Pawòl la di tout moun fè peche (Ròm 3:23). Pawòl la rele tout moun pou yo konvèti. Lè ou fèt nan levanjil sa pa egzante w pou ou konvèti.
Sa m'ap pale a, fòk gen yon moman ou rive ou wè peche w pou sa l ye (ou dakò se peche, se pa bagay ou dwe fè, se pa yon lide ki dwe nan tèt ou oubyen se pa yon santiman oubyen yon atitid ou dwe genyen); fòk gen moman saa ou wè ki jan ou pa pafè devan Bondye, pou ou mande l padon e mande l delivre w soti nan move chemen ou ye a. Jezi se sovè lemonn. Se pa legliz levanjil ou leve ladan l la ki sove w. Fòk ou rele Jezi pou ou mande l delivre w anba peche. Se sa ou fè si ou renmen Bondye ak tout kè w e vle fè li plezi. Repons pa l se efase peche w e ou vin fèt yon dezyèm fwa (Jan 3:3), ou vin tounen yon nouvo moun (2 Korent 5:17) ak Sentespri Bondye ou resevwa nan ou. Ou vin gen yon nouvo kè ak yon nouvo lavi ki pa menm jan ak lavi ou te gen anvan an. Fòk gen transfòmasyon saa. Fòk ou wè l e fòk moun nan lavi w wè l tou (Matye 5:14-15; 1 Timote 5:25). Fòk ou gen yon temwayaj ou ka bay sou sa. Egzamine bagay sa yo e pa dòmi sou okenn pawòl ou tande, men gen krentif pou Bondye pou ou obeyi li jan li vle l la. Rete nan pawòl li a e pa mete pawòl moun pi wo pase pawòl Bondye. Fòk ou pran responsabilite w pou ou etidye pawòl Bondye a pou ou ka fè diferans ant laverite ak manti. Si w pa wè w fè peche, nan sa w fè ak menm nan lide w, mande Bondye pou li montre w sa li wè nan kè w, ak si li dakò ak tout, paske ou menm ou vle pou li dakò ak tout pwen nan lavi w. Se lè sa nan tèt ou ke ou deside repanti (tounen vin jwenn Bondye) e pou Jezi mèt lavi w.
2 Timote 3:9
Seyè a pa pran twòp reta pou kenbe pwomès li yo, jan kèk moun kwè a. Okontrè, se pasyans l'ap pran ak nou, paske li pa ta renmen pesonn peri, li ta vle pou tout moun tounen vin jwenn li.
Menm si w grandi nan yo legiz "levanjil", ou menm tou ou nan tout moun Bondye ap tann retounen viv jwenn li yo.
Lik 5:31-32
31. Jezi reponn yo: Lè yon moun ansante, li pa bezwen dòktè. Se moun malad ki bezwen dòktè. 32. Enben, mwen pa vin rele moun k'ap mache dwat devan Bondye, men moun k'ap fè sa ki mal pou yo kapab tounen vin jwenn Bondye.
2 Timote 2:19
Men, pa pè. Fondasyon solid Bondye te mete a, li la toujou. Men pawòl nou jwenn make sou li: Mèt la konnen moun ki moun pa li. Tout moun ki di se pou Seyè a y'ap viv, se pou yo sispann fè sa ki mal.
Jòb 28:28
Apre sa, Bondye di moun konsa: -Gen krentif pou Bondye, se sa ki rele bon konprann. Vire do bay sa ki mal, men sa ki rele gen lespri.
1 Jan 1:8
Si nou di nou pa gen peche, se tèt nou n'ap twonpe. Verite a pa nan nou.
Tout moun ki gen peche bezwen yon sovè ki pou vin delivre yo soti sou chemen peche a nèt, lè yo dakò nan kè yo pou yo vire do bay peche (Ròm 6:16). Jezi se sovè saa e li te bay lavi l pou tout pechè/mechan/moun kap fè sa ki mal. Se sak fè, lè yo aprann nou ke "nou tout se pechè", fòk ou konnen tou, sou menm baz saa Bondye rele ou vire do bay peche (sa ki mal). SI ou pa jwenn tout nouvèl la ou pa jwenn bon nouvèl la. E se lè w deside bay peche vag pou ou ranje chemen w, e ou mande Bondye padon, lè saa li padone ou, li voye dosye peche ou jete, e li fè ou se yon moun kap mache dwat devan Li (nan bib franse a sa rele yon "juste"). Li Sòm 1, Sòm 34:15-16, Lik 13:1-5, 1 Korent 6:9-11 pou w konprann ou pa ka rete ap idantifye tèt ou kòm yon pechè si ou sou chemen dwat Bondye a. Si ou pa sa e Bondye pa rele w konsa, pale verite a pou moun konnen ki espwa delivrans levanjil la bay lè ou aplike l. Si tout moun ki pechè ap toujou pechè, sa vle di pèsonn pap konvèti e pa gen bon nouvèl nan sa ditou.
Travay 2:38
Pyè reponn yo: Tounen vin jwenn Bondye, epi yonn apre lòt vin resevwa batèm nan non Jezikri, pou Bondye padonnen tout peche nou yo. Apre sa, n'a resevwa Sentespri, kado Bondye a.
Si ou pa obeyi Bondye, ou pap resevwa Sentespri a:
Travay 5:32
Nou se temwen tout bagay sa yo, nou menm ansanm ak Sentespri Bondye bay tout moun ki obeyi l' yo.
Tit 3:3-7
3. Paske, nou menm tou, nan tan lontan nou te tankou moun fou, nou pa t' obeyisan devan Bondye, nou te tankou moun ki pèdi chemen yo. Nou te esklav tout kalite move dezi ak move plezi. Nou t'ap viv ak mechanste, ak jalouzi nan kè nou. Moun te rayi nou, epi nou menm, nou te rayi yo tou.
