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The Lawless Law-Keepers





Something eternally significant happened about 2,000 years ago.  Few people acknowledge it.  Even most of those who do acknowledge it with their lips, corrupt the truth and malign what happened by what they teach and how they live...

Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God paid the penalty for all human sin and then rose again.

The LORD Jesus Christ fulfilled the mission of the long-awaited Redeemer who had been purposed from before the creation of the world (1 Pt. 1:20; 2 Tm. 1:9; Rev. 13:8), promised to Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:15–16), prophesied of by Moses (Deut. 18:18; Acts 3:22), desired by Job (Job 19:25), and proclaimed by King David (Ps. 2:1–12; 16:9–11; 22:1–31).  He became the atoning sacrifice for all who have ever walked the earth—the propitiation for everyone with genuine faith in YHWH.  It was of this eternal Redeemer that the Prophet Isaiah spoke thus, some 700 years before He came:


Who has believed our message [THE GOSPEL]
   and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
   and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
   nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by mankind,
   a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
   he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Surely he took up our pain
   and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
   stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,
   yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished. [THE ATONEMENT]
He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
    and with the rich in his death, [THE TOMB OF JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA]
though he had done no violence,
    nor was any deceit in his mouth. [HE WAS A SINLESS SACRIFICE]

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
   and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
After he has suffered,
    he will see the light of life and be satisfied; [THE RESURRECTION]
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
    and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, [GLORIFICATION]
    and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.
(Isaiah 53)


Since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, three things have stood against humanity, bringing death to us all: 1. Sin (evil, ungodly conduct), 2. Iniquity (evil thoughts and desires), and 3. Transgressions (breaking faith with the LORD).  The LORD Jesus Christ took all three to the Cross.  Every problem we have is answered by His death and resurrection.

And what’s more, He is the only answer (Jn. 3:18; 14:6; Acts 4:12) because there is no other sacrifice for sin (Heb. 10:26–31) and all of us are totally, completely, and hopelessly lost in our depravity without God.

May the self-righteous among you learn the Word of the LORD:


The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. (Gen. 6:5)


...They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good. (Ps. 14:1)


Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You. (Ps. 143:2)


All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isa. 64:6)


...No one is good—except God alone. (Mk. 10:18)


As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.’ (Rm. 3:10–11)


For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Rm. 3:23)


If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 Jn. 1:8)


The Roman Catholic Church (and many legalistic Protestants) teach that mortal sin causes one to fall from grace.  To the contrary, the Scriptures say trying to be justified by something other than Christ and Him crucified is what really causes one to fall from grace:


You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. (Gal. 5:4)


I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! (Gal. 2:21)


But the Law is good and from God.  Isn’t this message of “easy believism” denigrating the Law?  No, we are upholding the Law in its fullness (Rom. 3:31).  But how?  Because we believe in God’s Law whereas the legalists and hypocrites do not.  In their pride they think that somehow they will please God by keeping the Law, but not one of them has ever kept the Law.  This is what the Scriptures say about keeping the Law:


For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (Jas. 2:10)


We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body. (Jas. 3:2)


Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole Law. (Gal. 5:3)


Despite how they flatter God with their words, the legalists belittle, malign, and denigrate God’s Law.  God’s Law is perfect and so holy as to be unobtainable.  Yet they think they can obtain what only Christ could.  They think they can please God with their flesh or maintain their salvation by their futile efforts.  They exalt their own righteousness after they tear down the Law.

Here’s an example: You’ve probably heard many Pharisees whip out these words of Jesus when confronted with the Gospel:


If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away.  It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.  And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. (Mt. 18:8–9)


“Yes, I believe in the Gospel, but if you want to be saved you must fight and struggle against sin.”  “You don’t have to gouge out your eyes, but you better take sin very seriously.  Don’t get caught red-handed.”

No.  Jesus’ words are clear.  He took the impossible-to-completely-keep 600+ laws in the Torah and raised the bar even higher.  He meant what He said.  If you want to avoid hellfire by keeping the Law then you better gouge out your eyes and cut off your hands.  Jesus wasn’t being facetious.

Do you see?  The legalists claim to be taking the Law seriously, but they actually reduce Jesus’ words so that they, in their self-righteousness, can uphold themselves while condemning you.

Likewise, many legalists think they are more right with God because they use Hebrew names only, keep the Sabbath, or avoid pork—or attend church regularly, read the Bible daily, and avoid alcohol.  They are not any better off.  They’re in the same dangerous place every pagan is.  Their hearts are uncircumcised.  Not because they do good and obey the Law, but because they do it for the wrong reason.  They do it to justify themselves whereas it is God alone who justifies.  Salvation belongs entirely to the LORD and we have no part in it except to believe (Ex. 14:14; Ps. 3:8; 62:1; Jn. 6:28–29).

Jesus repeatedly raised the Law’s bar:


You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. (Mt. 5:21–22)


You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Mt. 5:27–28)


Legalists break these commandments of Jesus all the time and couldn’t even confess to God all of the times they’ve sinned even if they tried.  Again, Jesus wasn’t being facetious.  He was restoring the Law to its proper, glorious, high and lofty place.  Like the Pharisees, they lower the Law’s standard until they think they can meet it, all the while condemning others, but they don’t even meet their own standard (Mt. 23:1–15; Jn. 7:19).

Instead of listening to the “Law Preachers,” listen to the Apostles.  They believed Jesus’ words about gouging out eyes and cutting off hands, but notice that not one of them obeyed that commandment.  Not Peter, not Paul, not James.  None of themWhy?

...Because after Christ’s death and resurrection and the giving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, they realized that the purpose of the Law, which was made for man (Mk. 2:27), was to lead us to grace (Rom. 10:4; Gal. 3:24–25).

So the legalists who proclaim that the Law has not been done away with our correct.  The Law still stands, but Jesus fulfilled it Himself, so that we, who cannot keep the Law, can have another means of justification before God—the atoning death and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ.

At the very first Church-wide council, the Apostles made it abundantly clear:


Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: ‘Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.’  This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them.  So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.  The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad.  When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.

Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, ‘The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.’

The apostles and elders met to consider this question.  After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: ‘Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.  God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.  He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.  Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?  No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.’ (Acts 15:1–12)


I know I have harped on the legalists in our midst very hard, but they need to repent and believe the Gospel while there is still time, so that they too can receive the Holy Spirit and be saved.  I don’t think every legalist is unsaved—some genuinely believe the Gospel and have the Holy Spirit, but are confused about how to rightly divide certain passages of Scripture.  On the other hand, many have never truly understood the message and haven’t personally trusted in Christ for salvation.  The right time to believe is nowToday is the day of salvation.  Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and receive the Holy Spirit.

