Many Christians live by their religious standards and judge others by these same standards completely missing their new covenant with God. Love the Lord with all you are and others just as God loves you through grace. They will not confess their sin of rejecting grace, they deny the work of the cross and accuse others of living outside of salvation (your going to hell because you live in sin).
They deny their jealous hearts, judging others with opinion and gossip. Romans 11 concludes with the simple message; who do we think we are that God might owe us favor because of our labor or love. We were all born rejects, undeserving people unworthy, unrighteous. We have no right to pound our religion on the Innocent heart, it hardens them to grace. How dare we push our own family away from God because they are undeserving living in sin.
We are outsiders to His chosen people, we are the non-Jewish Gentiles. So who then are we but undeserving outcasts to the law and favor of God. Only through His love of each and every individual person did Christ open the door to his heart, not because we deserved or deserve anything.
Even now as representatives, as heirs to God's grace, we see ourselves above the less intelligent, less blessed. Oh, we can deny it and go on continuing our judgement that we so think we earned, living the lie. The blood of Jesus Christ still covers us regardless because salvation is God's gift, undeserved.
They will know we are Christians by our love.
God never abandoned the Israelite people even though He should have time and time again. His grace, His love is beyond understanding. The door is always open not only for the Jew's but everyone, it is His promise Paul teaches to the Gentile world, you and I, that God is in total control of everything, who are we to question his ways. God owes us nothing but chooses to give abundantly, look it up, Romans 11.
We must stop the judgement and allow God's Spirit to work through us. We can judge and condemn ______________, or we can do the right thing, allow God's grace to work in our life through love.
Now God, if you get me out of this I promise to...
Making conditions is how we ourselves are tempted, if I just do this once, I won't do it again even though it is wrong.
Satan tempted Jesus this way, now if...
Why would one expect answered prayer when there are conditions present. Is that how we con our parents, our friends our children; in the end selfishness gets us nothing.
Matthew 4:7 (AMP) 7 Jesus said to him, On the other hand, it is written also, You shall not tempt, test thoroughly, or try exceedingly the Lord your God.
If we could just learn to be honest with ourselves, we would give humility more room to grow. Our hearts would just melt more into His.
There is nothing wrong with endurance and patience, it draws in comfort and love.
Mark 12:30-34 (AMP) 30 And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. 31 The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said to Him, Excellently and fitly and admirably answered, Teacher! You have said truly that He is One, and there is no other but Him; 33 And to love Him out of and with all the heart and with all the understanding [with the faculty of quick apprehension and intelligence and keenness of discernment] and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered intelligently (discreetly and having his wits about him), He said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God. And after that no one ventured or dared to ask Him any further question.
How about that, loving God-loving each other, being Christ like prepares us. You dont need a ticket, just thank the lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 6:33 (AMP) 33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.
12 Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].
John 14:27 (AMP)
27 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]
Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP)
22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, 23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].
Old Character:
Galatians 5:19-21 (AMP)
19 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency, 20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), 21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Here is a great example of God's Spirit at work in us. This problem comes from the Internet: http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Bible/amplified_bible_exposed.htm
The Amplified Bible and NIV are being attacked as being diabolical and straight out of the pits off hell. The example given comes from to Philippians 2:6.
Philippians 2:6 (Amplified) 6 Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained,
Philippians 2:6 (New International) 6 Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
Philippians 2:6 (King James) 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
The Amplified and NIV say that Jesus could not grasp equality with God yet, the King James version says that Jesus Christ did NOT consider it robbery to be EQUAL with God, a contradiction.
Is it true or false?
Common sense says its plausible, but what about Spiritual sense? First we need to understand who wrote this verse and who it was written to. Then we need to understand the context, the message.
PAUL AND Timothy, bond servants of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), to all the saints (God’s consecrated people) in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops (overseers) and deacons (assistants):
We are in the audience.
Read the context, verses 1-11 and see how God speaks to you about this message. Are all three versions teaching the same thing or is it distorted.
I read it: Humble yourself to seeing others higher than your self, sensitive to their ways and needs above yours, just as Jesus made Himself unequal to God in obedience, till His Death.
KJV- Even though Jesus knew it was not robbery to be equal to God (as the Jewish people would have thought), He made Himself unequal to God in obedience until His death.
AMP,NIV- Even though Jesus, possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God, did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained by His people; so He humbled Himself in obedience till His death.
I like the way the Amplified Bible expands the message, God's word.
