2. The Bible tells ministers to "preach the Word.. reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering of doctrine" (2 Ti. 4:2), and to "earnestly contend for 'the faith' ("Jesus Christ and Him Crucified") (Jude 3; 1 Cor. 2:2). It does not say anything about them telling the people to "PRAY more", "Read the Bible more", etc. Those things should occur naturally if our HEART AND FAITH is correct. A healthy baby is not told to drink milk. HE WANTS TO; A horse is not told to neigh; He WANTS to. A chicken is not told to cluck; He WANTS to..... (You get the point. lol).
3. "Being with Jesus" (in His Presence) is the Key to all spiritual Power (see Mark 3:14-15; Acts 4:13; 1:8); But here is the thing... That Power, the "Spirit of Life" only operates "IN CHRIST JESUS" (Rom. 8:2). To be "in Christ Jesus" entails that our faith be exclusively in Christ and what He has done on the Cross! Oth...erwise... no grace, no POWER!
Just "head knowledge" of this WILL NOT DO. It must be in the HEART! This is where true FAITH resides. (Rom. 10:10). 'THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH" -(Habakkuk 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38). Notice that last phrase is used FOUR TIMES in the scriptures, indicating its extreme importance by the Holy Spirit! FAITH must be in our heart, and specifically faith in CHRIST AND THE CROSS. If these are missing, the professing Christian is doomed to a life of defeat at the hands of Satan! The HEART is what God looks at. This is the seat of the motives with the person. He wants to know WHY we do the things we do. For example, a person can do "all the right things", and yet still be rejected by God if his MOTIVES are not right. I am convinced MANY Christians are in such a state. Many do the right things out of duty, but their heart.. is really not into it. They do stuff because they feel they HAVE to. How can we tell if a Christian's heart is REALLY pure? Jesus tells us in the Bible that "You shall know them by their fruits." I am convinced this refers to either "the works of the flesh" or "the fruit of the Spirit" (see Gal. 5:19-23). Which of these characterizes the person's behavior? ...on a consistent basis. Plus, if there is any hatred there..... not good. A true Christian will even love his ENEMIES.
4. "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but.... THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH". That latter phrase is listed four times in the Bible (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38), and refers to that one who is justified with God in daily living by FAITH IN CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED... ALONE. The former... phrase in that verse refers to all others.
The soul that is proud is not upright; That person will at least partly, in his heart, trust in his OWN righteousness (which is not sufficent with God). The soul who is humble IS upright; That person will, in his heart, trust 100 % in Christ and His Blood Sacrifice on the Cross. (which IS sufficient with God, and VERY MUCH so!).
5. THE GOSPEL: "Repentance of sins and Faith exclusively in Jesus Christ & Him Crucified" for both SALVATION and SANCTIFICATION = "ABUNDANT LIFE". .... And those last two words right there mean exactly what the words say. The person who lives this will be "BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVOURED". Will he have problems? Yes. Will all be a "bed of roses"? No. But will God emPower him and bless him? YES, YES, Y-E-S ! HALLELUJAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"BLESSED is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
BLESSED is the man unto whom th LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile (deceit)" -(Psa. 32:1)
The Word of God is clear: BLESSED; And there ar...e t-o-n-s of other scriptures on this. All spelling out one thing: "ABUNDANT LIFE" (Jn. 10:10b). Not convinced? Okay.. two more:
"Christ hath REDEEMED us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us (THE CROSS); for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
That THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM might come on the Gentile...s through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." -(Gal. 3:13-14)
"For the law of the Spirit of Life IN CHRIST JESUS (speaks of faith exclusively in Christ's Blood Sacrifice) hath made me FREE ROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH." -(Rom. 8:2)
Can it get... any plainer? Now all that is left for us to do... is "believe". Ahhh do you believe, friend?
BLESSED is the man unto whom th LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile (deceit)" -(Psa. 32:1)
The Word of God is clear: BLESSED; And there ar...e t-o-n-s of other scriptures on this. All spelling out one thing: "ABUNDANT LIFE" (Jn. 10:10b). Not convinced? Okay.. two more:
"Christ hath REDEEMED us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us (THE CROSS); for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
That THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM might come on the Gentile...s through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." -(Gal. 3:13-14)
"For the law of the Spirit of Life IN CHRIST JESUS (speaks of faith exclusively in Christ's Blood Sacrifice) hath made me FREE ROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH." -(Rom. 8:2)
Can it get... any plainer? Now all that is left for us to do... is "believe". Ahhh do you believe, friend?
GLO-ry to God! This is why it is called "GOOD NEWS"! Satan's vise-grip of defeat in your life was BROKEN at CALVARY! Those shackles of his , binding your hands and feet... UNLOCKED. Now all it takes is for you to BELIEVE it (faith), and ...get OUT of them things! Why keep 'em on in unbelief. If you keep 'em on, its your own darn fault ! Silly, silly, silly ! TAKE UP YOUR BED AND WALK. (Jhn. 5:7-8).... LOOOOOOSE HIM AND LET HIM GOOOOOO! (Jhn. 11:43-44)
BLESSED ! :-D.
