₦airaland Forum

morning

Are you trying to get someone, even a believer in Christ, to stop sinning and live right? Is that person you? No amount of vows made to stop sinning, recital of punishments that are attached to breaking the Ten Commandments or threatening, nagging, hellfire and demon attack stories from the pulpit etc can transform a person. Only Jesus can. Without Him, we can do nothing.

The bible says that the strength of sin is the law (1 Cor 15:56). Law-keeping makes people become slaves to sin.
Telling people that they have to (by their own efforts) obey the law in order to be righteous will only produce more sin and cut them off from Christ.

What trying to keep the Ten Commandments in order to be righteous does is arouse sinful passions in us and cause us to sin more, according to Romans 7:5 –

“When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.”

The old nature here refers to the sin nature that we inherited from Adam, before we became a new creation in Christ. Those who boast in their ability to keep the law end up sinning more. This is why Peter denied Jesus three times after he boasted that he would not.
Trying to get right with God by keeping the law makes Christ of no effect in the lives of believers according to Galatians 5:4.

"For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace."

So how can one live right? How can one be transformed? 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us how - " But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

Believers, we are transformed by beholding Jesus, not by our obedience to the law! In Christ, the law gets fulfilled in us, but not by us.

But how do we behold our Lord's glory? Let’s keep John 1:17 in mind for this - “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
The “Law” and “Grace and Truth” are entirely separate. They cannot be mixed. One was given by a servant (Moses). The other came through the Son of God (our Saviour Jesus) – John 1:17.

One (the letter) kills while the other (the Spirit) gives life - 2 Corinthians 3:6.
One (the law) demands righteousness from sinful and morally bankrupt man who has none ("there is none righteous, no, not one" - Romans 3:10) while under the other (Grace) God's righteousness is given to us in Christ as a free gift - Romans 5:17- "For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)"
So how do we behold the glory of the Lord?

In Exodus 34, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments written and engraved on stones (Paul calls this the ministry of death), the children of Israel could not look steadily at (behold) Moses face because of the glory of his countenance, which was from the law. He had to wear a veil after reading the law to them because the law condemned them all, as it condemns all those without God's gift of righteousness today. In verse 14-15 of 2 Corinthians 3, Paul says of those under the law:

"But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart."

Reading/preaching of the law, which was given through Moses is akin to beholding the glory of Moses’ countenance, which was from the law. No one can live by its standards, which is why the children of Israel could not look at Moses.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

The law pointed out their shortcomings, as it does today to all who depend on it for their righteousness. It cannot save.
Preaching it cannot make one live right. It only brings condemnation and judgement. Reading/preaching the law ensures that the veil remains on the hearts of believers. Believers remain blind. More laws arouse sinful desires in us and result in a harvest of sin which leads to death according to Romans 7:5 - "When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death."

Beholding the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ is reading/preaching and listening to the word of Christ - messages that reveal “Grace and Truth,” - God’s undeserved, unmerited favour, which came through Jesus. It is seeing His beauty and love for us in both the Old and New Testaments.

By His grace, when we look into the mirror of our lives, we see in ourselves not our flaws and shortcomings but what God has made us to be in Christ – His Righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21 “for He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of god in Him.” ) The same principle applied with Abraham who was childless. Isaac came after He began to refer to himself as Abraham, not before. When we confess our righteousness in Christ, we will bear fruit (live right)

When the heart is transformed by the Spirit, people won't need anyone to give them rules and regulations before they live right. People won't need to be told to dress, talk and act in a manner that glorifies God before they do so. It will be their passion! They will not want to sin. They will comply with the Ten Commandments without even trying to obey it. They will love to talk about our wonderful Saviour Jesus.

