GRACE – LESSON 6: Final!

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INTRODUCTION:

I have covered a lot of territory and much more could be said about the matters written about. Hopefully the skeleton is provided with enough other facets one can put it all together and determine the truth about our propositions and hermeneutical approach to the entire teachings. I am convinced that the New Covenant approach to Biblical interpretation is most correct and biblical approach. The others leave a lot of knots dangling and in a lot of matters actually misrepresent the word of God, so it is not rightly divided as Paul instructed Timothy so, ministers must work hard at doing this.

In this last article on the subject, I would like to just highlight some major points, perhaps question concepts and hopefully make us think about what we are teaching, saying, preaching, etc.! All of us I trust, use the proper words and have some understanding about them, but many times, I have found, I just echo words I have heard others say and teach, not stopping and meditating upon what they mean and what they imply. In doing so, it is easy to get off target and present something to the people of this world that isn’t quite correct. Usually this isn’t done purposefully, but is rather, just our own lack of careful observation and devotion to detail. However, we do have voices out there who are promoting with passion, and a die hard devotion to actual heretical views. From those we must turn away from, and from others we must in love and care, assist each other, to present the clarity and actual complete word meanings establishing God’s intention He had in the word presented. It doesn’t matter what I think or what ideas I have, what matters is WHAT DOES GOD ACTUALLY SAY! It doesn’t matter what it means to me, it is what Jesus speaks and means and so I bow to that. That is the final last rung we are at and must stay at if we are faithful to His word and to HIM!

I. SUMMARY OF WHAT THE DOCTRINE OF GRACE TEACHES US!

1. It teaches us that God is the Author and Perfecter of our faith, not us! Not by works we do! All of unmerited, unearned Grace, a gift from God. That means all facets of it. Faith, Repentance, Regeneration, Calling, Drawing, First Cause matters, etc.! HE DOES IT ALL! Abilities to even reason and think about the Gospel and trust in Him are gifts from God!

1. ERRORS FOUND IN THE CHURCH CONCERNING GRACE.

SCRIPTURES TO READ TO FIND TRUTHS STATED BELOW: Romans; Galatians; Hebrews; Colossians; John; and 1 John 1.

A. Decisions not made by man first, but rather God’s decision to do the work in man regarding Salvation issues came first.

B. Grace and Mercy were planned by God before the Foundation of the world!

C. All of creation, earth, Universe, Galaxies, Angels, Mankind, Animals, etc., all planned before Creation of any of those mentioned here.

D. GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL BOTH IN THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. ALWAYS IN CHARGE REGARDING EVERY MINUTE DETAIL OR MACRO DETAIL! Chance and accidents do not exist with God!

E. Mankind is classified as humans who have sinned, and also, are sinful (their state of being from conception)! He or she is classified as impotent spiritually (Godward), totally self-centered and engaging in sinful fruit coming forth in their lives daily. People are as bad off as they can possibly be spiritually, but do not engage in what could be considered the worse things they could possibly do, because God by His grace keeps back people from engaging in absolute total depraved matters. From time to time God allows some to do very evil and wicked things among the other peoples on earth.

F. People WILL not turn from their sins, will not trust in Christ or God ever for salvation. They do not wish to do this, they do not entertain doing this, and in fact due to Sin and their Father who is Satan, cannot escape and do it even if they were so inclined, which they are not. A stronger ONE has to break down the door into Satan’s kingdom to rescue the souls who are perishing! There is only ONE who can do that and HIS name is Jesus Christ, the Lord, the Commander in Chief of Heavens Armies!

**G. To escape punishment in hell and the lake of fire, people have to receive from God through Christ a ‘new spiritual birth’, a birth that is a real new creation or creature, brought into existence, a person that is the same person, but his or her entire inner person is changed to be a Holy, Sanctified, Everlasting, Eternal Life individual now and not later, and one who is totally IN CHRIST, IN GOD, IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND PERFECT IN ALL WAYS THAT IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS IMPLIES! This means Christ Jesus has been shown to them as the ONLY Name given to mankind under heaven whereby they may be saved from God’s wrath and condemnation for their rebellion and sinful state of being.

H. Mankind (male and female), when Regenerated (Life spiritually granted to them), or when they have the New Birth from God, God changes their heart (innermost being), their soul and their spirit. Mystery exists in regard to our 5 Senses (touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste) in terms of how they are interrelated to the New Person created by the power of God at salvation. But they interact with the new man, to carry out holy and sacred activities during their life, and worship of God in truth and practice.

I. The part of mankind that is NOT regenerated and changed is that which is called and classified as the Old Man or the Flesh. Flesh is used in two ways in the Bible; 1. The skin, bones, blood, nerves, organs, etc.! 2. Flesh (Sarx Sin Lives There) has to do with the body which has dwelling within it SIN as a entity. It is here that sin lives and functions and seeks to use the “desires” and “normal” activities of man in a wrong or sinful manner. Example: Man has a normal unsinful appetite for food. But sin will seek to tempt a person to overeat and go to excessive measures in food consumption. That is then called a sinful act on a person’s part, by allowing the thought and enticement by Satan and Sin to create the out of order appetite actions. It becomes harmful, but normal and proper usage is not sinful and is helpful and keeps one alive on planet earth!

By the way, this is where the Sanctification process is directed by God as HE uses us to enter the battle against sin and trespasses. We are Totally Sanctified and Pure and Holy in the New Man or Person born again, and regenerated, but not totally sanctified in the flesh. It is still in its fallen status. The struggle comes as the flesh and sin war against the “new man in Christ Jesus” and this goes on as we learn throughout life how to overcome the world, the flesh and the Devil putting on the garments of Praise as we take the “sword of the Spirit, the word of God” going forth to conquer sin and slay it,hating even the garments defiled by it!