6. "Sitting on a fence can be verrry painful" (See Josh. 24:15; 1 Ki. 18:21; 1 Cor. 10:21; Rev. 3:15-16). You're gonna have to CHOOSE, dear friend!
... and then live with your decision! Let's hope you choose wisely... in GOD'S sight! He has the final decree. If you say you WON'T choose, God'll allow Satan to push ya over to the BAD side! (2 Thes. 2:10-12; Rev. 3:16). If you stop and think about it "lukewarmness" is never good, except mainly with AIR TEMPERATURE. Lukewarm bath water... blah. Lukewarm coffee or tea... blah. Blah, blah. BLAH. UP-CHUCK!!
7. "... our sufficiency (ability/ competency) is of God. Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament: not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth Life." (2 Cor. 3:5-6). We can only live this Christian Life (and minister) through "dependency upon God" by GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS, not through legalistic religion. Legalism ("walking after the flesh in self-effort of law-keeping") KILLS, but the spirit ("walking after the Spirit through faith exclusively in Christ and the Cross) ENERGIZES. Hallelujah !!!!!!!! The true Christian will be FULL OF LIFE !!!! ... and do NATURALLY what the legalistic person is STRIVING to do: SUCCESSFULLY LIVE FOR GOD IN VICTORY OVER "THE WORLD, THE FLESH, AND THE DEVIL"). To "walk after the letter" only yields defeat and frustration. BEEN there, DONE that, AM DONE WITH ALL of that nonsense! True victory finally comes to the Christian who finally realizes, in regards to living in spiritual victory... "I"... CANNOT DO IT! I now trust totally in CHRIST'S Sacrifice, instead of my OWN sacrifices!" And , of course, those who just want "a license to sin" are not really saved to begin with, because the person who IS... WANTS to please God! And (listen carefully).... it is unrighteous for a person to just assume and exclaim that a minister (or any Christian in general) "just WANTED to sin!", if he falls into some sin habit. God is listening to that, and not pleased! .... Galatians 6:1-2 declares, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault (sin), ye which are spiritual, RESTORE such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so... fulfil the law of Christ (LOVE)."
But what does the church tend to do instead? KILL the guy !
8. ... is "in CHRIST" (Rom.8:1-2), and there is no man greater than Him! (Mt. 28:18; Rev. 1:18; Ps. 27:1-3; Rom.8:31-34; 2 Sam. 2:3-4; Jer. 20:9-11; Micah 7:4-8).
And OH MY GOSH... how can I forget PSALM 91?! I am just silly enough to believe that WHOLE CHAPTER. HALLELUJAH !!!!!!!!! GLO - ry ta God, I'm havin' church! Maybe I'll go outside and preach to the trees and the cowwws! "MOOOOOOO!" (One just said "A-MEN, brother Goss!") :)
9. "But now 'THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD WITHOUT THE LAW" is manifested,... Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe..." (Rom. 3:21-22). This right here is NOT "anti-nomianism" (no law); It is justification by faith.
BLESSED ! :-D.
6. "Sitting on a fence can be verrry painful" (See Josh. 24:15; 1 Ki. 18:21; 1 Cor. 10:21; Rev. 3:15-16). You're gonna have to CHOOSE, dear friend!
... and then live with your decision! Let's hope you choose wisely... in GOD'S sight! He has the final decree. If you say you WON'T choose, God'll allow Satan to push ya over to the BAD side! (2 Thes. 2:10-12; Rev. 3:16). If you stop and think about it "lukewarmness" is never good, except mainly with AIR TEMPERATURE. Lukewarm bath water... blah. Lukewarm coffee or tea... blah. Blah, blah. BLAH. UP-CHUCK!!
7. "... our sufficiency (ability/ competency) is of God. Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament: not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth Life." (2 Cor. 3:5-6). We can only live this Christian Life (and minister) through "dependency upon God" by GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS, not through legalistic religion. Legalism ("walking after the flesh in self-effort of law-keeping") KILLS, but the spirit ("walking after the Spirit through faith exclusively in Christ and the Cross) ENERGIZES. Hallelujah !!!!!!!! The true Christian will be FULL OF LIFE !!!! ... and do NATURALLY what the legalistic person is STRIVING to do: SUCCESSFULLY LIVE FOR GOD IN VICTORY OVER "THE WORLD, THE FLESH, AND THE DEVIL"). To "walk after the letter" only yields defeat and frustration. BEEN there, DONE that, AM DONE WITH ALL of that nonsense! True victory finally comes to the Christian who finally realizes, in regards to living in spiritual victory... "I"... CANNOT DO IT! I now trust totally in CHRIST'S Sacrifice, instead of my OWN sacrifices!" And , of course, those who just want "a license to sin" are not really saved to begin with, because the person who IS... WANTS to please God! And (listen carefully).... it is unrighteous for a person to just assume and exclaim that a minister (or any Christian in general) "just WANTED to sin!", if he falls into some sin habit. God is listening to that, and not pleased! .... Galatians 6:1-2 declares, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault (sin), ye which are spiritual, RESTORE such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so... fulfil the law of Christ (LOVE)."
But what does the church tend to do instead? KILL the guy !
