Rev. 12:10-11; 1 Jhn. 1:8; Rom. 6:14; Gal. 2:21; 5:4..... Friend, if you reject what is plainly given here in the Holy Bible (which is what a "Christian" goes by), you cannot be helped otherwise. God has set up just ONE Way and Means of vic...tory, and that is JESUS AND THE CROSS.
Dear Christian, one day the voice of God's servants will be silent on this matter. And yet... you will be held accountable for the Truth which you have read or heard. ... by the God Whom I serve.
Many Christians have gotten very discouraged concerning the Christian life, that it is "too hard", and then "give up" (I have witnessed this, particularly with many teen-agers). They have been told, "You gotta do THIS." "You have to avoid T...HAT." And then Christianity becomes to them nothing more than a system of rules, not a living relationship with Jesus in Grace and Truth. At the same time, this effectively places them under "law", which actually STIMULATES the sin nature (which they are told they no longer possess, btw.). And then when invariably they fail (sin) (which they WILL under that mode), they have condemnation to boot! They look at their friends out in the world having a good time, and Satan then begins to lay it on real thick! "Just LOOK at you! MISERABLE!", he sneers.
GOD DOES NOT INTEND FOR HIS CHILDREN TO LIVE THAT WAY... in MISERY! He sent His Son the they might have LIFE, and that they might have it MORE ABUNDANTLY (Jhn. 10:10b). Hallelujah, friend you get saved by "grace through faith", and then according to the Bible you LIVE FOR GOD by "grace through faith" AS WELL- in the BLOOD OF JESUS.... EXCLUSIVELY. And then the Holy Spirit walks WITH you and EMPOWERS you to live in victory over "the world", "the flesh", and the devil! You'll pray because you WANT to pray. You'll read that Bible because you WANT to read it. You'll go to church because you WANT to. You'll tithe because you WANT to give to the Lord's Work. So on, and so on, and so on. Not out of "obligation and duty", but from the.... HEART.
Imagine a Father and a son: The son only speaking with his dad because he "AUGHT to". Now what kind of relationship is that? No relationship at all! It sounds more like a business transaction. Friend, it is just "religion", plain and simple, and God hates that! He wants you to stop trusting in yourself and your performance of "sacrifices" to Him, and come to Him out of LOVE, stemming from faith in the PROPER Object: His SON'S Sacrifice on the Cross!!!! Nowwwww we're talking! You have just "turned the electricity on", and things will start running properly!
:))))))))))) God'll then turn that ole' frown UPSIDE DOWWWWWN!!!! And set your feet to DANCIN' !!!!!
2) The TRUTH: It remains, and will never ever change: The BLOOD still SETS men free !!!
Dear Christian, one day the voice of God's servants will be silent on this matter. And yet... you will be held accountable for the Truth which you have read or heard. ... by the God Whom I serve.
Many Christians have gotten very discouraged concerning the Christian life, that it is "too hard", and then "give up" (I have witnessed this, particularly with many teen-agers). They have been told, "You gotta do THIS." "You have to avoid T...HAT." And then Christianity becomes to them nothing more than a system of rules, not a living relationship with Jesus in Grace and Truth. At the same time, this effectively places them under "law", which actually STIMULATES the sin nature (which they are told they no longer possess, btw.). And then when invariably they fail (sin) (which they WILL under that mode), they have condemnation to boot! They look at their friends out in the world having a good time, and Satan then begins to lay it on real thick! "Just LOOK at you! MISERABLE!", he sneers.
GOD DOES NOT INTEND FOR HIS CHILDREN TO LIVE THAT WAY... in MISERY! He sent His Son the they might have LIFE, and that they might have it MORE ABUNDANTLY (Jhn. 10:10b). Hallelujah, friend you get saved by "grace through faith", and then according to the Bible you LIVE FOR GOD by "grace through faith" AS WELL- in the BLOOD OF JESUS.... EXCLUSIVELY. And then the Holy Spirit walks WITH you and EMPOWERS you to live in victory over "the world", "the flesh", and the devil! You'll pray because you WANT to pray. You'll read that Bible because you WANT to read it. You'll go to church because you WANT to. You'll tithe because you WANT to give to the Lord's Work. So on, and so on, and so on. Not out of "obligation and duty", but from the.... HEART.
