Understanding the salvation of our God in Christ does wonders to envelope us in His love, to forge sonship in our heart as “we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:24-26
ALL of grace? Yes in provision and yet what about appropriation?
Well, it was God’s grace that, 1. sent His only begotten Son to die for us “while we were yet sinners,” (Romans 5:6-8), and 2. it is God’s initiating grace that finds us in our sin to draw us to Himself (John 12:32; 1 John 4:9-10, 19). Yet, God doesn’t just dole out His blessings of salvation to just anyone. He has placed conditions on appropriating it, something the lawless heart utterly despises to hear – that God has placed personal responsibility on him. These rebels refuse to submit to the LORD truly and therefore migrate to the grace-perverting wolves Jude warns us specifically of (Jude 4). Consider:
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” Isaiah 1:18-20
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20
No man merits God’s mercy. The guilty sinner can only receive it as a gift freely given by a loving God who allowed His only begotten Son to be crucified to save/rescue us (Romans 6:23; 4:4-5; Titus 3:5-7).
Jesus is 100% the One who saves us.
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. … We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:9-10, 19
Jesus requires that we meet HIS stated conditions – repentance, saving faith which always produces good works.
“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21
Jesus saves us, not our faith and obedience which simply appropriate His salvation. Saving faith and obedience to Him are always found in each of those who are His. Repentance and faith are the conditions – to the end of ones life on earth (Acts 20:21; Revelation 2:26).
Jesus alone can save. No one saves themself. Jesus “by himself purged our sins.” (Hebrews 1:3) Yes God requires your repentance and faith and yet it’s still Christ that saves you.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7
GOD DOES NOT LOOK AT THINGS LIKE MAN DOES. Have YOU ever sinned? Yes. We ALL have (Rom 3). Self-righteousness is damnable – Matt 21:31
“Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” Matthew 21:31
“That dying thief, he could not work, his hands were nailed. He could not walk, his feet were nailed. He could not get baptized. He could not take communion. He could not join the church. But praise God he could look. That is how he was saved. He looked. Who did he look to? He looked to Jesus. That is the way you are saved!” Ian Paisely
BY teaching what God’s Word teaches about justification, no one here is hinting that living lawlessly is of God – Romans 6:1-2.
WHY would anyone draw such a conclusion? It’s something not made whole in them.
This message is specifically concerning the monumental biblical topic of justification. That in no way negates the biblical doctrine of sanctification. YET, there is no SANCTIFICATION until after there is divine JUSTIFICATION.
“The fact is that a person can lose their salvation while living a completely moral life, moral by the world’s definition, trying as hard as they can to keep God’s rules thru human effort. We are not talking here about carousers, prostitutes, thieves, drunks, child molesters, murderers, liars, etc. We are talking about so called “godly” people going to church every Sunday, supporting their family, praying every day, doing good deeds, tithing. The authority for this fact is Gal 5:4 and others. Read that verse. These so called moral people can still be enemies of the cross.”
ONLY Messiah kept the law perfectly….. no other man ever did…. only MESSIAH can save, not law…. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10
Breaking just 1 commandment makes us guilty of breaking the whole law – James 2:10.
Fake Jews?
It has been wisely stated that “If you’re flirting with Moses, you’re cheating on Jesus.”
Have you memorized John 1:17 ?
“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:17
The Holy Spirit through Paul tells us who the true and false Jews are – “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” Romans 2:28-29
The law makes no one righteous but only convicts and reveals just how sinful we are and how much we need Christ – not more attempted law-keeping! (Romans 3:28; 7; Galatians 2:16; 3:24)
The righteousness demanded by the law was not fulfilled under the law other than by Christ himself – who then took it away when He nailed it to the cross! (Colossians 2:14-19)
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:3-4
We faith it through with God, from start to finish (Acts 16:31; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:1). We earn nothing. Jesus uniquely earned our place with God when He paid the price for our sins and on His merit alone we are justified. We are “justified by his blood.” – “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:9)
Perhaps something in us wants to feel like we ourselves are meriting or helping in the LORD saving us. This is part of the fallen nature which must be denied, crucified. Scripture states:
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18
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Abiding
GOD is Greater than all Sin [podcast]
“For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)” Romans 5:17
GOD is greater than all sin.
“Through Jesus we now have an abundance of grace and His gift of righteousness reining over our lives instead of sin and death brought to His through Adam’s sin! Hallelujah.” Karen Cochran
So if God is greater than all sin, WHY do some Christians still struggle with sin?
Great question
“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27
Our sin is never God’s fault but always our own fault.
