"The same grace that saved us, keeps us saved." Nick Bevilacqua
We cannot earn salvation by our works, nor can we keep that salvation or lose it by our works.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Keeping the Peace or Making the Peace
Peace Keepers never solve anything, however a Peace Makers is one who works to resolve a problem by confronting it, discussing it and coming up with truth.
Peace Keepers never resolve anything, they just smile sweetly going on to accept all sin as though nothing is wrong, making everyone happy in the process.
The Peace Maker, tend to make people angry and unhappy, but it isn't because they are trying to upset people, it is because those who hear the solutions according to the principles of God, refuse to listen, fearing they might have to confess sin, ask forgiveness and demonstrate a willingness to change behavior.
Yep, the peace keeper runs from conflict to save themselves, while the peace maker faces conflict to resolve it.
Peace Keepers never resolve anything, they just smile sweetly going on to accept all sin as though nothing is wrong, making everyone happy in the process.
The Peace Maker, tend to make people angry and unhappy, but it isn't because they are trying to upset people, it is because those who hear the solutions according to the principles of God, refuse to listen, fearing they might have to confess sin, ask forgiveness and demonstrate a willingness to change behavior.
Yep, the peace keeper runs from conflict to save themselves, while the peace maker faces conflict to resolve it.
From Slaver to Born Again Believer
John Newton: the man who transported 20,000 slaves to the United States, remembering the anguish he caused them, laments what he did, as he also rejoices in the grace of God toward him when he became born again.
His quote:
"I am not what I ought to be — ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be — I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good!"
I am not what I hope to be — soon, soon shall I put off mortality, and with mortality all sin and imperfection.
Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was; a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle, and acknowledge, "By the grace of God I am what I am."
The song he wrote in response to the grace of God that led him out of the slavery trade and into Christ, reflects his gratefulness:
Amazing Grace, written by John Newton and sung by nearly every Christian;
"Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!
Thro' many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be forever mine."
His quote:
"I am not what I ought to be — ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be — I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good!"
I am not what I hope to be — soon, soon shall I put off mortality, and with mortality all sin and imperfection.
Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was; a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle, and acknowledge, "By the grace of God I am what I am."
The song he wrote in response to the grace of God that led him out of the slavery trade and into Christ, reflects his gratefulness:
Amazing Grace, written by John Newton and sung by nearly every Christian;
"Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!
Thro' many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be forever mine."
Visions and Dreams
When visions and dreams are constantly needed to build our faith, then we lack faith.
Romans 10:17 " 17 Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."
Christ is called "The Word", He has written in the Bible everything He wants us to know. When we believe Him, then we are demonstrating faith.
1 Corinthians 4:6 "6 Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over another. "
Notice in this last verse, we are not to "take pride in one man over another."
All have the Holy Spirit, no one is greater than another. Where there is an elevating of man, there is idolatry.
Romans 10:17 " 17 Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."
Christ is called "The Word", He has written in the Bible everything He wants us to know. When we believe Him, then we are demonstrating faith.
1 Corinthians 4:6 "6 Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over another. "
Notice in this last verse, we are not to "take pride in one man over another."
All have the Holy Spirit, no one is greater than another. Where there is an elevating of man, there is idolatry.
Reformation or Transformation?
Today is the anniversary of the "Reformation", it is interesting that that term is being used to describe the action of Martin Luther's posting of his theses to the door of the Catholic church.
I am glad it happened, this action opened the door to the Bible ending up in the hands of the common folks as well as declaring that salvation was through faith in Christ alone, without works.
The only correction I feel is necessary in the use of the word "Reformation" it seems to imply the church needed to be "reformed." That was not what was needed.
Those who desire to be saved must be "transformed", meaning that the old us is not made over to become different. When Christ changes a person into a born again believer, He completely changes us into a new creation. The old is completely removed and replaced by His Spirit. We are still trapped in this flesh, but our Spirit belongs to Him and we no longer think the way we used to think.
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
If we are born again we have been "Transformed", made into a completely new person, never to return to the old again, because the old has been eliminated.
Ephesians 4:17-19
"17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness."
Those who walk in the flesh desire to believe they are being the good person, they do not need transformation, they just need to "do" better.
Those who walk in the Spirit depend on the Spirit of God to guide them, change them and instruct them.
John 16:13-14 "13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"
Notice from these verses in John that those who walk in the Spirit will glorify God, they will not glorify themselves. That is one of the obvious clues of the non-believer pretending to be a Christian, they always ultimately end up glorifying self.
The born again believer loves to bring glory to God, not to themselves, in fact, those who love Christ hate for the attention to be on themselves.
Colossians 3:16-17 "…16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
I am glad it happened, this action opened the door to the Bible ending up in the hands of the common folks as well as declaring that salvation was through faith in Christ alone, without works.
The only correction I feel is necessary in the use of the word "Reformation" it seems to imply the church needed to be "reformed." That was not what was needed.
Those who desire to be saved must be "transformed", meaning that the old us is not made over to become different. When Christ changes a person into a born again believer, He completely changes us into a new creation. The old is completely removed and replaced by His Spirit. We are still trapped in this flesh, but our Spirit belongs to Him and we no longer think the way we used to think.
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
If we are born again we have been "Transformed", made into a completely new person, never to return to the old again, because the old has been eliminated.
Ephesians 4:17-19
"17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness."
Those who walk in the flesh desire to believe they are being the good person, they do not need transformation, they just need to "do" better.
Those who walk in the Spirit depend on the Spirit of God to guide them, change them and instruct them.
John 16:13-14 "13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"
Notice from these verses in John that those who walk in the Spirit will glorify God, they will not glorify themselves. That is one of the obvious clues of the non-believer pretending to be a Christian, they always ultimately end up glorifying self.
The born again believer loves to bring glory to God, not to themselves, in fact, those who love Christ hate for the attention to be on themselves.
Colossians 3:16-17 "…16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
Heros are for Idolaters
For the born again believer, to place anyone in "hero" status is to have an idol.
No one deserves that status but Jesus Christ alone.
Romans 12:2
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
No one deserves that status but Jesus Christ alone.
Romans 12:2
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
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