Law vs. Grace Pt 3

Law vs. Grace Pt. 3

Acts14:22 shows strengthening of the disciples souls, encouraging them to continue in the faith, (Heb 3:13) and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” We must need encouragement to continue on our journey with Jesus. Note that it says many tribulations to enter God's kingdom. The Word teaches us we are more than conquerors through Jesus (Rom 8:37) but if we do not have the knowledge of God and the understanding of how to use our weapons against the evil forces and principalities of this world, how can we expect to have God’s intercession in our endeavors? (2 Cor10:4) Do we see the importance of being in God’s word gaining knowledge and understanding so we can have the wisdom to know how, when, and where to apply it with all confidence that He is faithful who promised! (Eph 6:16)

Romans 8:5-8 

Flesh is tied to the world fame, fortune, power, and pleasure! Putting most of our energy on sports, entertainment, and ourselves." We can deceive ourselves by not being honest with who we are. When our lives end, there is no do-over. We have one life to make a decision of who we will follow.  I don’t think we take this seriously enough. We think God is just like us - He’s going to say "Oh I understand we all make mistakes." No, the truth is He’s going to say "Get away from me I never knew you," now spend eternity in hell, (sobering thought but truth!) 

All I’m doing is sending a warning, take it or leave it! The Spirit is tied to Jesus through hearing and obeying His Word! No Word = No Jesus! You can’t obey what you don’t know and we are responsible to know! Ignorance will never excuse us! Many profess but have no knowledge of His Word of of whom make God out to be who and what ever they want him to be. What this really means is that they are their own God! (That leads to eternal destruction!) 

God’s grace, through Jesus, is not a license to sin. Jesus did not deliver us IN sin but FROM sin! If we live by the dictates of our flesh (impulses, lusts, emotions) and not by trusting and obeying God’s Word, it’s impossible to get any victory and please God. Without faith it is impossible to please God! (Hebrews 11:6) and we must believe that He is and He rewards (Luke 18:29, 30) us who diligently seek Him (here and now!)

Law vs. Grace Pt 2

Law vs. Grace Pt 2

Ephesians 2:8-9  

The key word here is earn! There is nothing that you or I can do that would warrant or entitle us God’s favor except the BLOOD of JESUS! Jesus said, "A tree is known by its fruit." Mat 7:17 
Are our actions produced by faith (acting on God’s word) or by doing something that you think would earn God's favor? I believe this subject is extremely misunderstood among proclaiming Christians today. 
1. Jesus said we must be born again (John 3:7) 
2. What does a born-again life look like? 
Living a life trusting in God’s Word regardless what we see! How can we trust God’s Word if we don’t know it or understand it? We eat food to energize our physical life in the same way we need spiritual food to energize our spiritual life! What happens to us if we don’t eat? The answer is evident! The same happens if we neglect our spiritual being! We must always remember God is not going to change for us and we must live our lives through His Word. 

On judgement day, when I'd want to say "Sorry I was wrong, I made a mistake", Jesus will say depart from me I never knew you; not real comforting is it? But it’s still true- See (Mat 7:21) 

So my challenge is this: What is going to be your claim before God to enter the kingdom of heaven? Is it going to be "I believed in Jesus?" The devil can say the same (James2:19) our actions prove what we believe and who we believe in! (James2:14-22)

I challenge anyone who says they are born again (meaning they are born into another kingdom of Jesus) and is not hungering, (through regular meditation of God’s word seeking knowledge and understanding) has only a mental assent, and his heart is not renewed (changed, transformed). 
Yes there are difficult seasons and God is so merciful, but to take our salvation that lightly is a very dangerous position. If faith comes by hearing and hearing by God’s Word (Romans 10:17) and we're not hearing God’s Word to produce faith, what is sustaining us? 
The world's fears? 
Where do we get our confidence if we are not hearing it from Jesus? 
A friend of the world is an enemy of God (James 4:4). It is God’s Word that quenches every fiery dart shot at us by the enemy (Eph 6:16) is better we judge ourselves today while there is still time. (1 Cor 11:31). We must realize this is a serious walk we are in! Jesus said the way is narrow and few find it (sobering challenge) (Matthew 7:14) 

What does a born-again person look like? 
A. Puts Jesus first place in everything! 
B. One who loves and identifies with other believers (obeyers of the Word) 
C. Loves and depends on God’s Word! 
D. Enjoys seeking to understand God’s Word! 

What does a professing Christian with only mental assent (professing but not possessing) look like? 
A. Is not comfortable talking about Jesus or His Word even though they spend time at Bible studies! 
B. Unwilling to seek knowledge and understanding of God’s Word of which they refuse to obey! 
C. Goes to church for feeling of belonging and pleasing God but their heart is in the world!
D. Does not enjoy true fellowship in God’s Word of which his walk may be challenged! 
E. Gets convicted in church but when leaving the church forgets what the Word showed him he looked like! (James 1:23)