What is NOT required for your salvation according to what God has to say?
1) Believe in God? A good start but inconclusive. All the demonic forces believe in God.
2) Believe in Jesus? A good start but inconclusive. All the demonic forces believe in Jesus.
3) Believe Jesus is the Son of God? A good start but inconclusive. All the demonic forces acknowledge the Son of God.
4) Repent and be water baptized? This was a requirement for the nation Israel to accept their Messiah. (It wasn't "an outward sign of an inward change" but an absolute requirement, along with circumcision, keeping the Sabbath, observing the holy days, tithing and all the rest of the law.) You're about 2000 years too late to comply with this one. (The Kingdom of Heaven WAS at hand and it was shortly thereafter rejected.)
5) Give your life to Jesus? Sounds real spiritual, but it isn't a valid method of salvation. Try to find it in scripture. (The law of first mention concerning the fig leaf refers us back to Adam and Eve covering themselves with fig leaves. This became the symbol for mankind to make himself acceptable to God. Remember the fig tree that was to be cut down in 1 year if it didn't bear fruit? The denominations today are the "Churches of the Fig Leaf," i.e., mankind's methods to make himself righteous and acceptable to God. It doesn't work any better for us than it did for Adam.)
6) Turn from sin and accept Jesus as Lord of your life? Another man-dreamt-up concept (Lordship Salvation) that will buy you a ticket to the place you don't want to go. It sounds real spiritual though doesn't it? Who is it that wants to be LIKE the Most High?
7) Keep the law and sell all your worldly possessions and give the money to the poor? A very noble gesture, but the law was never given to make a man righteous. A lot of people think they can keep the law. The law isn't graded on the curve. 88% won't pass you with a "B" but will fail you as surely as a 99.9% score. The standard for righteousness is 100%. You can either accept the perfect righteousness of the Righteous One or you can establish your own righteousness according to His perfect law. (Good luck!)
8) Repent and ask for forgiveness?
a. Repent: The fig-leaf churches will tell you that to repent means to "be sorry for your sins." God says it means to change your mind. (See item 7 above. You need to change your mind about establishing your own righteousness and accepting His perfect righteousness.)
b. Ask for forgiveness: If you are still asking, then you don't believe Him when He says that all sin was paid for at the cross. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. He already did it and He's not going to do it again every time you ask in unbelief. (Without faith, it is impossible to please God.) (Hint: The proper response is "Thank you, Jesus, that you have forgiven me of all my sins and remember them no more.") All of your sins were future when He died on the cross for them and nobody was asking for forgiveness at Calvary. He did it of His own volition and presented it as His gift to you. Few people want to accept His gift, but insist upon paying for it so they aren't obliged. (Pride)
9) Pay for indulgences and say 10 "Hail Marys?" Find that in scripture.
10) Be a morally good person and give thanks for your supper? This is another commonly held belief, but according to God there are NO good people. (Good luck.)
11) Wait until you're on your deathbed to seek salvation so you don't have an opportunity to commit more sins and lose your salvation? Constantine was of this persuasion. See 8-b above.
12) Ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by the speaking in unknown tongues? Another fig leaf church invention. The biblical tongues weren't unknown. They were known languages. Tongues was a sign given to the nation Israel (Jews - the "sign" nation). We are to walk by faith, not by sight (and signs). The signs, miracles and wonders ended shortly after the stoning of Stephen as the third and final rejection of God by the nation Israel.
a. Samuel lamented to God that Israel had rejected him as their prophet. God replied that the nation hadn't rejected him (Samuel) but had rejected Me (God the Father).
b. John the Baptist proclaimed, "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Israel as a nation rejected their Messiah (only the Little Flock believed) and asked for His crucifixion. (Rejected God the Son)
c. Stephen was stoned to death while the Holy Spirit was upon him, speaking to Israel. (Rejected God the Holy Spirit)
This was the third and final act of the nation Israel that brought their fall and the beginning of the end of the signs, miracles and wonders. These will once again be in vogue during the time of Jacob's Troubles (after the "taking up" of the Body of Christ), otherwise known as the Great Tribulation.
Okay, here is the big question. What IS required for your salvation according to what God has to say?
Believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus? Yes (BUT, there are three corresponding qualifiers concerning salvation. In other words, what is it that we are required to believe ABOUT the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus?) Hint: Belief in 5 1/2 of them won't buy your ticket.
1) Jesus died.
Q1. Yes, He did die a physical death on the cross but that in itself isn't the qualifying point.
The qualifier is that He died for your sins. He was worthy of being the perfect sacrifice that God's justice demanded. If you believe that Jesus died, but He didn't die for YOUR sins, it is (for you) of no avail.
