By the Grace of God... not by works!

"By the grace of God, I am what I am" ~ 1 Corinthians 15:10.

The humble Christian will not be easily angered—nor will he/she be dogmatic and judgmental. He/she will be compassionate and tender towards the infirmities of his/her fellow-sinners; knowing, that, if there is any difference between him/herself and others—it is grace that has made it.

He/she knows that he/she has the seeds of every evil in his/her own heart! Under all trials and afflictions, the humble Christian will look to the hand of the Lord, and lay his/her mouth in the dust—acknowledging that he/she suffers much less than his/her iniquities have deserved. ~ http://gracegems.org/Newton/john_newton_excerpts.htm

We are saved by the Grace of God. First, we experience His Mercy and then His Grace poured out upon us! For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy... Romans 9:15-16.

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God...Ephesians 2:8

Whatever God does, must be just. Wherein the holy, happy people of God differ from others, God's grace alone makes them differ. In this preventing, effectual, distinguishing grace, he acts as a benefactor, whose grace is his own. None have deserved it; so that those who are saved, must thank God only; and those who perish, must blame themselves only, Hos 13:9. 

God is bound no further than he has been pleased to bind himself by his own covenant and promise, which is his revealed will. And this is, that he will receive, and not cast out, those that come to Christ; but the drawing of souls in order to that coming, is an anticipating, distinguishing favor to whom he will. 

Why does he yet find fault? This is not an objection to be made by the creature against his Creator, by man against God. The truth, as it is in Jesus, abases man as nothing, as less than nothing, and advances God as sovereign Lord of all ~ Matthew Henry Commentary.

Members of Christ's Kingdom...

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.…1 COR 6:8-10

The Corinthians are warned against many great evils, of which they had formerly been guilty. There is much force in these inquiries, when we consider that they were addressed to a people puffed up with a fancy of their being above others in wisdom and knowledge.

All unrighteousness is sin; all reigning sin, nay, every actual sin, committed with design, and not repented of, shuts out of the kingdom of heaven. Be not deceived. Men are very much inclined to flatter themselves that they may live in sin, yet die in Christ, and go to heaven. But we cannot hope to sow to the flesh, and reap everlasting life. 

They are reminded what a change the gospel and grace of God had made in them. The blood of Christ, and the washing of regeneration, can take away all guilt. Our justification is owing to the suffering and merit of Christ; our sanctification to the working of the Holy Spirit; but both go together. All who are made righteous in the sight of God, are made holy by the grace of God. MH

We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.…1 Timothy 1:9-11.

Whatever tends to weaken love to God, or love to the brethren, tends to defeat the end of the commandment. The design of the gospel is answered, when sinners, through repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ, are brought to exercise Christian love. And as believers were righteous persons in God's appointed way, the law was not against them.

But unless we are made righteous by faith in Christ, really repenting and forsaking sin, we are yet under the curse of the law, even according to the gospel of the blessed God, and are unfit to share the holy happiness of heaven. MH

The Word of God is Power...

As we read in Hebrews 4:12 ~ The Word of God is power... as powerful as a two edges sword! Yes, Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. So, We must be strong in the Word just like Jesus was.  When I read the Word I find that sword being wielded... 

Jesus always spoke with authority... but was not 'wordy' guy. He commanded things with clarity and authority...He is the Word, He was at the beginning, He was with God and He is God ~ John 1:1.  He called things as they were. He did not 'beat around the bush' or soften the blow to appear less than He was - God the Son.

He told the cripple at the pool of Bethesda "Get up, take your mat and walk".  In the situation of the adulterous woman, Jesus said "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." 

When the sea raged... Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. At his betrayal in the garden Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.

As with Jesus, our battle is not with flesh and blood but against the powers and principalities of this dark world ~ Ephesians 6:12. We having the Holy Spirit, can speak with authority because He Jesus Christ is in us ~ Luke 17:21. 

Yet, to engage in such battle with authority, We must put on the full armor of God which is found in Ephesians 6: 14-15 ... the belt of truth fastened around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.…

Stand Firm in the Word of God...

The Word of God that we stand firm in (The Bible) will set you free. For there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8: 1 and You shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord ~ Psalm 118:17.

 

But what about those who are/get sick and die? Is it because they did not really believe that the law of the Spirit of life has set them free from the law of sin and death?  Were they not really walking in the Kingdom? 

He was put to death in the body but made alive in the spirit…1 Peter 3:18. You see, if Christ could not be freed from sufferings, why should Christians think to be so? We sanctify God before others, when our conduct invites and encourages them to glorify and honor him no matter what our situation- free or in prison or sick vs. in health.  

We should be able to defend our faith with meekness, in the fear of God for there is no room for any other fears where this great fear is. The conscience is good, when it does its office well which means that a convicted conscience is a healthy one as its eyes are set upon the Lord for deliverance. 

A person is in a sad condition on whom sin and suffering meet. For such person, without Christ, will find that sin without Christ makes suffering extreme, comfortless, and destructive. But, a convicted Christian (one who recognizes their sin) who sets his/her eyes on the Lord is better to suffer having the comfort in knowing that God's mercy is great. 

We know, those born again in the Spirit, that if Christ could not be freed from sufferings, why should Christians think to be so? The difference is that we suffer for good not evil.... for we are free indeed in Jesus Christ. John 8:36.

Learn from Christ how to pray...

His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1.

Jesus said to them, "do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ ~ Matthew 6:7-15.

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours ~ Matthew 7:15.

"When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get"~ Matthew 6:5.

 "But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you".…Matthew 6:6.

There is not a living man that does not breathe, as a living Christian that does not pray. If prayerless, then graceless. The Scribes and Pharisees were guilty of two great faults in prayer, vain-glory and vain repetitions. 

Verily they have their reward; if in so great a matter as is between us and God, when we are at prayer, we can look to so poor a thing as the praise of men, it is just that it should be all our reward. Yet there is not a secret, sudden breathing after God, but he observes it. It is called a reward, but it is of grace, not of debt; what merit can there be in begging? 

If he does not give his people what they ask, it is because he knows they do not need it, and that it is not for their good. So far is God from being wrought upon by the length or words of our prayers, that the most powerful intercessions are those which are made with groanings that cannot be uttered. Let us well study what is shown of the frame of mind in which our prayers should be offered, and learn daily from Christ how to pray. MH

Deborah of the Bible...

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. ~ Judges 4:4. She was a prophetess; one instructed in Divine knowledge by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. She judged Israel as God's mouth to them; correcting abuses, and redressing grievances.

Deborah describes the distressed state of Israel under the tyranny of Jabin, that their salvation might appear more gracious. She shows what brought this misery upon them. It was their idolatry. They chose new gods, with new names. But under all these images, Satan was worshiped.

By God's direction, she ordered Barak to raise an army, and engage Jabin's forces. Barak insisted much upon her presence. Deborah promised to go with him. She would not send him where she would not go herself. Those who in God's name call others to their duty, should be ready to assist them in it. Barak values the satisfaction of his mind, and the good success of his enterprise, more than mere honor.

She is the only female judge, or, indeed, female ruler of any kind in Jewish history. She is also the only judge to whom the title "prophet" is expressly given. "Prophetess" implies the possession of poetic as well as of prophetic gifts (Exodus 15:20); and we see her right to such a title, both in her predictions (Judges 4:9), her lofty courage (Judges 5:7), and the splendor of her inspired song...

Today, in these end of time days, we too can and should be like Deborah... correcting abuses and redressing grievances. There is much idolatry in the world and she by God's direction took action.