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True Grace
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, ...to preach deliverance to the captives
Servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death,
or of obedience unto righteousness.
We all agree Jesus forgives us for our past sins, but did Jesus come so that we can continue to sin without guilt, or did he come to destroy our sin? Did Jesus come to set the captives free from guilt, or did he come to set us free from the bondage of sin? Did Jesus come so that we can continue to sin without guilt, or did he come to lead us to repentance and remission of sin? If knowing the truth will set you free, from what are we supposed to be set free - guilt or sin?
If you think Jesus came so that we can continue to sin without guilt, that makes Jesus the promoter of sin: doesn't removal of guilt makes sin easier for all, allowing us to sin more; so Jesus came so we can sin more, so Jesus came to promote sin? Doesn't this makes Jesus evil? Could the devil make sin any easier than the guilt-free ease of sin this false doctrine attributes to Jesus? This is a major deception. Jesus said, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. If we are a slave to sin, he can't be our Lord. You are the slaves of him whom you obey, whether that be to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness. What about repentance? His message was: unless you repent, you too will all perish. Certainly our sins are forgiven us while we seek to become free of sin, but we had better be sure we are repenting to work out our salvation that leads to purification and the rest, otherwise we will fall short of the mark.
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest,
any of you should seem to come short of it.
Let it not be said of you:
This is the rest by which you may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
You can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person..has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Grace is the unmerited favor of God, God's love, therefore a gift. A gift is free, grace is free. Grace has been given to all men by the Spirit of God being poured out on all men and women, since Pentecost, 2000 years ago. By grace, we are allowed to access the power of God to become righteous, whatever our sins of the past and our current problems. This righteousness from God comes [but not instantly] through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. . Eventually, but only after work of repentance energized by faith, we can all become righteous and become justified freely by grace; for we are not deserving of the help to change we get in the process of repentance - to the contrary, our unworthiness is only highlighted by grace's revealing of our sinful nature to us.
What Jesus made possible is: however deeply you have been immersed in sin, by faith in the name of Jesus, you have access through his imputed righteousness to the changing power of God to become pure, providing you are motivated to seeking his teaching and changing grace. So everyone, through their faith in name of Jesus, can approach the throne; and through patient and persistent obedience to his spoken-to-you teachings and commands, (repentance), be changed by grace, to eventually be purified and become righteous. Just as Abraham had to be physically circumcised, we must have our hearts circumcised to be pleasing to God. As Abraham exercised his faith to leave his home for a new land - so we must loose our fleshly life and forsake the world to enter God's Kingdom. This web page shows how.
Grace does not make us instantly righteous, for we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Paul said : you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, OR to obedience, which leads to righteousness.
Peter said: whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
Jesus said, as a first priority in our life, we must seek (aim at, strive after) the Kingdom and His righteousness.
For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful;
but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
So we do not become instantly righteous when we say we have faith in Jesus.
We have to seek (strive after), be disciplined, obey God, work, and wait for the hope of righteousness.
He who earnestly seeks after and craves righteousness, mercy, and loving-kindness will find life in addition to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) and honor.
Jesus said: Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees,
you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus told us how our righteousness must exceed the Pharisees: avoiding committing adultery is not enough, we must not even look at a woman with lust; avoiding murder is not enough, we must not harbor anger in our hearts; it is not enough to love our brother, we love even our enemies; we must bless those who curse us. These requirements of righteousness exceed restraint of conduct; they require a changed heart, a purified heart. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. . Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
In error the ministers of today say: because you have faith in Christ, even though you continue to sin, you are righteous and saved.
He that says to the wicked, 'You are righteous;' him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him.
You will eventually curse the all the minsiters that have promoted this pernicious lie.
The Lord has said to me: "Where there is obedience, there is righteousness; without it, you have World War II."
Even Adolph Hitler said Jesus was his Lord and Savior. - a sinner saved by grace???? No! No! No! Sin has to go!
Per Paul: Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. Paul is speaking to members of the church at Corinth, people who named themselves Christians - they believed in Jesus!
The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.
No one of reasonable intelligence would argue that quietness and confidence forever, (peace), is instant.
Peacemakers who sow in peace, raise a harvest of righteousness.
And grace does not make us instantly justified, for we seek to be justified in Christ.
