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Are Works and Commandments Necessary for Salvation?



Gospel/atonement-deniers often run to James 2 to say works are necessary for salvation and to 1 John to say obedience to commandments is necessary for salvation. Are they rightly understanding God's word?

Eternal life has always been an unmerited gift, even from Eden. God bestows life out of His love and grace. Adam and Eve didn't earn life, but were given it freely when God made them. They then maintained their status as children of God by not [initially] eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. But as the story goes, they didn't maintain it forever. Eventually they succumbed to the lie and a single infraction brought them spiritual death and separation from God. God would again extend His unmerited grace to rescue them and their faith-bearing descendants by means of the Promised Seed.

As the rest of the Hebrew Bible—what we call the Old Testament—goes to show is that God demands absolute justice. Legalists have never been able to fully comprehend this lesson. "Good enough" and "mostly holy" were never sufficient. Ever. That is the clear teaching of Scripture (e.g., Deut. 6:17–18; 11:1, 11:22–28; 28:14–29:1). Remember this and never forget it: blessings if you obey God's commands and curses if you do not. It's all or nothing. That is the plain teaching of Torah and no matter how much the Pharisees claim to have allegiance to the Law, they always downplay the Law, as pseudo-grace preachers like John MacArthur do here, where he, like virtually all legalists do, downplays the weight of Jesus' words. "Oh, that's just figurative," they say. No! Jesus meant what He said: if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. That's how serious sin is and that's how serious the consequence of sin is.

When the legalist is confronted with a passage like Matthew 5:29–30, he thinks to himself, "how can I ensure that I meet this standard? How can I measure up to this rule for my own self-preservation?" Since he invariably can't, he softens the weight of the words in such a way that he can claim he meets the standard, or, if he can't wiggle out of the predicament, suggests his self-derived penance is a sufficient atonement to bring him back into right standing with God.

The contrite, on the other hand, is bent to the earth by the weight of the words, as he believes the words mean just what they say. The humble of heart doesn't wiggle around the words like a snake, but lies broken in the dust as he accepts the words as is. And it's in that place of broken contrition that grace may be found.

I used to think like the legalist until I found grace. That is to say, until I believed the good news.

And now apart from law the righteousness of God has been revealed, testified to by the Law and the Prophets, and the righteousness of God [is] through the faith of Jesus Christ to all, and on all those believing—for there is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God—being declared righteous freely by His grace through the redemption that [is] in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth [as] a propitiatory covering, through faith in His blood...
- Romans 3:21–25 (LSV)


The Law was a demand of perfect justice, but it was also a system of atonement: offerings and sacrifices, the shedding of blood and the slaughter of animals. This system clearly demonstrated that nothing self-derived could cleanse a person of their wrongdoing. A substitute was in order.

...and with blood almost all things are purified according to the Law, and forgiveness does not come apart from blood-shedding.
- Hebrews 9:22 (LSV)


The Old Testament 1. revealed God's demand of perfect justice, 2. prefigured His allowance of a substitutionary sacrifice in lieu of perfect justice, and 3. proclaimed that all people are hopelessly lost apart from propitiation (Ps. 14:3; 53:1; 143:2; Isa. 64:6–7; cf. Lk. 18:19; Jas. 2:10; 3:2).

If you can understand and accept these three basic precepts of God's word, you are now ready to accept the Bible on its own terms, trusting in the plain sense of Scripture. And most importantly, you are ready to receive and believe the good news of salvation:

And I make known to you, brothers, the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you also received, in which you also have stood, through which you are also being saved, if you hold fast [to] the word—what I proclaimed as good news to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Writings, and that He was buried, and that He has risen on the third day according to the Writings...
- 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 (LSV)


So now we come to the crux of the matter:

Are works necessary for salvation? Yes, if by works you mean to believe in God's Son:

Therefore they said to Him, “What may we do that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you may believe in Him whom He sent.”
- John 6:28–29 (LSV)




Are commandments necessary for salvation? Yes, if by commandments you mean to believe in God's Son:

Beloved, if our heart may not condemn us, we have boldness toward God, and whatever we may ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commands, and we do the things pleasing before Him, and this is His command, that we may believe in the Name of His Son Jesus Christ, and may love one another, even as He gave command to us, and he who is keeping His commands, remains in Him, and He in him; and in this we know that He remains in us, from the Spirit that He gave us.
- 1 Jn. 3:21–24 (LSV)




Is overcoming necessary for salvation? Yes, if by overcoming you mean to believe in God's Son:

...because everyone who is begotten of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcame the world—our faith; who is he who is overcoming the world, if not he who is believing that Jesus is the Son of God?
- 1 John 5:4–5 (LSV)




Works follow salvation. They are not the cause of it. Those who say otherwise are alienated from Christ (Gal. 5:4) and have believed in vain (Gal. 2:21; 1 Cor. 15:2). Don't be deceived.

O thoughtless Galatians, who bewitched you, not to obey the truth—before whose eyes [it] was previously written [about] Jesus Christ having been crucified? I only wish to learn this from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so thoughtless? Having begun in the Spirit, do you now end in the flesh? So many things you suffered in vain! If, indeed, even in vain. He, therefore, who is supplying the Spirit to you and working mighty acts among you—[is it] by works of law or by the hearing of faith? According as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness; know, then, that those of faith—these are sons of Abraham, and the Writing, having foreseen that God declares righteous the nations by faith, foretold the good news to Abraham: “All the nations will be blessed in you”; so that those of faith are blessed with the believing Abraham, for as many as are of works of law are under a curse, for it has been written: “Cursed [is] everyone who is not remaining in all things that have been written in the Scroll of the Law—to do them,” and [it] is evident that in law no one is declared righteous with God, because “The righteous will live by faith”; and the Law is not by faith, rather, “The man who did them will live in them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us, for it has been written: “Cursed is everyone who is hanging on a tree,” that the blessing of Abraham may come to the nations in Christ Jesus, that we may receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
- Galatians 3:1–14 (LSV)




- - -


Further reading:

WHICH JESUS DO YOU FOLLOW?

WHAT IS REPENTANCE?

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

THE LAW

THE GOSPEL: PART 1

THE GOSPEL: PART 2

THE GOSPEL: PART 3

THE GOSPEL: PART 4

THE GOSPEL: PART 5

TWO LANES, ONE ROAD

ATONEMENT: THE DIVIDING LINE

FALLEN FROM GRACE?

THE HEBREW ROOTS MOVEMENT

THE TIGHTROPE OF FAITH

A CLOSER LOOK AT GENESIS 3–4

THE LAWLESS LAW-KEEPERS

STAY ON THE NARROW WAY

THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL

THE STRANGE FIRE OF THE LEGALISTS

WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO NEVER HEAR THE GOSPEL?

WHY IS THE CHURCH DIVIDED?

THE CALLED OUT ONES

ALL ABOUT BAPTISM

CREATED FOR GOOD WORKS

Post A Comment

114 comments:

  1. Glory hallelujah! "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor. 5:21

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    1. The faith-bearers bear His righteousness. Amen.

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    2. Can y'all tell me what "Don't Be a Grape" means? I feel like a dummy;can't figure it out :(
      Thanks!

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    3. Yes (: Don't be a grape is our term for escaping before the Day of the Lord. Don't be one of the many who end up in the winepress of God's wrath (Rev. 19:15).

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  2. Yes, salvation is only by faith in Christ. The death and resurrection of Jesus was God's plan and the only way we could be brought back into relationship with God, because it says in the Old testament that God divorced Israel (which is the name given to all who have faith in God). So Jesus took the punishment of adultery, which is death, for us, so we could become the bride of Christ. In Jude we learn that there were people who crept in to pervert the grace of our Lord, which has been done in the church. Jesus did not abolish the law of God, and Paul says that sin is lawlessness. Read what Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-20.

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    1. Bingo. Jesus did not abolish the law. ***HE*** fulfilled the law. Not you. You can't. No one can but Him. He fulfilled the law on our behalf. Substitution. One for another.

