Why I believe in “Eternal Security”
This is a controversial topic but one that needs to be addressed since the lack of belief of eternal security can cause needless condemnation against those who are struggling with sin. The “carnal” Christian can become discouraged and give up on their Christian walk.
What is the definition of “Eternal Security”? Otherwise known as “once saved, always saved”, it just means that once you are “born again” or once you have become regenerated by the Holy Spirit into “newness of life” you cannot lose it or become “unsaved”. Those who endorse “Conditional Security” are basically saying you can become “unborn” or you can lose your salvation by losing your faith. I used to believe that you could lose your salvation because that is what my church taught me. Sometimes we need to question what we have been taught. Before I go into the arguments against eternal security allow me to defend it based on scriptures and on simple logic.
Colossians 3:3-4; “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory”.
The born-again believer is a “new creation” and the old life is gone. (2 Cor. 5:17) The old man has died. God no longer recognizes the old man. Our life is hidden with Christ in God. The old “life” is . We are now in the body of Christ.
Eph. 5:30 says, “For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.”
My comment: Jesus does not cut off parts of his body. We cannot become “unborn”. We cannot return to the old “dead man”. Regeneration, the single act of being “born-again”, is a work of the Spirit, it is final because God willed it and God did it. We can’t undo it. Is our will stronger than Gods? 1 Tim. 2:4 (Young’s Literal) “who doth will all men to be saved, and to come to the full knowledge of the truth;”
Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
My comment: We are suppose to be confident that if he has begun the good work then he certainly complete despite our efforts to resist. These efforts to resist come from our flesh! God is stronger than our flesh, he is stronger than our soulish life.
Galatians 3:3 (Amplified Bible) “Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh?”
My Comment: If the work is begun by the Spirit then the flesh cannot enhance it or destroy it. God does not judge us according to lapses in our mental reasoning.
John 10:27-29 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”
Ephesians 2:8 (New Living Translation) “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God”.
My comment: Humans don’t take back gifts and neither does God.
Galatians 2:20 (King James Version) “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
My comment: We have been given the faith OF God and By God (Rom. 12:3). It cannot fail if the Spirit has truly come in and regenerated us.
"The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." Romans 11:29
If salvation is a free gift (Eph. 2:8-9) then it cannot be called back...irrevocable.
Romans 8:29-34 (NLT) [my comments in brackets] For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn [can one become “unborn”?] among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. [so this is all “revocable”?] 31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us….38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Hebrews 12:2; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…
My comment: If HE is the author and finisher of our faith how can WE lose it?
Jude 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling…
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”
Ephesians 1:13-14 “And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.”
If we have received the Spirit then we have a guarantee. A guarantee is defined in the dictionary as “a promise or official statement that something will definitely happen.”
Will you believe God’s promise or not? Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us. Hebrews 7:24. His prayers are always answered!
Part 2 What about “conditional security”? Can you lose your salvation?
Why do people resist the teaching of eternal security? Here are a few simple reasons.
Opponents think that believing in it will cause people to sin more since they think sinning doesn’t matter because they are saved anyway. I will show this is not true.
They think it is the same thing as Calvinism. I will show that it is not the same.
Opponents also think there are many scriptures which prove that you can lose your salvation. I will show that these scriptures are misinterpreted or mistranslated.
God’s promises are not revoked based on man’s behavior. Just because “Jimmy” uses eternal security as an excuse to sin does not mean the promise from God is not valid. If Jimmy is looking for excuses to sin then Jimmy has probably never repented for his sins and has not been born-again of the Spirit. Paul knew his revelations would cause some to think they can just keep on sinning and he was persecuted by the religious because of it. He warns of this mistake in Romans 6:1. We know that young/carnal Christians will fall, fail and use excuses for their sin. If they are truly born again, from the Spirit, then it is the Spirit’s job to sanctify them outwardly and their job to yield to the leadings of the Spirit. Their fruits will help us determine where they are in their maturity but we are not to judge them outwardly. We cannot know the thoughts and intents of a person’s heart; only God knows.