They will give more, pray more, do more, love more yet not them but Christ in them, so they might not even notice that they have changed inwardly and outwardly...but others will. The transformation by the Holy Spirit leads to right living but many in the church have it backwards and tell believers that they need to stop sinning in order to be transformed! Nobody gets transformed this way. It's an endless cycle of sin, condemnation and judgment of the law

In Christ, the law is fulfilled in us (but not by us) so we can approach our Lord boldly and look upon Him without a veil on our hearts. He gave us His righteousness as a gift. He does not judge or condemn us, like the law does. His Spirit gives us life. Meditating on these things is how to behold the glory of the Lord!

We love because He first loved us. The more the love of Christ is unveiled from the pulpit, the more His people will love Him and others, and also not want to sin. When His love, reflected in the abundance of His grace and His gift of righteousness, is the core message of preaching, as it was with Paul, believers will reign in life – reign over sin, selfishness, bad temper, sickness, poverty, etc. When the message being preached from the pulpit focuses on His words to the woman caught in adultery “Neither do I condemn you,” the people will go and sin no more! This is pure undeserved, unmerited favour, people! His gift of no condemnation makes us go and sin no more.

When believers are taught that that the way to get right with God or “maintain their salvation” is obeying the law (which no one can do fully, plus if you slip up in one, you’re guilty of all – James 2:10), it leads to more sins and death. If your pastor tells you “yes, Jesus died for you BUT you still need to keep the Ten Commandments or give to get from God,” and you obey this form of doctrine, you tie yourself up to the yoke of bondage (the law) again. And the letter kills. Remember Galatians 5:1 and –

"So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law."

4 "For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.”

When the law (obeying the Ten Commandments/”do good, get good; do bad, get bad” doctrine) is read/preached to the people, people are being taught to “behold the glory of Moses’ countenance” which is of the law; and no one can. This is why many people, especially young people don't like going to church. Like the Israelites that ran away from Moses when he came down from Mount Sinai with the Law, they run away, because the law condemns us all.

By beholding the glory of the Lord - looking at Jesus and receiving His gift of righteousness and no condemnation - we are being transformed to the same image, from glory to glory by the Holy Spirit. We don’t get transformed by keeping the Ten Commandments or “not sinning.”

When you mix law and grace (preaching/professing Jesus yet rejecting His gift of righteousness by teaching that people still need to obey the law in order to get right with God) you are pouring old wine into new wineskin. You will lose both the wine and the wine skin.

Pastors and leaders, it is the Holy Spirit that does the transformation, not the preaching of threats from the pulpit or telling people to make vows and determine to quit sinning! This is the preaching of the letter, which kills. If we could stop sinning and do right all by ourselves, Jesus would not need to come and save us. Just look at what happened to Peter when he boasted in what he could do. He denied Jesus three times! Thank God for our Lord’s restoration.

Unveil the love of Christ and the people will love Him and love others. Preach our Lord’s grace and let grace do the teaching; we are trained in the way of righteousness by Grace, not the law, or you according to Titus 2: 11-14 -

11 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

Grace is our teacher. Sarah (Grace) was more than capable of raising Isaac. You don’t need Hagar (the law) to help! We are not children of the bondwoman but of the free! (Galatians 4:21-31)

By His grace, preach His unconditional love, His gift of righteousness and His gift of no condemnation to all. Preach His undeserved, unmerited favour. Grace will do the transformation.

Believe Right and you will Live Right.

http://rightbelieving101..nl/2017/01/are-you-trying-to-get-someone-even.html?m=1

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What is "Easy Believism"? Usually the phrase "easy-believism" is a slam against those who teach that salvation is not by human works, but by faith in Jesus Christ alone. It is clear from the Scriptures that salvation is received by faith only in the finished work of Jesus Christ. "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 (Ephesians 2:8,9)."

"Easy Believism" is a way of saying that salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone is just too easy. "It is too simple," they say. Those who use the phrase "easy believism" are saying that there must be more to salvation than just faith in Jesus Christ.

The Bible tells us that Satan uses the fact that the Gospel message is so simple to deceive people. II Corinthians 11:3 says, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." One of the most common objections to the true gospel message is that "it is too simple".

