Relating Biblically SESSION 7: The Pursuit of Extraordinary Marriage

Grace for Salvation not the Freedom to Sin

The grace was to grant forgiveness for those who are repentant. Grace will not be shown to those who reject Christ. And, the grace was for salvation, not freedom to sin.

Romans 6:1-2

"6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"

God forbids sin as a demonstration of grace. Sin is spitting in the face of God's grace.

Those who say the sin does not matter because we are under grace are repeating the devil's lies.

Because we are under grace we have the power of the Holy Spirit within us to resist sin and live and grow in holiness.

"In Christian theology, the spontaneous, unmerited gift of the divine favour in the salvation of sinners, and the divine influence operating in individuals for their regeneration and sanctification."

Author Unknown to me.

Someone who says we can sin because of grace defies a whole lo of the bible.

1 John 3:7-9 "…7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous. 8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.…"

Friends Lost are not Real Friends

I have lost friends over the years, in every single case, it was because of disagreements about theology or those who were pretenders in the church who walked away from their faith.

Over the years I realized that when someone cannot love you because you disagree on something, or because you have exposed false teaching, then I am confident they were never your friend.

Friends don't treat friends disrespectfully merely over a disagreement. Nor to authentically changed born-again believers walk away from Christ.

In these days of apostasy when people are dedicated to politics, this world, and their enjoyment of life, it will be difficult to find believers who love Christ more than they love anyone else including themselves.

John 15:12-14 "12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.…"

Luke 14:26-27 "26“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters— yes, even his own life— he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.…'

Those who desire to follow Christ with their entire being will experience rejection and abandonment. Do not be surprised and above all have such a heavenly perspective that it only hurts a little when we are rejected, if at all.

As we mature in Christ and love Him more than anyone or anything else our emotional responses to rejection, mocking and demeaning will have little to no effect on us.

But in order to get to this point of loving God more than the world we must spend time with Him, speak to Him and about Him throughout the day. If our prayer is weak and our attention to His word is scanty, we will not be strong when the storms come.

Jude 1:19-20 "…19 These are the ones who cause divisions, who are worldly and devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.…'"

Trust in Christ Alone

For some people, they had to see that we are never going to have good leaders anymore to be able to get their focus back on Christ.

When we stop placing our trust in political leaders or people, in general, is when we can return our focus to Christ.

Proverbs 4:26-27 "…26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure. 27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil."

Our hope ought never to be in people or governments. People and governments disappoint and even go away, but God is always there, never disappointing and never leaving us when we have placed our trust in Him.

When our faith is in Christ we are secure, joyful and hopeful knowing He already knows what is going on and has the cure for all ills. He does not always heal us the way we hope but He has a purpose in all of it and when the time comes we will be delivered from pain, either in this world or when we leave this world.

In Isaiah 41:10, "God says to “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

The Perfect Ruler will be the King of Kings

Even in the Millennium Jesus Christ will rule with an iron hand. The need for an iron hand proves there will be unbelievers born who will fight against Christ.

It is so hard to believe that with perfect justice sitting on the throne in Jerusalem there will still be people who reject it and Him.

I for one, am looking forward to the perfect rule of the perfect King of Kings!!!

Revelation 2:26-28 "…26 And to the one who overcomes and continues in My work until the end, I will give authority over the nations. 27 He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery— just as I have received authority from My Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star.…"

It is difficult to become excited about any earthly leader on this earth during this time of apostasy when we know the Perfect Ruler will take the throne in Jerusalem soon!!!

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Religion or a Relationship

When a government establishes the system on Christian principles it will be a benefit for a period of time but ultimately will fail. This is what cultural Christianity has done in our country.

The rules and the plans of the government, even families were based on Biblical standards although not entirely, do not continue because the plans and family standards were based on the principles but not Christ of the principles.

Many people who are not Christians like some of the principles of God because they make good sense and keep people out of trouble. However, when Christ is not the reason for adherence to the principles they become subjective without dedication to God.

I have seen many "Christians" in our day like some of the principles of the bible but reject many others. When there is partial desire there will be wholesale disobedience. The whole process is based on making life better for themselves and not in pleasing God for His purposes.

When we seek God merely to use Him as a stop-gap measure to free us from trials and problems, this is not understanding what God wants.

God wants our worship and obedience because He deserves it. He created us and everything we need to live on this earth. He has a right to be worshiped, honored, and spoken of by mankind. He even provided a way of salvation when there was no way we could save ourselves.

When we trust in Christ we know He will give us what we need when we need it.

Matthew 6:33

"33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you."

When we take our focus off of ourselves and our own will then we can begin to focus on God's will.

When someone's Christianity is based on the protection of self, it cannot be on Christ. It then becomes religion rather than a relationship with the Holy God.

Religion is a set of rules without the working of the Holy Spirit. We do not follow rules, we follow Christ. Because Christ lives in the born-again believer we love His ways. We do not have to follow a rule about not murdering because we have no desire to murder. We do not have to follow rules about stealing because we don't want to steal.

The Law was given to those who are wicked, they want to do evil things so there must be laws to prevent them from hurting others. We do not need the law to tell us what to do when the desire to harm others is not even present in us.

What is present in the born-again believer is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23

"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."