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:13-15
It’s only possible to overcome sin by way of Christ and Christ mandates us, you be crucified with Him (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; Galatians 2:20, etc.).
Jesus requires surrender to overcome (John 3:30). As long as there is sin, there is Satan – he has foothold in our lives. Satan is giving place, has control over anyone who has not repent, is not walking with Jesus, abiding in Christ, in the crucified life.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
When we “Submit … to God” Satan must then “flee” from us because he has no more legal right to us – because to “Submit” is to repent and confess all sin.
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” 1 John 3:4-6
Instead of denying the Bible truth of a bent toward sin, we must deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus. As we do we are empowered by His grace, His divine ability, enablement to live fruitfully to His eternal glory.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from ALL iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:11-15
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Understanding Ministry-A Must for all who will be used of God [podcast]
“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5
Brothers and sisters, we are going to feed Jesus’ body as a body – “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body UNTO THE EDIFYING (building up) OF ITSELF in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)
MINISTRY is NOT a performance. The Godhead is the only audience that matters and the lord alone can bring forth fruit that glorifies himself through crucified vessels! (2 Corinthians 4:10-12)
…. We feed and serve the members of Jesus’ body as a team as Paul seem to speak so often of in the book of 2 Corinthians. Paul used the word “WE” several times concerning ministry there ….. “WE preach not ourselves but Christ …” (2 Corinthians 4:5) Read Psalms 133:1-3 and may our LORD imbue us with this blessed truth of true unity among His people on the foundation of the eternal truth of His written Word. It’s not about WHO the LORD’s Word comes through but rather that it is simply preached and taught as was the case of the earliest of Christ’s followers who “ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” (Acts 5:42) And how often should Jesus Christ be preached and taught? Weekly? No! – “daily.”
“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 5:42
“For WE (not just you or me but US collectively) are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9
We must not only kick the “me” habit but also we must kick the weekly (weakly) habit and live out a “daily” relationship with Jesus who often used that very word – “daily” – in relation to walking with Him (Lk. 9:23-24).
Can anyone find a verse in the New Testament that speaks of “weekly” or even as having to go to church on sun? No … Acts 2:42-47 … Heb. 10:25 speaks of … “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” – “daily” NOT once or twice a week …..Heb. 3:13 says “But exhort one another DAILY, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” ….. just WHO has sold us on the weekly gig? Could it be those who prosper by you patronizing their little church business and dropping your coin in their coffers on Sunday morning?
You and I are mere men and therefore aren’t the deal (object of worship) …. no, there’s only ONE that is the magnificent, perfect, divine LORD, Savior, Creator, Sustainer, KING of all kings, and LORD of all lords and that’s Jesus! So, soon as we ‘get over ourselves,’ perhaps God will begin using us (Matt. 5:3; 21:44; Col. 2:8-10; 18-19; Rev. 1:8., etc.).
MINISTRY which pleases God is simply helping people know and grow in the grace of Christ themselves – by the cross life and getting into HIS Word for themselves so they follow HIM, not you or I! God-glorifying ministry always fosters in the hearers faith in God, not the preacher or local church organization! Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 1:9; 3:5; 4:5.
WHY do people become enraged when a false leader they love is exposed? It’s because their heart affections are attached to those mere men instead of given over to Christ. Cult of personality. They’ve chosen to be sucked in, seduced by the evil spirits working through Satan’s agents who pose as Christ’s leaders (2 Corinthians 11:12-15). Though Satan’s emissaries come in all flavors, those diabolical human agents are very charismatic is most cases. The idolaters therefore created a soul tie with those “idol shepherds” (Ezekiel 11:17) and through their spiritual adulterating on God (Exodus 20:3-4; 34:14).
MINISTRY KEYS
— Load up on the Word. Study God’s Word diligently, daily, relentlessly (2 Timothy 2:15).
— Relentlessly seek the face of God in prayer (1 Chronicles 16:11).
— Be baptized with the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8; 2:4, etc.).
— Walk in God’s love (John 13:35).
— Preach the pure Word (2 Timothy 4:2).
— Edify, comfort, exhort, admonition, etc., the LORD’s body (1 Thessalonians 5).
Ephesians | Galatians Outline | Grounded in Grace |
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Abiding
“Buried with Him by Baptism into Death” [podcast]
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3
Every person “hid with Christ in God” is saved and under divine grace, saved by Christ.
Everyone not “hid with Christ in God” is going away in judgment (Colossians 3:3; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:19-21, 24). When we are “hid with Christ in God,” we are safe, secure, and under the blessings of His divine grace instead of His condemnation.
