Sinners Saved By Grace?

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Rightly Dividing this Popular Phrase

Are God’s people hopelessly sinful? Is there victory over all sin?

Does the Bible state or teach that those who have been born again are “sinners saved by grace”? Is it true humility to go around stating that we are “sinners saved by grace”? We’d better find out because, as you know, each of us is exposed to this statement on a regular basis and should be good Berean believers who examine every saying and the concept behind it, including this one, in light of the Scriptures (Acts 17:10-11).

“As he spake these words, many believed on him…Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin (a sinner). And the servant (of sin) abideth (remains) not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free (from habitual sinning), ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:34-36

According to Christ here, if we have “believed on him” and are continuing in His Word (Jn. 8:30-32), we have and are being made “free” from sin and its control over our lives. We are “free indeed” from the power and penalty of that which separates man and a holy God – sin (Is. 59:2; Rom. 6:23 etc.).

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope (of Christ’s coming again) in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” John 3:1-3

Those who are ready to go, are purifying their hearts, minds, and bodies “even as he (Jesus) is pure.”

You don’t seriously believe that the beloved and Holy LORD Jesus is going to marry someone, anyone who won’t make up their mind to love, to worship, to serve, to obey Him, now do you? Such a concept would be delusional at best.

Yes, we were sinners “in times past” before Christ found us and then we said “Yes” to His plan by repenting, turning to Him from our sins and believing upon Him (Acts 3:19; 16:31; 20:21; Ephesians 2:3, etc.). Now we are called “saints” and “sons.” To say anything else is to disagree with God. The term “saint” or “saints” occurs 99 times in the Bible.

“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” Philippians 2:15

Just because Jesus paid the debt for our sins in full, does nothing to negate His stated initial and ongoing conditions for remaining in a relationship with Him, The vast majority of evangelical churches, pastors today, have sold a lie to their prey – teaching initial salvation alone with no mention of enduring to the end which Jesusand His holy apostles taught is essential to eternal glory (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; 2 Peter 2:20-22, etc.). Get over yourself sinner. Repent now.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. If you will remain in Christ, you must remain in Him, set apart to Him.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Not one of us can imagine being in engaged to be married to someone and yet allowing them to consort romantically with someone else, with other “lovers.” We’d rightfully break it off immediately. Such transgressing of what is right warrant severance. In light of this how then would it be difficult for us to understand that God, who is “Holy, holy, holy” and commanded us to “Be ye holy; for I am holy”, would keep the marriage date with anyone who does not have Him as the very first and only love? (Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8) Those who choose to live in sin after being saved, of their own doing, cancel their glorious wedding appointment with the Great Bridegroom of Heaven (Matthew 22:1-14; 25:1-13; Revelation 19:7-10). God is holy and will not co-exist with sin (Psalms 5:4; Habakkuk 1:13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 4:8; 21:8, etc.).

“How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1-2

Jesus died to make you His own, not to give you a license to live apart from Him, to live in sin. Read 1 John 3 today. KJB

“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15

Sister Karen Cochran notes:

“I hear many Christians today say I am just a sinner saved by grace. This is not biblical. Our identity should be in Christ not in being a sinner. This statement is saying our flesh is more important than our relationship with God and we want to hang onto it. If we are taking our sinful flesh to the cross of Christ, we should be being made into his image, who knew no sin. We should no longer serve sin. Romans 6:6. When we do sin we know the wages of sin is death. Romans 6: 23. It separates us from God. We repent and take it to the cross and ask forgiveness because our relationship with Jesus is more than than our fleshly selves.”

REPLY:

Amen Jesus. After being regenerated by Him, saved into His eternal kingdom, we are now “saints”, not sinners. 96 times “saints” appears in Holy Writ, each time specifically speaking of God’s people. Only 2 kingdoms – saints/sinners, light/darkness, Jesus/satan.