Remember the first King James translation was lacking the ability of the time to more accurately translate to English as later in time when the New King James came along. Technology has helped us better understand the process of translation from Hebrew and Greek, to English. The Amplified version actually represents a more accurate translation, it explodes with the beauty of words, God's words. It is estimated that in the next fifteen years, every language on Earth will have its own translated Bible.
Positive thinking, positive living works if given the practice. The gospel of, Christ being Grace, enables all our positive attributes bringing us into rest in Christ Jesus. No longer bound to guilt, fear, worry, all the negative traps, but...
We must act on it, stop the negative thinking and enjoy being in love. Experience selfless faith and excitement in absolutely everything life in Christ brings. Still our choice, experience the exhilarating grace walk or poor pitiful me walk.
Challenge the pulpit with grace and love, reject the guilt trip, we are His saints and He is our High Priest, our Lord and Savior, He is The Great Giver. God is love.
Our choice to get excited ABOUT GRACE.
Listen, if we can not release guilt and shame from our past memories or in our present life, we may carry it with us after death, walking the earth trying to atone our guilt, following around those who we have hurt, frantically tryng to find redemption.
(Some believe this even if I don't, the thought makes a point)
Jesus took us to the cross with Him, we are free from all guilt and shame, free from death. Our bodies will die along with any guilt or shame and we will live in Jesus from then on absent from guilt.
If you haven't' experienced His undeserved favor, I pray you give it a try, you will never go back to that doom and gloom life.
Ask in prayer for the desire to learn the gospel, then rest in faith that the Holy Spirit will bring you that desire. Great place to be in love with our Creator.
Living in Christ by our faith in the work of the cross means we are no longer bound to the old covenant law but it does not mean sitting back and expecting to be showered by God's favor, no.
We must act on our faith, believe in our new character who is actively walking in faith, depending, relying on, leaning on and resting in Christ Jesus.
If we believe, God will conform us to the liking of His Son, to being Christlike. God is in control of everything and will meet every single need in our life, not want, because we don't know how to handle an open check book. God will not give us something to harm us yet we insist on our wants that draw us away from His purpose for us, to being Christlike.
Got a problem, a disaster waiting to happen, a train wreck? Ask in prayer for help even if we don't deserve it and then after relying on our Lord for help, believe with thanksgiving that He has our best interest in heart. No matter what we face in life we will always come out with more because God loves us and is in control with good purpose for us.
Exercise your faith then rest in belief. Selfless faith does not mean we should hold our needs and gratitude from prayer, no, bring everything to God in prayer but with unselfish faith, rely, depend, lean on Him by resting in the hope and faith that He loves us and knows before we were born, our path on earth and position in heaven for ever and ever.
NOTHING pleases Him more than our faith in Him, believing we are free to partake in a personal and intimate relationship with Him that will change us to the likeness of His Son, not by our works but by our faith in grace.
They pushed back from the table to listen to His words, His secret plan before He had to go (some secret). Its not complicated, don't need a lot of rules, this is all you need to know...
It's loving God - Loving each other and the story never ends.
Mark 12:30-31 (AMP) 30 And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. 31 The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.
“God, I’m doing everything they say a good Christian should do, but I still don’t feel closer to you.” It’s been seventeen years since I lay sobbing on the floor of my apartment, begging God for answers. Today, I wouldn’t trade my relationship with God for anything.
In fact, I’d wish my relationship with him on everyone!
Hope began with grasping an important distinction between two operating systems- one Old and one New. Once I saw the doorway to the New, all I had to do was walk through. What was on the other side was life changing.
What if we could do away with all of the religious guilt and live from delight? What if we could enjoy so great an intimacy with God that it would seem he was nearly beneath our skin? What if we could just go through life being ourselves and somehow express Christ along the way? And what if all of this could come at no expense of our own?
It would mean the religion thing could end. It would mean we wouldn’t have to analyze ourselves and measure our spirituality.
It would mean a whole new way to live.
Long-term prisoners often struggle after their release. They grew accustomed to the confines of prison. They were told when to shower, when to eat, when to exercise, and when to sleep. Every aspect of their lives was regulated as law enforcers kept a watchful eye. And, once released, some grow uneasy.
Similarly, spiritual freedom can make some Christians uneasy. Nevertheless, we’re urged to cross the line, to move away from religious bondage and journey toward a beautiful freedom, never looking back.
