is. I don’t know their hearts. I don’t know their entire motivations. Neither do you. Neither do THEY. So if the Lord says it, how can either of us disagree?

Matthew 23:28  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

These “good works” appear righteous to men (US!).

What about this one here? What about that one there! … all to be seen of men and unrewarded. I didn’t say it, the Lord did.

It’s not because you do bad things. It’s not because you do a good thing but your motivation is evil. It’s because you are bad. You are full of iniquity within. Out of man’s flesh can come (fake) good, but out of his heart comes true evil.

Don’t excuse yourself. This is all of mankind. This is spoken of the very best of mankind, and applies to all of mankind. These were the religious lawyers. Those that dedicated their lives to studying, debating, and teaching religion. Those that lived / appeared as clean as could be, outwardly. This was spoken of Saul, who was, as concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. These weren’t sinners above all men. They were the best of men!

This was spoken in the temple in Jerusalem. This is the last sermon that Jesus gave publicly before his crucifixion. In it, He leaves a very important message for them: Beware of reprobate works – those that are righteous in appearance, but not in truth. Beware of cleaning the outside of the cup (the flesh). You appear righteous to no one but UNTO MEN.

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Ephesians 5:11-12  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.  12  For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

It is not out in the open. It is in secret, it is in heart, it is in spirit, that the works are clearly dark and unfruitful.  In the flesh they look good, but in secret, they are evil.

Proverbs 11:18  The wicked worketh a deceitful work: …

The wicked’s works are not openly evil. They are secretly evil. That’s why you can’t prove a man by works. Openly, before men, their works LOOK good, but they are deceitful. They are deceiving you with their works. And since you are told to prove yourself, if you attempt to prove yourself by works… Your works are deceiving even you! Why are the works deceitful??? Because of where they come from. They come forth from a deceitful heart!

Man’s heart is deceitful!

Jeremiah 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

If the heart is deceitful, then its works/fruits are deceitful. Your heart is deceitful. Your own heart is deceiving you. And subsequently your own works are deceiving you!

Jesus said that the things that come out of the heart defile the man. You are being defiled by your own deceitful works. They look good and righteous unto you, but they are defiling you.

Proverbs 11:18  The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

That’s a big fat BUT! The wicked worketh a deceitful work, BUT the righteous soweth righteousness.

If you are not one that soweth righteousness, then your works are deceitful – fake. They are evil, but with the appearance of good.

You may say, “so if I do a good thing, one selfless good work, sow righteousness one time, I have an eternal reward.”

The answer is Yes. Absolutely true! One TRUE good work gets an eternal reward. But remember:

  • You can’t do both. That is a big fat line. No grey area. That is a great gulf fixed. You can’t get both the reward of a righteous man and of a wicked man. You can’t be both, nor receive both, nor can you do both. You can LOOK like you can do both (to men), but if you can do evil, you can’t do true good.
  • You need to know How! HOW can you sow righteousness, not in appearance, but in truth? Be very careful here – because there are fake ministers of righteousness. Sowing must be done IN THE SPIRIT. One must sow, to the Spirit, not to the flesh.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

A bad guy can look good!! A bad guy can transform, disguise himself! Satan himself appears righteous.

Just like our father the devil, We transform ourselves. Our good works are fake good works, our sowing is sowing FAKE righteousness, sown to the flesh. Our works have the appearance of righteousness, but they are fake, they are deceitful, and they are carnal/fleshly.

—

The ministers, and pastors, and bishops, and deacons, and elders, and evangelists, and apostles, and reverends, and popes, and cardinals. The Pharisees and Sadducees. They (the best of mankind) look good and righteous. (Of course they do, they believe they must “show their faith by their works”, “prove themselves, by their works” / “justify themselves”, they must “work out their own salvation”!) They look like they have righteousness all figured out. They look like they work the Lord’s works, but it is all deceitful works.

The wicked WILL NOT receive good for their “good works”. Their good works are deceitful – fake. They are an act. They are counterfeit. They are, in truth, evil works.

Look, they do “good works”:

Matthew 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

They believe they have, in His name, done many wonderful works?!!

You may believe they have too. I do! No one on earth will argue that they do “good works”.

You can make the case that their motivation was wrong, or their evil works counteracted their good ones, or take the stance that I have.

But man won’t say they are not good works. But God will. But they will not be counted good before God.

What’s the answer of God? “Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Why? Because they are brought forth out of a wicked heart to be seen of wicked mankind. They’re fleshly!  It will all be shown to be deceitful. It will be exposed as false. It will be proven as FAKE!

I met a very nice, very confused Pastor recently. He got the hard question (murder one) wrong. But yet he taught grace “without a mixture of works”.

He said his works are different now. How? He said, “now my motivation is different.”

Matthew 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

He will be one of these ^^!

Its not about one’s motivation. “Motive” or “motivation” is not even in the Bible!! And that is how you choose to distinguish yourself from a reprobate?

When it comes down to it, he believes his work is cleaner, purer, better. He believes his heart is more righteous. Indeed, the outside of the cup IS (appears) more righteous and beautiful now…

And yet, he got the hard question wrong. Out of his own mouth, he has the possibility of sin.

And if one is not free from sin, there is the possibility, nay the inevitability of sin. And where there is envying and strife, there is confusion and every evil work. His fruit is eternal death.

A Christian is not “better now”. A Christian is not “better”. A Christian is RIGHTEOUS. All his works are righteousness! A Christian is not mostly good. A Christian is PERFECTED.

And if you don’t get a hold of that, rightly dividing TRUTH: flesh from Spirit,  you’ll be deceived by the works and the doctrine of the world, of the false brethren. I wish he were a true brother, but he was a false brother. He was a deceitful worker.

I work true good works, but that Pastor does not. His works are reprobate.

My works are to be seen of God, and his are to be seen of men.

But not because of our motivations! I’m not better than that Pastor. My motives are not better than his. I’m not a better servant or more trained to deny my fleshly lusts. I’m no less likely to commit murder.

—

The only difference between us is that I understand something that he does not.

The only difference between us is that I HAVE something that he does not.

The only difference between us is that I have been given a new heart, and he has worked to change his old heart.

The only difference between us is that I am full of something and he is full of something else.

The only difference between us is that my good works are in a place that his are not.

The only difference between us is that I have proved myself by bread. I am approved in the faith by doctrine, while He is completely unaware that his doctrine is leavened.

All his works are IN THE FLESH. He looks good. But he is reprobate. He is a deceitful worker. He is a fraud.

If he truly tried himself against the word of God, tried himself with hard questions, tried himself with the wrath of God, tried himself with bread, tried himself with mercy, grace and faith, if he understood what the word of God says, what the law says, he’d understand that his doctrine is no different than the world’s doctrine, or a Catholic’s doctrine.  He’d understand that he is no better now than before he “came to Christ”. He is the same sinner. His work is the same. He doest the same things! He appears righteous unto men, but shine the true Light (Jesus) on him… heck, even shine the light (the law) on Him, and he is revealed to be… a sinner. He tries to be better, to put away his sins (in the name of the Lord, of course), but he’s just like every other unsaved man: in sin, under the law. If he sins, he dies. He’s in bondage. His “good works” proceed from his own heart, the fleshly heart, and thus they are rejected as FAKE good works. He himself will be found to BE reprobate.

That pastor said, “I agree with everything you are saying, except when you say that I am trusting in my works”. He was nice, clean, loving, neighborly, He appeared righteous.. he just couldn’t see. He couldn’t see the truth of his own doctrine. He couldn’t see himself. Why? He had clothed himself with his works. And then, when he tried himself by his works, and he judged himself to be righteous. He couldn’t identify his own self as a spy.

He was zealous for the Lord, his motivation was pure… at least that is what he told himself and me… but he lacked knowledge (will be destroyed). He was ignorant of his leaven.

I think the Lord led me to him, partly because it educated me, but also partly because of his clean motivation and partly because of his doctrine/teaching. But the Lord led me to him because he was lost, and blind and ignorant of what he really was. The Lord led me to him to open his eyes, to show him his leaven. He didn’t have a lot. Just a little leaven!

We had a good conversation, and shook hands when we parted ways. I hope the Lord opens his eyes and we see him in heaven one day.

The reprobate can appear righteous!

By • Salvation • 0

The Lord’s Work – Part 12

 

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The Lord’s Work – Part 12

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The Lord’s Work – Part 12

The reprobate can APPEAR righteous. INDEED!

Matthew 23:27-28  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.  28  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

It’s acting! Acting! Pretending. Galaxy Quest. In its simplest terms: Lying. Its all fake.

They LOOK good. They do their works such that they LOOK good.

If something looks good/real, but it IS NOT good/real, what is it called? FAKE. Reprobate.

Why do we act? Why do we have actors? Why do we have movies?

Matthew 23:2-5  Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:  3  All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.  4  For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.  5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

Jesus says to NOT do after their works.. But yet, the whole world IS doing after their works, are they not? The whole world, all the lost, all those false prophets and all those false Christians that follow the false prophets do the same things. They do after their works. The religious leaders tell us to do good works. And they LOOK like they do those good works. And the whole world tries to emulate them.

“Our works define us” they say. And men think, “if I do good, then I must be good.” And so men strive to look good.

“What I do defines what I am” they say.  Rather,

1 – Its not what you do that defines what you are. Its what you are that defines what you do. (carnal, evil, flesh, spy, etc.)

2 – What you produce defines what you are. And what you are defines what you produce.

The righteous is a tree of life. And the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life.

Fruit. Good or bad tree = Good or bad fruit. But fruit is very hard to see/know, in the dark, when the sun is not yet risen.

“Our works define us” they say. But, as they haven’t divided flesh from spirit, the true and heavenly from the natural of this carnal world, they have “defined” themselves as evil!! They’ve defined themselves by evil works, works of the flesh, the same works that the Pharisees do.

What do I mean? Well, they say, “what a man does shows what he is. If a man does good, he is good, and if a man does evil, he is evil.” Well, then… Do they not do evil? Then they have defined themselves as evil!

“Oh, but we also do good.”  No, you don’t! You can’t!  As we have seen and will see again, the works of the flesh are evil. The works of the flesh are FAKE, fraudulent, counterfeit, reprobate. Don’t do after those works.

