The “More Blessed” Life
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
The “more blessed” life is the cross life our LORD calls us to.
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23-24
These are the words of the Messiah – who gave His life to purchase His church. And dare we say the eternal Word was “more blessed” as a result, as He brought back His alienated fallen race? (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11
To lose our lives, to abandon them to Christ, is to gain them everlasting. Those living the more blessed life, are giving their lives over to the LORD daily, as Jesus instructed and in preference to Christ, their “first love.” (Revelation 2:4-5) They choose Him over themselves as Romans 12:1 declares to us to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)
“He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep to gain that which he can never lose.” Jim Elliott
Lose, forsake it all to gain it all.
Our lives are not our own. We’ve been bought with the highest price. – “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” (1 Peter 1:18-19)
Do we begin to realize, to understand the Gospel? – to understand the price God chose to pay to buy us back to Himself out of the world, out of a life of sin, out of separation from Him?
“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.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
The way we “glorify God in our body” is to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1) This is how we are to be crucified with Christ our LORD and thereby raised up into new life, the life of “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14:17)
Let’s look at and memorize our theme verse again:
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
Perhaps many times we view the above statement in terms of giving money or aid to someone in need or to the work of Christ. Yet it seems that more important than giving some thing or some money, etc., is the giving over of our lives to the LORD. And, when our lives are given over to our Maker, our Savior, all we have will be His and giving will be the result of this crucified, raised up disposition (1 Chronicles 29:14; Matthew 6:19-21; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11).
Those who give their life over to the One who gave them life are “more blessed” than what they could ever otherwise be.
“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.” Galatians 2:20
In fact the cross life is the “more blessed” life Jesus is speaking of – the life that is dead, buried, and raised up with Christ (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 8:11; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20, etc.). The resurrection is the healing, the wholeness! The life that isn’t “crucified with Christ” doesn’t get blessed with resurrection life and power. Only when the self-life is “crucified with Christ” can the blessing of the resurrection life of God be realized.
Of this, one writer notes:
“Healing is the resurrection. Wholeness, holiness, completeness, entireness, perfectness, undividedness are all words that describe those that are dying and RISING again with Christ.
The religious person, the legalist, humanly moral person are all divided. They are not whole or holy. They cannot be holy even if they, like the Pharisees, are strictly moral. They do not know undivided unconditional love. Even the tax collectors can do conditional love said Jesus in Matt 5:38-48. They are moral hypocrites. ‘Depart from Me. I never knew you.’ And they never knew Him.
The law says if you sow good deeds you will reap blessing. Grace says if you sow your old self into death you will reap the resurrection life and power of Christ. Thus, the Bible has redefined the meaning of sowing and reaping in the New Testament.”
The resurrection healing, wholeness, comes to those who are truly “crucified with Christ.” (Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12)
The LORD our Creator has designed/set things up so that we ourselves can only personally be fulfilled if and when we are walking in His perfect will and meeting the needs and desires of others.
It is the “mind of Christ” to give our lives over to the LORD Jesus and others. This disposition runs counter to all the self-centered notions and philosophies taught among sinful men, including the recovery-addicted false church world.
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:3-5
The above passage is a great one to read every morning this whole week. If you do so in sincere prayer to the LORD, your life will never be the same.
We cannot and will not be fulfilled by worldly riches or pursuits but only by obeying God and fulfilling the needs of others
“But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:6-8
The LORD requires that all who will follow Him (and go to Heaven), must lay aside their own will. Jesus cried “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”(Luke 22:42) The daily cross is some Jesus mandates and all who truly know and are following Him are learning that daily cross by simple submitted obedience and the enablement of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:12-14).
True repentance means laying our lives down at His feet and being dead to self which means we have NO personal agenda! (Romans 6)
“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” John 5:30
Regrettably, most who claim to be saved have not the slightest desire or clue as to what truly following Christ really is. This is because they are trusting what their pastor has told them instead of searching the Holy Scriptures to see what the Judge of their eternal souls says.
“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
Today, write Philippians 2:3-5 on an index card and begin to read it daily, to meditate upon it, and assimilate into your mind, thoughts, actions, and life.
