Signs (Fruits) of a Soundly saved Christian
Matthew 7:15 You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
1. Love for God. Luke 10:27, Rev. 2:1-5
2. Repentance from sin. 2 Cor. 7:10, Ps. 32:5, Prov. 28:13
3. Genuine Humility. Ps. 51:17, James 4:6,9
4. Devotion to God’s Glory. 1 Cor. 10:31, Ps. 115:1
5. A prayer life. Luke 18:1, Eph. 6:18, James 5:16
6. Selfless Love. 1 John 2:9, 3:14, 4:7
7. Separation from the World. 1 Cor. 2:12, James 4:4, 1 Jn 2:15-17
8. Spiritual Growth. Luke 8:15, John 15:1-6, Eph. 4:12-16
9. Obedient living. Matt. 7:21, 1 Peter 1:2,22, 1 John 2:3-5
10. Hunger for God’s Word. 1 Peter 2:1-3, Duet 8:3, John 1:1-5,14
11. Transformation of Life. 2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 6:14-16, 2:20
Friday, November 14, 2008
Dealing with Guilt and Failure
Dealing with Guilt and Failure
We ALL have failings in keeping the Lord’s commandments. I fail all the time as well. That is why God sent his Son because we are unable to keep the law. Young Christians struggle even more because they are not mature in the Lord. Men that are not able to fellowship with other strong believers will have additional difficulties. God does not expect perfection from you or anybody else. He sent the Holy Spirit to help us because he knew we would need help. You are in the process of being “sanctified” and that does not come overnight. It takes years to grow in the maturity of the Lord and you will have many failings and guilt. BUT as the truth of the Word becomes strong in you, it will change you. You must believe that. You have been made righteous and a son of God “IN Christ”.
Galatians 3:24-26 “So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,”
As you can see this comes by faith! God is not concerned with our performing the law because Jesus fulfilled the law. He only wants to see faith. Faith in what Jesus did at the cross sets us free! Our “righteousness” is already completed in the work of the cross.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We 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. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Again, the old is gone, your sins are not counted against you, in Christ you have the righteousness of God! Do not discount or throw away this great promise! Jesus gave his life to give you this promise!
1 Peter 1:3-4,23 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the , 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you…. 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”
You have been born-again of a seed and a promise that cannot perish!
Romans 8:1-2 “There is therefore now no condemnation (guilt) to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and .”
Stop feeling guilty and realize who you are IN Christ Jesus. If you keep your thoughts on the things of the Spirit and the truth of His Word then you will not experience guilt. You have been freed from the Law and the guilt that it brings!
John 8:36 “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
Galatians 5:1 (New Living Translation) “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”
If Christ has made you free, don’t go back to Law!
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” See also Psalm 51:10
If God says we are clean then we are clean.
Psalm 103:12 (New Living Translation) “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” See also Ezekiel 11:19,20
Renew your mind with theses verses. Hid them in your heart. Do not be persuaded otherwise. Be filled with the fruits of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25 (New Living Translation) “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
I would also recommended reading Romans chapters 6,7,8 multiple times, until the work of the cross (chap. 6), the uselessness of the law (chap. 7), and the victory by the Spirit (chap. 8), burns deep in your soul.
We ALL have failings in keeping the Lord’s commandments. I fail all the time as well. That is why God sent his Son because we are unable to keep the law. Young Christians struggle even more because they are not mature in the Lord. Men that are not able to fellowship with other strong believers will have additional difficulties. God does not expect perfection from you or anybody else. He sent the Holy Spirit to help us because he knew we would need help. You are in the process of being “sanctified” and that does not come overnight. It takes years to grow in the maturity of the Lord and you will have many failings and guilt. BUT as the truth of the Word becomes strong in you, it will change you. You must believe that. You have been made righteous and a son of God “IN Christ”.
Galatians 3:24-26 “So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,”
As you can see this comes by faith! God is not concerned with our performing the law because Jesus fulfilled the law. He only wants to see faith. Faith in what Jesus did at the cross sets us free! Our “righteousness” is already completed in the work of the cross.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We 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. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Again, the old is gone, your sins are not counted against you, in Christ you have the righteousness of God! Do not discount or throw away this great promise! Jesus gave his life to give you this promise!
1 Peter 1:3-4,23 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the , 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you…. 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”
You have been born-again of a seed and a promise that cannot perish!
Romans 8:1-2 “There is therefore now no condemnation (guilt) to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and .”
Stop feeling guilty and realize who you are IN Christ Jesus. If you keep your thoughts on the things of the Spirit and the truth of His Word then you will not experience guilt. You have been freed from the Law and the guilt that it brings!
John 8:36 “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
Galatians 5:1 (New Living Translation) “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”
If Christ has made you free, don’t go back to Law!
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” See also Psalm 51:10
If God says we are clean then we are clean.
Psalm 103:12 (New Living Translation) “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” See also Ezekiel 11:19,20
Renew your mind with theses verses. Hid them in your heart. Do not be persuaded otherwise. Be filled with the fruits of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25 (New Living Translation) “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
I would also recommended reading Romans chapters 6,7,8 multiple times, until the work of the cross (chap. 6), the uselessness of the law (chap. 7), and the victory by the Spirit (chap. 8), burns deep in your soul.
The Importance of God's Word
The Importance of God’s Word
John 1:1,14 The Eternal Word
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus, as The Christ, was always with God the Father, Christ became God incarnate in the flesh as Jesus Christ. We know Jesus Christ because of God’s word, the Bible. Without the Word we could not know about Jesus Christ, our God. We must go to the Word, the Bible to know who God is, how he works, and His will for our lives. We can depend on no other source. The Word is the definitive authority in our lives.
John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
God’s Word is living and powerful. It is spirit and life. It is your source of life giving power and truth. The Word is your means of change, your engine of change.
John 8:31-32 (Amplified Bible) So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. You will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.
Freedom from all sin, frustrations and failure comes from knowing and living His Word.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path.
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
For a Christian, lack of faith is the greatest stumbling block. Little faith, little power to overcome sin. God’s word deep within our hearts is the only way to life changing faith.
The Parable of the Sower
Matt. 3-9 .3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed (the Word) fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and es away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Hebrews 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.
James 4:4 (New Living Translation) 4 You erers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
Psalm 119:160 The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
John 1:1,14 The Eternal Word
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus, as The Christ, was always with God the Father, Christ became God incarnate in the flesh as Jesus Christ. We know Jesus Christ because of God’s word, the Bible. Without the Word we could not know about Jesus Christ, our God. We must go to the Word, the Bible to know who God is, how he works, and His will for our lives. We can depend on no other source. The Word is the definitive authority in our lives.
John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
God’s Word is living and powerful. It is spirit and life. It is your source of life giving power and truth. The Word is your means of change, your engine of change.
John 8:31-32 (Amplified Bible) So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. You will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.
Freedom from all sin, frustrations and failure comes from knowing and living His Word.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path.
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
For a Christian, lack of faith is the greatest stumbling block. Little faith, little power to overcome sin. God’s word deep within our hearts is the only way to life changing faith.
The Parable of the Sower
Matt. 3-9 .3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed (the Word) fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and es away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Hebrews 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.
James 4:4 (New Living Translation) 4 You erers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
Psalm 119:160 The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
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