Some would say I’m teaching Calvinism. Since many reading this are not familiar with Calvinism I will keep this answer short. Calvinism teaches “Perseverance of the Saints”, they don’t call it “eternal security”. They are basically saying that those who are called and chosen will persevere because they are called and chosen. Their “works” will prove they have been called and chosen. As we know, Paul writes that works play no part in the salvation of the believer. Salvation is a gift of God “not out of us”. Eph. 2:8-9. Their definitions and theology is different than I have described in part 1 of this paper.
Now to a few scriptures that seem to support the idea you can lose your salvation.
Romans 11:20-21 “Quite right, they (the Jews) were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.”
We see here that the Jews (not born-again believers) were “broken off”. In the context of chapter 11, being “broken off” was part of God’s plan for the Jews in order to open the gospel to the Gentiles. But we also see that “all Israel will be saved” in the end in verse 26. The warning about falling from God’s grace from working in your life currently. Operating outside God’s grace because of unbelief (as Israel has found out) is a fearful thing. You can lose your joy, protection, fellowship, etc. The same reasoning can be applied to Galatians 5:4. These verses do not say you will be lost for eternity. We also need to ask if the verse is speaking to a nation as the first part of the verse indicates and so does it apply to nations, groups or individuals in the latter part of the verse.
We also need to ask if Paul may have been warning those in the audience who’s faith may not yet be genuine and may not have been truly born again. Every “church” has those too.
Hebrews 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.
Hebrews 6:4-6 NLT For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—6 and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.
My comment: Hebrews was written to the Jews. The Jews who received this letter at this time did not yet understand the “grace system” that Paul taught to US, the Gentiles. Some of the Pentecostal Jews were being tempted to go back to Judaism even though they themselves had enjoyed the spiritual gifts. They fell under the “repentance and baptism” system, a pardon system, in which one can walk away from the faith. We are in the age of Grace, salvation by the blood of Jesus Christ received by faith alone which comes from God alone, incorruptible and irrevocable.
2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.”
The Corinthians were questioning Paul’s apostleship. He was asking them to check themselves if they were qualified to be promoting themselves as men of faith. He was not questioning their salvation, it was a rhetorical question.
Revelation 3:5 “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
Simply states he will not erase those names in the book. A reassuring promise to those who may be worried about it. The verse does not say that he is erasing names of people who supposedly have lost their faith. All “true” Christians will overcome.
Colossians 1:22-23 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through , in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-- if indeed you continue [the literal Greek (Concordant) does not say “if” but says “surely you are persisting in the faith”] in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard…
My comment: In this case we see the scripture was not accurately translated from the original Greek. As we see here, it can make a big difference. Other scriptures can be sited. If we look at those in the light that the individual has never come to a saving faith in the first place then we can see that the warnings can apply. None of the scriptures above or others that can be sited actually says a person has totally lost their faith. They mostly have to do with a continuation of a performance of works as to the guideline of having faith or not. As stated before, salvation comes apart from works.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Believe for your Healing
Scriptures to believe for your healing.
Luke 5:12-13 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 13 Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him.
It is almost always God’s will for us to be healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5
4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
Jesus purchased our healing at the cross.
Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
You must ask!
Matthew 8:16-17 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “ He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”
He healed them ALL!
Matthew 18:19-20 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Get others to agree with you in your prayer for healing.
Psalm 103:1-3 Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.
ALL means ALL!
Psalm 30:2 O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.
1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
Notice it says that you were headed. The healing is completed, bought and paid for, you just need to claim it.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Jesus still heals today!
James 5:14-16 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything ly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
It helps greatly to have someone lay their hands upon you and agree with you for your healing.
Hindrances to divine healing.
Lack of faith. Faith comes by the Word of God. Keep reading the above scriptures!
Unforgiveness toward someone. Forgive whomever it is you need to forgive.
Unrepentant sin in the person’s life. Repent and stop habitual sinning.
God may still decide to heal people despite the above problems, he is sovereign.