Despite the precarious theological position of the legalists, they do bring up an important point: how can those who claim to believe in God’s grace live like unsaved pagans?

There are some who are saved who do live like pagans (1 Cor. 3:11–15; 5:1–5), but most of those who claim to be saved yet live lawlessly actually live lawlessly because they don’t understand the Gospel.  They claim to be Christians, but believe in universalism or that Christ is not the only way.  Or they do not regard their sin as something that needs to be atoned for (e.g. churches that promote the LGBT lifestyle).

You see, there are two sides of the unbelieving coinTwo lanes on the broad road to Gehenna.  One side is populated by legalists who trust in themselves.  They are thieves and robbers who try to sneak into Heaven rather than going through the gate, which is Christ (Jn. 10:1).  The other side is filled with atheists and the grace-twisting lawless, alike.  Unbelievers from the lawless side of the road reject the truth of the resurrection, but many from both sides of the road, who claim to be religious and even “Christian,” reject the Gospel by rejecting the atoning aspect of it.  They claim to believe Jesus died and rose again, but they don’t understand or believe that His death is their only propitiation.




In truth, the lawless and legalists, alike, are really both lawless.  Legalism is just faux-religion.  Neither group acknowledges God’s standard.  While I love to proclaim the truth of God’s prophetic word, it is this message that I believe is the highest purpose of the ministry that God has given me, to call out Satan’s deceit through both groups and thus magnify the Gospel and glorify Christ.




Salvation has always been by grace alone through faith alone in YHWH (Gen. 15:6; Hab. 2:4; Heb 3:7–4:11).  Many, like David and Job, looked forward in hope, longing for the Redeemer to come.  They were saved by faith.  In the Old Testament we see numerous examples of law-breakers killed for a single violation of the Law.  For example, in Numbers 15:32–36 a man is executed for merely gathering sticks on the Sabbath.  Yet King David broke the Law on numerous occasions (2 Sam. 11–12; Mt. 12:3–4) and said of himself that his sins were more numerous than the hairs on his head (Ps. 40:12–13), but he was not killed.  He was saved because of his faith in the grace of God (Ps. 32:1–2).

Yet we, in this age of grace, look back and in faith remember the Redeemer who has already come, and in faith “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14).  We await the appearance of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who is soon to be revealed from Heaven, who will change our lowly bodies and take us with Him to His Father’s house.









Further Reading:

THE GOSPEL: PART 1

THE GOSPEL: PART 2

THE GOSPEL: PART 3

THE GOSPEL: PART 4

THE GOSPEL: PART 5

WHICH JESUS DO YOU FOLLOW?

WHAT IS REPENTANCE?

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

WHY IS THE CHURCH DIVIDED?

ATONEMENT: THE DIVIDING LINE

CREATED FOR GOOD WORKS

THE TIGHTROPE OF FAITH

A CLOSER LOOK AT GENESIS 3–4

STAY ON THE NARROW WAY

ALL ABOUT BAPTISM

THE CALLED OUT ONES

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76 comments:

  1. That's Right Gary! BAM! What we do wrong in this life? Won't matter!..What we Believe in this Life? WILL! ~ Jesus

    ..And Again! BAM!!!

    ~Behold Israel
    Yesterday at 4:07 PM
    A couple of extra points to help you explain the pre tribulation rapture viewpoint: Please share!

    The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 that God did not appoint us to wrath and that’s our source of encouragement!

    1. Daniel 8:19. After talking about Antichrist and the Abomination of Desolation and the last three and a half years, the angel says “Look! I am making known to you what will happen in the latter end of the Indignation.” The earlier part is still called the Indignation. According to Strong’s, the word Indignation means “to froth at the mouth with fury”. Thus the whole 7-year period is the Indignation or the wrath of God, not just the last half. The Hebrew word for indignation is the same word for wrath - זעם!

    2. We compared Jesus words in Matthew 16:18, “…I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” with Daniel 7:21 “the same horn was making war against the saints and prevailed against them”, Furthermore, Daniel 12:7 explains that“…when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things will be finished.” Obviously, the gates of hell will prevail against the Tribulation saints, so they cannot be the church. This means the church must be out of the way, but our hearts bleed for what Israel must go through.

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    1. Pretty sure we're all familiar with the following 4 verses;..

      But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. ~ Matthew 24:37-39

      And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. ~ Luke 17:26

      ..And, I think? everyone knows? we're IN the "Days of Noah" BUT!..

      Ever read the Narrative of the [Days of Noah]..In Reverse?!!! Chapters 6-5-4? To see where we ARE?..IN? the Days of Noah? And how close we actually ARE? to? the Rapture?

      Pretty sure you'll NEVER see things the same again..after this! Loveya!

      Glory be to the Lord! ENJOY! ;)~
      http://tribulationrisingcom.fatcow.com/addendum-4-how-much-time-is-left/#.W1n9F8U-UTo.facebook

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    4. "1. Daniel 8:19. After talking about Antichrist and the Abomination of Desolation and the last three and a half years, the angel says “Look! I am making known to you what will happen in the latter end of the Indignation.” The earlier part is still called the Indignation. According to Strong’s, the word Indignation means “to froth at the mouth with fury”. Thus the whole 7-year period is the Indignation or the wrath of God, not just the last half. The Hebrew word for indignation is the same word for wrath - זעם!

      2. We compared Jesus words in Matthew 16:18, “…I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” with Daniel 7:21 “the same horn was making war against the saints and prevailed against them”, Furthermore, Daniel 12:7 explains that“…when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things will be finished.” Obviously, the gates of hell will prevail against the Tribulation saints, so they cannot be the church. This means the church must be out of the way, but our hearts bleed for what Israel must go through."

      WOW and WOW! One of many reasons I believe we are close is because so many previously hidden revelations in Scripture, that are actually as plain a day, are being unveiled in just the last few years. Those are awesome examples. Thank you for sharing.

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    5. You're so right and so very welcome Gary! I thought you'd like that! LOL!
      Glory be to the Lord! And Meat be to my table! In Jesus Name! LOL! Loveya! ;)~
      [image width="500" height="500" src="https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22141041_1684516991579324_5914434116425041733_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=146de5e32266a3440e516dda92e263ae&oe=5BC89A27"/]
      [youtube width="560" height="315" src="5711vYXBIgc"/]
      Stop by!
      https://www.facebook.com/pg/OfficialNewCreationApparel
      Good Grief! Did I do it right this time?! LOL!