4. Men, lè Bondye fè nou wè jan li gen bon kè, jan li renmen tout moun,
5. li te delivre nou. Li pa t' delivre nou paske nou te fè kèk bagay ki bon, men paske li menm li te gen pitye pou nou. Li delivre nou lè li lave nou, li voye pouvwa Sentespri li nan nou pou chanje nou nèt, pou n' te ka viv yon lòt jan.
6. Bondye voye Sentespri li sou nou an kantite, gremesi Jezi, Kris la, ki delivre nou.
7. Avèk favè sa a Bondye fè nou an, li fè nou gras. Koulye a nou ka resevwa sa n'ap tann lan: lavi ki p'ap janm fini an.
Jan 8:34-36
34 Jezi reponn yo: Sa m'ap di nou la a, se vre wi: Tout moun ki fè peche, se esklav peche yo ye. 35 Yon esklav pa fè pati moun kay la pou tout tan. Men, yon pitit fè pati moun kay la pou tout tan. 36 Si Pitit Bondye a ban nou libète, n'a lib tout bon.
Ròm 6:16
Nou konn sa byen: Si nou lage tèt nou nan men yon moun pou nou sèvi l' esklav pou n' obeyi l', nou tounen esklav moun n'ap obeyi a. Si nou lage kò nou nan peche, nou tounen esklav peche k'ap fè nou jwenn ak lanmò. Men, si nou lage kò nou nan obeyi Bondye, n'a esklav obeyisans k'ap fè nou mache dwat devan Bondye.
Li pawòl yo. Se pa moun ki ka konvenk ou de anyen ou bezwen. Se pawòl Bondye a ki pou travay nan kè w si ou te resevwa l kòm yon jèm ki plante nan yon bon tè (li Lik 8:4-18 pou w egzamine nan ki kategori moun ki tande pawòl Bondye a ou ka ye, menn nan mitan legliz kote w chita a). Nou gen devwa pou nou egzamine tèt nou si se dèyè fè sa ki byen nou ye (2 Korent 13:5; Ròm 2:6-11). Pawòl Bondye a ap enstwi nou. Konsidere sa ki di laa. M pa konnen w pèsonèlman men m konnen chemen laverite a se yon sèl ki genyen (Jan 14:6), e wout mache dwat devan Bondye a se yon wout jis ak difisil li ye, alòske wout peche a limenm li laj anpil (Matye 7:13-14). Dezi pa nou se pou ou ka pwoklame zèv Bondye selon delivrans Jezi opere nan lavi w, epi pou ou bay bon donn kòm sa dwa ki montre ou konekte ak sous lavi a vre ki se Jezi (Jan 15:1-10; Lik 6:43-45; Matye 12:33). Se yon temwayaj pou ou genyen. Si ou pa gen yon temwayaj delivrans Jezi opere nan lavi w (Revelation 12:11), ou pako delivre. Fòk ou konnen si ou te deside suiv Jezi (Mak 8:34-38), li detwi tout move travay Satan nan lavi w, ou pap wè yo ankò:
1 Jan 3:7-9
7. Pitit mwen yo, pa kite pesonn twonpe nou. Moun ki fè sa ki dwat, se li ki dwat devan Bondye, menm jan ak Kris la ki dwat.
8. Moun k'ap kontinye viv nan peche, se moun Satan yo ye, paske Satan ap fè peche depi nan konmansman. Pitit Bondye a parèt toutespre pou kraze travay Satan an.
9. Si yon moun se pitit Bondye li ye, li p'ap kontinye fè peche, paske pouvwa lavi ki soti nan Bondye a ap travay nan li. Si se Bondye ki papa l', li pa kapab ap fè peche toujou.
Ròm 6:1-4
1. Nan kondisyon sa a, kisa n'a di? Eske nou mèt kontinye ap viv toujou nan peche pou favè Bondye a ka vin pi plis toujou?
2. Non. Sa pa ka fèt. Poukisa? Paske annegad peche nou mouri. Ki jan pou n' ta ka kontinye ap viv toujou nan peche?
3. Eske nou pa konn sa: nou tout ki resevwa batèm pou n' te fè yonn ak Jezikri, avèk batèm sa a nou te fè yonn avè l' nan lanmò li.
4. Se sak fè, avèk batèm nou an nou te antere ansanm avè l', nou te mouri ansanm avè l' tou. Men, menm jan Papa a te fè l' leve soti nan lanmò avèk gwo fòs pouvwa li, konsa tou nou menm nou ka mennen yon lòt lavi.
Fòk ou konnen lòt lavi saa ki diferan de lavi ou te genyen anvan an: sa vle di chanjman, sa vle di konvèsyon. E sa vle di ou vin gen Sentespri Bondye nan ou pou klere chemen w e gide w sou wout lavi ki pap janm fini an. Pran tan w gade tout pasaj yo epi priye Bondye pou kè w aliye ak volonte l sou tout pwen. Pataje mesaj la si w kwè li se verite kap itil yon moun. Pa koute pinga Satan. Si ou gen yon kòmantè, pataje l tou.
Ke Bondye beni w!
_______
Lik 6:46-49
46. Poukisa n'ap plede rele mwen: Mèt, Mèt, epi nou pa fè sa m' di nou fè?
47. Moun ki vin jwenn mwen, ki tande pawòl mwen epi ki fè sa mwen di fè, men ki jan l'ap ye:
48. L'ap tankou yon nonm k'ap bati yon kay; li fouye tè a byen fon, li moute fondasyon kay la sou wòch. Dlo desann, lavalas frape kay la. Men, kay la pa brannen paske li te byen bati.
49. Men, moun ki tande pawòl mwen, ki pa fè sa mwen di fè, li tankou yon nonm ki bati yon kay ratè, san fondasyon. Lavalas frape kay la, yon sèl kou kay la tonbe, li kraze nèt.
