"so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:28
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Thursday
Sunday
Beware of One Point Calvinist Reformed Teachers
It's the "one point" of Calvinism that rears its ugly head even with so called Grace teachers. In this case the one point preacher believes that a person faiths forgiveness. They won't say that, but by their fruits of what they teach that is what they are claiming to be the case. In essence God hasn't really forgiven a person at the cross unless a person believes it. So the preacher can not say to anyone "your sins are forgiven by God" because he does not know if a person truly believes it (and is saved with the Holy Spirit alive living in them giving them LIFE) or will believe forgiveness of sins in the future. There is no good news in that message of conditional forgiveness. It's a limited propitiation message; the old code name was "limited atonement" (which is what many preachers use the erroneous atonement statement for what Jesus did on the cross), which is the one main tenet of Calvinism. It is the "L" in the T.U.L.I.P. acronym for Calvinism, also known as Reformed teaching. In this view, Jesus did not die for the sins of the whole world, just for those that would believe (the elect in their minds). This is a false gospel. It is a fake gospel message.
Bottom line is, if Jesus did not die for "ALL" then no one could come to God the Father in the first place. The offer of Life Eternal to anyone that would believe is hollow and makes God out to be a liar.
JESUS DIED...
- For all (1st Timothy 2:6; Isaiah 53:6).
- For every man (Hebrews 2:9).
- For the world (John 3:16).
- For the sins of the whole world (1st John 2:2).
- For the ungodly (Romans 5:6).
- For false teachers (2nd Peter 2:1).
- For many (Matthew 20:28).
- For Israel (John 11:50-51).
- For the Church (Eph. 5:25).
- For "me" (Gal. 2:20).
For those that deny the completed forgiveness on the cross for all people, I have the following questions and thoughts for you to ponder.
Does "faithing" forgiveness cause God to go backwards and forgive you your sins on the cross? God's word says, "For without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." (Hebrews 9:22)
Christ Jesus died for "sinners." Guess what, we were all sinners to begin with! So did God die for you while you were still a sinner or when you were a saint according to God's word? "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
If your pastor/teacher is a one point Calvinist or doesn't believe that Jesus forgave everyone their sins on the cross, then they are preaching a weak gospel and not preaching the Gospel of Christ. And as far as the message of the cross is concerned for you, if Jesus did not forgive everyone, then how can you be sure you are included in the ones that Jesus did forgive on the cross? Is it your faith in your faith that saves you, or is it the Grace of God, through faith in completed forgiveness on the cross that saves a person? Have you really worked out your salvation if you can not answer the question? I plead with you, work out your salvation today. Understand what you believe and who you place faith in. Do not place faith in your own belief system or in your own understanding, but on the word of God.
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:12,13
Sunday
JESUS is the Name of God!
JESUS is the Name of God!
Anyone can pray to God. Anyone can talk about a Father in Heaven. Anyone can talk about the Good Lord. Anyone can speak of the Good Man upstairs and point to heaven. But mention the name of JESUS God in the flesh, JESUS Lord of lords, JESUS King of kings, JESUS The only Righteous One, JESUS The Savior of the World, JESUS The Prince of Peace, and watch so many people stumble over JESUS The Stumbling Stone. People choke on the word JESUS, for they are still focused on themselves. For, JESUS is His name, above all other names. Place faith in JESUS, the One that took away all your sins on the cross, not in your own idea of god or any false misconceptions of you thinking God is somehow pleased with your performance (as though you a hypocrite - an actor pretending you are good in your heart). For God knows your heart and is laid bare for Him to see. Only by faith in JESUS is a person declared righteous before GOD.
"What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. As it is written:"
“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” Romans 9:30-33
JESUS is the Rock of my Salvation!
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Thursday
Jesus is "I AM"
Jesus is God in the flesh. Jesus is "I AM"
So many people place the emphasis on their faith in their own belief, instead of in Jesus himself and who he is, and the faithfulness of God and what He did on the cross.
For example, many wrongly believe that if they ask for forgiveness from God, God will forgive them, instead of believing (agreeing) that God already forgave them on the cross for all of their sins (ALL sins - past, present and future sins) nearly 2000 years ago. For we know, "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22 The first example is the person believing in their belief system. Whereas the person that is trusting in God to have done the work is placing faith in Jesus and what Jesus did on the cross for them.
"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Romans 4:5
Worthy is Jesus
"Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." Revelation 5:12
Jesus is "I AM"
"Jesus said unto them, Truly, truly, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM."
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The Jews knew Jesus was claiming to be God and that Jesus had existed before Abraham was even born. They also knew the story of Moses and how God spoke with Moses on the mountain. What God said to Moses is recorded for us in Exodus 3:14.
And God said unto Moses, "I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
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Tuesday
Introductions to Jesus
God is the instigator of Grace.
We are simply the vessel(s), the instrument(s), the messenger(s) that God uses to share the Grace of Jesus with the world.
Grace does not always sit right with lost unrighteous people with their responses to the message. There are typically three responses from lost people, to the sharing of the message of Jesus with these people to begin with.
- Indifference
- Anger
- Thankfulness
The person who doesn't believe in God at all will typically respond with an outward attitude of indifference. Don't bother me with Jesus, I don't believe in him, or I don't even believe in God to begin with, is their typical attitude in life and things of God. Yet God is revealed in nature in so many ways; and for those that say they do not believe in God, the bible refers to them as fools, yet they are without excuse.
"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." Psalm 14:1
"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Romans 1:20
The person that gets angry at grace are the religionists and legalists. They don't want to hear that their self-works, or their church attendance, or their religion, or their traditions will not gain them eternal life. They are proud of their own self-efforts to please God. They don't want to hear that all their sins have been forgiven on the cross and there is no more sacrifice for their sins. This is why when you share the gospel message with self-righteous folks they will justify themselves for their self efforts and make a mockery of the cross by their confession booth attendance or misinterpretation of 1 John 1:9 and using it as a forgiveness vending machine from God. Be forewarned, just as Jesus was despised and hated by the Pharisees, the teachers of the Law, and the world in general during the time Jesus walked on earth, we too, will feel the wrath of those that despise the message of the Grace of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." James 4:6
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’ John 15:18-25
The third response to grace is total thankfulness to God. When one hears that God is not counting your sins against you, the person that receives this message can not help but to say. "Thank You!" to GOD. [2 Corinthians 5:19] For, that is the only response that is acceptable to God. Our response to His drawing us to Himself, is thanksgiving in your heart for what Jesus, God in the flesh has done for you. This is true confession (agreeing with God), and responding with an attitude of gratitude of the heart. Thanksgiving to God is a sign of faith in God. For without faith it is impossible to please God!
"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;" 1 Timothy 1:12
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6
God is drawing you to himself. Which person are you?
Jesus said, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32
Are you going to respond with indifference, anger or thanksgiving in your heart?
I implore you, listen to God's calling today and respond by faith.
As it says, "Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts..." Hebrews 3:15
Please read our welcome message.
God is Not a Forgiveness Vending Machine
Some people place an emphasis on the receiving of forgiveness for themselves by God, like they have to go out of their way to receive it, or do something to get it. However, the receiving of forgiveness is a matter of fact, that whoever believes in Jesus does indeed accept "receive" forgiveness (believes it was done and finished on the cross by God) for themselves. No one pushes God's buttons and out plops forgiveness for sins. God is not a vending machine of forgiveness. If forgiveness was not taken care of for all, then no one could come to the Father by faith. There are many that would claim that Jesus only died for those that were to believe. But, how would you know if you really believed, if Jesus did not die for the sins of the whole world? In essence, how would one know that Jesus died for them too, if that wasn't true?
Asking for forgiveness from God is a denial of the forgiveness that God gave to the world to begin with. For the very act of asking is saying to God, "I am asking you to forgive me now." This person doesn't really believe their sins were forgiven on the cross, because they place the emphasis on their asking or their own "believing the process of asking" or "believing the process of believing" forgiveness (that that somehow causes God to forgive them, even though many know in their hearts, that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness").
However, God forgave the sins of the whole world on the cross, so that whoever believes in Him has eternal life. Eternal life could not be given before sins were taken care of. For sin had to be taken away before eternal life could be given to the believer, otherwise when a person were to sin, the Holy Spirit would depart.
It is not how much a person believes, but what a person places faith on. Do they place faith on Jesus, the one who took away all their sins on the cross? Or, do they place faith on their own belief system (of asking for or believing in their own believing)? It's a subtle thing that needs to be delved into for everyone. Even some grace teachers do not believe that the sins of the whole world were forgiven on the cross. They can not say to anyone, "your sins have been forgiven on the cross," for they do not know if a person's sins were forgiven or not. All they can do is say, "believe your sins were forgiven on the cross." But, what they won't tell a person is, if you do not believe it, then God did not forgive you, though they will not even imply that either, because they would say a person can believe until they die, then they would know that God forgave them on the cross.
One way is declaring that God forgave the sins of the whole world and placed the emphasis on God. The other way, man places the emphasis on believing, and it is the very act of believing that somehow goes back to the cross that Jesus forgave them. One is a Strong gospel message. The other is a weak man made message of belief.
This is so important for all people to get right and "work out" their understanding of salvation and how forgiveness was taken care of "once for all sins" on the cross. [ref. Philippians 2:12 and 1 Peter 3:18] The righteous just (Jesus) for the unrighteous unjust (includes all of us).
