THE LONGSUFFERING OF GOD

Man by human nature is not a giver but a taker. He may be charitable on occasion but in general he seeks his own pleasure and satisfaction. This is manifested in that he has fear for himself, he is greedy, not happy with his lot in life, restless, self-centered, deceitful and prideful. (The root of all this evil existence is, of course, the love of money and the lusts for the things of this world which that money can provide.  All for self.) Money and things will not bring true satisfaction and joy in life, but that’s hard to tell a self-centered person. God gives the only true satisfaction and joy but to obtain it requires that a man give up his own desires and take on His desires for his life. God provides this solution to happiness in His Son and his sacrifice on the cross. As long as a man is a taker, trying to satisfy his own lusts, he will never see his need for a Saviour. But, God is longsuffering and patient. He knows what is best for man and leads him to seek salvation. But with all God’s leading, man still makes his own choice: he does what he wants to do.

When God chose Israel to be a kingdom of priests to this world (Ex 19:6) they didn’t respond because they loved their sinful ways. To guide them to his plan for their nation He sent them godly priests, prophets, seers and judges and they were rejected. Finally He sent his own Son and not for Israel only, but for sinners of the whole world. This man, God’s only begotten Son, was rejected also.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (Jn 1:11)

This man gave of himself completely. He was a giver not a taker. Unlike others, his desires were to God and not himself. This is God’s greatest gift to us. Look what this man did for an ungrateful creation and see the longsuffering of God and his great effort to help us in our unseen need. Isaiah, chapter 53 sums this up very well. God’s Son, our Lord Jesus,  was “despised and rejected of men”, a man of “sorrows” and “grief” for our sake, yet we hid our faces from him. He has “borne our griefs” and “carried our sorrows”, he was “wounded for our transgressions”, “bruised for our iniquities”, chastised for our “peace” and by his stripes we have healing. God laid the iniquity of us all on him and yet we have turned to our own way. He was oppressed and afflicted and led as a sheep to the slaughter and cut off from the land of the living for our transgressions.

Yet it pleased his Father to bruise him and put him to grief. Why? Because when we repent and make His soul an offering for our sins, God will see His Son’s sacrifice and give forgiveness. Herein we see God’s love and longsuffering with us all.  All this in Isaiah 53.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pet 3:9)

Man doesn’t want to stop his life and see his need for a Saviour. God, in his longsuffering, deals with our heart time after time until we finally come to a place where we see clearly the ultimate and eternal choice we have to make. We either give in to our own selfish wants and choose to pursue our own lusts and thereby reject all of God’s love for us or, we give up our life and give ourself to God and take on His desires for our life. We choose either eternal life or eternal death. No one else can make that choice for us.

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Rom 2:4)

For those that choose to serve God rather than their themselves, God gives great opportunities to be of service in his kingdom.

…. as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Cor 6:16-18)

John tells us that to, “as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (Jn 1:12). What greater calling, what greater goal and purpose in life than to become God’s son manifested in this earth; manifesting the love of the God to a world of lost mankind.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.  (Rom 8:18-19)

(Let me make something very clear here. The heart of man is a battle ground. God made us and one of the things he gave us in our creation is a free will to    make our own choices. God does not force us to love him , nor does he cause us to forsake him. This choice is ours. Satan deceives us and entices us with the things of this world, but he is a liar and the father of it (Jn 8:44).  His enticements are not founded in truth but catered to our own lusts.  Once God, through the Holy Ghost, has powerfully worked with our heart to show us our need for a saviour and our need to repent, and yet we reject all this, then God gives us up to our own devises and deals with our heart no longer.  See John 16:8-11, Hebrews 6:4-6, Romans 1:24-32.)

Until we make our choice God is longsuffering with us leading us to make a choice for Him.  Jesus, because of his love for God, suffered all those things mentioned in Isaiah 53.  When we receive the love of God then we also will have sufferings and persecutions.  The more we let God express His love through us the more we will suffer at the hands of an ungodly world.

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:  (2 Tim 2:12)

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.  (2 Tim 3:12)

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;  (Phil 1:29)

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.  (1 Pet 4:16)

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  (Rom 8:18)

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  (1 Pet 2:21)

HOW DO WE SUFFER

Romans 8:17  reads that we are to suffer with him.  Since our sufferings will not be as the sacrifice for sin, just how will we suffer as a Christian?  The scripture in Romans say we suffer “with him”.  Not as Christ suffered 2000 years ago but “with him” now, in this present time.  Since God’s Spirit is in us then the same spirit of longsuffering (Gal 5:22) is in us and we have that same suffering for the lost souls of mankind.  That is the fruit of the Spirit.  But it is not automatic in its manifestion in us.

The scripture says “if ” we suffer with him then we will also reign with him.  It also says that all who live godly in Christ will suffer persecution.  If we aren’t suffering persecution then we know why.  It’s our own life and our own choices.  Our own decisions as to whether we allow God to reach the world through us.  We decide whether the Holy Ghost uses us to “reprove the world of sin, and of righteous and of judgment”.  That’s what Jesus said the Holy Ghost would do when he came (Jn 16:8).  It’s us that is to stand for God in this world.  We are called to be a royal priesthood.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  (1 Pet 2:9)

Righteousness is given freely to every Christian, but it’s our choice to let God work through us to show that righteousness to the world.  We are called to be priests of God and make intercession for his creation and walk holy before him.  If we walk as Jesus walks then we will be rejected and despised, ridiculed and sneered at.  The more holy and godly we walk, the more we will be disliked by the world and the closer we will walk with God.

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  (Rom 8:31)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. [37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. [38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Rom 8:35-39)

SUFFERING

Christians can suffer physical harm for their stand for God.  We have many scriptural examples of this of the apostles in the book of Acts.  Also the prophets as shown in Luke 11:49, 13:34, Acts 7:52, James 5:10.  And a multitude of others as shown in Hebrews 11:36-38.  The Catholic Inquisition was a horrible time and Foxe’s Book of Martyrs shows us much more.  Above all there was that great suffering of Jesus at his trial and crucifixion (Isa 52:14).

Christians also have sufferings of the heart.  Paul in his letters to the Corinthians and Galatians show his heart-felt sufferings for those who had gone astray from what he had taught them.  Look at what God’s Son went through during his ministry as given us in Isaiah 53.  Love endure a lot of offenses.

Another way of suffering is from our own ignorance (from the base word ‘ignore’).  We reap what we sow. Not being obedient to God can cause him to withdraw from us so we can learn our lesson.  Such as the basic truth that God will not bless pride and a haughty spirit.  There are many lessons to learn in life to become the person God wans us to be.  They don’t have to be hard lessons but they do have to be learned.  Even Jesus had to learn.