We win some and lose sometimes, but this NEVER affects the Newborn again totally sanctified soul and spirit and portion of our innermost being the heart which is sanctified. Since the term ‘heart’ is used a lot, that portion of our innermost being called the Flesh is a part that is not transformed yet, so be careful as you use this term implicating the absolutely wonderful work of God in Salvation creating a new person who is now a saint of God. God did not patch up things and left them to be messy and requiring more work. No, a totally New person was created in Jesus Christ, the same person, but new in their State of Being, now called Saints! But God did leave us to wait until Glorification takes place concerning the body of sin which we live in until we pass away or are translated by Christ at His coming!

J. The last two statements mean this; The New born again person is now a new person because God actually makes them perfect, saved, forgiven (all sins past, present and future), holy, sanctified, and actually sons of God, dwelling in God, Abiding in God, and He abides and dwells within us, both being in the actual flesh and blood body! A perfect new holy person who is now not classified a sinner but a saint! A new identity. What is NOT changed is the body of normal flesh and blood, and also the fallen sinful part called the FLESH (Carnal) place where sin dwells and works from! Sin takes the tempation generated by using the LAW of God, and bringing it to focus creating a desire to disobey that Law, and then when the disobedience takes place, Sin results and death spiritually continues. Sin brings forth death.

The physical body and the sin in it will eventually see and experience physical death and go back to the dust. However the new man created, which does not sin and cannot sin because he or she is in Christ the SEED, and Protected Always from death, hell, the grave, sin, and all things which would spiritually harm the new person created. However, the presence of the Holy Spirit in the body who indwells the new saved person, is considered a Down Payment upon the ownership of the body, and will eventually raise that body up from the dust of the earth (DNA) and make it a new perfect body (a spiritual body) LIKE Christ had when He rose from the dead. So we will live with Him eternally in that new body, soul and spirit which HE created by the powerful Gospel work which took place on planet earth at the moment of Salvation. A Now and Not yet moment at the new birth existed, just relating to the New Inner man and the old man still there for a period of time on this earth. The lost are totally the OLD MAN and have not the New spiritual birth, and they perish!

K. SO, DOES A PERSON SIN AFTER HE OR SHE IS BORN AGAIN. IS THERE SINLESS PERFECTION EXISTING? THE ANSWER IS YES in both cases, THEY DO, and they don’t! Is this a contradiction or chaotic confused thought? No, not when you learn WHO we really are as born again human beings! Notice:

THE FLESH BRINGS FORTH SIN, and the flesh (the unregenerated part of mankind who has been saved, THE NEW SAVED PERSON IN CHRIST AND ALONG WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, FIGHT AGAINST THE FLESH, SEEK TO SLAY THE FLESHLY DESIRES OUT OF ORDER, AND THIS FIGHT AND STRUGGLE GOES ON UNTIL WE LEAVE THIS EARTH. We may not by faith stop or control the flesh in its desires to sin, and so comes about in that sense. SO SINLESS PERFECTION IS NOT ATTAINABLE in the Flesh, the fallen unregenerate portion of our bodies WHILE WE ARE IN THE FLESH.

BUT HOWEVER, THE NEW PERSON, THE NEW MAN, THE BORN AGAIN SPIRITUAL PERSON, WHO IS IN CHRIST JESUS, HAS THE FATHER IN THEIR NEW HEART, SOUL AND SPIRIT, CANNOT SIN AND IT IS NO THE NEW MAN SINNING BUT THE SIN DOING THE SINNING IN THE FALLEN BODY OF FLESH.

THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN THEM, CANNOT SIN AND DUE TO THAT PRESENCE OF GOD IN US WE ARE PERFECT IN CHRIST JESUS, THE SEED!

JOHN STATES THIS IN 1 JOHN 1, AND ALSO PAUL STATES IN ROMANS 7. THE FLESH AND SIN WORK SINFUL FRUITS, AND THUS SINCE THAT IS PART OF WHO WE ARE IN THE BODY, WE STILL SIN, BUT THE SINS ARE FORGIVEN, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE ONES! GOD LOOKS UPON US AS COMPLETE IN CHRIST JESUS. HOLY, SACRED, AND AS SAINTS BECAUSE OF ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED.

CLOSING REMARKS:

REMEMBER OUR BODY FUNCTIONS, BECAUSE GOD IS CONTROLLING THE SPIRIT, LIVING WITHIN, AND HE DECIDES WHEN HE WILL LEAVE AND TAKE US OUR OF THIS BODY IN DEATH. REMEMBER, GOD IS NOT ‘UP THERE’ SOMEWHERE FAR AWAY. HE IS IN US AND WE ARE IN HIM! THAT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE. DO WE RECOGNIZE WE ARE ‘IN HIM’ NOW, AND HE IS HERE IN US NOW? He maintains eternal life in us right now!

THE NEW PERSON WILL NEVER DIE, HE OR SHE WILL JUST MOVE OUT OF THE BODY AND THEIR LOCATION WILL IMMEDIATELY BE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN GLORY, IN THE HEAVENLIES, IN THE CITY OF GOD, AND A TEMPORARY SPIRITUAL BODY WILL BE GIVEN TO US UNTIL THE RESURRECTION OF OUR FORMER BODIES TAKE PLACE. WE ARE NOT UNCLOTHED. WE ARE NOT LIKE SOME IDEAS OF A SPIRIT FLOATING AROUND, BUT WILL HAVE A SPIRITUAL BODY WHICH HAS SHAPE AND FORM. Example of this found in the Gospel: Elijah and Moses on the Mount with Jesus as the Disciples looked at them seeing human form with Jesus!

by Lamar

GRACE: LESSON 4

GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US!

INTRODUCTION:

Continuing our lessons on the doctrine of Grace, I think it would be wise to remember a few basic revelations about Grace given by Paul the Apostle in the book of Ephesians.

