I Am What I Am By The Grace Of God

 Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (cf. John 1:14). God's aim was to show the incomparable riches of His grace (cf.  Eph. 2:7).  God's grace is sufficient for us too, as His power is made perfect in weakness and the more sin abounds, the more grace abounds (cf. 1 Cor. 12:9; Romans 5:20). We cannot limit or exhaust the grace of God--it's infinite. This means we cannot pay it back, we do not deserve it, we cannot earn it, and we are not worthy of it.  We owe an eternal debt of gratitude to the Lord.  

We may think we contributed something to our salvation, namely faith, but faith is the gift of God and we were not elected because God foresaw grace, but God elected us unto faith it is also a gift, and also our righteousness is not our gift to God, but His gift to us. (cf. Isaiah 45:24). God's grace is never-ending and permanent once we acquire it through faith as the instrumental means.  It is necessary for we cannot gain the approbation of God but must lean on His provision of grace as sufficient. We are to continue in God's grace and not to frustrate it (cf. Gal. 2:21), fall from grace when we try to be righteous by the deeds of the Law (cf. Gal. 5:4), be presumptuous and do great sin (cf. Psalm 19:13), or to take advantage of it and test God's patience by falling into carnality or continued sin. 

Only God can change our nature and He does so from the inside out to make us new creatures in Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17).   Grace does abound to the chief of sinners(cf. 1 Tim. 1:15) and grace reigns (cf. Romans 5:21) or is sovereign and efficacious for the work required and salvation is a given. We must abide in the grace of God because we are works in progress as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. (cf. Phil 2:12).  We must not take grace as a given, though, and assume that God is obliged to show it (then it would be justice) or God is also just and holy and will punish His wayward children for their sins to get them back on track. But He gives more grace (cf. James 4:6).  We are thus the stewards of the grace of God (cf. 1 Pet. 4:10). 

It is important that we are not under the Law but under grace (cf. Romans 6:14). We are subject to a higher law, the law of love, and obey not in the written code of the Law (cf. 2 Cor. 3:3), but in the Spirit. Anyone who tries to justify himself by the works of the Law is under a curse (cf. Gal. 3:10). This is why we testify of the good news of the grace of God for grace is the love of God stooping to us in unmerited favor or undeserved blessing. Of His fullness, we have received and grace upon grace (cf. John 1:16).  We must never think we were saved by favoritism or that we were any better or worthy than one who is lost, but God chose us according to His foreknowledge, good pleasure, and will. (cf. Eph. 1:5,11). 

Paul's Confession Of Sin

 From Romans 7:15ff, Paul confesses his struggle with sin in the old man or sin nature that is still alive though he is saved and has a new inner man.  He prays for deliverance from this "body of death." It sounds like he may be confessing his sin before being saved, but this is a present condition that he is admitting he has not defeated sin in his life yet; this is good and an encouragement to us who struggle.  He is confused, discouraged, frustrated, and even disgusted with himself.  He concurs that the Law is good and the right thing to do and has the impulse to accomplish all the do's and avoid all the don'ts but he finds no power to do this in his own strength.  But Paul doesn't despair because he doesn't trust in himself but the finished work of Christ on the cross and knows that there is no condemnation for those in Christ.  

It is a dilemma when you feel convicted and know the right thing to do and don't do it and feel condemned or guilty. He says that nothing good dwells in him--what a confession.  By the way, he later admits he is the chief of sinners and this is not just before salvation. What is it like when you don't meet your own expectations?  You feel like a failure!  But the fact is that we are all born this way: we are not sinners because we sin, but sin because we are sinners.  Christians are not called sinners, but they are called saints.  But that doesn't mean we are not sinners at heart and in action.  Luther said we are justified sinners or at the same time just and sinners referring to Gal. 2:17. 

The point is that our struggle with sin will last till glory and we are to grow in the battle, knowing the battle is the Lord's.  He fights for us and gives us the victory one step in faith at a time. The law of sin and death no longer applies!  All whom the Lord justifies, He sanctifies and we are all holy in His sight.  The point to see here is that when we are justified, we do not become just, especially in man's eyes, but are declared just in God's eyes.  As far as He is concerned, we are just.  We are freed from the power of sin so that we do not have to sin or be enslaved by it anymore. 

Shall we continue in sin? There were two views that were both wrongs at the time of Luther.  The Antinomians thought that since they were saved, it didn't matter if they sinned: "freed from the Law, O blessed condition; now I can sin all I want and still have remission."  They saw no obligation to live holy lives of obedience or that their lives must produce fruits worthy of repentance. The other enemy idea was that of the semi-Pelagians going back to the monk Pelagius who debated Augustine about the issue that because God expects perfection and that is the goal, we must have the inherent ability to achieve perfection.  This came to be known as entire sanctification or perfectionism in Catholic or some Arminian circles. 

We must keep our eyes on the goal of holiness and confess our known and convicted sins so as to keep short accounts.  Jeus said to be perfect even as our heavenly Father is perfect, meaning that perfection is the goal but direction is the test.  Which way are we going? Note that going nowhere is somewhere if you go that direction long enough you will get there.   For all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.   We continue pursuing God, though realizing we are not perfect and will not be till heaven. But we must remain assured that we are forgiven and not trust in our own achievement or performance but in the persona and work of Christ. 

What Does It Mean To Believe In God?

  am assuming the Christian faith and referencing the Bible and the God of the Bible: Abraham believed God and it was counted unto righteousness. By faith Abraham obeyed God. (Romans 4:3; Heb. 11:8).

You don’t just believe He exits for the demons do that. And faith without works is dead: true faith is manifested and proved by good works—you are known and rewarded by your fruit. Faith is authenticated by deeds! You believe Him and take Him at His Word, trusting Him with your heart and life. You must be willing to do His will and obey His commands; surrender to the Lordship or ownership of your life. Is Christ your Lord? Do you unashamedly confess His name and stand up for Him?

True faith entails love in the heart for we believe not just in our minds as much as in our hearts. (cf. Romans 10:9–10). Do you believe the God who is and that He is with you? You don’t have to repeat a creed every day religiously but grow in your faith by obedience. In short, trust and obey! That is the only true measure of faith. It isn’t how much you believe but how well you obey. Remember, it’s not the amount of faith but the object that matters. It must be settled solidly in Christ alone.

Also, true faith is connected with true repentance—they go hand in hand and it may not be how much you believe but how thorough your repentance is. You must grow in your faith and develop a relationship with Jesus by confession of known sin and walking in the Spirit. We learn to walk by faith, not by sight (cf. 2 Cor. 5:7). This means you need to be filled with the Spirit continually so you do not walk in the flesh and sin. This also means producing the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace…. Thus, it’s not just having a sort of faith, but having saving faith that translates your creeds into deeds!

Do You Sin Against God?

 

1. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (cf. Romans 3:23).
2. “For there is no one who does not sin.” (cf. 1 Kings 8:46)
3. “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin,” (cf. Psalm 51:2).
4. “Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.”(cf. Eccl 7:20).
5. “Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure? I am clean and without sin.’” (cf. Prov, 20:9).
6. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (cf. 1 John 1:8).
7. “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and the word is not in us,”(cf. 1 John 1:10).