2) Jesus was buried.
Q2. Yes and this goes with the law of first mention. He was buried to be put out of the sight of God as the sin offering that he had become. If you don't believe those sins that he represented were put out of the sight of God, it is (for you) of no avail. Those sins (past, present & future) were all nailed to the cross of Christ and put out of the sight of God forever. Hint: All of your sins were future and they were all nailed to the cross and put out of the sight of God when Jesus was buried. Unbelief concerning the burial is not an option according to God's Word.
3) Jesus arose.
Q3. Yes and you need to understand that He arose for YOUR JUSTIFICATION. If His blood sacrifice had not been fully acceptable to God the Father, then He would not have arisen. Jesus has been fully justified by the Father as evidenced by His ascension and all those "in Christ."
This third and final qualifier is the one commonly left out at the churches of the fig leaf. They do not want people to know that they are fully justified in Christ. Satan and his preachers of righteousness will tell you that your salvation, righteousness and justification must be earned by doing whatever they have placed on their list of "Dos" and "Don'ts."
If you believe that Jesus arose, but He didn't arise for YOUR justification, then (for you) it is of no avail. At the moment you believe Him, you are as righteous, and justified to God the Father as you will ever be. (Driving the bus, teaching Sunday school, and placing money in the offering won't make you MORE righteous or MORE justified.) We serve out of gratitude, not out of trying to make ourselves acceptable to God. We are acceptable to God only by one condition; That we believe the Son has established our righteousness and justification apart from our individual endeavors. It is the pride of mankind that wants to think he has performed some service to God that makes him worthy. If you think you have contributed in any way to your own justification, you have just failed all the other points of the salvation exam. This is why Satan advocates the churches of the fig leaf; They cater to mankind's sense of pride and they assure that no one who follows their doctrine will be saved.
If you believe that Christ Jesus died, was buried and arose for your justification, you are baptized into Him (no water involved - one faith, one Lord, one baptism) and positionally possess all the spiritual attributes as Jesus; fully justified, fully righteous and sealed in eternal life.
Your daily transgressions come as no surprise to our Lord. He knew of them all before you were born and He has (past tense) paid for them all and has (past tense) put them out of sight of God the Father. We who have been placed "in Him" can do nothing to make ourselves more acceptable to God by our performance.
What must I do to be saved? Nothing. You don't DO anything. Just believe Him.
.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Why Angels Do Not Have a Second Chance
Those who have come to understand God's abundant grace toward man often marvel at what God has done for man despite our utter and complete unrighteousness. While God has chosen to bestow grace upon man, the scriptures are noticeably silent as to any provision for fallen angels. While the author does not pretend to know all of the reasons in the mind of God as to why such provision was not made, a few insights can be gleaned from how the scriptures describe angels.
We begin with the observation that angels hold a higher rank and position in the universe than man does but that man's position is only slightly inferior.
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. (Ps 8:4-5)
A key difference between men and angels is that angels are incapable of dying while all men die.
But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. (Luke 20:35-36)
In fact, the very reason that Christ was made a little lower than the angels was so that he could suffer death.
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Heb 2:9)
Since one of the key differences between men and angels is the ability to suffer death, it is important to understand what it means to die. Death is not, as commonly thought, the cessation of existence because a man's soul is eternal.
What transpires at death is the separation of a man's soul and his spirit from his physical body.
And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (Gen 35:18, Jam 2:26)
Death is simply the departure of the soul and the spirit from the physical body. Thus, when scripture indicates that angels cannot die, it is an indication that the nature of the heavenly bodies given to angels is such that the bodies cannot be separated from their souls and spirits.
Prior to the saints of this dispensation occupying their positions of service in heavenly places they must be given new incorruptible bodies (Rom 8:23, 1Cor 15:42-44). The explicit reason given for these change is that our corrupt bodies are not suitable to receive our inheritance in heavenly places.
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (1Cor 15:50)
The corruption in our physical bodies is a reference to sin dwelling in our flesh.
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (Rom 7:20, 23)
Our corruptible flesh in which sin dwells is unfit for heavenly places. If, after removing fallen angels from heaven, God were to allow us to enter our heavenly positions in our sinful flesh, soon the heavenly places would again be filled with sin just as the earth is today. Therefore, God has provided new spiritual, incorruptible bodies for us to avoid contaminating heaven.