It is through God's unmerited favor, grace, that we receive help in purification through repentance, which over time can result in righteousness and salvation. We approach God through faith in Christ, allowing us access to his unmerited favor, grace, to rid us of our darkness to a sinless state. True grace teaches us what to deny (repent from) and how to live, and by true grace Jesus purifies us from our lusts and affections for the pleasures of the world. Titus 2:11-14. And we seek this help from God expecting to receive it, not based on anything we have done to deserve it, but only by our faith in the name of Jesus Christ. We don't even know from what to repent, until grace shows us and teaches us.
Repentance is a humbling experience, certainly not one to claim any merit for ourselves. It is like having a disease that requires a doctor to perform surgery. If we get the surgery, we can take no pride in that. The doctor did the work. It is like that with God, except the doctor charges, and God doesn't - it is freely given by grace. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph 2:8-9. Do we take pride in going humbly to God as a sinner, and asking for his help? Of course not. To ask for help is the opposite of pride.
So there is no boasting in repentance through the teachings and changings of grace; there is no boasting in being shown our deplorable condition of sin, while striving to be different in conduct with help from God. Grace will humble us to nothingness. No. The loudest boasting in "christiandom" is from the "saved sinners," boasting that the false gospel of grace gives them favor with God, a special place in heaven, and a license to sin. They are hypocrites, a stumbling block, and they scatter the true sheep from Christ. A hypocrite talks about being religious, while walking in sin. Jesus addressed the hypocrites: You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. . Your hearts have to be cleansed - really cleansed to purity.
This was John the Baptist's simple message of the beginning of repentance, to get ready for Jesus and the Kingdom:
Repent: think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct.
Share from your excess with those who are without the necessities of life.
Be honest in all your dealings, never exaggerating or overreaching anyone.
Don't oppress people or frighten anyone, don't lie, don't want more, don't complain.
Just following these guidelines, tax collectors and prostitutes were already entering the Kingdom of Heaven when Jesus arrived.
This site shows you how to access the grace of God to be freed from sin by repentance to truth and purity.
If you want to skip the scriptures that invalidate instant salvation and read how true grace, over time with repentance, can free you from all sin, click here.
The false gospel of grace further incorrectly teaches that since grace is free, that if we do anything, even repentance or taking up our cross, we have lost our salvation by faith and grace because we are forsaking our faith and attempting to be justified by works, thereby falling to be subject to the Law. That is a ridiculous rationalization by slothful, blind guides to do nothing - leading us into the ditch of spiritual captivity, while collecting our money, which Jesus and Peter forbid, ( ). Of course we cannot be saved by works alone, but our faith must be evidenced by far more than a claim we are saved by faith, doing nothing but claiming of "being saved by grace because the Bible tells me so," (using a tiny few selective verses twisted out of context to make their false claim). Of course we are saved by grace, but after repentance and after carrying our cross in faith for a time - works through faith.
James said, "faith without works is dead."
James further said, " You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only."
Paul said, "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling."
Again Paul said, the purpose of grace, results in a people zealous for good works.
Peter said: whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
Paul again: I declared.. that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
Jesus said, unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Repentance requires effort on your part.
And, As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Zealous is -ardent desire, enthusiastic).
Jesus further said, Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.
Jesus said, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Jesus said, I have not found thy works perfect before God.
He wants perfect works, energized by faith.
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded,
nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy;
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.
If you live in a prosperous industrialized nation, you are rich relative to the rest of the word. So be rich in good works.
Hear! Jesus said: Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
The false gospel of grace would have you believe striving is unnecessary, yet Jesus ordered us to strive, ( exert much effort/energy).
And further, he said many would seek to enter in, and not be able. Many will strive to enter the Kingdom and be unable.
So not only are you supposed to strive, you should realize that many fail in their striving.
Instant salvation is not compatible with Jesus' warning. The next verse is even less compatible with instant grace and salvation.
Further, he says he will reject many who are sure they are Christians, who called him Lord, who prophesied in his name,
who worked miracles in his name, who thought they had eaten and drunk with him -
reject them by saying "I never knew you; depart from me you workers of iniquity."
They did not go to him, listen to him, and obey him. They were still sinning. Jesus replied: I tell you for certain that anyone who sins is a slave of sin!
If you still sin, you are slave to sin, and he cannot be your Lord; for man cannot serve two masters.
Still sinning , you cannot know Jesus: We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.
Still sinning, you cannot love Jesus: If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.
Still sinning, you are not a friend of Jesus: You are my friends if you do what I command.
Still sinning, you cannot have been born again: Whoever has been born of God does not sin.
Without holiness, no one will see the Lord.
Only those with a pure heart will see God.
Only those, who are like him, pure, will see him. (Made holy, pure, sinless by the power of his changing grace).