_______
1 Pyè 4:17-19
17. Paske, dat la rive pou jijman Bondye a konmanse. L'ap konmanse ak moun ki nan kay Bondye a anvan. Si li konmanse ak nou, nou pa bezwen mande sak pral rive moun sa yo ki pa koute bon nouvèl Bondye a.
18. Tankou sa ekri nan Liv la: Si moun k'ap viv dwat devan Bondye yo pa fasil pou sove, nou pa bezwen mande sa k'ap rive moun ki pa kwè nan Bondye yo, moun k'ap viv nan peche yo.
19. Se poutèt sa, moun k'ap soufri paske se sa Bondye vle pou yo a, se pou yo pa sispann fè sa ki byen, se pou yo renmèt nanm yo nan men Bondye ki kreye yo, epi ki p'ap lage yo.
____________
Jistis = Sa ki dwat devan Bondye
https://www.facebook.com/yestothetruth/posts/765802826831976
De l'illusion d'être une "bonne" personne
https://www.facebook.com/yestothetruth/posts/750527878359471
Konvèti vle di tounen vin jwenn Bondye
https://www.facebook.com/yestothetruth/posts/1078622905549965
La repentance selon Dieu, par F. Nolet
https://www.youtube.com/playlist…
Tab dè Matyè
https://www.facebook.com/notes/yes-to-the-truth/tdm-toc/799954660083459
Monday, July 25, 2016
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Most of us want to make it on our own
Most of us want to "make it on our own" and take pride in calling ourselves strong men and women. We can handle it... Maybe we can endure great pain, even... But the pain of losing our soul is not one anyone has to face. Jesus died so no one would have to face the fire of Gehenna. He is the Savior of the world. No one can save himself. It doesn't matter how much you think you are "wise" or a "good person", you need Jesus to save you. If you know that you need deliverance, call upon Jesus to deliver you. He will reward you for seeking Him in faith. The blind man would have never been healed if he wanted to be the strong blind man who handles his blindness on his own "like a man". Don't feed your ego with the lies of Satan. YOU CAN'T HANDLE IT ALL, like no child can handle it all. Be that child and in God you will find a Father.
(Matthew 18:2-4
2. And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3. And said, Verily I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.)
There is no glory in feeding yourself lies, only shame that will be revealed no matter how you think you can manage your denial of the truth. Humble yourself before God and seek his ways that lead to everlasting life.
---
Matthew 20:30-34
30. And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, you Son of David. 31. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, you Son of David. 32. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will you that I shall do unto you? 33. They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
ASK. SEEK. KNOCK.
Luke 11:5-13
5. And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6. For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7. And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you. 8. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needs. 9. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. 11. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he asks a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12. Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for the one who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Jeremiah 29:13
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jesus said "Come to Me!", He did not say "Go to church!" (There is a difference!) Wherever you do go, make sure you answer Jesus' call to come to Him so you can learn from Him!
Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Also, many of us go about "finding ourselves"... That's a sure sign of being lost. That very thinking cannot be that of someone who is in Christ and had his/her mind renewed. Unless Jesus and a relationship with Him have been misrepresented to you, when you find Him, you find eternal life and know there is no greater treasure (Matthew 13:44)! How would you then go after any passing thing of lesser value? If you understand what you found, you count all thing as rubbish (Philipians 3:8). We need to seek and find Jesus – not ourselves – if we are so minded. Think about it for a minute. Could we be lost? Of course we can be. Could we be deceived? Of course. Dead? Absolutely. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me". If we are not in Him, we are lost, deceived and dead. Now do we even believe that? Are you a believer "for real" (serious question)? When God looks at you and how you live does He see a believer who hears and obeys his Father's word or someone who says he/she believes in God and loves Him even, but follows his/her heart on things and does not live according to the word of God to do the will of God.
John 8:31-32
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (from bondage to sin).”
Do you see yourself as a disciple of Jesus? It's more than 12! Yes, every one after the first 12 who has followed Jesus is his disciple. How can you be anyone's disciple? Let's say you are taking some class (e.g. carpentry, dance, painting, etc.) You are a disciple of the one instructing you by doing what he/she says. Why should that be different when we call ourselves disciples of Jesus, and are only happy to do weekly appearances somewhere to hear what someone else has heard and was led to share? We sing "He is risen" at that time of the year, but do we believe He is alive? Did we die with Him to be resurrected with Him? (Romans 6:4) That's the real life to be celebrated: the new life in Him. Do you have that life? Or are you clinging to the earthly "life" that is bound to perish and embellishing it and glorifying yourself in it?
We need to go to Jesus and He did not say to "find yourself". He said: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23) http://biblehub.com/luke/9-23.htm Make sure you understand his instruction and do nothing else.
Check your mind, your thoughts... If you still want to conquer the world and make a name for yourself in this world, or are even remotely entertained by things like 15 minutes of fame, even in the company of people who don't have God on their minds, you love the world and the things in the world, your are serving yourself, your mind is not on the things above and you do not have the love of the Father in you (1 John 2:15-17). Just follow what God's word says to check yourself, not how you feel about how you think you are being his servant. In Christ there must be transformation of the mind if our life is surrendered to his rule.
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Have you ever heard and received these words in your heart as a believer?
Mark 8:34-38
"34 Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone wants to be My follower/disciple, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life (you're clinging to this earthly life) will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel (you let go of your attachment to earthly things) will save it. 36 For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life? 37 What can a man give in exchange for his life? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Again, do you have that life Jesus died so you could have?
Colossians 3:1-2
3 So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.
Respond to God's love and receive his promise of eternal life:
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Do you understand the opposite of perishing? It's what salvation is about.
1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. 16 For everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever.