8. ... is "in CHRIST" (Rom.8:1-2), and there is no man greater than Him! (Mt. 28:18; Rev. 1:18; Ps. 27:1-3; Rom.8:31-34; 2 Sam. 2:3-4; Jer. 20:9-11; Micah 7:4-8).
And OH MY GOSH... how can I forget PSALM 91?! I am just silly enough to believe that WHOLE CHAPTER. HALLELUJAH !!!!!!!!! GLO - ry ta God, I'm havin' church! Maybe I'll go outside and preach to the trees and the cowwws! "MOOOOOOO!" (One just said "A-MEN, brother Goss!") :)
9. "But now 'THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD WITHOUT THE LAW" is manifested,... Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe..." (Rom. 3:21-22). This right here is NOT "anti-nomianism" (no law); It is justification by faith.
Here are a couple of other scriptures which can be CONSTRUED as "anti-nomianism":....
"I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the law, Christ is dead in vain." -(Gal. 2:21)
"Christ is become of no effect unto you, w......hosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." -(Gal. 5:4)
"For SIN SHALL NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER YOU; for ye are not under the law, but under grace." -(Rom. 6:14).
10. "For He (J-E-S-U-S) satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." -(Psa. 107:9) .
"And ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power." -(Col. 2:10)
"LOOKING UNTO JESUS, the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured THE CROSS, despising the shame, and is set down at the right Hand of the throne of God." -(Heb. 12:2).
"The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing." -(Psa. 34:10).
"He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away. -(Lk. 1:52-53).
"Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.
The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with Strength.....
......"He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. -(1 Sam. 2:3-4,9).
11. True "faith" resides in the... HEART (see Rom. 10:10), and the heart is what GOD looks at (1 Sam. 16:7; Jer. 17:10). The "Message of the Cross" must be THERE.
God will just ignore "head knowledge" of Truth if the heart is not right in God's Sight. HIS condition must be met, friend: FULL SURRENDER to Him. Full surrender like you said, not a "sunday christian" a monday-sunday christian 365 days a year. One cannot have a mind of a SAINT with a heart of a DEVIL. Don't work! How does one know if a person is that way? The Divine Love of God will be absent (1 Jn. 3:14-15), and "the fruit of the Spirit" will be absent (Gal. 5:18-23). BEWARE !!!! A "wolf in sheep's clothing" will be like a "Cain disguised as an Abel", even at Abel's ALTAR (the Cross) !!
12. "And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." (Matt. 3:10; 12:33-35). What fruit does this refer to? The fruit of the SPIRIT, and the fruits of RIGHTEOUSNESS (Gal. 5:22-23; Phil. 1:11). ... and JESUS is responsible for another person's fruit; We... are not. A tree cannot do anything about the fruit on another tree. Only the Husbandman can. If WE try to, we are usurping the job of the Husbandman, and... He will be none too pleased. In the days of Jesus' ministry, that kind of tree was called ... "the scribes and Pharisees". Jesus had some not too kind words for them (Matt. chpt. 23).
"I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the law, Christ is dead in vain." -(Gal. 2:21)
"Christ is become of no effect unto you, w......hosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." -(Gal. 5:4)
"For SIN SHALL NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER YOU; for ye are not under the law, but under grace." -(Rom. 6:14).
10. "For He (J-E-S-U-S) satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." -(Psa. 107:9) .
"And ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power." -(Col. 2:10)
"LOOKING UNTO JESUS, the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured THE CROSS, despising the shame, and is set down at the right Hand of the throne of God." -(Heb. 12:2).
"The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing." -(Psa. 34:10).
"He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away. -(Lk. 1:52-53).
"Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.
The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with Strength.....
......"He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. -(1 Sam. 2:3-4,9).
11. True "faith" resides in the... HEART (see Rom. 10:10), and the heart is what GOD looks at (1 Sam. 16:7; Jer. 17:10). The "Message of the Cross" must be THERE.
God will just ignore "head knowledge" of Truth if the heart is not right in God's Sight. HIS condition must be met, friend: FULL SURRENDER to Him. Full surrender like you said, not a "sunday christian" a monday-sunday christian 365 days a year. One cannot have a mind of a SAINT with a heart of a DEVIL. Don't work! How does one know if a person is that way? The Divine Love of God will be absent (1 Jn. 3:14-15), and "the fruit of the Spirit" will be absent (Gal. 5:18-23). BEWARE !!!! A "wolf in sheep's clothing" will be like a "Cain disguised as an Abel", even at Abel's ALTAR (the Cross) !!
12. "And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." (Matt. 3:10; 12:33-35). What fruit does this refer to? The fruit of the SPIRIT, and the fruits of RIGHTEOUSNESS (Gal. 5:22-23; Phil. 1:11). ... and JESUS is responsible for another person's fruit; We... are not. A tree cannot do anything about the fruit on another tree. Only the Husbandman can. If WE try to, we are usurping the job of the Husbandman, and... He will be none too pleased. In the days of Jesus' ministry, that kind of tree was called ... "the scribes and Pharisees". Jesus had some not too kind words for them (Matt. chpt. 23).
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