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (Heb 5:8)

God’s lessons are always for our own good and for his kingdoms sake.  We have a calling to be as Jesus was here on the earth.  He endured a lot and we will also as we desire to be like Christ Jesus.  Can we be like Paul?  He said:

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, [14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. [16] Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. (Phil 3:13-16)

THE WORD MADE FLESH

In the first chapter of the book of John and in Revelation chapter 19 verse 13, Jesus is called the Word of God. Therefore the words that Jesus spoke in the Gospels are God’s words. These words from our Creator have the same power with which he spoke the worlds into existence in the beginning (Heb 1:2, 11:13). God spoke through his Son 2000 years ago with such power that even today they can change our lives and our eternal destiny.

IN OUR OWN WORDS
The words that we speak are also important, because Jesus said, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Mt 12:37) So our own words can also determine our eternal destiny. Therefore we need to be aware of our speech and realize the significance of what we say. When, at whatever age, we choose to disobey God’s law (that is sin, 1 Jn 3:4) we seperate ourselves from God. We’ve all done this and since sin will not stand in God’s presence, we are lost. Our words and our actions therefore have eternal consequences. None of our words, the fruit of our lips, are counted as good while we are sinners because that fruit comes from a corrupt tree from which it is impossible to bring forth good fruit.

“Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” (Mt 7:17,18)

It is our heart that produces the words that we speak. We can’t be both good and evil: we are one or the other. If our heart is unrighteous then our words, no matter how righteous they may sound, are unrighteous also.

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.” (Mt 15:18)
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” (Lk 6:45)

[ A scriptural example is found in Acts, chapter 10. Cornelius was a devout man who feared God, gave alms and prayed. But all these "good" works were not counted as righteous until he received the words of salvation from Peter.]

Therefore to be justified by our words, our heart must be converted and that only comes by being born of God through faith in God’s redeeming work in his Son. No amount of self-cleansing and works of piety, or works of the law, will ever make a man justified and righteous before God. Righteous works can only come after salvation when we are made righteous in Christ Jesus.

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Rom 3:28)

It is the word of God that brings us to that saving faith.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom 10:17)
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Pet 1:23)

Jesus said it is by his word, God’s word, that we will be judged.

“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (Jn 12:48)

CHOICES
There are those who make a deliberate choice to receive God’s word and there are those who make a deliberate choice to reject it. Those who reject the word of God will in turn not be able to understand it.

“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 be converted, and I should heal them.” (Mt 13:15)
“Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.” (Jn 8:43)

MAKING THE WORD ALIVE
The Bible, the written word of God, has no more power than a rock or a board while it is just a book lying on a shelf. It is nothing until the words become alive in a living person. For the word of God to do its work it must be made flesh; be made alive in our mortal bodies. The Spirit of God, or the Action of God, is manifested in his word. It is this word, this living action, which stirs, convicts and converts the heart of mankind. And, it is the heart of man that determines his salvation. Our heart is revealed by our thought and words and actions. What we do, what we are, is what we believe, and belief is from the heart. We will be judged by our words and our works that we do in this present world, not what we do in the here after.

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness,
deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
(Mk 7 21-23)
“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. 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.” (Rev 20:12,13)

STRESS, ANXIETY, PRESSURE, WORRY
A person can put on a front, but under stress he will always reveal himself for what he is in his heart. Under stress a man will either praise God or curse God, all pretence is lost and he is revealed for what he is. The heart will speak its secrets. Whether or not we believe the word of God in our heart has everlasting consequences. Our openness to receive God’s word is paramount to our salvation. Many will not receive this word for it demands we choose to give up our life if we are to receive God’s life. We are to give up our selfish wants for his wants, our selfish desires for his desires. Our old heart, our old nature, must end for us to receive the new heart and new spirit that God longs to give us.

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezk 36:26)

God has provided all we need. We just need to repent and receive him by faith. It’s our choice.

“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.” (Rom 7:5)
“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.” (Rom 8:13)
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” (Gal 5:24)
“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.” (Gal 6:8)

For those that choose to receive the word (the seed, Lk 8:15) with a good and honest heart, they will bring forth the fruit of righteousness unto God.

“Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word.” (Ps 119:41)

After salvation the word continues its work to further cleanse and sanctify our heart.

“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” (Eph 5:26)
“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” (Jn 15:3)
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (Jn 17:17)
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” (Ps 119:9)

Those who have received this word (and Spirit) are motivated by God’s love to share it. It becomes alive from within and they are quickened to speak the words of God. With the prophet Jeremiah it was like a fire shut up in his bones. (Jer 20:9). A quick study of the book of Acts will show the great importance of the word and how it was preached and taught by the diciples and converts, and how it increased in those who received it. God’s word is so important in his plan for mankind that he has magnified his word above his name (Ps 138:2). We, in Christ’s stead, have been given this word so that those of the world can be reconciled to God.

“To wit, that God was is Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath commited unto us the word of reconcilition.” (2 Cor. 5:19)

The same Spirit that was in Christ is now in us also, and is always in agreement with the word of God. Jesus Christ and the word of God are the same. Remember John chapter one:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The same was in the beginning with God. (Jn 1:1,2)
“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.” (Jn 1:14)

God, in the Gospels, walked and spoke his word through his Son and now he walks in his saved people to speak to this present world. The power with which he does this is up to the Christian and the amount of God’s Spirit he is willing to receive. But let no man deceive you that God is not speaking through his peole today.

“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.” (Rom 8:9)

Jesus Christ is in the mortal flesh of all his people to preach his word and reconcile the world to God.

“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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 in the world.” (1 Jn 4:2,3)
“For many decievers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an
antichrist.” (2 Jn 1:7)

“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” (Lk 21:33)

LIBERTY

Freedom and oppression are opposites. Civil liberties and government control are opposites. Government can and does overtly create fears and then promise deliverance of those fears. Government makes promises of deliverance but at the cost of freedom. The taking away of freedoms are made to be acceptable for the deliverance promised. These fears take many forms but will all concern the general wellbeing of the individual, his family, his nation or the planet. The promise of a better life is a great encouragement for giving a little here and a little there of liberty. In time the government controls the individual. Life is livable but only as long as you do the government’s bidding. This power of the government over the individual is escalating in our time. Fears of financial ruin, fears of food supply, fears of environment, fears of war, all kinds of fears have been put upon the people. Government promises of deliverance of these fears (which will never fully come) brings bondage, control; loss of liberty. The temptations are great.

TRUE LIBERTY AND THE ABSOLUTE
Civil liberties are secondary to another type of liberty, that of the heart and mind. This is true liberty and is based on truth. Truth and fear are enemies. Truth is real and brings deliverance from bondage, fear is mostly imaginary and brings bondage.

There is an absolute truth. God and his word are both absolute. There is no wavering with God, he cannot lie, he’s not indifferent or lackadaisical (Ps 119:89, Mal 3:6, Jms 1:17). Government is all of this that God is not and cannot bring peace of heart. An earthly government will never bring its suggestion of Utopia.