“Called to be Saints”

“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” 1 Corinthians 1:2

We are to be “called” by the people of God, “sons” and “saints”, not sinners. This is not an arrogant attempt to exalt our position above that which has been divinely ordained, but a mere adherence and obedience to God’s Word. We are blessed in the grace of God and rescued, snatched up out of the mire and filth of sin and placed upon His rock of refuge (Ps 40). We can do nothing without Him and all things through Him (Jn. 15:5; Phil. 4:13). He stated that we are His “saints” in contrast with those who are not His – sinners. He has even given to us the down payment of our inheritance:

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest (down payment) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14

Remember the wonderful and Scriptural song we sing:

We’re the people of God

Called by His name

Called from the darkness

One holy race

And delivered from shame

Saints every one

Because of the Blood of Christ Jesus the Son

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” 1 John 3:1

Sorry, I know a lot of people like to use this little saying (“I’m a sinner saved by grace”) which while being true in one aspect, also fosters a form of false humility and forecasts defeat and a life relegated to sinful living, but we must be accurate in our sayings and accurate in our living. This means we must die to self-thinking and be renewed and transformed by the written Counsel of the Lord as we offer our bodies a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).

“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:” Titus 2:1

“SINNERS VS. SAINTS: The sinner and lukewarm practice and justify sin. The saint is at war with sin, has remorse, and repents. He goes to the throne room of grace for cleansing and grace (divine enablement), from that which defiles one’s garment, often…” Erik van Niekerk

This “sinner saved by grace” concept gives way to sinfulness. This statement and concept are no where to be found in Scripture. Yes, we WERE sinners, yet have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and from the power of the sinful nature and “renewed in the spirit of our minds.” To those redeemed, the Holy Ghost speaks and says:

“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:23-24

Simply put, we are to cause our minds to conform to what God has done through His Son to redeem us. As a regenerate saint, we do not practice sin in our lives. That doesn’t mean we haven’t stumbled and walked in darkness after being saved, it simply means that if we are continuing in our relationship with the One who bought us back from the sinful life and devil, we do not live habitually in a transgression against Him. We are called to be holy as He is holy. (See John 8:31-36).

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

We have not been saved and then granted a license to sin and anyone who is teaching any doctrine such as OSAS (once saved always saved) or any of the five points of Calvinism, is fulfilling Jude’s prophecy and is an “ungodly man” who is “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness.” (Jude 3-4)

Such as attitude is what apostate Israel lived by:

“And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?” Jeremiah 7:10

To remain a saint, one must continue living his life unto God to the end of it.

“Here is the patience (volitional endurance) of the saints: here are they that KEEP the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12

Galatians 5:24 “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

You are NOT a “sinner saved by grace” if you have been regenerated. Beloved of God, please rid your mind of this erroneous thinking. There is an “old man” and a “new man” spoken of in Scripture (Col. 3:9-10; Eph. 4:24). We are to “put off” the deeds and desires of the “old man” and “put on” the Christlikeness of the “new man.” The “new man” refers to the truth that God has redeemed us and calls us out from the way the world (the unsaved). We are blessed to live these lives separated to God in all things. We are to worship Him and no other, having no other gods before His majesty. We are to be “separate from sinners” (Heb. 7:26), as Christ was. To be “separate from sinners” refers to separation in the way we live, not necessarily removing ourselves physically from them, although in some cases this is essential.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” 2 Corinthians 6:14-17

Sin is a decision and it’s largely due to what doctrine we obey in our minds (Romans 6:17). Some have been told that they can’t help but sinning every single day. Where does the Bible say such? Why have bought into such a philosophy?

“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. ⁶Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” 1 John 3:5-6

Note particularly this portion of the above passage:

“… in him is no sin. ⁶Whosoever abideth (remains in intimate fellowship with) in him sinneth not.” 1 John 3:5-6

Instead of being a “sinner saved by grace”, you are a Son of God. You are one who is in covenant relationship with God, whereas a sinner has no covenant relationship with the Lord. The sinner is one who has not yet received the redemption Jesus died and rose again to give him. Remember that the Word says that “the redeemed” are to “say so.”

“Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;” Psalms 107:2

If I am “redeemed”, I am to speak this out (“say so”), not go around confessing “I am a sinner”! The word “redeemed” means bought back. We are to breath hope into others by telling them we have been bought back and they can be too!

We have been bought back by Christ’s precious blood from a life of sinful separation from a holy God. We have been redeemed from the control of sin over our lives (Rom. 6:14). How are others going to have hope if we are saying that we are still “sinners” who are relegated to a life of sinfulness??? Also, if we are still sinners, then God must permit sinfulness in His kingdom, right? Wrong.

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which NO man shall see the Lord:” Hebrews 12:14

Notice the book ends, the beginning and ending of the monumental cross chapter, Romans 6:

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? … But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:1-2, 22-23

Those who were initially saved and are abiding, remaining in, continuing with Christ, have their “ye have your fruit unto holiness” which also means they have “everlasting life.” Jesus taught us that any person who is born again into Him and yet does not “abide”, continue with Him, on His stated terms, evidenced by good fruit, will be thrown into the fires of eternal damnation. Read John 15:1-6.

God’s Word clearly teaches initial and final salvation (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Colossians 1:22-23; 2 Timothy 2:12; Hebrews 3:6, 12-15; 10:26-39, etc.).

In Colossians 3:12, those saved are called “the elect of God, holy and beloved.” In 2 Corinthians 5:21, we are called the “the righteousness of God in him (Christ).”

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

YES!, you were born into sin and depraved to the depths of your being, contaminated with sin and iniquity (Rom. 5:12, 18-19, etc.), but you have been bought back (redeemed) by Christ’s perfect blood sacrifice, regenerated, and are a new creature in Him.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

Concerning His children, the Lord says we are made:

a new creature
old things are passed away
all things are become new
all things are of God

If we are “redeemed”, what are we “redeemed” from? The power of the sinful inclinations to rule in our lives and therefore the penalty (eternal damnation) that awaits all who die without such (Rom. 6:14; Col. 1:14, 3:1-11, etc.).

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Colossians 1:14

Here we witness that one who is connected in a covenant relationship with His Creator has “redemption”through the “blood” of the covenant and “the forgiveness of sins.” Tell me, where is the concept of a “sinner saved by grace” here?

We should cease immediately confessing something that is absolutely unbiblical and misleading to our own hearts and others also. Remember, where your words lead, your life will follow (James 3).

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar (special) people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” 1 Peter 2:9

All comments Welcomed.

God Bless You Richly, You Saint and Son of God,

todd

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Articles

The Gracious LORD will Abundantly Pardon [podcast]

“Abundantly Pardon”

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7

The repentant thief on the cross next to Jesus called Him “Lord” and simply asked, believed on Christ. Where is he now? “paradise” …

“Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 42 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:41-42

God’s pardon is paramount to being in paradise with Him and His saints. When we cry out to Him, the LORD will freely forgive us. That’s why He came and what He desires to do. Yet we must never forget that we shall reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-8). If we choose to sin, there will be dire consequences and while we can be forgiven, those results must be reaped.

How many people does God desire to perish? Not one (2 Peter 3:9).

Matthew 5:3, 6, 8

“Jeremiah’s message was never meant to leave the heart in despair. Every warning from God carried an invitation to return. The Lord does not expose empty religion to shame His people, but to heal them. Repentance is not the loss of hope, it is the beginning of hope. Christ still receives every soul that comes with humility, and He gives living faith where there was only habit, peace where there was only fear, and joy where there was only emptiness. The call remains the same today, to draw near to Him with a sincere heart, trusting that His mercy is always greater than our weakness.” Dan Blincoe

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:6-10

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” Acts 3:19

“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?” Joel 2:12-14

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5

YOUR PRAYER TO GOD: Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, please break me! Please crush me dear LORD. YOU are my Potter. Pour the water of Your Holy Spirit and Word upon this life You made and saved for Your glory, not mine. I love You Jesus! Let this heart be broken, contrite, and let tears flow from a poor and pure heart that hungers and thirsts after Your righteousness. In the name of my LORD Jesus, amen.