Imagine a Father and a son: The son only speaking with his dad because he "AUGHT to". Now what kind of relationship is that? No relationship at all! It sounds more like a business transaction. Friend, it is just "religion", plain and simple, and God hates that! He wants you to stop trusting in yourself and your performance of "sacrifices" to Him, and come to Him out of LOVE, stemming from faith in the PROPER Object: His SON'S Sacrifice on the Cross!!!! Nowwwww we're talking! You have just "turned the electricity on", and things will start running properly!
:))))))))))) God'll then turn that ole' frown UPSIDE DOWWWWWN!!!! And set your feet to DANCIN' !!!!!
2) The TRUTH: It remains, and will never ever change: The BLOOD still SETS men free !!!
It is STILL God's Answer, both to be SAVED (Jhn. 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9; 1:6-7), and to be SANCTIFIED (Col. 2:6;1:21-23; Heb. 3:6,14; Rom. 5:9; Rev. 12:10-11; Eph. 2:10).
Right there it is, in the Bible, in black-and-white, folks!! Don't take MY ...word for it; Take GOD'S Word.
Right there it is, in the Bible, in black-and-white, folks!! Don't take MY ...word for it; Take GOD'S Word.
It is better to know the TRUTH, to walk accordingly, and LIVE (including "abundant Life" in the here-and-now).... than to live a LIE, and PERISH.
Much of the Church, as we speak, is now "living a lie" by believing that they can sanctify them...selves through WHAT THEY DO. In essence, they believe that they can set THEMSELVES free, and that the Blood of Christ on that Cross was "insufficient". In other words.... "unbelief" in God's prescribed Sacrifice.
Much of the Church, as we speak, is now "living a lie" by believing that they can sanctify them...selves through WHAT THEY DO. In essence, they believe that they can set THEMSELVES free, and that the Blood of Christ on that Cross was "insufficient". In other words.... "unbelief" in God's prescribed Sacrifice.
Their mindset is... "No, I need to wear a "prayer-shawl"; "I need to do 90-days of purpose", "I need to have a better confession", "I need to win the battlefield of the mind.", "I need to believe in the champion within me!", "I need to ...... get off by myself and pray to gain the victory."," I need to get in the Word more.", "I need to FAST", "I need to have someone to lay hands on me and pray for my deliverance.".... I NEED TO, I NEED TO, I NEED TO, I N-E-E-D TO!!!!!!!!
No, Y-O-U do not need to "DO" anything. J-E-S-U-S has already DONE IT FOR YOU, ON-THE-CROSS 2,000 years ago, and it is not a question of you "doing", but rather "BELIEVING IN GOD" = "FAITH" .... in the correct Object!: "JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED". HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
..."THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH" (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Hebrews 10:38).
No, Y-O-U do not need to "DO" anything. J-E-S-U-S has already DONE IT FOR YOU, ON-THE-CROSS 2,000 years ago, and it is not a question of you "doing", but rather "BELIEVING IN GOD" = "FAITH" .... in the correct Object!: "JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED". HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
..."THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH" (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Hebrews 10:38).
"Therefore being justified by FAITH, we have peace with God through OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST." -(Rom. 5:1),...
"Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through FAITH IN HIS BLOOD, to declare HIS Righteousness for the remission of sins th...at are past, through the forbearance of God." -(Rom. 3:25)
"And, having made peace through THE BLOOD OF HIS CROSS, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself....
And you, that were enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH THROUGH DEATH (the Cross), to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight: IF YOU CONTINUE IN-THE-FAITH , and BE NOT MOVED AWAY FROM THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL...." -(Col. 1:20-23).
"Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through FAITH IN HIS BLOOD, to declare HIS Righteousness for the remission of sins th...at are past, through the forbearance of God." -(Rom. 3:25)
"And, having made peace through THE BLOOD OF HIS CROSS, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself....
And you, that were enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH THROUGH DEATH (the Cross), to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight: IF YOU CONTINUE IN-THE-FAITH , and BE NOT MOVED AWAY FROM THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL...." -(Col. 1:20-23).
"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)
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye 'IN HIM', Rooted and bui...lt up IN HIM, and stablished IN THE FAITH, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
BEWARE THAT ANY MAN SPOIL YOU THROUGH PHILOSOPHY AND VAIN DECEIT, AFTER THE TRADITION OF MEN, AFTER THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD, AND NOT AFTER CHRIST." -(Col. 2:6-8).
"... the accuser of our brethren (Satan) is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And THEY OVERCAME HIM BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB (faith in "the Cross"), and by the Word of their testimony (being saved by faith in the Cross); and they loved not their lives unto the death." -(Rev. 12:10-11)
3) God requires of man two things: That he 1) acknowledges, confesses, & turns away from his SINS, & 2) trusts solely in Christ & His Blood for Righteousness.
... and because of PRIDE, most people have difficulty with BOTH of these things! ...and then come up with other messages, programs, regimens, ways and means (all "works-based") to assuage/numb their guilt.
4) God's grace through faith in Christ & His Blood + a humble, repentant, hungry heart that fears & loves God = V-I-C-T-O-R-Y! !!! (Romans 8:2; Acts 3:19; 13:26; John 7:37-39; 10:10b; Rev. 12:10-11; James 4:6.).
5) When one looks closer at any mortal person, he will see greater IMperfection; When one looks closer at JESUS, he will see greater PERfection.
Many look unto their PASTOR and sort of idolize him like he is equal to GOD or something: but the Bible tells us to "look unto JESUS, the Author and Finisher of our faith." (Heb. 12:2).
We ARE to respect our Pastor, but what he says needs to line up with the Bible, or we do not need to follow him in that regard (whatever that may be). Friend, you do not need to follow ANY man unconditionally! "The doctrine of the Nicolaitains"; "nico" (control)... "laitains" (over the laity): is a big problem nowadays, as it has been in the CATHOLIC system for centuries.
6) "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the Strength of my heart, and my Portion for ever." -(Psa. 107:26)
We ALL need the Lord, although most do not realize it, or forget it. (see John 15:5; Prov. 16:18; 1 Pet. 5:8).
7) Christian, turn that "Water spiggot" WIDE OPEN, by placing your faith exclusively in Christ and HIS (Blood) Sacrifice for Righteousness & sanctification! (Romans 8:2; Gal. 2:21).
"He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings." -(Psa. 107:35).
8) "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert could or hot. So then, because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth." (Rev. 3:15-16). And what will MAKE the believer "hot"? For the answer, see 1 Cor. 1:23-24.
To reject out-of-hand the Message of the Cross for sanctification is.... not... a good place to be!
"Activity" and "performance of spiritual disciplines" does not equal "hot" in God's Eyes. It is continued faith in His SON"S Sacrifice, which PRODUCES those "works" .... from the HEART, not as "duty", but as PURE JOY!!!!! GRACE THROUGH FAITH!!!! TO BE ....SAVED. AND TO BE.... SANCTIFIED.
9) As a Christian, you MUST love & be willing to defend "Truth" MORE than need the approval of ANY PERSON... ... including your spouse, children, relatives, friends, co-workers, OR PASTOR & CHURCH MEMBERS. (Matthew 10:34-36).
HERE'S where "the rubber meets the road, ISN'T it? ARE WE WILLING to be persecuted for Righteousness' sake? Like our LORD JESUS was?? God give us men and women with backbones of STEEL!!!!