One thing about distinguishing the Old from the New –it always liberates. As Christians, we undergo an exchange of nature, a DNA swap. And the shocking revelation of this new self forever changes the way we go about life.
Through a miraculous, timeless surgery, we receive a new heart, a new mind, and a new human spirit. Still, there’s a battle within.
Through learning about the nature of that battle, and our own role in it, we can expect to see dramatic change in the outcome.
Forgiveness.
The Catholic goes to a priest, and the Protestant thinks he does better by appealing directly to God. But any system that doesn’t factor in once-for-all forgiveness is intrinsically flawed.
Jesus plus nothing. 100% natural. No additives.It's the truth you may never hear in church. The Naked Gospel is a chapter-by-chapter assault on the churchy jargon and double talk of our day. It puts forth a message that is simple but life-changing. With a fresh take on Scripture and unapologetic style, The Naked Gospel will challenge you to re-examine everything you thought you already knew.
There is still time to enjoy life I'm not ready to trade my smoking and drinking habits My friends wont hang with me anymore if I become a serious Christian I don't want to become a hypocrite like the church people I'm having too much fun Pornography has a hold of me, I will never be free I cant live to those religious standards, I have tried and I am never good enough I'm sick and tired of being judged by others I want to do my own thing, its not fun to be good There will be time later to change my life
In a recent interview, Brian "Head" Welch" said... Good habits are hard to develop but easy to live with Bad habits are easy to develop but hard to live with
God accepts us just as we are, all we do is accept His gift to us and by accepting Gods gift we allow ourselves to be transformed to the finished work he has in us.
Yes, life will never be the same again All things will pass away All things will become new
But the only change from us is to believe that this transformation is the gift. Its not up to us to change our self or give up our old ways but allow God to change us from the inside out.
Everybody dies, sometimes without any warning; good enough reason to secure a place in heaven now.
Life is hard enough; let alone living without God. When we reach that fork in the road, its still our choice, right or wrong.
No one has the right or ability to judge us as God can, but through Jesus Christ God sees the believer as sinless, perfect, pleasant to His eye.
Gods Spirit comforts and guides the believer to the knowing and understanding that transforms.
Following God means loving Him, ourselves and others like never before.
I pray that we the people can see a better life, an awesome life, in a loving relationship with a friend that will always be there, through good or bad, the most loving, wealthiest, fun loving, funny, creative, caring, honest, loyal friend there is, our Creator, our Heavenly Father.
"It's not over 'til it's over," his father told the J Post
Gilad is the IDF soldier who has been kept captive by Hamas operatives in Gaza since June 2006; Gilad holds dual French-Israeli citizenship. The French government has been in constant contact with his parents and negotiating between Israel and Hamas on his release.
Hamas demands ALL terrorist prisoners, over 1000, released in exchange for Gilad, including a large amount of money and probably a dozen or so virgin teenage girls.
Hamas continues their failed attempts at kidnapping more IDF soldiers.
An interesting find in the translated Qu'ran-Surah 47:4 says: Therefore, WHEN YOU MEET THE UNBELIEVERS, SMITE AT THEIR NECKS; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom.
Sounds like Gilad falls under "ransomed" but may find his captors to being generous towards him. He is a Hamas asset, for the time being, a small treasure to be treated properly.
The Qur'an is simply a book of gibberish consisting of later evil verses abrogating (superseding) earlier peaceful verses. These verses in Arabic poetically "tickle" the ears of Arab listeners. Islam is a caustic blend of paganism and twisted Bible stories. Muhammad, its lone "prophet", who made no prophecies, conceived his religion to satiate his lust for power, sex, and money. He was a terrorist, plain and simple.
Keep Gilad and his family in prayer and the Jewish people. Also pray for the Muslim people whom God also promised to bless. The gift of salvation is for all, not just some but all, Arab, Gentile and Jew.
The Day of the Lord cometh, the time is dependant on how much the Nations of the world infuriate God with their evil ways, Islamic Radicals included. Want to see a world without God, a possible future? click here
Never forget, Israel belongs to God's people, the Jews, the rest of the world is under grace by faith in Christ.
Hey you, wake up, Generation Y is coming and us old fogies are on our way out. They are smarter, more liberal and can do more things in a minute than any of us. Stop pushing religion and judgement on them for time is running out. Spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, pray daily that the Spirit of God touch their hearts in LOVE. Volunteer your time and energy to teaching them love and faith and grace.