Well, some might ask, "What About 1 John 1:9?" So, let us reason together.
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There is No Quid Pro Quo With God
"For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:24-28
Jesus died once, for all sins. He does not offer himself over and over again, as some think he does. We should not be placing Jesus back on the cross ourselves, nor should we be asking him to do what he has already done. Jesus did not offer himself on the cross in expectation that we could give something back to him. He offered himself while we were yet sinners. He demonstrated his love for us by forgiving us our sins on the cross. When Jesus returns, he is not going to deal with sins again.
"Thank you Jesus" is the only response that makes sense from our standpoint. This is faith in Jesus, God in the flesh, who sacrificed himself for our sins.
Please read our welcome message.
Break Free of Your Chain Masters!
Time to Break Free of Your Chain Masters
It is time for all grace believers to stand up to their chain masters (declaring themselves free) and stand up for what is RIGHT (The New Covenant). If the chain masters are not teaching the New only, then tell it like it is. Do it in LOVE (led by the Holy Spirit) but do it. Do not let yourself be silenced. Let God do the work of the ministry, and allow the Holy Spirit to be used by you. This is our TRUE Spiritual worship!
If you are in Christ, you are Holy already! Shout it from the rooftops. You are set apart by faith in Jesus! So:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship." Romans 12:1
And, I would add what a friend has said about Real love:
“Amen, James! We must get bold and speak the truth in love! Real love doesn't concern itself with what others think of us. It concerns itself with giving them truth!” Robin FonduruliaBreak free of religion. Break free of your chain masters today! Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus, God in the flesh, who took away all your sins on the cross. Believe it!
Please read our welcome message.
Risky Business
Faith Expressing Itself in Love
For to share any one of these truth's of Jesus as presented by Brad Robertson in his post: https://goo.gl/uh88mv is to share the love of God with others. To be quite is not faith expressing itself in love. To not share truth in life's circumstances is to keep people from hearing the true gospel. Share whenever the Spirit prompts each of us. In season or out of season (2 Timothy 4:2). Do not worry how the chips may fall in relationships, because eternity is so much more important for them to know truth, and some may come to saving faith in Jesus.
For to share any one of these truth's of Jesus as presented by Brad Robertson in his post: https://goo.gl/uh88mv is to share the love of God with others. To be quite is not faith expressing itself in love. To not share truth in life's circumstances is to keep people from hearing the true gospel. Share whenever the Spirit prompts each of us. In season or out of season (2 Timothy 4:2). Do not worry how the chips may fall in relationships, because eternity is so much more important for them to know truth, and some may come to saving faith in Jesus.
Thank you Brad for your post: https://goo.gl/uh88mv
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Friday
Good Works - What Are They?
Works in the Bible are not what we typically think they are.
How many times have we heard that the Christian must do works to show they are saved? The subject of "works" as presented in the Bible is not what most people think they are. First off, a believer in Christ can not "produce" any good works in of themselves.
Now, let us talk about what good "works" really are as it relates to the Bible. The whole Christian world (that is all the religious folks), and even many of us that believe in total Grace have been brainwashed into thinking good works are something they are not. First off, Jesus explained what the "work" of God is and is a key foundational starting point. Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:29) By the way, the word work here in John 6:29 of Scripture as defined in the Greek language is really like a job function (meaning: business or employment) here. Obviously we could discuss the verses before and after this one, but I really want to delve into more areas of works as presented in the Bible.
So, let's really move on to the verse that worker bees say must be done by folks in order to show "proof" they are saved and really look at the context of a particular verse in the Bible. Before we look at the context, think how many times this following verse is quoted without any context whatsoever.
"Faith Without Works Is Dead" By the way, that really isn't the actual verse in the Bible, even though we hear it this way all the time. That is an added heading in the Book of James 2:14-26 section which is not found in the original language for this actual verse of Scripture:
James 2:17 KJV
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."
James 2:17 NIV
"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Now the context of this is explained previously, that if someone (not any someone but a brother or sister - is more than likely referring to that of the Israelite brethren, because this was written to Israelites that were coming out of the Mosaic law) is naked and destitute of daily food, and the person that sees this person simply gives them a lip service blessing without helping them, then how in the world is that type of faith going to save the other person? That is no work at all. The so called “faith” itself is dead indeed. It is important to understand the entire context of the book of James, in that the early Israelite believers of the first century were being shunned and kicked out of their jobs for helping their fellow Christians. That was why this book was written the way it is written, to the Israelite believers. "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes [Israelites] which are scattered abroad, greeting." (James 1:1) These early Israelites that declared they were believers in Christ Jesus had a lot on the line. They were in fear of going homeless themselves and losing everything. Most folks today do not appreciate the gravity of the situation. We don’t really experience that same persecution here in America or most of the western world. However, Christians within other countries certainly do face all types of trials and persecutions, even unto death, but not typically anywhere in America does that happen.
Now we really get to the crux of the matter. The works examples in the book of James are not considered good works from most people’s understanding.
An example was of Rahab the Harlot hiding the Israelite spies, helping them escape and even lying to the government officials of Jericho about where the spies went. Then we see the city was destroyed by God. No matter how you mix it, what Rahab did would not seem to be a “work” of righteousness from the standpoint of religionists and the world. Obviously Rahab believed God and she did the right thing as it pertains to God, but it would certainly have been the wrong thing from the standpoint of “obeying your government” or “don’t tell any lies” which by the way is a breaking of one of the Commandments of God too. Read the entire story of Rahab in the book of Joshua, chapter #2.
Another example was of Abraham, who believed God when he was going to go through with sacrificing his only son when God asked him to. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness that God would raise his one and only son from the dead. From the outside world, most would say, how awful God was to even suggest that. But, Abraham listened and obeyed God at every step of the way, even when God said “don’t kill your son,” Abraham obeyed. Read this entire story of Abraham in Genesis, chapter #22.
My point in all of this is, works are doing the right thing as it pertains to God in life's circumstances, in spite of the consequences that we might face from others in response to an action. Works are not something we go out of our way to do during the Christmas and Thanksgiving seasons of helping out at the local food banks, but as the circumstances of life come upon us, there will be periods of testing our faith. For example, there will likely come a time, when we will be confronted with error, and we can either be quiet, or speak, the "WORK" of God, and do the right thing by representing God the right way at that moment in time in spite of where the chips may fall. Religion today has run rampant over lives, has beat people down and placed heavy burdens on them. For those of us that have the Holy Spirit alive living in us, we need to consider carefully, are we willing to allow God do the work in and through us and do the right thing? We may not have to hide spies in our country (yet), but we should be available for his work through and in us to say and do the right thing (even if it means we may lose our so called friends). I continue to pray that He would do that through me.
As far as works and doing the right thing, I am referring to this as in a response to God. Doing the right thing from a human perspective may actually be a sin from God's perspective, if the motive was a human perspective to do work of, puffing ourselves up for ourselves or even pride of ourselves (making ourselves feel good), or for others (to show the good works a person is doing toward others) or for showing off to God are prime examples of doing the right thing for the wrong reason; pride. These actions would be sin in the eyes of God.
The issue of performance works comes from the world of religion, the lost and the proud. They read the verses in Scripture and say, "see, God has destined us for good works" (Ephesians 2:10) or "faith without works is dead" (James). So with the proud, they will go out in the energy of their flesh (because that is all anyone has if a person is not saved and does not have the Holy Spirit living in them) and will attempt to do good works. In these folks, good works are occurring whenever they think they are doing some good deed based on their own understanding of good and evil. They even think "their" good works cancels out their bad works and that God is so pleased with them when they do "their" good works.
Jesus warned false prophets:
"Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" Matthew 7: 22,23
Let's look in more detail at the following verses: James 2:14-17
Consider the following points. The Bible was written with NO punctuation, and had no capitalization to begin with in the original written text. https://goo.gl/CVNW6f ("The original languages of the Bible had no punctuation, things such as commas, periods, semi-colons, etc.")
So, with that in mind, let's look at the book of James and the key chapter and paragraph as it is written in the KJV. I'm using the KJV here to simply show a clear picture, because I think many of the modern translation versions are somewhat skewed toward trying to show justification by works. I don't believe this is justification at all in this section. I think the verses are simply saying it doesn't help the folks that need to be helped. Let's look again at it in context:
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
I'm not sure that the verse numbers and the question marks, periods and sentence breaks are in the correct places.
So, let's read it another way and change the punctuation (no word changes have been made, just the punctuation has been slightly changed):
Faith here was dead and useless for the brother or sister that was naked and destitute. Simply saying to these folks "depart in peace" was a type of blessing. What good did that blessing do for them?
My Answer: Nothing.
We can see that this way the meaning of the works/faith equation being used as an example in showing that the faith of certain individuals that simply offered a blessing to the others did not save the people that needed food and shelter. The faith that was displayed by lip service was useless to those that needed help in their time of need.
A side bar note here to consider. A friend believes that James and Paul did not actually teach the same in regards to justification. As he correctly points out, James was probably the first book of the New Testament Bible and was written to the Israelite Christians. Also see this reference (https://goo.gl/A7Z6b5) in regards to when the book of James was written. These early believers had just come out of the Mosaic sacrificial system, and they were still mixing Law with Grace together big time. In fact, as my friend points out, certain men came from the James' congregation to give Paul a hard time and eventually to set the record straight with Peter and Paul (that is, Hebrews should not associate themselves with Gentiles). Peter pulls back from association with the Gentiles because Peter was scared of this group from James. Yet Paul confronted Peter to his face about this and rebuked him.