Reasons for delayed healing.
God’s sovereign unknown will.
God wants to use a physician.
God wants to test and/or build our faith.
Lack of faith for immediate healing.
Luke 5:12-13 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 13 Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him.
It is almost always God’s will for us to be healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5
4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
Jesus purchased our healing at the cross.
Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
You must ask!
Matthew 8:16-17 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “ He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”
He healed them ALL!
Matthew 18:19-20 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Get others to agree with you in your prayer for healing.
Psalm 103:1-3 Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.
ALL means ALL!
Psalm 30:2 O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.
1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
Notice it says that you were headed. The healing is completed, bought and paid for, you just need to claim it.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Jesus still heals today!
James 5:14-16 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything ly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
It helps greatly to have someone lay their hands upon you and agree with you for your healing.
Hindrances to divine healing.
Lack of faith. Faith comes by the Word of God. Keep reading the above scriptures!
Unforgiveness toward someone. Forgive whomever it is you need to forgive.
Unrepentant sin in the person’s life. Repent and stop habitual sinning.
God may still decide to heal people despite the above problems, he is sovereign.
Reasons for delayed healing.
God’s sovereign unknown will.
God wants to use a physician.
God wants to test and/or build our faith.
Lack of faith for immediate healing.
The Power of Praise
The Power of Praise
Psalms 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Anytime we come before the Lord we come to Him praising him.
Psalm 150
1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!
4 Praise Him with the timbrel (drums) and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD!
Hebrews 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
We may not always feel like praising God. It is a sacrifice, a putting under of the flesh. Putting aside pride. Not caring what others think. Football fans will shout, praise and get all excited for their team. How much more should we be praising the God who gave us eternal life.
Psalms 22:22 I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
Psalms 34:1-3 1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
Whenever we hear people praising God we, as humble servants of God, should be glad. Only the prideful resist praise. Below we see as we praise Him he will save and heal us!
Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.
Psalm 113:3 From the rising of the sun to its going down, The Lord’s name is to be praised.
Psalm 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
God inhabits the praises of his people!
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.
We should praise Him in song. We can learn and remember scripture with the songs we sing.
1 Cor. 14:15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
Psalm 33:3 Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
Revelation 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Be joyful in your singing of His praises! They will be rocking for Jesus in heaven!
2 Samuel 22:4 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.
Psalm 8:1-2 1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
Praise will deliver you from your enemies, including depression and other attacks of the devil.
Acts 16:23-26 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
In the above verse we see that Paul and Silas were suffering some terrible circumstances yet still they began to worship and sing to God. God delivered them from their when he heard the praises come forth. We need to do the same even when we are at our lowest points.
Psalms 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Anytime we come before the Lord we come to Him praising him.
Psalm 150
1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!
4 Praise Him with the timbrel (drums) and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD!
Hebrews 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
We may not always feel like praising God. It is a sacrifice, a putting under of the flesh. Putting aside pride. Not caring what others think. Football fans will shout, praise and get all excited for their team. How much more should we be praising the God who gave us eternal life.
Psalms 22:22 I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
Psalms 34:1-3 1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
Whenever we hear people praising God we, as humble servants of God, should be glad. Only the prideful resist praise. Below we see as we praise Him he will save and heal us!
Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.
Psalm 113:3 From the rising of the sun to its going down, The Lord’s name is to be praised.
Psalm 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
God inhabits the praises of his people!
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.
We should praise Him in song. We can learn and remember scripture with the songs we sing.
1 Cor. 14:15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
Psalm 33:3 Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
Revelation 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Be joyful in your singing of His praises! They will be rocking for Jesus in heaven!
2 Samuel 22:4 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.
Psalm 8:1-2 1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
Praise will deliver you from your enemies, including depression and other attacks of the devil.
Acts 16:23-26 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
In the above verse we see that Paul and Silas were suffering some terrible circumstances yet still they began to worship and sing to God. God delivered them from their when he heard the praises come forth. We need to do the same even when we are at our lowest points.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Being "IN Christ"
On Being “In Christ.”