      "I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."

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    2. Leslie Ann- you said Israel is "the name given to all who all who have faith in God". What??? Uhhhmm.
      No it isn't. That's replacement theology which is directly contrary to scripture.

      Israel is unique and distinct from the church.
      The eyes of the "church" are not blinded, but the eyes of Israel are for now- until the Tribulation.
      Conversely- the 7 year Tribulation is for Israel- Not the Church.
      The church did not become a nation in one day and fulfill prophecy in 1948.

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  3. The protestant church, did not fully leave the RC church, by continuing Sunday worship, celebrating RC feast days of Easter and Christmas, instead of looking to Gods whole Word to see what God thinks of such things. God's word clearly states to keep Sabbath (above all! Exodus 31) and His appointed feasts Exodus 12. With a little study, you can find that the Beast in Revelation is the Vatican/papacy.

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  4. The Apostles were the first to meet on Sunday long before the RCC made it a rule.

    Paul in Romans 14:5-6a makes it pretty clear that any day to the Lord is righteous.

    "One person regards a certain day above the others,
    while someone else considers every day alike.

    Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

    He who observes a special day does so to the Lord;"

    I would point out also that the Ten Commandments were given to the Jews, not the Gentiles, and the one about the Sabbath was specific to them to set them apart as a nation to God.
    ___

    Exodus 31:16-17a

    (KJV)

    Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, [for] a perpetual covenant.

    It [is] a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever:

    -
    (NASB)

    So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.'

    It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever;

    -
    (BSB)

    The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it as a lasting covenant for the generations to come.

    It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever;
    _____

    You notice then, that it does not say "to all men", as were the original Noahide laws (not the Talmudic one being foisted on the world now) for all men (which do not include the Sabbath) were before Moses and the Israelite's.

    This reinforces the idea that we are not to invoke the Mosaic Law as Gentiles for one, and as members of the Body of Christ Jesus, who is the Lord of the Sabbath and is now our "rest" in our Age of Grace. He *IS* our Sabbath rest.

    Many try to shoehorn in the idea that because God rested on the 7th day, that it was a Law of God from the beginning in Genesis.

    That is only an assumption, and an incorrect one, or He would have made it clear from the beginning that the Sabbath was to be observed, instead of bringing it up at the time of Moses, specifically to the Israelite's.

    🚫 🍇

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    1. Excellent rebuttal! My "Sabbath" on Sunday is just a shadow of the true Sabbath found in Jesus. Same with the Feasts of the Lord, which are a shadow of Jesus.

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  5. At https://www.severe-weather.eu/space-science/comet-atlas-2020-show-space/:

    "A newly discovered Comet C/2019 Y4 ATLAS has begun to brighten quickly and could become the brightest comet in the past several years!"

    Which prophetic meaning dos this comet have?

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    1. In ancient times, comets that were visible from earth were often viewed as harbingers of disaster or doom. There is one notable comet around the time of the Bar Kokhba rebellion (AD 132-35), where a false messiah arose in Israel (The Jewish Revolt of Bar Kokhba).

      It could be that this comet signals our escape, but it could also represent the rise of the false messiah (a.k.a. the Antichrist). See also the "wandering stars" reference in Jude 13 (unlike the fixed rotation of the planets in our solar system, comets and meteors are rogue agents like those who rebel against the LORD).

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    2. Moin/All,

      I addressed this topic on the request of DW yesterday on Waiting for the Trumpet Blast. Here is a repost on the topic of Comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS); it may be missing hyperlinks given in the original text,

      1. It was first discovered on 12/28/19
      2. 12/28/19 was Rosh Chodesh (a new moon and good night for making observations)
      3. 12/28 was one-day after the Sun occulted Jupiter
      4. 12/28 was two-days after the annular solar eclipse (Riyadh-to-Guam/US)
      5. 12/28 was three-days after Christmas
      6. 12/28 was four-days after Typhoon Phanfone hit the Philippines
      7. 12/28 was eight-days after MP's voted 358-to-234 for BREXIT
      8. 12/28 was M11D2 on the Torah calendar
      9. 12/28 was 30 Kislev-1 Tevet on the civil calendar
      10. 12/28 was Hanukkah VII/Hanukkah VIII on the civil calendar (morning/evening)

      It's interesting that the day of discovery has so many pin-points around it. Even that it falls on the beginning of the end of Hanukkah. The last day as it were or the dawn of the last day (of Hanukkah) which is sunset of the seventh day. Remember, this is on the civil Jewish calendar. The Torah calendar shows this day as "Death of Herod the Great".

      One may have difficulty escaping an eighth day reference.

      Thinking on Jesus, IF you follow that Christ was visited by the Magoi on 12/25/1 BC and that what we would consider Christmas night (Boxing Day) being when Joseph was visited by the angel in a dream to, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." (Matthew 2:13 ESV)

      14 And he [Joseph] rose and took
      the child and his mother by night
      and departed to Egypt.

      (Matthew 2:14 ESV)


      IF, this was by our calendar the night of 12/25 or the pre-dawn of 12/26 then we know about how long of a journey to Egypt lay ahead. (Something on the order of 10-days at minimum). IF this time frame is correct then Joseph would have taken flight for the New Year according to our Gregorian (Gentile) calendar.

      A quick look at the track of Comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) is very interesting. It came out of Cancer near the Beehive Cluster (aka Manger) and may become most visible to the naked eye as it passes through Taurus at or about the Pleiades in late May to early June, 2020. C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) will return about the way it came given its highly parabolic orbit.

      A slight greenish colouration is also know as "pale" as in the pale horse of the fourth seal of (Revelation 6:8 ESV).

      I'm not suggesting that C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) is a sign of the pale horse released; but in late December, 2019 there was a cluster of pneumonia cases emerged from Wuhan caused by a previously unknown virus. The discovery of C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) seems to coincide with the beginning of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

      The Chinese New Year was interrupted by COVID-19. I am NOT the resident expert on the Chinese zodiac but believe that 2019 was the Year of the Pig, the end of their zodiac? This is the Year of the Rat, the beginning of their zodiac? My only point here is that their zodiac suggests an ending of a season or cycle and the beginning of a new season or cycle.

      Looking back to Hanukkah it's funny how there is a parallel of, "beginning of the end". Coincidence perhaps...

      Comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) will be at the ecliptic of our sun on or about 6/1/2020 and be on its way back toward Cancer late in the year around the time of the Great Conjunction (that of Jupiter and Saturn). Jupiter has a 12-year orbital period while Saturn has a 30-year orbital period. About every 20-years they meet. This year they meet on the Winter Solstice (12/21) in SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY THEY MAY APPEAR AS ONE BRIGHT STAR. (A point for further study)

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    3. Comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) may be at peak viewing as it passes the Pleiades around 5/29-5/31. May 29, 2020 is Shavuot (Pentecost) by Torahcalendar.com. Pentecost is Sunday, May 31 per the Gregorian calendar. Friday, May 29 is the Feast of Weeks on the Jewish civil calendar.

      Basically the comet could peak at Omer Day 50.

      So Pentecost is the approximate time that Comet ATLAS may be the brighest, seen by the naked eye, and perhaps has bright as Venus (the bright morning star) -- which about 58-days earlier had been in the same chunk of the sky.

      Looking at Torah calendar this would be about M3D6 or Saturday, May 30, 2020 (3/30/2020). This Sabbath day is called, "Shelach" meaning "send" in Hebrew with Torah readings being, (Numbers 13:1-15:41).

      Given we're tracking the path of a pale (green) comet I cannot help but be reminded of (Revelation 6:7 ESV) that states,

      7 When he opened the fourth
      seal, I heard a voice of the
      fourth living creature say,
      "Come!"


      "Come!" G2064 (Ἔρχου) literally means, "go" or "go forth!" as in the act of being sent.

      Interesting.

      The plot thickens?