“God has a multitude of mercy (Psalm 5:7), is “plenteous in mercy” (Psalm 86:5), “rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4), and has “abundant mercy” (1 Peter 1:3). Wow! And I need all of that! But the real test is since He gives me all that mercy, do I extend mercy to others? If I don’t show mercy to others I will not receive mercy from God. James 2:13.” Karen Cochran

FORGIVE “from your hearts” or go to hell. That’s your choice (Matthew 18:21-35).

It becomes easy to forgive when you look in the mirror honestly and see all your own sins (Mark 11:25-26). Repent now.

“Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in SINCERITY and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.” Joshua 24:14

“God specializes in taking broken vessels and molding them, shaping them, and making them vessels of honor fit for His use!” Karen Cochran

Woman taken in the act of adultery. What about the man? Selective mercy, judgment?

Yes, we are to “Go, and sin no more” and yet “IF (not when) any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father.” Right? We can confess our sin in repentance and be forgiven (1 John 1:6-2:2).

It seems, from the whole counsel of God’s Word, that Jesus is more likely saying “You are now forgiven, saved, and grace empowered and do not need to live in sin any longer.” Surely His mercy and grace didn’t “run out” the first time she was redeemed, rescued. God is a merciful God and YES He 100% requires that we repent whenever needed, re-turn to Him and confess all sin. Yet when we do, is He not merciful? See Lamentations 3:22-23; Psalms 51; 103:10-12; Luke 22:31-32, etc.

The point intended here is that the “Go and sin no more” seems to be isolated by some…. first Jesus forgives/redeems her as she was obviously repentant. Then He says “Go and sin no more.” Did that mean “You better not sin again or it’s over, no more mercy, no chance of you ever returning to Me!” OR, did He mean that she is now redeemed, is a temple of the Holy Ghost, and empowered by divine grace to live free from sin and so she no longer has to be under it’s dominion”? See Romans 6:14; Titus 2:11-12.

“She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:11

“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Psalms 86:5

“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalms 86:15

HOW can God possibly use me to show His mercy to others if I am not walking in His mercy toward others?

IF YOU DEAL mercilessly with others, undiluted harsh judgment is coming upon your own life. That’s a divine promise:

“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James 2:13

Read that again. Memorize it.

YOU set the measure of the judgment/mercy coming upon your life from God by how you show such to others.

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5

The Sins and Restoration of the Patriarchs [podcast]

Abraham, Moses, and David – Their Sin and God’s Restoration! “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20 This fact doesn’t justify any sinning and yet, as the Word of God, must be factored in (Isaiah 28:16; Romans 6:1-2; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:15). “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” Proverbs 20:9 Sinless perfectionism is a lie (1 John 1:7-2:2). “If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me […]

God is Ready to Forgive and Plenteous in Mercy [podcast]

“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Psalms 86:5 God is… “good” “ready to forgive” “plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalms 86:15 Our LORD is… “a God full of compassion” “gracious” “longsuffering” “plenteous in mercy and truth” “His Compassions Fail Not” “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not […]

The God Who Is Ready To Forgive [podcast]

“A GREAT WAY OFF” Luke 15:20 Luke 15 – 3 parables of that which was lost (SSS): — Lost Sheep — Lost Silver — Lost Son What is the overriding divine theme communicated in this beautiful Bible chapter? THE whole of Scripture testifies to the reality that the LORD delights to restore when we simply come to Him humbly, on His terms. “And he (the wayward son) arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed […]

Abiding

“If God be For Us Who can be Against Us?” [podcast]

WHO is God truly “with”?

“And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and IF YE SEEK HIM, he will be found of you; but IF ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” 2 Chronicles 15:2

What happens when one of His children deny Him?

“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12if we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:11-13

Those who reject Him shall be rejected by Him. OSAS/eternal security is a fairy tale espoused by the moral cowards who refuse to serve God on HIS stated terms – repentance, faith, true worship, obedience, holiness, the crucified life, etc.