Your life is going to change now. God is going to begin undergirding your thoughts and life, orchestrating His perfect will as He conforms you to the image of Jesus Christ.
“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.” Romans 8:28-29
Get out of your own world disciple of Jesus. Embark on this cross journey. You are Jesus’ servant and student. Look around you. Anticipate the needs and legitimate desires of your mate, your children, your family, your friends, and those you don’t yet know. If you will help with the business of others, God will take care of yours.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
Crying out with John the Baptist….
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30
Jesus came and empty Himself (Philippians 2). The Son of God withheld nothing. Christ gave all. He poured out His whole heart and life to please His Father and to bless fallen mankind (Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Acts 3:26). God bankrupted Heaven to redeem us.
The measure of your spiritual maturity and state can clearly be seen in how you are given over with reckless abandon to the LORD and to serving others.
Why would God raise up someone who is already alive, alive to self, in self? He will not. It takes the cross to liquidate the old man – a laying down of our own lives, our will, our agenda, our way. God only raises up, resurrects those who are willingly dead and buried with Christ. Those live in the dead and buried posture, are being raised up in the power of God, blessed, and mightily used of Him! There is no other way for us – just as there was no other way for Jesus to redeem the world without the cross and buried. He defeated sin, Satan, and death by dying and being raised up! (Romans 8:11; Hebrews 2:14-15, etc.).
Here’s the “remnant” of Christ described:
“And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward: 32 For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.” Isaiah 37:31-32
Note in the passage above that the remnant escaped from that which claims to represent the LORD while subverting His truth – “enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Philippians 3:18-19) God is calling out His remnant to lay down our lives and in doing so there will be a separation, a coming out of the cross-less apostate modern church world (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). If it’s a cross-less gospel, it’s a false gospel. The redemptive cross of Christ and the one He commanded we take up, are at the center of the original Gospel message. This is how we know who is true and false.
Being Jesus’ Disciple
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33
Jesus instructed us to “Remember Lot’s wife.” Genesis 19 records the escape from Sodom, from divine judgment upon the inhabitants. As she was obeying the command of the angels not to look back, while she was escaping judgment, Lot’s wife looked back and perished. She was judged with the wicked and make no mistake, this is exactly was our LORD wants us to “remember.” Many today, like Lot’s wife, were saved and yet then they turned back to the old, to the evil, to the fires of eternal judgment that were once behind them. Now they face those same fires of damnation and the torment will be even “worse with them than the beginning.” (2 Peter 2:20-22) They’ve turned back to what they were delivered from and are perishing.
“Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Luke 17:32-33
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You in Jesus’ name and ask You to forgive me for my self-idolatry, my heart rebellion, my uncleanness, and ever other sin I’ve committed against You. LORD, I know You are holy and ask You to make me holy as You are holy. Please set me apart unto Yourself and grace a broken, contrite heart of flesh. Here and now I lay my life in Your hands. I am crucified with Christ. I am dead and my life is hid with Christ in God. Thank You this moment Jesus for washing me clean of all sin in Your precious blood LORD Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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THE AMERICAN DREAM DELUSION: Are You a “Dream Chaser” or a Jesus Seeker? [podcast]
“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” John 5:30
Jesus didn’t come to the earth to seek His own will or dream His own dreams but rather to do the will of His Father.
“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:41-42
Christ’s apostle Paul declared:
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14
Regrettably, in today’s modern church world, we so many who seek their own vision and destiny. They have not yet laid down their lives and so divine grace is not enabling them. There is NO cross. Jesus was fully submitted to His Father whereas most who use these buzz words today are not also preaching the essential cross, the crucified life.
God has given His people dreams since Genesis and still does today (Genesis 37; Acts 2:17, etc.). Yet a dream, in biblical definition, is from the LORD and for His glory and purpose (1 Corinthians 1:29-31). A dream, gift, vision, or prophecy from God is not for the self-serving purposes and agenda of men and women who are not crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 4:10-11). Many we see boasting of a dream, gift, or vision today are self-glorying. Beware.