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    4. The track of ATLAS is toward the pole star but not as high as Polaris. It will instead fall toward the plane of the ecliptic past the Pleiades and through Taurus then loop back around toward Cancer again but not before reaching what will likely be peak brightness (visibility to the naked eye). ATLAS will then arc across Orion, the hunter (note his bow!) and the Constellation Monoceros (Unicorn) just above Sirius, the brightest star in our sky.

      Hmmm, a *false* bright star perhaps as bright as Venus conjuncting with the brightest star in the heavens?

      Interesting.

      Remember the timing of the appearance of this comet. Corona, which is Latin for crown.

      Star stories as Barry Setterfield puts it. Star stories.

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  6. Always a good reminder! And hopefully the rapture is soon and people left behind will seek this site out and find this excellent teaching.

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  7. These prove that the Torah will never be “done away with”

    Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

    Psalm 89: 34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

    There are many more if you take the time to read. The word of יהוה never changes. And in Deuteronomy 13 clearly says that if a man/prophet comes doing wonders that changes יהוה word (makes you chase after other gods) then it’s a falsity, a test to see if you depart from יהוה ways. This is why the Yahudim (Jews) don’t accept their messiah! Because the people preaching the messiah say that messiah goes against יהוה words which is simply NOT true. The whole bible is truth. There are no contradictions, and if you claim there are then your missing something. In conclusion, psalm 119 (the longest chapter in the scriptures) would not exist if the Torah was just gonna disappear. Please study the words of יהוה, not the interpretations of those words according to man.

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    1. Joshua Patzek - hey brother, Paul talks in so many places about Jesus' fulfillment of the covenants on our behalf. That is why under the old covenant, righteousness came by doing, and nobody but Jesus could achieve this. Thus, under the new covenant, right-standing with God comes by faith in what He did. In His fulfillment of all the law for us, on our behalf, and as us, who have been crucified with Christ and now live in Him.

      You cite Psalm 89:34. By believing in the righteousness of faith, nobody is breaking the covenant. Because Jesus did not break it. He fulfilled it. It is not broken, it still stands. But He has now fulfilled it. That is why He said IT IS FINISHED ❤

      I pray grace and peace to, over and manifesting within you through repentance about/acceptance of this truth.

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    2. Joshua, watch out that you're not fighting with the air. No one here is saying the law is gone. It still stands (Rm. 3:31), but we're not under it anymore (Rm. 6:14).

      Jesus did not abolish the law. ***HE*** fulfilled the law. Not you. You can't. No one can but Him. He fulfilled the law on our behalf. Substitution. One for another.

      The law is ALL or NOTHING. Period. And THAT is the plain counsel of Scripture.

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    3. The other thing to remember is that the law has authority over a man/woman as long as they live (Rom 7:1). But spiritually speaking all true believers DIED with Christ! We are on resurrection/new life ground now! : )

      We actually died to the law so that we could belong to another (Christ - our husband) so that we could actually BEAR FRUIT FOR GOD! (Rom 7:4)

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  8. BINGO!!!

    You nailed it Gary! As you so BRILLIANTLY stated,

    "The contrite, on the other hand, is bent to the earth by the weight of the words, as he believes the words mean just what they say. The humble of heart doesn't wiggle around the words like a snake, but lies broken in the dust as he accepts the words as is. And it's in that place of broken contrition that grace may be found."

    Torah CLEARLY explains this through the prophet in (Isaiah 57). That we are bent earthward in humility is a *work* but only as a love response to the unmerited LOVE of God in Christ Jesus our LORD.

    Wheat bows down under the weight of the fruit it bears. This is how you know it is time for the harvest. Tares are weeds that look like wheat; a crop that farmers have a name for. They call it "cheat".

    Where wheat bows down, cheat stands tall. This is how you tell them apart. The wholly sufficient fruit of the LORD makes us bow down to Him. The carnal insufficient fruit of our own understanding gives us to stand proud.

    Christ is our all-in-all.

    Works are fruit. Twigs are for the fire.

    Thank you, brother,


    PR

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  9. Great article Gary. Helps me to onderstand the issue. This is a hard topic that many don't get. May our hearts find rest in grace alone. And yet we cannot continue in sin and say grace will save us. Just keep your eyes on JESUS and trust in His righteous alone.

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Brother Abel, I'd point you back above. Grace and only grace can save us (through our Lord Jesus Christ, our substitute).

      It's true that we can't continue in the ***specific*** sin of unbelief in Christ's finished work and be saved (Hebrews 10; see here), but outside of that specific sin of unbelief, all of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. All of us sin and continue to sin in the flesh. And that's why we need Christ so badly.

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    3. Gary, appreciate all of your insight and commitment to helping us on our journey. I have learned so much on this site. I understand and accept the only way to salvation is through faith in Christ, and that it is completely impossible for humans to not sin. I would think however, that if a person professed faith in Christ, and continued to knowingly and willingly, let's say commit adultery, thinking or believing his/her faith was a "get out of jail free card" I would propose that person did not really have faith in Christ. To fail (sin) despite sincere faith/love of Christ, and praying for help, doing your best, is one thing. A person running around doing whatever he/she wants belies having professed faith in Christ. Thoughts?

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    4. I hope Gary will chime in, Michael, and in the meantime here are my humble thoughts. If someone truly becomes born again they become a child of God and receive a new nature that cannot sin because it has been born of God. (See John 3 and 1 John 3:9) But they still have the flesh nature until they die. So our job is to walk in the Spirit so we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. However, not everyone walks in the Spirit all the time. But remember, the born -again nature cannot sin. So when a Christian commits sin, it's not the born again nature doing it. It's the child of the flesh nature. And there can be severe consequences in the flesh....God chastens those He loves. Read 1 Cor. 5:1-5 to see what happened to a man caught in sexual sin, and see the result especially in verse 5. If someone continues to live in the flesh they will suffer great loss (1 Cor. 3:9-15). But this has no bearing on their eternal salvation. God bless.

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    5. @Michael, I *may* agree with you here from a certain point of view, but I'd tread very carefully. The simplicity and substitutionary nature of salvation is clear. Genuine faith = saved no matter what. No genuine faith = condemned already. This is the foundation of our faith.

      So let me start where I think I can agree: I would say it's true that there are many, many who are deluded in their claim to trust in Christ. Their lifestyle of unrepentant sin is evidence of this (rotten fruit). Most often though, when I talk with these sorts of people, I find that they don't actually hold to THE faith. They often claim some affiliation with Christianity, but are missing the truth (they actually hold to universalism, progressive "moral example" crucifixion theory, etc, as I discussed in my recent video). As discussed in this article, they can also be those of the legalistic persuasion who establish a standard that they can justify themselves with while neglecting clear teachings from Scripture. Compromises on both the lawless/progressive and the legalistic sides of the continuum can lead one away from the gospel by minimizing or even rejecting the Atonement.

      Where I wouldn't be able to agree is if this were a black and white issue, where those who sin willingly, in say, drug dealing or something, are definitely not saved by virtue of their willful sin.

      The teaching of Scripture is clear: ALL/EVERYONE/WHOSOEVER calls upon the Name of the LORD will be saved (Rm. 10). WHOEVER believes in Him is not condemned (Jn. 3). Trusting [genuinely] in Christ is an eternal escape from the sin penalty of death. It's just that simple.

      So to address this issue, I would approach it from a different angle. Instead of having a blanket verdict that a person who willfully/knowingly sins in a continual way does not have a genuine faith, I would instead state that *if* a person who continually, willfully sins ***does*** have a genuine faith, then they will most certainly be saved. I would point to Scriptures like 1 Cor. 5:5, 1 Cor. 3:11–15, 1 Jn. 1:7–2:2 for clarity.