–

Matthew 23:5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men…

It may sound like its about their motivation, but I don’t think so.

Its not about the motivation. Its not about the intention. They believe they are doing their works in the name of the Lord (they say, Lord, Lord!).

It’s the result. They think its for the Lord, but they are doing it only to APPEAR righteous unto men. Not because their motivation is less than pure (though it may be). But rather, they do them to be seen of men, because that is all they CAN do. Works to be seen of men.

They aren’t righteous, so they can’t appear righteous to God. They can only appear righteous to men.

They aren’t alive spiritually, so they can’t work good in the Spirit. They can only work good before men.

They are carnal, their works are carnal, and they done for to be seen of carnal eyes.

They can’t do good works, so they can’t appear to “worketh good” to God. They can only appear to “worketh good” to men.

They aren’t righteous, but they can appear righteous (indeed) unto men.

“All their works they do are for TO BE SEEN OF MEN”, and indeed they “outwardly appear righteous UNTO MEN”. It’s not about the motivation. It’s all about men’s eyes.

They appear righteous to men. They appear righteous among men. They appear righteous unto themselves (being men). Everything they do, they do, to be seen of men. This is ALL that the false prophets do. And this is ALL that men can do.

Man is their measuring stick. Man is their measuring cup. The works of the flesh are their substance. They strive to fill up the cup with their substance. To clothe themselves with works. They are trying to prove themselves by works. “If I can just do enough good. If I can just fill up the cup.” Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers!

Matthew 23:29-32  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,  30  And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.  31  Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.  32  Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

Oh, not us! That’s not who we are! We wouldn’t do those evil things. We aren’t wicked sinners. We don’t reject the word of the Lord! We love it! Our works are good! We do good works for the Lord and in His name! Our works witness for us! Watch us fill up the cup!

This is what the Pharisees said about their fathers, and its what men today say about the Pharisees. But of course you would do what they did. Their father is your father.

Your works don’t witness for you. Instead they witness against you. To men your works look good. But to God, your works show what you are: carnal, fake, evil. Fill ye up the cup.

Matthew 23:5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men…

This is NOT about their motivation. (Or at least not just about it.) How do I know that?

Because their motivation was not the issue.

Matthew 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not … in thy name done many wonderful works?  23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

If I may be so bold…

Matthew 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, … you …  work iniquity.

Their wonderful works, done with good and right motivation in the name of the Lord, are iniquity.

It’s not the motivation that makes the works iniquity. Its not the motivation that makes all the works “for to be seen of men”.

—

John 16:2  They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

It’s not the motivation… How do I know that? Because the Lord says so: they truly think that they are doing God service!

In killing those that tell them the truth, they think they are doing the right thing.

In working against God, they think they are serving Him.

In going the wrong way, they think they are going the right way.

They think they are doing good works, sincerely motivated for the Lord.

It is NOT about the motivation!! The Jews thought they were doing God service. What were they really doing? KILLING His Son, and killing His disciples, prophets and messengers. All this, in His name!!

The false prophets prophesy IN HIS NAME!

Jeremiah 14:14  Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, … they prophesy unto you a false vision … and the deceit of their heart.

It is NOT about the motivation!!  It’s not about whether they were sincerely doing them for the Lord or doing them to receive praise of men.  It’s about the fruit. Its about the truth. It’s about the true. What comes out of them is either true or false. Its about whether the works are done in truth. It’s about whether they have understanding/knowledge/wisdom, or they are deceived.

Romans 10:1-3  Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.  2  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  3  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

It’s not about the motivation! They believe they are doing their works for the Lord. And they are, zealously!

But they are missing knowledge: the truth. They are not working according to truth, but rather according to a pattern of the truth. Counterfeit! They are working to establish their own righteousness, among mankind.

If good works are not done IN TRUTH, IN SPIRIT, IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE, then no matter the motivation, they are done ONLY to be seen of men.

Luke 16:15  And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

The reprobate appears righteous unto men. He appear so, because that is all that he has been taught to do, that’s all he can do, and that’s exactly what he is trying to do. That is the truth of it, no matter the motivation.

You cannot justify yourself before the Lord by your works! They may be highly esteemed here, even in churches, but to the Lord they are fake.. they are abomination to the Lord.

They come forth of an evil heart, and everything that comes forth of an evil heart is evil. Guaranteed.

Satan knows this. He knows that when you do good works in the flesh you are justifying yourself before men. That’s why he loves for an unsaved man to “make a real heart change” to “give his life to Christ”. To promise to live for the Lord each day, and to do it zealously! He wants you to justify yourself by works… knowing that you are justifying yourself in the flesh, which is not before God, but before men.

—

Satan knows that when you, being unjust, justify yourself, you are condemning the just.

Job 40:8  … wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

There is none righteous, no not one. There is none good but one, that is God.

So if you make yourself righteous outside of being in God, in Christ by birth, you’ve attempted to condemn God. If you make yourself righteous, outside of His mercy alone, you’ve attempted to condemn God.

And this makes sense, right? Satan is our father. Men are doing the same thing he is doing. His whole goal is to justify himself and to condemn the Lord in the sight of men and of angels. How else can Satan be preserved from judgment than to condemn the Lord, that he can be righteous.

It’s not about the motivation. They are passionately working for the Lord. And yet of them He says..

Matthew 23:5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: …

If the Pharisees didn’t do anything for the Lord in truth, then how can you!?!

Yes, this is a scathing rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees. But let’s not forget, those were the very best, the most righteous of mankind! Are you better than they?

Matthew 5:20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

They were as righteous as men can be. They were as righteous as the law can make you. But if you are to save yourself, you have to be more righteous than they? Are you?

Does your righteousness exceed their righteousness? Are you better than they? Are your works truer? Is your motivation cleaner? You think so? Yes, you do? … Exactly! That is EXACTLY what Satan wants you to think! To think you are better than the wicked. Think you are better than the reprobates. To think you are more true, to think you are less fake.

“Though all men should deny thee, yet not I”, Peter said. Maybe Peter, but not me.

But you are no less fake. Your motivation is no more pure, and your resolve is no more strong.

The Pharisees aren’t gone. The circumcision according to the flesh is not gone. Their doctrine is very much alive today. It’s the whole world’s doctrine. Its their father’s doctrine. Do. Work. Don’t stop until you’ve filled the cup! Don’t ever stop! They look righteous.. but only to men.

Matthew 23:5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: …

ALL their works. Not some, most, or a lot.

But, but, but… what about… how can you say that…

I didn’t say it… The Lord did! ALL their works they do to be seen of men.

This is spoken of the best and most devoted of mankind! This is spoken of the workers!

They were circumcised, they offered, they tithed, they fasted, they observed the Sabbath, they prayed, they heard preaching, they read the Bible, they believed the Bible, they believed in God.

Are you better? Is your righteousness more? … You say, “well yeah but they also were selfish and envious and self-righteous and prideful, and they were liars and evil schemers”…..Exactly! That is EXACTLY what Satan wants you to think! To think you, who doest the same things as the wicked, are just and righteous, and your works are good and true. Think that you are better, or that you can be better than the best of mankind! To think that you aren’t an evil schemer. To think that if you were put in a position of power and that position was threatened that you would not do evil to the innocent.

David in Psalms says, “for in thy [The Lord’s] sight shall no man living be justified.”

Job says, “If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me.”

Ezekiel says that if a man “trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but … he shall die for it”

That is the old system, the temporary one. The one that was done away, being fulfilled in Christ. That is the law. If you justify yourself, you are under the law. And if you are under the law, you’re not under grace.

Paul says in Galatians, “Whosoever of you are justified by the law ye are fallen from grace.”

Paul says in Romans “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.”

Satan knows all of this. Satan wants you to think your earthly works are good, TRUE good. He wants you to think you deserve a heavenly reward! In so justifying yourself, you have fallen from grace.

By • Individual Lessons, Salvation • 0

The Lord’s Work – Part 11

 

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The Lord’s Work – Part 11

The Lord’s Work – Part 11

The Appearance of the Reprobate

Back again to 2 Cor. 13:

2 Corinthians 13:5-6  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?  6  But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

So now that we have studied this passage, what do we know?

First, we know that one cannot get himself IN THE FAITH, or keep himself in the faith by demonstrating his love, or by maintaining good works. One is not in the faith because he is going to church. One is not NOT in the faith because he backbites or backslides. “In the faith” is the spiritual state/location of one who has believed on the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you want to know whether a man is in the faith, you check his doctrine.

Second, we also know that one does not PROVE HIS OWN SELF with carnal works. Whether one maintains good works in this life has no relationship to whether or not he is a Christian. There is a way that a Christian SHOULD live. A saved man can live this way, or not live this way. But he is still a saved man, and neither lifestyle is proof of him. An unsaved man can live like the devil, or he can live like a Christian should live. But he is still an unsaved man, and neither lifestyle is proof of him. So..

How do we know our own selves, whether we are in the faith or are reprobates? By proving ourselves.

How do we prove ourselves, whether we are in the faith or are reprobates? By bread, by waters, by fire. By hard questions of the word of God. Hard questions of the doctrine of Jesus Christ (faith, works, judgment, grace, mercy, righteousness).
BUT, you won’t be able to prove yourself to be a Christian by comparing your works to those of a reprobate. Why? Because a reprobate can have “good works” such that he appears righteous. A reprobate can appear righteous! … Even more righteous than Real Christians! Look at the next verses:

2 Corinthians 13:7-8  Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.  8  For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

Now, Paul says we shouldn’t do good to APPEAR approved, nonetheless we should do good.

Without specifically stating it, Paul is pointing out that if you do no evil in the flesh, you can appear approved. If we “do no evil”:

We can “appear approved… though we be as reprobates!”

We can “appear approved”… and so can the reprobates!

We can “appear approved”… and yet no different in appearance than reprobates!

We can appear just as approved or just as ungodly as reprobates (unsaved) in the flesh. We be AS them. And if we be as them, then when they “do no evil” they also be as us… in the flesh, in appearance.

No matter how much you appear approved, you appear no more approved/clean than reprobates.

So if we seek to PROVE ourselves by comparing works in the flesh, we may appear approved, just as the reprobates. And they will appear approved too, just as approved as righteous men.