OUR EXAMPLE OF LIBERTY
We know from Hebrews that Jesus is our High Priest. Not after the Aaronic priesthood of Aaron who was the first high priest of Israel. The Aaronic high priest after giving a blood sacrifice for himself went into the Holy of Holies once a year and offered intercession for the sins of Israel. But Jesus, after a different priesthood, that of Melchisedec, offered his own blood once for the sins of the whole world. Hebrews 4:14-15 reads,

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

We see here that our high priest was tempted just as we are in all points, He can relate to all our temptations. He’s been there. When the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness with turning stone into bread, Jesus said, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (from Deuteronomy 8:3) In the devil’s second temptation Jesus answered with, “It is written….”. The same with the third temptation, Jesus said, “It is written….”. This then, as our example shows us, is the way we should resist all evil temptations, with the word of God. Sounds simple, but the hard part is we need to recognize evil temptations and know the word of God. Satan is the greatest of deceivers and only God’s word can expose his lies and defeat him.

The scripture says that after Satan’s temptations that he “departed from him for a season”. Jesus’ next temptations in the Gospels came from the Pharisees, Sadducees, Lawyers, Herodians and Scribes; the religious and political leaders of his time. These were the advocates and minions of Satan through which he continued his temptations.

Jesus had peace even though he was confronted with such earthly authorities. He had peace because he knew God’s word and the power behind that word. He knew the truth (“…thy word is truth”) and this truth made him free from the attacks of the devil. Knowing God’s truth made him free from the troubles and temptations of this world. He was free from the political, religious, legal and scholarly authorities that would have consumed him everyday. He didn’t get caught up in their political correctness, their sanctimonious accusations and their hypocritical ways. This is the peace of mind that we all need.

GOD’S CREATION
When God creates something, when he makes something, who can undo it? Can anyone, even Satan, undo what God has made? If God gives you truth, can it be taken away? When God gives me truth that truth gives me freedom over any lies against that
truth. God’s truth makes me free. He creates a freedom in me that brings peace. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jn 8:32) (The scripture says the truth will “make” me free not “set” me free as is so often misquoted. When I am made free that’s a creation within me and not just a change in position.)

God in his scripture says there is a world system coming on this earth. This system, called the beast in Revelation 13:1, is a governmental system to be headed by a man also called a beast (Rev 13:11) or the anti-Christ (1 Jn 2:18) or the man of sin (Thes 2:3). It will be a system deadly to many of God’s people (Rev 6:11). This government system will have a religious system called the great whore (Rev 17:1, 19:2) and “MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHERS OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Rev 17:5). This religious system is headed by the “false prophet” (Rev 19:20, 20:10) to back up the beast system and make it look like it’s best for mankind’s welfare. This beast system will bring out a mark for mankind to have without which it will not be possible to “…buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” (Rev 13:17) Today evil men are working to bring this to pass. Men in high places, men of influence, men of corrupt minds, sold out to bringing world dominion to a reality. God said it will happen, so it will happen. The only thing keeping this from being a reality now is God’s righteousness in his people, Christian ethics. It will come in the fulness of God’s timing. Surely you can see this evil in our education system and in the entertainment industry and in the news media and in governments policies. Compare the morals of just a few years ago with today and see how rapidly things are decaying. From lying and whoremongering in the US presidency to filthy predators in high religious authorities to teenage pornography on TV, all should show us the signs of the times. When true fear and honor of God and his righteousness is sufficiently suppressed so as to overshadow basic Christian values then Satan can finish his plan. Satan is at war with God and the earth is his battlefield and people are his pawns. He wants to rule over God’s creation and be like the Most High (Isa 14:14). There will be a world government, God says so (Rev 13:16). There will be a great battle at Armageddon, God says so (Rev 16:16). Jesus will return and defeat the beast’s armies, God says so (Rev 19:19-21).

One world government conspiracy advocates are continually put down as alarmist and fanatics. Some are. What is mostly overlooked though is the fact that this is not man’s efforts to control the world but Satan’s efforts to control and rule over God’s creation. It looks like the U.S., Britain, China, Russia and other nations are going full bore toward bringing in this end time. The time is near. Satan has his final effort ready to spring on mankind. The end of this present age is almost upon us.

SATAN’S END
Just as Satan’s plan will come to pass and fulfill prophecy, so is God’s plan to be fulfilled. Hard times are coming to this earth. God’s people are in the earth and will experience these hard times. (There is no fairy tale “rapture”.) Persecution will grow, temptation to compromise with Satan’s ways will become stronger. We can’t become complacent and think that because we are Christian Satan can’t touch our physical universe. God has provided us weapons to withstand the wiles of the devil which he gives us in Ephesians, chapter six. These weapons are rooted and grounded in the word of God. Look at the Laodicean church (the last of he church age) in Revelation, chapter three and see how Christians are being deceived into complacency. [See LAST OF THE CHURCH AGE April, 2009 in this blog for more on the Laodicean church.] We have to make an effort to be the overcomers that God wants for all seven stages of Christian growth (Rev 2:7,:11, :17, :26, 3:5, :12, :21).

Satan of course doesn’t win this earthly battle. The end of his ungodly system comes at Armageddon when the King of Righteousness returns and destroys the armies of the beast and reigns on earth for 1000 years. Then will come Satan’s final effort and his complete and eternal end in the lake of fire where the beast and false prophet are (Rev 20:10).

AND THAT’S NOT ALL
Also the manifestation of the sons of God (Rom 8:19), also called God’s army, will come to pass before Armageddon. When the elect of God’s people will rise up and proclaim God’s salvation with great power and authority and multitudes will turn to God. For more on this glorious time see Ezekiel, chapter thirty seven; Joel, the whole book; Wayne Hancock’s Immortalityroad.wordpress.com and numerous mentions in this blog.

Present politics are removing more and more freedoms of the individual and putting control in the hands of government. This is fulfilling Satan’s plan (Lk 4:5,6). Civil liberties will be taken away, but real liberty and deliverance is in God’s word established in our hearts

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherein Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Gal 5:1)

True liberty, true peace, is grounded in knowing and doing the truth. That truth was manifested in Christ Jesus 2000 years ago and still is as he manifests himself is his brothers and sisters. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life”. In Revelation 19:13 he is called “the word of God”. It is all wrapped up in him.

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Cor 3:17)

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (Jn 8:36)

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Tim 1:7)

Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1.

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 broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.

RIGHTEOUSNESS

What is righteousness of the Bible? With just a short study it can be seen that righteousness and the law of God go hand in hand. Righteousness is doing what is right with both God and man. God has shown us what is right when he gave us our example in his Son, Jesus Christ (1 Pet 2:21, 1 Jn 2:1). God has also shown us his righteousness through his law. We have his written law and part of that law is his commandments. The commandments are the righteousness that God has for our relationship with both him and his creation.
Psalm 119:172
My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

LAW OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
The commandments, then, are righteousness and they are the law. The word of God calls this the “law of righteousness” (Rom 9:31) which our Creator mandates us to live by. The means by which we obey this law of righteuosness determines our eternal life. There are two ways to do this:
Martin Luther said there are two types of righteousness. One is the righteousness of the law, commbined with ceremony, tradition and outward appearance. This he called “active righteousness”. The other type is the same righteousness of the law but this type he calls “passive”. This passive righteousness is imputed unto the Christian by faith in God. Paul tells us about this when speaking of Abraham:
Romans 4:11
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:
Romans 4:22-24
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. [23] Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; [24] But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

As a Christian we don’t work for and can’t earn God’s righteousness. Righteousness is imputed unto us. God’s righteousness becomes our righteousness because he, the righteous God, lives in us. We become the righteousness of God.
2 Cor. 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.