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    6. The issue of continual sin can often be confusing in how it is approached. Most discussions center around Hebrews 10:26, dissecting the verse from the rest of the chapter. The entire chapter, and most of the book for that matter, are dealing with the specific sin of unbelief in the finished work of Christ. So in a way, those who are teaching that continual sins of the flesh can "un-save" you, or be 100% proof positive of no genuine faith, are missing the central point of the book of Hebrews, which is that the law was a shadow of Christ. The law's sacrificial system involved repeated sacrifices because sins were repeated, but when Christ came, He atoned for sin once and for all. Those trampling the Son of God underfoot (Heb. 10:29) are those who are still trying to be justified by the law instead of resting in the finished work of Christ (Heb. 10:1–18).

      When the specific sin spoken of in Hebrews 10 is not understood (unbelief in Christ), and instead it is interpreted to speak of general sinning, all sorts of confusion arises. After all, much of what we consciously do is "willed" on some level. By this measure virtually every Christian has sinned every day for their entire lives. If general sinning is in view then every Christian would be guilty of continual, willful sin. We can't just speak of the sins of the unchurched like adultery, murder/abortion, homosexuality, theft, etc, but also of the equally-damnable sins that seem ever-present with us: anger, self-righteousness, hypocrisy, deceit, jealousy, impatience, doubt, etc.

      So I'll add a 4th question to the bottom of this article:

      Must a person avoid willful sinning to be saved? Yes, if by willful sinning you mean unbelief in Christ.

      Lastly, just a point of clarity that I discuss in great detail in the article linked at the bottom of this article ("Created for Good Works"), faith alone/grace alone is not opposed to holy living, in fact the only genuine holy living arises when one is resting in Christ alone.

      "However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness." - Romans 4:5

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    7. From personal experience, I'd argue that continuous, willful sin does not disqualify from salvation. Because I've never experienced it! And not become "unsaved". Lost fellowship (feelings of closeness) with God, yes. Hampered prayer? Probably. Lost salvation? Never. Granted, I didn't die, go to Heaven, and prove it, and my stating that I've never lost salvation isn't something others can peer into my soul and agree with my statement of faith, but it's still true. I know nothing but Jesus death washes my sin away. Nothing but the blood of Jesus offers forgiveness. Nothing but faith alone in Christ alone, by God's grace alone. Even when I guiltily slink back to the mud pit of sin, Jesus doesn't let me go.

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    8. Sigh. Second sentence above should read: "Because I've never experienced LOSS of salvation".

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    9. "I know nothing but Jesus death washes my sin away. Nothing but the blood of Jesus offers forgiveness. Nothing but faith alone in Christ alone, by God's grace alone. Even when I guiltily slink back to the mud pit of sin, Jesus doesn't let me go."

      Love that. Amen. NOTHING can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

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    10. So long as we are alive on this earth we are ALL sinners, even those of us who are saved.
      We cannot help it - we ALL sin.
      Every day in a hundred different ways.
      But, we're discussing continuous willful sins:
      We're likely not even aware of all the seeming little things we do which God would consider sinful. They've become so ingrained in our characters or as part of our culture, they we do not necessarily see them as sins.
      (Ephesians 4:26 comes to mind - how often in our anger do we actually go so far as to sin?)
      That's why David in the Psalms asked God to forgive all his hidden faults.
      I like what Jack Kelley at Grace Through Faith said about it:
      We aren't sinners because we sin.
      We sin because we are sinners.
      * * * *
      I'm not making excuses, just being realistic.
      As "good" and perfect as we try to be, we just aren't.
      I know I'm grateful that God's got this "covered" and that I don't have to suffer the eternal consequences for my wrong doing.

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    11. Thank you Hillary, Gary, Sherrill and Jenny. I very much appreciate your thoughtful responses and consideration of my post. Stay safe and may God Bless.

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    12. We aren't sinners because we sin.
      We sin because we are sinners.

      This is so true. I love this.

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  10. If not by grace, what do I have to offer the Lord. Not one thing that isn't tarnished in sin. So I rely on the finished work Christ did on the cross, not my own. Romans 3:24 we all sin, so how do we bridge the gap between us and God, the man Christ JESUS!!!

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  11. Beautifully explained Gary

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  12. AMEN!!!! John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

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  13. It is therefore faith alone which justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is not alone: just as it is the heat alone of the sun which warms the earth, and yet in the sun it is not alone, because it is constantly conjoined with light. John Calvin

    Faith is a living, restless thing. It cannot be inoperative. We are not saved by works; but if there be no works, there must be something amiss with faith. Martin Luther

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    1. Actually, faith without works, though dead and unproductive, is still faith. Saving faith. One may be saved but have no works to show for it. See 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

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    2. The thief on the cross, and the last person to ever believe the Gospel are probably both in this category...

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  15. Enjoyed the study Gary - thanks! Especially the comments on humility/brokenness.

    I was reading Jer 17:9-10 last night and my thought was 'Lord, if the heart is desperately wicked, why are you then searching the heart? What are you looking for? If it is wicked, what 'ways' are you hoping to find?'

    The thought came to read the context... duh! : ) and I saw something which I hadn't seen b4... a lovely poem... from the Lord in Jer 17:5-8. I really like this comparison and it is worth comparing each numbered line below to see the difference for it tells us what God is searching the heart for and what He is hoping to find. The first stanza (if that is what you call it) is human effort, the second God's grace; the first works, the second faith. It applies to salvation and to life... even thru incredibly strange Covid 19 days!

    ------- human effort, works, wilderness, barrenness -------
    1. Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength,
    2. And whose heart turns away from the LORD.
    3. For he will be like a bush in the desert
    4. And will not see when prosperity comes,
    5. But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, A land of salt without inhabitant.

    ------- faith, grace, watered streams, fruitfulness -------
    1. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD
    2. And whose trust is the LORD.
    3. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream
    4. And will not fear when the heat comes;
    5. But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.

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  16. Domino,
    I love that quote from Martin Luther ,
    "Faith is a living, restless thing. It cannot be inoperative. We are not saved by works; but if there be no works, there must be something amiss with faith."

    We are for sure saved by grace. Not something we ourselves can earn. It's a gift. But faith without works is dead. My faith and my awareness of His love drives me to do good works. Not to earn anything. But because I love Jesus and I know He desires that non perish. I work with joy and the freedom that Christ died to give me. I gladly work for Him to bring people to salvation. That's my take on it anyway.
    Blessings!

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  17. After we get saved we are still the same person. The only difference is the gift of holy spirit residing within. 1 Cor 1:27.

    In Romans 12:2 Paul talks about the renewing of our minds. Putting off the old man and putting on the new. Ephesians 4:22-24

    Its a day by day moment by moment conscious free will effort which can be daunting at times, but Gods forgiveness is there waiting when we fail.

    From that point on we work for rewards and will receive them at the bema.

    11 Cor.5:10

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    1. Gary, I would be interested in getting your viewpoint on the bema seat of Christ. I saw an awesome video by Andrew Farley on this topic the other day. His take on it says that a bema seat is usually to dole out punishments.

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  18. John 14:15-17
    15 “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 16 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever. 17 That helper is the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it doesn’t see or know him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be in you."
    * * * *
    After we're saved, we WANT to obey God and do the right thing (works).
    I think the Holy Spirit within prompts and it's up to us to learn to respond in the doing.
    It gets both easier and harder over time.
    Easier to hear the prompting.
    Harder to live with it if we don't listen!
    * * * *
    1 Samuel 15:22
    22 "And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
    Obedience IS better than sacrifice.
    It always costs more to make up for our sins having done so than to have just done it right the first time!
    Lessons learned the HARD way!

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  20. At https://www.raptureready.com/2020/03/25/prophecy-update-rapture-snapback-theory-by-gary-ritter/ "Prophecy Update: Rapture Snapback Theory :: By Gary Ritter":

    "What COVID-19 has also completely shattered is hope of the very near timing of the Rapture. What? That’s silly, you might say. There is no timing to it as it could happen any time. It’s imminent. We even have all the converging signs to assure us of that.

    That’s all true, but…

    What did Jesus say in Matthew 24:37-39 and Luke 17:26-30 about when the Rapture would happen?