Galatians 3:24-29 “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Put on Christ as you would a parachute. If you jump out of a plane you are totally trusting that parachute. The NIV translation uses the word “clothe.” Cover yourself with the fullness of Christ and everything that he is.
Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its s.“ If we have PUT on Christ and are IN Christ, we will be able resist the sinful desires of our bodies.
Romans 7:24,25 “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of ?” Paul knew it was impossible to do all that is demanded of the believer without help. Religion only gives us the letter of the law. See 2 Cor. 3:6.
Hebrews 3:14 “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;” We are not imitators of Christ, but are participators in his Spirit. That means to die to self and be led totally by His Spirit in all things.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
We should not feel guilty about our past because Christ has set us free from that guilt us being forgiven by faith in his shed at the cross. We can continue to feel guilt free if we walk according to the Spirit and not practicing sin. If we do sin, we should immediately confess our sin, repent and God will forgive us according to 1 John 1:9.
Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and .” The Christian Faith is not a scheme of Salvation intellectually accepted, but a Life of power and holiness that one can enjoy if we die to self and walk after the Spirit. Example: a book marker in a book will go wherever the book goes.
Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” If He dwells in you and you in Him. How can we act out the old man (old self)?
Colossians 3:1-3 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
If we try to live by man’s ways and man’s abilities we will fail. We can only have victory by trusting in “the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ”, given by his grace and achieved by Christ at the cross. We cannot trust religion. We cannot trust our own strength and abilities. We must continually fall on our knees at the cross and yield totally to the Spirit, who dwells in us. The Spirit cannot and will not help us outside the cross.
Luke 9:23-24 “Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.”
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Phil. 2:13 “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Again, allow God to do the work, yield to the Holy Spirit for the ability to overcome.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
These “things” and “supplies” must always be things that are pleasing to God and give Him glory, not things that are for our selfish, fleshly wants. Our whole life is meant to give HIM glory. When we operate in that capacity then we will find true joy and peace.
Galatians 3:24-29 “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Put on Christ as you would a parachute. If you jump out of a plane you are totally trusting that parachute. The NIV translation uses the word “clothe.” Cover yourself with the fullness of Christ and everything that he is.
Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its s.“ If we have PUT on Christ and are IN Christ, we will be able resist the sinful desires of our bodies.
Romans 7:24,25 “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of ?” Paul knew it was impossible to do all that is demanded of the believer without help. Religion only gives us the letter of the law. See 2 Cor. 3:6.
Hebrews 3:14 “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;” We are not imitators of Christ, but are participators in his Spirit. That means to die to self and be led totally by His Spirit in all things.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
We should not feel guilty about our past because Christ has set us free from that guilt us being forgiven by faith in his shed at the cross. We can continue to feel guilt free if we walk according to the Spirit and not practicing sin. If we do sin, we should immediately confess our sin, repent and God will forgive us according to 1 John 1:9.
Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and .” The Christian Faith is not a scheme of Salvation intellectually accepted, but a Life of power and holiness that one can enjoy if we die to self and walk after the Spirit. Example: a book marker in a book will go wherever the book goes.
Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” If He dwells in you and you in Him. How can we act out the old man (old self)?
Colossians 3:1-3 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
If we try to live by man’s ways and man’s abilities we will fail. We can only have victory by trusting in “the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ”, given by his grace and achieved by Christ at the cross. We cannot trust religion. We cannot trust our own strength and abilities. We must continually fall on our knees at the cross and yield totally to the Spirit, who dwells in us. The Spirit cannot and will not help us outside the cross.
Luke 9:23-24 “Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.”
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Phil. 2:13 “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Again, allow God to do the work, yield to the Holy Spirit for the ability to overcome.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
These “things” and “supplies” must always be things that are pleasing to God and give Him glory, not things that are for our selfish, fleshly wants. Our whole life is meant to give HIM glory. When we operate in that capacity then we will find true joy and peace.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Signs of a Soundly Saved Christian
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
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
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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