[For more about works for salvation see GRACE OR WORKS in this blog for Oct. 28, '09.]

God shows us what Luther called active righteousness, and its consequences, in Paul’s writings in Romans. Paul, when he gives this account of his unsaved life in Romans chapter 7, lets us know that not keeping the 10 commandments of God, the royal law (Jms 2:8), is sin. Jesus told the “rich young ruler” that to obtain eternal life he needed to keep the 10 commandments (Mk 10:17-22). John tells us that sin is the transgression of the law (1 Jn 3:4). Trying to keep the law by our own strength and thereby establishing our own righteousness is the definitiion of being self-righteous.

(Though we all have sinned, or broke God’s law, we all seem to think we can try this route of self-righteousness. Many denominatioins today have certain rules that distinguish them by their dress, form of worship, etc, that gives a feeling of superiority above other denominations. This is not new, just in another form from the time that Jesus walked among the Scribes and Pharisees that deemed themselves superior.
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.

Is this not the case for all of us who have thought that our life was good enough to get God’s approval when we die, instead of coming to ourselves and knowing we are a self-deceiver and need a savior?
Matthew 23:26
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Paul was a Pharisee until he saw his need.
Philip. 3:4-7
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: [5] 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. [7] But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.)

Mankind establishing religious rules, traditions and ceremonies is something that is an abomination in the eyes of God, It’s the blind leading the blind and looking down on any who do not agree with their way of worship. We have hundreds of denominatios each with their own manmade systems of worship to prove this true.
Romans 10:3-4
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.
Matthew 15:8-9
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. [9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Matthew 15:14
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Many unsuspecting ‘Christians’ are caught up in false denominational church doctrines and think they have salvation. Many church leaders will come in the name of Christ and with their doctrines and teachings deceive many. Others love to have it so because it gives them something to which they can hide their ungodly ways.
Matthew 24:5
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

BEEN THERE DONE THAT
I tried this way of the religious world and was a failure with my standing with God. I could not, by my own strength, prevail and work for my salvation. Even though I was a baptised (by emersion) member of a mainline church and knew and confessed that Jesus was the Son of God, I was lost in sin and as godly as a fence post, I was on my way to hell. The things I did deemed necessary for Christian salvation according to church tradition were nothing to God not being mixed with faith. But I thought I was okay, and doing what I was taught and hoped my works would be good enough to get me into heaven.
Luke 16:15 (KJV)
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.

RIGHTEOUS CHRISTIAN
But the Christin is a righteous person according to the scripture. Since we all have sinned in like manner as Paul in Romans chapter 7, then we know it’s God that gives us that righteousness. It’s the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that he made for our sins and faith in that work that allows God to impute his righteousness in us.
Romans 10:10 (KJV)
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 3:31 (KJV)
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Philip. 3:9 (KJV)
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:
Galatians 2:21 (KJV)
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians 3:21 (KJV)
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.
Titus 3:5 (KJV)
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;

A NEW HEART AND A NEW SPIRIT

God has promised us a new heart and a new spirit when we believe on him for salvation. This new heart and new spirit within keeps the righteous law of God. The old stony heart and the old nature (spirit) are done away with, they are ded, gone.

Ezekiel 36:26-27
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Romans 8:4
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Hebrews 10:16
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

GOD IS IN CONTROL
God is in control of my life, and that of all Christians. All of us have been bought by him at a great price at Calvary. The life that we now live is hid in him.
Col. 3:3
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

We live by his faith.
Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

I can’t go in and out of God’s kingdom that I’ve been born into anymore that I can go in and out of my mother’s womb. At the time I was born of the Spirit of God my old life ceased. My old man, my old nature, is gone, crucified with Christ, dead, I can no longer live in it. Now God is in me living his life in this mortal body.
2 Cor. 6:16
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Ephes. 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Hebrews 10:16 (KJV)
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

Psalm 40:2
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

God is in his people living his life in our mortal bodies. He directs our coming and going. He guides his people, by his Spirit, through his word in the path we walk down, the road to immortality, our path of eternal life.
Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

The righteousness of the Bible is the righteousness of God. He has become THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jer 23:6) to all who believe. When God gave Moses he law on Mt Sinai we were put under the law. We were commanded to not do this and not do that. When God said “Thou shalt not..” it was a command of something we were not to do. Now, under the new covanent, the same commandment is now a statement of somethinng we cannot do. It’s God’s Spirit in us leading his righteous life. We are no longer under the curse of the law because our new spirit obeys the law.
1 John 3:9 (KJV)
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.

GOD’S THOUGHTS TOWARD MAN

I’ve learned that when I neglect the Lord in my thoughts for any period of time I start to center my thoughts on myself. Being self-centered is not a good place for me to be. These thoughts are subtle and if not attended to will bring me down and I will lose my peace and joy and make an opening for depression. When I forget to notice the little things that work out for me during the day, when I forget to acknowledge God in all my ways, maybe even begin to feel that I’ve done something of importance on my own, then I begin thinking God isn’t in everything I do. If I neglect God and become self-centered then I begin to think God is neglecting me. My faith in God suffers and I become even more self-centered. If you are ever in this type of situation here arre some scriptures that will help set your feet on the right path.

Proverbs 15:11
Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

Pslams 8:4
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

These two scriptures are speaking of mankind in general and yet they speak to each one of us in particular because they are so personal. God created man to have someone to love and has provided for our eternal life. We though, have a choice as to where to spend eternity. As the scriptures above say, God’s mind is full of his creation and our hearts are before him always. God doesn’t have any other creation, he didn’t give his Son for any other reason than us.

David had (and still does) a wonderful understanding of the mind of God. He was able to express his thoughts of God with words I don’t seem to have. See how much we are on the mind of God with these scriptures from David.

Psalms 139:1-14, 17-18
To the chief Musician, A of David.
O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thoughts afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins; thou hast covered me in my mothers womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

How prescious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them. If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with thee.

The followng is a scripture we are all familiar with but maybe haven’t seen how much God is involved in our lives, things he does for us that we don’t work for , nor could we.

Plalms 23
A Pslam of David.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Note that it is God that MAKES us to lie down in green pastures, it is God that LEADS us beside the still waters and it is God that RESTORES our soul. He is doing these things for us.

Jesus said he was with us always, even unto the end of the world. Why does God do all this? Because God is love and we are the object of that love. We have no reason to lift ourselves up in our own eyes and feel we don’t need God, for without him we are nothing.