"When Cephas [Peter] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group." Galatians 2:11,12
Then we see in a later section of Acts where James and Paul eventually get on the same page as far as justification is concerned. Israelites and Gentiles were saved the same way. One group did not have to do more work to earn it. Both James and Peter, having been swayed by the men from James, had been wrong to say and do what they were doing prior to this agreement. The book of Acts records the historical record on this.
Acts 15:11 "No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
I also find it interesting how James in his book seems to overlook the Old testament time period and what Moses said of Abram and what God declared of Abram in Gen. 15:6 "Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness." So, James ignores "belief" here and makes a jump of 13 to 35 years later, when he would have been actually sacrificing his son, and this was before Abram even had a son, and then James makes a statement of the actual sacrificing act as being what justifies. Expanding on that thought a bit more is a key point. For example, are we to assume that the mention of Abram being credited to him as righteousness in Genesis was a 13 to 35 year waiting period before it ever was consummated? Are we calling God a liar in Genesis? No, the verse in Genesis 15:6 is crystal clear, "belief" in what God had declared was key.
So, what are works today?
From what I have witnessed first hand, the Christian church has no clue what a work of God really is today. Even if we were to take James' writings, of how he used Abraham and Rahab as examples of works, it is not in the context of what most think works would be or to be performed today. One was told to kill his only son by God and the other lied to government authorities and committed treason by helping the spies based on a snapshot in time of each of those individual's understanding of God and what God was doing in their own lives. Most folks that are lost (and I suspect even many of those that are saved) don't have a clue about these works, actually being works of faith are in the first place. Most Bible teachers do not really dive into the aspects of what constitutes being a work in the examples given in Scripture.
Paul on the other hand does talk about faith expressing itself through Love. Galatians 5:6
If we were to extrapolate out the works ideas being taught by James, and let's just say for example that the work would actually be belief [which should not be a novel idea] as presented by Jesus (see: John 6:29) and further talked about by Paul in his writings, then the idea would be that faith would express itself in Love and what Jesus did on the cross for the person that believes. What I mean by that is that a person that believes Jesus forgave them of their sins would ultimately come to the realization that there was no more sacrifice for sins required. Their sins have been completely forgiven on the cross. Would not this be the work of Love in their lives? Would not this work of Love also be manifest in sharing that Love with others? Obviously that Love is not the person doing the work, but the Holy Spirit doing the work in and through people. When we have a heartfelt Love for others (not wanting them to perish - just as God does not want that either), do we not have the same mind as God? In essence, did he not give us a new heart that is indwelt by the Holy Spirit to perform the work of Love to others? Is not God's Love an active Love based to begin with because of his love for us, when Jesus was sacrificed on the cross for us? Is not his love flowing through believers an active love today? Is not this the work of Love?
Even in the book of Hebrews, in the Faith chapter, we see faith actions based on happenings at certain points in time with the heroes of the faith:
Hebrews 11
In essence each of the people mentioned in the faith chapter did something in response to faith and in response to God's work in their lives. Some even died for their faith.
So, that brings me back to today. If a person hears that their sins are forgiven, they say they believe it, yet they keep going back to the confession booth of constantly asking for forgiveness of their sins from God (either, as a virtual confession booth for the Protestant or actual confession booth as in a Catholic to a priest), then how good is their faith? They have a dead useless faith as far as I am concerned. God is looking at whether they believed or not, but their faith isn't flowing with any Love through them toward others.
What kind of faith is it to say to someone clean up their sins (repent of all of their sins) before God will forgive them of their sins? What kind of faith is it to say to others that Jesus forgave you of all of your sins, past, present and future; now ask God to forgive you of your sins again? What kind of faith is it to say one believes Jesus forgave them of their sins and then continue on in the Catholic church for salvation, and following all the rules and regulations of the CC. What kind of faith is it to say Jesus gives you eternal life when you believe, yet he will take it away if you don't perform? What kind of faith is it to preach that a person is saved when they believe in Jesus, yet they are not really saved unless they have these undefined works that are all over the board in their own minds? All of this will have an appearance of goodness but will be lacking in any usefulness; which is "having a form of godliness but denying its power." 2 Timothy 3:5
My point is, most that teach works today are not teaching the work of Love of Jesus toward others. These same folks that teach some form of works for salvation, or works for being sustained in salvation, are teaching the lie of the devil. They are teaching a dead useless faith. This is not an active faith of Love at all. These same folks can not even tell you what works they must do to be saved (see: Acts 16:30). They stumble over Jesus and do not exercise faith in Him (see: Romans 9:32). They place more faith in themselves and what they are doing than they do in God's finished work on the cross.
So, what is the work of Love?
Jesus did say, "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." John 14:12
The works of Love of Jesus, is in and through the believer, to share the good news of Jesus, the ETERNAL LIFE giver, to everyone who believes. What greater work could there be?
Please read our welcome message.
How many times have we heard that the Christian must do works to show they are saved? The subject of "works" as presented in the Bible is not what most people think they are. First off, a believer in Christ can not "produce" any good works in of themselves.
Now, let us talk about what good "works" really are as it relates to the Bible. The whole Christian world (that is all the religious folks), and even many of us that believe in total Grace have been brainwashed into thinking good works are something they are not. First off, Jesus explained what the "work" of God is and is a key foundational starting point. Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:29) By the way, the word work here in John 6:29 of Scripture as defined in the Greek language is really like a job function (meaning: business or employment) here. Obviously we could discuss the verses before and after this one, but I really want to delve into more areas of works as presented in the Bible.
"Faith Without Works Is Dead" By the way, that really isn't the actual verse in the Bible, even though we hear it this way all the time. That is an added heading in the Book of James 2:14-26 section which is not found in the original language for this actual verse of Scripture:
James 2:17 KJV
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."
James 2:17 NIV
"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Now the context of this is explained previously, that if someone (not any someone but a brother or sister - is more than likely referring to that of the Israelite brethren, because this was written to Israelites that were coming out of the Mosaic law) is naked and destitute of daily food, and the person that sees this person simply gives them a lip service blessing without helping them, then how in the world is that type of faith going to save the other person? That is no work at all. The so called “faith” itself is dead indeed. It is important to understand the entire context of the book of James, in that the early Israelite believers of the first century were being shunned and kicked out of their jobs for helping their fellow Christians. That was why this book was written the way it is written, to the Israelite believers. "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes [Israelites] which are scattered abroad, greeting." (James 1:1) These early Israelites that declared they were believers in Christ Jesus had a lot on the line. They were in fear of going homeless themselves and losing everything. Most folks today do not appreciate the gravity of the situation. We don’t really experience that same persecution here in America or most of the western world. However, Christians within other countries certainly do face all types of trials and persecutions, even unto death, but not typically anywhere in America does that happen.
Now we really get to the crux of the matter. The works examples in the book of James are not considered good works from most people’s understanding.
Another example was of Abraham, who believed God when he was going to go through with sacrificing his only son when God asked him to. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness that God would raise his one and only son from the dead. From the outside world, most would say, how awful God was to even suggest that. But, Abraham listened and obeyed God at every step of the way, even when God said “don’t kill your son,” Abraham obeyed. Read this entire story of Abraham in Genesis, chapter #22.
My point in all of this is, works are doing the right thing as it pertains to God in life's circumstances, in spite of the consequences that we might face from others in response to an action. Works are not something we go out of our way to do during the Christmas and Thanksgiving seasons of helping out at the local food banks, but as the circumstances of life come upon us, there will be periods of testing our faith. For example, there will likely come a time, when we will be confronted with error, and we can either be quiet, or speak, the "WORK" of God, and do the right thing by representing God the right way at that moment in time in spite of where the chips may fall. Religion today has run rampant over lives, has beat people down and placed heavy burdens on them. For those of us that have the Holy Spirit alive living in us, we need to consider carefully, are we willing to allow God do the work in and through us and do the right thing? We may not have to hide spies in our country (yet), but we should be available for his work through and in us to say and do the right thing (even if it means we may lose our so called friends). I continue to pray that He would do that through me.
As far as works and doing the right thing, I am referring to this as in a response to God. Doing the right thing from a human perspective may actually be a sin from God's perspective, if the motive was a human perspective to do work of, puffing ourselves up for ourselves or even pride of ourselves (making ourselves feel good), or for others (to show the good works a person is doing toward others) or for showing off to God are prime examples of doing the right thing for the wrong reason; pride. These actions would be sin in the eyes of God.
The issue of performance works comes from the world of religion, the lost and the proud. They read the verses in Scripture and say, "see, God has destined us for good works" (Ephesians 2:10) or "faith without works is dead" (James). So with the proud, they will go out in the energy of their flesh (because that is all anyone has if a person is not saved and does not have the Holy Spirit living in them) and will attempt to do good works. In these folks, good works are occurring whenever they think they are doing some good deed based on their own understanding of good and evil. They even think "their" good works cancels out their bad works and that God is so pleased with them when they do "their" good works.
Jesus warned false prophets:
"Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" Matthew 7: 22,23
Let's look in more detail at the following verses: James 2:14-17
Consider the following points. The Bible was written with NO punctuation, and had no capitalization to begin with in the original written text. https://goo.gl/CVNW6f ("The original languages of the Bible had no punctuation, things such as commas, periods, semi-colons, etc.")