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    6. Good Points Uncle Jimmy!
      Strongs 727 adjectival form of rapture -Harpax a sudden snatching
      Strongs 103 to gather (Hebrew Word Agar)
      Strongs 307 I DRAW UP anibibazo
      --------727 July 27th
      --------103 number of minutes of totality of the blood moon
      --------307 number of days from the Rev 12 sign to July 27th, 2018
      No man knows the day of the hour -But God is giving warning signs that the day is near - Soon and very soon, we are going to see The King - Hallelujah -

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    7. @The Lamb is Victorious 4 Ever ..Love that! Thank you! Loveya!

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  2. I don't quite understand "easy believism." If someone believes the gospel with simple childlike faith they're saved. It may have been easy for them to believe the gospel after the Holy Spirit made the truth plain to them. So, it was easy and they believed.

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    1. @Bernie, yes and amen to that. It's just a label the enemy uses to malign the Gospel and make believers look like lawless people who want an easy way out, but the truth is that the Gospel is "Good News" and it is easy—or perhaps better said, *simple*. It is entirely a work of God and His grace.

      What's hard is dying to self each and every day and practicing holy living, but it's not done to gain salvation, but because we are already saved and are yearning to bless and honor the LORD.

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  3. Easy believism to me is one who thinks they are saved and yet has no relationship with Christ.

    It's a condition of the heart and without the daily relationship and interaction with Christ, how can He know you? Much less you hear His voice? Why is it then that He will say to some, Depart from me for I never knew you?

    The fruits of repentance are a desire to change, an action to change, and seeking Him constantly though we will stumble until perfection.

    After the initial saving repentance there is no need for a second round. As Paul would say... Shall we crucify him again?

    We come to Him initially to be washed and cleansed of sin, but as Christ Jesus showed the disciples (and us also) through His example of washing their feet (John 13:1-17).

    Jesus told Peter this specifically here in this example and parable. That there is no need to wash the body again, only the feet of the believer.

    So why the feet?

    We come to him daily for the cleansing of the day (our feet, that part that still walks the dirt road of the world daily).

    You see it in the Lord's prayer even...

    "Give us this day or daily bread (the Word), and forgive us our trespass as we forgive those who trespass against us..."

    We can not simply pray a little prayer without heart filled meaning, and expect to go back to the sin life without consequences. It's doubtful one is even saved without the fruit of change to show it.

    Surely salvation is a free gift without works, but one must be sincere in both his/her heart as well as with Christ, and seek Him.

    We are often told in the word "Be not deceived", and worse "Do not deceive yourself".

    Only Christ knows the heart, and only Christ can judge on salvation for each person.

    1 Corinthians 3:10-15 makes it abundantly clear that ALL (who call) will stand before Christ at the Bema. Some to rewards, and some without rewards, but ALL will be saved (even if as by fire).

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    1. Some very good and valuable points you make. I definitely believe that a genuine saving faith will most often result in evidential works (at least *some*). However, the Bible prescribes no set number. From God's perspective, we are justified in His sight purely on the basis of *genuine* faith.

      "We can not simply pray a little prayer without heart filled meaning, and expect to go back to the sin life without consequences. It's doubtful one is even saved without the fruit of change to show it."

      Agreed - but of course a simple prayer is all it takes if it's backed by genuine faith in God and the atoning sacrifice and resurrection of His Son.

      I definitely believe (contrary to some preachers of grace) that sinful living in this life will result in discipline for the believer (but of course, not loss of salvation). Once you've been sealed with the Holy Spirit it's a done deal. Just like you can't be "unborn" in the flesh, so to you can't be "unborn" in the Spirit. Once you've been born again (or as some of us are now saying... "CONCEIVED AGAIN") you can't take it back. But those who had some semblance of religion, yet ultimately apostatize and never return were clearly not saved to begin with (never truly believed and were not baptized by the Spirit).

      "Surely salvation is a free gift without works, but one must be sincere in both his/her heart as well as with Christ, and seek Him."

      Amen and amen! Not that we always seek Him perfectly or consistently, but we seek Him in faith.

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    2. I have no disagreement with anything you just said. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough that it does indeed require faith.

      Without Faith (true faith) there is no salvation to begin with. :)

      I should have mentioned that as well.

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    3. Perhaps I also am not really understanding the true definition of Easy Believism as a label either. :D

      Teaches me to put my two cents in...

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    4. Right on. Right on. 👍

      I for one think your 2 cents are quite valuable!

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    5. I hate labels for the most part... Such as "Carnal Christian" which a lot of people use.

      To me there is no such thing as a "Carnal Christian".

      You are either saved or you are not yet saved... (And don't wait too long in the latter state...)

      The term to me degrades the character of the name "Christian" by putting it forth as an Oxymoron.

      It also breeds confusion since when one hears "Christian" they automatically assume "saved", which may not really be the case at all.

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    6. I like all that you said lwjackn and it is a hot button issue today and does need to be addressed - thank you Gary.
      Easy beievism for those who are against free grace label it, think it is a license to continue in living in sin, and those who believe in free grace are continuing to live in sin and think this is okay.
      I agree with Gary there are consequences in this life - God disciplines His children. And, there will be loss of rewards in heaven. He wants us to love Him and serve Him out of our love for Him and His love for us - not because we are trying to be saved or to keep ourselves saved by our self-righteousness, our pride, etc. In the end it is all the works of the flesh. And, what did God say about the works of our flesh? It is as filthly rags.
      It is hard to admit we can't do it, do something, be this or that person - it is out of our hands. It is Christ's work on the cross and nothing that we can do in our flesh.

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    7. @Cathi,

      Agreed! I just want to add one thing to this point:

      "and those who believe in free grace are continuing to live in sin and think this is okay."

      From my experience, this isn't often the case. The most godly, Spirit-filled, gracious, loving, obedient people I know are the ones who most deeply believe in and appreciate free grace.

      The problem is that many of those who teach "grace" to some extent, when you probe them, actually believe in universalism or that there sin doesn't need atonement and "God just accepts anybody." The reason that continue to live in sin is because they actually don't believe the Gospel.