    First Matthew:

    “For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

    Then Luke:

    “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”

    Here’s the key to our present dilemma:

    “they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage”

    “buying and selling, planting and building”"

    Very confusing and disappointing, isn't it? Or is what our Lord and Saviour Jesus told about "As in the Days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man" in Matthew 24:37-39 and Luke 17:26-30 about something else than the Rapture? Maybe the Coronavirus itself which came in a time of business as usual, or about a time of business as usual right after the confirmation of a covenant by the antichrist himself?

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  21. I actually read an article that made sense to me.....Watch what happens after this major "birth pang"! People will start Eating, Drinking, Marrying, Giving in Marriage, Buying, Selling, Planting, and Building! They will be relieved and excited and "back to normal"...... Then.....BOOM!! When the birth pangs are hard like this you get a brief relief then the baby is born! Maranatha!

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    1. At https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=nl&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Funravelations.weebly.com%2Fhome%2Fgedeeltelijke-opname-deel-2:

      "This is about the taking up of revenge (Revelation 14: 17-20). Those who are taken away are just finished! Matth. 24: 36-39 gives us the context, the glasses through which we have to read this removal: In Noah's time those who were taken away by the flood (verse 39) were badly off. The word adopted from verse 40/41 has therefore been chosen unhappily, but can be better translated here as taken away. For example, the Greek word paralambano , which we find here twice, is used in Matth. 4: 5 used for Satan taking Jesus, in Matt. 12:45 for demons who take other evil spirits and in Matthew 27:27 for the soldiers who take Jesus. Also Matth. 13:30 tells that the weeds are first collected and burned. Those left behind can then enter Jesus' kingdom. It is also consistent with the earlier verses, where it speaks of the period after the great tribulation (verse 29) and where the angels choose the elect (Israel) from the four cardinal points or corners of the earth to gather the remainder (verse 31). . Note that the dead bodies were taken away earlier by the vultures (verse 28)."

      It's all about the Second Advent itself when the wicked will be taken away from the earth, just like what happened during Noah's Flood.

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  22. Hey Moin, Matthew isnt talking about the Rapture. He's talking about Jesus second coming.

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  24. The fact that people are eating and drinking and marrying doesnt mean anything. Although one third to one half of the worlds population will die during the tribulation there will still be about 3 billion survivors and despite of the turmoil people will be eating and so forth. People interpret this to mean that going to be a great party atmosphere. No, all it means is that life will continue. The events written about in Matt. 24. Is not talking about us!

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    1. But during the Tribulation Period people will have to try to survive due to all these disaster judgments of Revelations (Seal, Trumpet and Bowl judgments).

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  25. Why was my post a few posts ago deleted? Too much truth? What are you afraid of?

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    1. Chill brother. No one deleted any of your comments. Only two people can delete comments: me and you. Don't be quick to jump to accusations.

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    2. Btw, I think I may agree with you about Matthew 24.

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    3. Ok Gary, I obviously didnt send it. Its not important now. God bless.

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    4. In retrospect, I sounded sharp. I apologize for that. I took it as a dig, and I'm sure you didn't intend it that way. (:

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    5. regarding James 2

      A closer observation of James 2 revels to me that James is trying to explain faith and works, together.
      Our definition of faith is belief, which is only half way.
      Faith is an action word.
      Substitute the word works for action and it makes James more understandable.
      Abraham was justified by his action of trust in that God would supply a substitute or in this case an angel stoped his hand on the way down to Isaac's neck!
      So if you want to get Gods attention grab a promise and start Faithing.
      The one that comes to mind is "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse" Malachi 3:10

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    6. Yes, action is necessary for salvation if by "action" you mean God's own action to send His Son as our substitute. But on our end, all that is necessary is faith alone. Pistis ("faith") in the Bible just means to be persuaded of something. In our case, it's to be persuaded that Christ died for our sins and rose again. The gospel of John clearly tells us that belief alone is all that is needed. The legalists like N.T. Wright may argue to the contrary, but belief and faith are synonymous biblical terms. They carry the simple connotation of holding a conviction or persuasion.

      Paul tells us clearly Abraham was justified *when* he believed God. James says it's when Abraham offered up his son Isaac. They are not speaking of the same thing.

      James 2

      https://www.str.org/articles/faith-and-works-paul-vs.-james#.Xn1kPKhKiUk

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    7. I think from James point of view is to let belief continue to its conclusion.
      For by grace are we saved through faith.
      I understand James. let your faith, belief affect you or do something to you.
      The one thing God does not know is the measure of your faith. And He will test it.
      The parable of the sower and only one receives the word rightly.
      When did Abraham believe God, when he completed what God told him to do.
      Im not arguing works, I wanted to understand James view point.

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    8. I read that article and I have to disagree with that assumption also.
      There is no contradiction between Paul and James.
      He is tripped up by "Works".
      The whole chapter 11 in Hebrews, faith examples Paul quotes, and they evolve works(doing something and acting on that belief).
      Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

      A lot of opinions say will say "you gata to this or don't do that".
      After the initial salvation and God puts His substance in you your in Christ. service is evolved.
      Your a new creature in Christ, you grow in the christian Journey.

      "Why do you speak to them in parables?"....Jesus speaking....."For whoever has, to him shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.....because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

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    9. Its a long article....
      https://www.str.org/articles/faith-and-works-paul-vs.-james#.Xn1kPKhKiUk

      One Coin, Two Sides

      James and Paul go together. Like two sides of the same coin, they don't conflict with each other; they complement each other. Both teach us something vital. Paul looks at what goes on internally; James talks about the external results. Paul says, "We're saved by faith." James says, "This is what saving faith looks like."

      Delete
  26. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/mar/26/gordon-brown-calls-for-global-government-to-tackle-coronavirus

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    1. A politician may be calling for a world government, but the Revived Roman Empire of the antichrist will be a regional government, a federation of 10 European nations.

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  27. Love the article, but I still struggle with the concept. It's probably my being raised in a Pentecostal church and being taught that every time I said a bad word, or wore makeup, or went to a school dance, or played cards, or God forbid - mixed bathed, I had to fall on my face and beg for forgiveness. I get the grace by faith concept. And I'm comforted with it. But yet I know so many people who believe and consider and profess themselves as Christians - yet live in sin. Drugs. Drunkenness. Sexually permiscuous. And I can't get past scriptures like 1 Cor 6:9-11, Rev 21:8, Heb 13:4, Eph 5:5. There's many more like those regarding those who will not inherit the kingdom of God.

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    1. Hi Deckabee!

      1 Corinthians 15:56 says that the strength of sin is the law. So when churches preach the law - do this, don't do this, they are empowering people to sin!

      But when churches preach Paul's gospel that IT IS FINISHED, the worshippers once cleansed have no more consciousness of sins (Hebrews 10:2) and this empowers them to not want to sin and the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses (Romans 8:26) and even if we do sin, Romans 8:1. We are aquitted.

      Also "inheriting the Kingdom of God" refers to walking in the authority and power of the Spirit on earth, miracles, signs and wonders like the apostles did. It's impossible to walk in bondage and exercise spiritual power on earth.

      There are some good books by Joseph Prince, Destined To Reign, The Power Of Right Believing, Grace Revolution, Unmerited Favor - they pretty much just recapitulate what Paul has written and they are awesome.

      Grace and peace to you!

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    2. I tend to look closely at the 'if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved'.

      'False converts' - have the head knowledge and are willing to 'confess with their mouth', but don't have genuine belief in their hearts. If they did, they would be willing to choose to give us sinful lifestyles and be willing to confess to God when they do sin.

      The problem is that human beings can 'hear the words', but only God knows what is truly believed in ones heart.

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    3. Hey Zeal Life! How are you brother? If you examine 1 John 1:9 you will find that it was written in subjunctive mood - because John was speaking to people who did not believe in thr concept of sin.

      If you look at the word "sin" it refers to a singular, a sin condition, not "sins" that occur over and over again.

      If you look at the word "confess", that is in aorist or past-perfect tense.