David knew this personal walk with his God and expressed these great and precious promises from his creator. These words from God through David give us hope and confidence in a wicked world. For if God be for us who can be against us. These scriptures and many more give us peace and joy that others don’t understand.

With all these great and prescious promises from our Creator, how can I ever neglect such a great salvation?

SOUND DOCTRINE AND FALSE DOCTRINE AND TRADITIONS

Paul exhorted both Timothy and Titus to know sound doctrine, because, he said, there would be a time when the people would not endure sound doctrine, but in order to fulfill their own lusts would heap to themselves teachers that would justify those lusts, (2 Tim 4:3). But, what is sound doctrine? Jesus said, his doctrine was not his own but was “his that sent me”, (Jn 7:16). Jesus’ doctrine then, was his Father’s doctrine. So, obviously, if we know the doctrines that Jesus taught then we know the true, sound doctrines of God. The early church remained stedfastly in the Apostle”s doctrine, (Acts 2:42), which the Apostles learned from Jesus. How did Jesus know he had his Father’s doctrine? How does God reveal his doctrine to his people? Paul told Timothy, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Tim 3:16) Sound doctrine’s foundation then, is the truth of God’s scripture.

LIGHT AND DARKNESS
If God says something is wrong to do, then no amount of excuses can change unrighteousness into righteousness. His word is forever settled in the heavens, (Ps 119:89). His word cannot be changed to fit our wants. Christianity and unrighteousness don’t mix. They are opposites. Light and darkness. The tree is either good or evil. An evil tree CANNOT bring forth good fruit, (Mt 7:17). And, thanks be to God, a good tree CANNOT bring forth evil fruit. [see FRUIT OF GOD'S TREES, June '09, posted on this blog] Jesus is saying that a Christian doesn’t sin and this is a strong, hard to receive doctrine to most people. Most are offended by it because they are exposed as lost sinners and hypocrits, others, as Christians, find it hard to accept because it’s opposite of what they learned in church. They learned that all Christians are sinners but this is directly contrary to the scriptures and denies the sacrifice for sin, once and for all, by my Lord Jesus. This erroneous church doctrine is contrary to what is said by both Jesus and the Apostles. Peter, an Apostle, says that Jesus left us, “…an example, that we should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” (1 Pet 2:21,22).
Some teach (or preach) that a Christian sins because it gives that person an excuse for their own sinful life or so those he is speaking to won’t be offended. Others just don’t know what sin really is. Again, John, an Apostle, says in 1 John 3:9, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he born of God.” And again in 5:18, “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not…”
Some would teach that the flesh sins but the spirit doesn’t. Paul, an Apostle, says that the , “…carnal mind is at enmity with God.” and, “…They that are in the flesh cannot please God”, and, “…if you live after the flesh, ye shall die” (Rom 8 5-13). [see HOW TO PLEASE GOD, Feb '09, posted on this blog] These words of Jesus, Peter, John and Paul should be enough to say that it is false to say that a Christian sins, although much more could be added.
The point being, that some propagate false doctrine because that’s the way they were taught and haven’t studied the scripture to prove their doctrine, but others know the truth but for money, popularity or fame, deliberately deceive with their false doctrine. Others, recieve false doctrine to excuse their own lives and want to be deceived.

CERTAIN MEN
The small book of Jude speaks of men that would decieve God’s people. Jude says in verse 4, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ,” [see CERTAIN MEN CREPT IN UNAWARES, Feb '09 post on this blog] It’s good to read the whole book, especially verses 8-19 and see that God is vehemently against these false teachers. Peter also warns us of these ungodly men in our midst in the second chapter of 2 Peter. Paul admonishes Timothy in the book of 2 Timothy. Especially note chapter 3 where paul speaks of those, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power therof: from such turn away.”

SOME TRUE,SOME FALSE DOCTRINES
Here ar some scriptural based doctrines and their counterpart that are taught either through lack of knowledge and ignorance or on purpose.

1. First, the greatest commandment by Jesus’ own words, “Hear O Israel: the Lord your God is one Lord” (Mt 12:29). There is only one God. There is no scriptural proof of the doctrine of the Trinity which was started by the pagan Constantine in 325 AD. [see GOD'S FIRST CREATION, May '09, posted on this blog]

2. In Jesus’ prayer after the Passover supper he prayed for his disciples in John 17:15, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” And Proverbs 10:30, “The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.” Jesus did not, and does not, want his disciples to have to leave this world to be fulfilled in him. God did not make this world to give it over to the devil and his peoople. The righteous shall never be removed.
The “rapture theory”, to escape the tribulation periiod, was not taught in the early church nor was it taught by the leaders of the Reformation (Huss, Wycliffe, Luther, Calvin, Knox or the Wesley brothers). Jesuit priests started and promoted the rapture theory starting in the 1500′s to take pressure off the pope and the Catholic Church which came under fire with the Protestant reformation. The theory took root in Protestantism in the 1820′s (via a book by a Jesuit priest who wrote under thea name of a converted Rabbi) and was further engrained because of a “prophecy” given by a young girl in a Londoin church in 1830. The theory was later picked up by the founder of the “Brethern” church at a meeting in Ireland and was spread even further by the Schofield Reference Bible. Through this doctrine came through the Catholic Church, Protestantism has received it openly and caused it to ignore God’s warnings for his people in these last days. Further light is needed to show this falsehood and its relation to the scripture in 1 Thessalonians that so many want to base it on. For now look at Matthew 24:37-42, and the kingdom parables of the Wheat and Tares and the Net in Matthew 13 and see who is removed from the midst of God’s true church.

3. We are either sons and daughters of God and Christ is our brother or the scripture is wrong. The church is not the bride of Christ. There just is no scriptural proof. How can this doctrine be so obviously wrong and still be endorsed by so many? I thought the disciples of Jesus are the children of the bride chamber, (Mt 9:15), then how could we be the bride? There is a bride, but it is not the church.

4. The man of sin has not been revealed, (2 Thess 2:2-3), and the times of restitution of all things is not completed, (Acts 3:20-21). So then, Jesus is not coming tonight. Our redemption though, is close at hand as the one world government headed by the anti-Christ gets closer and closer. [see SATAN'S FOLLY,Feb '09, posted on this blog]

5. From scripture it can be shown that Jesus birth was in the fall of the year. Nowhere does it say we are to celebrate the birth of Christ. It’s his death and resurrection we are told to partake of and to remember. Christmas is not Jesus birthday. It is not scriptural. Christmas was a pagan time to celebrate the birth of Tammuz, (Ezk 8:14), by his mother Semiramis, the widow of Nimrod (Gen 10:8). Semiramis said Tammuz was the rebirth of Nimrod and that he was the sun -god and her god-child, which made her the queen of heaven. Tied into this is the pagan celebration of the winter solstice. This is from the time of the Tower of Babel. Also we are told specifically, (Jer 10:1-5), not to learn the “way of the heathen” and bring a tree into our house and decorate it with silver and gold. These traditions and doctrines all come from pagan religion.