      My point is that we should be careful not to confuse people who genuinely believe in the Gospel and free grace with those who talk incessantly of God's love and acceptance, but don't believe in the Gospel.

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    8. *their sin doesn't need atonement

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    9. "God just accepts everybody." The reason they continue to live in sin is because they actually don't believe the Gospel.

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    10. Yes, Gary that makes sense. I think I was moreso referring to how those who hold a more legalist/works based view criticize those who believe in free grace and accuse them of this or easy believism in having a licen to live in a sinful lifestyle.
      As you pointed out those who talk of God's love and are accepted no matter what, etc. are not believing in the truth of the gospel itself but in a Universalism viewpoint. So, basically it is another gospel (which is no gospel). As those who don't really believe in anything but it is the ecumenical view of we are all God's children and God is love. Right? In the end it does become a matter of the heart that God will judge.

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    11. To anyone interested in a biblically sound and correct explanation of salvation I recommend to listen to Steve Sewell on BLESSED HOPE 2018 YT channel "Born from Above" https://youtu.be/4gbBxj-GIJ4

      He's one of the very few who got it right. You can also take this as a litmus test to prove your own (or someone elses) spiritual condition. If you cannot agree with him, there's very probably sth wrong about your salvation and you perhaps betrayed yourself about it. But if you instantly understand what he says and how he expresses what he means you are a genuine believer and really KNOW your Saviour. Blessings to you!

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  4. I have a problem if any of you would be willing to hear me, perhaps even offer a solution. i'll cut to the chase, i've had a revelation of sorts prior to the solar eclipse of 2017. out of fear, doubt, and desperation i turned to the bible for some kind of answer. i felt something was 'coming', there's a lot more to it such as dreams i had received prior to the eclipse. but simply put i was a major skeptic before any of this had happened, still am to a degree; what i saw in the text of the bible, more-so what i had felt was very interesting to me. revelation 12, and psalms 23. this was months prior to the 'great sign' of 2017 coincidentally (strange isn't it?). an aura of some kind emanated from the text like nothing i had ever felt before (ever, never felt anything like it; from psalms: an aura of peace, even angelic of some kind, that seemed to bring a sense of peace and even fulfillment. from revelation 12: an aura of darkness {sin?} it actually terrified me for some reason. for the first time in my life i actually wholeheartedly feared god and my own death.) i've come to the conclusion that this is one of 2 things. 1. the text is sacred. special to some degree. it's real, very real. 2. it was a hallucination of some kind driven out of fear or something rational and scientifically explainable. out of faith alone, im driven to believe that the experiences i have had are real but there's a problem for me. i have hatred. a lot of hatred, i can't stand the human race, the way we live our lives, the way i feel. i've even come to believe im in love with evil (our sins) drinking, smoking weed, partying, cold-hearted strength and bitter brutality (i've tried being a satanist before) everything about my life hurts and i even think of suicide from time to time wondering if or when he is even going to return; i despise this planet and everything about its nature, from death, suffering, mental illness, gang violence, a lack of unity between people, selfishness. I want to rid myself of these desires and pains but i'm not sure where to turn, i want to feel human again and i feel that's long gone from me now. any advice of where i should turn would be appreciated, my biggest issue? i want to get closer to god but im not sure how to do that, what is the best method of doing so, i want my heart pure again and my mind cleansed of illness; i feel as though there are no good people on this planet. they are all self-centered to such a degree to where i can't even talk to a stranger anymore without weakness and hatred balling up inside me just thinking about it. i wish to be strong in kindness, but i feel as though kindness is weakness to so many now they will take advantage of me or deem me lesser than them, why be like christ when christ-like people are devalued, mocked, and disgraced by so many people today? should i go to church?(i've been baptized before). even if you don't read this or care for it, thanks.

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    1. I can sympathize with a lot of what you're saying.

      In my flesh I'm a despairing cynic at heart. I hate the world. I hate people. I live for pleasure and self. But by the grace of God I'm not what I once was. He has saved me - I believe it.

      Jesus is all I need and he's all you need. It's not a cop out answer, it's the simple truth. He's the answer.

      But be very aware: when I say He's the answer I don't mean He's going to fix your flesh or heal your emotions in this life. He can, but doesn't have to. He WILL fix it all at the resurrection/rapture. But when you finally believe in Him and choose to follow Him He will immediately fix and perfect your spirit. It isn't a profoundly emotional experience. Feelings are real, but not reliable. It is a spiritual and invisible experience that happens when you truly believe that He ransomed you and rose again. That's all it takes - JUST BELIEVE.

      You've heard the Gospel and you know the facts, but the difference between Heaven and hell is 18 inches - the distance between your head and your heart. Believe the truth. Trust in Christ.

      In the meantime, just dive in. I'm not sure where you are in regards to faith - maybe you already believe, but our in a dark place (the "dark night of the soul" as some call it). I've been there.

      Kill your emotions because they don't serve you in any meaningful way. Take up your cross. Get in God's Word.

      Once you understand the Gospel - that you can't earn your way and simply believe that God's incredible love has saved you - then it makes it easier to sacrifice some of those things holding you down (sinful relationships, weed, etc). They are "free will" offerings - not for salvation, but as a gift to God.

      And remember, the DARKNESS IS DARK. Sounds cliche, but the truth is that so many people (believers included) spend so much time meditating on their sin and guilt and trauma and wonder why their life is darkness. The Bible says to think on good things, which can be hard to do if you tend towards cynicism and despair, so it may start out as something you have to actually practice.

      The greatest antidote for the darkness for me is worship. Worshiping God is the only time I'm fully centered and in my right mind.

      Love you and praying for you my friend and if you're comfortable sharing it I'll pray for you by name.

      I made a playlist with 10+ hours of worship (check it out here). I would encourage you to spend some time listening and let the truths in the lyrics wash over you my friend:

      [youtube width="320" height="266" src="nR-N_Oh4uNg"/]

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    2. thank you for the response, i just wanted to hear from the heart of another who is in faith. i don't have much more to add besides the fact i will take what you said to heart and add it to my contemplation, makes me think i may be going about my faith wrongly. my name is Destn by the way.

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    3. @Unknown (Destn)..Guess what Brotha? You're human. LOL! And the Lord DID Say "And I will put ENMITY between thee and the woman, and BETWEEN thy seed and her seed;" So see? It's completely normal! You've been Led, by a Living Book, to the right place..Stick Around!