So, with that in mind, let's look at the book of James and the key chapter and paragraph as it is written in the KJV. I'm using the KJV here to simply show a clear picture, because I think many of the modern translation versions are somewhat skewed toward trying to show justification by works. I don't believe this is justification at all in this section. I think the verses are simply saying it doesn't help the folks that need to be helped. Let's look again at it in context:
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
I'm not sure that the verse numbers and the question marks, periods and sentence breaks are in the correct places.
So, let's read it another way and change the punctuation (no word changes have been made, just the punctuation has been slightly changed):
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works?
Can faith save him if a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, "Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;" notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Faith here was dead and useless for the brother or sister that was naked and destitute. Simply saying to these folks "depart in peace" was a type of blessing. What good did that blessing do for them?
My Answer: Nothing.
We can see that this way the meaning of the works/faith equation being used as an example in showing that the faith of certain individuals that simply offered a blessing to the others did not save the people that needed food and shelter. The faith that was displayed by lip service was useless to those that needed help in their time of need.
------------ Side Bar Note: 1 Beginning------------
A side bar note here to consider. A friend believes that James and Paul did not actually teach the same in regards to justification. As he correctly points out, James was probably the first book of the New Testament Bible and was written to the Israelite Christians. Also see this reference (https://goo.gl/A7Z6b5) in regards to when the book of James was written. These early believers had just come out of the Mosaic sacrificial system, and they were still mixing Law with Grace together big time. In fact, as my friend points out, certain men came from the James' congregation to give Paul a hard time and eventually to set the record straight with Peter and Paul (that is, Hebrews should not associate themselves with Gentiles). Peter pulls back from association with the Gentiles because Peter was scared of this group from James. Yet Paul confronted Peter to his face about this and rebuked him.
"When Cephas [Peter] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group." Galatians 2:11,12
Then we see in a later section of Acts where James and Paul eventually get on the same page as far as justification is concerned. Israelites and Gentiles were saved the same way. One group did not have to do more work to earn it. Both James and Peter, having been swayed by the men from James, had been wrong to say and do what they were doing prior to this agreement. The book of Acts records the historical record on this.
Acts 15:11 "No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
I also find it interesting how James in his book seems to overlook the Old testament time period and what Moses said of Abram and what God declared of Abram in Gen. 15:6 "Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness." So, James ignores "belief" here and makes a jump of 13 to 35 years later, when he would have been actually sacrificing his son, and this was before Abram even had a son, and then James makes a statement of the actual sacrificing act as being what justifies. Expanding on that thought a bit more is a key point. For example, are we to assume that the mention of Abram being credited to him as righteousness in Genesis was a 13 to 35 year waiting period before it ever was consummated? Are we calling God a liar in Genesis? No, the verse in Genesis 15:6 is crystal clear, "belief" in what God had declared was key.
------------ Side Bar Note: 1 Ending------------
So, what are works today?
From what I have witnessed first hand, the Christian church has no clue what a work of God really is today. Even if we were to take James' writings, of how he used Abraham and Rahab as examples of works, it is not in the context of what most think works would be or to be performed today. One was told to kill his only son by God and the other lied to government authorities and committed treason by helping the spies based on a snapshot in time of each of those individual's understanding of God and what God was doing in their own lives. Most folks that are lost (and I suspect even many of those that are saved) don't have a clue about these works, actually being works of faith are in the first place. Most Bible teachers do not really dive into the aspects of what constitutes being a work in the examples given in Scripture.
Paul on the other hand does talk about faith expressing itself through Love. Galatians 5:6
If we were to extrapolate out the works ideas being taught by James, and let's just say for example that the work would actually be belief [which should not be a novel idea] as presented by Jesus (see: John 6:29) and further talked about by Paul in his writings, then the idea would be that faith would express itself in Love and what Jesus did on the cross for the person that believes. What I mean by that is that a person that believes Jesus forgave them of their sins would ultimately come to the realization that there was no more sacrifice for sins required. Their sins have been completely forgiven on the cross. Would not this be the work of Love in their lives? Would not this work of Love also be manifest in sharing that Love with others? Obviously that Love is not the person doing the work, but the Holy Spirit doing the work in and through people. When we have a heartfelt Love for others (not wanting them to perish - just as God does not want that either), do we not have the same mind as God? In essence, did he not give us a new heart that is indwelt by the Holy Spirit to perform the work of Love to others? Is not God's Love an active Love based to begin with because of his love for us, when Jesus was sacrificed on the cross for us? Is not his love flowing through believers an active love today? Is not this the work of Love?
Even in the book of Hebrews, in the Faith chapter, we see faith actions based on happenings at certain points in time with the heroes of the faith:
Hebrews 11
In essence each of the people mentioned in the faith chapter did something in response to faith and in response to God's work in their lives. Some even died for their faith.
So, that brings me back to today. If a person hears that their sins are forgiven, they say they believe it, yet they keep going back to the confession booth of constantly asking for forgiveness of their sins from God (either, as a virtual confession booth for the Protestant or actual confession booth as in a Catholic to a priest), then how good is their faith? They have a dead useless faith as far as I am concerned. God is looking at whether they believed or not, but their faith isn't flowing with any Love through them toward others.
What kind of faith is it to say to someone clean up their sins (repent of all of their sins) before God will forgive them of their sins? What kind of faith is it to say to others that Jesus forgave you of all of your sins, past, present and future; now ask God to forgive you of your sins again? What kind of faith is it to say one believes Jesus forgave them of their sins and then continue on in the Catholic church for salvation, and following all the rules and regulations of the CC. What kind of faith is it to say Jesus gives you eternal life when you believe, yet he will take it away if you don't perform? What kind of faith is it to preach that a person is saved when they believe in Jesus, yet they are not really saved unless they have these undefined works that are all over the board in their own minds? All of this will have an appearance of goodness but will be lacking in any usefulness; which is "having a form of godliness but denying its power." 2 Timothy 3:5
My point is, most that teach works today are not teaching the work of Love of Jesus toward others. These same folks that teach some form of works for salvation, or works for being sustained in salvation, are teaching the lie of the devil. They are teaching a dead useless faith. This is not an active faith of Love at all. These same folks can not even tell you what works they must do to be saved (see: Acts 16:30). They stumble over Jesus and do not exercise faith in Him (see: Romans 9:32). They place more faith in themselves and what they are doing than they do in God's finished work on the cross.
So, what is the work of Love?
Jesus did say, "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." John 14:12
The works of Love of Jesus, is in and through the believer, to share the good news of Jesus, the ETERNAL LIFE giver, to everyone who believes. What greater work could there be?
Please read our welcome message.
Saturday
Believers Are Grace Sanctified
The body of believers are set apart by Jesus. He is the one that sets you apart! If you are in Christ and Christ is in you, then you are sanctified in Him.
"And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Hebrews 10:10
Please read our welcome message.
Wednesday
Born Free - Born Again in Jesus
Born Free – Slide Show Above – View Forward Button >
Be Born Free Today!
The Born Free witnessing booklets are sold in packs of 10. Born Free is an excellent tool for sharing the truth about salvation with your family and friends. This 17-page booklet explains in detail the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and what is necessary to accept Jesus as Savior. It’s perfect for leading someone step-by-step into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
Please read the welcome message.
Monday
Classic Christianity Radio With Bob George
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Bob George Ministries Presents, Classic Christianity Radio with Bob George. Listen on KLTT 670AM Radio: Denver, Colorado, weekdays at 11:00 AM Mountain Time.Coverage – KLTT 670 AM, Denver, is a 50,000-watt radio station with one of the largest coverage areas (32,000 square miles) of any station in the nation! KLTT reaches a five state region, including most of Colorado, and well over 5-million people.
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Goodbye Is Not Forever by Amy George
For over 30 years Bob answered questions from callers across the United States and Canada giving Biblical council to those worn out and broken by religion, hope to those in desperate times and joy to those looking for God’s unconditional love. Sidelined by health issues in 2009, Bob no longer is able to do People to People radio, but the legacy of his many years of ministry carries on, ministering in the hearts of thousands of individuals who have responded to Bob’s Classic Christianity teaching and continue to respond today to his teaching via the radio airwaves and the Internet through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Please read the welcome message for Jesus Gives Life website.
Friday
Confessors vs. Possessors of Forgiveness From God
Many people are simple human confessors for forgiveness from God, instead of possessors of divine forgiveness from God.
But, some of you reading this may ask the question or hear the question being asked by others, "what about confess in 1 John 1:9 and the Lord's Prayer given by Jesus?" Before we go there again, (and you can read about those items in great detail from the links), what are you going to say to God in your prayers on a daily basis? Are you going to continue to ask Him for what He has already done? Or, are you going to place faith in what He has done for you in His finished work on the cross?
Are you a simple confessor of Jesus, giving lip service to what Jesus has done; or are you a possessor of the Holy Spirit, alive living in you, never to leave you, never to forsake you, never to stop loving you, never to get out of fellowship with you, no matter what you do or don't do?
Some will say that there are a couple of different types of forgiveness. They will say, "I know my sins were forgiven on the cross judicially," (also known as positional forgiveness) and here comes the big "BUT" out of their mouths, "but I have to ask God for forgiveness to experience it in my life when I sin, (this is experiential forgiveness) - after all, take a look at what Jesus told us to do in the Lord's prayer, and look at 1 John 1:9."
When Were Your Sins Forgiven?