Ephesians chapter 3 speaks about the “dispensation of the grace of God, given to Paul to share with the people of God. He even states that this revelation shown to him was a mystery, and the mystery of Christ, which in other ages (times) was NOT made known to anyone, as it is being revealed to him and the other apostles during his days! He lets us know that this revelation came directly from God the Holy Spirit to him and the others.

What is this revelation? He states in verse 6 these words; “That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of the His promise in Christ by the Gospel. He also states in verse 9, “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world has been h id in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.”

One other reason this Gospel was revealed at this time is found in his words in verse 10; “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places MIGHT BE KNOWN BY THE CHURCH THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD, ACCORDING TO THE ETERNAL PURPOSE WHICH HE PURPOSED IN CHRIST JESUS OUT LORD.”

He goes on in verse 19 to state the purposes also are as follows; “And to KNOW the LOVE of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.” Back in verse 18, he said, that we, “may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height” — that is knowing Christ and His love which is so awesome and powerful and mighty and all consuming.

I. GRACE REPLACES THE LAW KEEPING AND THE ENTIRE MOSAIC LAW SYSTEM!

In chapter 4 of Ephesians, Paul will begin to share with us that this powerful new birth, this new creation (creature) we are now, took place by God alone. He made the change. He brought the life, the light, and the abilities to embrace all of the facets of the Gospel message and now KNOW and be KNOWN by Christ our Savior.

One reading chapter 4 and following will say to me perhaps, ‘you have stated the law is over and we now live under Grace and do not use the law, but I read here all about sin and how we are to not sin anymore and commit the sins I read about here. Aren’t you wrong in thinking about the law like you do, don’t we need the law, it seems Paul is stating such here?”

The answer to that is NO, that is not what Paul is saying that all. Paul is addressing the face that GRACE WORK’S in our lives producing holy living, it sanctifies us, it gives us power to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. If you will notice he mentions the fruits of sin that seek to express various improper activities in our life daily. Notice HE is not speaking of Law, he is addressing the SIN or Sins as they are flowing from the FLESH where they reside.

The NEW man is holy, sanctified, in Christ, in God, in the Holy Spirit, a new creation, having a new heart, a new soul and a new spirit. Paul is addressing not that born again new creation, but rather, the OLD man which is the Flesh, where sin resides and seeks to promote itself by “fleshing out” and doing its wrong deeds. Yes, the law exposed sin and showed what it was and what it was like, but Paul is NOT SAYING TO THE CHRISTIAN THEY ARE TO LOOK TO THE LAW OR TO SIN ITSELF AND TRY AND CONQUER IT BY THE MEANS OF THE LAW. HE NEVER STATES THAT!

He is emphasizing that we are “to put off these things” by the Holy Spirit’s power. We are to flee to Christ Jesus, to the escape routes He has given to us, regarding the “all things” given to live a life of godliness and holiness. I remember even in the Old Testament Joseph a man who was saved, and had a high place of honor in a King’s cabinet. He was seduced by the King’s wife, but he turned her down and what did he say. He told her that he had been placed in the King’s household having a place of honor and that he could not conduct himself in such a manner with that King’s wife. But the real reason he said that he would not go along with her enticement was, “He could not SIN against GOD”! He feared God more than man. He fear God more than the King. He feared God more than allow her demands and commands to commit adultery. AND WHAT DID HE DO? DID HE LOOK TO THE LAW TO GIVE HIM POWER TO HANDLE THIS? NO! BUT RATHER HE USED THE ESCAPE WHICH CHRIST SHOWED HIM AND GAVE HIM, AND THAT WAS TO FLEE, TO RUN, AND ESCAPE FROM THE PRESENCE OF SIN! God has promised to give us a escape route when we are tempted if we will only look for it, quickly pray for it to be shown. In this case it was to FLEE.

I remember a story told by an evangelist of the past in our country named Billy Sunday. He was a former baseball player on a national team. God saved him and one of his prior sin’s dominating his life was drinking liquor and getting drunk. He said, one day after he had been saved sometime and entered the ministry of evangelism, he was walking down the streets in a large city and was passing by a Bar and Tavern. He said he had a great temptation to go into the bar and get some liquor. But, he said, I immediately thought I need to away from this place, and so he starting running down the sidewalk as fast as he could from the barroom and did not sin as he was being tempted to do. That is it! FLEE for your life! Sin is that bad. Let us FLEE to Jesus and our Lord and HE will satisfy our longings and bless us with many heavenly pleasures for sure!!

II. GRACE CLEANS UP OUR MINDS AND WE GO FORWARD IN FAITH!

In Ephesians 4 Paul lists a lot of things we are to lay aside which we used to get involved with in life. Then he mentions the things we are to PUT ON that reflect the Fruit of the Spirit. As you remember, we are NOW IN CHRIST, WE NOW HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE FATHER WITHIN US AND WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD NOW! HE RESIDES IN US AND NEVER LEAVES US FOR ONE MOMENT. Do we recognize that the Almighty Sovereign God is actually living in us? I mean do you really believe that and do you and I really embrace that thought and know that it is true and exists?

That is outstandingly awesome and amazing! God in us the HOPE of Glory! He covers us totally with His presence! We can’t be more protected than that! If however, we don’t put off the fleshly lusts and walk in the Spirits power we can Grieve the Holy Spirit. Notice Ephesians 4:30;

“And grieve NOT the Holy Spirit of God, whereby You are sealed unto the day of Redemption.”

God’s wrath and condemnation are NOT upon us! He is NOT angry with us! He is not Mad at us! He Loves us and cares for us, but HE can be grieved if we do not walk in the Spirit with Him in terms of the New Man not allowing the Flesh to operate in our bodies – working its sinful ways in our bodily life on this earth. Our responsibilities now are to deal with our trials and temptations, and difficulties, in and through the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. He gives us the Grace and power to do so every time, and there is no excuse for our failures. We have the greatest gifts of the Spirit to do such or HE would not say such things. He makes it available every moment of every day! So, let us seek such and be alert about it all, and remember we are in a battle and need the Whole Armor of God on as Ephesians 6 so states.