Gentle reader, do not despair. Once you understand how to receive true grace, you can be made sinless by the power of God.
But, it is not instant, and requires you to seek with all your heart, wait in silence and in humility, listen, hear, and obey - repetitively, persisting until the end.
You can have the joy of hearing your savior speak to you, teach you, help you, and love you. At the end, you will see your savior appear within you, as he joins in union with you - you can have fellowship with the Father and the son - you can have peace, joy, love, gentleness, kindness - to share in the divine nature - all the wonderful promises of God are available in this life on earth, and then forever.
But you must first be purified in this life; for of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient, The false gospel of grace is empty words, purposed to deceive you - to convince you to do nothing, remaining in your sins, so you are destroyed.
From the Voice of the Lord: "This is the day of your visitation, regarding the business of obedience feared and repentance required."
The workings of grace to teach us how to live are a process of repentance, which is not instant; the process produces purity, righteousness, and the fruit of the Spirit. The cross is obedience to work; and to those who oppose it, they are headed for destruction, for their god is their belly [their lusts and affections for the world] , and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. . For the world would have a Christ to excuse them, at no cost, to continue to live in their passions and pleasures; but those, who are committed to truth, would have a Christ to change them to live pleasing to God, whatever the price.
This false gospel's fallacy is claiming that grace and salvation are the same. Instead, grace brings salvation over time and with repentance . This fallacy allows them to twist the gospel of repentance with forgiveness of sins, to be forgiveness of sins only, leaving out repentance, which leaves us stuck in our ungodly, sinful nature without salvation. You cannot continue to be a slave to sin and serve God, or even expect his approval.
Jesus said, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
Jesus said, If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. . He doesn't want us to maim ourselves. He is only illustrating how serious sin is.
Jesus is desperately trying to tell us that to enter the Kingdom and escape hell, sin is not allowed, period. He knew false prophets with false gospels promising freedom to continue to sin would arise after he left.
Changes in our heart through the missing cross to purity can take away the desire of the hand, foot, and eye to cause us to sin.
Everyone talks about how Jesus is so forgiving; true, but after forgiveness he says, sin no more:
To the adulteress: I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more.
To one healed: Behold, you are made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto you .
Each time you sin, you are piercing Christ within you. If you have sorrow and regret, with resolve to not repeat the same mistake again, your godly sorrow is a soothing balm to the wounds you have inflicted. On the day of the Lord, which all will experience, you will see whom you have pierced, and you will mourn.
Jesus came so he could destroy the devil and his works [sin] in us.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, [manifested in us] that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Jesus told Paul he sent him : "To open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may thus receive forgiveness and release from their sins and a place and portion among those who are consecrated and purified by faith in Me.
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Per Paul, true grace is not salvation, but instead a process that brings salvation. Grace is defined defined in his letter to Titus:
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world,
looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing
of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity,
and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
One who still sins might mistakenly argue they are redeemed from all iniquity, but not that grace has purified them!
Grace only brings salvation; it leads to salvation, attained by a process of essential actions of repentance.
Repentance is sorrow after grace shows us our condition, resolving to be different, and then conducting ourselves differently.
Grace brings salvation by teaching us what to deny, leading us to repent. By grace, we are shown our sin.
We repent by denying ungodliness and lusts, to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
We seek righteousness to please Him and in the blessed hope of the glorious appearing of God and Jesus with the Kingdom.
So by grace we see a problem in our heart. We repent. Then by grace, we get strength to be different - the cleansing of our heart.
By this process, we are redeemed from all iniquity and purified by Jesus to become enthusiastic workers of good.
Grace is unmerited and free, salvation is not free.
Salvation and the Kingdom of Heaven's price is sacrifice of self, the death of your sinful nature.
Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.
So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsake not all that he has, he cannot be my disciple.
He that finds his life shall lose it, and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.
And whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry, (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God).
Those who belong to Christ Jesus
have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
But now since you have been set free from sin and have become the slaves of God,
you have your present reward in holiness and its end is eternal life.
Grace has been twisted into lies from a teaching of repentance, leading to purity, to be a license for immorality and continuing in our sinful natures with no repentance required. This perversion began 2000 years ago in the early church; Jude wrote in 1:4:
For certain men, whose condemnation was written about long ago, have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
These men were false Christians, who had slipped unnnoticed among the true Christians, preaching freedom to sin through grace by faith in Jesus, but denying Christ to rule their words and actions as their sovereign and Lord, as he did with the real Christians of that time. The false gospel of grace was being sold as salvation 2000 years ago; unfortunately false instant salvation, has become universal, all sects being deficit sects.