6. Jesus was in the tomb after his death for 3 days and 3 nights according to his own words in Matthew 12:40. This is the sign that Jesus gave that he is the Messiah. Jesus was not crucified of a Friday and raised on a Sunday or he is not the Messiah. Easter is the time of the pagan celebration of the Spring solstice and of Astarte, a pagan god.

7. God gave us the Ten Commandments to be obeyed and to show us our sins. The commandments are not to be treated lightly as many do, for sin is the transgression of this law (1 Jn 3:4). Making and bowing down to graven images, then, is sin and should not be done. It’s such an obvious breaking of one of the Ten Commandments, (Ex 20:4), and yet so effortlessly passed over, and millions are taught to do this by church doctrine.

8. God is holy and without holiness in our lives we will not see God (Heb 12:14). Look at all the “scandals” going on in the Protestant and Catholic churches. Homosexuals and sexual perverts are not Christian. There is no way a person involved in any of this gross “sexual misconduct” is Christian. (Any condoning of these actions in any way aren’t Christian either) There are too many scriptures to mention.

9. God says he hates the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which is the seperation of clergy and laity (Rev 2:6,15). Any person who puts themselves above the scriptures and God’s justified people from Pope to Sunday School teacher is wrong. Jesus said in Matthew 23:8-10, “But be not called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and ye are all brethern. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.” Calling any man “reverend ” is also wrong, look at Psalms 119:9, ‘…holy and reverend is his name”, speaking of God, not man. The same would hold true for Pope, Excellency, Eminence, etc. “Why callest thou me good,” Jesus said, “none is good, save one, that is God.” (Lk 18:19)

10. There is no place in God’s word that he ever gives a license to sin. Mardi Gras and it’s associated Lent are against the ways of God. This doctrine is propagated by an unscriptrual and ungodly system by ungodly men.

11. We are admonished in Revelation 2:9 and 3:9 to know those who falsely call themselves Jews. The doctrine of calling people Jews and God’s chosen people without knowing who are true Jews has fill Christianity. Any person who is not of the Israel tribes of Judah and Benjamin is not a Jew by nationality. About 90% of Judaism today are not Jews or even of Israel, but are usurpers of the name of God’s people, Israel. We are admonished in Titus 1:14, “Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.”

12. The New Testament supersedes the Old Testament is a doctrine that many hold. The New Testament in the blood of Christ does supersede the Old Testament blood of animals for the sacrifice for sin. This is clearly shown in Hebrews chapters 7 through 10. All other Old Testament laws, statues, commandments, precepts and ordinances of God were not done away with. Jesus said he came to fulfill the law, not destroy it (Mt 5:17). [God created the pig, yet he says not to eat it (Lev 11:7, Dt 14:8). Why, because he wants to hurt pig farmers? Or because he wants to lord it over us with arbitrary rules? Or is it that since he created, it he knows what's in pork and knows it's not good for us to eat. God said to not eat many of his creations because he loves us and wants what is best for his creation, man. This is Old Testament law but it's still relevant for us today.]

There are so many more false doctrines intermingled in Christianity. Knowing the scripture is the key to truth that makes us free from the hypocrisy of these false teachings. Jesus warned us against those that would use ignorance of the scriptures to propagate their hypocrisies. Of the Saddusees’ doctrine that there is no resurrection he said they do err, not knowing the scripture (Mt 22:23, 29). Of the Scribes and Pharasees he said, “…Hypocrites! For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” (Mt 23:13) He called their doctrine ‘leaven’ (Mt 16:6). In Luke 12:1 he said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” Paul tells us that, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” (Gal 5:9) Again he says, “Purge out the old leaven…” (1 Cor 5:6).

We can’t change the word of God to fit our own traditions or to justify our own lusts. God’s word is forever settled in the heavens,(Ps 119:89). Jesus rebuked the Pharisees saying they made, “…the word of God to none effect through your tradition…” (Mk 7:13). “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” (2 Jn :9)

[See immortalityroad.wordpress.com for more enlightenment on false doctrines.]

HOW CAN WE EXPRESS OUR LOVE TO GOD?

God’s greatest expression of his love is that he freely gave his only begotten Son. The greatest expression of the Son’s love is that he freely gave his life for us. What can we ever do to repay for this ultimate sacrifice? We know that God is a Spirit and that God is love. Therefore when we receive the Spirit of God then we have his love. Actually, we become a conduit through which that Spirit can love his creation. For we are nothing, but God through us reaches out to the world. Before we were saved, God, through someone else, reached out to us. Before this God, through Christ, reached out to the world. That love through Christ was manifested in many ways and all for the purpose that we may inter into the kingdom of God with all its blessings and to gain everlasting life.

Many may think that because God wants us to be saved then we somehow deserve to be saved. That may not be a conscious thought, but by the actions of our life we manifest a certain apathy that truly reveals our inner heart. That is especially true in these last days when we, the Laodicean church, say, “…I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing…”. (Rev 3 :17) And Jesus in turn says, we know not that we are “…wretched, and, miserable, and poor, and blind and naked…”, and we need to repent. Maybe we need to once again look back and see ourselves before salvation so we can appreciate what has been done for us.

LOOKING BACK

Before salvation, we were going our own way, doing what we thought was right in our own eyes, not seeking a saviour nor felt we needed one. The Holy Ghost had to work with us so we could see our need. The Jesus of the scriptures was foreign to us even though we heard about him in church. His trials and tribulations in life were just stories but not something we related to. The word ignorance comes from the word ‘ignor’, which was what we did with the man Christ Jesus and simirally, ignorant of our own spiritual poverty. We were sinners, transgressors, filled with iniquities and pride, justified with our life in our own eyes, yet we had no happiness for deep joy.

HIS PART

Our joy, peace, health, forgiveness, our whole wellbeing, that we squandered away through sin, was purchased for us by Jesus’ sacrifice. The love, the blessings, we receive from God all came because this man, Jesus, loved his Father so much that he was willing to give his life for us. In so doing, he secured for us many blessings that we had no reason to receive. But, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. When men cursed in the name of God and Jesus we didn’t speak for him. When we grieved for things that happened in our lives we blamed God (for reaping what we ourself had sown). When we were blessed of God, we called it the false god “Luck’. We lifted ourself in the pride of life and felt sorry for ourself in times of dispare. We rejected what God had done for us as he carried us through times of sorrow and had no praise for him in our heart.

When God forsook his only begotten son whom he loved dearly, Jesus became sin for us on the cross. Jesus said, “My God, My
God, why hast thou forsaken me?”. (Mk 15:34) This man, who his whole life had known no sin or its guilt, was forsaken of his Father when he became sin for you and me. He willinigly became that sin and gave his life because in doing so he gave us an entrance into the kingdom of God.