So may I encourage you to go forward in Faith, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith or the perfecter of our faith. There is where we go, AND NOT TO THE LAW – UNLESS YOU WISH TO KEEP ON FAILING, AND KEEP ON SINNING. FOR THAT IS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.

In the progressive sanctification work, which is dealing with the Flesh and sin in the Flesh, the fallen nature of the old man, which we died to, still raises its ugly tentacles from time to time in our lives. This is where the battle rages, through the Holy Spirit and our spirit as we use the spiritual tools given to us to fight this battle as expressed in Ephesians!.

And then we become depressed, guilty, shamed, anxious, not contented, and bothered greatly, because we forgot who we really are and what has really happened to us. We are the TEMPLE of the LIVING God and HE lives within us, so we have no more excuses for living in the Flesh and walking in that way which was put upon the Cross = called sin and it was slain by Jesus who conquered death, hell and the grace, and sin also! He conquered sin all throughout his life on earth and in death He showed that HE was God and came up alive again and NOW we wait for Him to come back completing His work among men and on earth!

Maranatha!

by Lamar

GRACE! LESSON 3

INTRODUCTION:

As one begins their study of the New Covenant of Grace, remembrance of what “time” it is in the History of God’s work among men. Remember Christ came during the Old Covenant days, and much of what HE spoke had to do with correcting wrong teachings concerning the Law, along with many other teachings concerning WHO HE was and future events along with Living a perfect keeping law life, not to speak of how much HE spoke concerning His coming substitutionary death for His people on the cross!

I. FROM THE CROSS THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS IS A TRANSITION PERIOD!

Moving out from the Cross, the Resurrection, and Ascension, Christ Jesus begins to show Himself to His disciples and open up more of the Scriptures to them concerning the fact He is the Lord from glory and that He would be sending back the Holy Spirit to be with them – taking His place in their own hearts and life, as He is seated at the Throne of God the Father in heaven making intercession for His people.

Acts can be considered the “Acts of the Holy Spirit”! The Apostles whom God would use in a powerful manner preaching the Gospel to all, were given special miracle gifts to authenticate that they truly were giving out the Living God’s truth and message. These men were 12 men who had walked with Jesus during His earthly ministry and they ministered mainly to the Jews. Paul the Apostle was a special called Apostle to the Gentiles, even though he was a Jew also. The office or role of these men were Apostles, an office that did not continue after the last one passed away. Also, their special gifts were no longer operable in others lives after this transition time period, for those were only given to REAL Apostles which meant they had been with Jesus, walked with Him during His days on earth. Paul was only exception although HE did SEE the RISEN CHRIST Who revealed Himself to Saul (Paul) on the road to Damascus, and then taught Him over his early years all he needed to know about the God etc., which is revealed in all of his epistles.

Acts is not a writing developing Doctrinal issue like Romans, Ephesians, or the Pastoral Epistles. It is a running account of God’s work through the Holy Spirit in the Apostles and even in men like Phillip and Stephen, special gifted men whom God worked miracles through also.

By the way, none of what I stated about the miracles, etc., means that God doesn’t or will not do such things again among men on earth. He has, He will and we know so for Revelation reflects many types of miracles performed by Christ through His people! Also, down through history there have been miracles performed by gifts given to certain individuals from time to time, but it is not as prolific as it was during the ACTS days!

We do have some doctrine taught in Acts, but that is not its primary purpose. So, to use certain things that the Apostles did and make them Apostolic is not correct. There are NO demands we can make about gifts anyway, God gives a gift to someone as HE chooses to do and when He wants them to function. We don’t make them take place just because we want a gift. We can ask and pray for a gift but God is the ONE who makes that Choice, Apparently He isn’t making it to much because I don’t know of any person who really Speaks for instance in a foreign language immediately without studying such language from a normal human standpoint. It may have happened over the past history occasionally, and somewhere for a moment of time, but I know of none that have it. The gibberish done today is NOT what was given as a gift in that day. It was KNOWN languages that existed on earth. It is anti Biblical to say one has to have this gift today if they have the Holy Spirit. That is not taught in the word of God!

2. ACTS SHOWS US THAT THE LAW (ALL LAWS IN THE O.T.) HAVE CEASED BEING OUR TUTOR!

God is taking away from the Saved Jewish believers as well as the pagan lost Jews, a security blanket! They devoted their lives to the Law but with NO faith by a lot of the Jews. They were legalistic to the core. The Pharisee’s were like the orthodox or fundamental Christians of this day in terms of devotion to the Law scriptures.

Christian maturity comes as God weans the saints off of their security blanket, the Law. I am sure they felt insecure during these times and you can see a lot of this by the reaction of the Judaizers, and the Jerusalem Church leaders also. Even Peter and Barnabas were deceived on this issues and Paul had to call Peter out about that matter as he had separated himself from the Gentiles during a meeting when they had a meal together.

Paul preached freedom from the Law. He also stated we DIED to the law. It was fading away and being removed from the local congregations especially the dominated Jewish groups who had tendencies to use it incorrectly.

THE LAW AND ITS PLACE NOW!

The law was never intended to serve as a foundation for the Christian life. I read an article today where a prominent popular denominational writer wrote about how important the Law and the Sabbath was to the Christians today! Totally wrong and was a Lie! People buy into it because they just do not study the word properly and believe anything they hear from the pulpits they are affiliated with without questioning such!