Peter even warned us to be careful with Paul's letters, the false gospel's source, (which was Romans, see below), that they were easily misunderstood:
even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you;
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which some things are hard understand, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
and Peter later described such men again:
This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority, [such as the Apostles who tried to correct them].
....11 left out
They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast [hearing the Word spoken in fellowship] with you. With eyes full of adultery, [lovers of money instead of God] they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness, [they preached for money, which Peter prohibited]. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—a beast without speech—who spoke with a man's voice and restrained the prophet's madness. [Fox said his era's ministers' spiritual progress were less than Balaam's ass because the ass spoke the Word of the Lord, but the ministers could not even hear the Lord's voice, much less speak the Word of the Lord; they could only quote the Bible; exactly like the ministers today.]
These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those [lustful desires of sinful nature] who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. (And Jesus said, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. )
and Paul also spoke of false Christians who opposed the crucifixion of the sinful nature:
Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die;
but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13
As long as we live in our sinful nature, we are unruly and incapable of being ruled, controlled, or led by a Lord or King.
So, if you want Jesus to be your Lord and King, you must put to death your selfish, sinful nature by repentance to purity.
The Amplified Bible expands the wording:
For if you live according to the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the Spirit you are putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the deeds prompted by the body, you shall live forever. Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
To be Spirit Led is the first (of two) tests of assurance of future salvation to come.
To call or confess Jesus is Lord is not enough.
Even the demons called Jesus 'Son of the Most High God,' falling down at his feet, begging him to have mercy.
To say you have faith in Jesus is not enough.
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say,
“You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
Whatever you have been taught: Your covenant with death will be annulled,
and your agreement with hell will not stand. Isa 28:18
You are the slaves of him whom you obey, whether that be to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness. .
If we are a slave to sin, he can't be our Lord. You cannot serve two masters.
We are incapable of being controlled or ruled until our sinful nature is destroyed, at least enough to be Spirit led.
and, Paul says, let's get on with the job of putting to death the sinful nature with its filthiness - on to perfecting holiness.
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved,
let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
No instant salvation here. This is repentance that leads to perfect holiness! Jesus wants to make us like Him, holy in this life.
Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Jesus said: He that overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son."
And John said, "I have written unto you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one." . Being strong and overcoming of the devil takes effort and is not instant.
For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes...You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline.Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God's children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons.
To be disciplined and scourged by God is the 2nd assurance of future salvation to come.
For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 1
In he says: [you] "who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." No instant salvation here - griefs and trials and salvation that is revealed in the last time; as Jesus returns - the revelation of Jesus Christ - the Kingdom - his return. Salvation's completion and entering the Kingdom of Heaven coincide in time.
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? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 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. . Scarcely saved and suffering don't sound like instant righteousness or salvation.
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. . Even those who already have the gift of love are to hope for salvation! Does this sound like instant salvation? From Peter we know that love is the last step in the process of Christian growth:
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness;
and to goodness knowledge,
and to knowledge, self-control;
and to self-control, perseverance;
and to perseverance, godliness;
and to godliness, brotherly kindness;
and to brotherly kindness, love.
Paul is saying salvation comes after the gift of love which is the last step in Christian growth according to Peter. No instant righteousness or salvation here. Lots of Christian growth is necessary before salvation! Make every effort sounds like work to me!
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Oxen were yoked to pull a wagon - work; sounds like work, not instant salvation.
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. . Jesus expects works, perfect works! This should end any 'works' arguments. Jesus not only want works, he want the works to be perfect!
Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
When you bear (produce) much fruit,
My Father is honored and glorified,
and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
He has defined the acid test of a true believer, a true follower of Christ, to produce fruit, and much fruit!
Fruit is the product of repentance. John the Baptist said, Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, who stand forth without repentance!
We can't have it both ways. False, instant grace/salvation does nothing and receives nothing. From above :
No holiness - without holiness, no man will see the Lord, no salvation.
No scourging from God, no correction - you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons, no salvation.
No suffering and griefs in all kinds of trials, (tribulation) - no salvation, no Kingdom.
No overcoming the devil and sin, you are still a servant of sin living in the flesh - no salvation, no Kingdom.
No putting to death the misdeeds deeds of the body, not living forever as a Son of God - no salvation, no Kingdom.
No presenting your bodies as a living sacrifice to God - no salvation, no Kingdom.