But, if we seek to prove ourselves by works, we will not BE approved. We will not be able to truthfully prove ourselves, and KNOW that we are in Christ. We may appear righteous, but no more and no less righteous than the reprobates. We may have the appearance of being in the faith, but not the proof. If we prove ourselves with works, we will appear no more approved than the reprobates. And if this is how you have proved yourself, then not only have you NOT approved yourself, but you have disapproved yourself. You have proven that you ARE a reprobate. You have defined your own self… by works (your doctrine thereof).

A reprobate is IN THE FLESH, and not IN THE SPIRIT. As long as a man is in the flesh, the best he can do, is APPEAR righteous.

2 Corinthians 13:7  Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, …

If one does no evil, they will appear approved, instead of appearing as a reprobate.

This is what the lost do… they “do no evil” (at least in eyesight – “there is no man that sinneth not”) that they may “appear approved”.

For us, we SHOULD do no evil, not to appear approved, but because we ARE approved.

It’s not about appearing good in the flesh. We should do good because we ARE good in the Spirit. We should do good because that is what we are, and that is what our father is, and that is what is expected of us. To be perfect in the flesh/earth as we are in Spirit/heaven. To not provoke him to anger. To be perfect. And one day, we will be in flesh as in Spirit.

… but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.  8  For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

We be AS reprobates, because we are no different in the flesh. But no matter what we do, no matter how much we LOOK like reprobates in the flesh, we are not reprobates in the spirit. We are not FAKE (that is, righteous only in appearance). We are not without of Christ. We do not work evil, and we do not work good falsely. We are not deceitful workers.

We are in the faith, in the truth. We work good in the truth. They are against the truth. They can do nothing for the truth. We can do nothing against the truth (the Spirit).

Matthew 7:21-23  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  [There is a reason they stop right here! It’s their doctrine! Do. Work. And don’t stop! … But no, don’t read on!!] 22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

They say “do, work!”. Yet, the people that have done, the people that did many wonderful works, are rejected!!! They were NEVER known of God.

It’s crazy that they can read this passage and still maintain that salvation is AT ALL by their works. It’s got to scare the poop out of them! And that is how they live. In fear. In bondage.

John 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

To eat His meat is to do His will, yea to FINISH His work.

Our doctrine is not do and live, work and live. Our doctrine is look and live, believe and live. Eat, and live.

But they believe that they can be better than those MANY “hypocrites”. They can DO!! Or do MORE. Maybe just more sincerely. Maybe just more fully. Maybe its just got to be more completely in my whole life! Just do enough. How much is enough? Don’t ask them, they have no idea!

So then they can never assume they will have eternal life. They better not stop. Better never turn away!

MANY, MANY really believe they HAVE done good. They really believe they did the will of God sincerely.

Nowhere else can we see it so clear: man’s good works are not TRUE good works. They are rejected as fake.

None of those works, no matter the motive, are counted good. Rather, they are all counted as works of iniquity.

Isaiah 59:6  Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.

The wolf’s disguise – the sheep’s clothing – is his works. Their covering is so good they have convinced themselves. The Bible says we should be clothed with righteousness. They clothe themselves with works of the flesh; with their own righteousness.

Galatians 5:19-21  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The works of the flesh ARE THESE, and such like!

Build a house for the homeless, you’ve worked adultery.

Give money to a charitable organization, you’ve worked hatred.

Help a stranger change their flat tire on the side of the road, you’ve worked witchcraft.

Give every beggar you find in you home city/town $100, you’ve worked heresy.

Give away a $100 Million winning lottery ticket to a man, you’ve worked murder.

How can you say that!!?!?!

Are those not “good works”? Are those not “the works of the flesh”? Well then, I didn’t say it, the Bible did!

These are the works of the flesh. If you do the works of the flesh, what you are doing are THESE.

All flesh is capable of these things, and many are zealous of these things.

The works of the flesh appear righteous, but they are NOT.

John 7:7  The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

Talk about being the most hated guy in the room. Go tell the world that even their “good works” are evil.

Go preach that in public for 3 straight years and let’s see if you’re not either dead, in real danger, or have been forced into silence. Certainly you’ll have almost no one hearing you.

John 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Men hate the light not because it reveals that some of their deeds are evil, but because it reveals that all their works (which they think are good, and which have the appearance of good!) are really evil.

“Oh, but Jesus just means some or most, right? The people that choose the good things and choose to serve God, their deeds are good, right?” No, all of our deeds are evil.

Don’t you think the Pharisees thought some of their works were good? Wouldn’t you agree that some indeed were? Are yours better?

Isaiah 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; …

All our good works are as unclean things. All our good works (the works of the flesh) are AS unclean things / sins. As filthiness, as abomination, as pollution, as unclean. As covered in blood.

And if we ourselves are an unclean thing to God, how can anything we bring forth be clean?

Job 14:4  Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

Matthew 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

It’s the source that defiles the product. It’s the source that defines it as reprobate.

The reprobate cannot bring forth righteousness. They can’t bring forth good fruit. They cannot bring forth clean things.

This is what they are, and this is what their work is.

Titus 1:15  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

By nature, we are defiled and unbelieving. And thus.. NOTHING is pure unto us.

You can’t take a single good work, do it, and call it a pure good work.

There are good men and there are evil men. Righteous and reprobates. True men and spies. You’re one or the other. Elias. Bad guys and good guys. Bad guys can pretend to be good guys.

Wait till he has a chance to be bad, wait till he wants to sin, wait till he needs to lie.

You can do good things, and you can “do no evil” – not do bad things. But that is just hiding who you ARE. Lying.

I AM HERE TEACHING

By • Individual Lessons, Salvation • 0

The Lord’s Work – Part 10

 

Downloadable Word document:

The Lord’s Work – Part 10

The Lord’s Work – Part 10

John 6:32  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

The manna was the pattern, but not the true. So what are the parallels? What does the pattern say about the true?

If one laid it up until the morning, it was no longer available to eat. Why did it spoil?

As the pattern, it foreshadowed Jesus, but also stood for the old covenant.

  • When the sun waxed hot, it melted. As a pattern of the law… work was allowed, required. There was a time to gather the manna, to work, and there was a time when there was no more work possible.
  • When the sun rises the next day, that old meat spoiled. As a pattern of the law itself… There is a time to work and a time when works are not longer profitable. There is a time to eat this bread (the law), and a time when one cannot eat those old things. The old things were “done away”.
  • When the sun rises the next day, that old meat spoiled. As a pattern of Christ… Why did it spoil? How long do we live? ONE day. You need to eat the Lord’s bread (Jesus) in THAT day. You can’t eat it after you die.
  • The new meat (Jesus), in the day of rest (in the millennium and in eternity), will not spoil. So we are to eat it now, and lay it up now, and then enjoy it in the day of rest.
  • On the sabbath day, one COULD not search for it. Why? One had to have already laid it up. It was already with you, in the camp. The millennium, Jesus is on the earth as King. Then, its time to eat the fruit of our labors. If you’re searching you’re going to find the wrong bread.

What is “the true bread” by which a man is tried? Jesus Christ. Not manna. Not a wafer. It would be pretty easy to disapprove a man that trusts in a wafer. You still hunger again. The wafer spoils. The wafer wastes.

It is the spiritual bread that is “the true bread”, not the carnal. Its the Word and word of God.

John 6:58-63  This is that bread which came down from heaven: … the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

This is what a man is proved by: doctrine, of the word of God. That is the true fire, that is the true bread, that is the true living water. And if a man is to be approved, he must be tried with the words, the doctrine of Jesus Christ.

Judges 3:1  Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, …  4  And they [the heathen nations with their gods] were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

The Lord left some heathen, some false gods, and some false prophets in the land to prove Israel by them. He left some defiled bread there. He left some false doctrine. To prove them, whether they would eat His bread, or the bread of idols.

Deuteronomy 13:3  Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Do you wonder why these things are so hidden? Why are they called mysteries? Why are they so hard to see? Why is the truth so hard to find? Why is there so much doubt about who to believe? Why are there so many religions? Why are there so many “denominations”? Why are there so many false prophets? Why are the false prophets able to deceive so many? Why are they allowed to?? Why is there so much leavened bread???? Why does the Lord allow it?

To prove you. To try you. Whether you will eat His bread, or the bread of the false prophets.

–

Philippians 2:19-22  But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, …  22  But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

It is the gospel coming out of your mouth that is the proof of you.

Prove your own selves… know ye not your own selves… Where is the proof?!?

2 Corinthians 2:9  For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

The proof of you is whether ye be obedient in “all things” (the gospel, eternal life).

Try the heart to see if it is obedient in all things (i.e., the gospel).

Try the heart, prove it with hard questions, to see what is within the man. All things? Eternal life? Or confusion – and thus every evil work?

Your carnal works cannot be used to prove yourself. The works of the law prove you unrighteous, and under sin.

Romans 3:9-10  What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;  10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

If you call yourself righteous, when none is but God, it proves you perverse. Proclaiming your own righteousness proves you preserve.

Job 9:20  If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

Your worKs cannot be used to prove yourself. Rather, your worDs prove you.

It is the gospel coming out of your mouth that proves you a true man.

It is anything else coming out of your mouth that proves you a spy.

It is your works (your own righteousness) coming out of your mouth that proves you perverse.

Galatians 6:4  But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

This verse doesn’t say what the false prophets would like it to say.

It doesn’t say: but let every man prove himself by his own works.

It doesn’t say: but let every man prove, demonstrate, his true faith by doing good works.

Your works don’t prove you. Rather, you are to prove your work.

Don’t use your works to prove yourself! Rather, prove your work, with the word of God. With fire, with bread, with doctrine.

You ought to try, test, examine your work (singular) by the word of God, to judge whether your work be good and true, or whether it be evil. What sort is your work? Try it now, because He will try it soon.

Good fruit or evil fruit? Pure oil or stinking ointment? Clean bread or defiled? Leavened or unleavened? Spiritual or natural? A living stone or a natural stone. New Jerusalem or old Jerusalem. Eternal life or death? Jesus or anything else?

What is your work? Paul knew where his work was… it was in the gospel.

1 Thessalonians 3:2  And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

Our work is in the gospel. Our work is in the word of God. Prove your own work. Are your works spiritual or natural?

Paul knew where His work was.. it was in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 9:1  Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

Paul knew what his was… it was people.