We have NO right or Scriptural basis by which to select portions of the Mosaic Law and claim that these should supervise believers conduct. When I was first saved, I became affiliated with congregations which were filled with ministers of that denomination who preached the law and even used it to place fear in the people. For instance, they used the verses in Malachi, to teach tithing. They would tell us that if we didn’t tithe God will kill us or put us in the hospital for sure. That HE would collect that tithe one way are another, we either give it, or He causes us to pay physically and monetarily Doctors or Hospitals or Funeral homes the tithe! That was awful. I had to go a long time cleansing my heart by the grace of God and the word of God to get out of this brainwashed status I had been placed in. I though they were speaking the truth for surely they were Gospel preaches and looked up to in such a position in that day!

The Law brings condemnation! Period! It was designed to show sinners that they were sinners and needed to be saved and redeemed from sin! But, that is not for the bride of Christ, for we LIVE and Breath GRACE and it produces Holy Living in us, and we are under the LAW of Christ, which is LOVE!

The law will actually cause saints to sin more and more and more! SIN takes advantage of the law and uses it to entice us into sin, and also to bring to us shame, disgrace, lack of faith, lack of assurance, and guilt! One can expect MORE struggle and MORE sinning if they adopt the law as their guide for Living. Don’t do it! Look to Jesus and walk in the Spirit and you will NOT fulfill the Lusts of the flesh! Grace moves us into POWER over the flesh and sin! The Law is good, but to use it unlawfully as it is being done even today is sin also! Christ stated we are DEAD TO THE LAW! GALATIANS IS A BOOK TOTALLY DEVOTED TO THE FACT WE DO NOT USE THE LAW! That means no more Sabbath for Christ is our 24/7 REST! No more law tithing with threats, we give freely and even more than a tithe! Legalism is heresy and it is rampant in many local churches today even though they may believe a lot of the Gospel and Doctrines of Grace but in the end, pervert both!

WE ARE TO TAKE NOTE OF THE ALLEGORY USED IN GALATIANS 4!

God used a allegory about Hagar and Sarah portraying Hagar and her son as representing the LAW and Sarah and her son representing Grace. God said, Hagar and son had to leave and not be included anymore in the family. For all practical purposes she and the son were ‘dead’ to the family of Abraham now! No more part of Abraham’s family.

This coincides with the many verses of scripture letting us know now we do not use the Law, which consists of ceremonial, pictorial, and specific laws such as the 10 Commandments and the 613 other ones. Not to be used for salvation or sanctification. In fact, as I stated before, using the law only makes MORE sin take place rather than stopping sin! We are under GRACE alone now! So go live in it! Be FREE!!!! In doing so you will see a life more in line with the total morality and character of God than ever before!

BY LAMAR

GRACE! WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT THIS AWESOME DOCTRINE? – LESSON 2

GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL

The book of Galatians reveals to us that Jesus our Lord was born under the Law. The Gospel writings are based mainly upon Christ Jesus living among the Jews and doing His ministry under the Old Covenant. He clarified much of the perversions about the Law that existed, and at the end of the Gospel narratives the New Covenant begins.

INTRODUCTION:

As Hebrews tells us, the Old Covenant (Testament) wasn’t replaced by the NEW until Jesus’ DEATH. I say replaced, because it was, but it can be also thought of the Fulfillment of God’s plan and purpose.

So, the gospels are a history of Jesus’ ministry with Jews BEFORE THE New goes into effect.

Any belief system or systematic theology writings, statement of faith or confessions of faith, that doesn’t take this into account will leave a Christian totally bewildered and confused in their studies of the word of God.

Trying to Mix Jesus’ teachings directed to Pharisees and zealous Jews with the Epistles will result in great confusion, and incorrect interpretations of truth. Jesus tells people to cut off their hands, to pluck out their eyes, and to be perfect and holy like God. He tells them their own righteousness must be better than the Pharisees. What He was doing was to discourage those in that day as they work to achieve righteousness through the Law.

Those things just could not come about under the LAW. In fact, He was looking forward to the moment He could reveal to them how true righteousness would come about, that is, under the Gospel of Grace through faith in Him and His death, burial and resurrection! His righteousness imputed to their account and no more striving to keep the law which was not designed to provide righteousness at all.

I. GRACE HAS BEEN MENTIONED A LOT BY THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH.

It has been a constant theme of our talk and our prayers. Hymns down through the years have been written about Grace, and some of the finest ones around contain this great truth.

People have fought and died for grace down through our history. Paul fought for it against the Judaizers. Augustine fought the Pelagians, the Reformers fought the Scholasticism of the day, and the spiritual descendants of Paul and Augustine and Reformers have been fighting Romanism and Pelagianism teachings every since.

Paul’s testimony and ours and theirs has been; “By the Grace of God I am what I am” – 1 Corinthians 15:10; and our rule of life is, “I do not frustrate the grace of God.” – Galatians 2:21.

II. NO GRASP OF GRACE IS PREDOMINANT TODAY!

Lip service is given to grace, but when it comes down the really embracing it and loving it, we find most do not think it is important, or at least not necessary for them in their lives today. When I speak of this, I am thinking of what REAL GRACE means, not the watered down version being taught today in many circles. It isn’t that folks fight against the concept of Grace, but rather, it has no real meaning to them as they understand it. It seems beyond their comprehension.

There are four distinct crucial truths about the doctrine of Grace, what it really means, that must be acknowledged and felt, and in one’s very heart, and if they are not, it is impossible one can have a clear faith in God’s grace.

These truths are listed by J. I. Packer as follows:

1. THE MORAL ILL-DESERT OF MAN!

Modern men and women, …….naturally incline to a high opinion of themselves. Material wealth is more important than moral character. ……refusing to admit there is anything real seriously wrong with them they go forward on their journey of life. They tend to dismiss a bad conscience, thinking such is just a unhealthy psychological problem. There daily life consisting of such things as drinking alcohol in excess, gambling, reckless driving, sexual laxity, black and white lies, ——dirty reading and things watched concerning evil deeds, and many other things, as they are at heart a very decent and good person. They imagine God is just like they are. It never enters their minds that God considers them fallen creatures, guilty, and unclean. Condemnation and wrath from Him is never considered.