No working out your salvation with fear and trembling, no salvation, no Kingdom.
No denying yourself, and picking up you cross daily, no being Christ's disciple - no salvation, no Kingdom.
No Taking his yoke and learning - no rest, no peace, no salvation, no Kingdom.
No
perfect works, remember the commands you have heard and repent or - no salvation, no Kingdom.
No fruit of the Holy Spirit -not a true follower, no salvation, no Kingdom.
Grace works to salvation; grace is not salvation.
But all of these things are possible and even promised by God,
if we seek God's grace and help through repentance.
He is extraordinarily patient toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.
Francis Howgill, a martyred minister of Christ, states dangers of the false gospel of grace:
Many have been talkers of grace in this professing
age, who have neither known of what they
spoke, nor have informed the minds of men
where grace was to be waited for, nor how grace might
be known, nor how, nor what the operation of grace
was; but have cried up, in their own imaginations:
"We are justified by His free grace from all sin,
past, present, and to come;" and, in this conceit,
thousands have been led into the pit of darkness;
imagining that they were justified by the free
grace of Christ, while they were out of the fear
of God, which it would have taught them; and
while they heeded not this grace, but got into
conceit, carelessness, and presumption; and
so pretended justification while they were the
servants of sin and bond-slaves to corruption - that is, all
of you who have been preaching free grace in words.
Your covenant with death will be annulled,
and your agreement with hell will not stand.
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Paul says: If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! . So Christ did not come so we could sin guilt free, and we must seek to be justified in Christ.
When we believe in the "false gospel of grace with nothing required of us," all the scriptures about repentance, putting to death self, seeking, listening, obeying commands, getting a new heart and mind, purity, perfection, losing your life to save your life, being without sin, holiness, and living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, have to be ignored; or we have assume that we are pure and perfect, which is make-believe and hypocrisy in its worst form.
Paul says, "if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." We can't put to death the deeds of the body to purity by ourselves, no matter how hard we try. How do we learn to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world? How do we cleanse ourselves and prepare to receive the glorious Christ and his Kingdom in our hearts.? We need help. We need God to help us, and there is nothing we can do to deserve this help. We need the unmerited favor of God, grace.
The method is to go to God yourself because everyone already has His Spirit within them by grace. You have no need of any teacher but the anointing within you. You sit quietly and whenever you think, you think on the name of Jesus. This is how we learn from Him, get cleansed by Him, be led by Him, and come to know Him. He said: "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." He is the Light, he is the Word, and he has sent us the Spirit of Truth to teach us. If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Eventually you will hear Him. He has a soft voice; that is why it is written, "Be still and know that I am God." He will tell us things about Himself. He will encourage us. He is kindness. He will tell or show us things about ourselves; some will be things that are ugly. Christ the Light will show us all the hidden lusts, affections, and pride in our heart. But since he is our friend, we know that he is showing them to us for our own good. So we listen and watch. And we don't run, we stand before the Son of Man. And we repent of what he shows us. And sometimes he gives us commands. We are hearing the Word of God, the living Word. As we hear the Word of God, (Jesus speaking through the Spirit) our faith will increase by leaps and bounds; and keep increasing - if we obey his commands heard and show him we love him by being obedient. Christ in you, the hope of glory.
For everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and does them, I will show you what he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug and went down deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood arose, the torrent broke against that house and could not shake or move it, because it had been securely built or founded on a rock.
He can't make it any plainer! He said: come to me, listen to My words (not the Bible), and do them.
To do them, is to obey; and when you obey them, you have received Christ by recognition and obedience.
From this sure foundation he builds true faith and hope which purifies you.
If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
These above two teachings of Jesus are the core message of this web site:
1) Come to him, Listen to his words, do the words he gives you - obey his commands.
2) If you Love Jesus, you will obey him. The Father then loves you, and he and Jesus come to you and make their home with you;
and their home is the Kingdom of God within you.
For unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Write what you hear down is a notebook; review your commands periodically so you don't forget one, and keep repenting.
Jesus said, Stop toiling and doing and producing for the food that perishes and decomposes,
but strive and work and produce rather for the food which endures unto life eternal.
His words that you hear and obey are the Bread from Heaven, spiritual food that leads to life.
The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63
This is how to obtain the Kingdom of God while on earth!
He, with his Kingdom to give you Awaits You to Come!
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
So, seek, listen, obey...seek, listen, obey... Keep doing this, and Christ will lead you through repentance purity, truth and the Kingdom.