Satan changes the true gospel into a counterfeit message by addition and subtraction. In other words, Satan adds human works or effort to the plan of salvation in order to make the message of none effect (I Corinthians 1:17). Satan used phrases like "easy believism" and "it is too simple" to ridicule the true message of faith only (Romans 3:28).

To not believe the record as God gave it makes it null and void. "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son (I John 5:10)." To add one human work to the plan of salvation would place a person before God without grace. Romans 11:6 says, "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."

When we talk about believing, we are not talking about mental assent to a historical fact. We are talking about a personal trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as the One who gave His life on the cross of Calvary, was buried and then rose again from the dead. The word "believe" comes from the Greek word "pisteuo", which means to trust, to rely upon, to place one's weight upon, etc. When a person puts his trust in Jesus Christ alone as his Saviour, he is saved.
Christ died-that is history. Christ died for me-that is salvation. The fact that Jesus Christ died is a historical fact. Accepting that truth about Jesus Christ's death as a historical fact does not save. But the personal acceptance of Jesus Christ as a risen Saviour, who died for me does save.

This conflict over grace vs. works has been going on ever since Cain and Abel. Even the apostle Paul was slandered when he preached the gospel of the grace of God. Romans 3:8 says, "And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just." Some people were affirming that the apostle Paul taught that salvation by faith only was a license to sin. "Let us do evil, that good may come (Romans 3:."

We have now seen the two major objections to the true gospel. 1) "It is too simple", and 2) "easy believism" means that I could live as I please and still go to heaven.
Amazingly, when a person is saved, he is saved forever and cannot be lost. Jesus Christ gave His word in John 6:37 and 39, that "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." If one person were ever lost that was ever saved, then Jesus Christ would be a liar (John 6:39).

Therefore, it is true that no matter what a person does after he is saved that person is still saved. What the person can lose by living as he pleases is not his salvation, but rewards, joy, fellowship, power, testimony, etc. The things related to the Christian life and eternal rewards can be lost but not one's salvation. This can also include the Lord taking a Christian home to heaven early. Many of the Corinthian believers were taken home to heaven early according to I Corinthians 11:30 which says, "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." Also, I Corinthians 10:8 tells of 23,000 that the Lord took home to heaven in one day. It is clear that there are numerous illustrations throughout the Bible that God sometimes will take a Christian home before his time. God will not cast the delinquent Christian out, but God might take him home to heaven early.

Concerning the saved, God says in I Corinthians 11:32, "When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." God deals with His children as a loving father would correct his erring child. God is interested in our welfare and wishes for us to live a life that He can bless and reward. (See Hebrews 12:6-11).
So the Christian does not have a license to sin when he accepts Jesus Christ as his Saviour, even though the person is saved eternally and cannot be lost. Again, salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Romans 4:5 says, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

To add works to the plan of salvation would be heresy and would mean no salvation at all. Ephesians 2:8,9 says "For 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." I would hate to stand before God having no grace (mercy). To anyone who adds works to God's grace, they will have no grace (mercy) according to Ephesians 2:8,9.

In conclusion, those who say "easy-believism" are rejecting the true gospel of grace (Ephesians 2:8,9), by saying "it is too simple" and "it is a license to sin". Remember the true gospel is simple (II Corinthians 11:3), and God corrects (chastens) those that are truly saved (Hebrew 12:6).
We pray that you can say as the Apostle Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Roman 1:16)."

http://www.biblelineministries.org/articles/basearch.php3?action=full&mainkey=EASY+BELIEVISM

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jiggaz:
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Isaiah 28:11–12
For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, to whom He said, “This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest,” and, “This is the refreshing”...

To counter stress, many people resort to tobacco, alcohol or tranquilizers. These things, besides having harmful side effects, are costly and often lead to addictions.
God has something better for us. It is powerful, costs us nothing and has no harmful side effects. He calls it “the rest” and “the refreshing”. What is He referring to? Speaking in tongues—“For with stammering lips and another tongue…”

One of our church members was on medication for nine long years for a host of problems: severe depression, suicidal thoughts, insomnia, chronic sinusitis, gastritis and panic attacks. Every day, he had to take up to 30 tablets to keep these conditions under control.