      In other words, at the moment of salvation one confesses once their sin condition and He is faithful and just to forgive the confesser of all (past present and future) sins.

      Look at Hebrews 10 talking about once and for all atonement under grace vs yearly confession of sin under law (catholics think they have to do it weekly and even some protestants think daily...or hourly...or every second).

      Continual confession of sin is penance which is a false catholic doctrine that says you must confess as a work to be saved. Repentance is not penance. Repentance means to change your mind.

      Take a look and see, examine the grammar there for yourself.

      God bless, I appreciate you brother!

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    5. Hi Steve,
      Amen to that, I did a video with the same conclusion, that 1 John 1:9 was a call to action to unbelievers to fess up that they were sinners in need of salvation, and if they did, God would cleanse them from ALL unrighteousness.

      Here is the link to the video if anyone is interested:

      YTC: Jordan Clarke
      TITLE: IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS - UNDERSTANDING 1ST JOHN 1:9
      LINK: https://youtu.be/qka8tPzU3_I

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  28. Gary/PR, or whoever else would like to throw in their two cents on this topic:

    Who gets raptured? Is it all of the born-again Christians, or only those who are found watchful, worthy, and matured in the Lord(overcomers)?


    If it is all born-again, then what about the backslidden, newly-born babes in the Lord, Christians still living in sin, etc? What if at the timing of the rapture, Christians are sinning, e.g., drinking, fighting, sexually immoral - would they still be raptured?

    Contrary to everyone being raptured just because they are born -again, and overcoming due to their faith, there are passages such as:

    - Paul referred to the out-resurrection or (extra)resurrection in Philippians 3:11, implying there may be something reserved for overcoming Christians?

    - What about the 5 foolish virgins vs 5 wise virgins? Didn't the 5 wise virgins pay the price to 'gain more Holy Spirit'?

    - What about the parable of the wedding feast? Those who did not wear the proper garments were eventually cast out to the outer darkness.

    - To be kept out of the hour of trial in revelation was only for the church in Thyatira, and to those who overcome specifically.

    So, who are "qualified" for the rapture?

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    1. Let me be frank. "Christians still living in sin" is YOU. Nothing good dwells in us, that is, in our sinful nature (Rm. 7:18).

      Abortion, alcoholism, drugs, etc, are horrible sins. But the sins that you and I, and every Christian here, struggles with are equally horrible sins: anger, malice, gossip, self-righteousness, impatience, judgmentalism, racism, etc, etc, etc.

      There's nowhere for you or I to run, but to Christ. Period. End of story.

      The Bible itself tells us how one overcomes, and it isn't by not sinning (because no one alive can *not* sin). Overcoming is believing in the Son of God. Please read the bottom of this article again where I specifically address this question with Scripture.

      Blessings to you.

      To be 100% crystal clear: I am not promoting sin. I am promoting understanding correctly how one becomes holy, and it isn't by tryting really hard, praying up, going to church, or avoiding alcohol. Becoming holy is an external act of God's grace upon the one who trusts in CHRIST FOR SALVATION. Christ is the holy one. We are only holy because He is.

      You MUST accept the Atonement to be saved.

      You MUST receive Christ's righteousness to be righteous.

      Live a holy life, yes. But don't think that's *how* you get saved. It isn't. You can never be holy enough. We all stumble in many ways (says James). The Law is ALL or NOTHING.

      As for who will be raptured: it's all who are justified. Those who are justified are those who believe in God's Son. Many who CLAIM to believe in God's Son do not believe in Him. Many of these false claimants actually trust in themselves (legalists) or do not believe trust in Christ is necessary (the lawless, progressive Christianity, universalists, etc).

      Blessings.

      P.S. works flow OUT OF salvation. They do not CAUSE salvation.

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    2. As Gary said, "The Law is ALL or NOTHING."

      This was my earliest revelation of G-D and continues to be. In my body of fallen flesh and sin I cannot, and never will, be "good enough" to be in the presence of Almighty G-D. Never! Never, if by my own *strength* no matter what I have done to be good enough and following the Law.

      What *strength* do I have? If my strength is anything more than total, utter and complete weakness? (Then I have nothing). The only strength that matters is Christ in me.

      Remember, break the Law once it's as though you break it with every beat of your heart. "The Law is ALL or NOTHING."

      This is how I came to understand G-D -- like a digital function. If I respond to Him with my "Yes!" then that "Yes!" should be a daily expression. Is it really a daily expression? Sadly, no. I stumble, I fall, I fail. Am I left behind for all of this failing?

      No.

      I am adored as a mother adores her son or daughter. I am loved as a father loves his son or daughter because they are his. Even when any of my sons displease me, still I love them -- I have mercy and grace for them. I will correct them and walk with them through the consequence of their failures yet still love them.

      I will not forsake them because He does not forsake us -- those of us who love Him; and though we fall, we may return to Him through His mercy and grace.

      By our repentance we receive forgiveness and grace for Love's sake.

      Broken we are no matter how many times we try to put ourselves together. Creator Messiah builds us anew in a shape and form pleasing to Him. Our "Yes!" is our standing before the LORD to accept His water (Spirit) laden hands as He forms and shapes us upon the wheel.

      (Jeremiah 18:1-4 ESV)


      Fully committed and loving relationships are not based upon rules -- they are wholly based upon Love. A Love that is patient and kind; a Love that does not boast; a Love that is not arrogant or rude. A Love that does not insist on its own way; a Love that is not irritable or resentful; a love that does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. A Love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things.

      God's Love never ends no matter how much we fail.

      This kind of Love transcends rules. This kind of Love is a Law of it's own; holy and true without question.

      May we marvel at the Power displayed upon the cross. Let us not underestimate the LOVE that crawled in the dust to be nailed to it. Let us not diminish the priceless measure of every drop of the Saviour's blood that coursed out of the body of Christ for you and me.

      HE IS OUR PERFECT AND SPOTLESS LAMB. HOLY, RIGHTEOUS AND TRUE.

      Freely He gives and freely we MUST receive each and every day. The work(s) of us flow out of salvation (JESUS) as we surrender to His Loving and merciful grace. Thus it is for us to say,

      "Father, I believe in the Christ that you have sent. I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and that You raised Him from the dead."

      This is the crux of (John 6:29) and (Romans 10:9-10). This is the work of God given us daily to perform in spirit and deed. To accept the atonement Christ gives us. To receive His righteousness that we may be righteous.

      It is an all or nothing and has nothing to do with what we have or have not done save giving God our, "Yes!"

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    3. Senior Priorities, your questions make me think of Ephesians 1:13-14.

      "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory."

      If I sin on Thursday will I be "unsealed", but if I confess my sin on Friday will the Holy Spirit "re-seal" me? Am I fully saved one moment, but partially saved the next...but then fully resaved again...on and on each day, regaining and losing again the gift of salvation (and a place in the Rapture?) Not at all! (as Paul would say)

      We are guaranteed our inheritance "when we believed". To me, it's like a contract we've made with God. Once we "sign on the dotted line", we can't get out of it - we are sealed. That's a contract only God can break. 

      So being backslidden, still living in sin, etc. is meaningless when it comes to being raptured. Christ is coming back for His bride and anyone who is sealed is a member of that group. We are now his possession. He will leave none of his possession behind for the coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 2:16)

      A careful study of the passages you mentioned shows they are comparing those who have accepted the free gift of salvation through Christ Jesus to those who have not.

      Hope that helps!

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  29. It isnt difficult to get saved, God makes it very easy in fact. It is my personal belief that there are many people who will participate in the Rapture and not even know it and in contrast there will be outwardly seemingly religious people who will not. I think I got saved as a kid in Sunday school but as I got older I got involved with drugs but eventually reconnected with the Lord, but even if I didnt I would still be saved.

    Just as an earthly father cannot really disown a son, neither can God disown us. No matter how badly I disappointed my earthly dad I was still his son.