These who chase destiny are missing the cross which is central to the Gospel friend. Running around trying to fulfill our destiny is not of God. Laying down our lives – death and burial – assures us that GOD, not us, is leading and raising us up to do His will.
WHAT I ASKED FOR, by a disciple:
(a slave of righteousness—Romans 6:18)
“I was a sinner deep in darkness. I did not ask to be blessed—but delivered. I did not ask to be a king, for I was a knave (untrustworthy, deceitful). I did not ask to be wealthy and comfortable, but to be delivered. I did not ask to be an elite, I asked to be forgiven and saved. I did not ask to become God’s pampered brat, I asked to be accepted by Him. When He saved me, I did not ask, ‘Lord give me power to work miracles!’ I asked Him to do whatever He desired to do with me. I did not join His team, I fully surrendered to His Lordship. I became a vessel in the hand of the King of kings. I did not ask to be loved, but His love poured into me with joy unspeakable. No matter what life hands me or what people do to or say about me, I got what I asked for. I was once a sinner and now I’m accepted in God’s Beloved (Ephesians 1:6).”
BUZZ WORD ALERT: “God is positioning you!” is the cry of many false prophets who paint an un-biblical picture as they misuse Scripture, taking it out of context – to exploit and give false hope to their prey for their own self-serving purposes (Philippians 3:18-19; 2 Peter 2:1-3). But what is biblical positioning? What is the biblical position on positioning? Did Jesus die on that cross to position you to be rich in this world or the next? (Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12, 16, etc.) Notice that modern wolves who use this “positioning” buzz word to trick the ungrounded NEVER use this verse below which is paramount to our POSITION with God:
“And hath raised us up together, and made us SIT TOGETHER (our position in Christ!) in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians 2:6
Because Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of His Father in Heaven, means that we His beloved blood-bought people are in Him and also positionally seated with Him in glory!
“Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,” Ephesians 1:20
Your position IN CHRIST is the position that anchors your soul in heavenly places IN CHRIST!
Jesus came to die and sent us to die and if we don’t we are not following Him (Luke 9:23-24). Seeking our own destiny is the antitheses of dying – it’s Christ-denying and completely self-serving.
Tracking the destruction of people and nations. History sure is repeating itself, but is it repeating itself in our lives?
Regardless of where we are personally in this, we must be transformed out of a worldly mindset and into kingdom thinking (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:23-24). Some who have resources in this world believe this makes them rich. Not. Proverbs 13:17. Some who have little in this world suffer the distress of thinking that means they are not important. Not. Learn what Jesus means in Luke 12:15. Here are several resources on learning a kingdom mindset in the biblical doctrine of stewardship. Please share this post.
The Prosperity of Fools | Wealth Wasted on the Worship of Self | Seeking God
It’s essential to remain in and with God’s Word and feeding His sheep, remaining steadfast, soundly grounded in divine truth and not be swept away with the spurious and grossly overplayed dreams and visions of mere men and their end times scenarios, ministries, etc. Hysteria fills the hearts of so many professing Christians who jump from one prophetic word, dream teller, story teller to another (2 Timothy 4:2-4). This keeps them suspended instead of grounded in Christ.
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” Ephesians 4:11-14
There are many who make merchandize of the people (2 Peter 2:1-3). They seem to throw out one dream, vision, or prophetic word after another. It’s essential to remain in and with God’s Word and feeding His sheep, remaining steadfast, soundly grounded in divine truth and not be swept away with the spurious, fabricated, sensationalized, and grossly overplayed dreams and visions of mere men and their end times scenarios, ministries, etc. A key component of discernment would be to reflect on whether the messenger is actually getting directly into the literal Scriptures.
Hysteria fills the hearts of so many professing Christians who jump from one prophetic word, dream teller, story teller to another (2 Timothy 4:2-4). This keeps them suspended instead of grounded in Christ.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18
“But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:” Jeremiah 9:14
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets (false leaders) that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth (written Word) of the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:16
“I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;” Jeremiah 23:25-26
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4
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Deliverance from Works-Righteousness or Law-Keeping
“Justified Freely by His Grace”
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (atoning sacrifice) 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. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:23-28
A MUST-GET!!! Please share saints……
ANY PERSON who teaches that blood-bought NEW Testament saints, saved by grace through faith, are under the law of Moses, is an antichrist! Run!