2. THE RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE OF GOD!

Willingness to tolerate evil of all sorts should be ignored, and only punished as a last resort. They see such ideas as virtues. But God states otherwise. He insists that in His goodness He has made a moral world, one in which Retribution is a basic fact of life as breathing is. God is the Judge of all the earth. He will do right at all costs!

3. THE SPIRITUAL IMPATIENCE OF MAN!

The modern man has a belief that will guarantee God’s acceptance of them in the end, whatever they may have done in the past. This is because their pagan ideology teaches them, that man can repair their own relationship with God by putting God in a position where HE cannot say NO anymore. In fact, they are like the old adage of the potter and the clay, they “consider God having a Wax nose, and they can form and fashion that nose as they see fit.”

However, God will have none of it! Romans 3:20 states, “No one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law”, even His law and certainly not man’s produced laws.

4. THE SOVEREIGN FREEDOM OF GOD!

Modern paganism cloaked in the garbs of real true religion of some sort, thinks, that God is somehow obliged to love and help us, with little thought of our deserving it does not exist! We do not deserve any help, any forgiveness any benefits from God. Yet HE does grant grace to unworthy sinners every day! Not because of being in need of doing such, but only because HE wishes to do so! It is for HIS good pleasure and He has purposed to have a people for His Son Jesus, called the Bride of Christ.

Here is the Biblical fact to the contrary of the above thought; The God of the Bible does not depend on any human creature for His well-being. See: Psalm 50:8-13 and Acts 17:23. He is not bound or obligated to any sinner, which all humanity is considered as such. We can only expect from Him justice, because Justice is demanded by a Holy God who always does right. Sin demands justice.

So, God in His mercy, states, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,….”! It is HIS free choice to make such a act upon those who are unworthy. He makes the free choice, not man! An individual’s destiny is based on His choice not man’s choice. And that choice flows from His Love toward them in and through the Gospel of Grace. Grace is the source of pardon for Sin. But again, no obligation, but rather, a personal Choice by God to save Some! Not all, but some! So, submit to God through Christ, hear His call, sense His drawing, and know His convicting Spirit about sin and unbelief. Turn in repentance and faith and trust in Jesus and what He did and Who He was providing this through HIS great Love to unworthy sinners like me and many other down through history. He is the Sovereign Powerful Almighty God, let us bow to Him in humility and confess our Pride and arrogance and independence which is rebellion!

by Lamar

(Some thoughts derived from the wonderful work produced by J.I. Packer, Knowing God) Recommend this great writing by a dedicated servant of Christ.

GRACE! WHAT DOES THE BIBLE ACTUALLY TEACH ABOUT THIS AWESOME DOCTRINE? LESSON ONE!

GOD IS LOVE AND BRINGS US PEACE THROUGH CHRIST!

INTRODUCTION:

The following lessons are designed to instruct the body of Christ world-wide about the meaning of the Gospel of Grace. What it actually means is clear from the scriptures. What you will read is opposite from the majority of the denominations and Churches beliefs today. They either are back under the Law, thus under a curse, believing a false Gospel, or they are misrepresenting the Doctrines of Grace, by fostering a life of sin being no problem because they think all don’t have Jesus as Lord, but only Savior.

Both concepts are false, a lie! Many may hear this for the first time, or many will hear it and be totally shaken because they have believed a lie in a congregation they thought was really a Gospel preaching Church. Studying Church history you will find periods of time when the Gospel was totally perverted and only a few were teaching the truth, thus they were persecuted and even killed for doing so.

A WORD CONCERNING THE LAW!

IMPORTANT STATEMENT: When I speak about he Law, may it be always remembered that a true saint and follower of Jesus who believes absolutely in the New Covenant of Grace, does not reject the Law, does not consider it wrong or evil, but to the contrary, we believe about the law exactly what Jesus said about it in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. The Law is Good, the Law reflects God’s morality and character and purposes etc.! We lift it up, we put it high up on the proper place it should be, so I want all to know I am not antinomian one bit! However, having stated that, these words about the Law in Matthew 5, 6, and 7, were directed to the JEWS only and were spoken to them reflecting what the true meaning of the law was, the 613 and the MOsaic Law, which was, to show that that LAW could not save, was not designed to save a soul or sanctify a soul, because it was not designed for such! It was designed to show how terrible bad off a human being was before God and how much he or she needed Grace of God because they were not able to even begin to keep those laws!

The LAW is now laid aside, it is NOT used in our lives to get us into heaven only the Gospel of Grace does that. It is not to be used for sanctification either for God does that by and through Grace. We are driven away from the Law to Jesus who kept the Law and IN HIM we live and have our being through the Spirit of God in who we walk! We are forgiven for all of the breaking of the laws both past, present and future. So, we let the Law do its thing among the pagans of the world which it condemns and makes some whom God calls and chooses turn to Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior escaping hell and wrath and condemnation.

I. FULFILLING THE LAW IS SOMETHING THAT GOD DID IN CHRIST! ITS FULFILLMENT ISN’T AN ONGOING EVENT IN THE LIVES OF BELIEVERS TODAY. GOD SET US FREE FROM THE LAW, SO THAT WE’RE NOT UNDER IT OR SUPERVISED BY IT. – (GALATIANS 3:25.)

THE HOLY SPIRIT ISN’T MOTIVATING US TO KEEP THE MOSAIC LAW, NOR DO WE CONSULT THE LAW AS OUR GUIDE FOR DAILY LIVING. THIS IS WHY WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US INSTEAD.