Let us reason together...(Isaiah 1:18) First off, can you really talk to God out of both sides of your mouth, and have it be truth? Can you really imagine going to God on a daily basis and thank him for what he has done for you on the cross, and then in the very next breath ask for forgiveness from God? This is exactly what some folks are doing everyday in their prayer life, and sometimes multiple times during the day. Which is it, do you believe God forgave you, or do you need more forgiveness today from God? What about all the sins you forget to confess? What happens with those sins that you forget to confess under the banner of experiential forgiveness?
Confess Means to Agree With God - Not ask for Forgiveness
For many folks, the word "confess" is synonymous to asking for forgiveness from God. Catholics will tell you that they go to the priest, in a confession booth, and ask for forgiveness. Protestants will tell you that they don't have to go to a priest at all to confess their sins, they go directly to God, confessing their sins to Him, to get their sins forgiven.
God on the other hand has declared, "It is Finished!" Forgiveness has been finalized. Forgiveness is completed. Forgiveness is eternal. Forgiveness is total. Forgiveness is found in the person of Jesus. A person receives complete forgiveness of sins when they receive Him. A person does not get forgiveness of sins over and over again as they did in the old covenant. This is exactly what Protestants and Catholics are doing. Catholics are sacrificing God everyday in the Mass. Protestants are sacrificing Jesus everyday in their minds, asking God to do what He has already done. Neither the Catholics nor the Protestants recognize that Jesus took away all their sins on the cross. They are in unbelief that God did it all, and they think there needs to be something from man to extract (appropriate) the forgiveness from God.
What Does a Person Truly Believe?
The following question comes to my mind. Does a person really believe in completed forgiveness on the cross, if they believe God did it judicially, yet they turn around and say they need to ask for it experientially? For anyone that is sitting on this mode of forgiveness, it is difficult to tell really what they believe in their own minds, and how they are praying to God at each moment in time. Do they thank God for His forgiveness to begin with in a judicial mode, and then turn around and ask for forgiveness in an experiential mode? Which does a person really believe and when? This type of behavior is indicative of a double-minded person, unstable in all things (James 1:8), no matter who it is. This type of sinful behavior can be seen in pastors, teachers, and laity. Anyone in this mode, it is like pulling teeth for them to look closer at the Word of God. They are resting in their traditions, in their religious systems, and their own understandings.
Is God Waiting for Man to Ask For Forgiveness Before God Forgives?
Pastors and teachers are pulling people away from Jesus (with a watered down gospel) as much as the cults are pulling people away from Christ. These pastors and teachers will have this wonderful sermon on Grace, and tell the people of how Jesus took away all sin on the cross, and then at the end will say something completely opposite like, "God forgive me for the bad things we have done in life." Which is it? Did God take away all sins on the cross, or is there more forgiveness required by God? Their idea of forgiveness is not that Christ completed the work at the cross, but that forgiveness is now a joint works action between God and man. They will say this is how we forgive others, so God must forgive like human forgiveness. Are we now to think that God's divine forgiveness is like man's forgiveness? May it never be so!
People living like this think they only need God 10% of the time. The other 90% of the time they think they are basically good. "Watch me God, look how good I am, - and I ask for forgiveness for the times I am not good" is what a person is indirectly saying to God, living in a mode of confessionalism for forgiveness instead of living by faith in what He has done for them. In essence, most folks don't believe their sins are completely forgiven. They need a little soapy scrubbing cleaning action now and then to get themselves presentable to God. They have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and gotten caught in the sin that so easily entangles.
Putting Faith Into Practice
Put an end to your confessionalism for forgiveness, and agree with God (confess) that he took your sins away on the cross for all time, for all sins. He is the faithful one to have forgiven you and to have cleansed you for all time of all unrighteousness. Confess it. Agree with God concerning it. Put it to rest. Walk by faith that He has done it all.
If Jesus is God in the flesh (and He is - John 1:14), and Jesus prayed from the cross to the Father and said, "Father forgive them for they know what they do" (which He did say - Luke 23:34), do you think that prayer was answered by God?
Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. "
Please read our welcome message.
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" (Ephesians 1:7) New International Version (©2011)
"He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins." (Ephesians 1:7) New Living Translation (©2007)
But, some of you reading this may ask the question or hear the question being asked by others, "what about confess in 1 John 1:9 and the Lord's Prayer given by Jesus?" Before we go there again, (and you can read about those items in great detail from the links), what are you going to say to God in your prayers on a daily basis? Are you going to continue to ask Him for what He has already done? Or, are you going to place faith in what He has done for you in His finished work on the cross?
Are you a simple confessor of Jesus, giving lip service to what Jesus has done; or are you a possessor of the Holy Spirit, alive living in you, never to leave you, never to forsake you, never to stop loving you, never to get out of fellowship with you, no matter what you do or don't do?
Some will say that there are a couple of different types of forgiveness. They will say, "I know my sins were forgiven on the cross judicially," (also known as positional forgiveness) and here comes the big "BUT" out of their mouths, "but I have to ask God for forgiveness to experience it in my life when I sin, (this is experiential forgiveness) - after all, take a look at what Jesus told us to do in the Lord's prayer, and look at 1 John 1:9."
When Were Your Sins Forgiven?
Let us reason together...(Isaiah 1:18) First off, can you really talk to God out of both sides of your mouth, and have it be truth? Can you really imagine going to God on a daily basis and thank him for what he has done for you on the cross, and then in the very next breath ask for forgiveness from God? This is exactly what some folks are doing everyday in their prayer life, and sometimes multiple times during the day. Which is it, do you believe God forgave you, or do you need more forgiveness today from God? What about all the sins you forget to confess? What happens with those sins that you forget to confess under the banner of experiential forgiveness?
Confess Means to Agree With God - Not ask for Forgiveness
For many folks, the word "confess" is synonymous to asking for forgiveness from God. Catholics will tell you that they go to the priest, in a confession booth, and ask for forgiveness. Protestants will tell you that they don't have to go to a priest at all to confess their sins, they go directly to God, confessing their sins to Him, to get their sins forgiven.
God on the other hand has declared, "It is Finished!" Forgiveness has been finalized. Forgiveness is completed. Forgiveness is eternal. Forgiveness is total. Forgiveness is found in the person of Jesus. A person receives complete forgiveness of sins when they receive Him. A person does not get forgiveness of sins over and over again as they did in the old covenant. This is exactly what Protestants and Catholics are doing. Catholics are sacrificing God everyday in the Mass. Protestants are sacrificing Jesus everyday in their minds, asking God to do what He has already done. Neither the Catholics nor the Protestants recognize that Jesus took away all their sins on the cross. They are in unbelief that God did it all, and they think there needs to be something from man to extract (appropriate) the forgiveness from God.
What Does a Person Truly Believe?
The following question comes to my mind. Does a person really believe in completed forgiveness on the cross, if they believe God did it judicially, yet they turn around and say they need to ask for it experientially? For anyone that is sitting on this mode of forgiveness, it is difficult to tell really what they believe in their own minds, and how they are praying to God at each moment in time. Do they thank God for His forgiveness to begin with in a judicial mode, and then turn around and ask for forgiveness in an experiential mode? Which does a person really believe and when? This type of behavior is indicative of a double-minded person, unstable in all things (James 1:8), no matter who it is. This type of sinful behavior can be seen in pastors, teachers, and laity. Anyone in this mode, it is like pulling teeth for them to look closer at the Word of God. They are resting in their traditions, in their religious systems, and their own understandings.
Is God Waiting for Man to Ask For Forgiveness Before God Forgives?
Pastors and teachers are pulling people away from Jesus (with a watered down gospel) as much as the cults are pulling people away from Christ. These pastors and teachers will have this wonderful sermon on Grace, and tell the people of how Jesus took away all sin on the cross, and then at the end will say something completely opposite like, "God forgive me for the bad things we have done in life." Which is it? Did God take away all sins on the cross, or is there more forgiveness required by God? Their idea of forgiveness is not that Christ completed the work at the cross, but that forgiveness is now a joint works action between God and man. They will say this is how we forgive others, so God must forgive like human forgiveness. Are we now to think that God's divine forgiveness is like man's forgiveness? May it never be so!
People living like this think they only need God 10% of the time. The other 90% of the time they think they are basically good. "Watch me God, look how good I am, - and I ask for forgiveness for the times I am not good" is what a person is indirectly saying to God, living in a mode of confessionalism for forgiveness instead of living by faith in what He has done for them. In essence, most folks don't believe their sins are completely forgiven. They need a little soapy scrubbing cleaning action now and then to get themselves presentable to God. They have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and gotten caught in the sin that so easily entangles.
Putting Faith Into Practice
Put an end to your confessionalism for forgiveness, and agree with God (confess) that he took your sins away on the cross for all time, for all sins. He is the faithful one to have forgiven you and to have cleansed you for all time of all unrighteousness. Confess it. Agree with God concerning it. Put it to rest. Walk by faith that He has done it all.
If Jesus is God in the flesh (and He is - John 1:14), and Jesus prayed from the cross to the Father and said, "Father forgive them for they know what they do" (which He did say - Luke 23:34), do you think that prayer was answered by God?
Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. "
Please read our welcome message.
Sunday
Jesus asked, "Who do you say I AM?"
Was Jesus a liar? Was he a lunatic? Is he God?
Who do you say Jesus is?
Matthew 16:13-20
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
Take a closer look at Jesus Christ today.
Please read our welcome message.