“Of the doctrine of baptisms” Hebrews 6:2
Baptized into Jesus Christ and Baptized into His Death
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” Romans 6:3
Jesus defeated death, hell, sin, and Satan by dying (Hebrews 2:14)…. whereby He was then resurrected and redemption was completed. Redemption culminated, was finalized in the resurrection of Christ.
In the same way, God calls us to die downward with Christ so that He can raise us upward into His victory…. letting go and letting God, not a striving or struggle but rather a surrender, we are to let Christ consume us, as we surrender (John 3:30).
“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” Luke 23:46
Are we willing to declare today with our LORD Jesus that we are submitting our spirit into His holy hands?
“Death is swallowed up in victory” – death results in God raising us upward, into His full victory, ultimately into final, eternal victory, glory with the Father, Son, and the saints of the ages.
We can be sure, completely confident that as we die downward and are buried with Christ, God is going to raise us up into His victory. God’s answer to death and burial is resurrection.
The resurrection is the victory and in order to experience His resurrection life, we must be dead and buried and ultimately raised up into eternal glory with Him.
“Thou fool, that which thou sowest (plant downward) is not quickened (made alive), except it die:” 1 Corinthians 15:36
“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:54
Romans 6
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.”
v3 – “baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death”
v4 – “buried with him by baptism into death”
v5 – “his death … his resurrection”
Notice that death and buried, being immersed into the death and burial of Christ must of necessity precede, must come before the resurrection we experience with Christ through the daily cross life.
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
When He saves us we are baptized with Him “into his death” …. “I am crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20).
“When a person is saved, he is baptized into Christ Jesus in the sense that he is identified with Christ in His death and resurrection. This is not the same as the baptism in (or of) the Spirit, though both occur simultaneously. The latter baptism places the believer in the body of Christ (1Co_12:13); it is not a baptism into death. The baptism into Christ means that in the reckoning of God, the believer has died with Christ and has risen with Him.
When Paul speaks of baptism here, he is thinking both of our spiritual identification with Christ and of its portrayal in water baptism. But as the argument advances, he seems to shift his emphasis in a special way to water baptism as he reminds his readers how they were ‘buried’ and planted together in the ‘likeness’ of Christ’s death.
The NT never contemplates the abnormal situation of an unbaptized believer. It assumes that those who are converted submit to baptism right away. Thus our Lord could speak of faith and baptism in the same breath: ‘he who believes and is baptized will be saved (Mrk_16:16). Though baptism is not a requirement for salvation, it should be the invariable public sign of it.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
Baptized into the Body of Christ
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13
“1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized, etc. – As the body of man, though composed of many members, is informed and influenced by one soul; so the Church of Christ, which is his body, though composed of many members, is informed and influenced by one Spirit, the Holy Ghost; actuating and working by his spiritual body, as the human soul does in the body of man.
To drink into one Spirit – We are to understand being made partakers of the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost agreeably to the words of our Lord, Jhn_7:37, etc.: If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink: this he spake of the Spirit which they that believed on him should receive.
On this verse there is a great profusion of various readings, which may be found in Griesbach, but cannot be conveniently noticed here.” Adam Clarke
“Baptism is more than just getting wet. When we go down into the water it signifies we are now dead and buried and our ‘life is hid with Christ in God’ (Colossians 3:3). Coming up out of the water is our resurrection life! We are then raised up into newness of life! Our old man is crucified and we no longer serve sin but we have a new Master. Jesus Christ is the new Master of our lives! We now serve God and not sin. And should be bearing fruit of rightness and holiness (Romans 6). When we embrace the crucified life we are given overflowing rivers of new life. New life is breathed into us. Walking in the flesh only makes our soul sick with sin, as sin kills and destroys (Romans 6:23). Rotting us from the inside out! But the way of the cross brings life to our flesh (Proverbs 3:8, 4:22). Our flesh meaning our whole spirit, soul and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). We cannot be a whole person until we are completely given over to the Lord. And this can only happen through the cross. When we are dead and buried and raised up in the newness of life Jesus offers us. Then the joy of the Lord will fill our hearts!” Karen Cochran
What some don’t realize is that just because they were saved in the past in no way means they are still in Christ, which is why we read verses like this throughout Scripture:
“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
We must judge ourselves against God’s Word.
“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32
Prayer: Father please penetrate my heart with Your holy conviction, granting true repentance and obedience. LORD, I want to be dead and buried with You. I am crucified with Christ and I know You are raising me up and will ultimately raise me up with You into eternal glory… I am now planted together in the likeness of His death and burial and I know You are raising me up into the victory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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