John 3:36
The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who disobeys the Son won't see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Romans 5:8-9
8. But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Repentance and faith are the way to being justified by his blood. Don't believe in fables. You take action today. You are called to obey the Son today and it's up to you to respond to that call. It was not answered for you on the cross. Your own walk you need to walk today was not done for you on the cross. You are called to a life of obedience to the Son, apart from sin, today!
What will it be?
2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
May Jesus bless you!
Source: https://www.facebook.com/yestothetruth/posts/1072705792808343
See also:
"Coming as you are" to God does imply a changed heart
http://yestothetruth.blogspot.com/2016/07/coming-as-you-are-to-god-does-imply.html
Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness
http://yestothetruth.blogspot.com/2016/07/abraham-believed-god-and-it-was.html
(Matthew 18:2-4
2. And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3. And said, Verily I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.)
There is no glory in feeding yourself lies, only shame that will be revealed no matter how you think you can manage your denial of the truth. Humble yourself before God and seek his ways that lead to everlasting life.
---
Matthew 20:30-34
30. And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, you Son of David. 31. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, you Son of David. 32. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will you that I shall do unto you? 33. They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
ASK. SEEK. KNOCK.
Luke 11:5-13
5. And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6. For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7. And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you. 8. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needs. 9. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. 11. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he asks a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12. Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for the one who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Jeremiah 29:13
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jesus said "Come to Me!", He did not say "Go to church!" (There is a difference!) Wherever you do go, make sure you answer Jesus' call to come to Him so you can learn from Him!
Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Also, many of us go about "finding ourselves"... That's a sure sign of being lost. That very thinking cannot be that of someone who is in Christ and had his/her mind renewed. Unless Jesus and a relationship with Him have been misrepresented to you, when you find Him, you find eternal life and know there is no greater treasure (Matthew 13:44)! How would you then go after any passing thing of lesser value? If you understand what you found, you count all thing as rubbish (Philipians 3:8). We need to seek and find Jesus – not ourselves – if we are so minded. Think about it for a minute. Could we be lost? Of course we can be. Could we be deceived? Of course. Dead? Absolutely. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me". If we are not in Him, we are lost, deceived and dead. Now do we even believe that? Are you a believer "for real" (serious question)? When God looks at you and how you live does He see a believer who hears and obeys his Father's word or someone who says he/she believes in God and loves Him even, but follows his/her heart on things and does not live according to the word of God to do the will of God.
John 8:31-32
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (from bondage to sin).”
Do you see yourself as a disciple of Jesus? It's more than 12! Yes, every one after the first 12 who has followed Jesus is his disciple. How can you be anyone's disciple? Let's say you are taking some class (e.g. carpentry, dance, painting, etc.) You are a disciple of the one instructing you by doing what he/she says. Why should that be different when we call ourselves disciples of Jesus, and are only happy to do weekly appearances somewhere to hear what someone else has heard and was led to share? We sing "He is risen" at that time of the year, but do we believe He is alive? Did we die with Him to be resurrected with Him? (Romans 6:4) That's the real life to be celebrated: the new life in Him. Do you have that life? Or are you clinging to the earthly "life" that is bound to perish and embellishing it and glorifying yourself in it?
We need to go to Jesus and He did not say to "find yourself". He said: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23) http://biblehub.com/luke/9-23.htm Make sure you understand his instruction and do nothing else.
Check your mind, your thoughts... If you still want to conquer the world and make a name for yourself in this world, or are even remotely entertained by things like 15 minutes of fame, even in the company of people who don't have God on their minds, you love the world and the things in the world, your are serving yourself, your mind is not on the things above and you do not have the love of the Father in you (1 John 2:15-17). Just follow what God's word says to check yourself, not how you feel about how you think you are being his servant. In Christ there must be transformation of the mind if our life is surrendered to his rule.
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Have you ever heard and received these words in your heart as a believer?
Mark 8:34-38
"34 Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone wants to be My follower/disciple, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life (you're clinging to this earthly life) will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel (you let go of your attachment to earthly things) will save it. 36 For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life? 37 What can a man give in exchange for his life? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Again, do you have that life Jesus died so you could have?
Colossians 3:1-2
3 So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.
Respond to God's love and receive his promise of eternal life:
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Do you understand the opposite of perishing? It's what salvation is about.
1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. 16 For everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever.
John 3:36
The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who disobeys the Son won't see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Romans 5:8-9
8. But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Repentance and faith are the way to being justified by his blood. Don't believe in fables. You take action today. You are called to obey the Son today and it's up to you to respond to that call. It was not answered for you on the cross. Your own walk you need to walk today was not done for you on the cross. You are called to a life of obedience to the Son, apart from sin, today!
What will it be?
2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
May Jesus bless you!
Source: https://www.facebook.com/yestothetruth/posts/1072705792808343
See also:
"Coming as you are" to God does imply a changed heart
http://yestothetruth.blogspot.com/2016/07/coming-as-you-are-to-god-does-imply.html
Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness
http://yestothetruth.blogspot.com/2016/07/abraham-believed-god-and-it-was.html
Coming as you are to God does imply a changed heart
"Coming as you are" to God does imply a changed heart (and a changed life will follow with God's intervention in response to your "calling upon his name" - Romans 10:13). Conversion means "change" in every field or area of life, but in coming to God who sends the call for conversion, we suppose we can remain our good old self (so we think). And religions of men will cater to those who want to hear flattering words about themselves that make them so shine in their perceived goodness that their need of salvation almost passes as an add-on to the "good life" or "best life now" they think they are living for the Lord, while they are dead in their trespasses and sins, having not repented (Ephesians 2:1 is still fully in the present tense for them).
2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows those who are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from unrighteousness.