Thursday
Books Recommened
Bob George, bestselling author of Classic Christianity, shows readers how grace changes everything because of one often-ignored foundation of the faith—the New Covenant.
Many Christians feel anything but new. They are told salvation is a free gift, but trying to live up to what they think God demands seems like anything but a gift. Feel free? They don’t. Bob explains how this results from basing Christianity in the Old Testament—making the faith a law-based religion.
But the New Covenant, God has put in place through Christ’s death, changes everything. Readers will see the joyful truth that,
The breakthrough book that has helped over half a million Christians worldwide since 1989!
Classic Christianity—Bob George’s eye-opening distillation of the life-transforming truths of the gospel—now has a fresh cover and interior that reflect the up-to-the-minute relevance of its message.
Like so many Christians, Bob George started out in love with Jesus, only to end up feeling disappointed and empty. Drawing on his struggles and his teaching and counseling experience, Bob cuts to the heart of believers’ common questions…
Purchase: Classic Christianity: Life’s Too Short to Miss the Real Thing
More than half a million tired, frustrated Christians have rediscovered the life-transforming truths of the gospel in Classic Christianity. In this practical study guide to the book, they’ll find more step-by-step help for becoming grounded in the Father’s liberating love.
After briefly reviewing a section of Classic Christianity, author and Bible teacher Bob George provides Scriptures, questions, and insightful examples to help readers fully understand and grow in their identities in Christ. Used with the book or as a stand-alone study, this resource encourages believers and seekers to discover the true Source of life and freedom—Jesus Christ.
Fill-in space is provided for readers to use as they work through this volume. Together with Classic Christianity, this study guide provides a great curriculum for small groups or Sunday-school classes. Find out more at www.classicchristianity.com.
Purchase: Classic Christianity Study Guide: Life’s Too Short to Miss the Real Thing
If your only experience of God’s grace is salvation, you’re missing half the good news. The other half is equally inspiring—Jesus wants you to experience His grace every day as He lives his life through you!
Discover vibrant, life-embracing faith through the simple and timeless truth of God’s grace. As people who have been saved by grace and set free by grace, our next step is to grow in grace. As we grow, we rejoice in the scriptural promises that enable us to give up guilt and anxiety, let go of legalism, and rediscover the joyous reality of Christ living His life through us!
The helpful study guide is perfect for small groups and all who desire to learn even more about the freeing life that is ours as followers of Jesus Christ.
Purchase: Growing in Grace : With Study Guide
A new cover and study section invites readers to experience victory over anger, disappointment, and depression! Bob reveals how Christ can break the power of unmet needs, unhealed hurts, and hopelessness in our lives.
Readers explore principles that help them:
Purchase: Victory Over Depression: How to live above your circumstances
Why do so many people experience disappointment and failure in their lives? Why do so many men and women struggle with a sense of low self-esteem? Could it be they’re unsure of how to obtain true fulfillment in life?
God never meant to offer us a self-improvement course. Instead, He offers us an entirely new identity. Not only will He forgive your sins, but He will give you a new life in exchange for the life you have been trying to live in your own strength.
In Complete in Christ, Bob George, author of the bestseller Classic Christianity, explores this exchanged life and provides clear meaning for often-misunderstood truths—fundamental truths that ensure abundant, fulfilled living.
Begin to focus not on your own failures and inadequacies but on His view of you—that you are fully loved and accepted in Christ. Receive God’s invitation to exchange your old identity for the joy of being Complete in Christ!
Purchase: Complete in Christ: Discovering God’s View of You
You Don’t Need to Strive for What You Already Have
You began your new life in Christ with joy and peace. Then your attempts to please God and grow as a Christian brought bewilderment, frustration, and defeat. You know there’s a better way, but where can you find it? In Faith That Pleases God, Bob George offers a practical look at true, biblical faith — the kind of faith that produces the joy God offers to every believer. It’s all here — in Faith That Pleases God.
From the author of Classic Christianity, comes a dynamic book to help readers strengthen their faith.
Every Christian desires to please God, but how is that done? Faith That Pleases God helps readers discover that a proper understanding of faith is essential and includes—
Purchase: Faith That Pleases God: You Don’t Need to Strive for What You Already Have
Please read our welcome message.
Jesus Changes Everything
It’s Time to Embrace God’s Unconditional Love
Bob George
But the New Covenant, God has put in place through Christ’s death, changes everything. Readers will see the joyful truth that,
- effort, guilt, and fear from living under law give way to rest and peace from realizing their relationship with God doesn’t depend on their performance;
- motivation by punishment is replaced by inner motivation through God’s complete acceptance;
- and the experience of distance from God gives way to the experience of His unconditional love.
Classic Christianity
Life’s Too Short to Miss the Real Thing
Bob George
Classic Christianity—Bob George’s eye-opening distillation of the life-transforming truths of the gospel—now has a fresh cover and interior that reflect the up-to-the-minute relevance of its message.
Like so many Christians, Bob George started out in love with Jesus, only to end up feeling disappointed and empty. Drawing on his struggles and his teaching and counseling experience, Bob cuts to the heart of believers’ common questions…
- Doesn’t God expect me to clean up my act before I approach Him?
- I know God loves me—but does He accept me?
- I’m saved and forgiven… do I just wait for heaven now?
Purchase: Classic Christianity: Life’s Too Short to Miss the Real Thing
Classic Christianity Study Guide
Life’s Too Short to Miss the Real Thing
Bob George
After briefly reviewing a section of Classic Christianity, author and Bible teacher Bob George provides Scriptures, questions, and insightful examples to help readers fully understand and grow in their identities in Christ. Used with the book or as a stand-alone study, this resource encourages believers and seekers to discover the true Source of life and freedom—Jesus Christ.
Fill-in space is provided for readers to use as they work through this volume. Together with Classic Christianity, this study guide provides a great curriculum for small groups or Sunday-school classes. Find out more at www.classicchristianity.com.
Purchase: Classic Christianity Study Guide: Life’s Too Short to Miss the Real Thing
Growing in Grace with Study Guide
Bob George
Discover vibrant, life-embracing faith through the simple and timeless truth of God’s grace. As people who have been saved by grace and set free by grace, our next step is to grow in grace. As we grow, we rejoice in the scriptural promises that enable us to give up guilt and anxiety, let go of legalism, and rediscover the joyous reality of Christ living His life through us!
The helpful study guide is perfect for small groups and all who desire to learn even more about the freeing life that is ours as followers of Jesus Christ.
Purchase: Growing in Grace : With Study Guide
Victory over Depression
Bob George
Readers explore principles that help them:
- Recognize unrealistic expectations.
- Deal with the causes of depression.
- Put their hope and trust in God.
Purchase: Victory Over Depression: How to live above your circumstances
Complete in Christ
Bob George
God never meant to offer us a self-improvement course. Instead, He offers us an entirely new identity. Not only will He forgive your sins, but He will give you a new life in exchange for the life you have been trying to live in your own strength.
In Complete in Christ, Bob George, author of the bestseller Classic Christianity, explores this exchanged life and provides clear meaning for often-misunderstood truths—fundamental truths that ensure abundant, fulfilled living.
Begin to focus not on your own failures and inadequacies but on His view of you—that you are fully loved and accepted in Christ. Receive God’s invitation to exchange your old identity for the joy of being Complete in Christ!
Purchase: Complete in Christ: Discovering God’s View of You
Faith That Pleases God
Bob George
You began your new life in Christ with joy and peace. Then your attempts to please God and grow as a Christian brought bewilderment, frustration, and defeat. You know there’s a better way, but where can you find it? In Faith That Pleases God, Bob George offers a practical look at true, biblical faith — the kind of faith that produces the joy God offers to every believer. It’s all here — in Faith That Pleases God.
From the author of Classic Christianity, comes a dynamic book to help readers strengthen their faith.
Every Christian desires to please God, but how is that done? Faith That Pleases God helps readers discover that a proper understanding of faith is essential and includes—
- recognizing the differences between faith, belief, and trust
- seeing the kind of faith that pleases God
- realizing faith’s role in the work God is doing
- learning how to “rest in faith”
Purchase: Faith That Pleases God: You Don’t Need to Strive for What You Already Have
Please read our welcome message.
Tuesday
The True Meaning of Biblical Confession
In regards to 1 John 1:9, I thought it would be helpful to clear up some misconceptions about what the true meaning of the word "confession" is with a little background information about the Greek word translated as "confess."
What does confess mean according to 1 john 1:9?
First off, the word "confess" simply means to agree with God. The word in Greek means according to Strong's G3670 - homologeō - ὁμολογέω is to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent. Let's be crystal clear; confess does not mean to ask for forgiveness.
Confession has a much deeper meaning than what most people think of it.
The very word to confess has a much deeper meaning to agreeing with God about the whole aspect of what Jesus did on the cross and what sin really is all about. For a person to confess has to do with the person agreeing with God about the person and the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
To understand this in the context of the Bible, requires putting aside any preconceived notions, or teachings of men or traditions, and letting the Holy Spirit teach a person. For more information on this see the article I wrote with more Bible references:
Confession of Sins 1 John 1:9
Understanding 1 John 1:9
Now, some folks may think that is only one of many meanings, and shades of meaning, of that word confess. Some may think that confess is not simply "agreeing" with God and that there is more to it than that. Some even think that it is the asking for forgiveness that causes God to forgive us of our sins. I have even had folks tell me, "that we must admit, declare, confess, acknowledge our sins before they are forgiven." They would point out the word "If" and say that word is a conditional if. See below for more details on the word "if."