The law makes no one righteous but only convicts and reveals just how sinful we are and how much we need Christ! (Romans 7; Galatians 2:16; 3:24)
WOW! WHEN Jesus says the law will not pass away, He’s speaking of the holy standard and not the way of righteousness! (Matthew 5:17-18) The law is “holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:12) and reveals just how wicked we are, bringing us to Christ, the only ONE who ever kept the law perfectly then nailed it to the cross, taking it out of the way-for righteousness! (Galatians 3:24; Colossians 2:14-19) CHRIST is “THE END of the law FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS to every one that believeth” the only One who kept the law perfectly! (Romans 10:4)
Ultimate blasphemy is to say Jesus Christ’s death on the cross wasn’t enough and so you have to go back to law keeping, to torah keeping. You are unsaved, hell bound. Repent now wicked one.
“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14
Of this, one disciple writes:
“The law has not gone away but through our death, burial and resurrection with Christ we have died to its tyrannical hold and influence over us. We have been removed from its curse. Rom 7:6 and Gal 3:10-13. Also, the administers of the law, the principalities and powers, tyranny over us, thru the law, has been broken and we have been moved, thru the cross, beyond their evil reach. Col 2:15, 20.
The law however is still for unbelievers who have not died to it and are still slaves to it. 1 Tim 1 lists those still under it i. e. Whores, murderers, thieves (unbelievers), etc.
The true Christian’s spirit and soul has been freed from the law but his physical body is still under it. Therefore, if a believer breaks the speed limit law his physical body will get a traffic ticket but his inner spirit man is not condemned or punished.
The rule of life for the unbeliever is the law. The rule of life for the believer is the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. Rom 8:1-4.
The unbeliever is only capable of conditional (performance-based) love. The believer is capable of unconditional, non-performance-based love. Matt 5:38-48.
The Mosaic law is the STRENGTH of Sin. 1 Cor 15:56. The law AROUSES sinful passions and causes sin to INCREASE. Rom 7:5; 5:20. It leads to sins of self-sufficiency, self-righteousness, arrogance, conditional love (that only loves conditionally based on performance) and religiosity. This is why the very legal and religious Judaizers were ENEMIES of the cross. Philippians 3.”
TORAH KEEPING CHRIST-DENYING ANTICHRISTS EXPOSED! Christ’s apostle Paul warned Titus and us of many judaizer devils! Nothing has changed! Expose them!
“For there are MANY unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision (judaizers): 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.” Titus 1:10-11
HEAVEN’S SALVATION is all about Heaven’s KING – Jesus – and not you or your foolish little sabbath-idolatry cult or your fake, pretended observance of the whole law! (James 2:10) Repent and believe on the LORD Jesus Christ sinner – before it’s too late!
How any true Christian could read that passage of Scripture above and still think they have to keep any part of the Old Testament law is beyond me. They have been duped and are in jeopardy of hell fire for denying Christ – denying that He paid it all – “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
WHAT good work did the thief on the cross, a life-long rebel sinner, do to help earn his justification? (Galatians 3:3)
“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43
Concerning this fact, Faith Ranger notes: “The thief on the cross wasn’t baptized either. Imagine that, Jesus saved someone without anyone else’s permission.”
You are one deceived individual if you think your vain attempt to “keep torah” is going to save you from hell. You are a sinner who has broken God’s law repeatedly and unless you repent and believe on the only ONE who ever kept the law perfectly, you are as sure for hell as if you were already there. If keeping torah was enough, WHY O WHY did God bother to send His only begotten Son to die for us?! (Galatians 2:21)
Pretending to have always and currently be keeping the 10 Commandments saves no one (James 2:10). Only Jesus can save and He does that by His grace as one repents and believes upon Him (Ephesians 2:8-9). There is no requirement to keep the law to earn righteousness and anyone teaching such a heresy is a devil! Memorize Romans 10:4. Anyone who is justified by the grace of God by faith will be under “the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus” and only then fulfill God’s righteousness (Romans 3:31; 8:2-4; 10:4).