The very act of coming to Him implies a change has happened in your heart's motives. You come to Him broken... In the softness of your brokenness, you are fully agreeing with the truth that you have sinned/disobeyed God, that God's wrath is presently on you (John 3:36) and that you need a Savior. Whether it's tiredness with sin (Matthew 11:28) or a thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) that is fueling your zeal to go to God for salvation and to walk in his ways, a change must have happened that triggered such a great move on your part to seek to be reconciled with God (2 Corinthians 5:20). You will then see a "great move of God" towards you also.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Repentance is nothing short of what the prodigal son did (Luke 15:11-32). He heard his conscience, came to his senses and had a change of heart. Now his misery continued until He was fully restored into his father's arms, but when he was received back home, it was restoration for him.
Psalm 23:3
He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness (not sin still!) for his name's sake.
The parable of the prodigal son is a very plain parable. But too often we (as unconverted/lost) will fail to see ourselves as that prodigal son or daughter and miss the word that was to feed us. The devil comes and snatches it out of our hearts (Luke 8:12). That is, if we do get any such word in the first place in our churches and "Christian" TV programs this day!
Luke 15:7
...there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
You are to go to God with a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17), with godly sorrow over your sins (2 Corinthians 7:10), your offenses against Him, who has shown you his love (John 3:16 / Romans 5:6-8) that you have neither deserved nor responded to. You come clean with God, like this tax-collector who said: ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ (Luke 18:13). He went home justified (Luke 18:14), that means God had mercy on him and he was made right with God. He did not continue his life as once a sinner, always a sinner (meaning "rebel" / "wicked" / "enemy of God" - that's what sinner means throughout the bible; read Psalm 1 and identify who of two kinds of people you are). He was made righteous and not by some explanation that the Father started seeing him through a "see-through" Jesus that theologians have invented. [See "The Myth of the Imputed Righteousness of Christ", it's helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSTa3uGdbhY] He was cleaned up for good and expected to keep himself in the love of God by continuing in a life of obedience to God (John 15:10)! That is the true mark of coming into a relationship with God and being filled with his Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 5:32; 1 John 4:13). Sin afterwards is plain unfaithfulness, and as long as grace is available, those who are "adulterers" and "adulteresses" are called to repent (James 4:6-10; 1 John 2:1-2). What you come to God "as is" with is your brokenness:
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise." (Psalm 51:17)
What that means is that you need a repentant heart with sorrow in it over your sins that have kept you separated from God (Isaiah 59:2)! No tough guy or strong woman who appears before God should expect to get anything from Him. You come as you are in your brokenness, that's it. But your rebellion that makes you stand in your sin and speak whatever is on your mind to God, you need to crush it before it causes you to be crushed (Proverbs 16:18; Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 1:28; Luke 13:1-5).
Matthew 21:44
And whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
Don't venture yourself nor be misled by anyone to reject that stone (Jesus) - Matthew 21:42.
You make a choice to fear and love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength (Mark 12:30), and that is to be obedient to Him (John 14:15), if truly his word of truth has touched you (and not some re-packaged motivational message to please the masses). God demands humility and true repentance with hatred for your sins. You need to see eye to eye with God about sin, and only then when your heart and God's heart are united can you honestly plead guilty and ask for God to forgive you your own personal sins against Him. You have no chance before that to really leave sin behind, not only in practice, but first in your heart also that is purified.
James 4:8
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
When you come to God that way, or "accept Christ", whatever you call it these days, only if you do it that way which God has ordained, can you truly be set free from sin and not look back because you have come to know the truth (John 8:31-32) and know that there is nothing good behind sin. Then you understand the love of God for what it is. John 3:16 is serious salvation business, not a cliché to hide behind and to suppress a reality you do not truly want (freedom from sin/total surrender to God's will out of love).
2 Timothy 2:15
Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
1 John 3:7
Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
The call to "Go, and sin no more" (John 8:11) is implied every time forgiveness is granted. Ask any judge in a human court (and God is a more excellent and just judge than man!) Otherwise, what's the point of being set free from sin if it's to continue making a practice of sin, that is, choosing the broad path to destruction? (Matthew 7:13)
When you recognize you are a criminal before God (you are convicted of your sins/you experience conviction of sin), then salvation makes sense. When you get the bad news (the wages of sin is death - Romans 6:23), the Good News (the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord - Romans 6:23) makes much more sense, doesn't it? But today we barely get the bad news or actually believe it. So we get many flavors of "good news" to play with, that are no good news at all (Galatians 1:7 warns). But there is only one way to salvation and that is the truth (John 14:6)!
You go to God to receive forgiveness for your sins and make peace with Him (as one who turns around and surrenders, no longer wanting to be his enemy - John 15:14 tells you what makes you a friend of God). You don't go to Him to get an endorsement of the life you have lived or that you want to continue living for yourself. You are giving Him your whole life! So someone with an "impenitent heart" (Romans 2:5) needs not apply. That person has not and cannot come to God with that heart. Though he/she can be active in some kind of organized religion or church, that person will not know God's grace. For He resists the rebellious and proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6). Only the latter can see the transforming power of God's grace (Titus 2:11-14!) as they come to Him and they will receive a brand new heart also that doesn't need to be broken in surrender to be in full agreement with God, but rather it is a heart that reflects God's own heart, and that rejoices in humble submission to his will as an expression of love towards Him. The person with that new heart will joyfully and steadfastly follow God's ways of righteousness (not sin) and worship Him as He wants to be worshiped, in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).
The truth is that God will not give you a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26) if the old one is not broken (ex: Acts 2:37; Psalm 51:17), leading you to repentance with godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Then "all things become new" will start to manifest in all areas of your life as the promised Holy Spirit comes to you and sanctifies you.
Ezekiel 36:26
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
Have you been heartbroken over your sins for having offended Father God? If you hear his voice today, do not harden your hearts (Hebrews 3:15). Sin is indeed a serious matter and it took the life of God's Son to be offered in sacrifice to pay the price for sins and make reconciliation with Him possible! If you ever saw eye to eye with God regarding sin, then there is only one outcome when He says "Go, and sin no more" (John 8:11). You don't slip in and out of sin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peM3W5ETLDc) like you're still not sure if its wages is death or not, like an unbeliever who says in his heart that there is no God. No, you fear Him and you keep yourself (1 John 5:18) with all the grace you have been given to do just that (Titus 2:11-14).