Revelation 13:9-10 (AMP) 9 If anyone is able to hear, let him listen: 10 Whoever leads into captivity will himself go into captivity; if anyone slays with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Herein is [the call for] the patience and the faith and fidelity of the saints (God’s people).
The way I hear it...
Captivity being legalism that leads to death. Would that mean that whoever leads others away from the gospel into a works based life, must also be living bound or captive to religion; not accepting the work of the cross, that being grace.
God's written word being the sword. Anyone using scripture to slay the gospel from the believers heart, being a popular practice, will also have the gospel slain from their own heart resulting in death.
The gospel being Paul's anointed message were believer's are saint's and joint heir's of Christ, no longer bound by the old covenant law. Redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord, the King of kings.
God calls the believer to be patient and faithful to accurately representing the gospel.
A Church Without Grace (slaying with sword and leading into captivity)
. I have never been so passionate about a subject like grace. Used to be radios but still not like grace. It is so frustrating to see so many believers including the Church leaders along with unbelievers completely blind to the truth of grace, down right stubborn and argumentative about the work of the cross. (I'm not meaning my home church for sure)
Knit believers, many of the critically spirited or "unenlightened" are outside the realm of understanding and insist on a cult like worship service every Sunday immersed in their old tribal customary format. Fire and brimstone with no deviations from the old Hymn style music condemning the congregation of their sinful lifestyle and behavior. The pulpit enforcing an every day life walk of judging others by their paganistic behavior with a call to tell the world their all going to hell if they don't change their ways. How lovely...not.
I grew up without knowing or understanding the true power in Jesus Christ. The Lord draws us to His glory as His love and grace demands, His Spirit draws us to His purpose of living in the glory of His grace.
I no longer live in guilt or shame because His mercy and grace completes me perfectly in my Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh how I wish and pray others would be able to see the freedom grace brings and experience a thirst and hunger to being in communion with God.
Those who are afraid of the message of the grace walk have sometimes suggested that you can go too far with grace. They're afraid about getting "out of balance" with the message. It is from out of that unfounded fear that this lie finds expression. The fact is that grace is a Person. His name is Jesus. So to say that you can go too far with grace is like saying that you can go too far with Him. It simply isn’t possible.
"But if you teach grace the way you are, people will think it's okay to sin," some have said to me. That kind of fear shows a lack of understanding about what grace does in a person’s life. When God’s grace really takes hold of us, it does the exact opposite of encouraging sin. It causes us to draw near in love and faith to God, which is where we find a greater desire to walk in a way that honors Him.
The idea that you can go too far with grace is an irrational fear. When a believer sins, he is acting in a disgraceful way by contradicting the very essence of the grace of God. Grace empowers us to honor our Father through our actions, not dishonor Him. It is possible to pervert grace so that it stops being grace, but it isn’t possible to go too far with it.
Paul had this to say about the effect grace has in a person's life:
For if by the transgression of the one [Adam], death reigned through the one, much more, those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17
He said that if we’re going to reign in life, there needs to be an abundance of grace, which provides the gift of righteousness. The result will be that we reign in life, which surely does not sound like “encourage more sinning.”
The word “abundance” in that verse suggests an overflow. It doesn’t mean filling something to the top. It means filling it beyond the top, so that it spills over. Paul said that is what has happened to the Christian. We have received an overflow of grace.
In Philippians 3, Paul gives his own testimony of what receiving the grace of Jesus Christ did for him. He threw away the pride he had in his religious credentials in exchange for the joy of knowing Jesus Christ. Then did he stop there? No, he says,
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Jesus Christ. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 Grace motivated him toward godliness in his actions, not away from it.
Go too far with grace? There’s no way. The fact is that most Christians haven’t gone far enough in their understanding of it. It's just a word they throw around at church. We need an overflow of grace, especially in the modern church world where legalism is so rampant. As much as we say we don’t want to live under the law, we’re often scared to death of the grace of God.
We need to boldly proclaim God’s grace to the church world — not only to the unredeemed, unsaved world, but to the church world. We need to proclaim the grace of God because the fact is that, even if you could go too far with grace, which you cannot, I’ve not been in a church yet where there was even a remote possibility of going too far with the grace of God.
Go too far with grace? Not a chance. We need an abundance of grace in the legalistic barrenness of the modern church terrain. It’s only when we jump in over our heads, into the river of God’s grace, and we experience that abundance, that we know the victory that is ours in Jesus Christ.
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