“We abhor the doctrine of justification by works as a most perilous and abominable doctrine. And though no one is a real Christian believer who doeth not good works … yet our works have no part in meriting or purchasing our justification.” John Wesley
The only way to honor God is to honor the truth of His only begotten Son whom He sent to pay in full for the sins of mankind. It really “is finished” which means paid in full! (John 19:30)
Always remember that you are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans3:25) The only reason any human being (“ALL have sinned”) is justified – declared righteous – in the eyes of the One who is “Holy, holy, holy,” is due to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ and not by any goodness or right doing of their own.
“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 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 3:3-7
The old law is not for born again NEW Testament believers to try to keep or live by.
—- “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 9 Knowing this, that the law is NOT made for a righteous man…” 1 Timothy 1:8-9
JUSTIFIED BY FAITH? YES! Someone might now say: “But wait a minute, doesn’t God require me to obey Him?” Yes, but not before you are brought to realize your own personal wretchedness, desperate wickedness, and sinfulness, and trust Him in a saving relationship – abide in Him (John 15:1-6). Your obedience is useless to the LORD if you don’t love, worship, and trust Him by faith, relying on the sacrifice He made on that cross for your sins. These are “the weightier matters of the law.” (Matthew 23:23-24) The Bible goes so far as to inform us that even if we give our very bodies to be burned for Christ, it’s all in vain if we don’t have His love in our hearts (1 Corinthians 13:3). If that doesn’t spell it out, what does? The fruit of obedience always follows in the lives of all those who truly know the LORD. Yes, the fruit of good works is important and yet, they save no one – only Christ saves – and all whom He saves and remain saved, bear the good fruit consistent with true repentance and faith (Matthew 3:7-10; Titus 2:11-15; James 2; 1 John 2:3-6, etc.).
If you still somehow think that any goodness of your own or any good works or law keeping of your own make you righteous in God’s holy eyes, you have denied Christ. – “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Galatians 2:21) In fact. have no slight clue of who Jesus is, why He came, and the depth of your own sinfulness, not to mention that you are openly denying Christ, calling the Son of God a fool for coming to this earth, as if He came for no reason! It’s time to repent.
What they are doing is trading Jesus in for their own impossible “ability” to keep the old, obsolete law. They have “fallen from grace” and are now unsaved “again.” (Galatians 4:19; 5:4)
WHO are You?
Here’s WHO you are – “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
You are deceitfully acting the part of being a child of God under false pretense – “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully …” (Jeremiah 48:10)
WHAT Merit do you have with God?
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6
WHAT do you have to offer the Almighty?
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Romans 7:18
Learn Romans. Romans is the ABC’s of the Christian faith. It’s time to grow up! Study Romans right away. Get into God’s Word and have His truth established ever more deeply in your heart for your own salvation and to share with others!
Read Romans and cease believing that law keeping of any kind makes you more righteous or righteous at all in God’s eyes. Then move to the book of Galatians!
There’s no salvation outside of THE ONE MESSIAH … that means the law saves no one and how foolish and dishonest to project that we can keep it perfectly! JESUS is the only One who ever did that and He nailed it to the cross and “took it OUT of the way”! (Colossians 2:14-19) You must choose: Jesus or law?
Jesus fulfilled the Law perfectly yes and He’s the only One who ever did and then took it out of our way praise God!!!!! Read Colossians 2:14-19. To deny this paramount Gospel truth is to reject Christ and to forfeit eternal glory (Galatians 2:21). Please Read Rom. 3:31 and 8:2-4 very closely and prayerfully ….
Perfected/Perfectly Justified by Christ or Our Own “Flesh”?
— DID YOU realize that it’s actually witchcraft to put someone back under law keeping for righteousness?