Christ knew what was in the heart of man and yet he stil gave himself for our salvation. Though we had rejected him, he still saved us from our own condemnation. He knew God’s plan and that the only help for our sinful ways was through him. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the wold; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is codemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only beagotten Son of God.” (Jn 3:17,18)

OUR PART

Yet it was all in God’s wonderful plan to cause his Son to be beaten, wounded, humiliated and crucified and to be counted worthy of being numbered with all sinners in his death. When we finially identified our life with this man on the cross and made his death a sacrifice for our sins and when we were cleansed by his blood, then God saw that sacrifice and gave us our salvation. We had to see our need and receive that life. When we saw how he lived and died for us then we saw how we should live for others.

How can we ever doubt the love of God after understanding what he did for us through his Son? What more could he do? I have beacome convinced like Paul when he said, For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things prersent, nor things to come nor heights nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to seperate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38,39)

One passage of scripture sums this up and has touched my heart for many years. It is well to read this passage of God’s word of his love to us:

“Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 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. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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. 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. 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. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declarae his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 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. 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. He shall see the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 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.” (Isa 53)

What benefits we reap. There is no more perfect way to express our gratitude for his sacrifice than to let him live his life in through us. What higher calling could we have?

PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE

Through the years people have asked the question of “what is life all about and why am I here?” Here is some insight to these questions. In the first few verses of 2 Peter, chapter 1, we are told that through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord and by his divine power we are given things that pertain to life and godliness. Through this knowledge and power we “are given exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Pet 1:4) Being made partakers of the divine nature of God, what more could we want! What more could we need! In the next 3 verses Peter tells us of this divine nature (faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness and charity) and says,”…if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall never be barren not unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” These parts of God’s divine nature don’t just encourage us, but Peter says they make us fruitful for God in our Christian walk. If we lack these parts of God’s nature then we are blind and cannot see afar off (vs 9) and therefore would be unfruitful for God.

In Galatians, chapter 5, we are given 9 fruits of having God’s Spirit manifested in our life: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. All these qualities of God nature and Spirit are the same that he liberally bestowed on us to bring us to salvation and to give us purpose for life on earth. “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Cor 5:18) There are other attributes of God; such as mercy,compassion, forgiveness; that are all summed up in love, for “God is love”. He has provided for us and has given to those who hunger enough, all his divine nature. As a Christian we dwell in God’s love, his nature, and he dwells in us (ref 1 Jn 4:16).

PARTAKERS OF GOD
To see more into how we can partake of God, look at the sixth chapter of John. Jesus said we are to be partakers of him, to identify our body, our life, with his. Lets look at one facet of partaking of his death. Jesus gave his flesh and blood on the cross. Are we not to identify ourselves with him at the cross? Are we not to be crucified with Christ? We are to be partakers of his flesh and blood. Is not this the communion with him we have at the Lord’s Supper? A communion with his death. “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (1 Cor 10:16) John tells us more about this.

THE BREAD OF LIFE
“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.” (Jn 6:35) In John 6:63 Jesus said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” So when Jesus said we will never hunger and never thirst he was speaking spiritually. When he spoke of himself as the bread of life he was speaking spiritually. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper we are doing something that is physical. The bread and cup are something we physically touch. Now lets look at 1 Corinthians 11:23 and on. The Apostle Paul said, “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me, after the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” We see that when we physically partake, (that is, eat and drink) not only at a church meeting, but as often as we partake of the bread and cup, we should do it in remembrance of him. This can be at any time and any place. He was speaking spiritually when he said the bread was his body and the cup was his blood as we see in the following verses. Continuing at verse 26, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” Here he is talking about the physical bread and cup of which we partake being the outward sign of our spiritual belief. Verse 27, “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” Before I was saved from my sins, I partook of the bread and cup unworthily and was guilty.

THIS-THAT
Now notice the change in verse 28 where God’s word changes from ‘this bread’ and ‘this cup’ to ‘that bread’ and ‘that cup’. “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” Now Paul has changed from a physical piece of bread and a cup to the spiritual partaking of the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ.

Look again to John 6 where in verse 27 Jesus says, “Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give you…” In verse 31 -35, the Jews (see vs 41) said, “Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 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. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 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.” Starting at verse 47, Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Remember in verse 37 Jesus said it is the Spirit that quickens our mortal bodies, not the fleshly, physical things of the earth.

WE BECOME THAT BREAD
We must partake of his life, eat that living bread and therefore partake of his sufferings, his joy, his sorrows, his power, his love, his compassion, his spirit, his divine nature so we can do his ministry. This is not something God gives us for our ourselves but for his ministry. Just as Jesus was that bread which God sent down from heaven so are we now that bread on earth. “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.” (1 Cor 10:17) “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Cor 5:19) God has given us a ministry and has provided all we need. “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, not his seed begging bread.” (Ps 37:25)

We partake of him and become the recipient of great and precious promises to be partakers of God’s own divine nature to do his ministry on earth. God has sent his bread of life freely to his creation. We are that bread that he has sent, we are that word of reconciliation to the world. When we partake of God’s divine nature, partake of that living bread, we become God’s living word in this world. If so be that we have put on that divine nature, if we have partaken of that bread from heaven, the bread of his life manifested in our mortal bodies, then we will never be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

HOW TO PLEASE GOD

In the beginning God had a purpose, a will, or a determination for his creation of mankind. He has made this will known to us through his scripture. From the beginning this will has always been carried out. He has told us this in Isaiah 46:9-19. “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else, I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:…”. And, another scripture to add to this is Revelation 4:11, “Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” So we, his creation, were created to be pleasing to God, to give him pleasure. To many, that would seem selfish, but God’s pleasure is this, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”(Lk 12:32) That is not selfish or self centered, it is loving. What is it that God wants us to receive? A kingdom of deliverance from sin and of evelasting life and the continual presence of the Lord God, the Creator of the universe. It is this kingdom that God wants his creation to be a part of and in so doing we give him pleasure. And, whether we realize it or not, our heart is not content and our being is not satisfied outside of God’s kingdom.

HOW IT IS POSSIBLE
We cannot receive this kingdom without change. For we, by nature, sin against God and seperate ourselves from him and his kingdom. But God has from the beginning provided a way for us to be cleansed of sin and become worthy to be a part of his holy kingdom. That provision is, as we know, through his Son, Christ Jesus, whom God, though he loved him dearly, gave as the only sacrifice for our sins. And Christ, loving his Father so much, willingly became that sacrifice that we may be united with God in his kingdom. The sacrifice of this one man made it possible for us to give his Father pleasure. Now that is the ultimate love story.

IT IS OUR CHOICE
We make our own choice to either enter into God’s kingdom or, by rejecting the work of the Holy Ghost on our conscious, to go our own way. God works on our heart in many and sometimes mysterious ways to bring us to ourselves and see our need to repent. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Pet 3:9) Many of us need to take a good look at our past and see God’s work on our hearts and see his longsuffering with us. “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself.” (Eph 1:5) Some think they can come to God by their own way without giving up their life. But as Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” By giving up our life, letting the old man (or nature) die, and by faith receiving Jesus Christ as saviour, we are pleasing to God. By receiving a new spirit and a new heart that will not sin against him we are thus translated into God’s kingdom and receive a part of the very nature of God. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Pet 1:4) This is God’s plan and purpose hidden as a mystery in the scriptures so that only they that seek God will understand.