Christians even sin but they are forgiven. God doesn’t call us sinners but saints. Gal. 2:17 calls us justified sinners. God doesn’t make us just but declares us so, but we are a work in progress as God continues to work in us (cf. Phi. 1:6).

I sin because I have an old sin nature inherited from Adam. We are all sinners by nature, by choice, and by birth, this is called being “in Adam.” We have inherited the sin virus from Adam. Thus everyone is in solidarity with Adam until they are saved and then possess power over sin and are not its slave it servant anymore. In sum, Christians are effectively dead to sin and liberated from its power (cf Romans 6:14) and God doesn’t hold our sins against us (cf. Psalm 32:2); we need not have any sin have dominion over us (cf. Psalm 119:133; Romans 6:14).

Are You God's Friend?

 We have heard it said in the Bible that Abraham was the friend of God. He obeyed God and it was counted as righteousness.  Jesus also said that He would call us friends if we do as He commanded us. We are exhorted to love one another even as He loved us. Love is the greatest of laws and can never be satisfied.  It's an eternal debt of gratitude to God for His ultimate and supreme sacrifice on the cross. He gave His all and wants us to be willing to take up our crosses and follow Him. Now, my point is that God may be our friend but we may not live or love as His friend, but as enemies and even practical atheists who can live like there is no God and let one's faith have little effect on one's ethic and way of life.  

In reality, we can be servants at the same time as friends because we must not put God in a box and say something like, "I like to just see Jesus as my friend," when He is Lord and Judge! God would never treat us as His enemies no matter what we do, but if we go astray, He will discipline and chastise His wayward children but only in love,  Note that only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes. These two go hand in hand and cannot be divorced.  In other words, there can be no disobedient believers by definition.  

Now when two instruments are tuned to the same pitch they are in tune with each other and can make music in perfect harmony. It' the same with friendship: If two believers are obedient and walking in the Spirit, they should be in harmony or fellowship with each other. or as they say on the same page. This is why no one can claim to love God and not his neighbor and anyone can love his friend, family, or lover, but we to love our enemies. Note that Jeus defined the greatest possible love as laying down your life for them. And this is what Jesus did for us while we were yet His enemies.  The important thing is that we abide in Christ's love and manifest it to the world as ambassadors of it. Soli Deo Gloria! 

The Neccessity Of The Crucifixion...

 "Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other," (cf. Psalm 85:10, NIV). 

"All things come to pass of necessity."  (John Wycliffe). 

Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemene to be delivered from His forthcoming Passion if at all possible, but nevertheless conceding and relinquishing to the Father's will and plan from all eternity.  Jesus willingly and obediently went to His death and had both the power to lay down His life and to take it up again, even choosing the exact moment He expired (cf. John 10:17-18).  In other words, He chose to die for us and wasn't forced into it--it would be on His terms.

Jesus had prophesied of His blood being necessary for the New Covenant (as the blood of the covenant (cf. Matt. 26:28) to take effect as the Testator. In the Old Covenant, there had been a constant reminder of sin and continual sacrifices were necessary to look forward to His crucifixion in God's eyes.   It is necessary in wills and testaments for the death of the testator to put it in effect. Jesus' blood sealed the deal!   If the blood of Abel spoke volumes to God then how much more the very blood of the perfect Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Note that only Christ qualified to foot the bill and pay the price.

Our salvation is free to us, but not cheap, it cost Jesus everything He had and we must surrender our all to Him as Lord of our lives Jesus made His sacrifice to end all sacrifices because it was perfect and of infinite value.  Therefore it was sufficient to redeem all of us of our sins. When He said, "Tetelestai," or "It is finished [paid in full]" it meant that Christ's work was done: salvation was now a done deal!  Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice for our sins and even if we gave all we could or have, it would not be enough to satisfy the wrath of God--He is God's Suffering Servant.  But our best is not good enough! The only reason the cross accomplished the righteousness of God is that Jesus is God as well as man and died in our place for what we deserved. 

All of us are as bad off,, but not as bad, as we can be spiritually or in dire straits in God's eyes and our righteousness is as filthy rags to Him. All of our righteousness is His gift to us, not our gift to Him.  We have nothing to offer Him but brokenness and strife (the sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite heart). In other words, we are bankrupt in God's economy and must appeal for mercy and grace; not getting what we do deserve (hell) and getting what we don't deserve (heaven).  Good for us that Christ thought that He would rather have us than his life.  We are "to die for!" We must reckon this in light of the fact that God didn't owe us salvation and didn't need to satisfy His holiness and it would've been just to condemn every sinner.  It's the mercy and grace of God that He had mercy on anyone at all. 

We mock Christ and belittle His Passion when we try to earn our way to heaven, especially by keeping the Law.  "If righteousness could be gained through the Law, Christ died in vain." (cf. Gal. 2:21). In fact, if we rely on the Law for righteousness, we are under a curse (cf. Gal. 3:10).   None of us is capable of abiding by the perfect Law of God and need someone to obey it for us and be our Substitute.  God accepts vicarious obedience! Jesus didn't just do a good deed in dying for people but took on our full penalty due us for our sins and became sin for us, but not a sinner.   As Isaiah 53 says, He was crushed for our iniquities, bruised for our transgressions, and by His stripes, we are healed.

Christ didn't just die to be our example, though we are to follow in His steps (cf. 1 Pet. 2:21) nor was it just a moral example or lesson from God of Him exercising justice in some kind of moral universe to teach us some lesson.  It was necessary for Him to suffer these things and then enter into His glory, as He said.  Jesus wasn't just some martyr and champion for a good cause either!   The concept that the crucifixion was just to satisfy God's government of the world to see that justice is served is also erroneous because it would only exhibit God's righteousness but not save anyone.  Christ was no innocent victim either who got trapped or tricked by the wicked Pharisees and Pilate.  But "He became obedient to the point of death,"  (cf. Phil. 2:8). He never asked us to feel sorry for Him but to believe in Him.  And Christ's death was no accident of history either or some fluke of injustice, for He was guilty in the sense that He was assuming our sins.

And God planned this event from all eternity and even used the evildoers to do it, though it was still voluntary, they did as written of the including Judas (cf. Acts 2;23:4:28): "This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge," "They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen."  Christ didn't deserve the cross as if He had done anything wrong and it was His karma or was reaping what He sowed. But the reality or truth is that "the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all," (cf. Isaiah 53:6).  Crucifixion wasn't even an honorable way to die and this concept is rejected by Muslims as being too repugnant and undignified for God. 

Some will say that since God is love, He should freely forgive us; however, He is also just and holy and sin offends Him and its price needs to be paid; death  God did show His love by laying down His life while we were incapable of any righteousness of our own. We are all born "in Adam," or in solidarity with him and under condemnation as we are not only sinners, but it's our nature, birthright, and freewill choice to sin.  If Christ had not died and also conquered death by rising from the dead we'd still be in our sins! Christ paid our full and due penalty and the only thing we contribute is our sin and need.  We reckon that God is now both just and justifier (cf. Romans 3:26). 

The climax and central fact of history is the crucifixion and subsequent resurrection of Christ. If this is not as God tells us it is the biggest and cruelest hoax in history, but if true it's the most wonderful truth, even in that we now know what love is; that Jesus laid down His life for us. (cf. 1 John 3:16).  Soli Deo Gloria! 