As discussed above, angels were created as a higher class of being and are incapable of dying. Thus, angels that have sinned inhabit bodies where sin resides and from which the angels' souls cannot be set free. As a result, if God wishes the new heavens and the new earth to be free from sin, he has no choice but to prevent fallen angels from entering into it since they cannot be given new bodies. It is for this reason (and perhaps others) that scriptures do not record angels as having a second chance.[1]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1]The author recognizes that God could have designed angels' bodies differently and does not imply any limitation on God's power to have done so other than those limitations imposed by His own character (e.g. God cannot lie - Titus 1:2). However, since the scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35), once God has spoken something, He is bound by it due to the faithfulness of His character.God does not act inconsistently with His word.
Those who have come to understand God's abundant grace toward man often marvel at what God has done for man despite our utter and complete unrighteousness. While God has chosen to bestow grace upon man, the scriptures are noticeably silent as to any provision for fallen angels. While the author does not pretend to know all of the reasons in the mind of God as to why such provision was not made, a few insights can be gleaned from how the scriptures describe angels.
We begin with the observation that angels hold a higher rank and position in the universe than man does but that man's position is only slightly inferior.
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. (Ps 8:4-5)
A key difference between men and angels is that angels are incapable of dying while all men die.
But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. (Luke 20:35-36)
In fact, the very reason that Christ was made a little lower than the angels was so that he could suffer death.
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Heb 2:9)
Since one of the key differences between men and angels is the ability to suffer death, it is important to understand what it means to die. Death is not, as commonly thought, the cessation of existence because a man's soul is eternal.
What transpires at death is the separation of a man's soul and his spirit from his physical body.
And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (Gen 35:18, Jam 2:26)
Death is simply the departure of the soul and the spirit from the physical body. Thus, when scripture indicates that angels cannot die, it is an indication that the nature of the heavenly bodies given to angels is such that the bodies cannot be separated from their souls and spirits.
Prior to the saints of this dispensation occupying their positions of service in heavenly places they must be given new incorruptible bodies (Rom 8:23, 1Cor 15:42-44). The explicit reason given for these change is that our corrupt bodies are not suitable to receive our inheritance in heavenly places.
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (1Cor 15:50)
The corruption in our physical bodies is a reference to sin dwelling in our flesh.
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (Rom 7:20, 23)
Our corruptible flesh in which sin dwells is unfit for heavenly places. If, after removing fallen angels from heaven, God were to allow us to enter our heavenly positions in our sinful flesh, soon the heavenly places would again be filled with sin just as the earth is today. Therefore, God has provided new spiritual, incorruptible bodies for us to avoid contaminating heaven.
As discussed above, angels were created as a higher class of being and are incapable of dying. Thus, angels that have sinned inhabit bodies where sin resides and from which the angels' souls cannot be set free. As a result, if God wishes the new heavens and the new earth to be free from sin, he has no choice but to prevent fallen angels from entering into it since they cannot be given new bodies. It is for this reason (and perhaps others) that scriptures do not record angels as having a second chance.[1]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1]The author recognizes that God could have designed angels' bodies differently and does not imply any limitation on God's power to have done so other than those limitations imposed by His own character (e.g. God cannot lie - Titus 1:2). However, since the scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35), once God has spoken something, He is bound by it due to the faithfulness of His character.God does not act inconsistently with His word.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
What the Revelation of the mystery reveals or contains:
1. The Formation of the Body of Christ
Romans 10:12,13; 12:5; 1 Corinthians 10:17; 12:27;
Ephesians 4:4,12; 2:6, 14-18; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; 1 Timothy 1:3-6
2. Dispensation of Grace
Ephesians 3:2,9; Colossians 1:25
3. Gospel of the Grace of God
Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:7
a. Preaching of the Cross
1 Corinthians 1:17,18; Galatians 6:14; Colossians 1:20
b. Forgiveness by the Blood
Romans 3:25; 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14
c. Death, Burial, Resurrection of Christ necessary to Gospel of Salvation
Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:15
4. Temporary Setting aside of Israel
Romans 11:25
a. Blindness
Isaiah 6:9,10; Acts 28:27,28; Romans 11:11-15
5. Equality of Jew & Gentile
Romans 3:9, 19-23; 10:12-13; 11:32
6. One Baptism
1 Corinthians 2:13; Ephesians 4:5
7. A New Commission to Preach
Roman 5:10; 11:15; 2 Corinthians 5:14-20; Ephesians 2:12, 16; Colossians 1:21
8. Heavenly Position of Believers
Ephesians 1:3; 2:6; Philippians 3:20; Colossians 3:1-3