First off, let's look at the complete definition of confess:
It is important to note, that while there are other variations in the simple meaning for confess, the word for confess in the Bible, in the Greek language is never used to ask for forgiveness. If you are in Jesus Christ, you have forgiveness, you don't get more forgiveness from God. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" Ephesians 1:7
Forgiveness is not a vending machine from God.
Just to clarify from the source: "The New Testament Greek Lexicon" for the word 'Confess" used in multiple places:
Definition:
Most folks want to equate the references in the bible to confess and confession with asking for forgiveness, because that is based on their traditions. This is not biblical at all. If anything, the word confess is the exact opposite of asking for forgiveness, because asking for forgiveness is a denial of the finished work of Jesus Christ. While a person should acknowledge sins, the person needs to also acknowledge that Jesus paid the price for all their sins on the cross. They need to acknowledge, admit, agree, profess, declare, and give thanks to God, and praise Jesus, God in the flesh, for what He has done for them.
It is also important to note that our English language is lacking in depth to really grasp the true meaning of words. Sometimes we have to go to the original Greek language a bit to have a more thorough understanding of a verse of Scripture.
It is more like, "Whenever we agree with God concerning our sins" or "Whether we agree with God or not," he is faithful and just to (have forgiven and continue to forgive us), and to (have cleansed and continue to cleanse us) of all unrighteousness." The verbs in 1 John 1:9 for forgive and cleanse are these types of verbs referred to as aorist tenses.
God has done it all. God is the faithful one, God is the just one, to have forgiven and to have cleansed for all time.
We don't push God's vending machine buttons to get something from God, because that would be setting ourselves up as our own god. We don't set up "preparation to be forgiven" by God.
It is not a conditional "if" for God to do something for us. The whole of the 1 chapter of 1 John is dealing with acknowledging God in the flesh, what Jesus has done, the sinner that sins, and the faithfulness of God. What good is God to a person that thinks he doesn't sin? What good is Jesus to a person that thinks that God did not come in the flesh?
This is a hard teaching for some that have grown up their whole lives with teachings of men, their traditions, or their preconceived notions of their having to do something for God to do something for them. Today, we don't get more forgiveness, we don't make "preparation for forgiveness," no, we are forgiven by God.
Confess and praise His name, Jesus has done it all!
A person thinking that they must agree with God before God will forgive them of their sins is problematic in a number of ways; both scripturally and logically.
It doesn't match up with the rest of Scripture, where God says, "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin." Hebrews 10: 17,18
Also, from a logical standpoint, if confession from people was a prerequisite for forgiveness from God, then obviously one has to think about all the sins that they forgot. No one can remember each and every sin in order for God to forgive them if that were the case.
Additionally, all of the sins committed today were after the cross. They were all in the future when God paid the penalty for sin and have been forgiven. So, yes, God forgave everyone of their sins before they have ever been committed and before anyone asks for forgiveness. Jesus being God in the flesh, saw each and every sin in the world, and took it upon himself. He became sin for us, so that in Him, we could become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
The agreeing with God, is agreeing with God about sins, agreeing with God about His forgiveness, agreeing with God about His righteousness, agreeing with God about Jesus and what He has done.
Furthermore, "without the shedding of blood, there is no more forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22
Forgiveness has been dealt with once for all. Now, the issue is a person going to believe it and receive eternal life in Him? God broke down the barrier between God and man when he forgave everyone at the cross. Now He is inviting everyone to repent and believe in Jesus and receive His life, the Holy Spirit, to come and live inside a believer.
Many folks are still implying and outright declaring the "IF" statements in 1 John are "if then" statements. They are not. In fact, the Greek language is crystal clear on the matter.
Here is a link to the Greek word study from:
Beyond the Pulpit
Download Article Link
What Does 1 John 1:9 Really Mean? Dr. Gary M. Gulan, ©1978
Quote:
Let's put an end to the man made "bar of soap" routine and enter into His rest. A rest from works of thinking that asking for forgiveness is somehow keeping a person clean.
A person can either choose to agree with God or not. A person can either choose to confess it or not. God is asking everyone to believe in Jesus, who is continually faithful, that He took away our sins (forgiven for all time), and cleansed us of all unrighteous for eternity.
The question is not what do we do with sins today, the question is do we believe that Jesus forgave us of our sins? Can you imagine going to God in person (face to face), and saying, "Yeah, Jesus I know you forgave my sins positionally, 'but' I am now asking for my experiential forgiveness from you." Come on, let's get real here. That is spitting in the face of God. Because every time a person is asking for forgiveness today to God after hearing the complete Gospel, is telling God they don't believe He did it all. It is double talk and is the exact opposite to confess (agree with) God.
For a person to keep saying "if then" and think that asking for forgiveness is the meaning of "confess" in spite of the Greek word studies, is simply displaying a prideful attitude that a person doesn't care what the Word of God is really saying, and simply wants to stand with the teachings of men.
I confess to (agree with) the following statement in Galatians 1:10:
"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."
We invite you to read the welcome message today.
Please read our welcome message.
What does confess mean according to 1 john 1:9?
First off, the word "confess" simply means to agree with God. The word in Greek means according to Strong's G3670 - homologeō - ὁμολογέω is to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent. Let's be crystal clear; confess does not mean to ask for forgiveness.
Confession has a much deeper meaning than what most people think of it.
The very word to confess has a much deeper meaning to agreeing with God about the whole aspect of what Jesus did on the cross and what sin really is all about. For a person to confess has to do with the person agreeing with God about the person and the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
To understand this in the context of the Bible, requires putting aside any preconceived notions, or teachings of men or traditions, and letting the Holy Spirit teach a person. For more information on this see the article I wrote with more Bible references:
Confession of Sins 1 John 1:9
Understanding 1 John 1:9
Now, some folks may think that is only one of many meanings, and shades of meaning, of that word confess. Some may think that confess is not simply "agreeing" with God and that there is more to it than that. Some even think that it is the asking for forgiveness that causes God to forgive us of our sins. I have even had folks tell me, "that we must admit, declare, confess, acknowledge our sins before they are forgiven." They would point out the word "If" and say that word is a conditional if. See below for more details on the word "if."
The True Meanings of the Word Confess
Confess Jesus Has Done it All
Confess Jesus Has Done it All
First off, let's look at the complete definition of confess:
It is important to note, that while there are other variations in the simple meaning for confess, the word for confess in the Bible, in the Greek language is never used to ask for forgiveness. If you are in Jesus Christ, you have forgiveness, you don't get more forgiveness from God. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" Ephesians 1:7
Forgiveness is not a vending machine from God.
Just to clarify from the source: "The New Testament Greek Lexicon" for the word 'Confess" used in multiple places:
Definition:
to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent
to concede
not to refuse, to promise
not to deny
to confess
declare
to confess, i.e. to admit or declare one's self guilty of what one is accused of
to profess
to declare openly, speak out freely
to profess one's self the worshipper of one
to praise, celebrate
Translated Words
KJV (24) - acknowledgeth, 1; confess, 17; confession is made, 1; give thanks, 1; profess, 3; promise, 1;
NAS (26) - acknowledge, 2; admit, 1; assured, 1; confess, 6; confessed, 4; confesses, 6; confessing, 1; declare, 1; give thanks, 1; made, 1; profess, 1; promised, 1;
Most folks want to equate the references in the bible to confess and confession with asking for forgiveness, because that is based on their traditions. This is not biblical at all. If anything, the word confess is the exact opposite of asking for forgiveness, because asking for forgiveness is a denial of the finished work of Jesus Christ. While a person should acknowledge sins, the person needs to also acknowledge that Jesus paid the price for all their sins on the cross. They need to acknowledge, admit, agree, profess, declare, and give thanks to God, and praise Jesus, God in the flesh, for what He has done for them.
It is also important to note that our English language is lacking in depth to really grasp the true meaning of words. Sometimes we have to go to the original Greek language a bit to have a more thorough understanding of a verse of Scripture.
It is more like, "Whenever we agree with God concerning our sins" or "Whether we agree with God or not," he is faithful and just to (have forgiven and continue to forgive us), and to (have cleansed and continue to cleanse us) of all unrighteousness." The verbs in 1 John 1:9 for forgive and cleanse are these types of verbs referred to as aorist tenses.
Aorist Tense
The aorist is said to be "simple occurrence" or "summary occurrence", without regard for the amount of time taken to accomplish the action. This tense is also often referred to as the 'punctiliar' tense. 'Punctiliar' in this sense means 'viewed as a single, collective whole,' a "one-point-in-time" action, although it may actually take place over a period of time. In the indicative mood the aorist tense denotes action that occurred in the past time, often translated like the English simple past tense.
God has done it all. God is the faithful one, God is the just one, to have forgiven and to have cleansed for all time.
We don't push God's vending machine buttons to get something from God, because that would be setting ourselves up as our own god. We don't set up "preparation to be forgiven" by God.
It is not a conditional "if" for God to do something for us. The whole of the 1 chapter of 1 John is dealing with acknowledging God in the flesh, what Jesus has done, the sinner that sins, and the faithfulness of God. What good is God to a person that thinks he doesn't sin? What good is Jesus to a person that thinks that God did not come in the flesh?
This is a hard teaching for some that have grown up their whole lives with teachings of men, their traditions, or their preconceived notions of their having to do something for God to do something for them. Today, we don't get more forgiveness, we don't make "preparation for forgiveness," no, we are forgiven by God.