Job says, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives"

Job made this confession in my title (cf. Job 19:25) and showed his ultimate faith in God that in his flesh he shall see God. Yes, the resurrection was even fact in the OT: Psalm 49:15, "But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave...."  Also, in Hosea 13:14, "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death."  As it says in 1 Cor. 15:55, "O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?"  Death is finally defeated and we need not fear it!    Martha told Jesus that she shall see Lazarus at the resurrection! (cf. John 11:24).   ".... I kill and I make alive..." (cf. Deut. 32:39). 

But the doctrine was not fully realized nor fulfilled, or did it have a good reason to be believed, till Jesus conquered the grave by rising from the dead as the definitive proof of His deity (cf. Romans 1:4; Acts 17:31).  It was the skeptical Sadducees that denied the resurrection.  Paul truly said that if there is no resurrection we are a people most to be pitted and are still in our sins!  (cf. 1 Cor. 15:19). 

But the resurrection is a known historical fact with much compelling, though circumstantial evidence to verify it. It is said that the resurrection is more variously proved than any even in antiquity with many types of evidence that is.  Dr. Luke says that there were "many infallible proofs," (cf. Acts 1:3).  History rarely has direct evidence.  We have documents, records, testimony, and the witness of present believers as evidence.  But just believing it is history, not salvation.  As Josh MacDowell said, "Either the resurrection is the most wonderful event in history or its cruelest, biggest hoax." 

The resurrection is not only the point of Christianity but its focus and fulcrum, without it, we disembowel the faith and make it just another religion.  Denying the facts makes you out to be living in denial!  We must not only accept it as a historical fact but we must receive the living Lord into our hearts; i.e., believe it in our hearts!  Christ must not only be risen historically but personally. The resurrection is indeed the central fact of history and its hope. 

I confess and admit it takes faith to believe this for faith is what pleases God (cf. Heb 11:6). Now there is never enough evidence to convince a person who doesn't want to believe. Israel rejected the LORD and Moses though there were many miracles (cf. Psalm 78:32). Jesus said in John 7:17 that anyone willing to do His will shall know; there's the rub! Jesus had observed in John 12:37 that even though the stubborn Pharisees had seen many signs or miracles, they "would not believe," not that they could not believe; for the heart of the matter is that it's a matter of the heart--where was their heart if they even had one still?  

The resurrection becomes a reality to believers because Jesus takes up residence in our hearts upon accepting this and we become transformed persons becoming renewed in Christ's image.  The transformation that took place in the apostles after they saw the Lord is the strongest evidence for His resurrection. You must want it to be true though!  But the good news is that we can taste that Jesus is good (cf.1 Pet. 2:3) and as Psalm 34:8 says, "Taste and see that the LORD is good."  We are then becoming satisfied customers or happy campers in the Lord.    Soli Deo Gloria! 

Nothing To Offer Christ

Christ offers salvation to the lowest bidder, not the one who thinks he's qualified but the one who humbly acknowledges he isn't.  Paul saw himself as the chief of sinners! We must realize that we cannot do enough to impress God or make ourselves worthy.  We cannot earn, deserve, nor pay back God but must realize salvation is a grace-transaction, not a works-transaction.  They say it is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and this is the best way to see it because religionists add merit to grace, works to faith, and the church or tradition to Christ.  We must also realize that Scripture alone is our rule of faith and final authority or arbiter of truth, not tradition or any church leader.   We must realize though that we can never be good enough, in fact, we can only realize how bad we are when we try to be good and trying to be good. 

When we realize we are saved by grace through faith we realize our works do not merit salvation.  We are not saved by any work, but we cannot be saved without them either for faith without works is dead and cannot save.  If we have no works, our faith is suspect and we certainly are not producing fruit as Jesus said we shall be known by our fruits. James said he could show his faith through his works (cf. James 2:18). Likewise, our works validate or authenticate our faith. As the Reformers taught: "We are saved by faith alone, but not be a faith that is alone!'  By definition, grace is getting what we don't deserve, but mercy is not getting what we do deserve; this means God would be perfectly just to condemn everyone to hell and save no one!  If God had to save us or was obliged by our deeds, it would be grace but justice. 

We are humbled when we see that even a great preacher like George Whitefield said, "There but for the grace of God go I, "after seeing a condemned man to the gallows. Paul had similar thoughts when he said, "I am what I am by the grace of God," (cf. 1 Cor. 15:10)  As Paul nearly wreaked havoc on the early church Christ chose him to be a light to the Gentiles. We come to the realization that all we have to offer Christ is brokenness and strife, a contrite heart of repentance as a sacrifice. 

We don't have to do anything to be saved; no pre-salvation work.  God opens our hearts and kindles or quickens faith within us, even making the unwilling willing and turning hearts of stone into hearts of flesh (cf. Ezek. 11:19). We when we realize Christ is the way it all is clear and we surrender ourselves to Him in faith.  That's the gist of it, exercising faith in some way: It differs for every individual; just because someone walked an aisle for instance to receive Christ doesn't mean that it's necessary or the only way.  There may be prefabricated prayers of salvation and the common one, the sinners' prayer  from Luke 18:13 ("God be merciful to me a sinner)") but none is perfect and certainly not the only valid one. For there can be no perfect, foolproof prayer to grant salvation for God sees the heart and reads the motives.  Then salvation would be by lipservice or going through the motions: religiosity. 

This is what I mean:  we need to know how bad we are to be saved, and we don't know how bad we are till we try to be good or repent of our badness!  In other words, we are never good enough to get saved but bad enough to need salvation! We all have a dark side, a side no one sees but God and we all have feet of clay or apparent flaws that are not visible or known by others. This means we are not basically or inherently good but bad or evil without Christ in our hearts. When we really see ourselves for who we are we realize the picture isn't pretty.   We are "dead in trespasses" and "by nature children of wrath," "sold under sin."  God needs to open our eyes to have faith (cf. Acts 26:18) and especially the eyes of our hearts to see Jesus (cf. Heb. 2:9) in the Bible, which testifies of Him (cf. John 5:39).  

When we realize what great sinners we are, we thank God that He is a great Savior! And we are humbled by grace to say, "Why me Lord," and "a wretch like me?" But thanks to the restraining power of the Spirit, we are not as bad as we can be; we are only as bad off as we can be in respect to our ability to save ourselves and therefore need a Savior. Recognizing that God doesn't grade on a curve and has concluded all slaves of sin and spiritually dead, we realize our need for grace for there could be no other way to qualify for salvation in our own right. 

In the final analysis, we must be willing to stand up for what we believe (cf. Jer. 9:3) in and that means confessing Christ as Lord or verbalizing our faith, not privatizing it.  "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so," (cf. Psalm 107:2).   "I  believed, therefore I spoke," (cf. 2 Cor. 4:13).  And if we don't stand firm in the faith we will not stand firm at all. (cf. Isaiah 7:3).  NB:   We have nothing to bring to Christ but the sacrifices of praise, thanksgiving, and of a contrite heart (cf. Heb. 13:15; Lev. 7:12; Psalm 51:17).   Soli Deo Gloria! 