“And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.” Matthew 10:14-15

Persecution and the Disciple of Jesus

1 Peter 4

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Suffering as a Christian

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

Romans 8

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

God’s Everlasting Love

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

“Romans 8:29: For whom he did foreknow, etc. – “In this and the following verse the apostle shows how our calling is an argument that all things work together to advance our eternal happiness, by showing the several steps which the wisdom and goodness of God have settled, in order to complete our salvation. In order to this he first gives us, in this verse, the foundation and finishing, or the beginning and end, of the scheme of our redemption: For whom God did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son. To foreknow, here signifies to design before, or at the first forming of the scheme; to bestow the favor and privilege of being God’s people upon any set of men, Rom_11:2. This is the foundation or first step of our salvation; namely, the purpose and grace of God, which was given us in Christ Jesus, before the world began, 2Ti_1:9. Then, he knew or favored us; for in this sense the word to know is taken in a great variety of places, both in the Old and New Testaments. And as he knew the Gentiles then, when the scheme was laid, and before any part of it was executed, consequently, in reference to the execution of this scheme, he foreknew us. This is the first step of our salvation, and the end or finishing of it is our conformity to the Son of God in eternal glory, Rom_8:17, which includes and supposes our moral conformity to him. When God knew us, at the forming of the Gospel scheme; or, when he intended to bestow on us the privilege of being his people; he then destinated or designed us to be conformed to the image of his Son; and, as he destinated or determined us then to this very high honor and happiness, he pre-destinated, fore-ordained, or pre-determined us to it. Thus we are to understand the foundation and finishing of the scheme of our salvation. The foundation is the foreknowledge, or gracious purpose of God; the finishing is our being joint heirs with Christ. Now, our calling or invitation (see on Rom_8:28 (note)) stands in connection with both these.” Adam Clarke

Hypocrisy, Persecutions, and Afflictions [podcast]

“True Christiany will cost a man favor of the world. He must be content to be thought ill of by man if he pleases God. He must count it no strange thing to be mocked, ridiculed, slandered, persecuted and even hated.” -J.C.Ryle If you don’t have people leaving you due to what you’re preaching, you’re not preaching the Gospel Christ’s preached. “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” John 6:66 Ministry work always comes with “much contention.” There is a devil and he has human agents. Jesus will settle every score, will […]

The Persecution Podcast [podcast]

“Think it not strange” in 1 Peter 4 simply means to not be surprised. If you love the LORD you will want to hear all He says in His Word, including the reality of persecutions for Christ’s sake (John 8:47). Any man posing as a leader among God’s people and isn’t preaching regularly on the reality of Christian persecution, is absolutely an ear-tickling wolf! Run! Part 1 Below Part 2 Below Part 3 Below Part 4 Below Sounds like our LORD is saying that WHATEVER, WHOEVER we lose in this life due to following Jesus, God […]

Apostasy

The Book of Jude Narrated [podcast]

The Book of Jude:

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: ²mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

³Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. ⁴For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. ⁶And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. ⁷Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. ⁸Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. ⁹Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

¹⁰But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. ¹¹Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. ¹²These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; ¹³raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

¹⁴And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, ¹⁵to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. ¹⁶These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

¹⁷But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; ¹⁸how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. ¹⁹These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. ²⁰But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, ²¹keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. ²²And of some have compassion, making a difference: ²³and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

²⁴Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, ²⁵to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

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Psalm 27 Narrated [podcast]

“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” Psalms 27:4 This psalm epitomizes the worship-filled heart of the only man in HIS-story that the LORD declared is “a man after mine own heart.” David’s heart for the LORD is captured in this psalm for all of us to witness, to covet, to seek, and to do. “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man […]

The Book of Jonah Narrated [podcast]

Jonah has only 4 chapters, which makes it easy to outline the book chapter-by-chapter: God sends Jonah, Jonah disobeys (Jonah 1) God has compassion on Jonah (Jonah 2) Jonah preaches to Nineveh, Nineveh repents (Jonah 3) God has compassion on Nineveh, but Jonah does not and is upset (Jonah 4) Chapter 1 Jonah Flees the Presence of the Lord 1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3 But Jonah rose up to […]