“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently (clearly) set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:1-3
Our works/fruit don’t make us righteous they simply come out of a relationship with the Righteous One who alone made us righteous. We are made “the righteousness of God” only through the sacrifice of the “only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 1:30) Divine righteousness comes only to those who are born again and remain or continue abiding in Him. What does Galatians 3:3 say to those who have been saved by God’s grace and then go back to relying on their own law-keeping or goodness or good works?
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3
“We are his workmanship” AFTER the fact that He single-handedly saves us by His grace through faith! – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
That Law was perfect and yet it has never and will never be able to be fulfilled by fallen mankind. ONLY Jesus fulfilled it – expired it – and nailed it to the cross, taking it OUT of our way so we can really serve God (Col. 2:14-19). Yes God’s standard/Law is perfect and yet it can only be accomplished in the born again believer as he chooses to walk in the Spirit. Read Rom. 3:31 and 8:2-4 very closely and prayerfully?
THAT diabolical, glory-robbing notion that subtly says we have to keep any part of the law or be good enough in and of ourselves to please God, denies Christ by saying His one sacrifice was not enough. WAS JESUS ENOUGH? Yes, God commands us to obey Him – but that’s only after the truth/fact that we are His by His justification through our faith. Faith is first and foremost in the divine economy, not works. The Bible never says “Without WORKS it’s impossible to please him” but rather “without FAITH it’s impossible to please him”! (Hebrews 11:6)
KILL ALL law or works-righteousness in your heart and mind today! Be established in “the true grace of God.” (1 Peter 5:12; Titus 2:10-12; Rom. 6:1-2, 15) HOW? Read below! Your deliverance is at hand – if you will!
Rid from your thinking EVERY trace of earning or keeping your own salvation – you can’t. The LORD keeps His children as they remain/abide in Him (John 15:1-6). Memorize this today – “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:4-5
Okay, here we go …. prayerfully read aloud this following passage every day this week – “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
One disciple writes:
“We are to stand fast in the freedom from the slavery of the law, not deviating from CHRIST, not falling from grace. To deviate from CHRIST to the law is to be entangled in a snare. The yoke of slavery is the bondage of the law, which makes law keepers slaves under a binding yoke. Judaizers made circumcision a condition of salvation. (Gal.2:3-5; Acts 15:1) If believers had received circumcision CHRIST would have profited them nothing! Why? Because by going back to the law is to spontaneously relinquish CHRIST!!! Any believer going back to the law is severing themselves from CHRIST. This separation is falling from grace. The righteousness we hope for is CHRIST HIMSELF!! (1 Cor.1:30)”
——–WAS JESUS’ SACRIFICE ENOUGH OR DID HE LIE TO US? JUST EXACTLY WHAT PART OF THE LAW DID JESUS NOT PERFECTLY FULFILL????? DO YOU SEE THIS EVIL, SATANIC INDICTMENT ALREADY? ANYBODY READY to get a bit more set free by Jesus, the Truth? JESUS CHRIST is “the way” NOT the old law, and to deny such is to brazenly deny Christ and be hell bound (John 14:6).
No (not one) New Testament apostle or Jesus told any NEW Testament Christian to keep the law. The old law, now obsolete righteous “was weak through the flesh” and so Jesus, the Testator of the NEW Covenant came and did away with it for righteousness and it’s only through being made a new creature in Christ and living by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 15 when the apostles of Jesus were establishing what was “necessary” (absolutely essential to salvation), there was no mention of law keeping. Go study this. Did God somehow forget to tell us something we needed to know?
Make no mistake: CHRIST replaced the law and to deny such is to openly deny Christ and forfeit salvation which only comes through Christ.
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 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 8:2-4
The law was what? A mere “schoolmaster to bring us to CHRIST.” (Galatians 3:24)
IF you still think you have to keep the law to be right with God, you have openly denied Christ’s perfect sacrifice! (John 19:30; Romans 10:4; Galatians 2:16)
The law had its place and has it’s place until superseded by Jesus Christ who is the only One to ever perfectly keep it. The Father saves the repentant soul, convicted by the razor edge of the law, bringing that sinner into His redemption plan on the basis of Christ’s perfect sacrifice and by no other way. We are “Justified by faith without the deeds of the law” –“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”(Romans 3:24-28)
Don’t be beguiled, God wants your worship and love and the rest will take it’s course to please Him (Matthew 9:13; 22:37-39, etc.).