The Qualification For Heaven

"Indeed it is the straightedge of the Law that shows us how crooked we really are," (cf. Romans 3:20, Phillips).  The law measures us, it doesn't save us!  

 The chief qualification, it is said, to enter heaven, is to admit or realize you are not qualified; to see how you fall short and are not self-righteous in your own eyes, justifying yourself or minimizing your sin.  We all tend to justify ourselves.    For we cannot know how sinful we are till we try to stop sinning, and we cannot stop sinning!  Then we realize we are slaves to sin! You don't know your enslavement to sin till you try to give it up, and you have to give it up to realize your slavery.  It's like the smoker that thinks he can overcome and kick the habit till he tries to do and realizes he cannot of his own willpower. 

Salvation must be solely the gift of God, and not of our own works or merit thinking we deserve it because of what we've done in our own right.  We are never good enough to be saved, but bad enough to need salvation.  Gifting means grace and that's part of the formula of the Reformers: by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, by the authority of Scripture alone, and to God alone be the glory: the Five Only's (sola gratia, sola fide, soli Christo, sola Scriptura, soli Gloria Deo).  

We must not add merit to grace, works to faith or tradition, or church authority to the rule of our faith--the Bible alone. And we must not pat ourselves on the back in congrats but give God sole glory.  The summation of Reformed theology can be summed up in Jonah 2:9 saying, "Salvation is of the LORD."  That means not of us and the Lord, nor of us alone, but of God alone!  We didn't cooperate even just like at our first birth; therefore, it's called monergistic (one-sided), not synergistic (cooperative). 

In salvation, we must confess and recognize our sin (nature) as well as our sins. This is hardly mentioned in churches today because it's such a killjoy word! We must be saved from what we are (in a state of sin and rebellion or depravity) and justified and forgiven for our sins (our transgressions). As believers, we must realize we are still sinners, though we are justified (cf. Gal. 2:17). We can never achieve entire sanctification or perfectionism (cf. Prov. 20:9) as some denominations teach but we can progress in our power over sin and not let any certain sin dominate us (cf. Psalm 119:133; 19:13; 18:23; Romans 6:14; 1 Cor.6:12)  We are not to be controlled by any sin and to have power and victory over them and not let them have dominion over us.  This can be a pet sin (cf. Heb. 12:1) or one that easily besets us and our secret sins. or we may be known by as the Bible says that for sure our sins "will find [us] out." (cf. Numbers 32:23).  

In repentance, and we must realize that repentance and faith are linked (cf. Acts 20:21) and go hand in hand can be seen as the flipside of each other. There can be no genuine repentance without saving faith! Sometimes we may wonder if our faith is strong enough and not realize our repentance is not thorough enough. God doesn't make us righteous, not even in the eyes of the world, but reckons or considers us righteous--we are declared righteous. Our righteousness is completed in heaven only. Christians just recognize, acknowledge, and know their sins and are not blind to them like the infidel and we confess them and don't attempt to justify ourselves. But there is no condemnation for the believer in Christ, and he shall not come into judgment (cf. Romans 8:1; John 5:24).  

Whenever we sin, we have an Advocate to make intercession (cf. Heb. 7:25). We have admitted our spiritual bankruptcy before God, emptied ourselves of our self-righteousness, and come clean with God with nothing to hide. We realize God doesn't grade on a curve and all are sinners and we are no better than others:  We don't play the "let's compare game." (cf. 2 Cor. 10:12).  We don't have any credentials to boast of but must plead the merits of the blood of Christ shed on our behalf.  

Salvation goes to the lowest bidder as Paul saw himself as the "chief of sinners," and John Bunyan wrote his testimony in Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, not to the one with the highest spiritual pedigree or credentials or best resume: We have nothing to offer but brokenness and strife, a contrite and penitent heart.  This is the catch-22:  To be good we must realize how bad we are; to see how bad we are, we must try to be good.  

Don't think of sins as God not wanting you to enjoy life and He's a cosmic killjoy spoiling it all, but God didn't design us for sin and He knows what's best for us emotionally and spiritually and for our own good--if we had our own way--and sin is doing your own thing and your way, not God's--then we'd surely mess up our lives and our souls; if God ever said, "Okay, have it your way!" we ruin it for ourselves and lose our happiness that is only possible through knowing Him as Augustine said, "Our souls are restless till they find their rest in God."    Soli Deo Gloria! 

Cheap Grace

PART I

Easy-believism or cheap grace (first popularized by theologian and pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer) has been a constant misconception of our faith. It justifies the sin, not the sinner! Salvation is indeed free, but not cheap! It will cost something and you will be tested. The most obvious one that some won't be willing to pay is to turn from a life of sin, like living in sin and not being willing to change that lifestyle. If we want to live godly in Christ, we will suffer persecution, according to Jesus. We must be willing to seek first the kingdom of God (cf. Matt. 6:33) above all other priorities, dreams, ambitions, and whatever is ours--because all ultimately belongs to Him, because Jesus doesn't want these things--He wants us as living sacrifices (cf. Rom. 12:1)!

That's what He meant when He said we must deny ourselves and follow Him. We don't know where He will lead us or know God laid out a plan for our whole life at salvation but must be willing to do His will, whatever it is in the complete surrender of our wills to His. Jesus also said that we must love Him preeminently above family, friends, children, spouse, and even self. In the last days, men will be lovers of themselves (cf. 2 Tim. 3:2), or "looking out for number one!"

Jesus did everything He could to discourage insincere followers and make salvation "well-nigh impossible." But it is worth the cost to follow Jesus through thick and thin and the reward is eternal. The more abundant life we experience begins in the here and now, as we live in light of eternity with God's blessing in all we do in His name. True prosperity isn't necessarily higher income, not even fame, or power. What being prosperous entails is God's blessings on our ventures and helping us to find what He will bless us in. The disciples were inquisitive about what their reward would be since they gave up everything to follow Him, and Jesus said that it would multiply not add (like ten times, instead of ten more).

Jesus had no trouble attracting admirers or people who wanted to be buddies or sidekicks, but He was looking for disciples who would devote their lives to the learning of Him and be following Him--this is what He meant by those who worship God in Spirit and in truth. Jesus said that if we abide in His Word we are disciples indeed (cf. John 8:31). Don't be someone to whom Jesus might say, "You have sacrificed nothing!" This is an awful rebuke of a disobedient life, and some believers may be saved as if by fire and by the skin of the teeth, so to speak.

The reward that we strive for is everlasting and we should be inspired by athletes who make great sacrifices and strive for a temporal prize that fades away. One of the metaphors that Christ uses for the believer is one of an athlete--we are to exercise discipline in our life and set our eyes on Jesus and finish the race He has set before us. If athletes can endure the discipline and think it will be worth a temporal prize, so much the more should we be inspired to make sacrifices for eternal prizes in Christ's kingdom, and even the ultimate sacrifice, because we are considered worthy to suffer for His kingdom (cf. Philippians 1:29).

The prize we seek is worth more than anything on earth and we should be willing to sacrifice anything on earth to gain it--God doesn't ask everyone to make great sacrifices, but He does expect them to be willing to do so. Nothing on earth (fame, fortune, power) is worth losing our soul for and Jesus said succinctly (cf. Mark 8:36), "What shall it gain a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?" One soul is worth more to God than the entire world! You cannot put a price on salvation nor on the joy that a believer has in Christ.