He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him!
(Diligence is defined as continually attending to and striving to achieve a goal; laborious; persevering.)
Jesus said, Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.
Jesus said, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
At judgment, Jesus said he would reject many who called him Lord and had even performed miracles in his name
by telling them plainly: 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!
Jesus answered them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.'
But, if we listen to him, obey him, abide in him, and are purified by him; we don't sin and he knows us.
The foolish virgins without oil in their lamps, said: Lord, Lord, open to us. (without abiding in Him, his Light and Word)
Jesus replied: Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Without abiding in Him, he doesn't know us.
John says: we are coming to know Him: if we keep (bear in mind, observe, practice) His teachings (precepts, commandments).
The only way you can keep his commands is to listen to his voice, hear, and obey - until you have crucified the sinful
nature within you. For you cannot love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, until you have been given a new heart and mind by the love of God, received from Him over time, as you abide in his Word and Light, with obedience.
If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples.
You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
So if the Son liberates you, then you are really and unquestionably free.
Jesus came so he could destroy the devil and his works [sin] in us.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, [manifested in us] that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.
Sitting, thinking on the name of Jesus and waiting quietly on the Lord to speak to us, by his living Word, or reveal to us, by his Light, what is in our heart is not what our flesh wants to do. Instead of sitting quietly each day waiting on the Lord, our flesh wants to sleep, or worry, or plan our day, or think about something, or do something, - anything. Our mind will race through many subjects in desperation to save itself, (he who loses his life, finds it). The following is the missing cross of Christ:
- seeking the Kingdom of God, as your life's first priority, is an act of repentance - a cross to your selfish will
- turning away from evil, as you understand it, is an act of repentance - a cross to your selfish will
- you don't want to sit quietly every day to listen and watch, but you repent and do - a cross to your selfish will
if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
- you don't want to obey his commands that you hear, but if you repent- it is a cross to your selfish will
- you don't want to forgive injustices done to you, but you repent and forgive - a cross to your angry self
- you don't want to admit and regret what the Light shows your condition to be, but if you repent - it is a cross to your will
(this is the place where you get changed, where your peace increases; in the Light)
- you don't want to give to others from your excess, but if you repent from your selfishness and give- it is a cross to your will
- you don't want to defer (deny self) to others, rather than insist on your way, but if you repent and defer - it is a cross to your will
This is the Inward Cross of Self-Denial
If any will come after me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
The cross (denying yourself) must be taken up daily to succeed; the cross that is the power of God to you, and the cross that is foolishness to others. The cross is the power of God. Belief in the true gospel is the power of God.
This is the beginning of the cross. There is also suffering with the cross, for when you have been prepared sufficiently by his grace and teachings, you will enter tribulation, to further the death of your sinful nature. Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude,
because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires,
but rather for the will of God. .
For more understanding on the necessity of learning in silence,
see George Fox's outstanding writing on Why Silence? (also on the side bar)
See How to Benefit from the Changing Power of God for more. (also on the side bar)
Read the Bible to keep you hopes high, (Psalms, John, Peter); but while reading the Bible, don't expect to hear.
Remember what Christ said about the Bible teachers and students in his day:
You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
But you are not willing to come to me that you may have life.
Read some of George Fox's writings in this site. And don't forget to give, especially to the poor. Defer. Be kind.
Keep doing this on a daily basis, and you are "putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the deeds prompted by the body." You will change, maybe not as fast as you want to, but you will change. You will get less angry. You will have less desire for things. You will want to spend more time with Him and less time with worldly pursuits. He will give you personalized commands to be obeyed. Your desires for the world will melt as your love for Him increases. You are learning by grace how to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. You will see your deficit sect's activities as a waste of time because nobody else shares your hope and faith in the true gospel, the power of God; and the evidence of your faith in Christ, to lead you out of darkness to a sinless state, is for you to cease association with such people. If you stay, you will either lose your peace or lose your integrity. You will have to quietly leave your deficit sect to hear Christ's teachings. He will not build on top of false teachings. (See Sect's Services for more.) And you won't tell people your hope unless asked, because you haven't been instructed to by Him, and you're not ready yet to reach to the holy part of your listener which can hear. This is the cross. The cross is the power of God; repentance with remission of sin through grace. Belief in the true gospel, and the cross to realize the promise, releases the power of God to purify you and make you one with Him. See How to Benefit from the Changing Power of God for more details, including necessary suffering.
The cross is the beginning of being a disciple and the beginning of salvation. The cross is only obedience; and |