Men are “justified by faith” and kept “by faith.”
“Justified by faith”
“Therefore we conclude that a man is JUSTIFIED BY FAITH without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:28
“Kept by faith”
“Who are KEPT by the power of God THROUGH FAITH unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:5
Justified by faith but sanctified by law keeping????
NOT. “The just (those justified by God) shall live by faith.”
Born again New Testament disciples are saved by grace through faith. They are saved, justified, and sanctified by faith. They live by faith and not by law or law keeping. See Hebrews 11:6.
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith (not law to law): as it is written, The just shall live by faith (not law keeping).” Romans 1:17
“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live BY FAITH.” Galatians 3:11
“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back (go back to law keeping), my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:38
Saved by Works or Faith? | Galatians Overview | Grace of The Highest Authority | Exploding the Sabbath Worship Heresy | Hebrew Hogwash | Justification
FEEDBACK:
“That’s right and Jesus was the only ONE that could fulfill the law, so why are those under NEW and even better Covenant trying to do the impossible???? “” But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”
THE LAW DID NOT PROVIDE A WAY OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH, BUT THE NEW COVENANT DOES (GAL. 3:10-12; HEB. 7:19). The Law did not bring acquittal, but condemnation, because no one was able to keep it perfectly. Paul states plainly, “Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, ‘The righteous man shall live by faith.’ However, the Law is not of faith” (Gal. 3:11-12a). If you want to be justified by the Law, all you have to do is to keep it perfectly, from birth until death, not just outwardly, but in your heart! The problem is, you are defeated before you begin. THE LAW WAS BASED ON AN INFERIOR PRIESTHOOD, BUT THE NEW COVENANT IS BASED ON THE SUPERIOR PRIESTHOOD OF JESUS (HEB. 7:11-8:6). THE LAW KEPT WORSHIPERS AT A DISTANCE FROM GOD BECAUSE OF HIS HOLINESS AND THEIR SINFULNESS, WHEREAS THE NEW COVENANT INVITES US TO DRAW NEAR (EXOD. 19:12-13, 21-24; HEB. 4:16; 7:19; 10:22).” Thomas L.
Message Received:
“The Ten Commandments are different from the sacrificial laws given to Moses and written by his hand into a book. However the Ten were written by the finger of God on stone symbolizing that they should last forever. Other laws of Oblation written by Moses by God’s inspiration were to be temporary until the death of Christ on the Cross of Calvary.”
Reply:
Are the 10 commandments part of the law? YES and the NEW Testament says that even that part of the law cannot make you righteous and if you are foolishly attempting to keep them and thinking that makes you righteous 1) you cannot keep them perfectly and so are guilty of breaking the whole law (James 2:10), and 2) You are denying Christ – that He nailed the law to the cross and “took it out of the way” (Colossians 2:14-17). You have denied the only way of salvation (John 14:6). DID Jesus, the only One to ever keep the law say that the law what “the way” or that HE is the only “way”? (John 14:6)
The old law serves the purpose of convicting the sinner – showing him just how sinful he is, in order to bring him to CHRIST (Romans 7; Galatians 3:24;
1 Timothy 1).
1 Timothy 1:
“Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
1Ti 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
1Ti 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
1Ti 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
1Ti 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1Ti 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
———————–
“RIGHT ON! We are ordained to do good works. Those good works do not ordain us. It is God who ordains us. Christ is our salvation. In Him only have we any escape of hell. We shall then do good works in honor of Him and His glory. For His praises. Please, everyone, read this. Time is short. Be getting ready for the soon coming of the Lord Jesus.” Theodore W.
“This is very common-I encounter Judaizing all over the place…mixing GRACE with OT Laws…LORD told me its just pride—they want to BOAST on “WHAT THEY DO” for GOD, and look down and judge others who “DONT DO WHAT THEY DO’…..some don’t even Understand—THE NEW COVENANT, or read COL. 2-16….maranatha.” Cheryl B.