10) "The law" is fulfilled automatically by that one walking in "grace and Truth" ("in Christ"). (see John 1:17; 1 John 3:5).
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." -(Psa. 32:1-2)
"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak ...through the flesh, God sending His Own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh (on "the Cross"). THAT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULFILLED IN US, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH (trusting in our own efforts for righteousness), BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT (trusting in Christ and the Cross for righteousness." -(Rom. 8:3-4)
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye 'IN HIM', Rooted and bui...lt up IN HIM, and stablished IN THE FAITH, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
BEWARE THAT ANY MAN SPOIL YOU THROUGH PHILOSOPHY AND VAIN DECEIT, AFTER THE TRADITION OF MEN, AFTER THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD, AND NOT AFTER CHRIST." -(Col. 2:6-8).
"... the accuser of our brethren (Satan) is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And THEY OVERCAME HIM BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB (faith in "the Cross"), and by the Word of their testimony (being saved by faith in the Cross); and they loved not their lives unto the death." -(Rev. 12:10-11)
3) God requires of man two things: That he 1) acknowledges, confesses, & turns away from his SINS, & 2) trusts solely in Christ & His Blood for Righteousness.
... and because of PRIDE, most people have difficulty with BOTH of these things! ...and then come up with other messages, programs, regimens, ways and means (all "works-based") to assuage/numb their guilt.
4) God's grace through faith in Christ & His Blood + a humble, repentant, hungry heart that fears & loves God = V-I-C-T-O-R-Y! !!! (Romans 8:2; Acts 3:19; 13:26; John 7:37-39; 10:10b; Rev. 12:10-11; James 4:6.).
5) When one looks closer at any mortal person, he will see greater IMperfection; When one looks closer at JESUS, he will see greater PERfection.
Many look unto their PASTOR and sort of idolize him like he is equal to GOD or something: but the Bible tells us to "look unto JESUS, the Author and Finisher of our faith." (Heb. 12:2).
We ARE to respect our Pastor, but what he says needs to line up with the Bible, or we do not need to follow him in that regard (whatever that may be). Friend, you do not need to follow ANY man unconditionally! "The doctrine of the Nicolaitains"; "nico" (control)... "laitains" (over the laity): is a big problem nowadays, as it has been in the CATHOLIC system for centuries.
6) "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the Strength of my heart, and my Portion for ever." -(Psa. 107:26)
We ALL need the Lord, although most do not realize it, or forget it. (see John 15:5; Prov. 16:18; 1 Pet. 5:8).
7) Christian, turn that "Water spiggot" WIDE OPEN, by placing your faith exclusively in Christ and HIS (Blood) Sacrifice for Righteousness & sanctification! (Romans 8:2; Gal. 2:21).
"He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings." -(Psa. 107:35).
8) "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert could or hot. So then, because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth." (Rev. 3:15-16). And what will MAKE the believer "hot"? For the answer, see 1 Cor. 1:23-24.
To reject out-of-hand the Message of the Cross for sanctification is.... not... a good place to be!
"Activity" and "performance of spiritual disciplines" does not equal "hot" in God's Eyes. It is continued faith in His SON"S Sacrifice, which PRODUCES those "works" .... from the HEART, not as "duty", but as PURE JOY!!!!! GRACE THROUGH FAITH!!!! TO BE ....SAVED. AND TO BE.... SANCTIFIED.
9) As a Christian, you MUST love & be willing to defend "Truth" MORE than need the approval of ANY PERSON... ... including your spouse, children, relatives, friends, co-workers, OR PASTOR & CHURCH MEMBERS. (Matthew 10:34-36).
HERE'S where "the rubber meets the road, ISN'T it? ARE WE WILLING to be persecuted for Righteousness' sake? Like our LORD JESUS was?? God give us men and women with backbones of STEEL!!!!
10) "The law" is fulfilled automatically by that one walking in "grace and Truth" ("in Christ"). (see John 1:17; 1 John 3:5).