We who have been redeemed from death and the power of Satan (Acts 26:18) cannot continue to sin so that grace may abound, God forbid! (Romans 6:1-2; Galatians 2:17; 1 John 3:8-9) If you do not understand what you have been redeemed from, it is time to get serious about your salvation. Seek the truth about the Good News that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Again:
James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
↓ ↑
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
John 14:15-21
15. If you love me, keep my commandments. 16. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you. 18. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19. Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also. 20. At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21. He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows those who are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from unrighteousness.
The very act of coming to Him implies a change has happened in your heart's motives. You come to Him broken... In the softness of your brokenness, you are fully agreeing with the truth that you have sinned/disobeyed God, that God's wrath is presently on you (John 3:36) and that you need a Savior. Whether it's tiredness with sin (Matthew 11:28) or a thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) that is fueling your zeal to go to God for salvation and to walk in his ways, a change must have happened that triggered such a great move on your part to seek to be reconciled with God (2 Corinthians 5:20). You will then see a "great move of God" towards you also.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Repentance is nothing short of what the prodigal son did (Luke 15:11-32). He heard his conscience, came to his senses and had a change of heart. Now his misery continued until He was fully restored into his father's arms, but when he was received back home, it was restoration for him.
Psalm 23:3
He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness (not sin still!) for his name's sake.
The parable of the prodigal son is a very plain parable. But too often we (as unconverted/lost) will fail to see ourselves as that prodigal son or daughter and miss the word that was to feed us. The devil comes and snatches it out of our hearts (Luke 8:12). That is, if we do get any such word in the first place in our churches and "Christian" TV programs this day!
Luke 15:7
...there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
You are to go to God with a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17), with godly sorrow over your sins (2 Corinthians 7:10), your offenses against Him, who has shown you his love (John 3:16 / Romans 5:6-8) that you have neither deserved nor responded to. You come clean with God, like this tax-collector who said: ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ (Luke 18:13). He went home justified (Luke 18:14), that means God had mercy on him and he was made right with God. He did not continue his life as once a sinner, always a sinner (meaning "rebel" / "wicked" / "enemy of God" - that's what sinner means throughout the bible; read Psalm 1 and identify who of two kinds of people you are). He was made righteous and not by some explanation that the Father started seeing him through a "see-through" Jesus that theologians have invented. [See "The Myth of the Imputed Righteousness of Christ", it's helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSTa3uGdbhY] He was cleaned up for good and expected to keep himself in the love of God by continuing in a life of obedience to God (John 15:10)! That is the true mark of coming into a relationship with God and being filled with his Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 5:32; 1 John 4:13). Sin afterwards is plain unfaithfulness, and as long as grace is available, those who are "adulterers" and "adulteresses" are called to repent (James 4:6-10; 1 John 2:1-2). What you come to God "as is" with is your brokenness:
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise." (Psalm 51:17)
What that means is that you need a repentant heart with sorrow in it over your sins that have kept you separated from God (Isaiah 59:2)! No tough guy or strong woman who appears before God should expect to get anything from Him. You come as you are in your brokenness, that's it. But your rebellion that makes you stand in your sin and speak whatever is on your mind to God, you need to crush it before it causes you to be crushed (Proverbs 16:18; Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 1:28; Luke 13:1-5).
Matthew 21:44
And whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
Don't venture yourself nor be misled by anyone to reject that stone (Jesus) - Matthew 21:42.
You make a choice to fear and love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength (Mark 12:30), and that is to be obedient to Him (John 14:15), if truly his word of truth has touched you (and not some re-packaged motivational message to please the masses). God demands humility and true repentance with hatred for your sins. You need to see eye to eye with God about sin, and only then when your heart and God's heart are united can you honestly plead guilty and ask for God to forgive you your own personal sins against Him. You have no chance before that to really leave sin behind, not only in practice, but first in your heart also that is purified.
James 4:8
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
When you come to God that way, or "accept Christ", whatever you call it these days, only if you do it that way which God has ordained, can you truly be set free from sin and not look back because you have come to know the truth (John 8:31-32) and know that there is nothing good behind sin. Then you understand the love of God for what it is. John 3:16 is serious salvation business, not a cliché to hide behind and to suppress a reality you do not truly want (freedom from sin/total surrender to God's will out of love).
2 Timothy 2:15
Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
1 John 3:7
Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
The call to "Go, and sin no more" (John 8:11) is implied every time forgiveness is granted. Ask any judge in a human court (and God is a more excellent and just judge than man!) Otherwise, what's the point of being set free from sin if it's to continue making a practice of sin, that is, choosing the broad path to destruction? (Matthew 7:13)
When you recognize you are a criminal before God (you are convicted of your sins/you experience conviction of sin), then salvation makes sense. When you get the bad news (the wages of sin is death - Romans 6:23), the Good News (the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord - Romans 6:23) makes much more sense, doesn't it? But today we barely get the bad news or actually believe it. So we get many flavors of "good news" to play with, that are no good news at all (Galatians 1:7 warns). But there is only one way to salvation and that is the truth (John 14:6)!
You go to God to receive forgiveness for your sins and make peace with Him (as one who turns around and surrenders, no longer wanting to be his enemy - John 15:14 tells you what makes you a friend of God). You don't go to Him to get an endorsement of the life you have lived or that you want to continue living for yourself. You are giving Him your whole life! So someone with an "impenitent heart" (Romans 2:5) needs not apply. That person has not and cannot come to God with that heart. Though he/she can be active in some kind of organized religion or church, that person will not know God's grace. For He resists the rebellious and proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6). Only the latter can see the transforming power of God's grace (Titus 2:11-14!) as they come to Him and they will receive a brand new heart also that doesn't need to be broken in surrender to be in full agreement with God, but rather it is a heart that reflects God's own heart, and that rejoices in humble submission to his will as an expression of love towards Him. The person with that new heart will joyfully and steadfastly follow God's ways of righteousness (not sin) and worship Him as He wants to be worshiped, in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).