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Articles
Mission Mexico Part 47
We’ve been on the ground in beautiful Mexico now for 2 years and 3 months. It’s amazing what our LORD can and will do if we let Him take and use our lives – and He’s using each of us!!!
“WE are labourers TOGETHER with God.” 1 Corinthians 3:9
Brother Juan ministers all day long as he travels between towns and interacts with numerous people…. every day. He also ministers to hundreds at a local jail/prison. Thank you for lifting our brother in prayer and for considering supporting. Jesus is coming saints. Let’s roll. Here is brother Mark delivering another box of 2,000 JESUS tracts to our brother, Juan the evangelist.
We are boots on the ground supporting our LORD’s saints, Gospel laborers, here in Mexico (Matthew 9:35-38). Your prayers and support are the fuel of Heaven (Philippians 1:19).
See more Gospel action here at Mission Mexico
May God perpetually imbue our hearts with His simple truth – that our lives in this world are all about loving, knowing, worshipping, and obeying Him – including helping others know Him. Matthew 22:37-39
Thank you for kindly lifting a prayer for the beloved people of Mexico – to be saved in Christ.
God tests our faith constantly in this “walk” right? “We WALK by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7)…. Walking takes “steps” right? (Psalms 37:23)
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalms 37:23
Seems as if that’s what this is. And if it’s God leading us, then He will reward as we obey, we traverse His planet with Him, right?
YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, in Jesus’ name please ordain my every step, all for Your eternal glory. I love You LORD Jesus!
“Good afternoon, Brother Todd. Our God is a God of purpose; may God continue to bless your ministry here in Mexico—it is a great blessing. Please accept greetings and blessings from my brothers at the Actopan, Hidalgo, correctional facility.” Juan
Thursday morning is eat breakfast out and fellowship with other saints, brother Mark, Juan, etc.
Mission Mexico rolling. Thank you for your prayers. Scores of precious souls heard the Gospel preached to them in Spanish today and received a JESUS tract in Spanish. Isaiah 55:11 anybody!? Boom. Jesus is coming.
We solicit your prayers for the people of Mexico – to be saved and established in Christ.
JESUS CHRIST IS KING.
As was our LORD Jesus, let us be about our “Father’s business” beloved of God (Luke 2:49). The hour is late. Jesus is coming – and He foretold that His Gospel would be preached to every nation before He returns (Matthew 24:14).
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
Thank you for lifting the beautiful people of Mexico in prayer.
ARE YOU investing in eternity or wasting all your seed on this temporal world? See Jesus’ words of instruction, of His wisdom to us in Matthew 6:19-21.
“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.” John 4:34-38
The perspective of people is completely different in Mexico.
People actually care for one another. They don’t take advantage of others.
They don’t have greed and so they don’t jack up prices, etc., at the expense of their fellow man.
Because they know such will affect their fellow man, fellow Mexicans
As the Golden rule teaches, the do things with others in mind. | The Golden Rule Life: What’s that Really Mean? [podcast]
This man above is LITERALLY harvesting the produce to cook our meal.
Brother Mark and I ate breakfast here yesterday. Mark was a 0311 Scout in the Marine Corp, otherwise we probably could not have found this place which is nestled in the mountains. Yet another treasure in Mexico. They are inexhaustible. A family who lives in a remote location, a small mountain settlement and cooks breakfast on their deck each morning. One of those things that is only know by word of mouth. Gotta love it!!!!
It’s a blessing that with your prayers, love, and financial support, you are declaring that “The People of Mexico Matter for Christ—He died to save them!”
“So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” Acts 19:20
IF YOU WANT TO PLEASE SATAN …..
MAKE SURE you do NOT support authentic evangelistic ministries that are literally, actually getting Christ’s Gospel to the lost souls of this world.
The apostle Paul did “the work of an evangelist” and instructed us to do the same.
“Preach the word … But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:2, 5
Our KING is coming saints, King JESUS!
Let’s roll beloved of God!
in Christ
todd
More Mexico Mission Action here.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
Mission Mexico – See more here. | Give support here. Many options
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