    If you believe and do Romans 10:9,10 that is all it takes to get saved. And no, you cannot lose your salvation because its incorruptible seed. 1 Peter 1:23.

    And a person doesnt even have to believe it for any specific length of time. All it takes is a second for the holy spirit to get in there.

    Thats my 2 God bless

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    1. Bingo. THAT is the good news. Christ died for our sins and rose again.

      Christian legalists DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS.

      Progressive "atonement isn't necessary" and/or all paths lead to God-type Christians DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS.

      Christ is the ONLY way.

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    2. The Laver.

      And, what is the Laver? Christ, the revelation of God’s will. The gold. Gold is the symbol of spirituality, always, as brass is the symbol of judgment and silver symbolizes redemption. You go to the Laver, and there is only one measure, God. He has revealed his word, and the culmination of that word is Christ. You bring yourself to that Laver, and standing along side Christ, you let it measure you, not a fellow Christian or priest.

      But, there is water in the Laver. A fount of flowing water. Well, who does the cleansing? You do, by dipping your hands in the water. What’s the water? Peter, Paul, and even James says the water is the Holy Spirit.

      No prophecy of scripture is for private interpretation. How do you get the Holy Spirit in you to do the washing? Faith! Simple as that!

      Well, I don’t know how to put my hands in the water. God gave you the formula. Faith and he puts his spirit in you, and puts you in Christ!

      Only one way you get the water to wash in regeneration. Having seen the spots in the word of truth! It’s a dry rub if you try to cleanse yourself. If you want the water to wash you, you no longer go to a
      place. You Faith. Paul said it to the Galatians. Receive you the spirit, by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Effort won’t get it. As in the Old Testament, it was simple, plunge your hands into the water. In the New Testament, start Faithing!

      Delete
  30. Yesterday on Thursday March the 26th the prime ministers of the Eurozone had a video conference about taking financial measures to tackle the ongoing Coronacrisis in the EU. The southern nations of the Eurozone (Italy, Spain, France) want Eurobonds and money from the ESM (European Stability Mechanism), but The Netherlands and Germany don't want this. See https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52058742 "Coronavirus: Can EU get a grip on crisis?".

    Will this dispute between Italy and the northern Eurozone members cause the Eurozone and the EU to break apart, after which the antichrist's Revived Roman Empire, consisting of 10 European nations, will be formed? Italy is able to exit the current EU.

    ReplyDelete
  31. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." -Titus 3:5

    ReplyDelete
  32. I don't know who needs to hear this, but I feel like I need to share this. I haven't written a comment on this site for some time. I know I must share this.

    God spoke to me when I was 6 years old way back in 1996. I can still remember that day, I remember telling my parents I had something to say and my mom started to write this down.

    Jesus gave me this cup of water, Halle halle-lujah.
    Jesus gave me his cup of water, he gave it to me and you.
    I'm going to share this with you and me

    Jesus Christ gave it to you and me,
    Jesus Christ gave the Holy Spirt to you and me.

    Hallelujah from the Holy Spirit
    Hallelujah from the Holy Spirt
    Halle-Halle-Hallelujah
    Spirit of God moms, dads, brothers, and sisters
    Share this cup of water for you and me
    from God, from Spirit, from Holy God

    Jesus Christ past through times and gave me this cup of water
    He died for sins, for Christ we will be saved.
    For bad people, from Christ he will always save us through mysteries
    Jesus will give the Angels to protect you through the mysteries

    Joy to the world, through past times

    It looks like the a Bible in my mind
    I can see it, I am reading it. My mind is moving for I can see
    it's writing it down for me.
    My mind is open for God. Its writing it down, it's in my mind
    Thank you Jesus for this Bible in my mind.

    The Bible is closed for now.
    What time is it?

    My late grandfather was a pastor, the versus that coincide with what I spoke are Isa 51:17, Palms 116:13 and 1 Corinthians 11:25

    ReplyDelete
  33. Do you also think that the ongoing Coronacrisis is a major distraction from what is happening in the Middle-East now? Israel can attack Iran's nuclear facilities very easy now, now the whole world is in war against the Coronavirus.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Moin - Israel are so thoroughly incapacitated at the moment, that there is no way they are going to 'fire the first shot'. Iran on the other hand with its 12th imam beliefs call for Iran to cause chaos to bring on its own 'messiah'. If they attacked Israel however, Israel would have no qualms about hitting them hard. Blessings brother. Ryan

      Delete
    2. See https://eschatologytoday.blogspot.com/2020/03/global-sitrep-b2-20-rumors-of-war.html "Global SITREP B2-20: Rumors of War":

      "26 March 2020: There are indications that hostilities against Iran may be in advanced planning stages. These indications began to coalesce following the Iranian Shi'a militia proxy (PMF) made another attempt to attack the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad this morning with rockets. The rockets fell short, but were on a definitive trajectory to strike the Embassy."

      Delete
    3. I think the CV has set the stage for a vast number of possibilities, and that’s what makes it so potentially prophetic. The CV functions like a huge reset button. The mass psychology of entire populations have been affected in ways few people could have imagined only a few months ago, and that same reset could apply as well to militaries and other government functions. Entirely new potentials have arisen, whether or not they pertain to the virus itself. We’re in uncharted territory, and that fits perfectly with the prophetic calendar.

      DW

      Delete
    4. I think that the Coronacrisis will lead to the formation of the antichrist's Revived Roman Empire which will consist of 10 European nations.

      Delete
    5. Daniel reveals the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. Whereas thou sawest iron mixed with clay, they shall mingle, and in the days of these kings. A mixture of kingdoms, some strong as iron, like the Romans, others weakly united, shall be formed is an out growth of the Roman portion of the
      Moslem Empire, Revelation 17's seventh Empire. Wherever this iron kingdom spreads it's influence, and whatever part of the Moslem Empire that the Roman kingdom had
      spread to, out of that territory, will come a ten toed kingdom, a confederacy of kings, and here's the important line, IN THE DAYS OF THESE KINGS the confederacy of ten, shall the God of heaven, set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed.

      Delete
  34. In prayer,

    Father, thank you for the priceless gift we have in Christ Jesus our Lord.

    Thank you that He came for the humble, the broken hearted, the meek, the poor, the sick and the least of these – to rescue us from ourselves, you came here Lord to die. Thank you Lord for humbling yourself that you would come for the likes of us – fallen, failing yet not forgotten. You bore the cross upon your beaten back. You carried the weight of the world as you carried the burdensome beam upon your whipped and bloody shoulders. Around the cross you wrapped your arms and carried it to the place you made to pay for every fault and failing we have ever made. Thank you that you crawled upon that cross to bear the stigma that is my own. You became sin that I would suffer sin no more! The LOVE on display is too, too much to conceive! Your power and your might withheld that we receive – the LOVE you have for each of us who give you our “Yes!” The LOVE that declares, “Child you are so blessed!” To receive forgiveness and His righteousness.

    And for all of this all one can do is pray. To receive forgiveness and come Home to stay.

    ReplyDelete
  35. https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/147714/unity-government-formed-netanyahu-stays-in-charge-for-a-half-term/
    Unity Government Formed: Netanyahu Stays in Charge…For a Half Term

    ReplyDelete
  36. Gary, thank you for addressing this issue. I am in the Once Saved Always Camp. Truly, it is the only place to land if one takes the clear, literal, meaning of Scripture. The waters get muddied when we incomplete humans try to reconcile passages that apparently contradict each other without considering context, audience, Scripture as a whole. The only criterion for salvation is faith/belief in Christ as the atonement for our sin. There are Christians whom I respect that consider OSAS a false doctrine, designed to lead the complacent/non-spiritually productive/works bereft "believers" astray--straight to hell. The crux of the issue, ofc, is initial belief: was there "ever" a genuine belief that Jesus is who He says He is, and did He accomplish what Scripture says He does? If so, that one is saved. We cannot undo the "work" of the Holy Spirit. I once heard someone say "once we are born, we can't crawl back into the womb and be unborn." Are we all sinners yet, absolutely. Are some sinning more grievously (according to our calculations), yes. Did Jesus take all of our sin on the Cross. Yes. Case closed. Humans simply cannot get past wanting to "earn" something, I think this resides in our pride nature. No work of ours can earn God's favor/love/forgiveness/salvation. His judgments are absolute; it is all or nothing. I don't say that this issue is not a difficult one for us. I have a son, who claims he "accepted Jesus in his heart" when he was younger, who is living in homosexuality--going on 25+ years now. Trust me, I know the struggle with the deliberate sin vs belief only for salvation issue. Nevertheless, I land with Scripture: IF he ever TRULY BELIEVED, and that is the only thing that counts, then, as much as it grates against all that is holy in us, he is saved. Am I still concerned, you 'betcha. In the end, I like what C.S. Lewis says: he believes when we get to heaven there will be some surprises, some we didn't expect will be there, and some we did won't. GOD is the One who knows each heart, that's why we are not to judge. Admonish/encourage/call to righteous living, absolutely!