“BUT IF YOU ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT, YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW” – (GALATIANS 5:18). ALSO, IF GOD WERE MOTIVATING US TO ADHERE TO THE LAW, IT WOULD BE THE ENTIRE LAW, NOT PART OF IT. AROUND 613 LAWS AND THEN 10 COMMANDMENTS. IMAGINE WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT’S TUTELAGE WOULD BE LIKE IF HE WERE MOTIVATING US TO OBEY HUNDREDS OF MOSAIC REGULATIONS AND THE 10 COMMANDMENTS.

I believe it’s quite clear that believers should have no relationship with the law. Romans 7 explains that we’ve DIED TO THE LAW, and now we’re married to ANOTHER. God views a return to law-based living as spiritual adultery. Living by rules is cheating on Jesus!! ***

CONCLUSION OF LESSON 1:

Galatians 2:20 reads, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. We were not designed to live by the Jewish law, religious rules, a moral code, or even Christian “principles”. Receiving and transmitting Christ’s life is superior to all other views and systems. Christ lives within us. We are in Him and He is in us! That is a permanent relationship that will never end! God is in us! He will not forsake us even if we sin. Our sins in fact, were forgiven and removed from us and from HIS sight, even designed to be so before creation. Those were past sins, present sins, and future sins. When Christ died and rose again, all of our sins were future. All of them. Does that mean we should go on sinning if Grace abounds to all of us?

NO, Paul the Apostle states, for how can one who is dead to sin live any longer under its rule and reign. So, upon our new birthday, God has made us a new creation or creature. We have been totally and completely forgiven and our nomenclature is now “saints! The Apostle Paul and the Apostle John both stated that if we are IN CHRIST the SEED, it is no longer I that sins, but sin itself that dwells in our flesh, our bodies.

We the regenerated, made alive saints, are pure, holy, sanctified, regenerated, ALIVE in Christ as much as we will ever be as for as our souls, our spirits, and our heart go! We do have a current Pure, Regenerated New Heart! Sin resides in the Flesh, our carnal nature, which has NOT been regenerated yet.

We are constantly putting to death sin in the flesh, if we are sons of God and have the Spirit of God in us. Our new nature, is a partaker of the Divine nature. So, sin and the new Divine nature don’t mix, and we are in Christ free from Sin! Yet it dwells in our fallen nature, the old man, the carnal part of our non-regenerated being. Sanctification now consists of the spiritual warfare with the Flesh, where sin dwells. Our new man is already Sanctified at the New Birth and is NOW in Christ. So, in this body with sin, we fight it all of our life on planet earth, through the Spirit and the word of God, through faith in the Blood of Jesus. Many victories, and to many failures for sure. But we are SAVED Saints! That is our position. —–(by Lamar)

Some material from: Dr. Andrew Farley – The Naked Gospel! ***

WORKS SALVATION-DOESN’T EXIST!

THE SELF-HELP IDOL

When it comes to rugged individualism, we are the worst generation in American history trying to practice such, especially when applied to the doctrine of salvation. We have been trying to cover our shame and guilt since the fall of mankind really. We find ways to cover our sins by our own efforts. We like to be religious. We follow rules and laws thinking they lead to eternal life. Even after being driven from the Garden of Eden, God had to protect the Garden from His creatures, who would have gone back in and eaten the fruit from the tree of life and lived forever in a rebellious sinful state. God would have none of that!

WAS GOD OBLIGATED TO SAVE ANYONE AFTER THE FALL?

God was only obligated to keep His word to Adam and Eve about the results of their disobedience. That word was “…you shall surely die”! Anything contrary to that, is mercy and grace, to unworthy sinners. Man is responsible for His own sin and rebellion. God did not force Adam to sin! He is not a victim. Their choices in the Garden of Eden brought about the enslavement to sin of mankind’s will. As Adam’s children, we all fell with him and our wills are in bondage to sin. Knowing what bondage to sin means, and also, how that in that bondage we were children of Satan, in his control and domain is absolutely necessary for people to understand and see if they wish to appreciate the work of the Gospel for such ones!

MAN IS IMPOTENT WHEN IT COMES TO SALVATION, AND SANCTIFICATION!

You and I can’t pull Christ down from heaven and “make Him Lord of our lives” because He is in charge of regeneration and the new birth. Preachers may say such things, but people can’t make God do anything. Christ Jesus is LORD of our lives from the New Birth to our continued entrance into heaven! He can’t be Lord later, He doesn’t come in a divided package. It is HIM ALONE as HE is or None of Him!

He is in charge of all things including our salvation. We see this starting in the Garden. It was God who covered Adam and Eve with clothing which represented God protecting them from His wrath which they deserved because of their rebellion and sin. It was a picture of the blood of Christ being shed to atone for sin. Their fig leaves couldn’t do it. God chose to use a Lamb, an animal, to portray the work of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God who would take away sin!

The bondage of sin controlled the will of Adam and Eve after their rebellion. Only God could break that bondage and free them.

,We are, before salvation, as children of Adam and Eve, a fallen people with captivated wills in bondage to sin. We have a sinful heart, a sinful soul, a sinful spirit and a sinful mind. That is complete depravity existing due to the fall! This is now considered the FLESH, after we have been saved because that FLESH where sin and fallenness still resides has not been changed yet. We as fallen unsaved people willfully act, sin, and live our daily lives controlled by Satan, the world and the flesh, until Christ Jesus sets us free to walk in the Spirit with Him.

WHAT MUST WE DO?

So what is man able to do? Nothing! “Salvation comes from the Lord.” Romans 9:16 states, “It does not depend on man’s desire or effort but on God’s mercy.” John 6:44 states, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” Because this happens then a person acts by the spiritual abilities given to him which includes Faith and Repentance inseparable gifts from God! Those are clear statements. Grace comes solely from God without any effort or action by us. God chooses to call and He calls and He saves period! The word of God states He is the “author and finisher of our faith”! If we confess our sins and faith in Christ, it is only because God has changed us first! For no one seeks after the real God, no one! Paul said this in Romans 3:10-18 as he quoted Psalm 14:1-3.