9. Christ is the Head of the Body
Ephesians 1:22,23; 5:23; Colossians 1:18
10. Coming of Christ in the Air
1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Philippians 3:20,21; Colossians 3:4;
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13
11. The Judgment Seat of Christ
Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10,11
12. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 5:18
a. We must not
Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19
1. The Formation of the Body of Christ
Romans 10:12,13; 12:5; 1 Corinthians 10:17; 12:27;
Ephesians 4:4,12; 2:6, 14-18; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; 1 Timothy 1:3-6
2. Dispensation of Grace
Ephesians 3:2,9; Colossians 1:25
3. Gospel of the Grace of God
Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:7
a. Preaching of the Cross
1 Corinthians 1:17,18; Galatians 6:14; Colossians 1:20
b. Forgiveness by the Blood
Romans 3:25; 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14
c. Death, Burial, Resurrection of Christ necessary to Gospel of Salvation
Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:15
4. Temporary Setting aside of Israel
Romans 11:25
a. Blindness
Isaiah 6:9,10; Acts 28:27,28; Romans 11:11-15
5. Equality of Jew & Gentile
Romans 3:9, 19-23; 10:12-13; 11:32
6. One Baptism
1 Corinthians 2:13; Ephesians 4:5
7. A New Commission to Preach
Roman 5:10; 11:15; 2 Corinthians 5:14-20; Ephesians 2:12, 16; Colossians 1:21
8. Heavenly Position of Believers
Ephesians 1:3; 2:6; Philippians 3:20; Colossians 3:1-3
9. Christ is the Head of the Body
Ephesians 1:22,23; 5:23; Colossians 1:18
10. Coming of Christ in the Air
1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Philippians 3:20,21; Colossians 3:4;
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13
11. The Judgment Seat of Christ
Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10,11
12. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 5:18
a. We must not
Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19
Sunday, May 2, 2010
HAVE YOU HEARD?
by Cornelius R. Stam
"If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward" (Eph. 3:2).
Could it be that those to whom Paul addressed his Ephesian letter had not yet heard that God had committed to him "the dispensation of grace"?
Next to the death and resurrection of Christ, the conversion of Paul and his commission to proclaim "the gospel of the grace of God" was the greatest event in history .
The apostles at Jerusalem had recognized the importance of Paul's part in the divine program.
They themselves had at first been sent by Christ into "all the world," yet in Gal. 2:9 we find James, Peter and John publicly shaking hands with Paul in a solemn agreement that he should henceforth be the apostle to the nations.
Could it be that some twelve years later, when he wrote the Ephesian letter, there were any who professed the name of Christ who had not heard of Paul's special place in the program of God as the apostle of grace?
Little wonder his words "if ye have heard" carry with them a touch of reproach.
It is possible, of course, that there were some among them, but recently brought into the Church, who had not heard, but what seems utterly incredible is that there should be even one believer at this late date who has not heard that after Christ and His kingdom had been rejected and the world was ripe for prophesied judgment to fall, God intervened, saving Saul, His chief enemy on earth, and sending him forth with "the good news of the grace of God."
This good news is based, of course, upon the fact that since Christ was the spotless Lamb of God, His death is accepted by God as full satisfaction for the sinner.
Thus Paul, by divine inspiration, declares that believers are "justified freely by His [God's] grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).
King James Version. Pure Word of God.
by Cornelius R. Stam
"If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward" (Eph. 3:2).
Could it be that those to whom Paul addressed his Ephesian letter had not yet heard that God had committed to him "the dispensation of grace"?
Next to the death and resurrection of Christ, the conversion of Paul and his commission to proclaim "the gospel of the grace of God" was the greatest event in history .
The apostles at Jerusalem had recognized the importance of Paul's part in the divine program.
They themselves had at first been sent by Christ into "all the world," yet in Gal. 2:9 we find James, Peter and John publicly shaking hands with Paul in a solemn agreement that he should henceforth be the apostle to the nations.
Could it be that some twelve years later, when he wrote the Ephesian letter, there were any who professed the name of Christ who had not heard of Paul's special place in the program of God as the apostle of grace?
Little wonder his words "if ye have heard" carry with them a touch of reproach.
It is possible, of course, that there were some among them, but recently brought into the Church, who had not heard, but what seems utterly incredible is that there should be even one believer at this late date who has not heard that after Christ and His kingdom had been rejected and the world was ripe for prophesied judgment to fall, God intervened, saving Saul, His chief enemy on earth, and sending him forth with "the good news of the grace of God."
This good news is based, of course, upon the fact that since Christ was the spotless Lamb of God, His death is accepted by God as full satisfaction for the sinner.
Thus Paul, by divine inspiration, declares that believers are "justified freely by His [God's] grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).
King James Version. Pure Word of God.
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