Jesus never made it seem easy to be a bed of roses to be a believer and admonished us to count the cost, but "all these things shall be added" unto us if we follow Christ. The problem with most seekers is that they want the benefits without the Benefactor. We are not to get a martyr's complex either, thinking that the more we suffer, the more spiritual we are, or that we gain salvation through suffering or martyrdom--Jesus isn't calling us to die for him but to take up our cross and follow Him regardless of the results and through thick and thin. We are called to deny ourselves and this is the unique sacrifice of Christianity, and the one that makes it unattractive to some, because they are unwilling to heed Christ's "hard sayings." When we suffer for His sake, we shall in His glory--no cross--no glory!


PART II

"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder" (James 2:19, NIV).
"Believe in the Lord [i.e., accepting his lordship or ownership] Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31, NIV).
"...' Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37, NIV).

A. W. Tozer wrote a book, I Call It Hersey, to debunk the false notion of easy-believism (i.e., not accepting Christ as Lord of one's life but believing in spite of it) or cheap grace (i.e., forgiveness without repentance, justifying the sin, not the sinner!), as Dietrich Bonhoeffer referred to it as. This message of domesticating and dumbing down the call to lordship is the gospel in vogue in modern, mainstream denominational churches who disregard repentance and, its flip side, faith as the only means of salvation. William Booth warned of a church offering forgiveness without repentance!

We must have a penitent faith or believing repentance as it were. Salvation is indeed free, but not cheap--it costs everything we've got (total surrender of self to His will). The propagators of the easy-believism tend to preach that we don't have to obey Christ to be saved--just believe! This is not accepting Him as our Lord. Christ will not dichotomize His offices and personhood.

We must submit to Him as Lord and trust Him as Savior. We cannot accept a half-Christ. He is Lord of all, or not at all! (Cf. Rom. 10:12; Acts 10:36). We must bow to His authority (cf. Phil. 2:10-11) and ownership over our lives as the "Captain of our soul and Master of our fate" (cf. Invictus by William Ernest Henley)--we must release control of our life. In other words, our destiny is in His hands (cf. Job 23:14) and we must openly confess Him as our Lord before men to confirm our salvation (cf. Rom. 10:9-10; Matt. 10:32-33). There are no secret Christians or closet believers. There are also no Lone Ranger ones or solitary saints--we must all get connected with the body to function and grow.

Now there is no such thing as a carnal Christian as a class of believers, though believers can become carnal or lose their fellowship, backsliding or even falling from grace. Christians do disobey God, though they do not continue in it, for God disciplines them and brings them back into the fold. If we are without discipline, we are not real children of God! Blessed are those who have learned to be rebuked by the Scripture and don't need a school of hard knocks to learn lives Reality 101. "The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all" (Psalm 34:19, NIV).

God is looking for believers with gusto, who are gung-ho for the Lord, not halfhearted! We must seek Him with our whole heart to find Him, for God regards not triflers. It was said of Joshua (cf. 14:8) that he "wholly followed the Lord." We must hold nothing back, making no compromises with the world, for if we love the world or the things of the world, we will not love God (cf. 1 John 2:15). We must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him (cf. Mark 8:34). Jesus never made it sound easy to be saved, but even discouraged halfhearted "disciples."

We, also, must not contextualize or water down the gospel message to lure or entice folks with an "acceptable" gospel they can swallow or handle without offense (but Christ is the Rock of offense and a Stone of stumbling!).

Some people merely pay lip service or go through the motions, memorizing the Dance of the Pious, in their worship--which is a fraud and a sham, not the real thing--this is Churchianity or playing games with the church, not Christianity. The Bible condemns those whose lips are near but their hearts are far from the Lord only doing their religious "duty" in church, not out of the heart. Lukewarm believers are ones who are not walking with the Lord and need Christ in their heart to be a real encounter with Him.

The only genuine test of faith is obedience and "only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes," according to Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Yes, there's a cost to discipleship and no one is promised a bed of roses--our reward is not in this life (cf. Psalm 17:14), for the Lord is our portion (cf. Gen. 15:1)!

Our faith is not measured by our ecstasies or encounters, even experiences such as visions and dreams, but only by our obedience (cf. Heb. 3:18-19)! Jesus will say that we are merely good and faithful servants at the Judgment Seat of Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10). Yes, the cost is great and it's a life of sacrifice of self--not living for oneself--but the cost of rejection is greater!


PART III

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, (cf. The Cost of Discipleship) the famous martyred Lutheran Nazi resistor, talked about "cheap grace." Our salvation is free, but it costs everything. "Easy-believism" refers to belief without commitment and lordship. We must accept Christ as the lord of our lives and the center of our being.

Simple acquiescence or agreement is not enough; one must believe in one's heart and decide to follow Jesus no matter the cost. Jesus said, "Take up your cross, deny yourself and follow Me" (Matt. 16:24).

William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, regretted that the twentieth century would usher in Christianity without Christ and faith without repentance. Your head belief must travel 18 inches to your heart to be heart belief. True faith loves Jesus and is a living relationship with Him.

Repentance is the flip side of faith and goes hand in hand with it. They compliment each other and need each other--they are different viewpoints. We are to leave the fundamentals of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. To get assurance we must examine our hearts and look at the fruit of our lives. The Word of God coupled with the testimony of the Holy Spirit will bring assurance of true faith.

Don't let anyone tell you that it is easy to become a Christian. Sure children can get saved but one must receive it as a child even if one is old. Jesus said to enter at the "narrow gate" for narrow is the gate and hard is the way that leads to life and "few there be that find it" (Matt. 7:14). Many preachers say, "Just believe! It's easy!" but the Holy Spirit must be working in the person's heart to convict them (John 16:8) and draw them to Christ (John 6:44). Jesus said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

God gets all the glory and we are not the captain of our souls or the master of our fate--our ultimate destiny is in the hands of God. Arminians think this makes God look like a terrible tyrant, but in reality, He is sovereign over all. Soli Deo Gloria!

Are Works Imperative?

 "...Set an example of good works yourself..."  (Tit. 2:7).

 There is a grand distinction between religion and Christianity:  works out of a pure motive and not for applause versus to ingratiate oneself, or to get brownie points with a deity.  Religion says, "Do!" while Christ says, "Done!"  Christians are not "do-gooders" per se but do good deeds because they want to, not because they have to.  The key is not "in order to," but "therefore."  Good works logically follow a changed life, through which Christ lives. Changing lives is Jesus' business and the point of salvation.   In a works religion, you never know how much is enough!

Since salvation is a gift only in Christianity, the person is free to do good out of gratitude.  We don't have to, but want to! Many Americans have fallen prey to the misconception that achieving the "American dream" or "living the good life" is all that is necessary to accomplish salvation; that they have "made it."  God requires perfection and any effort to earn one's way is in vain.  We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone (a living one), in the person and work of Christ alone according to the Reformers.