      And remember this! What we do wrong in this life? Won't matter to our Salvation!..What we Believe in this life? WILL! But! If ya want any Rewards? Ya better get busy! LOL!!!
      ~ Jesus

      Loveya! ;)~

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    4. @Unknown (Destn) ..And your Honesty?, Integrity? and Humility? Have already got ya 3 rewards right there! See how easy it is?! LOL! I'll bet if I looked real hard? I could find a bunch more! Keep up the Great Work!..

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    5. > Unknown ... Check out the "THE WAY OUT AND YOU" section in the last part of the below article. You asked the how of the matter, so I think it will tremendously help in what you're looking for. The other parts of the article may even answer some of to your other questions and struggles. My guess.
      https://endtimesdarknessdescending.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/the-big-picture-the-dragon-trap/

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    6. @Unknown - Quoting you, "i want to get closer to god but im not sure how to do that?"

      I understand that you were baptised. In your heart you know why you did that. You may or may not have felt anything afterwards. You don't have to. It's not what you do. It's what Jesus did!

      I *hear* in you the conflict that roils in all of us at some point in time. The tension between what we were and what we are becoming.

      Through faith we are saved. By Christ's blood we are justified. Meaning, just as if I didn't do it. By faith we are immediately sanctified. Meaning, made holy. But that is a two sided coin.

      We're made holy in an instant in the eyes of G-d because of the finished work of Christ upon the cross. But we're being sanctified, made holy, in an ongoing process that takes time. That process requires work on our part and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Evidence of this process is seen as Christian maturity.

      Quoting you, "i want to get closer to god but im not sure how to do that?"

      You seek Him first and foremost each and every day from the time you open your eyes to the time you retire for sleep. Talk to Him. Share your deepest thoughts. (Good and bad) Your fears. Your hopes.

      Ask Him to teach you how to pray. Ask Him to teach you how to love and how to love Him. Ask Him to connect you with other believers, especially with those who are mature in their faith and can help you in your walk.

      Search for a church. Get connected and start serving off the bat. Don't burn yourself out doing it; just serve as you can and ask the LORD to lead you all the way.

      Always turn to Him. Always make Him FIRST! Always give Him your best knowing that He will love you no matter what. No matter what! Period. Always remember that YOU ARE HIS BELOVED CHILD. NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE THAT!

      Get connected in a small group that reads the Bible, talks about His word and see how you can all impact your community for Christ. Look for guidance from the Holy Spirit through prayer and keeping an open eye and ear for His voice, prompting or nudge. You may not always be ready, but you sure can be present!

      Quoting you, "i want to get closer to god but im not sure how to do that?"

      Put G-d first in your life and seek Him with all your heart. Learn His word and expect Him to move in your life. But you have to be willing to put Him first in all things. This is a relationship based on love...not laws.

      Live accordingly. Love fearlessly and chase after G-d with all your heart.

      Dig on these pin-points in the Bible. I will let you search for them rather than give links. Good exercise for you!

      1. The Greatest Commandment
      2. The Golden Rule
      3. The Great Commission
      4. Jesus' New Commandment

      Trust me when I say, I've felt many of the same things you talk about. We all have thoughts and compulsions. That's normal. We're human. That's sin and it's headed for the grave.

      You've already demonstrated that sin was consigned to the grave in your life through your baptism. Live in that knowledge as it is true. Sin is dead to you! It just doesn't know it yet.

      I'll be praying for you!

      Blessings,


      Pastor Rich

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    7. Hi Unknown

      in addition to what my brothers have noted, the bible says 'resist the devil and he will flee from you'. Focusing on the Word of God, and getting stuck into spiritual warfare has helped (and continues to help) with the daily struggles of like.

      I have noted some specific pages from tacta.com that might address some of your concerns:
      http://tcata.com/breaking-the-chains/suicide/
      http://tcata.com/breaking-the-chains/getting-free-of-demons/
      http://tcata.com/breaking-the-chains/kingdom-of-satan-1/
      http://tcata.com/breaking-the-chains/kingdom-of-satan-2/

      The final page notes a prayer that you can pray to help with your fight against the enemy. Some people ask why we might do spiritual warfare daily instead of just 'once and for all'. We do this to remind ourselves daily who we are fighting against, and like Gods call for us to 'meditate on his law (read word) day and night', so we take up the fight daily against powers and principalities.

      Bless you.

      Ryan

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    8. Unknown,
      The hatred you speak of, could it stem from holding resentments over time? Have you had any experience with the 12 Steps? The Steps will rid you of the poison of resentments and anger. Let me know if I can help you further.

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  5. i may sound crazy, or stupid, sorry. it was what i have legitimately experienced and there is no other way for me to describe it.

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  6. Gary, I think this is the most easily understandable presentation of this topic that you have posted on this website. Great job making these points! I pray that God will draw those reading this message to faith in his blood through the good news of the gospel.

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    1. @Brandon, thank you for the encouragement! I see so much "lawless religion" in society and so much "legalistic religion" in the prophecy-watching community and am trying, by God's grace, to set the record straight.

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    2. Yes, I agree Brandon. Gary has been building on this subject for a while, and this post is sharp, very sharp. Like a two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12-13)!

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  7. Many do not realize that this battle of lost humanity is a much bigger picture and of a wider scope and panorama than what is seen on the gospel surface, even though the gospel itself is easy enough so that all have the opportunity to enter into eternal rest. This battle goes back far into the dim mists of time before the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In fact, one really wonders if it could be labeled a "battle" at all since it was already won before it ever began. But the battle played out nonetheless for a very good reason. Link below.

    THE BIG PICTURE: THE DRAGON TRAP
    https://endtimesdarknessdescending.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/the-big-picture-the-dragon-trap/

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    3. Thank you for sharing that awesome article!

      Btw, Blogger accepts A HREF, so you can make your links clickable if you want to.

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  8. Gary, great post. Right after the Acts insert I had to scan back up and make sure I wasn't reading Hillary. I am reminded of a famous multi-Championship team winning Football coach, Yogi Bara, perhaps, who would start each season's session with the words, "Gentlemen, this, is a football." To so simply and beautifully outline a back-to-basics message, written in fire and blood through the centuries, serves us all well, as well as those still seeking and the memory of those before, Maranatha!