Confess and praise His name, Jesus has done it all!
A person thinking that they must agree with God before God will forgive them of their sins is problematic in a number of ways; both scripturally and logically.
It doesn't match up with the rest of Scripture, where God says, "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin." Hebrews 10: 17,18
Also, from a logical standpoint, if confession from people was a prerequisite for forgiveness from God, then obviously one has to think about all the sins that they forgot. No one can remember each and every sin in order for God to forgive them if that were the case.
Additionally, all of the sins committed today were after the cross. They were all in the future when God paid the penalty for sin and have been forgiven. So, yes, God forgave everyone of their sins before they have ever been committed and before anyone asks for forgiveness. Jesus being God in the flesh, saw each and every sin in the world, and took it upon himself. He became sin for us, so that in Him, we could become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
The agreeing with God, is agreeing with God about sins, agreeing with God about His forgiveness, agreeing with God about His righteousness, agreeing with God about Jesus and what He has done.
Furthermore, "without the shedding of blood, there is no more forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22
Forgiveness has been dealt with once for all. Now, the issue is a person going to believe it and receive eternal life in Him? God broke down the barrier between God and man when he forgave everyone at the cross. Now He is inviting everyone to repent and believe in Jesus and receive His life, the Holy Spirit, to come and live inside a believer.
Many folks are still implying and outright declaring the "IF" statements in 1 John are "if then" statements. They are not. In fact, the Greek language is crystal clear on the matter.
Here is a link to the Greek word study from:
Beyond the Pulpit
Download Article Link
What Does 1 John 1:9 Really Mean? Dr. Gary M. Gulan, ©1978
Quote:
Translating “if” (“ean”) from Greek to English: (1.) First Class Conditions are assumed “true” and are translated “since;” (2.) Second Class Conditions are assumed “false” and translated “not;” and (3.) Third Class Conditions assume “doubt” meaning the statement could be “true or false, and are translated “may or may not.” The “if” is not directing or commanding us to do something, but rather it is pointing to the fact we may or may not do something.
There seems to be a problem with most translations when dealing with this section. The translators seem to focus on tradition. Translators have not translated the third class conditions or changed them.
Summary:
The traditional translation - “If we confess….”
The literal translation- “We may or may not confess.…” or “Whether we confess or not….”
Let's put an end to the man made "bar of soap" routine and enter into His rest. A rest from works of thinking that asking for forgiveness is somehow keeping a person clean.
A person can either choose to agree with God or not. A person can either choose to confess it or not. God is asking everyone to believe in Jesus, who is continually faithful, that He took away our sins (forgiven for all time), and cleansed us of all unrighteous for eternity.
The question is not what do we do with sins today, the question is do we believe that Jesus forgave us of our sins? Can you imagine going to God in person (face to face), and saying, "Yeah, Jesus I know you forgave my sins positionally, 'but' I am now asking for my experiential forgiveness from you." Come on, let's get real here. That is spitting in the face of God. Because every time a person is asking for forgiveness today to God after hearing the complete Gospel, is telling God they don't believe He did it all. It is double talk and is the exact opposite to confess (agree with) God.
For a person to keep saying "if then" and think that asking for forgiveness is the meaning of "confess" in spite of the Greek word studies, is simply displaying a prideful attitude that a person doesn't care what the Word of God is really saying, and simply wants to stand with the teachings of men.
I confess to (agree with) the following statement in Galatians 1:10:
"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."
We invite you to read the welcome message today.
Please read our welcome message.
Wednesday
What is the Judgement Seat of Christ? The Bema Seat?
The topic of conversation today is the Judgment Seat of Christ and what is good or bad.
A reader asked the following question:
Hello An_,
That is a "good" question that trips up a lot of folks.
Today, we use the terms "good" and "bad" in very generic ways. This is not how those terms are being used in 2 Corinthians 5.
It is good (here I am using "good" in a very general way in this sentence and the first one above) to read things in context. That is the first clue.
2 Corinthians 5
Jesus taught that no man is good. In Mark 10:18 we read what happens after a man runs up to Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. The man did not recognize Jesus as God and literately the man thought that there was something he himself could do (earn) eternal life.
Another time, Jesus was asked in John 6 about doing the works of God:
So, we can see that the only work of God is this for someone to believe in Jesus - God in the flesh.
Okay, that now leads us back to what is good and what is bad in God's eyes?
Romans 12 talks about what is good and pleasing to God.
In essence, our bodies, indwelt by God's Spirit, to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice (which if we are in Christ, and Christ is in us, we are holy and pleasing to God not because of what we do, but who we are). Paul tells us not to conform to the way the world thinks, but allow God to transform and renew our minds.
Everyone who is in Christ is considered "good" in the sight of God, not because of a believer's self effort, but because of who Jesus is.
Everyone in Christ has allowed God to work "good" through them at some point in their lives. Maybe with some, it was at the last moment of their life, where they finally placed faith in what Jesus has done, as opposed to placing faith in what they have done their whole lives. Others allow God to work "good" through them many times during their lives. Note that I am not saying that a Christian always does good.
The bad is anything not done in faith. All the bad will be burnt up. Bad is doing something out of thinking that they are earning God's love. Bad is doing something out of a fearful attitude of thinking they will not be in fellowship (saved) if they don't do good works. Bad is anything done that is out of self. Bad is self-righteousness at its core.
Good is of God, and can only be done by God. Yes, God can use believers to do good, but any good in God's sight is allowing him to use us. This is our living sacrifice. We give up self, in order for God to use us.
Many times, things appear to be be done as good, however, only God knows the heart. He alone knows all our motives. This is and only determined by God. So, the judgment seat of Christ for believers is an ultimate declaration of those things that are good and bad. This is nothing to be fearful of, but should be rejoiced about.
Only that which is good will remain. Rejoice in him, and his righteousness, not our own.
Matthew 6
33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
The bottom line here, for the Christian (the saved person) all the things done in the energy of the flesh (self) is going to be burned up, and the things done by faith are the things that God will reward. These rewards are given at the Bema Seat of Christ.
Here are few passages dealing with the Bema Seat of Christ or the rewards directed to Christians (Rom. 14:10-12, 1 Cor. 3:12-15, 2 Cor. 5:9-10, and 1 Tim. 6:18-19.
Hopefully that helps put things in the "good" rewards perspective.
In Christ Jesus,
Please read our welcome message.
A reader asked the following question:
Hello,
When I read 2 Cor. 5:10 when it says we will appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad, I just don't quite understand. How do I know if I am being good enough or if what I do is bad?
I am saved and I know that I am the righteousness of God in Christ.
Thank you,
An_
Hello An_,
That is a "good" question that trips up a lot of folks.
Today, we use the terms "good" and "bad" in very generic ways. This is not how those terms are being used in 2 Corinthians 5.
It is good (here I am using "good" in a very general way in this sentence and the first one above) to read things in context. That is the first clue.
2 Corinthians 5
Awaiting the New Body
1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Jesus taught that no man is good. In Mark 10:18 we read what happens after a man runs up to Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. The man did not recognize Jesus as God and literately the man thought that there was something he himself could do (earn) eternal life.
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[d]”
Another time, Jesus was asked in John 6 about doing the works of God:
28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
So, we can see that the only work of God is this for someone to believe in Jesus - God in the flesh.
Okay, that now leads us back to what is good and what is bad in God's eyes?
Romans 12 talks about what is good and pleasing to God.
A Living Sacrifice
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
In essence, our bodies, indwelt by God's Spirit, to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice (which if we are in Christ, and Christ is in us, we are holy and pleasing to God not because of what we do, but who we are). Paul tells us not to conform to the way the world thinks, but allow God to transform and renew our minds.
Everyone who is in Christ is considered "good" in the sight of God, not because of a believer's self effort, but because of who Jesus is.
Everyone in Christ has allowed God to work "good" through them at some point in their lives. Maybe with some, it was at the last moment of their life, where they finally placed faith in what Jesus has done, as opposed to placing faith in what they have done their whole lives. Others allow God to work "good" through them many times during their lives. Note that I am not saying that a Christian always does good.
The bad is anything not done in faith. All the bad will be burnt up. Bad is doing something out of thinking that they are earning God's love. Bad is doing something out of a fearful attitude of thinking they will not be in fellowship (saved) if they don't do good works. Bad is anything done that is out of self. Bad is self-righteousness at its core.
Good is of God, and can only be done by God. Yes, God can use believers to do good, but any good in God's sight is allowing him to use us. This is our living sacrifice. We give up self, in order for God to use us.
Many times, things appear to be be done as good, however, only God knows the heart. He alone knows all our motives. This is and only determined by God. So, the judgment seat of Christ for believers is an ultimate declaration of those things that are good and bad. This is nothing to be fearful of, but should be rejoiced about.
Only that which is good will remain. Rejoice in him, and his righteousness, not our own.
Matthew 6
33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
The bottom line here, for the Christian (the saved person) all the things done in the energy of the flesh (self) is going to be burned up, and the things done by faith are the things that God will reward. These rewards are given at the Bema Seat of Christ.
Here are few passages dealing with the Bema Seat of Christ or the rewards directed to Christians (Rom. 14:10-12, 1 Cor. 3:12-15, 2 Cor. 5:9-10, and 1 Tim. 6:18-19.
Hopefully that helps put things in the "good" rewards perspective.
In Christ Jesus,
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