Paul’s work was New Jerusalem. Paul’s work was husbandry. Paul’s work was the body of Christ.

Paul proved his work (the brethren, the churches) with the word of God.

Have you proved your work? Do the people you have preached to have eternal life? Or are they confused? Or are YOU not sure? What do they teach.. is their doctrine pure? Prove your own work!

—

Matthew 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

MANY will stand before the Lord and say, “we did many wonderful works”, to which He will say “ye work iniquity”. They had not proved their own work. If they had, they would have found it to be fake.

I don’t want that to be me! Do you want that to be you?

We better prove our doctrine. We better try our gospel. We better test our prophecies!

Jeremiah 14:14  Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

The false prophets don’t KNOW they are false. They are sincere. They believe it. But they are deceived.

IF you have not proved your doctrines, your prophecies, you’re a false prophet.

“Lord, Lord, I prophesied in your name, I did many wonderful works in your name.”

Matthew 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

You need to prove your doctrine, and you also need to prove your own work. These have proved neither, but were deceived. Their doctrine was false/fake, and their work is false/fake.

We better figure out what a true good work is, and whether that work is our work. Is your work good? Are your “good works” true good works, or are they reprobate? Prove them! Try them. Put them on trial!

2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Prove yourself. Put yourself on trial!

In court, we use evidence to prove innocence or guilt. You need evidence that Jesus Christ is on you! You need evidence that you are “in the faith”! Well, guess what the evidence is?

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is the evidence, of course. Do you have faith in you? That is evidence.

If faith comes out of your mouth, with no works involved, that is evidence.

Works are not called “evidence”, but faith IS.

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The evidence is faith alone. Faith, without mixture. Without works. Without boasting. Without confusion.

Now, I suppose finished works (fruit) will be evidence at the judgment, but carnal works (what you do and don’t do) are not evidence to us now. You can’t use them to prove yourself. If you use them to prove yourself, then you will be completely blindsided when one day the Lord proves you with FIRE.

How does one prove himself? How does one test to know that he is not a reprobate?

By faith, by words, by meat and drink, by fire, by doctrine, by the word of God, with hard questions.

Certainly not by works. There is nothing else with which you should try yourself. Nothing else to prove yourself by, other than by the Word of God.

Finally, once something is proved, and found to be good and true and obedient, it is called “approved”. And we are approved by – no surprise – the word of God.

2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

How else should one be proved, and by what else can one be deemed approved? Nothing.

Work in that book. Dig in that book.

Divide the word… divide truth from error. Divide flesh from Spirit. Divide Jesus Christ from everything else. Divide true doctrine from error.  Divide strange fire from fire. Divide pure oil from stinking ointment. Divide leavened bread from unleavened. Divide faith from works. Divide carnal works from spiritual works. Divide our works from the Lord’s works. Divide our faith from His faith. Divide false prophets from true. Divide false apostles from true. Divide false brethren from the brethren. Divide spies from true men. Divide reprobates from Real Christians. DIVIDE! Lay down THE LINE!

—

Acts 2:22  Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

Does this contradict what we’ve established?

God himself was approved by the Lord’s work: working what only He can work. By bringing forth bread and water. By healing the sick, by raising the dead. By working salvation in the Earth. How? With His word. The only way for us to do the Lord’s work is in the gospel.

Build the city of New Jerusalem (with words, with wisdom), that work (when it is tried) will stand witness for you, that you are approved.

Lay the line down between man’s work and the Lord’s work.

1 Corinthians 11:19  For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

The false prophets are here to PROVE YOU. Heresies are present to TEST YOU.

The Lord does not prove you with works, but with doctrine – MEAT (bread).

You will be justified or condemned not by your works, but by your words.

How else can we approve a man? How else can we know ourselves? How else can we distinguish between Real Christians and false brethren. How else can we distinguish between true pastors and false prophets? By their worDs. Whether their words are His words. Whether they are faith and hope, or they are doubt and confusion.

Romans 16:10  Salute Apelles approved in Christ. …

A man is not approved by his works. A man, and his works, must be approved IN CHRIST.

Either one is IN CHRIST (approved), or in works (reprobate).

By • Individual Lessons, Salvation • 0

The Lord’s Work – Part 9

 

Downloadable Word document:

The Lord’s Work – Part 9

The Lord’s Work – Part 9

Prove yourself

Now back to 2 Cor. 13:

2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, …

How can you prove your own self that you are not a reprobate and your works are not fake??

What does it mean to prove one’s self? What does it mean to prove a person?

Psalms 26:2  Examine me, O LORD, and prove me…

To examine, to try, to inspect, to test.

Pass (proven and approved) or fail (proven and disapproved).

1st instance of “prove” in the Bible:

Genesis 42:15-16  Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.  16  Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.

To prove them was to try them. To determine if they were true men, or liars (FAKE). Were they full of truth or deceit?

Proving someone is testing them to know who they are. To know if what they say they are (true men/Christians) is true or false.

A man is proved by proving his words, whether they are true or false. If there is deceit in them, then surely he is a spy.

If a man presents himself as a Christian, he is one of two things, true or a spy.

“prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, …” How??

Spy/spies – 25 times in the OT, but only 3 times in the NT.

Luke 20:20  And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

Who is a true man and who are spies today? Those that feign themselves just men.

This is what spies (the unsaved) are: FAKE just men.  We should prove ourselves to find out if we are true just men, or fake!

You say, “Oh I get it, so we should watch our words and our actions to see what we and other people do! And if we say and do bad things, then we are spies!” No! I’m not giving you more ammo to do what you’ve been doing your whole life: judging based on works. Don’t watch their works.

Spies don’t say and do bad things. Spies assimilate. Spies are very skilled, very subtle liars.

Jesus “perceived their craftiness”, and “knew their hypocrisy”.

You won’t know based on works. Works are the very thing they use to fool you!

Galatians 2:4  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

A true man does not take away liberty and bring men into the bondage of the law. That is the exact opposite of what a true man does. A spy looks to see what he can take away. A spy takes away liberty and bring others into bondage.

We should prove ourselves, and we should prove others (especially our teachers) to be either true men, or false brethren. Believers or unbelievers. Real Christians or Reprobates (Fakes).

Deuteronomy 8:2  And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

The Lord proved Israel in order to know, not what they did, but what they would do (good or evil – obey or disobey) by trying their heart… to know what was in their heart (obedience or disobedience).

The Lord tries (and will try) a man’s heart. Pulling out (manifesting) what is in a man’s heart (their fruit) is how we prove a man. We need to see whether there is any truth in you. Not if you can say a true thing. Is there truth in you?

What a man truly is, and what a man has, and subsequently what he does and says, proceeds from his heart. You’ve got to try the heart, to know the person. Otherwise, you will not know whether they are true men, or spies – reprobates!

Psalms 26:2  Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

To prove a man is to try, test, examine his heart. To know what is in his heart.

We need to get to the source!

2 Chronicles 32:31  Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him [King Hezekiah] to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

Psalms 66:10  For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

Proverbs 17:3  The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

The Lord is going to try your heart. And He is going to try it with FIRE, to know all that is in it. To see what sort your work is. Whether it be good silver, or it be reprobate silver.

You better prove/try it first. You better know all that is in it, what comes out of it, and of what sort it be.

Psalms 139:23-24  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:  24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

If he finds wickedness in your heart, then you will be judged as a spy (wicked).

If the Lord tries (proves) your heart and finds ANYthing evil in it, you will be disapproved, and not approved. You will be found a spy, a reprobate!

You need to have a heart with NO evil in it.

Psalms 17:3  Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

I don’t think this is David in the flesh (liar, adulterer, and murderer just like all men) talking. This is David in Spirit. This is Jesus Christ speaking.

You need to have His heart. You need to be given a new heart from Him.

This is what we are examining… the sort and contents of the heart!

2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, …

So how do we prove (try) a person? How do we search, try, test his heart as silver and gold? How do we draw out what is in it? How do we prove it, to see which sort it be?

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1 Kings 10:1  And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

You need to be proven (prove yourself) with hard questions! We have 2 we like to ask.

“Who are you to ask me that? I don’t have to answer to you”, they say! Why are they so offended?

Because it’s a hard question, and they don’t have the answers.

If you fail those hard questions, you have manifested yourself as a reprobate. Just like reprobate SILVER.

Psalms 66:10  For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

How is silver tried… Silver is tried in a furnace with FIRE of course. So how do we try the heart? With FIRE, of course!!

The word of God is that fire.

Jeremiah 23:29  Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Want to know if one’s heart is good silver or reprobate? Put fire to it!

Want to know if one’s heart is good ground or stony ground? Take a hammer to it!

Try them with FIRE. Prove a man, with FIRE.

Jeremiah 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

Jeremiah 20:9  Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

Man’s spirit is a candle. Which sort of oil do you have? Which fire burns within you?

Either that light is inside a man’s heart, burning with oil.

Test them with the Lord’s fire, and see if they consume or they abide.

Hebrews 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

Test them with the Lord’s wrath, and see if they abide, or they die.

Ezekiel 22:21  Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof.

Our questions are hard questions of the Lord’s wrath.

Prove yourself (and others), whether ye be true men or spies/reprobates, with hard questions of the word of God.

This is not new. This is not unprecedented. In the OT, there was the precedent of this.

Daniel 1:12-15  Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.  13  Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.  14  So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.  15  And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.

A man is proved with bread!

This is the precedent. The figure of the true. And the precedent is the pattern of the spiritually true.

If we were to prove a man according to this pattern, we’d examine his bread. We’d prove him with his choice of bread. We’d offer him good bread or the bread of the king of Babylon. We’d attempt to learn which bread he desires/trusts. We’d present both, and watch what happens. We’d see whether he eats pure and true bread (Jesus) and grows by it (receives life), or if he eats defiled bread (leavened) gets lean (retains death).

Exodus 16:4  Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

He said don’t leave of it until the morning, but they did.

He said don’t go out on the 7th day to gather, but they did.

A man is proved by bread.

That is how The Lord is proved. By His meat!

Malachi 3:10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

We should look at a man’s offering to the Lord. We should prove The Lord by His MEAT.

We should prove a man with his own bread. Has his bread been blessed? Has his bread given him eternal life?

Psalms 95:8-9  Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:  9  When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.