THE ULTIMATE BENEFITS PROGRAM
This kingdom becomes part of the Christian, now, in this world, and gives us power over our enemy, the devil. “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us in the kingdom of his dear Son.”(2 Pet 3:9) “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” (1 Cor 4:20) “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Rom 14:7) “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for the kingdom of God is within you.” (Lk 17:21) This is not something that has to be conjured up to have its presence known to the beliver. This is God’s righteousness, God’s peace and God’s joy indwelling in the Christian. The devil will counter the inner kingdom with whatever means he is allowed (as he did with Job). For although we are not of the world, we are still in the world and subject to he devil’s attacks. But he has an end to his work against God and his people. When the devil’s work has been finished and he is cast into the lake of fire then is the fulfillment of this scripture: “And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, not crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Rev 21:4)

PREDESTINATION
God has predestinated from the beginning those who choose his way to live in a kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy. If we don’t make that right choice then there is another predestination of eternity in the lake of fire and without the presence of God. Moses was very bold when he told Israel, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and thy seed may live…” (Deut 30:19) Can we be any less serious about our life today.

We can give God his pleasure by giving our life to him at the cross or, by rejecting his love, we can choose to go our own way and receive our just reward and join Satan and his angels for eternity in the lake of fire.

GRACE OR WORKS

[It would be good to read the previous postings on "REPENTANCE" and "THE MODERN SMOOTH CROSS" to enrich this study]

Salvation is a gift from God. We have access to this gift by the grace and mercy of God. Salvation is not something we deserve but it can be ours because of God’s love for us. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8, 9).

LOOKING AT THE LAW
If we combine that verse quoted above with the following: “Knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. And not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified…” (Gal. 2:16). “…received ye the Spirit by works of the law or by the hearing of faith? (Gal. 3:2). “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…” (Rom. 3:20). “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Rom 3:28). It’s pretty obvious that God says we cannot be saved by the works of the law. This is speaking of the Levitical law of the scriptures. Man, through his pride, has thought he could keep this law since it was given at Mt. Sinai. Disobiedence of God’s law is sin, which we all have done. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 Jn. 3:4). For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

LOOKING AT FAITH
Read the 11th chapter of Hebrews and see examples of things that men and women of old did by faith. In each case there was an action brought on by the application of faith. Faith is God brings action. These actions are works or deeds of faith. James tells us of these works: “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works” (Jm. 2:17, 18). “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead ” (Jm. 2:20). “Ye see then how by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (Jm. 2:24).

LOOKING AT GRACE
God shows saving grace to every man. “For the grace that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world….(Titus 2:11, 12). This grace, then, comes to teach, and when we do these teachings, when we let our old man die, then these are works of faith that bring salvation. And it’s God’s grace that brings us there.

There is a law to be obeyed for salvation. Paul calls this law “the law of faith” in Romans 3:27. This is not the Levitical law. This law of faith requires us to believe from the heart and repent. No man by his own good deeds, or more good deeds than bad, can just squeeze his way into heaven. There is no person who is basically ‘a good guy’ that can hope to be justified by God for salvation. Striving to be a ‘good person’ is like trying to keep the Levitical law. “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law” (Rom. 3:31). “For the law is spiritual…” (Rom. 7:14). The unspiritual, natural man cannnot keep this law which is spiritual. It is the grace of God which allows us to keep his spiritual law by faith.

By the works of the law shall no man be justified. A man is justified by works and not by faith only. But, the works of faith are not the same as the works of the law. By works, faith is made perfect (Jm., 2:22)

There is no way we can do enough to earn our way into God’s kingdom. God is holy and his kingdom is holy. But through faith we make ourselves acceptable unto him. “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer” (Ps. 19:14). Faith is the key. Our faith is manifested by our works.

This then we need to know: Without works of faith there is no salvation. To repent of dead works is a work of faith. Without repentance from sin there is no salvatiion. And here is another key to our understanding. We do what we believe. What we believe is manifested by what we do. We may deceive ourselves into thinking we have a real belief in God and show an outward appearence, but under pressure we will do what we believe. To believe there is a God is not the same as believing in God through faith. Even the devils believe in God (Jm. 2:19). For example, the so called Christian who “slips” when angry and curses God. The true nature comes out. “… for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Mt 12:34). That old nature, that old heart, is the old nature of the unregenerate flesh. Using God’s name in vain is sin, transgression of the law, breaking the 10 commandments. When the old nature has been crucified with Christ, blessing and cursing cannot and will not come out of the same mouth. If you don’t know then it would be good to be aquainted with 1 John chapter 3, especially verses 4, 9 and 10. “He that commmitteth sin is of the devil…” (:4). “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. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil…” (:9, 10). Knowing and believing this seperates the men from the boys, the ‘church member’ from the Christian, the deceiver from the man of God.

Faith, as James tells us, will be shown by works. These works are the substance coming from that faith. So there is evidence brought forth that shows we have faith. This is the definitiion of faith given to us in Hebrews chapter 11. This work of faith, whether for salvation or afterwards, will glorify your Father in heaven. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mt., 5:6). Jesus accomplished many things; he did many mighty works during his walk on this earth. He was, and is, our Saviour, our healer, our example and much more, but all encompassed by this one thing, he glorified his Father. “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work thou gavest me to do” (Jn. 17:4). With his hands, his words, and his deeds, with his whole heart, he did the works that glorified God.

We will be judged and rewarded according to our works. “Every man’s work shall be made manifest…(1Cor. 3:13). “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” (Mt. 16:27). “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according to his works shall be” (Rev. 22:12. But without the works of repentance from sin, letting our old man die and receiving Jesus as Savioiur, our works, no matter how good they may seem, are worthless in our final judgment. Look and Cornelius in Acts chapter 10 and 11. Cornelius was a “good man”. He was devout, feared God, gave alms to the people, prayed and fasted. Even an angle appeared to him and said his prayer was heard and his works were held in memorial before God. Cornelius was told by the angel to send for Peter and he would tell him the words whereby he and his house would be saved. Don’t let your works just be held in memorial. “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. 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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity” (Mt. 7:21-23). There’s no use in running hard for home base if you never touched first base. Acts 26:20, “…that they should repent and turn to God, and to the works meet for repentance.” You can’t be righteous on your own. He is our righteousness. He must live that righteousness in us. We have to die to self and let him in and live his life in our mortal bodies. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal.2:20. The path to receiving this righteousness is given in the previous posting “THE MODERN SMOOTH CROSS”. Philippians 2:12 tells us the end of the matter, “… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

After this work of faith for salvation our work continues. In each of the 7 church ages of Revelation chapters 2 and 3, (which show our growth in him from babes to full sonship), Jesus declares, “…I know thy works…” Our work for him are works of love and faith, but by works of the law shall no man jbe justified.

“Then said they unto him, what shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (Jn. 6:28, 29).