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  9. When I saw the triangle art Gary I couldn't help but remember the article I read earlier by J Vernon McGee on fellowship with God. We have to not only look at Jesus (salvation) but gaze on Jesus (fellowship). How do we have fellowship with God? We walk with God - as a toddler learns to do. By getting up and falling down but you keep on trying no matter the bruises and so on. We walk in the light - and the light is the Word of God. The two points he made are we don't bring God down to our level (dismissing His holiness) nor do we bring ourselves up to His level (deceiving ourselves). So what do we do? We confess (homologeo, we agree with Him) our sins so we can be in fellowship with God because Christ is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is continuous. We go to Him, we talk to Him like we would no other person. We tell him about ourselves, our struggles, sins, feelings about a situation, etc.
    This is what seems to be lacking in those who are legalistic or those who are living a sin-filled life because they do not understand the grace of God.
    In today's message, this liberty we stand in - causes us to love Him and want to please Him - serving Him through the Holy Spirit as He works through us. It isn't our working because we can't do it ... We can't keep the law. Only Christ could fulfill the Law because He was sinless. It is the work of Christ through us. This is what he wants from us so that we will be more like Him and Christ will get the glory. Amen.

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    1. "this liberty we stand in - causes us to love Him and want to please Him - serving Him through the Holy Spirit as He works through us."

      Yes, beautifully said! I touch on that quite a bit here:

      CREATED FOR GOOD WORKS

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    2. :) Wonderful Cathi G! <3

      Relationship, a heart condition.

      Romans 14 - The Law of Liberty and the Law of Love.

      ;)

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    3. And the two extremes that are attacking the Body right now these days...

      Excellent!

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  10. Blood moon lunar eclipse will be 103 minutes long. 103 = to gather, to harvest.

    Watch.

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    1. Some data on the eclipse for Jerusalem as given on Timeanddate.com,



      Jerusalem, Israel
      Total lunar eclipse visible
      Magnitude: 1.6087
      Duration:6 hours, 13 minutes, 51 seconds
      Duration of totality:1 hour, 42 minutes, 56 seconds
      Penumbral begins:27 Jul at 8:14:47 p.m.
      Partial begins:27 Jul at 9:24:27 p.m.
      Full begins:27 Jul at 10:30:15 p.m.
      Maximum:27 Jul at 11:21:44 p.m.
      Full ends:28 Jul at 12:13:11 a.m.
      Partial ends:28 Jul at 1:19:00 a.m.
      Penumbral ends:28 Jul at 2:28:38 a.m.
      Times shown in local time (IDT)

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    2. And as I think someone pointed out on Stephanie's article, today is 7/27.

      Strong's Greek 727: harpax - seizing, a sudden snatching.

      Soon and very soon brothers and sisters!!

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    4. Darn typos!

      Checking Strong's Greek and Hebrew Concordances verses my post above I found the following definitions coming from the brightness and length of the eclipse today (last night):


      Magnitude: 1.60 (I have rounded the value to two decimal places)
      Strong's Greek: 160
      aiphnidios: sudden
      Original Word: αἰφνίδιος, ον
      Part of Speech: Adjective
      Transliteration: aiphnidios
      Phonetic Spelling: (aheef-nid'-ee-os)
      Short Definition: unexpected, sudden
      Definition: unexpected, sudden.

      ...interestingly enough if you look at the decimal value for magnitude alone,

      Magnitude: 1.6087
      Strong's Hebrew: 6087
      atsab: displease
      Original Word: עָצַב
      Part of Speech: Verb
      Transliteration: atsab
      Phonetic Spelling: (aw-tsab')
      Short Definition: displease


      Duration: 6 hours, 13 minutes
      Strong's Greek: 613
      Original Word: ἀποκρύπτω
      Part of Speech: Verb
      Transliteration: apokruptó
      Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ok-roop'-to)
      Short Definition: I hide away, conceal
      Definition: I hide away, conceal, keep secret.

      ...again looking at the minutes and seconds alone for this entry,

      Duration: 6 hours, 13 minutes, 51 seconds
      Strong's Hebrew: 1351
      gaal: to defile
      Original Word: גָּאַל
      Part of Speech: Verb
      Transliteration: gaal
      Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-al')
      Short Definition: defiled


      Duration of totality: 1 hour, 42 minutes
      Strong's Greek: 142
      airó: to raise, take up, lift
      Original Word: αἴρω
      Part of Speech: Verb
      Transliteration: airó
      Phonetic Spelling: (ah'-ee-ro)
      Short Definition: I raise, lift up
      Definition: I raise, lift up, take away, remove.

      ...and again the Hebrew Concordance for the minutes and seconds portion of the value,

      Duration of totality:1 hour, 42 minutes, 56 seconds
      Strong's Hebrew: 4256
      Machaneh-dan: "camp of Dan," a place where the Danites stayed
      Original Word: מַחֲנֵה־דָּן
      Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
      Transliteration: Machaneh-dan
      Phonetic Spelling: (makh-an-ay'-dawn)
      Short Definition: Mahaneh-dan


      Thus Greek words are: sudden, (I hide away, conceal), (to raise, take up, lift)

      Hebrew words are: displease, to defile, (division, course), camp of Dan

      It's interesting that Dan is shown in these figures. Dan is missing from the tribes of the 144,000 which has led some to believe that the AC will come from the Tribe of Dan.

      The scales of justice was their emblem. The same scales symbolised in the heaven being known as the constellation Libra; which just so happens to be the "home" of the king planet Jupiter at the moment!

      The number of the name Dan ("דן") is 54. Remember, Hebrew uses their letters for numbers so letters have a numeric value! "ן" equals 50. "ד" equals 4.

      54 = ד + ן

      Checking my time-line I noted that 54-days prior to Rosh Hashana/Yom Teruah, 5779, (the *birthday* of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ) lands on Thursday, July 19, 2018, the day Israel passed the Nation-State Bill became law.

      I would also note that July 19, 2018 is 300-days after the Great Sign of Revelation 12 on Saturday, September 23, 2017.


      Either you believe that G-d put this eclipse in place as a message to the nations it visited or you don't. If for being a message bearer, this is what I found regarding these pin-points.

      Interesting,

      PR

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    5. Looking at the lunar eclipse using Stellarium to *stand* on the earth facing side of the moon, it looks like earth and sun were in the constellation of Cancer today.

      7/24/18 eclipse seen from the moon

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  11. Gary, TY for focusing on the two biggest 'enemy' directions (legalism = letter of Galatians / lawlessness = letter of Jude) again. I just wanted to add there was a THIRD group in Jesus' time, the ESSENES which separated from both of them in the desert. Interestingly, most of the scriptures they kept and preserved which are today not included in our canonical bibles were discovered after 1947 AD among the Dead Sea scrolls. God preserved books like Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher, Maccabees or 1-2 Baruch for the endtimes generation to which they were especially addressed.