How was God proved? By his meat and drink. What did the people see as the result? His work! What??? So when we are proving a man we should look at his work? Well, yes. But, what work?

His work was bringing forth bread from heaven. His work was bringing forth water out of a rock.

When they tried God, they saw His work: His meat and His drink.

Of course, that manna in the wilderness was not the true meat and drink,

John 6:32  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

But we now have the true:

John 6:35-58  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. …  55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.  …  58  … he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

This is the bread, the meat, the drink that one should be proved by.

Prove yourselves with THAT work, with THAT bread. Have you eaten THAT bread? When you give others to eat, is it of THAT bread?

When you give others to drink of your water, do they thirst again?

When others eat of your bread, do they hunger again? Shall they live for ever? Or maybe not???

“I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.” How do we know ourselves? By meat and drink.

1 Corinthians 10:4  And [Israel] did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

That is how God was proved. And it’s the same for us. We prove ourselves by that same work: by bringing forth water out of a Rock. Can you do that?? Can you? … Speak to the rock.

A man is to be proved by the bread that he eats. By the water that comes out of his well.

Your mouth is a well, drawing water out of your heart.

Proverbs 18:4  The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

The water in your well, is the DOCTRINE that comes out of your heart.

Deuteronomy 32:2  My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

Jesus “perceived their craftiness”, and “knew their hypocrisy”.

If you want to prove a man, pull his water out of his heart, and see what sort it be.

Matthew 15:18  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

It is the source. It is the bitter water that is in your wicked heart that proves you a reprobate.

I didn’t intend to explain any of this in this lesson, but how can I not? Its difficult to thoroughly teach one thing without tying it in with all the other pieces of the greater structure. I can’t dig down deep here without digging areas close by. I may not be able to open one door for you without revealing the key to all the others.

John 6:5-6  When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?  6  And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

Here is how Jesus proved Philip: by bread.

Here is how you can prove a man: with a hard question about bread. Ask him where he should buy his bread. Find out where his bread comes from. Find out if his bread comes from heaven or from the earth. Find out if its pure, or if it is leavened.  Does he even know there is an heavenly option??

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The Lord’s Work – Part 8

 

Downloadable Word document:

The Lord’s Work – Part 8

The Lord’s Work – Part 8

Deuteronomy 7:9-10  Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;  10  And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.

Man has worked, man will be repaid. Man will be rewarded, according to his works.

You do NOT want to be repaid for the works of your flesh!

We need to find MERCY before judgment. You will find no mercy at your judgment.

Isaiah 3:10-11  Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.  11  Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

The righteous will eat of his own fruit, and the wicked will eat of his own fruit.

It’s the fruit: the finished, tried work. And one tree does not bring forth both good and bad fruit.

They do not do of both sorts, and they will not receive of both sorts.

Proverbs 13:21  Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

If at our judgment, we are found sinners, instead of completely righteous (made so by His mercy), evil will be repaid.

BUT! That is a line:

Sinners | Righteous

^

“but”

The righteous are NOT sinners. Sinners are NOT the righteous. And they are not rewarded with the same things. You can’t be repaid both, and you can’t be both.

Psalms 32:10  Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

There is a line. There are no people that will be repayed both good and evil.

You’re either all righteous or you’re all wicked. Likewise, you will be repayed either all good or all evil.

They are different people. In fact, they are judged in different resurrections entirely.

John 5:28-29  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,  29  And shall come forth; they that have done good [TRUE GOOD], unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Each person will be judged after their sort. The righteous will be justified (because He IS good), But the wicked will be condemned (because he IS evil). And each will receive according to their works.

So I believe an unsaved man will not be rewarded good for his “good works” because a carnal man cannot do TRUE good works. I’d like to address each person and their sort of works.

Caution: These things are hard sayings. I am still struggling with them. So, as I attempt to teach you what I believe is truth, hold onto this understanding. There is a line between the righteous and the wicked.

1) The Wicked’s Works

First, lest address the wicked man and his works.

How? How is it that this person is not rewarded good for his “good works”?

I think of the atheist that is somewhat liberal with his money, and is often honest even when its hard, and doesn’t take, steal, or skim off the top, but repays his debts.

I think of the church goers that give to the church, and sing praises in the choir, and organize youth activities.

I think of the dissenters in the Holocaust. Or what about those Germans soldiers that saved some lives and killed others? They did evil and “good”. What about Schindler? Saving 1,100 Jewish lives from extermination. Certainly that was doing “good works”! But yet, he was no angel. He could have saved more. I’m sure he worked evil too. Maybe committed adultery, maybe committed fraud or lied to make some money.

But they all will only receive of according to the one singular SORT or their work (whichever it be – good or bad).

Why? Why shouldn’t these people receive both good and bad? Why should they receive only bad and not be credited for the “good” that they did?

How is it righteous of God to not reward one’s “good works”?

I believe it is because these “good works” are not TRUE good works. They are not good in truth. In the world they are called good. Under the law they could be counted good. Under the Old Testament they could be considered good.

And in a form, they are good. But ONLY in form.

How is it that this man’s “good works” are not counted as true good works?

Because they LOOK good in form, but in truth they are FAKE.

Reprobate

Titus 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Being in works, and not in Christ.

It’s in those very works, which they think are good, that they deny him. Believing that their works are good, they deny the truth.

The truth is that a wicked (unsaved) man’s good works are NOT TRUE good works. And thus, justly, fairly, they are not counted good at his judgment.

The wicked cannot do true good works. He is incapable of it. Not because they don’t do “good things”, but because they believe they are good works. Because they are unbelieving, unrepented, wicked sinners, and thus all of their righteousnesses are reprobate. What is a “reprobate”?

Jeremiah 6:30  Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

A reprobate is a FAKE. A reprobate is rejected as FALSE. Rejected as FAKE.

Oh, “fool’s gold” looks like gold to many people. And oh, reprobate silver looks like real silver, probably feels like real silver. Probably can trick a lot of poor, uneducated, untrained people… but when it is examined, when it is weighed, and when it is tried… its true nature is manifest.

Counterfeit cash looks like real cash. It can fool a lot of people.

Poisonous berries look like good fruit. They can trick a lot of people.

Poison Ivy looks like a fine leaf to wipe your butt with when you’re out in the woods.

But if you understood what these “good things” really are, you would reject them.

2 Timothy 3:8  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

It is concerning the truth which they (we) are in error. It is concerning faith that they are reprobate – counterfeit.

It is not just the works that are reprobate… it is THEM who are reprobate.

If it grows on a poison ivy vine, its not true. If it was made in a thief’s basement, its not true.

Psalms 33:4  For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

Mankind can do “good” and evil. But what mankind brings forth is always the same: reprobate.

Why? Because mankind is not in the truth. Mankind is not in the Spirit of God.

2 Corinthians 13:5-6  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?  6  But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

There is a line here!

A reprobate is not IN CHRIST. A Reprobate is not IN THE FAITH.

A reprobate is IN THE FLESH, not IN THE SPIRIT.

A reprobate is IN WORKS, and not IN THE GRACE OF GOD.

“In works they deny him, being disobedient… and unto every good work reprobate.”

They deny him in that they believe their works are truly good. Because they don’t know their own selves in truth.

Their works are not real because they themselves are fake. Like a thief’s basement.

Their good works are not good, because they (themselves) ARE reprobate (outside of Christ).

The wicked cannot do good works. Not because they don’t do “good things”, but because all of their works are performed outside of Christ.

If you are a reprobate, then all of your works are, and will be, rejected as reprobate. This is really important, so I want to spend some time here.

How do we know we are not reprobates? How and where do we draw the line between a true man, and a reprobate? Let’s examine ourselves!

In the faith

2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; …

To be “in the faith” is to understand and hold the doctrine of the gospel of grace. To study and grow in understanding allows one to be strong and well stablished “in the faith”. But to simply “be in the faith”, is to be saved by the gospel of Christ, to have understood, repented, believed, and confessed the gospel of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 16:13  Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Colossians 2:7  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

1 Timothy 3:13  For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

We should be STRONG and BOLD “in the faith”, by being taught in the doctrine. This is not by good works!

Romans 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

Even one that is weak in the faith (a baby Christian) is still “in the faith”. He may need to be strengthened by teaching, but he is still saved, and at no risk of losing salvation.

Colossians 1:23  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

One is “in the faith” by receiving the preaching of the hope of the gospel.

One who is saved, is living, abiding, continuing, in the faith, by the Spirit.

One who is saved, or a church which is saved, could possibly be moved away by false teachers in the flesh, but the spirit is still living in the faith, in Jesus.

If we lost faith, so what? He abideth faithful! There is no loss of salvation!

So even if an individual can be “moved away”, it would not be by evil works, but by not preaching, or by falsely preaching, the HOPE of the gospel.

The exhortation to examine ourselves and determine if we are “in the faith”, is to determine if we are in the gospel.

Titus 1:5  For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Crete, where Paul left Titus to oversee the church(es), to set the doctrine in order and to ordain elders, had a problem with false prophets.

Titus 1:10-14  For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:  11  Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.  12  One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13  This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;  14  Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

“evil beasts”: These are not mere evil men – these are false prophets, called: “brute beasts” in 2 Peter 2:12 & Jude 1:10.

Titus was to rebuke the Cretians, especially the pastors and elders, that they would not give heed to these evil beasts who were of old ordained to condemnation, and which taught heresy for money and praise of men.

To lay down the lines of the gospel so that the people MAY be SOUND, secure, well established, “in the faith.”

To be “in the faith” is to be in the doctrine – the truth. To be SOUND in the faith, is to be emboldened and assured of the HOPE we have in Christ, and to not be able to be moved by false teachers of WORKS (commandments of Judaism or of natural man).

This is what I believe about being “in the faith”.

The phrase “in the faith” is always about doctrine. The references are about either being in the doctrine, or being STRONG in the doctrine. It is not about works – not about being good and righteous or maintaining good works.

Commandments to be good and obey the works of the law (either law) turn people from the truth.

This is what I’ve concluded: I’ll not go any deeper into the phrase “in the faith”, which occurs 12 times (we’ve seen 7). I believe this summary should do. I welcome you to look at each one and let me know if this explanation does not line up.