The truth is that God will not give you a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26) if the old one is not broken (ex: Acts 2:37; Psalm 51:17), leading you to repentance with godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Then "all things become new" will start to manifest in all areas of your life as the promised Holy Spirit comes to you and sanctifies you.
Ezekiel 36:26
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
Have you been heartbroken over your sins for having offended Father God? If you hear his voice today, do not harden your hearts (Hebrews 3:15). Sin is indeed a serious matter and it took the life of God's Son to be offered in sacrifice to pay the price for sins and make reconciliation with Him possible! If you ever saw eye to eye with God regarding sin, then there is only one outcome when He says "Go, and sin no more" (John 8:11). You don't slip in and out of sin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peM3W5ETLDc) like you're still not sure if its wages is death or not, like an unbeliever who says in his heart that there is no God. No, you fear Him and you keep yourself (1 John 5:18) with all the grace you have been given to do just that (Titus 2:11-14).
We who have been redeemed from death and the power of Satan (Acts 26:18) cannot continue to sin so that grace may abound, God forbid! (Romans 6:1-2; Galatians 2:17; 1 John 3:8-9) If you do not understand what you have been redeemed from, it is time to get serious about your salvation. Seek the truth about the Good News that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Again:
James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
↓ ↑
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
John 14:15-21
15. If you love me, keep my commandments. 16. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you. 18. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19. Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also. 20. At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21. He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
See also:
The Goal of Repentance - video
By the word of their testimony... (Revelation 12:11) - video playlist
Original publication date: 2016-04-03
Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness
James 2:23
and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
If you are a believer, God sees you as righteous and you are his friend. Let's all sing a song!
We can fill stadiums with screaming believers, planting seeds in the millions, supposedly having all the power of God behind us, but cannot impact a society! (Just look at this godless society). How is that possible? What do believers believe?
2 Timothy 3:5 tells us that some will be "holding a form of godliness, but denying its power."
Can church people be hypnotized/bewitched by people who are deemed to be ministers of God because they are media-friendly and have made a name for themselves? (Some are deceitful workers... Do you have enough word/truth in you to spot them? - 2 Corinthians 11:13-14) The believers in Galatia certainly were not immune to bewitching by some wicked men (Galatians 3:1). Do people today have more power to hijack their followers' minds and plant in them seeds of death? Are people today more likely to study the scriptures to find what is truth (Acts 17:11)? Be on your guard as the scriptures warn repeatedly. Can you recall having ever been cautious with the messages you are receiving, as "from the Lord", through people you may have idolized? Either towards TV preacher or your pastor dad, idolatry in any form is sin and a snare. Trust in man is perilous (Jeremiah 17:5). You can't afford to follow a blind man if you have some seed of light in you (Matthew 15:14). A man who calls himself a man of God is to be your servant, and the word/truth that gives you light leads you to know who is who around you that is ready to minister to you. You shall know them by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). But you must study the word, meditate upon it, be hungry and thirsty for righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 2:15
Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
-------
Let's go back to this word:
James 2:23
and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God.
Now let's learn to study in context. We will take a handful of verses to situate what James is saying:
James 2:20-24
20. But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead? 21. Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22. You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected; 23. and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God. 24. You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not by faith alone.
Ok, some will see the word "works" in there and will be gnashing their teeth like those who killed Stephen (Acts 7:54). They will throw in this:
Ephesians: 2. 8. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9. not by works, so that no one can boast.
And by doing this, the James passage is to them as though they had never read it. They cannot study it. They are full of fear with the word "works" in the way it's used. All the work they care about is the "finished work on the cross". Indeed, they are bewitched and put to sleep. They do not have a sound mind. No one can do the work that Jesus has done. Do trust that it is done, but being called a "follower" or "disciple" requires you to do something: the works of obedience that go with your faith!
Acts 26:19-20
19. "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20. but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.
What? Doing "works" worthy of repentance? I thought you only needed to say the sinner's prayer to be saved... Who is the liar? Who is a false prophet/teacher in this day? You study and you decide.
This is the link you may be missing even after decades sitting in church under false teachings:
Abraham obeyed God. His works were his acts of obedience to God. Faith implies the trust to follow God's voice and the love to obey his will. Sin is disobedience. You cannot have that in a loving relationship with God. And if you were in such relationship with the Father, your sin is unfaithfulness. A sinner's mindset is not a believer's mindset. An obedient servant's mindset, that of one who is in submission to and conformed to his Master's will, is what should be the mindset of one who is said to believe in Jesus, and even has obeyed Him to be filled with his Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; Acts 5:32), the only way a person can be said to belong to Christ (Romans 8:9).
John 3:36
The one who believes in the Son has eternal life: and the one who does not obey the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God remains on him.
Some did not enter the promised land because of unbelief:
Hebrews 3:19
We see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.
What do you think that means? These people saw God's hand and power more than any other on the face of the earth, so we are not talking about atheists here. They were disobedient!
Are you a believer? What do you believe? Must you obey God or just "believe"? Again, what do you believe or what is "believing" to you? Has the good news reached you? (serious question)
Let's read this again:
James 2:19-24
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Luke 6:46-49
46. "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things which I say? 47. Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you who he is like. 48. He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. 49. But he who hears, and doesn't do, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."
1 Peter 4:17-18
17. For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don't obey the Good News of God? 18. "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?"
You'd better don't call yourself a sinner if you are in a loving relationship with God (e.g. Galatians 2:17; Romans 5:6-9), if you are "in Christ", and that'd better be true too, not just taking a label.