    The Essenes somehow 'vanished' mysteriously after Jesus' resurrection which can only be explained as they had become Christians logically and immersed into this group of true believers and heavenly citizens. They lived apart from both Pharisees and Saducees more than 2,000 years ago already and rebuked both of their teachings "without the camp" - which is in fact just the Christian way of life... Hebrews 13:13 MARANATHA!

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    1. And not only that, but their diligent and tedious work in the desert including preserving the Book of Isaiah, which PROVES that prophecy was fulfilled after it was written and that the Gospel and Jesus are the truth (Isaiah 53!!!).

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    2. Yes right, Gary! But if the book of Isaiah was preserved (which is to be called the "OT Revelations") then shouldn't we also keep an eye to the other books which were removed from our canon but yet the early church fathers referred to them? Regardless from being quoted throughout the canonical bible as a reference by Jesus and the apostles (Enoch, Jasher...). They contain a lot of useful information for the endtimes and very probably were preserved by God for exactly this generation to be recovered.

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    3. I agree that they are worthy of study as long as we take them with a grain of salt.

      There are definitely false books, too:

      Barnabus, Thomas, etc. The Church has always been cautious to differentiate between what is God-breathed and what is deceit.

      Some of the Apocrypha and Enoch *might* be inspired, at least in part. Per the Dead Sea Scrolls, Enoch was written before Christ and seems to prophesy extensively about him.

      Of all those books the two I'm most hesitant about are:

      2 Esdras
      Jasher

      Jasher, especially, because we don't yet have demonstrable evidence it was written before the 16th century... Interesting to study though.

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    4. Gary, the book of Jasher is just so consistent with the Torah that there is no doubt about it to me. I just read through it for the first time. 2Esrdas I don't know yet but 1-2 Baruch certainly is inspired too. You just would have to read them 4urself. Then you do immediately know by the Spirit. Greetings!

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  12. Brothers and Sisters! Prepare yourselves for Eternity! :)

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  13. Wow!! Quite possibly THE best article ever!! This is long overdue and an extreme wake-up call for everyone. I have shared this everywhere I can think of.
    As for you, Destn(unknown), Gary nailed it. In the “flesh,” we are ugly to say the least. I have wrestled with this for years. I knew I was saved but why didn’t I “feel” like I was, why didn’t I talk, think, act like it?
    As many have said here, it comes gradually as you seek a relationship with Jesus. Some people have a complete turnaround but most don’t.
    You are not alone, brother. Most believers fight this battle daily. But, that’s the point. You “pick up your cross daily,” and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you.
    Remember, your “inner man” has been changed forever and nothing/no one can ever take that from you. The flesh will lie to you. If you have truly called upon Jesus to forgive you of your sins and make you His own, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit, permanently.
    Gary, God Bless You for your encouragement.
    Thank you to everyone here, contributors and comments.
    Until the Trump blows!!!

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    1. Thank you for sharing the article! Prophecy articles usually get the most traction and shares, but it's THIS that I most pray will be read.

      Imagine what would happen if the 1 billion+ people on earth, who claim affiliation with Christianity, but don't understand the Gospel, could finally hear the Gospel and believe it!

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    2. Dear Robert, you wrote "...it comes gradually as you seek a relationship with Jesus. Some people have a complete turnaround but most don’t." which I find interesting. Even this: "MOST don't". Hmmm...

      In fact, you cannot be "born again gradually" in the Spirit such as you don't experience this in the flesh. You are born again AT ONCE, on a SINGLE DAY in your life and you will EVER remember it. If you don't recall such a drastic change of world view and a "complete turnaround" you're not born again in the Holy Spirit yet. Just that simple.

      It is like Jesus explains to Nicodemus in John 3: The spiritual birth follows the same pattern as the natural one. It happens SUDDENLY and cannot be somehow "chosen" by man (John 16:16) and it doesn't last a life time to effectuate it just like your mother wasn't processing you to be born all her life and yours but she left the hospital with a new born baby one day. You are born on ONE day specific even if taking you out by c-section and this day is marked in your birth certificate as well. We must not mix up salvation (once) with sanctification (life long process).

      There is one kind of salvation being mentioned in Mark 8:22-25 that seemed to "fail" somehow. But if you read carefully, the blind man was brought to Jesus by others so his heart might not have been made ready to receive salvation at first. This is like many experience it, being "brought to church" by other people (e.g. family, friends...) and then believing they are somehow "saved" when meeting with Jesus and talking to Him but afterwards in life they struggle to not have properly been opened their eyes really. Some that I know here from the internet they report that they have been "awakened" only a very short time and having "submitted" their lives to Christ only recently after having being followed Jesus in church for so long. That is exactly what happened here. But they apparently have not been born again effectively before.

      Blessings to you!

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    3. Excuse me, this was a typing error above, I meant to quote John 15:16 (you cannot "choose" Jesus instead He chooses you!)

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    4. Hi Annabel,
      Yes, when you’re “born again, conceived again,” it is instantaneous, no argument. It is the sanctification process that takes place gradually. I may not have been succinct on that and my apologies if it caused confusion.
      You are correct about salvation and I appeared to get ahead of myself.

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  14. Gary, thank you so much for this article! It puts words to some things that I hadn't exactly been able to explain regarding many who think they should keep the law. I understood in my mind, but couldn't lay it out for others. These words are needed so much at the time we're in now! I'm praying for my estranged in-laws, that they will see the truth. I don't know for certain that they're trusting in their works (keeping Torah), they say 'Christ alone for salvation' but they believe that those not keeping Torah aren't really saved or don't really love God. They're actions speak otherwise regarding other believers, too. I'm praying God will open their eyes. My mom-in-law is the one who lead me to Christ back in '97 before she became a Torah keeper. (Please understand, I'm not saying any of this about ALL people in this group. My family & I were part of it, but the Lord lead us out. From personal experience, I know there are true believers in it.) I'm just praying the Lord will help them and open their eyes. One of the things I want so much to do after I behold the face of the Lover of my soul is to hug my Mom-in-law and have that relationship I can't have here, when HE has made all right between us all. And it may be SO soon! Maranatha!!!

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    1. You're most welcome, and I will pray for your in-laws.