Just a little surprise for you, see the next 2 verses after this warning and explanation of “in the faith”:

Titus 1:15-16  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.  16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

One is either “in the faith”, or “in works”. And if one is “in works”, “they deny Him… being… unto every good work reprobate.”

If one is “in works”, he is not “in the faith”. For me, this passage proves that being “in the faith” is not by works. In fact, it’s the opposite.

It is having a DOCTRINE of WORKS instead of the doctrine of the hope of the gospel (eternal security in Jesus), that is the problem.

If one is in works, and not “in the faith” all his works are reprobate: rejected as FAKE.

By • Individual Lessons, Salvation • 0

The Lord’s Work – Part 7

 

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The Lord’s Work – Part 7

The Lord’s Work – Part 7

Numerous times the Bible says that we will be judged ACCORDING TO our works.

But it does not say, nor does it mean, that we will go to one place or another based on our works.

It does not say, nor does it mean, that if we do evil we will go to an evil place, and if we do good we will go to a good place.

That isn’t how it worked under the law (e.g., theft, false witness, murder), and its not (for the most part) how it works here.

We are not sentenced to bad places, we are sentenced to receive evil things.

To be judged according to our works, is to be given back, recompensed, rewarded… exactly what we deserve, according to our works.

Psalms 62:12  Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

When you are judged by the Lord it’s: here is what you did, and here is what you deserve in return.

You will be REPAID according to your works.

Isaiah 59:18  According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.

You will be REPAID. You will be RECOMPENSED according to your works.

If your work was good, you will be recompensed good. And if it was evil, you will be recompensed evil.

You will RECEIVE according to your works.

2 Corinthians 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Colossians 3:25  But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

There is NO respect of persons!

You will be REWARDED according to your works.

Matthew 16:27  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Revelation 22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

And that is NOT always a good thing…

2 Samuel 3:39  … the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

He’s not just going to give him evil because he is a doer of evil. He is going to give him an amount of evil according to his wickedness. It is proportional.

You will receive the due reward – the deserving portion – of your deeds.

You will be rewarded (given good, or given evil) according to your works.

God will judge the wicked and determine what evil he hath done, and how much evil in return is the just and fair recompense.

This is what it means to be judged ACCORDING TO your works.

Not that you will go where your works determine. But that you will receive what you deserve. You will reap what you sow. You will be repaid what you gave out. You will be recompensed according to what your works were.

NOT: if you do good things, you will go to a good place, and if you do evil things you will go to an evil place.

That may be how man judges according to works, but it is not how God judges according to works.

RATHER: If you do good things, you will receive (have) good things, and if you do evil things, you will receive (have) evil things.

Revelation 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Your works follow you. Their works will be with those that die in the Lord. Their works will go through the fire with them. And those that are not in the Lord, well, I believe they will have their works too: their works will remain in the Lake of Fire with them.

We know that the righteous in NJ will get rewards for eternity. They will reap what they sow. But I believe the wicked with receive eternal “rewards” too. Not eternal good things, but eternal evil things.

All of your sins, all of your wickednesses will be in the fire with you.

Ezekiel 24:12  She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire.

Some will have “more abundant life”, and some will have “greater condemnation”… according to their work.

John 5:28-29  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,  29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

There are 2, and only 2, resurrections: the resurrection of life and the resurrection of damnation. Which one is yours?

There are 2, and only 2, sorts of people: they that have done good (the righteous) and they that have done evil (the wicked). There are no people that have done both good and evil.

There are 2, and only 2, sorts of people: the righteous and the wicked. There are no people that are both righteous and wicked. There are no people that have done both good and evil.

(Which resurrection is yours, having done “both”? Confused?)

If an unsaved man can do both good and evil, then God is an unjust judge to give him damnation instead of life. There has to be a line.

You have to divide flesh from Spirit to understand this. The works of the world – the flesh – are evil.

Likewise, there are only 2 sorts of work.

1 Corinthians 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

Oh don’t you worry. It will be manifest. It will be evidenced. Your works will not be forgotten, or stricken from the record, or deemed inadmissible in court.

And the sort of your work will be clear. There will be no doubt. There will be no marginal judgments. No difficult cases. No grey area. No shadow of a doubt. It will be manifest of what sort your work is.

Notice: it, not they. It is a singular entity. It is of a singular type.

You are one thing, one tree. All your works result in one thing. You bring forth one type of fruit.  Once we identify the tree by its fruit (which is the easy part), the only question is: how much? How much fruit was brought forth – how extensive is your work – how much reward is deserved?

Matthew 13:23  But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

There’s good fruit, and there is evil fruit. A good tree does not bear evil fruit and an evil tree does not bear good fruit.

A good tree is very different than an evil tree. Their fruit is very different. One is a tree of life, one is a tree of death.

But.. a good tree (at least now) is no different from another good tree. If it’s a good tree it will be harvested.

IT is only different in quantity.  And that is what you will be judged according to: how much good or how much evil.

2 Corinthians 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

All those things (plural) are judged as one work, and IT is either good or bad.

Once it is determined which sort it is, then you will receive according to it – that work. A just and fair and equal reward, which is ACCORDING TO the amount of the work.

Ecclesiastes 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Your work is not of two sorts. Your work (it) shall be found to be good, or evil.

We do not receive both good and bad. Its whether “it” (not “they”, not “most”) be good or bad. It not the average or the difference. No percentages!

Your work (when finished, when revealed) is either all good or all evil. Your works (all of them) are found to be, and are judged as either a singular good work, or an evil work. It’s the end product that is evaluated. The finished work: the fruit.

It’s the FRUIT, not the works, that determines whether the tree will be gathered into the barn, or be hewn down and burned.

It’s the FRUIT, not the works, that determines the SORT of tree IT BE.

Jump back..

2 Corinthians 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Again, not whether THEY ARE, but whether IT BE.  It is only of one SORT. It is all one work.

And not whether it WAS, but whether it BE. We are talking about something present, not something passed away. We are talking about the finished work. What is done.

The things (plural) you have done, your finished work, will be tried to reveal whether IT be good or bad. Then you will receive ACCORDING TO that work.

This is not the summation or the difference. This is not the average. All man’s works are the same. They are all one SORT.

These doingS are not evaluated and judged individually, but as one product. One product that is of one sort. Everything you did and everything you strove for your whole life and every thing that came out of your heart will be one complete work: wholly good, or wholly evil.

This is the finished work. This is the FRUIT of your tree. The only remaining question is: how much?

Jeremiah 17:10  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

It can only be of one SORT. The things done are of a singular sort.

If it is good, how much good? You’ll receive as much – proportionally – again.

If it is evil, how much evil? You’ll receive proportionally again.

This is being judged according to your works.

A fig tree doesn’t bear thorns and thorn bush doesn’t bear grapes. If you’ve seen one fruit, you’ve seen enough.

“Lord, Lord, what about the good things I did?” Don’t worry, you’ll have your trial: Present them!

James 3:16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

If there is one evil work, there is confusion and every evil work.

Confused? I wonder why? … Maybe its because your works (all of them) are evil.

No one will go to heaven because they did good, but rather because they ARE good.

Likewise no one will go to the LoF because they did evil, but rather because they ARE evil.

All trees drink, all trees grow. All trees bring forth fruit. All trees sow their seeds. Those are works.

But it’s the resulting FRUIT, not the works, that determines the SORT of tree it BE.

Romans 2:6-10  Who will render to every man according to his deeds:  7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality [them that do good, the righteous], eternal life:  8  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness [them that do evil, the wicked], indignation and wrath,  9  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;  10  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

You doeth one or the other. Not both. You receive according to one or the other. Not both.

There is no middle ground. No grey area. EVERY means EVERY.

If we have all done both good and evil then we all will be given both peace and tribulation, both eternal life and wrath, both honour and indignation. That is not going to happen. They have separate resurrections entirely!

We have to draw a line: There are no people that have done both good and evil. IT is good or IT is evil. You are good or you are evil.

There is a line, and there are no people that are on both sides of it; doeth both good and evil.

There is no “mostly” here. It is “every”. If you worketh evil, you will receive according to it. There is no lessened sentence. There is no mercy or leniency.

Every one who doeth evil and receives evil at his judgment, will not also receive (some) eternal life.

Every one who doeth good and receives peace and eternal life at his judgment, will not also receive (some) tribulation and anguish.

John 10:10  … I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Eternal life is a reward. Not that we must continually work to get or keep access to eternal life, but that we who have eternal life, can and should continually work to get MORE eternal life rewarded to us.

The first work(s) grant us eternal life (by grace). Then, according to the works -> fruit we produce in the Spirit, we will receive more eternal life… more abundant.

There is a “harsh judgment theory”, I think its called. Really its an inability to divide flesh from Spirit. But, if you do take that stance for EVERY Christian then you must take the opposite for EVERY unsaved man: he gets eternal life, right?  Of course not. No way!

Eternal death will not be with rewards of glory, honour, and peace – or eternal life. That is not death.

Eternal life will not be with rewards of tribulation and anguish – or eternal death. That is not life / peace.

And this all has to hold true. A good work gets a good reward. An evil work gets an evil reward.

If you do even one true good work, you will receive eternal life.

Getting saved is one first true good work which brings forth good fruit. No one will receive eternal life unless they are saved by grace through faith. Repent, believe, and confess.

Thus, my belief, and what I will attempt to prove and explain to you in Scripture, is that man in the flesh does not have the ability to do TRUE good works.

Remember this: man’s good works cannot be true good works. If they were, he would already have eternal life. If they were, Christ would have died in vain.

By • Individual Lessons, Salvation • 0

The Lord’s Work – Part 6

 

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The Lord’s Work – Part 6

The Lord’s Work – Part 6

Titus 3:10-11  A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;  11  Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

An heretick is one that is subverted from the doctrine of Christ by another gospel. We are to warn them! Warn them once, twice, and if they will not repent, you reject them.

Seeing as I’m not an Apostle and have not been given authority or even permission to speak in others churches, its not in my power nor my line of duty to admonish every false prophet. But if we happen across them, one attempts to come into our flock and teach error, this is how we are supposed to deal with them.

An heretick, a hypocrite, one teaching heresy, can be very easy to spot when you know what to look for: in judging others based on works, they condemn themselves.

An heretick, by his own words, condemns himself.