Make sure you obey God and respond to his John 3:16 sacrificial love demonstrated towards you.
John 14:15
If you love me, keep my commandments.
John 15:14
You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.
There is no faith to speak of, no "believing" without a heart to obey God. If Jesus is your Lord, you have repented and you are done doing your own thing. You don't honor God with your lips (Matthew 15:8); you mean what you say when you say "Your kingdom come! Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!" The walk as a follower of Jesus (John 8:12; Luke 9:23 - read those) is not about claiming that you are "covered by the blood", and that nobody can judge you (the word judges you - John 12:48 - don't kill the messenger - Galatians 4:16), while continuing with life of sin. There is no good news in that. The first part of Romans 6:23 tells you:
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Have you been born again?
1 John 5:18
We know that whoever is born of God doesn't sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn't touch him.
--------
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
Source: https://www.facebook.com/yestothetruth/posts/1058353070910282
and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
If you are a believer, God sees you as righteous and you are his friend. Let's all sing a song!
We can fill stadiums with screaming believers, planting seeds in the millions, supposedly having all the power of God behind us, but cannot impact a society! (Just look at this godless society). How is that possible? What do believers believe?
2 Timothy 3:5 tells us that some will be "holding a form of godliness, but denying its power."
Can church people be hypnotized/bewitched by people who are deemed to be ministers of God because they are media-friendly and have made a name for themselves? (Some are deceitful workers... Do you have enough word/truth in you to spot them? - 2 Corinthians 11:13-14) The believers in Galatia certainly were not immune to bewitching by some wicked men (Galatians 3:1). Do people today have more power to hijack their followers' minds and plant in them seeds of death? Are people today more likely to study the scriptures to find what is truth (Acts 17:11)? Be on your guard as the scriptures warn repeatedly. Can you recall having ever been cautious with the messages you are receiving, as "from the Lord", through people you may have idolized? Either towards TV preacher or your pastor dad, idolatry in any form is sin and a snare. Trust in man is perilous (Jeremiah 17:5). You can't afford to follow a blind man if you have some seed of light in you (Matthew 15:14). A man who calls himself a man of God is to be your servant, and the word/truth that gives you light leads you to know who is who around you that is ready to minister to you. You shall know them by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). But you must study the word, meditate upon it, be hungry and thirsty for righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 2:15
Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
-------
Let's go back to this word:
James 2:23
and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God.
Now let's learn to study in context. We will take a handful of verses to situate what James is saying:
James 2:20-24
20. But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead? 21. Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22. You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected; 23. and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God. 24. You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not by faith alone.
Ok, some will see the word "works" in there and will be gnashing their teeth like those who killed Stephen (Acts 7:54). They will throw in this:
Ephesians: 2. 8. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9. not by works, so that no one can boast.
And by doing this, the James passage is to them as though they had never read it. They cannot study it. They are full of fear with the word "works" in the way it's used. All the work they care about is the "finished work on the cross". Indeed, they are bewitched and put to sleep. They do not have a sound mind. No one can do the work that Jesus has done. Do trust that it is done, but being called a "follower" or "disciple" requires you to do something: the works of obedience that go with your faith!
Acts 26:19-20
19. "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20. but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.
What? Doing "works" worthy of repentance? I thought you only needed to say the sinner's prayer to be saved... Who is the liar? Who is a false prophet/teacher in this day? You study and you decide.
This is the link you may be missing even after decades sitting in church under false teachings:
Abraham obeyed God. His works were his acts of obedience to God. Faith implies the trust to follow God's voice and the love to obey his will. Sin is disobedience. You cannot have that in a loving relationship with God. And if you were in such relationship with the Father, your sin is unfaithfulness. A sinner's mindset is not a believer's mindset. An obedient servant's mindset, that of one who is in submission to and conformed to his Master's will, is what should be the mindset of one who is said to believe in Jesus, and even has obeyed Him to be filled with his Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; Acts 5:32), the only way a person can be said to belong to Christ (Romans 8:9).
John 3:36
The one who believes in the Son has eternal life: and the one who does not obey the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God remains on him.
Some did not enter the promised land because of unbelief:
Hebrews 3:19
We see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.
What do you think that means? These people saw God's hand and power more than any other on the face of the earth, so we are not talking about atheists here. They were disobedient!
Are you a believer? What do you believe? Must you obey God or just "believe"? Again, what do you believe or what is "believing" to you? Has the good news reached you? (serious question)
Let's read this again:
James 2:19-24
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Luke 6:46-49
46. "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things which I say? 47. Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you who he is like. 48. He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. 49. But he who hears, and doesn't do, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."
1 Peter 4:17-18
17. For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don't obey the Good News of God? 18. "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?"
You'd better don't call yourself a sinner if you are in a loving relationship with God (e.g. Galatians 2:17; Romans 5:6-9), if you are "in Christ", and that'd better be true too, not just taking a label.
Make sure you obey God and respond to his John 3:16 sacrificial love demonstrated towards you.
John 14:15
If you love me, keep my commandments.
John 15:14
You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.
There is no faith to speak of, no "believing" without a heart to obey God. If Jesus is your Lord, you have repented and you are done doing your own thing. You don't honor God with your lips (Matthew 15:8); you mean what you say when you say "Your kingdom come! Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!" The walk as a follower of Jesus (John 8:12; Luke 9:23 - read those) is not about claiming that you are "covered by the blood", and that nobody can judge you (the word judges you - John 12:48 - don't kill the messenger - Galatians 4:16), while continuing with life of sin. There is no good news in that. The first part of Romans 6:23 tells you:
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Have you been born again?
1 John 5:18
We know that whoever is born of God doesn't sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn't touch him.
--------
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
Source: https://www.facebook.com/yestothetruth/posts/1058353070910282
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