He suffered from such bad sinusitis that he had to visit the hospital regularly to drain the mucus. He could not sleep much—at most three hours—even with sleeping pills. And because of his panic attacks, he could not go to work and seldom left his house. His wife had to look after him and their three kids. The side effects of the long-term medication also caused his physique to balloon.

One day, he felt God prompting him to pray in tongues as often as he could. He obeyed. The moment he started to pray in tongues, even though it was just a few syllables, he felt a rest, a peace. This encouraged him to pray in tongues more. And the more he prayed in tongues, the more rest and peace he felt.

His sinuses began to clear up and he was healed of gastritis. Slowly, the fears and panic attacks left him too. He also started to have quality sleep without the sleeping pills! The Lord even taught him how he was to eat—two meals a day, but to eat whatever he wanted. Today, he is back to his normal weight!

Through praying in tongues regularly, God delivered this man from a host of long-term illnesses. My friend, this is the rest and the refreshing which God has promised us. So start praying in tongues regularly, and let His rest and peace saturate your entire being!

Thought For The Day

Pray in tongues regularly and let God’s rest and peace saturate your entire being.

http://www.josephprince.org/daily-grace/grace-inspirations/single/the-spirits-rest-and-refreshing/

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morning

noted

morning

Can a person who has been saved lose his salvation? This question has been a perplexing question to many. Maybe you have been questioning the genuineness of your salvation. Are you really saved? Are you really sure?

Although the phrase "eternal security" does not occur in the Bible, phrases that are equivalent do occur. Phrases such as everlasting life, eternal life, eternal salvation, eternal inheritance, eternal redemption, etc. occur dozens and dozens of times throughout the Bible.

Eternal security is not a separate doctrine from that of eternal life or eternal salvation. It is one and the same. In fact, the only salvation God offers to mankind is eternal.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)."

God does not offer probation, but He offers salvation. God does not offer a trial period, but rather, offers to completely save and give eternal life to anyone who responds to His invitation to trust Jesus Christ as his or her only hope of heaven.

Consider the alternative, that you could lose your salvation. By virtue of the fact that you could lose it, would mean that keeping salvation would depend upon your efforts or actions to keep it. In other words, a person who says that he can lose his salvation for whatever reason is in reality saying that he is trusting in human works to save him.

Look at Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace (mercy) are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast." Salvation is not of works and therefore a person who is trusting in his works is not and will not be saved. What are we saying? Plainly stated: a person who says he can lose his salvation is not saved. Or he is thoroughly confused and lacks assurance of salvation.
If you are not saved forever, then you are not saved. Let me say it again. If you are not saved forever, then you are not saved.

Salvation, as taught in the Bible, is a present possession, received at the time of the new birth or acceptance of Christ as one's personal Savior, and is kept secure or eternal by God's power. Consider such references as John 3:16; John 3:36; John 5:24; John 10:28; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 10:10; Hebrews 10:14; I Peter 1:4-5.

Jesus Christ made the promise in John 6:37 that He would never cast out anyone who had trusted Him as Savior for any reason. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." He meant exactly that. There is no circumstance or instance that would cause Christ to cast a saved person aside.

Some have said to me, "Okay, Christ won't cast me out, but I can cast myself out." This is impossible. Read with me John 6:39 where Jesus said, "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that all which he hath given, I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day."

Jesus promises that He will never lose anyone who has come to him for salvation and that this is the Father's will.
If any one saved person were ever lost, then Jesus Christ would be a liar because, He said in John 6:39 that He would not lose one. If just one saved person in all of history were lost, then Jesus Christ would be a liar.

Praise the Lord that Jesus Christ is a Savior who will deliver on what He has promised. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath (possesses now) eternal life (John 6:47)." Jesus Christ promises eternal life as a present possession to all those who believe (trust) in Him.