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  15. @Gary, thanks for this post. Your writing is so good and so clear these days that it is ALMOST like scripture. I know it's not scripture, but it sure does seem to be God-breathed!

    Keep up the great work!

    Michael

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    1. Thank you Michael! I'm praying often to share only the truth and that I would be a useful vessel to God - that nothing I teach would have any form of deceit. I pray God will continue to use me.

      Btw, we need to get the group together sooner or later! I mean, September-October is coming up! Perhaps not much time left.

      Blessings.

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    2. First I am very late commenting on this article because I almost let it slip by me with the posting of the Blood Moon article and what a treasure I would have missed. I can't express enough how spot on I believe you are in this regard. This exact point is what Holy Spirit has been showing me for the past 5 years. The professing "church" is most often found off on either side of the Narrow Path in the Ditch on one side of the path or the other. You have perfectly described both of the ditches - Legalism vs Lawlessness. The Legalists cling to the law because they want so very much to retain "control" of their eternal destiny by the things they practice and/or refuse to practice, while decrying those of the True Faith as Greasy Grace followers - for they believe Sole Fide (Faith in Christ Alone) is used as a license to behave any way one chooses. What they are really pointing to, without an awareness, is the other ditch - Lawlessness - those who believe in Universalism (many paths to God, Everyone gets to Heaven, I said a prayer 40 years ago so I'm good). The narrow path is called "narrow" for a reason - Jesus conformed in all points to the law, satisfying the requirement for a sinless one to atone for all our sin. He calls those who follow His teaching to, as you say, ramp up the requirements - don't just not kill your brother - don't be angry. Don't simply abstain from fornication, but don't even look at another than your spouse lustfully. It's ramped-up, but our salvation is not contingent upon our success or lack thereof. Yes, those who have a genuine salvation experience and are growing closer will evidence change in their life - but when it will be evident we don't know and how much will be visible is not our call - Jesus is the only one allowed to sit on the throne of Judgement. That's between the Believer and Holy Spirit. Do we evaluate Fruit? Certainly, my problem comes when we move beyond fruit inspection to decry eternal consequences - None but God! Blessings to All and Thanks Again to Gary for a beautifully, written, spot on dissertation on discerning the Body of Christ - the Narrow Path Bunch. Praying for all Our Narrow Path Brethren and those in the ditches as well! Blessings - Sherry

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    3. Sherry, I couldn't agree more with you on this, perfectly stated! You know, I do meanwhile use this video by Steve Sewell (Blessed Hope 2018) as a "litmus test" of faith to prove if someone has understood his own salvation and really is "Born from Above" (video title). Check it out! https://youtu.be/4gbBxj-GIJ4

      Delete
  16. Just want to thank you for writing this article. It was excellent! The message you presented is so very important to understand, is the Good News of The Gospel itself!

    NONE of us who are of flesh are capable of keeping God's Law. Not the people of Israel, who tried their best to live by God's Law long ago before Jesus came. And not now either, God's Chosen are still incapable of keeping God's Law. The same goes for all of us Gentiles also, then, and now.

    The ONLY "flesh" that COULD and DID keep God's Law... was, is, and will always be Jesus Christ. And THIS is Salvation itself and the Good News of The Gospel! This is WHY God became flesh and came to earth to dwell among us... to REDEEM us BACK unto Himself through the atoning sacrifice of His Holy, Sinless, without spot or fault, and perfect Flesh and Blood that He Himself CHOSE to shed for us on the Cross.

    He CHOSE and WANTED to die for us, loves us THAT much! He loved us that much even after we turned away from Him and broke His Heart when we (Adam and Eve) WANTED and CHOSE to know Satan.

    Ever since, we have "sin" in our very DNA and are INCAPABLE and it is IMPOSSIBLE for us to keep God's Law. Only Jesus could! Only Jesus did! And this is why HE is the ONLY Way to God!

    Because no matter how hard we may try, WE FAIL HIM. All of us do.

    I am SO THANKFUL for Jesus and I LOVE HIM so so much! And this is why I try my best to live as He wants me to. I'm not successful. But I try. Not because by following His Law I will go to Heaven. If that were the case, I, and all of us, would be doomed to eternal separation from God.

    It's just something that naturally happens when one truly knows Jesus and has The Holy Spirit dwelling in them. Even though we are not successful we want SO BADLY to please our Abba! Not to obtain anything for ourselves (such as Salvation which if one believes is obtained by works... just that they are deceived and don't understand Salvation at all).

    We already have Salvation! We already have Jesus!

    The best way to explain, it's like how a small child looks up to his father, wants to do what he sees his father does when he grows up, wants to be just like him. This is the way I feel about Jesus. Even though I know I won't truly be like Him until He changes me and rids me of my sin... I want so badly to be like Him... to please Him... to make Him happy! In the meantime, as I wait for Him, I'm so thankful in knowing that I am forgiven because of what He did for me, and for all of us!

    I LOVE You so much Abba!

    ReplyDelete
  17. My Father was as close to a saint as you anyone could possibly be, and He truly loved the Lord Jesus Christ. He taught holiness and he lived holiness and I would do anything "not to disappoint him". My Mother was a rules, wear your hair shirt and you should get it right, but you probably want person who also loved the Lord. I found myself always defiant with Mother and resentful and having given up before I began because it was hopeless. With Daddy, I simply would do anything not to disappoint him. I did for him because of my love, respect and appreciation for him. He was "MY" type and shadow of Jesus and how we should conduct ourselves to the best of our ability prayerfully. Unknown, you have described this relationship perfectly. We do because we Love. He did because He loves, not out of compunction, fear or necessity. Blessings - Sherry

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    Replies
    1. God Bless you too Sherry! My name is Tiffany.

      Doing because we Love. Exactly right! That is how it is for me too. I don't think about what I'll "get" out of it. Not as far as Heaven. Not even as far as rewards in Heaven. Because my reward IS Him and honestly, that is ALL I want or need. Anything else He gives me I will give right back to Him, lay it right at His Feet. Because... it's not "mine" to begin with. It's His. And I want for Him to have it because He is the ONLY reason I've "earned it" to begin with. I'm pretty sure that is what it will be like in Heaven, and why the 24 elders in Revelation continuously worship and cast all He has given them at His Feet. Nothing about "them". ALL about Him!

      Delete
  18. What a gift you have Gary, thank you for sharing your talent with us.

    ReplyDelete
  19. You and I are free Because we follow the Law.Break the Law and you go to Jail.Are Christians Free?

    ReplyDelete


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