    Senior Priorities, may I refer you to Jack Kelley's website gracethrufaith.com, for excellent teaching on the issues you raised: the parables of the virgins, and the wedding feast guests. Context, and especially audience, must determine how we interpret scripture that is not in the straightforward literal category. I find his teachings resolve many questions and give me peace. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  37. For all you history buffs, I am trying to see how much alignment there is between the two major pandemic events of the last hundred years and the 'division of israel';
    - we know this current pandemic started very soon after Trump signed the historic 'peace deal'. Considering the covid-19 is not restricted to the USA alone compared to previous catastrophes which have befallen the USA when presidents attempted to 'divide' the land of Israel, this current peace deal is either 'it' or serious enough in its intent to wreck the entire worlds economy.
    - however what we don't fully know, is if the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 was purposefully put in place (or permitted) by God as a result of the balfour declaration.

    Some timelines to consider:
    - 2nd November 1917 - the balfour letter was drafted and sent by James Balfour
    - January 1918 - the Spanish Flu started
    - 1919 sometime, the mandate of balfour was agreed in the Versailles Treaty
    - Spanish flu 'finished' its run December 1920
    - full declaration was signed in 1922

    Anyway - while the mandate was certainly God's doing, the fact that the land apportioned to Israel was minuscule compared to biblical expectations, can we hand on heart say that Britain was indeed 'dividing the land' and therefore the spanish flu was Gods judgement on the world as a result??

    interested in peoples opinions on this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As catastrophic as the Spanish flu was a century ago, they were without the advent of the Great Sign. I believe that the R12S is the quantitative difference between now and then -- a mile marker as it were telling us of an exit to come.

      Delete
    2. Agree PR - and it was without Israel being fully back in its land. More ongoing evidence however that these things are not coincidental and more evidence against those who refuse to repent.

      Very quiet in our lock-down here in NZ, but the media praise towards our PM 'in she we trust' is almost idolatry. Smooth talk and flattering lips she is heading our countries moment of deception.

      Hope you are going well.

      Delete
    3. My thing in 2017 was the convergence of all of these things. Not only the Revelation 12 sign but the great american solar eclipse, the hurricanes all together with the fact that Israel found herself in an Ezekiel 38 kind of situation and not just a Psalm 83 situation.

      That along with the numerous signs we are seeing now, with Event 201 followed by and closely connected to ID2020.

      There is just so much. It has not only been an awakening but a quickening and an empowering.

      His arrival approaches swiftly.

      Delete
    4. I think you may have something there! 

      I've never put the Spanish Flu and the Balfour together like that. I have a slightly different take on it, though. What if the Flu was caused by our "enemy"? Suddenly an action is taken that makes it possible for God's Chosen People to return to their promised land...It's almost as if the devil was taken by surprise and lashes out with a vicious killing virus.

      What makes me think this is I've often thought the world was stirred up to WW2 by our "enemy" as a way to try to derail the Israelites from coming back into their promised land. I am convinced he figured out (from the Bible - I'm sure he's studied it over the ages) when they would be restored, knew that time was swiftly approaching and tried to exterminate them first. 

      Delete
    5. Sevy - Hmmmm, the enemy tries to stop Israel from obtaining its promised land...possibly the same enemy trying to stop the Church from being fruitful as we prepare to move to our 'promised land'. Both WW1 and WW2 were within a couple of years of balfour and Israel becoming a nation...WW3 just around the corner!

      p.s. auto-correct an utterly useless tool when trying to type your name! Would have been embarrassing if not for a quick preview!

      Delete
    6. Zeal Life, your autocorrect comment made me laugh. I catch your drift, as we say.

      Delete
  38. Its been awhile since ive read it but if I remember it correctly the original land mass God promised Abraham was a vast area extending from the Euphrates to the Nile and far north into Syria.

    This is actually the area that will be ruled by the personal presence of the King and the resurrected O.T. saints (fulfilling Gods promise/covenant with Abraham) with Jewish tribulation survivors during the 1000 yr. reign.

    ReplyDelete
  39. At https://www.raptureready.com/2020/03/27/be-careful-covid19-watchers-through-a-glass-darkly-by-joe-southerland

    "Be Careful-COVID19: Watchers through a Glass, Darkly :: By Joe Southerland

    “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

    We are living in uncharted times. For the first time in a generation, things throughout the entire world are in turmoil. Because of the corona virus, COVID19, things have suddenly become unpredictable and uncertain…and a little scary. Things seem out of control. Does anyone know what is going on? Does anyone know what will happen tomorrow? Our once fairly predictable future has now become blurred as if a veil has been placed before us, clouded with uncertainty."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually its pretty darn predictable.
      http://www.free-energy-devices.com/HealthScare.pdf
      down further the first video link, clickit.

      Delete
  40. I agree, it is a bit scary. No one alive except for some rare individuals over a hundred years old has seen this. And even then its doubtful they remember very much. (Spanish flu)

    I keep going back and forth as to whether this pandemic was overreacted to or not. We were already deeply in debt, a debt which will never be repaid. And now its up around 25 trillion.

    I dont think i'll decide that until it runs its course. Politically the democrats see a huge opportunity here. Massive gov't spending and dependency.

    ReplyDelete
  41. It’s more than “just the virus”, it’s the uniquely complex and interconnected state of the world. A correlation with 1918 doesn’t fit, regardless of eventual severity. And the debt load previously mentioned is one more major factor affecting every nation.

    Setting aside for the moment, anything related to “one world government”, our patchwork of currencies and monetary systems were designed more for the 19th century, than today. In terms of pure analysis, it’s “creaky”, and ready for thorough overhaul. Our current crisis WILL drive that condition beyond a point that’s solvable through practical measures. So either way, we’ve reached a turning point. Then add biblical view, prophecy, and stir.

    DW

    ReplyDelete
  42. These are simply amazing times as they unfold. Talk about faith building for believers...but unfortunately fear and confusion for the masses. These masses will be so receiving of the gospel as the next few years unfold. I am so trying to fulfill my destiny that I feel I am called for.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Your righteousness must be greater than the scribes or Pharisees. Jesus said (Matt 5:19) that lawbreakers “will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them (the commandments of the law) will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
    Did Jesus Reject the Old Law?

    The Apostle to the gentiles, St Paul, instructed us to follow traditions and "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Phil 2:15

    1 Cor 11:2 "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you."

    2 Thes 2:15 "Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours."

    2 Thes 3:6 "We instruct you, brothers, in the name of [our] Lord Jesus Christ, to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us."

    Indulgences are Biblical

    Peter and the Papacy

    ReplyDelete
  44. Are Works and Commandments Necessary for Salvation?

    Yes, an actionable work of belief Romans 10:10.

    On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
    Matthew 22:37.
    Matthew 22:39.

    We don't have the capacity to do these two commandments.
    But He gives us the capacity to start winning the battle
    that rages inside or what Paul say's is trench warfare.

    For by Grace are we saved through Faith.

    ReplyDelete


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