The heart of all the misunderstanding concerning this subject is the fact that human works or merit have zero to do with salvation. Many Scriptures make it so clear that we are saved by faith and not by works. For example: John 3:18; Romans 3:24-28; Romans 4;5; Ephesians 2:8-9 and so on.

In addition to this, there are many clear Scriptures which teach that anyone who is trusting in works (church membership, baptism, confirmation, living the Christian life, etc.) in addition to faith in Christ will not be saved (Romans 11:6; and Galatians 5:2-4). Thus we are to trust in Christ only to be saved.

The work of salvation was finished on the cross by Jesus Christ himself (Hebrews 1:3). If we want to be saved, then we must believe that Jesus Christ finished the work of salvation on the cross, and receive it as God's free gift (Romans 6:23).

"I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him (Ecclesiastes 3:14)." (See also Romans 8:38-39.)

After we are saved, we should live for Christ out of love and gratitude for all He has done for us. We will be rewarded for faithful service or suffer the loss of rewards for not serving the Lord, but we will be eternally saved (Corinthians 3:11-15). Also, if we live in rebellion we will still be saved, but God will chasten us in this life and might take us home to heaven prematurely. (See Hebrews 12:6-8; Corinthians 11:30-32.)

Salvation is by grace through faith. It is a free gift, and is wholly without works (Romans 3:27-28; 4:1-8; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9). The divine order is first salvation, then works (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5-.

"Blessed Assurance" is a favorite hymn of many who claim to be saved. But it is only wishful thinking to those who believe they can be saved today and lost tomorrow.

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39)." A saved person can know and be absolutely assured of his or her salvation. Nothing can undo what God has finished (Ecclesiastes 3:14).

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life (I John 5:13)."

http://www.biblelineministries.org/articles/basearch.php3?action=full&mainkey=ETERNAL+SECURITY

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Janeyinspires:
Ama check his blog out.Tenkiu!

Alright, u welcome.

Janeyinspires:
This is scriptures breaken down to tiny,edible bits for easy passage to ones spiritual system.
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I really must commend you,jiggaz!
Tnx for the enlightenment.
It can only be God!

You welcome my dear, all glory to Christ Jesus!! Paul Ellis is a great teacher and Pastor, and i have learnt so much from him via his blog -->> Escape to reality.... That's why i always post his articles here for the embodiment of the Body of Christ. God is good...

Ephesians 6:16
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

I believe that when you pray in the Spirit, that is, in tongues, a shield goes up all around you—a watery shield. But why do I call it a “watery” shield? Let me share with you what the Lord showed me.

Once, I was meditating on Ephesians 6:16—“above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one”. At first, I thought of a Roman soldier’s wooden shield. But three words kept repeating themselves in my mind: “quench” and “fiery darts”. Then, the Lord said, “Son, if it is a wooden shield, the fiery darts will burn it up.” He showed me a watery shield instead, one which was able to quench the fiery darts.

You may ask, “Where did the water come from?”

Remember that Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38) The next verse says, “But this He spoke concerning the Spirit...” (John 7:39)

Jesus was speaking about the Holy Spirit, which He likened to rivers of living water flowing out of us. So when we pray in the Spirit, rivers of living water will flow, quenching the devil’s fiery darts thrown at us!

This happened one day when I was having supper with a church member. Now, I don’t often pray in tongues when I say grace over my food. But that night, I felt prompted by the Spirit to do so. So I prayed in tongues as I laid my hands on my packet of nasi lemak (coconut-flavored rice).

Soon, we were tucking into our food and talking when suddenly, I bit on something hard. I spat it out quickly and realized that it was a nail! Then, I realized that this was the reason the Lord wanted me to pray in tongues. Though the devil was trying to “nail” me, he failed!

My friend, put up the watery shield that God has given you. Pray in the Spirit and quench the enemy’s fiery darts!

Thought For The Day

Pray in the Spirit and quench the enemy’s fiery darts!


http://www.josephprince.org/daily-grace/grace-inspirations/single/quench-the-enemys-fiery-darts/

noted

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