Some misguided souls subscribe to the credo that since salvation is by grace alone, works aren't necessary or don't follow (but we say grace is necessary and sufficient).  The Reformed doctrine is that salvation is "by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone."  Works equaling salvation is the essence of religion; combining works and faith for salvation is legalism.  Faith that produces no works is antinomians, being against the law or lawless.  The prevalent view that faith alone without any evidence (some will say gifts of the Spirit like speaking in tongues) will suffice is erroneous, being initial evidence validates salvation or the filling of the Spirit.  This is known as antinomianism or "no-lordship salvation."

Nota bene: if you don't have good works to "work out" (cf. Phil. 2:12) your salvation is suspect.  The kind of works I am referring to is good deeds not works of the law.  We are not saved by works;  but not without them either--but unto works!  Works (or righteousness) prove faith to self others and God, as well as yourself (cf. Isa. 32:17); but are not the substitute for it.  We must put our faith into action--as James would say, "The faith you have is the faith you show" (cf. James 2:18).

There is no irreconcilable difference between Paul and James; they come from two vantage points:  Paul was dealing with those who couldn't do enough and thought the Law of Moses was necessary;  James was dealing with "do-nothing" libertines.  Paul would say, "I'll show you my works."  James would counter, "I'll show you my faith."  Paul talked about being "rich in faith" (1 Tim. 6:18).  James talked about being "rich in deeds" (James 2:5).  James says, "But someone will say, 'You have faith, I have deeds,' Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do"  (James 2:18).

Faith doesn't have a dormant or inert stage; it can't be left in mothballs! It goes places!  Faith and works are distinguished, but cannot be separated.  Faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26).

Our works will be judged (for reward)  not our faith per Romans 2:6; Psalm 62:12; Prov. 24:1  (our faith is a gift according to Rom. 12:3, Acts 14:27; 2 Pet. 1:1, et al.)!  "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (1 Cor. 3:15; 2 Cor. 5:10).  "God will repay each person according to what he has done'"  (Rom. 2:6).   Our works have to do with our testimony (Matt. 5:16; Tit. 1:16, 2:14)--"By their works they deny Him."  We are to be a people "zealous of good works" (Tit. 1:16).  We are to be "thoroughly furnished unto all good works" and  "are created unto good works" (2 Tim. 3:17; Eph. 2:10).  The faith we have is the faith we have is the faith we show!  Faith must be authenticated by works or it's suspect.

It is important that we give glory to God (Soli Deo Gloria).   "I venture not to boast of anything but what Christ has accomplished through me" (cf. Rom. 15:18;  Amos 6:13).  Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing."  Isa. 26:12 reads, "All that we have accomplished you have done for us."  The reason God blesses us is so that we can bear fruit (cf. 2 Cor. 9:8).  We are commanded to do good works (Gal. 6:10; Phil. 2:12).   Most of all the importance of it all is summed up:  "Bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God"  (Col. 2:10)--note how they are correlated.   

There is a grand distinction between religion and Christianity: works out of a pure motive and not for applause; i.e., to ingratiate oneself or get brownie points with a deity. Christians are not "do-gooders" per se but do good deeds because they want to, not because they have to. The key is not "in order to" but "therefore." Good works logically follow a changed life, through which Christ lives. We are not saved by good works neither without them! We're not saved by good works but unto good works! (cf. Eph. 2:10). In a works religion, you never know how much is enough! Since salvation is a gift only in Christianity, the person is free to do good out of gratitude.

PART II

"...Set an example of good works yourself..." (Tit. 2:7).
Americans have fallen prey to the misconception that achieving the "American dream" is the ideal and living the "good life" is a "salvation." God requires perfection so any attempt to earn our way is in vain--we need grace and heaven is that gift which is by faith alone, but only a living faith.

Some misguided souls subscribe to the credo that since salvation is by grace alone works aren't necessary (we say that grace is necessary and sufficient and that faith is a gift according to Rom. 12:3; Acts 18:27; 2 Pet. 1:1: John 6:29; Phil 1:29; Acts 14:27). The Reformed doctrine is that salvation is "by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone." Works equaling salvation is the essence of religion and mixing works with faith for salvation is legalism. The prevalent view that grace is both necessary and sufficient--there's no place for merit) without any evidence will suffice is erroneous. This is known as Antinomianism or "no-lordship salvation."

Nota bene that if you don't have good works to "work out" or a spiritual workout (cf. Phil. 2:12) your salvation is suspect. The kind of works I am referring to is good deeds--not works of the law. We are not saved by works; but not without them either--but unto works! Works prove, validate, and authenticate, faith to others, God, as well as yourself (cf. Isa. 32:17); but are not the substitute for it. We must put our faith into action--as James would say, "The faith you have is the faith you show."

There is no irreconcilable difference between Paul and James; they saw two vantage points: Paul was dealing with those who couldn't do enough and thought the law was necessary; James was dealing with "do-nothing" libertines. Paul would say, "I'll show you my works." James would counter, "I'll show you my faith." Paul talked about being "rich in faith" (1 Tim. 6:18). James talked about being "rich in deeds" (James 2:5). James says, "But someone will say, 'You have faith, I have deeds,' Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do" (James 2:18).

Faith doesn't have a dormant or inert stage; it can't be left in mothballs! Faith and works are distinguished, but cannot be separated. Faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26).

Our works will be judged (for reward) not our faith since faith is a gift (cf. Rom. 12:3)! We are judged according to our works, not our faith (cf. Romans 2:6; Prov. 24:12; Psalm 62:12) "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" the Bema or tribunal) (1 Cor. 3:15; 2 Cor. 5:10). "[God] 'will reward each according to what he has done'" (Rom. 2:6). Our works have to do with our testimony (Matt. 5:16; Tit. 1:16, 2:14)--"By their works they deny Him." We are to be a people "zealous of good works". We are to be "thoroughly furnished unto all good works" and "are created unto good works" (2 Tim. 3:17; Eph. 2:10).

It is important that we give glory to God (Soli Deo Gloria). "I will not venture to boast of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me" (Rom. 15:18). Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing, " (cf. John 15:5). Isa. 26:12 reads, "All that we have accomplished you have done for us." The reason God blesses us is so that we can bear fruit (cf. 2 Cor. 9:8). No fruit means no faith. We are known by our fruits. We are commanded to do good works (Gal. 6:10; Phil. 2:12). Most of all the importance of it all is summed up: "Bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:10) [Note how they are correlated.]

NB: WE ARE NOT SAVED BY WORKS, NOR WITHOUT THEM EITHER. WORKS VALIDATE FAITH AND WITHOUT THEM OUR FAITH IS SUSPECT! Soli Deo Gloria!

Can We Separate Faith And Repentance?

 Faith and repentance go together hand in hand, to be distinguished but not separated. They are both the gift of God (cf. Acts 5:31;11:18; 2 Tim. 2:24). They are stated in juxtaposition in Scripture and not to be divorced. They can be seen as the flip side of the other. In fact, theologians speak of penitent faith or believing repentance. To see them linked in the Bible, read Acts 20:21 and Heb. 6:1.

Also, the way to salvation is termed with one as well as the other (cf. Luke 24:47; Acts 26:20). Repentance must produce fruits worthy of it.  The first message of the kingdom of God for John and Jesus was to repent! “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand!” (cf. Matt. 3:2; cf. 3:8). If you cannot believe, you need to repent and vice versa! This is the conclusion of the matter: There is no genuine repentance without saving faith!  Soli Deo Gloria!