An heretick teaches faith AND works. Sometimes very subtilly. And in doing so, in teaching condemnation based on works, they condemn themselves. Because in those SUCH THINGS wherein they judge another, they doest the SAME THINGS.

Romans 8:33-34  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.  34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

If you condemn a man – a Christian – based on his works, you’ve condemned Christ. You’ve condemned the guiltless.

God despises this: wrong judgment. Condemning the guilty and justifying the righteous. This is what a heretick does. This is what a false prophet does. This is how God will judge them. The same way they judge. If you lay anything of the law to His charge, He will lay the whole law to your charge. If you judge another, you will be judged.

Matthew 7:1-2  Judge not, that ye be not judged.  2  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

After the judgment that you judge, you will be judged:

If your neighbor’s eternal life is based on his works…

If your neighbor can go to Hell based on his works…

If Jesus Christ is of no effect unto your neighbor because of his works…

If your neighbor has to put away his sins to ascend into heaven…

If your neighbor has to live the rest of his live for the Lord and never turn back…

If your neighbor has to work to define himself…

If your neighbor has to be good and righteous in the flesh to ascend into heaven…

… don’t judge, don’t condemn! Why? Because thou doest the same things!

Romans 10:-10 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.  10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

That is all that is required to be saved. Its simple. But it has to be pure, without leaven.

Paul explains this in the context of the passage: understanding of the gospel must be without judgment of others. Without accusing or else excusing one another based on man’s works.

Romans 10:3-13  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness [which is by works], have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God [which is by grace through faith].  4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. [whether of Moses or of nature] 5  For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. [and none can!] 6  But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise [here is how we are supposed to speak, such that our faith is counted for righteousness], Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? [who is so righteous? Who has proved themselves to be good? Who has turned from their sin and truly became a true unrelenting follower of Christ?] (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)  7  Or, Who shall descend into the deep? [who is so unrighteous? Who has messed up, or will not be able to go to heaven? Who has unforgiven sin at their death?] (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)  [This is called judging and condemning – accusing or else excusing one another based on their carnal works. In doing so, they are judging and condemning Christ, and making His work of none effect.] 8  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; [Here is faith, here is the gospel, here is what we preach!] 9  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.  10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  [It’s done. He descended, He ascended. There is no more work.] 11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

There is (in effect) no difference between the law of Moses and the law of nature.

You’re either a Jew or a Greek by nature (no difference), or a child of God by the Spirit (difference).

If you judge based on works of the law, you will be judged based on the works of the law.

And on that day, you will find that your works (all of them) are evil.

Galatians 3:1-3  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?  2  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

The law (of Moses or of nature) has nothing to do with your salvation.

Your flesh is not involved in your salvation.. Your works of your flesh were not involved to start and they are not involved now.

We cannot do the Lord’s work in the flesh, and no works of the flesh are required to attain, or to keep, or to confirm, to define, or to prove our salvation.

And if you trust in works of the law (any law), you have been deceived, bewitched.

Faith is made perfect by works (James 2). But there is only 1 work required.

Faith is made perfect by works (James 2). But not our works. Not the works of the flesh. Not the works of the law. They are His works. Jesus did the works: the works of the Lord. And by those works, we have already been made perfect, in the Spirit.

According to your works

We will be judged according to our works.

Those things that mankind judges as evil, we do the same things… in the flesh.

Those things what mankind considers “the Lord’s work”, all of mankind does those same things.

Their works do not prove them good. Their “good works” will not cause them to be forgiven or to escape judgment. They are “breakers of the law”. And all of them, all of us (in the flesh), do the same things, and deserve the same judgment… that judgment is fair and just and equal. It is appropriate. It is according to your works. The punishment fits the crime.

I got to thinking about George Floyd’s manner of death.

Joshua 10:24-25  And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.  25  And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.

This is a special kind of oppression. This is for the Lord’s enemies. I have to ponder, consider its significance.

Was George Floyd’s death unjust? George Floyd should not have been killed according to man. It may have been straight-up murder. But can you say that if the Lord caused this, or arranged this occurrence, that it was unjust?

Maybe that was not mere injustice from his fellow man. Maybe the Lord arranged that special for Mr. George Floyd.

Would you condemn the Lord’s judgment?

Job 40:8  Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

I don’t know much about George Floyd, but I know that he deserved to have his neck pressed under an oppressor.

What?? How could you say that!! No one deserves to be treated like that!

Wrong. The Bible doesn’t agree. The Lord’s enemies deserve to be treated like that.

Whether or not George Floyd deserved this punishment from man, he definitely is deserving of it from the Lord. And if you are an enemy of the Lord, you do too.

George Floyd called out, “I can’t breathe!”

Psalms 104:29  Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

Genesis 6:17  And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

This is man’s judgment for his violence. The Lord will take away his breath.

And in the Lake of Fire you’ll be squeezed, pressed, deprived of your breath.

Job 9:18  He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

One day God is going to have YOU put your foot upon the necks of your enemies. All these people screaming and shouting and rioting about an injustice to one man… they don’t understand justice and judgment. They think they do!

These are the same people (the mob) that wanted Barabbas over Jesus.

Acts 3:14  But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

They justify the wicked and condemn the righteous.

I say this not to condemn one man, or a mob of men, but all of mankind!

John 8:40  But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

I think they (mankind) are coming for us. Satan is behind all of this and he will take away our freedom to preach the gospel. They (mankind) will kill you if you tell the truth.

If you oppress, you DESERVE to be oppressed.

You are NOT a law abiding citizen to the Lord; in heart, in spirit. You did not just get drunk or high and be in the wrong place at the wrong time with some fake money in your hand. You have broken his law. You continually break it. You are disobedient. You are an oppressor. You are a destroyer. You are a murderer. You have put your foot on the neck of the innocent and when he cried for mercy, you showed none. In heart, you deserve that same fate. Whether you know it or not. Whether you believe it or not. You deserve to have your breath taken away!

BUT, Jesus took that punishment for you. They took away HIS breath, for your sins.

Ecclesiastes 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

You will be judged according to your works.

1 Peter 1:17  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

Revelation 20:12-15  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Your works will be found out. They will be manifested. They will be tried and judged. And you will be judged according to your works. What does that mean!?!?!

What this does not mean is that your works will determine whether you go to heaven (i.e., are justified) or the lake of fire (i.e., are condemned).

If it were to mean that, then Christ is dead and risen in vain.

Works do not decide eternity. These people are NOT justified or condemned because of their works. The deciding factor in the passage is whether their name is in the book of life!!

What this DOES mean is that you will receive the due REWARD of your works. He will REPAY you ACCORDING TO your works.

You will be GIVEN TO according to your works.

Revelation 2:23  And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

1 Kings 8:32  Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

Psalms 28:4  Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.

Desert: a reward or punishment merited. Merits, earnings, deservings.

He is going to GIVE to you what you deserve.

You will be RENDERED TO according to your works.

Romans 2:6-11  Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

By • Individual Lessons, Salvation • 0

The Lord’s Work – Part 5

 

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The Lord’s Work – Part 5

The Lord’s Work – Part 5

Let’s back up there in Galatians 5 (works of the flesh, fruit of the Spirit):

Galatians 5:1-4  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.  2  Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.  3  For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.  4  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

If you must be circumcised and keep the law, you are still in bondage.

If you must love your neighbor, do humanitarian work, fight for freedom of Religion, build houses for the homeless, go to church, go door-knocking, hand out tracts, teach Sunday school, or even try to, or desire to do these things… If you must be better, if you must WORK, you are seeking to be justified by the works of the law.

Ye are fallen from grace, Christ has profited you nothing, and you are still in bondage under the law.

“But, we don’t do the law”, you say. “No, we don’t do the law of Moses! We just believe in Jesus and try to be like him, to live like Paul. We just try to maintain good works.”

Oh, that’s not “the law”? Remember the 1st commandment? Remember the 2nd commandment – love thy neighbor as thyself? All the law and the prophets hang on those 2 commandments.

The law is nothing but to do “good works”, “good things”. The laws of Moses are really no different than the laws of men.

Romans 2:14-15  For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:  15  Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another😉

Who are thou that judgest another… thou that judgest does the same things!

The Gentiles do the SAME THINGS!!! It may not be Moses’ law, but they do have a law.

The work of the law is written in their hearts… by NATURE!! By nature, the law that they are to themselves, the law that their conscience uses to judge and condemn others, says the same things contained in the law of Moses. That is what they are using to judge each other, while they excuse themselves. And while they judge those that do SUCH THINGS, they do the SAME THINGS.

They are a law unto themselves, by nature. I’ll call this law: the natural law – the law of nature.

The whole world seeks to be justified by this law: the natural law. The law of themselves. The law of their conscience.

If I do enough good, and not too much evil, I will be convinced/excused. I will have proved my faith.

In effect, this is not a different law than the law of Moses. The two laws contain the same things.

Galatians 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Every false Christian will add works into salvation. Mormons, JWs, Amish, Mennonites, Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Episcopalians, Anglicans, Methodists, Pentecostals, and all other supposed “Christians” who do not simply believe in Jesus Christ ALONE.

But when they see these verses, regarding “the works of the law”, they believe that THOSE works are only contained in the law of Moses, and thus they are exempt from this condemnation of being “justified by the law” and thus “fallen from grace”.

Galatians 5:4  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

“Oh no, I don’t believe we are saved by good works, we are saved by Jesus, BUT… AND…”, here comes the leaven!, “…true faith requires, or prompts, or is defined by good works.”

“Oh, but we don’t follow the law!” Yeah, you do.. you follow the natural law.

The work of the law has always been written in the hearts of men. Now is no different.

Any good works that men strive to do are works of the law. They are the same works.

The commandments of that natural law are the against the doing of the SAME THINGS – touch not, taste not, handle not… adultery fornication, idolatry.. and such like! You think you are not under the law of Moses, but you are under the law of yourself which contains the SAME THINGS.

If any good works are required for salvation (to obtain, to keep, or to prove), then one is seeking to be justified by the works of the law. These condemnations do not only apply to justification by the law of Moses. It applies to justification by ALL works of nature – all works of the flesh.

Romans 2:27  And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

While the Gentiles were far off and without God.. they had the same things contained in the law of Moses… written in their hearts.