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." -(Psa. 32:1-2)
"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak ...through the flesh, God sending His Own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh (on "the Cross"). THAT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULFILLED IN US, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH (trusting in our own efforts for righteousness), BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT (trusting in Christ and the Cross for righteousness." -(Rom. 8:3-4)
So is this a "license to sin"? No, not for the "humble, repentant soul that fears God" it isn't! "GOD FORBID. HOW SHALL WE, THAT ARE DEAD TO SIN, LIVE ANY LONGER THEREIN? -(Rom. 6:2)
Those who DO see this as "a license to sin" are not "in ...Christ" to BEGIN with, for God will not LET HIM IN!
11) "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" -(Rom. 6:1-2). Those who are truly "in Christ" will not want to sin, nor take it lightly.
12) "FIRE" and "WATER". Now if you stop and think about it, those are two very interesting substances, and both are associated with..... GOD.
Fire "consumes, or purifies"; Water "replenishes and refreshes". The "FIRE of God" will not "consume" that one whose faith is in the Blood Sacrifice of His Son for Righteousness. It will "purify" him. Plus, the "WATER of God" (the Holy Spirit) will replenish and refresh his spirit!
My wife and I like to do camp fires in our yard (I built a burn pit). Know what I noticed? "Damp" wood (wood that contains WATER) will not burn, UNLESS... it is "dried out". That water, spiritually, indeed represents THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Ch...ristian not filled with the Holy Spirit, and more importantly... does not have the Holy Spirit actively moving in his life due to a faith not anchored in Christ's Sacrifice, will be "burned", being "dry". That one who DOES have the Holy Spirit actively moving in his life is NOT "burned". He may "feel the heat", but it does not consume him in any way. HALLELUJAH !!!!
Look, for example, at the three Hebrew men, bound and thrown by Nebuchadnezzar's men into a fiery furnace of flames. They were UN-SINGED!!!! While those SAME FLAMES CONSUMED the men who threw them in!!! Another example (or "type") is that of "the burning bush" in Exodus. God, as a flame of fire, engulfed the bush, but yet the bush WAS NOT CONSUMED. That "bush" is a "type" of US, as we are sanctified by faith in the cleansing Blood of Christ!!!
Those who DO see this as "a license to sin" are not "in ...Christ" to BEGIN with, for God will not LET HIM IN!
11) "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" -(Rom. 6:1-2). Those who are truly "in Christ" will not want to sin, nor take it lightly.
12) "FIRE" and "WATER". Now if you stop and think about it, those are two very interesting substances, and both are associated with..... GOD.
Fire "consumes, or purifies"; Water "replenishes and refreshes". The "FIRE of God" will not "consume" that one whose faith is in the Blood Sacrifice of His Son for Righteousness. It will "purify" him. Plus, the "WATER of God" (the Holy Spirit) will replenish and refresh his spirit!
My wife and I like to do camp fires in our yard (I built a burn pit). Know what I noticed? "Damp" wood (wood that contains WATER) will not burn, UNLESS... it is "dried out". That water, spiritually, indeed represents THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Ch...ristian not filled with the Holy Spirit, and more importantly... does not have the Holy Spirit actively moving in his life due to a faith not anchored in Christ's Sacrifice, will be "burned", being "dry". That one who DOES have the Holy Spirit actively moving in his life is NOT "burned". He may "feel the heat", but it does not consume him in any way. HALLELUJAH !!!!
Look, for example, at the three Hebrew men, bound and thrown by Nebuchadnezzar's men into a fiery furnace of flames. They were UN-SINGED!!!! While those SAME FLAMES CONSUMED the men who threw them in!!! Another example (or "type") is that of "the burning bush" in Exodus. God, as a flame of fire, engulfed the bush, but yet the bush WAS NOT CONSUMED. That "bush" is a "type" of US, as we are sanctified by faith in the cleansing Blood of Christ!!!