Some falsely say, “We have a free will and God would never interfere with that.” That is absolutely nonsensical. Throughout the Bible we can see God interfering in man’s stubborn, sinful acts. We can see God changing man’s will throughout the Bible. Even a casual reading of the scriptures will show God interferes in both saved and lost people’s wills and actions! God prevented the King from sinning when he took Abraham’s wife Sarah. The will of the King was changed because God interfered with the King’s plans.
If you want to see how much the Bible says on the subject of our will read Martin Luther’s book “Bondage of the Will.” It is the best book ever written on the subject beside the Bible!

Until people realize all things we receive from God is by absolute pure grace, without any effort by man, there will be confusion, frustration, unbelief and eventually despair. Man has erected his will up on an altar whereby he worships at its feet! Our wills must bow to the Sovereign God of the Universe and be in His control!

If you have been saved thank God He has called you and given you life eternal, forgiving you of your rebellion and sins. One may ask why me? Why would God choose me and not another? One answer is it was not due to anything of merit. We do not deserve grace and mercy! We can only say “it was for the glory of His grace He did this”! Read Romans Chapter 9 for a evaluation on this matter. We were not worthy of it. So worship Him and honor His word!

Blessings and Grace to you from our Lord Jesus!

by Lamar Carnes

Blessings, Lamar

MORAL DEISM OR BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION!

By Lamar Carnes

We Christians must learn that no set of moral rules will ever help us attain salvation or sanctification. Someone has stated we could live a thousand years keeping the moral law perfectly and not be saved or forgiven for our sin(s)! God loved us, and saved us while we were actively engage in sin and unbelief. We are not saved by works or sanctified by good works!

It is ALL by the grace of God! If I try to do moral works , through my self- motivated efforts and strength, I will immediately need to repent and confess my self-righteousness to God. In fact, we never get God’s attention by keeping the 613 laws of Judaism or the 10 commandments given to the Jews by Moses, I will never get His attention for the new birth.

Martin Luther saw this terrible offense to God and wrote:

“I believe that it has now become clear that it is not enough or in any sense ‘Christian’, to preach the
works, life, and words of Christ… as if the knowledge of these would suffice for the conduct
of life…and such teaching is childish and effeminate nonsense.

There are many who have no understanding or desire to hear the truth of freedom and insist upon their own goodness as a means for salvation. These people you must resist, do the very opposite, and even be charged as offending them, so offend them boldly! For by their impious views, they drag many with them into error. For the sake of liberty in the faith do other things which they regard as the greatest of sins…use your freedom constantly and consistently in the sight of them and despite the tyrants and stubborn ones who pushback, we pray that they may learn that by the Grace and Mercy of God, they are impious, that their law and works are of no avail for righteousness, and that they had no right to set them up.”

You and I may think this is too radical, but Luther saw the terrible and awful error that people were getting into about how salvation and sanctification comes about. If Jesus freed you from “sin” and
“sinful acts,” praise Him and go on living in that freedom, but remember it was Jesus who did that and not you! And, when you stumble and sin, remember our Father will pick you up and set you back on the road again with no condemnation because your sin(s) have all been covered by the Blood of Jesus and His Atonement even before the creation of the world for you, so states the word of God. Sinners must Confess and repent of the sin(s) they commit and begin to praise and engage in rejoicing in Him! God then, is not mad at you. Christians are to realize that ALL their sins are forgiven, by the ONE SACRIFICE made over 2000 years ago for them. If we Saints however, sin and stumble as we go forward in the faith, we are to admit such sin asking God to help us live in our now NEW LIFE In the Spirit and In Christ, setting aside the works of the flesh which are sinful works.

The Holy Spirit (Godhead also),is grieved when we fail and sin, but His anger and wrath were removed completely from you as well as every sin – past, present and future are forgiven because of Jesus and His work on the Cross. When He redeemed you we were placed in His Forever family and He is a good Father, and He chastens us and disciplines us now as His children. and you are now His child, and in His family.

Galatians 3:11, reads, “So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law……” God said that I didn’t! One has to take that up with God if they disagree! He has spoken clearly on the matter.

Sin in the flesh, motivates people to reach out and try to grab God’s Holy Righteous character by their own feeble unworthy defiled hands. God will not allow that. In fact, it is a dangerous thing to do.

In the Old Testament people were literally slain before God because they were grasping at Holy things with defiled hands through the flesh.

Examples are Korah, Nadab, Abihu, Uzzah, and King Uzziah who sinned and rebelled against God. Even in the New Testament, Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit about their giving. They placed their desires above God’s, sought their own sovereignty over God’s, and this brought death. Even King Herod, who was not a Christian, gave a great oration and acted like he was God. So, God killed him. When we grasp at holiness from our defiled sinful position, it will never
work. We must be absolutely and totally dependent upon Him for mercy and grace.

Mankind is guilty of sin which brings cosmic consequences. It brought spiritual and physical death to all humans. God in mercy, has allowed people to have physical life on earth prior to taking them out by physical death. He would have been just and righteous to bring immediate physical death to all people after Adam and Eve sinned.

Most of us don’t recognize the seriousness of sin against God, but we can be thankful He has chosen to save some from His wrath through His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. But, let’s not be presumptuous in our life toward the Holy things of God. Honor, respect, and bow to the Holy Triune God, worshipping Him in spirit and in truth!

Man’s rules of self- righteousness must bow before the radical grace of God. So, go out and laugh, praise God, and dance in His presence and enjoy your life with Jesus! He Loves us! You are Loved!!