What About Sinning After Salvation?

 

1. No man can live without sin; “For there is no man that sinneth not,” (cf. Prov. 1 Kings 8:46). “There is not a just man on earth, who doeth good and sinneth not,” (cf. Eccl 7:20). “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, and I am pure from my sin?” (cf. Prov. 20:9). “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” (cf. Romans 3:23). This is known as the universality of sin.
2. Jesus is able to save us to the “uttermost” since He ever lives to make intercession for us (cf. Heb. 7:25; cf. 1 John 2;2) When we do sin, we have an Advocate to plead our case. If God marked iniquity, no one could be saved (cf. Psalm 130:2).
3. All our sins are forgiven upon salvation, past, present, and future (cf. Psalm 103:3). He throws them into the sea and deletes them: we have no permanent file! (cf. Isaiah 43:25; 44:22; Micah 7:19).
4. We are justified in God’s eyes: not made just but declared just. As God is both just and justifier and we are justified sinners (cf. Gal. 2:17). God doesn’t hold our sins against us, but does still rebuke us when we do sin to learn righteousness: “As many as I love, I chasten, be zealous therefore and repent.” (cf. Rev. 3:19). He disciplines us to learn righteousness (cf. Heb. 12:5–6).
5. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” (cf. 1 John 1:9).   Soli Deo Gloria!

Why Is Faith Without Works Dead?

Faith and repentance are a gift must produce the fruit of righteousness (cf. Acts 26:20; Matt. 3:8) by which we are judged and known (cf. Matt. 7:16).

1. Faith expresses itself as knowledge acted on; Abraham obeyed by faith as the father of the faithful (cf. Heb. 11:8).
2. Faith is seen by its fruit; you are known by your fruits; the point of faith is a changed life (cf. Matt. 1:21; 7:16).
3. Faith must be authenticated to be seen as in Heb. 11, called the Hall of faith; Abraham was the father of faith (cf. Gal. 3:7; Matt. 1:21).
4. Faith doesn’t save, what is done with it does; judged by works, not faith (cf. Rom. 2:6).
5. Faith doesn’t save and creeds don’t save, its object does, if it’s Christ (cf. Matt. 1:21 Romans 5:1)
6. Faith is our witness to others as evidence of things unseen. (cf. James 2:18; Heb. 11:1).
7. Faith has the fruit of obedience as proof and faithfulness is applied faith (cf. Heb. 3:18–19); it will be done unto us according to our faith (cf. Matt. 9:29).
8. Faith can be claimed without being genuine and judged by faithfulness (cf. Romans 1:17; Matt. 25:21).
9. Faith in Jesus changes lives with works as proof (cf. Heb. 11:2).
10. Faith is directed towards an object or person; it’s knowledge put to work by definition.
11. Faith cannot be claimed without being authentic; no one can boast of it as a gift (cf. Eph. 2:9).
12. Faith is a sign or evidence that cannot be denied by its action; it’s trusting in what one has good reason to believe in by definition (cf. Heb. 11:1,8).
13. Faith with works is proof of salvation, but works are not a substitute for faith (cf. Rom. 4:5; James 2:14).
14. Faith is the instrumental means of salvation not salvation itself, not the essence of it either but proof of it (cf. Rom. 4:5).
15. Faith without works cannot be rewarded and is suspect (cf. James 2:28), but works by faith can (cf. Rom. 2:6; Psalm 62:12; Prov. 24:12); the two cannot be divorced (cf. Heb. 6:1; Heb. 3:18–19; James 2:26; Romans 2:,
16. Faith and obedience go hand in hand and are equated in Scripture (cf. Heb. 3:18–19; 6:1 Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5).
17. Faith is dead without works (cf. James 2:20) meaning that it has no effects; it’s useless and of no avail by definition; it cannot save! Dead faith goes nowhere.
18. Faith comes by the the hearing of the Word (cf. Romans 10:17).
19. Faith is the gift of God and cannot be boasted of because it’s grace at work (cf. Acts 18:27; Phil. 1:29; Phil. 1:29; Eph. 2:8–9).
20. Faith is knowledge in action or trusting in what one has good reason to believe by definition,
21. Faith is explained: For we walk by faith and not by sight (cf. 2 Cor. 5:7);
22. Faith is commanded: The just shall live by faith (cf. Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38; Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17);
23. Faith is expected: Without faith it is impossible to please God (cf. Heb. 11:6);
24. Faith is lasting: We must remain grounded in the faith (cf. Col. 1:23)
25. Faith is a fight and battle: And fight the good fight of faith (cf. 1 Tim. 6:12).  Soli Deo Gloria!

What Is The Spiritual Meaning Of Salvation

 

1. To have oneself renewed in the image of God.
2. To have the relationship (reconciled) with God’s family restored.
3. To have oneself justified in God’s court of the penalty of sin.
4. To have oneself redeemed (price paid) in the slave market of sin.
5. To have oneself propitiated (the sacrifice made) in the temple of God.
6. To have oneself born again into a new life in Christ to last forever.
7. To have oneself forgiven of one’s past
8. To have oneself a clean slate to start over.
9. To have oneself freed from the power of sin
10. To have oneself given new meaning and purpose in life.

NB: We receive, we don’t achieve!   Soli Deo Gloria!

Awaiting Our Adoption From God

 Adolf Harnack wrote What Is Christianity to articulate and resolve the issue once and for all of the basis of the faith and came up with the universal fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of mankind as the reduction of the doctrines in its LCD or lowest common denomination as the affirmation of a creed.  This was too simplistic a breakdown of Christian theology.   This view was respected by theologians until the neo-orthodoxy of Swiss theologian Karl Barth writing Church Dogmatics, a tome in itself of four volumes and over 6 million words and considered one of the most pivotal theological achievements of the twentieth century.  

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called the children of God!" (cf. 1 John 3:1).    But the Bible says that the unredeemed are the children of the devil, not of God.  We must be born again into God's family.  Reconciliation means restoration of the broken relationship between us and God as family.  God treated us as family and we ought to treat our brethren as members of our true family of God.  

The thing about adoption that makes it so compelling to believe in is that it's permanent and gives equal status as that of the natural-born and equal rights as joint heirs. Also, as a metaphor, have you ever heard of anyone becoming "unadopted?"  Adoption is a badge of honor and it costs to get adopted; God willing paid this price knowing who we are and what manner of person we'd become! Know that when we are with our church family that we are to be treated as family and can expect this in return from our brethren in Christ.  God doesn't treat us as slaves, but as children to whom He has given His will and a Great Commission as ambassadors of Christ. Therefore, we have the spirit in our souls that cries out, "Abba, Father," (cf. Gal 4:6; Rom. 8:15). The word Abba means literally father but Abbi means daddy!  

We are already officially adopted and our fate and destiny are sealed by the seal of the Holy Spirit, but it becomes finalized, completed, and actualized in glory.  What glory awaits our final adoption with all our inheritance as children of God!  We used to be the slaves of sin but now the slaves of righteousness; actually the more enslaved to righteousness we are the freer we become in Christ.  Because we were washed and sanctified and we once sold under sin and its power. 