Hypothetically, if the Gentiles, who had not the law of Moses, were able to keep the natural law, they would be saved. They would not be accused of the law as transgressors. The law would not allow them to be stung by sin and death.

Romans 2:25-26  For circumcision [being under the law of Moses] verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.  [The law of Moses does not protect you from death if you break it]  26  Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? [the law of nature is no different!]

Not “if thou break the law”… but “if thou BE a breaker of the law”.

Circumcision (being a Jew) does a man no good if he is a breaker of the law. Circumcision (of the heart, in the Spirit) does US good because we are no longer breakers of the law. We are no longer under the law (the natural law). We are FREE from the law. We are FREE from the flesh. We have LIBERTY from the law, and from the sin and death it allows to sting us.

Adam wasn’t circumcised. He didn’t need to be. We wasn’t a breaker of the law. He was free from the law, until that moment of his eating the fruit, when he was placed under the law. He wasn’t circumcised, and didn’t need to be. His uncircumcision was counted for circumcision because he was righteous… he kept the righteousness of the law.

You can circumcise your heart all you want, but if you ARE a breaker of the law…

Unless the Lord frees you from the law, and then circumcises your heart by the Spirit and births you as a new creature, your self-made circumcision (i.e., repenting from your sin, determining to put away your sins, promising to live the rest of your life for God) is counted for uncircumcision.

Put Simply: Whether circumcised or uncircumcised, if you are a breaker of the law (of Moses or nature) you cannot be counted righteous.

You have to keep the law perfectly in all points, or you’re guilty of all. And since none do so in the flesh.. we are all counted unclean, uncircumcised.

No matter how sincere your “heart change” or how intently you vow to turn from your sin and live your life for Christ, no matter how you try to show your love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance… and no matter how much you sincerely try…

“if thou be a breaker of the law”…

This is what a false Christian does not understand. This is how he messes up true doctrine.

He thinks he can keep the law. He thinks he does better than others. He thinks he does the Lord’s work.

He looks at the fruit, and tries to emulate it. Acting!

He is like a corrupt tree, let’s say a thorn bush, that hears a description of a good tree’s fruit, let’s say an apple tree, and thinks, I can make that! The fruit of the Apple tree is sweet, its juicy, its crisp, just a hint of tart. I can make that! I can look like that! I WILL do that, I promise!

Its dark now, but by morning light, I will have worked those things.

He is LITERALLY like that. That thorn bush can strive and try, and clean himself up, and do as many good works as he wants, he will never make an sweet, crisp juicy apple.

He wants to be good… by being good. If he can just do enough good, then he will be good, right? He wants to do “the Lord’s work”. He wants to obey the righteousness of the law.

Just be a good person, just be what God made us to be! Salvation does that right?

No, salvation makes a NEW man, a NEW creature, in the Spirit. And this carnal creature is completely unchanged and unrighteous.

Back to Galatians 5…

Galatians 5:7-9  Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?  8  This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.  9  A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

Just a little leaven. Just a little works required. Just do a little of “the Lord’s work”, just to prove you were sincere.

Galatians 5 SUMMARY: A Christian is free from the law. If the law effects you, Christ does not. Get those hypocrites, those hereticks, those false teachers out of the church, they are subverting souls. And if we live in the Spirit, we should walk in the Spirit.

What does a baby Christian have to know?

No matter what I do or have done, no matter what law I break in this life, no matter if I serve the Lord or not, I will have eternal life because of what Jesus Christ did for me.

Without knowing all the doctrine and the Scripture, he knows that he is free from the law.

Without knowing all the doctrine and the Scripture, he knows that God has promised that he will not be counted as “a breaker of the law”.

How awesome is that?! We are not COUNTED as breakers of the law.

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute iniquity.

Because we’ve believed only, we are COUNTED righteous.

Romans 4:5  But to him that worketh not, but [ONLY] believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

“Works don’t save us, but works define us.” Fallwell, TRBC – on James 2

1 – that is exactly the opposite of that the passage says.

2 – it does not use the word “define”. That word is not even in the Bible.

Works “define” us? Where? Before men, or before God? In the flesh, or in the spirit? How? As real or fake? Will you know a real Christian based on his works? What if you don’t serve and obey for the rest of your life? What if you do some of those same things that you condemn? How do those works define you?

I’m not sure how a reasonable person listening to this garbage, would not either believe works are required for salvation, or at least be very confused.

Are they saved? We’d need to check their fruit. But it’s very much in question.

By • Individual Lessons, Salvation • 0

The Lord’s Work – Part 4

 

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The Lord’s Work – Part 4

The Lord’s Work – Part 4

Our works – the Lord’s works – are salvation, eternal life. We believe to receive eternal life. We preach to give eternal life.

As long as we preach the doctrine unleavened, our work is not in vain.

“The works of Christ” only appears 1 time in Scripture.

Matthew 11:2-5  Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,  3  And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?  4  Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:  5  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

His works showed to the Jews signs. But the signs were the demonstration/proof of his power to do those things in the spirit.

Mark 2:9-12  Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?  10  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)  11  I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.  12  And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

He did those temporal works so that mankind would know that He had power to do the true work of the Lord.

Those are works that we, in the flesh cannot do. And yet.. every one of those marvelous works is performed in that very last phrase.

The gospel does every one of those things at the same time: Makes a man perfectly whole and cleansed from all sin.

Back to Matthew 11…

Matthew 11:5-6  … and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  6  And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Who did he heal? Who did he heal on behalf of? Those that had faith – those that believed.

Those that were not offended – did not disbelieve. They receive healing, eternal life IN HIM.

“The works of Christ” are what HE does, and yet, in the gospel, they are what is GIVEN TO a believer.

We as Christians HAVE those works in us, and we GIVE those works to dwell in others.

We as Christians ARE those works, and we MAKE others to BE those works too.

1 Corinthians 9:1  Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

Those that you lead to Christ (the work of the Lord) are your work in the Lord. You will not have laboured in vain.

“The work of Christ” only appears 1 time in Scripture.

Philippians 2:25,30  Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.  …  30  Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

Paul says Epaphroditus is his companion in labour.

Paul says Epaphroditus is his fellowsoldier.

The work of Christ can only be done by a Christian brother.

The work of Christ is the ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Now does the work of the Lord include “ministering to my wants”? We’d need another witness. Even so, Paul is on the frontlines and Epaphroditus is one of his right-hand men. His companion in labour is preaching the gospel, and suffering the same tribulations and persecutions. That is the Lord’s work!

Now, if on top of that, he was working to supply Paul with the carnal things that he needed (food, clothes, a tent) while Paul was praying and preaching, does that mean that you running a soup kitchen is the work of Christ? Feeding the poor is the same as being on the frontlines of the spiritual battle for the souls of mankind? I think not.

But.. supporting the ministry. Supporting those that are going the works of Christ. Ministering to those that are ministering the gospel. I think you have a part in the reward for the work of the Lord.

The work of Christ (as we are made able to do it) is giving eternal life. That is the one and only important work. Find the words of God and give the words of God.

This is the work that is not yet finished. This is the work that He is still working:

Hebrews 4:3  For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Romans 9:28  For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

Ecclesiastes 11:5  As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

The work of God is spiritual. An unsaved man cannot know it.

The World’s Work

Matthew 15:19  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:  20  These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Mark 7:21-23  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,  22  Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:  23  All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

The things – the works and the fruit of those works – that come out of men’s hearts are evil.

John 7:7  The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

The works of the world are evil.

2 Corinthians 7:10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

The world worketh death. But even the weakness of God works eternal life. The weakness of God is stronger than men. (what about the joy of the world? – “the world shall rejoice”)

The works of the world (all, not some!) are evil and they bring forth death.

What about the good works of the world? The works thereof are evil. It has none..

Romans 6:20-22  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.  21  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?  [just the evil ones? Doubt it.. ] for the end of those things is death.  22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

In your flesh all your fruit is to death. All the works of the world result in death. All the works of the world are evil.

Galatians 5:19-21  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

which are these – not SOME of which are these.

These are things that man does. These are the works of your flesh. This things come from your heart, your fleshly heart. These are things that you both do, and say, from your heart.

We are all guilty of such things..

Romans 2:1-3  Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.  2  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.  3  And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

If you do such things, and we all do.. you will not escape the judgment. You will be found guilty. You will not inherit the kingdom of God. You are worth of death.

Romans 1:32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Romans 3:19-20  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.  20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The works of the world are evil. They all result in death and if you have SUCH works, you will not be justified.

Even with all this here, mankind still accuses or else excuses one another.

Even with all of this here, mankind still wants to compare their works.

Here is what they do:

Galatians 5:19-21  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, … and such like: … that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

…

Galatians 5:22-25  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

“Man, if I can just do these things, instead of the same things that the Bible says are the works of the flesh… If I can just do the Lord’s works… if I can just do the works of the Spirit!” … OOPS!

What does it say there? “The fruit of the Spirit”, not “the works”. This is fruit.

Could these possibly be called fruitS? Maybe. But the Bible doesn’t call THEM fruitS, it calls THIS “the fruit of the Spirit”.

But they are NOT works. If you think they are, please “do them”. You can’t.

You can have them, you can be them, but you cannot do them – e.g., faith, longsuffering.

These are things that one HAS, or one IS, not things that one DOES.

Maybe fruits? Maybe … But definitely not works!

We may not even HAVE these currently in us. It may be something that we will receive.

And notice:

Galatians 5:24-5  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

None of these good fruits come from the flesh. They are of the Spirit, in the Spirit.

You need to get rid of the flesh entirely: it is free from righteousness. The works of the flesh are THESE SUCH THINGS.

“We did the Lord’s work!” That’s what the world will claim.

Matthew 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

We were righteous! We did the Lord’s works! We did good works! We had the proof of salvation!

Oh the Lord will reveal their works and their fruit… by fire. He will show them their fruit.

Matthew 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

You may have done some “good works”. But that is not what you work. You work evil. You work iniquity. You do the works of the flesh. You never did the Lord’s works. You never were righteous and perfect in all your works. You never even did one work FOR the Lord. Not even once. Not even one thing.

Deuteronomy 32:4  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

The world’s work is with iniquity. You do your works in unrighteousness. Works done in the flesh are never without iniquity. You will never be justified by those works. Even as proof.

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