We must never ask if we measure up or compare ourselves with others as to whether we are better or worse because God is no respecter of persons and didn't choose us because of our merit or works.  We did nothing to deserve it and nothing we can do can take it away; it's a done deal!  This grace of adoption and salvation is free but not cheap! It costs the blood of Christ to redeem us!    

The call to adoption is inclusive in that the general call of the gospel message goes out to all who will listen; however, many are called but few are chosen! Romans 8 tells us that there is an inner calling of God and whoever God calls gets justified and cannot be lost in the shuffle of the chain of redemption in Romans 8:29-30.      Soli Deo Gloria! 

Having Lordship Issues With Jesus

Be careful when you question authority: here's why as follows.  We must surrender the ownership of our lives to Jesus to be one of His. This entails handing over the helm of our life to His sole lordship and control as the rightful owner of it. Jesus said that all authority had been given Him and this means His lordship.  Many mistakenly believe they can accept Jesus as Savior but not as Lord of all.  Even though no one is without sin and we are all works in progress, we must give Christ the sole proprietorship of our destiny. Some of us may have lordship issues such as a distaste of taking orders or not submitting to legitimate authority, even the government.

In salvation, we trust Him as Savior but also submit to Him as Lord.  These two go together and cannot be divorced. We have taken a loyalty oath as it were and given Christ authority to do with us as He pleases and are we called according to His purpose, not ours. Not doing so is called easy-believism (or cheap grace) and that is counter to the correct doctrine of lordship salvation. It is not biblical to "accept Jesus," but we receive Him for who He is:  Lord of all.  If not we have rejected Christ and not given Him His rightful domain of authority. This is who He is and the Father has made this Jesus, who was crucified at the hand of sinners, both Lord and Christ.

He rules our lives regardless of whether we consent: His sovereignty is always at work and Providence is in control of all world events as He orchestrates history according to His will and purpose. God has no Plan B and will achieve His will with or without us.  We can do nothing to interfere with or frustrate God's will. God's will is sure to happen.  In application, our Number One loyalty is to our Lord and Savior not to the state, our party, our church, or even our family, but to Jesus alone: Jesus is Lord and He has entered the door of our heart and taken over in every room because we have given Him the passkey. All of our pursuits are to the glory of God and we ought not to find ourselves fighting God's will rather than submitting and trusting.  We must not lean unto our own understanding but trust in the Lord working everything out for the good.

Knowing Him as Lord assures us of divine guidance and blessing on our lives and we can bear much fruit.  Receiving Him as Lord is measured in our obedience and our faithfulness, not our success, which is up to God and in His control.  We all have a calling and can only fulfill it by obeying our Lord.  God will fulfill His purpose for us and call us to His will and glory.   Our calling is to bring glory to God in whatever we do. When we have completed our calling and God's purpose is fulfilled, we are called home.  Our goal should be to complete our mission and to someday announce, "Mission accomplished."

As a test of your loyalty to Christ's lordship: whom do you love?  whom do you not love? who are your enemies?  what are your priorities? where is your true loyalty? to whom do you submit?  whom do you obey? whom do you refuse to obey?  whom do you trust? whom do you know and trust?  whom do you respect? whom do you listen to?  whom do you love? what are your habits?  what are your addictions? how do you spend your money?  who are your heroes?  what are your past-times?  who are your friends?  who are your enemies?  who are your associates?  who influences you?  What are your plans? what are your dreams? what are your ambitions?  what are your goals?  All these questions impact your lordship issues. 

In summation, I must ask you:  Do you own Him as Lord; do not only confess Him,  but follow Him as a true professor in word and deed, not just for show in name only as a nominal Christian.    Soli Deo Gloria! 

What Is the Nature Of Salvation?

 

What is the nature of salvation?

Karl Broberg

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Updated Mon

Blogger/Bible teacher (10+ yrs), researcher, life coach

It is in three tenses: we are saved from the penalty of sin by the death of Christ; we are being saved from the power of sin by the living Christ; we will be saved from the presence of sin by the coming Christ. Salvation began in eternity past, is realized in time, and looks forward to completion in heaven. Salvation is completely by grace from beginning to end; we do not deserve it, cannot pay it back, and do not earn it. God initiated our salvation as the Hound of heaven; we never would have sought it on our own. The whole Trinity took part: the Father purposed it; the Son secured it; the Spirit applied it.

The nature of salvation itself is that it is more than forgiveness but also deliverance and regeneration or a new life: we are saved from sin, ourselves, hell, and God’s wrath. Our past is forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future is secured. Salvation itself means a rescue from a threat and we are warned of the coming wrath. There are many perks such as knowing God as our Father; being a joint-heir of Christ as a child of God.

Salvation is a done deal, a work of God on our behalf whereby He regenerates our spirits and gives us a new slate and beginning by reviving us and quickening faith within us. God’s grace is the source, Christ is the means, and faith is the channel or instrument. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ. We are thus saved by grace alone without merit nor works but through an act of faith given by God. It is given not achieved! It is, therefore, not: Jesus plus good works but good works because of Jesus, or, Jesus, therefore, good works.

Christ In You

The mystery of the faith is "Christ in you, the hope of glory," according to Colossians 1:27. Not only is the Father and Holy Spirit resident within our hearts, upon invitation, but Jesus' very Spirit is too, which will be glorified when we enter glory for our reward. Then "we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (cf. 1 John 3:2).

We must periodically examine ourselves to see whether Christ is in us, unless we fail this test, according to 2 Cor. 13:5, and we will see that God is conforming us into His image as icons of Christ, as we go from glory to glory, being increasingly brought into conformity to His image (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18). Paul wrote to the Galatians that he was waiting patiently for Christ to be formed in them (cf. Gal. 4:19), for they had reverted to legalism and spurned God's grace for another gospel, trying to perfect themselves in the flesh, not the Spirit.

Paul had been received "as Christ Himself" (cf. Gal. 4:14) and it was time to admonish the flock entrusted to his care. Paul was the perfect witness to them and they knew Christ was speaking through him as he wrote, for the God "revealed His Son" in Paul (cf. Gal. 1:16) as verification of His gospel's authenticity.

The point is that we are all little Christ's as lights in the world, just as He is the light of the world, and that is what is meant by the term "Christian." The only gospel message some may read is our story and the witness we give by our lives and words. In other words: What is the gospel according to you?


God's goal is to make us resemble Christ, and He does it by taking away everything that doesn't look like Christ! Adversity is the primary means to the end of sanctification, and we are meant to grow Christlike by exposure to it, seeing our character become conformed to His image.

The Greek disciples said to the apostles in John 12:21, ESV: "...Sir, we wish to see Jesus." The writer of Hebrews says, "But we Jesus..." in Heb. 2:9, and in this sense our spiritual eyes do apprehend Him. Peter says we love Him, though we haven't seen Him (in the flesh)! This is the miracle, to love Him in the Spirit and to have His Spirit bear witness with our spirit.

Remember, 2 Cor. 4:4 says the lost are blind spiritually and God needs to open the eyes of our hearts to see Jesus. The Pharisees claimed they could see, but woe to those who don't know they are blind and think they see! We can say with faith that we see Him by faith: "Though you have not seen him you love him..." (1 Pet. 1:8, ESV). Soli Deo Gloria!